Dry Weight Values Research Articles

Impacts of Effective Microorganisms, Compost Tea, Fulvic Acid, Yeast Extract, and Foliar Spray with Seaweed Extract on Sweet Pepper Plants under Greenhouse Conditions.

Sweet pepperincludes several vitamins and is regarded as a great source of bioactive nutrients, such as carotenoids and phenolic compounds, for human growth and activities. This work aimed to investigate the effects of the soil addition of growth stimulants, namely, effective microorganisms (EM), compost tea, fulvic acid, and yeast extract, and foliar applications of seaweed extract, on the vegetative growth, enzyme activity, phytohormones content, chemical constituents of plant foliage, fruit yield, and fruit quality of sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Zidenka) growing under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that the tallest plant, largest leaf area/plant, and heaviest plant fresh and dry weights were recorded after combining a soil addition of yeast extract and foliar spray with seaweed extracts at 3 g/L in two growing seasons. The highest number of fruit/plant, fruit yield/m2, fruit values of vitamin C (VC), total sugars, total soluble solids (TSS), and carotenoids, along with the highest leaf of cytokines, P, K, Fe, and total carbohydrates values, were obtained using a soil addition of fulvic acid and spray with seaweed extract at 3 g/L in the two seasons of study. These treatments also provided the lowest abscisic acid, peroxidase, and super oxidase dismutase values in the same conditions. Sweet pepper plants supplemented with compost tea and seaweed extract foliar spray at 3 g/L were the most promising for inducing the highest values of fruit fresh and dry weights, fruit length and diameter, and the leavesrichest in N, Zn, and Mn; inversely, it induced the lowest catalase levels in both seasons. The applications of EM, yeast extract, and seaweed extract could be applied for high growth, mineral levels, enzymatic activity, fruit yield, and nutritional value of sweet pepper fruit and minimizing environmental pollution.

Weed Control, Growth, Nodulation, Quality and Storability of Peas as Affected by Pre- and Postemergence Herbicides

Weeds represent a major constraint for successful pea cultivation, resulting in loss of green pea yield and quality. Two field experiments were carried out during the winter seasons of 2018/2019 and 2019/2020. The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the efficacy of pendimethalin, butralin, fluazifop butyl, bentazon, and hoeing on weed control, and their impact on pea growth, nodule formation, yield, quality, and storability. The results indicated that hoeing and fluazifop butyl were the most effective treatments for weed control in terms of the lowest values of total weed dry weight. The bentazon and fluazifop butyl herbicides didn’t affect active nodules number, plant height, plant weight, root length, or number of leaves and branches. Additionally, bentazon and hoeing resulted in the highest total yield per plant and protein content. Butralin and pendimetalin achieved the lowest yield, and butralin also resulted in the lowest plant height and weight. Bentazon-treated peas had the highest chemical compositions in terms of chlorophyll, carotenoids, total sugar, and vitamin C contents in pea pods at harvest and during cold storage at 4 °C and 95 RH for 45 days. No detectable residues of the four herbicides under study were detected in green pods, suggesting that pods can be safely consumed at the time of harvesting. It can be concluded that nodules formation in pea was not affected significantly by the application of the tested herbicides, except pendimethalin and butralin. Furthermore, bentazon had a positive impact on nodules formation and pods quality and could be used effectively for controlling the broadleaf weeds, and it was simultaneously a selective and safe herbicide in pea cultivation.

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of three species of Cornukaempferia in Thailand

Abstract. Chumroenphat T, Saensouk S, Saensouk P. 2021. Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of three species of Cornukaempferia in Thailand. Biodiversitas 22: 4036-4044. Genus Cornukaempferia (Zingiberaceae) were used as medicinal plants in Thailand. Cornukaempferia has never been reported the chemical compounds and antioxidant activity before. This study was designed to identify the chemical composition and antioxidant activities in root, rhizome, stem, and leaves of Cornukaempferia aurantiflora, C. larsenii, and C. longipetiolata. DPPH scavenging activity and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays assessed the chemical composition and antioxidant activity. The results showed that total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) found different plant parts obtained in this study were in the order of root>rhizomes>leaves>?stems. The C. aurantiflora had a high TPC of 416.39 mg GAE/g dry weight, while individual phenolics, such as vanillic acid at 256.90 mg/g dry weight, showed high contents in the leaf part. For C. larsenii, TFC and individual flavonoids, such as catechin, have high 62.52 and 56.47 mg/100g dry weight values in the roots, respectively. The antioxidant activities in different species of different plant parts (DPPH: root>leaves?> rhizomes?>?stems; FRAP: leaves?>root>?rhizomes?>?stems). The genus Cornukaempferia is a rich source of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. Therefore, the genus Cornukaempferia will be used as medicine and food to produce products with health benefits in the future.

Biomass Production of Microalgae using Agricultural and Industrial Wastewater

Growing wastewater microalgae contrib-utes to the elimination of nutrients present in wastewater because they need N and P for the synthesis of proteins, nucleic acid, and phos-pholipids. The most sustainable approach for achieving high biomass and high lipid build-up, along with environmental protection. In the current research, nine microalgae were culti-vated on two variations of wastewater (agricul-tural and industrial dyes) and compared to the synthetic medium. The results indicated that after three weeks of the incubation period, the ability of microalgae to grow in sterilized (syn-thetic medium and wastewater) and gave greater biomass and chlorophyll (a) than in non-sterilized ones. Out of the tested nine mi-croalgae, four microalgae (Anabaena oryzae, Spirulina platensis, Anabaena sp (2) and Nos-toc sp) were selected which gave the highest significant values of dry weight, biomass productivity and chlorophyll (a) content. The selected microalgae showed the highest signif-icant values of the chemical composition, i.e., total carbohydrate, protein and lipid when cul-tivated in agricultural wastewater more than those cultivated in both industrial dye’s wastewater and synthetic broth medium. Among four microalgae, two microalgae of A. oryzae HSSASE6 (KT277789), and S. platen-sis NIES-39 (A00800) were chosen where the chemical composition contents ranged from 1.17 to 1.21-fold and 1.03 to 1.06-fold of car-bohydrate, 1.06 to 1.09-fold and 1.88 to 1.93-fold of protein and 1.41 to 1.52-fold and 1.76 to 1.90-fold of lipid more than those of other microalgae, respectively. The agriculture wastewater was inoculated with a single cul-ture of A. oryzae HSSASE6 (KT277789) or S. platensis NIES-39 (A00800) individually with 10 % of inoculum size, which more preferred than was inoculated with consortia culture. Re-sults also showed that A. oryzae HSSASE6 (KT277789) was more efficient strain for giv-ing biomass and productivity in agricultural wastewater than S. platensis NIES-39 (A00800) (about 28% more).

Screening glyphosate-alternative weed control options in important perennial crops

AbstractThe current study aimed to screen glyphosate-alternative weed control methods in three perennial crops in Greece. Field trials were conducted and repeated (2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020) in a citrus orchard (Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan), an olive grove (Olea europaea L.), and a vineyard (Vitis vinifera L.) under the randomized complete block design (nine treatments, four blocks). Glyphosate was applied in the citrus orchard (720 g ae ha−1), the olive grove (720 g ae ha−1), and the vineyard (1,800 g ae ha−1). Pelargonic acid (1,088 g ha−1; two times), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) residues and white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) residues were evaluated in all sites. Mowing was evaluated in the citrus orchard (one time) and the vineyard (two times). Flazasulfuron (50 g ha−1), oxyfluorfen (144 g ha−1), and flumioxazin (150 g ha−1) were applied in the citrus orchard and the olive grove. Penoxsulam + florasulam (15 + 7.5 g ha−1) was also applied in the olive grove. Cycloxydim (200 g ha−1), quizalofop-p-ethyl (150 g ha−1) and propaquizafop (150 g ha−1) were applied in the vineyard. An untreated control was included in all sites. Flazasulfuron, oxyfluorfen, and flumioxazin resulted in similar normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and weed biomass to glyphosate in the citrus orchard in both years and evaluations. Pelargonic acid (two times) and mowing (one time) were effective on broadleaf weeds. Flazasulfuron and penoxsulam + florasulam were the most promising glyphosate-alternative weed control methods against hairy fleabane [Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronquist] in the olive grove. Cover crop residues showed their suppressive ability as in the citrus orchard. All selective herbicides resulted in similar NDVI and johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.] dry weight values in the vineyard in both years. Negative and strong correlations were observed in all sites and years between crop yield and weed dry weight (R2 = 0.543 to 0.924).

English

Soybean root rot is a worldwide soil-borne fungal disease threatening soybean production, causing huge losses in yield and quality of soybean. Fusarium species are well recognized as the important causal agent of Fusarium root rot. To screen the beneficial Bacillus strains with capability of suppressing soybean root rot and evaluate the impact of Bacillus combined with biochar against soybean root rot, a pot experiment was conducted with different treatments. In this study, as potential biological control measures, antagonistic Bacillus isolates and different types of biochar were added to soil separately and excellent antagonistic strains mixed with bamboo biochar were applied to the soil. The results showed that seven Bacillus strains promoted the growth of soybean seedlings and reduced root rot severity by 33 to 61%. Bacillus amylolique faciens NH2 was associated with the lowest incidence of soybean root rot, indicating its bio-control potential. The value of plant height, root length and plant dry weight of soybean in the sterilized soil mixed with biochar separately treatment were superior to those of soybean in the inoculated with pathogen treatment, especially the bamboo biochar treatment reduced soybean root rot caused by Fusarium significantly and which bio-control efficacy was 77.41%. The soybean plants shoot and root dry weights in the biochar mixed B. amylolique faciens NH2 or B. subtilis DBK treatments were increased by17.1, 10.7% and 19.51, 19.64%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the inoculated pathogen treatment. Compared to antagonistic strain or biochar individual treatments, the disease control efficiency on soybean root rot was up to 64.86% in NH2 strain mixed with bamboo biochar treatment, which reduced root rot severity significantly and showed a synergistic effect. These results suggest that antagonistic Bacillus strains mixed with biochar can be used as an effective alternative in managing soybean root rot. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers

Enhancing Growth and Glucosinolate Accumulation in Watercress (Nasturtium officinale L.) by Regulating Light Intensity and Photoperiod in Plant Factories

Recent advancements in light-emitting diode technology provide an opportunity to evaluate the correlation between different light sources and plant growth as well as their secondary metabolites. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal light intensity and photoperiod for increasing plant growth and glucosinolate concentration and content in watercress. Two-week-old seedlings were transplanted in a semi-deep flow technique system of a plant factory for 28 days under four photoperiod–light intensity treatments (12 h—266 µmol·m−2·s−1, 16 h—200 µmol·m−2·s−1, 20 h—160 µmol·m−2·s−1, and 24 h—133 µmol·m−2·s−1) with the same daily light integral. The mean values of shoot fresh and dry weights were the highest under the 20 h—160 µmol·m−2·s−1 treatment, although there was no significant difference. Net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance gradually decreased with decreasing light intensity and increasing photoperiod. However, total glucosinolate concentration was significantly higher under 20 h—160 µmol·m−2·s−1 and 24 h—133 µmol·m−2·s−1 compared with 12 h—266 µmol·m−2·s−1 and 16 h—200 µmol·m−2·s−1. The total glucosinolate content was the greatest under 20 h—160 µmol·m−2·s−1 treatment. These data suggest that the 20 h—160 µmol·m−2·s−1 treatment promoted the maximum shoot biomass and glucosinolate content in watercress. This study supplies the optimal light strategies for the future industrial large-watercress cultivation.

Karakter Perakaran Sejumlah Varietas Kopi Arabika pada Fase Bibit di Pesemaian

Roots represent the fundamental structure and material transport systems in plants. These important organs are used to study the adaptation processes in the environment. During the nursery stage, root evaluation serves as determining the seedling quality before transplant. This research aims to ascertain the root characteristics of several Arabica coffee varieties for a suitably vigorous root nursery system. Kaliwining Experimental Garden, Jember, Indonesia, served as the research location. The method used was a completely randomized design with a single factor, including arabica coffee varieties (Abesinia-3, Andungsari-1, BLP-4, Gayo-1, K-08, K-29, K-34, K-79, K-130, Kartika-1, Kayumas and Sigararutang). The result showed that the differences in the various sample factors significantly influenced the root properties. In addition, the entire observation parameters demonstrated a positive correlation except for the root and shoot ratio. Furthermore, BLP-4 v obtained the maximum values for plant height, stem diameter, fresh dry weight of taproot, and root biomass, while Gayo-1 variety observed the greatest number of leaves. Also, the Sigararutang variety indicated the highest value of the fresh and dry weight of shoot, fresh weight of lateral roots, and root length, while Kayumas and K-34 varieties acquired the lowest values of plant height, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root, as well as root length. Therefore, BLP-4, Gayo-1, and Sigararutang varieties exhibited the potentials of broader adaptability.

Effect of Different Silicone Sources and Concentrations on in vitro Micro Propagation of 140 Ru Grape Rootstock

Silicon, which is widely used in different fields, has been used in plant production in vivo and in vitro studies in recent years. Especially in in vitro studies, it is seen that its effect on plant growth and development has been examined. In this study, the effect of three different silicon sources and their four concentrations on micro-propagation of 140 Ru grape rootstocks was investigated. In the study, as explants one-node micro cuttings of rootstock and MS (Murashige and Skoog) as the nutrient medium were used. 1 mg L-1 BA (Benzyl Adenine) at the stage of obtaining shoots from cuttings and in the rooting stage, 1 mg L-1 IBA (Indole Butyric Acid) were added to the nutrient medium. At both stages, 0 (Control), 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg L-1 doses of potassium, sodium and calcium silicate were added to the nutrient medium. Explant viability and mortality rate, shooting rate, plant length, node number, shoot fresh and dry weight, chlorophyll content (SPAD), root number, root length, root fresh and dry weight were examined to determine the effect of the applications. The variance analysis of the study was carried out according to the Two-Way Completely Randomized Experimental Design. According to the results, among the silicon sources, the highest shooting rate (84.40%) was found in the medium containing sodium silicate. The highest shoot fresh and dry weight (0.178 g and 0.026 g, respectively) and root fresh and dry weight values (0.213 g and 0.023 g, respectively) were obtained from potassium silicate. While the number of roots was 2.98 in the medium containing potassium, it was determined as 2.91 in the medium containing calcium silicate. Media containing 1 mg L-1 silicate was found to be more successful than 0, 05, 2 mg L-1 concentrations. The highest values recorded at the concentration were 4.49 cm in plant length, 7.44 in node number, 0.183 g and 0.028 g in shoot fresh and dry weight, respectively, 28.37 in SPAD value and 3.27 in root number. As a result of the study, it is concluded that adding 1 mg L-1 concentration of potassium, calcium and sodium silicate to the nutrient medium can be used in future studies related with in micro propagation.

Feeding ecology of the vulnerable sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) in and around Mount Abu wildlife sanctuary, Rajasthan, India

ABSTRACT Feeding ecology of sloth bears was studied in semi-evergreen forests in Mount Abu wildlife sanctuary, western India from May 2014 to April 2015. We examined 192 scats (70 in summer, 49 in monsoon, 73 in winter) for frequency of occurrence, percentage of dry weight and importance value index of food items. Four insect orders (Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera) and 47 plants were identified in the diet. No significant seasonal difference (p = 0.11) in the frequency of occurrence in overall diet was observed, but plant parts and number of plant species in diet varied seasonally (p = 0.014). Diet during summer and monsoon exhibited no significant difference (p = 0.65) and showed much similarity (Cs = 0.54), but it was significantly different in other seasons (p < 0.05). The sloth bear consumes more plant parts during summer and monsoon but more insects during winter.

Growth-enhanced Performance by Pleurotus ostreatus Cultivated on Salon Effluent and Spent Calcium-carbide Amended Substrates

Aims: To investigate the growth response of Pleurotus ostreatus, a wood-rotting fungus, to different growth substrates [Sawdust (SD), dry banana leaves (BL) and a combination of both BL and SD (BLSD)] amended with waste [salon effluent (SE) and spent calcium-carbide (SC)].&#x0D; Place and duration of study: Department of Plant and Ecological Studies, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, between May 2015 and August 2015.&#x0D; Methodology: Amendments were applied to growth substrates at different levels of concentration as follows: 0 ml and 0 g, 5 ml and 5 g, 10 ml and 10 g, 15 ml and 15 g per kg substrate. Mature mushrooms were harvested and assessed on the following parameters; number of fruit bodies, fresh weight, dry weight, length of stipe, girth of stipe, pileus area using conventional method.&#x0D; Results: Number of fruitbodies, fresh weight, dry weight and stipe length increased with increase in concentration of additives. Best performances of these growth parameters were obtained at 15 g/kg and 15 ml/kg concentration. The highest number of fruitbodies (with a peak mean value of 28.42 fruitbodies at 15 g/kg concentration), highest value of fresh weight and dry weight were observed in SD. The longest stipe length, largest stipe girth and pileus area were observed in BLSD, though it exhibited least performances in other growth parameters. BLSD amended with salon effluent produced mushrooms with the largest pileus area (with a peak mean value of 53.8 cm2 at 15ml concentration) compared to the other substrates.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study reveals that all growth parameters of P. ostreatus assessed were positively influenced by all the levels of amendments on the substrates used in this study. Therefore, these wastes could be used to increase the yield of P. ostreatus and possibly remediate sites polluted by these wastes.

Trichoderma and Phosphite Elicited Distinctive Secondary Metabolite Signatures in Zucchini Squash Plants

Plant biostimulants are “green” solutions to improve crop production. Trichoderma spp. and phosphites, ordinarily used as biocontrol agents, can trigger phytostimulation, also promoting endogenous mechanisms involved in plant growth and development. The present study aimed at assessing the efficacy of a phosphite-based formulation (Phosphit-One) and Trichoderma harzianum-T22 on the morpho-physiological response and modulation of the metabolomics profile in zucchini squash plants (Cucurbita pepo L.) cultivated in controlled growth conditions (Fitotron®). The highest values of fresh biomass production (390.9 g plant−1) and root dry weight (5.6 g plant−1) were obtained for Trichoderma-treated plants. This last treatment resulted in an improved physiological performance (SPAD index, CO2 assimilation rate, and Fv/Fm ratio) measured 30 days after transplanting. Both Trichoderma and phosphite treatments induced a broad metabolic reprogramming in leaves, evident also for the phosphite treatment that did not result in a growth promotion. The microbial and the non-microbial treatments showed distinctive signatures in secondary metabolism yet, common responses could be also highlighted. For instance, both Trichoderma and phosphite triggered ROS-mediated signaling processes, together with the accumulation of phenylpropanoids, glucosinolates, and phytoalexins. Furthermore, a significant alteration of phytohormones was observed, with terpenoid gibberellins and brassinosteroids showing the largest differences. The metabolomic signatures induced by Trichoderma and phosphite in zucchini squash provided molecular insights into the processes underlying elicitation of plant defense due to biostimulation. Interestingly, the modulation of plant secondary metabolism by both treatments did not impair plant growth.

Physiological quality of pink pepper seeds (Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi.) as a function of storage

Seeds of native forest species for food and seedling production have a growing demand that impacts the need for studies involving seed storage in order to maintain good levels of germination quality. Thus, scientific analyzes that explore the physiological potential of the seeds of these species are necessary, especially for the pink pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi.), a species used as an alternative source of income for traditional communities and which has been arousing interest due to the consumption of its fruits as a condiment in the national and international market. This work aimed to assess the physiological quality of pink pepper seeds according to the storage period and seed size. The seeds came from a rural settlement, a pioneer in the extraction of pink pepper, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The seeds were evaluated for moisture content, germination, first count, length and dry weight of the germinated seedlings, during the period of time that they remained stored and the size of the seeds. The results allowed to conclude that: i) the germinative percentage of the stored pink pepper seeds decreased over the months; ii) the moisture content of the seeds decreased over the months evaluated iii) the different sizes of seeds did not show differences in germination and storage time and iv) values of length and dry weight of the seedlings did not differ according to the period of storage.

Pavement Design of Coal Mine Hauling Road in Indonesia using California Bearing Ratio (CBR) data

Mine activities in the open-pit method are usually dominated by digging-loading-hauling. This hauling road is the infrastructures that is highly essential in mine area and serve as main linkage some locations. Design of the road requires careful attend in avoidance of failure in construction and disruption in production activities. Field investigations such as insitu CBR testing and laboratory testing (Proctor Modified and CBR laboratory) were chosen to determine the geotechnical parameters of soils that needed in the design of hauling road. The average value of the laboratory CBR testing at 0.1 inch penetration was 16%. The modified type of proctor test comprise some parameters such as the average value of the maximum dry density was 1.64 gr/cm3; the maximum wet density was 1.97 gr/cm3; the average value of dry unit weight was 16.07 kN/m3; saturated unit weight was 19.30 kN/m3; optimum moisture content was 20.2%. The average value of insitu CBR testing at 0.1 inch penetration was 19%. The average load of tire pressures on the front and rear wheels is 7000 lbs. The ability of road to carry the load should have the bearing capacity > 20800 psf = 144.44 psi = 20.95 kPa. The thickness of each pavement layer is as follows: 17 inches of sub grade layer; 2 inches of sub-base course layer; 15 inches of base course layer; 5 inches of surface course layer.

Influence of Garlic Foliar Treatment with some Plant Extracts on Purple Blotch Disease in Relation to Plant Growth, Yield and some Biochemical Responses

The experiments were carried out during 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 seasons. Greenhouse experiments carried out at Department of Plant pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University. Field experiments were carried out at Kaha Vegetable Research Farm, Kaliobia Governorate. Compared with untreated infected garlic plants Sids-40 cultivar, all foliar applications with aqueous extracts of each of henna (Lawsonia inermis), licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), mixtures of them at levels 5% and 10% for each extract or Ridomil plus (2.5g /L) showed significant decrease in purple blotch severity and resulted in significant increases in phenolic compounds, oxidative enzymes activity i.e., CAT, POD and PPO during two growing seasons. However, significant decreases of proline content were resulted in the treated infected leaves during both seasons. Spraying with licorice and mixtures of extracts at5% and10% resulted the highest significant decreases of disease severity under both greenhouse and field conditions. Also, licorice at10% exhibited the highest values of plant length, fresh and dry weight of plants, values of bulb weight, total yield at harvest and after curing. Mycelial inhibition test proved that all extracts have an inhibitory effect on mycelial growth of A. porri and licorice extract exhibited the highest effect, even still lower than Ridomil Plus effect. It can be concluded that all aqueous extracts tested were able to reduce the disease severity as a result of either direct microbial growth inhibition or induction of garlic plant resistance against A. porri, thus as well was associated with improved plant growth parameters and garlic yield.

One-year intradialytic leg exercises with resistance bands and fat mass increase in elderly hemodialysis patients: a retrospective study

BackgroundIntradialytic exercises are recommended to be available as a treatment for enhancing physical functioning. However, there have been few reports which evaluated the results of long-term mild intradialytic exercises in elderly patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the changes in body weight, body composition, and laboratory data in elderly hemodialysis patients after 1-year intradialytic leg exercises with resistance bands.MethodsA retrospective study. Twenty-one outpatients, aged 65 or older (mean ± SD, 75.2 ± 5.1 years), received intradialytic leg exercises with resistance bands for a year were analyzed. The values of dry weight, body composition, and laboratory data were collected from the year-ago period, at baseline and 1 year after baseline. Fat and muscle mass were evaluated by using a multi-frequency bioimpedance device.ResultsPhysical performance changed and body weight increased after 1-year resistance band exercises. However, the participants gained fat mass, not muscle mass. Although the changes in biochemical data related to protein intake were equivocal, triglyceride levels increased significantly after 1-year exercises. An elevation in serum creatinine levels was observed, even if solute clearance increased significantly.ConclusionsOne-year intradialytic leg exercises with resistance bands may have a potential clinical benefit for body mass index even in elderly hemodialysis patients. However, optimal dietary modification is needed to achieve a balanced increase of muscle and fat mass. An increase of serum creatinine levels does not always mean muscle mass hypertrophy.

Effects of different day length and wind conditions to the seedling growth performance of Phragmites australis

BackgroundTo understand shade and wind effects on seedling traits of common reed (Phragmites australis), we conducted a mesocosm experiment manipulating day length (10 h daytime a day as open canopy conditions or 6 h daytime a day as partially closed canopy conditions) and wind speed (0 m/s as windless conditions or 4 m/s as windy conditions).ResultsMost values of functional traits of leaf blades, culms, and biomass production of P. australis were higher under long day length. In particular, we found sole positive effects of long day length in several functional traits such as internode and leaf blade lengths and the values of above-ground dry weight (DW), rhizome DW, and total DW. Wind-induced effects on functional traits were different depending on functional traits. Wind contributed to relatively low values of chlorophyll contents, angles between leaf blades, mean culm height, and maximum culm height. In contrast, wind contributed to relatively high values of culm density and below-ground DW.ConclusionsAlthough wind appeared to inhibit the vertical growth of P. australis through physiological and morphological changes in leaf blades, it seemed that P. australis might compensate the inhibited vertical growth with increased horizontal growth such as more numerous culms, indicating a highly adaptive characteristic of P. australis in terms of phenotypic plasticity under windy environments.

TOMATO (Solanum esculentum Mill.) YIELD AND NUTRITIONAL TRAITS ENHANCEMENT AS AFFECTED BY BIOCHAR, ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS

This experiment studied the effects of biochar and chicken manure tea compost on growth, productivity, and nutritional traits of tomato (Solanum esculentum MILL). A factorial based experiment within complete randomized block design with three replications was conducted to evaluate the traits. The results showed that the biochar + chemical fertilizer (TIB1) contained the significantly highest values of soil EC (1.81 dsm–1), total N (0.39%), available P (156.92 ppm), available K (442.22 ppm), leaf N (3.54%), leaf K (6.73%), and shoot dry weight (463 g). The treatment of (TIB1) increased the production of tomatoes by 393.9% above the control soil conditions. Significant differences in fruit quality were observed. The biochar + chicken manure compost tea (1 : 4) (T3B1) treatment contained the highest values of total polyphenols (378.83 mg) and vitamin C (29.03 mg/100 g–1), it but did not significantly affect total soluble solid and titratable acidity values on average compared with control conditions. However, the application of biochar at 10 tons ha–1 cannot fully substitute for fertilizers. Therefore, nutrition management can be achieved by biochar plus inorganic and organic fertilizer to increase tomato productivity and quality, respectively.

The Effect of Salicylic Acid on the Performances of Salt Stressed Strawberry Plants, Enzymes Activity, and Salt Tolerance Index

The influence of salicylic acid (SA) on growth, yield, fruits’ quality and enzymes’ activities was monitored in strawberry plants cv. Camarosa grown under salinity stress via two pot experiments in two successive years of 2018 and 2019. The examined concentrations of SA were 30, 60, and 90 ppm, which foliary applied in addition to control (sprayed with water), while the used levels of salinity were 20, and 40 mM as NaCl as irrigation application in addition to control (without salinity). The results showed a significant effect of salinity at 40 mM where the mean values of shoot fresh and dry weights, chlorophyll, leaves’ NPK, yield plant−1, yield ha−1, and fruits’ ascorbic acid were significantly decreased. However, the 40 mM salinity resulted in a significant increase in leaves’ content of Na and proline as well as catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) enzymes’ activity and the fruits’ TSS and acidity. The application with 90 ppm SA was found to be the most significant positive treatment for all of the studied characters except the Na leaves’ content. Regarding tolerance index percentages (STI%), the high values of CAT, POD, and proline referred to the ability to use them as indicators for strawberry salinity response in other physiological and plant breeding studies. The findings of this study suggest that the 90 ppm SA foliar application can ameliorate the negative effect of salinity on the growth of strawberry cv. Camarosa.

Effects of 24-epibrassinolide on root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid &amp; White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949 (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae) in tomatoes

In this study conducted in 2020, three concentrations (1, 5 and 10 µM) of 24-epibrassinolide were applied to seedlings of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. (Solanales: Solanaceae) cv. H2274, which is susceptible to root-knot nematodes, by immersion, spray and irrigation, and its effects against root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949 (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae) were investigated. One-thousand second stage juveniles of M. incognita , collected from cucumber roots in a greenhouse located in Çardak, Çanakkale were inoculated on the roots of the plants. After eight weeks, stem fresh weight, stem dry weight, root diameter and longest root length values, in addition to the stem length and stem diameter measured at the beginning and end of the experiment, were recorded. 24-Epibrassinolide, applied by an immersion method, gave similar or better results than the control even in the presence of nematodes. Distilled water plus nematode application showed the highest gall index whereas 5 µM 24-epibrassinolide plus nematode application gave the lowest gall index. The lowest number of egg mass was also obtained from the same concentration of 24-epibrassinolide applied by immersion. As a result, 24-epibrassinolide showed a beneficial effect in terms of reducing the damage caused by the nematodes in tomato plants, depending on the concentration and application method.