Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca
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Impact of nitrogen fertilization on raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) fruit quality and soil fertility
Full text linkThis study investigates the effects of nitrogen fertilization on raspberry fruit quality and soil fertility over two years. The experiment involved the application of complex NPK fertilizers and varying doses of nitrogen fertilizer (CAN) to raspberry plants of ‘Willamette’ and ‘Tulameen’ cultivars in the Ivanjica raspberry region. Results indicate a positive correlation between nitrogen doses and soil fertility, with ‘Tulameen’ soil showing lower nutrient levels compared to ‘Willamette’. Increasing nitrogen doses led to higher levels of primary and secondary chemical compounds in raspberry fruit, particularly in the ‘Willamette’ cultivar. Physical fruit properties were influenced by both variety and nitrogen doses, with significant effects observed in the first year of the study. Proper fertilizer application is crucial for achieving high and stable raspberry yields and fruit quality, while excessive nutrient application may lead to environmental pollution. Based on the comparison of soil fertility parameters and raspberry fruit quality, the recommended fertilizer dosage for raspberry cultivation in the Ivanjica raspberry region is 500 kg ha-1 of NPK fertilizer (16:16:16) and 300 kg ha-1 of CAN
Foliar-applied humic acid modulates antioxidant and mineral profiles in tomato fruit across maturity stages
Full text linkBerry quality can further be modulated by applying foliar biostimulants to cherry tomatoes depending on their maturity stage. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar application of humic acid (HA) on berry quality at different maturity stages. Humic acid was applied at concentrations of 0, 25, 50, and 75 mg L-¹ during the vegetative, flowering, and fruit-setting phases. Berries were harvested at four distinct maturity stages: mature green (MG), breaker (BK), pink (PK), and red (RD) stages. HA, particularly HA75, significantly enhanced berry quality when harvested at the red stage and exhibited better antioxidant activity due to elevated levels of vitamin C (44.20 mg 100 g-1 FW), lycopene (0.25 mg 100 g-1 FW), and β-carotene (27.58 mg 100 g-1 FW). It also had higher total soluble solids (6.17 °Brix) and pH (4.07) values. The reducing sugar content increased from 0.84% in mature green berries to 1.39% in red berries with the application of HA0 and HA75, respectively. The shelf-life of berries was extended from 13.28 days (HA0) to 15.58 days (HA75) at the green mature stage. Dry matter content peaked at 8.82% in HA75-treated mature green berries, whereas moisture content was highest (94.19%) in untreated (HA0) red berries. Conversely, at the red stage, HA50 and HA75 treatments resulted in the highest redness (a* values of 13.21 and 10.20, respectively), compared to 12.60 for the control (HA0). Lightness (L*) was highest in mature green berries treated with HA50 (61.43), indicating brighter fruit surfaces, whereas red berries showed lower L* values (49.80-52.70), consistent with ripening progression. Mineral uptake also improved, with Mg (2.39%), P (0.71%), and Fe (213.54 ppm) being the highest in HA75-treated red berries. These findings suggest that while humic acid can enhance certain quality traits, the maturity stage remains the dominant factor influencing berry quality traits
The genetic applications of plant cell and tissue culture techniques: Essential tools for genetic manipulation and crop improvement
Full text linkPlant cell and tissue culture techniques are fundamental to contemporary plant science, providing essential tools for genetic manipulation and crop improvement. This review examines the primary applications of these techniques, emphasizing their role in advancing fundamental plant biology and developing novel agricultural strategies. Micropropagation is a technique that enables the rapid and efficient asexual propagation of superior genotypes, which is crucial for conserving and disseminating valuable plant material. Furthermore, meristem culture effectively eradicates viruses from infected plants, ensuring the production of disease-free planting stock. Tissue culture techniques are also instrumental in generating genetic variability through somaclonal variation, in vitro mutagenesis, and in vitro selection. These methods provide a substantial source of genetic diversity, facilitating the development of new plant varieties with advantageous characteristics. Beyond generating variation, tissue culture is indispensable for genetic engineering, allowing for the stable integration of exogenous DNA into plant cells to produce transgenic plants with novel traits. Embryo rescue is another significant application. It overcomes challenges in seed development and enabling successful hybridization between otherwise incompatible plant species. By salvaging immature embryos and culturing them to maturity, this technique allows for the creation of hybrid plants possessing desirable trait combinations that would be unattainable through conventional breeding. In conclusion, these techniques have profoundly transformed plant science, offering diverse applications for genetic manipulation, crop improvement, and basic research. By enabling precise control over plant development at the cellular and tissue levels, these techniques are critical for developing improved crops with enhanced yield, nutritional quality, and resilience to environmental stressors
Introduction pages, NBHA-CN 53(3), 2025
No full textThe papers published in Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, Issue 3, Volume 53, 2025, represent new exciting research in different topics of life science, respectively in plant science, horticulture, agronomy, crop science, and forestry. Among the interesting articles, we invite you to find news about: Livestock-mediated food waste conversion: Advancing resource efficiency and sustainable agriculture; The genetic applications of plant cell and tissue culture techniques: Essential tools for genetic manipulation and crop improvement; Transcriptome analysis of wheat (Triticum aestivum) reveals regulatory mechanisms of adaptation to water deficit stress induced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; Potential role of nitrogen supplementation in alleviating flooding stress; Ameliorative role of salicylic acid on morpho-anatomy and physiology of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) under lead stress; Enhanced accumulation of total phenolic content and rosmarinic acid in cell suspension cultures of Ehretia asperula using elicitors and precursors; Influence of cultivation conditions on growth and water use efficiency of zucchini seedlings; Synergistic effects of humic acid and boron on quantitative and qualitative traits of tomato; Determination of yield by plant leaf temperature and thermal imaging in banana (Musa spp. AAA) under different cover materials; Biomass, carbon sequestration, and physiological behaviours of Paulownia ‘Shan Tong’ plantation under a semi-arid bioclimate; Variation in survival and stem quality of Douglas-fir provenances: Insights from 47-year-old common garden experiments in Romania
Reproductive trait variability and seed germination responses to electric field and low-dose gamma irradiation in Larix decidua Mill.
No full textLarix decidua Mill. (European larch) is an ecologically and economically important deciduous conifer in European mountain ecosystems, whose regeneration success depends on reproductive trait variability and seed physiological quality. Under ongoing climate change, understanding provenance-related differences and identifying effective, environmentally safe pre-sowing treatments are increasingly important. This study assessed the phenotypic variability of cones and seeds across seven geographic provenances of L. decidua established in the Baciu seed orchard (Romania) and evaluated seed germination responses to physical stimulation using electric field exposure and low-dose gamma irradiation. Significant differences among provenances were observed for cone morphology and seed biometric traits, including seed weight, size, and number of seeds per cone. Provenances from Sinaia and Brașov V.P. exhibited the highest mean seed weights, while Brașov V.C produced lighter seeds. Germination experiments showed that electric field treatments significantly enhanced germination, with higher voltages and longer exposure times producing the strongest effects. Low-dose gamma irradiation induced a clear dose-dependent response, with the 2 Gy treatment consistently improving germination percentage, germination index, and early seedling vigor across most provenances. Multivariate analyses (canonical correspondence analysis and UPGMA clustering) revealed distinct provenance-specific physiological responses, with Anina and Sinaia showing divergent reaction patterns, while Gura Humorului, Brașov V.C and Brașov V.P. formed a more homogeneous group. The results indicate that reproductive trait variability and seed germination capacity in L. decidua are strongly influenced by provenance origin and can be effectively modulated by physical pre-sowing treatments, supporting their use in regeneration programs
Benefits of natural biostimulants: Ginger and moringa extracts as seed priming agents to improve salinity tolerance of Ocimum basilicum L.
Full text linkUsing natural biostimulants such as plant extracts is a novel agronomic biofortification strategy to mitigate abiotic stresses such as salinity on crops. This study assessed seed priming effects on physiological and biochemical attributes of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) under salinity (0 and 100 mM NaCl). Seeds were primed for 12h with distilled water (hydro-priming, H2O), moringa leaf (ME) and ginger rhizome extracts (GE). Salt stress reduced plant fresh weight and hydration, but priming with all agents alleviated salinity impact on basil. ME priming notably boosted fresh weight (+81%) and water content (+50%) compared to unprimed salt-exposed plants. ME-primed plants exhibited the highest proline (2-fold) and sugar (1.5-fold) contents contributing to the osmotic adjustment. Seed priming with ME also reduced malondialdehyde level (MDA) by about 50% enhancing membrane stability. ME also significantly modulated secondary metabolism through the stimulation of polyphenols (+88%), flavonoids (+98%) and total antioxidant activity (+1.4-fold). It upregulated key enzymes: Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, +77%), Shikimate dehydrogenase (SKDH, +119%) and Polyphenoloxidase (PPO, +133%). Correlation analysis indicated that priming generally shifted correlation values from negative under salt stress to positive, with most r coefficients ranging between 0.8 and 1.00. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) clearly separated the primed and unprimed conditions, with the first two components explaining over 90% of the variability. Hence, these multivariate approaches confirm the beneficial effect of seed priming on basil growth and metabolism under salinity. Taken together, our findings provide new insights into the potential of using moringa leaf extract as a biostimulant to alleviate environmental stresses
Mitigating cadmium (Cd) toxicity and enhancing growth, yield, and antioxidant defence of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through silicon fertilizers
Full text linkCadmium (Cd) stress in agricultural soils poses a significant threat to wheat production, food safety, and human health. Wheat productivity is severely hampered by Cd toxicity; however, to overcome this problem silicon (Si) fertilization has emerged as a promising strategy to mitigate heavy metal toxicity in plants; in this study, we compare the efficacy of natural and synthetic Si fertilization sources in modulating wheat growth, Cd accumulation, and antioxidant responses under Cd-contaminated soil. The Si was used as Ca silicate at 75 kg ha-1 (synthetic Si source), and the rice husk at 150 kg ha-1 (natural Si source) with and without humic acid (10 mg kg-1 of soil) in comparison to control (Cd stress). Both Si sources were found to significantly boost the growth and yield attributes of wheat, while Cd stress significantly increased the electrolyte leakage that triggered oxidative stress. However, both Si sources decrease the oxidative stress and increase the superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities. Si fertilization also inhibited the uptake of Cd from roots and its translocation to shoots and grains of wheat plant. In comparison, the synthetic Si fertilization was more effective than natural Si fertilization as it produced highest increase in plant height (21.40%), grain yield (25.21%), and reduced Cd concentration in root (42.60%) and shoot (59.71%) than control (Cd stress). Conclusively, Si fertilization (preferably Ca silicate at 75 kg ha-1) alleviates the opposing impact of Cd on wheat growth by strengthening the antioxidant defense system, decreasing the Cd uptake and its translocation to humans
Morphological responses of green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to growth regulators
Full text linkMorphological traits although occasionally cited as outdated for scientific research remain indispensable indicators of plant performance, serving as crucial visible proxies for the interplay between genetic potential and environmental conditions in sustainable crop production. Intensified climate variability necessitates controlled environment agriculture to stabilize yields of vital horticultural crops like the green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Optimizing production requires the strategic integration of superior genetic accessions with precise chemical regulation. This study investigated the differential effects of three commercial growth regulator formulations (Formulation S, Formulation B, and Formulation N) on the morphological development and pod mass partitioning of a local indeterminate green bean accession (GB00788) under controlled greenhouse conditions. Significant treatment responses were observed. Formulation B notably enhanced root mass (2.61 g), while Formulation S significantly increased root mass (2.05 g), stem apical diameter (1.53 mm), total inflorescences (15.19), and secondary branching (5.41). Critically, Formulation S maximized pod mass on the main stem (30.86 g) but simultaneously reduced pod mass on secondary branches (7.82 g), demonstrating a strong trade-off in assimilate allocation. Furthermore, both Formulation B (2.63 ± 0.82 kg m-2) and Formulation N (2.46 ± 0.73 kg m-2) significantly improved early yield. These results reveal the complex, differential physiological effects of growth regulators on green bean development and biomass partitioning. The findings provide high-value, actionable insights for developing genotype-specific cultivation strategies, ultimately enhancing resource use efficiency and yield stability in modern greenhouse production
Integrating radial growth response of Himalayan cedar to climate change in the mountainous region of Shogran Valley, Pakistan
Full text linkHimalayan mountainous region is ecologically sensitive to climate change where forest ecosystems face monsoon climate and information is well recorded in tree rings. Tree growth is highly influenced by climate and its response is inconsistent, varying geographically with different forest composition and different tree species. Assessment of the growth response of trees has important implications for forest dynamics and sustainable forest management. Wood samples of Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) were obtained from coniferous forest (Shogran Valley, Pakistan) by following standard dendrochronological techniques. Ring width characteristics of samples were studied and their regression analysis between DBH (diameter at breast height) vs age and DBH vs growth rate showed significant correlation (R2 = 0.5275, R2 = 0.0449 respectively). Statistical Quality of cross dating and accuracy of tree-ring measurements showed mean sensitivity values of 0.272 and autocorrelation values of 0.699. These values specified the good potential of the samples for dendroclimatological studies. Based on earlywood, latewood and total ring widths, chronologies were developed, analyzed and correlated with climate factors using standard dendrochronological software. The statistics of this chronology (1815-2021) with standard deviation of 0.408, 0.146, 0.161 and autocorrelation of 0.691, 0.576, 0.575 with mean sensitivity values of 0.273, 0.348, 0.279 respectively revealed the dendroclimatic potential of the species. Temperature and precipitations had strong influence upon ring widths. This dendrochronological analysis can be used for paleoclimate studies of the region which will improve our understanding of forest management and growth responses of tree species under climate change
Optimizing cucumber growth: integrating smart irrigation with various fertilization strategies in greenhouse conditions
Full text linkTwo different irrigations (full irrigation (FI) and 50% deficit irrigation (WS)) and fertilizations (G0 (not applied), G1 (only bottom fertilizer applied), G2 (only chemical fertilizer applied), G3 (bottom fertilizer and animal manure combined), and G4 (which is designed to apply the bottom fertilizer and chemical fertilizer combined)) were assessed in this study, which was carried out between autumn 2020–2021 with the aim of optimal water and nutrient use in cucumber cultivation in a greenhouse. These treatments were examined for their impacts on fruit quality (fruit weight, length, volume, and the total number of fruits), yield, leaf area (LA), irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), physiological aspects (net photosynthesis (Pn), stomatal conductivity (gs), leaf water potential (Ψl), and nutrient content (nitrogen (N) and potassium (K)). The smart irrigation system that sensed soil moisture and strategically utilized water ensured effective application of a fertilization mechanism that improved crop quality. The FI treatment significantly increased the fruit quality parameters LA, Pn, gs, and Ψl compared to other treatments, especially when it was combined with the G3 fertilization scheme. The FI treatment also significantly increased fruit yield by 28.3% compared to WS. Additionally, the smart irrigation system saved 20.6% more water under deficit irrigation (WS) and 9.1% more water under full irrigation (FI) compared to Et-based system. Optimally combined strategic fertilization and smart irrigation significantly changed key metrics in growth and development. The results pointed out that technology-driven systems integrated with real-time irrigation data-informed systems are crucial. This work advances sustainable agricultural practices through the integration of effective water management with optimal fertilization. Its findings have significant implications for water-scarce regions, providing a blueprint to improve agricultural productivity while maintaining critical resources