Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca
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Effects of shading on photosynthetic characteristics of wax apple leaves
Get PDFThe wax apple (Syzygium samarangense) is a highly valuable fruit species in Southeast Asia. To regulate the fruiting season, shading is commonly used to induce flowering in wax apple. However, the effects of shading on the growth of wax apple is not well understood. To address this, we conducted a study analyzing the photosynthetic characteristics of wax apple leaves under 40% and 90% shading rates. Our findings revealed that shading had a significant impact on the photosynthesis and branching tip development of wax apple. During shading treatments, the chlorophyll contents of the leaves increased to enhance light absorption efficiency. In the 40% shading treatment, the primary factor causing the decrease in net photosynthetic rate was stomatal limitation, while in the 90% shading treatment, both stomatal and non-stomatal limitations contributed to the decrease in net photosynthetic rate. These results are indications that sheading plays a key role in chlorophyll and photosynthesis in wax apple. These results will have led to a new research direction for genetic crop improvement
Breeding potential of morphological and phytochemical characteristics of landraces and autochthone varieties of Capsicum annuum L. in Republic of Serbia
Get PDFBy maintaining a large number of local pepper genotypes, it is possible to preserve a large number of desirable genes that can be used in different pepper selection programs. The aim of this study was to classify a part of the collection of 15 genotypes (11 populations and 4 varieties originating from autochthonous populations) of peppers originating from Republic of Serbia. Morphological characteristics (weight, length, width, pericarp thickness, color before fruit ripening, shape and number of fruit chambers) and 10 phytochemical parameters of the fruit (carbohydrates, essential oils, ash, cellulose, beta carotene, potassium, iron, vitamin C, total phenols, antioxidant activity) were studied. Using statistical multivariate techniques (PCA and Cluster analysis), the degree of variation between local populations was assessed and diversity was determined based on the morphological and nutritional characteristics of pepper fruits. Morphological traits were determined using two main components that accounted for 70.3% of the variability. These components accounted for 49.8% of the variation in nutritional traits. The ‘Čokotanka’ population would be suitable for individual selection and reduced divergence within the population, since it has 6 tested traits that resulted in high diversity index. Populations ‘Stojankina kletva’, ‘Lalić’ and ‘Strižanka’ would be suitable for recombination of genes to improve the properties of individual selection programs for this vegetable species
Insight into possible therapeutic applications of Ephedra transitoria: in-vitro biological, toxicological activities and GC-MS analysis of aerial parts’ extract
Get PDFMost Arab nations have arid regions where Ephedra transitoria, a plant, flourishes. It has a variety of medical benefits. It belongs to the Ephedraceae family. The plant's aerial portions were procured from the Hail region of Saudi Arabia, methanol was used to extract bioactive phytochemicals with variable solubility in an efficient manner, and the resulting extract was tested on several cancer cell lines. The extract's cytotoxic potential was measured by using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay method against standard vinblastine sulfate and for each cell line, the pertinent half maximal inhibitory concentration values were calculated. Additional apoptosis assays were conducted. Also, the antioxidant activity of plant extract was examined using 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and [2, 2’-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate)] methods compared to ascorbic acid standard. Also, antimicrobial effect of extract was evaluated on different gram positive and gram-negative bacteria by zone inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentration assay methods. GC-MS analysis was further applied to identify major bioactive substances. Extract showed good cytotoxic activity against both lung and liver cancer cells with relevant half maximal inhibitory concentration values comparable to those of standard. Extract resulted in S-phase arrest, primarily via inducing apoptosis mediated through activating caspase-3, Bax, and p53 proteins. Plant extract showed good antibacterial activities against S. aureus, E. coli and B. subtilis. Also, it showed high antioxidant activity with relevant half maximal inhibitory concentration values comparable to those of standard. Some bioactive compounds were separated and identified by GC-MS analysis such as; ephedrine and quercetin. ephedra transitoria extract possess high cytotoxic activity against lung and liver cancer cells via S-phase arrest mediated by activation of apoptotic proteins. It also possesses high antioxidant and antibacterial activities
Ameliorating heat stressed conditions in wheat by altering its physiological and phenotypic traits associated with varying nitrogen levels
Get PDFCurrently, more than half of the global nations cultivating wheat crops are facing severe consequences of climate change and its associated heat stress in terms of quantitative and qualitative yield losses. Plants exposed to heat stress need a balanced and adequate amount of mineral nutrients to counter its ill effects. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the potential effects of heat stress applied during the vegetative growth period (Zadoks growth scale: ZGS 5-60) on physiological and phenotypic traits of wheat (Triticum aestivum) crop subjected to variable rates of nitrogen (N). In this experiment, wheat plants of cv. ‘Punjab-2011’ were exposed to two levels of temperature i.e. heat stress (HS) and control or non-heat stress (NHS), and three N rates (N50 = 50 kg ha-1, N100= 100 kg ha-1 and N150 = 150 kg ha-1). The experiment was executed under controlled conditions in a completely randomized design (CRD) with six replications. One set of eighteen pots containing wheat seedlings was placed in a compartment of the greenhouse under heat-stressed conditions, while another set was placed in another compartment under non-heated conditions. The greenhouse compartments were equipped with a heating and cooling system to maintain desired ecological conditions. Pots in heated chamber were kept for 60 days from emergence (ZGS = 5-60), and then shifted to non-heated chamber till harvesting. The temperature in heat stress treatment was almost 2 ± 0.47 °C higher than in non-heated treatment. The results indicated that HS significantly reduced the photosynthetic rate by 42.52%, leaf photosynthetic efficiency by 56.82%, chlorophyll scores by 20.11%, relative water contents (RWC) by 12.81%, tillers by 48.21%, grain weight by 21.47% and grain yield by 68.20% relative to NHS conditions. These reductions were more prominent in plants subjected to a limited N dose rate (50 kg N ha-1). Furthermore, the results also revealed higher transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and membrane ruptures under HS with N50 treatment. However, N150 treatment compensated for the detrimental effects of HS on wheat plants by improving the photosynthetic rate and efficiencies, higher RWC, more stability of membrane and pigments, more tillers, and higher grain weight, and grain yield of wheat. Additionally, grain yield was negatively correlated with transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, internal CO2 concentration, and membrane leakage. In conclusion, a high dose rate of N under high temperatures during vegetative growth could alleviate the magnitude of penalties to grain yield and enhance the potential of wheat crops to withstand heat-induced detrimental effects
Alleviating adverse effects of environmental stress in plants through chitosan application
Get PDFChitosan encourages the growth of plants, controls their metabolic processes and homeostasis, and activates their defence mechanisms. On one side, it hinders the ability of pathogens by preventing their growth and limiting their reproduction, so it will become a more common and ideal asset for agricultural sustainability. Additionally, cesium (Cs) stimulated the SOS1 pathway and raised a number of gene transcripts related to energy generation, phenol metabolism, proton motive force, salt compartmentalization, and other processes. However, plants exposed to salt stress were treated with cesium nanoparticles (CsNPs) and modified CsBMs, which boosted indole terpene alkaloid metabolism, defense-related genes, decreased ROS formation by boosting jasmonic acid (JA) signalling, increased essential oil, anthocyanins, membrane stability, alkaloids, and diterpene glycosides. This is the first review that specifically compares Cs/CsNPs/modified CsBMs treatment options under salt stress and offers insights about the biological and biochemical parameters of the plants. It also recommends using CsNPs and modified CsBMs rather than Cs for better plant function under salinity stress
Heat stress responses and mitigation strategies in wheat: an updated and comprehensive review
Get PDFThe main consequence of climate change on temperature is global warming. Over the past century, worldwide temperature has increased, rising by about 0.14 degrees Fahrenheit every year. Rising temperature negatively affects morphology, physiology, and yield of crops. Over the last 5 years, agriculture production in Pakistan affected due to temperature increase. Pakistan is an agriculture based developing country. About 2.2% GDP of Pakistan depends on wheat crop which is 1st major cereal crop and ranked as staple food. Nutritionally it provides proteins, dietary fibers, carbohydrates, calcium, and other important compounds but because of the harmful effects of a high temperature, yield of wheat crop in Pakistan has reduced to lowest levels in the last few years. Heat stress affects wheat plants by reducing growth, raised reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, denature cell membranes, and enzymes activity, decreasing photosynthetic activity and disturbing respiration processes. Improving wheat crop productivity is urgently needed to feed the rapidly growing population. Several techniques like Quantitative Trait Locus mapping, omics techniques, and application of nutrients have been used in the past to mitigate high temperature effect on wheat and other different crop plants. This review critically analyzes the response of wheat towards heat stress and its impacts on wheat crop as well as provides critical information on advanced strategies and techniques for the mitigation of heat stress
Identification and expression profiling of heteroglycan glucosidase 1 enzyme of Cenchrus americanus
Get PDFMaltose metabolism is a critical process during plant growth, which provides energy during development and reproduction. To investigate maltose metabolism in C4 plants, we identified and analyzed the expression of the heteroglycan glucosidase 1 (HGL1) enzyme from Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone. The sequenced cDNA of CaHGL1 (3469 bp) encoded for a deduced protein of 1047 aa. Transmembrane topology revealed that CaHGL1 is a membrane-bound protein that comprises a signal peptide and a transmembrane helix. The promoter of CaHGL1 contains cis-elements related to the responses to light, abiotic stress and phytohormones. Real-time PCR revealed high expression in inflorescence and roots during the vegetative stage. Moreover, phytohormone treatments caused an activation of CaHGL1 expression in the seedling root and shoot by ABA, cytokinin, and BL, and an inhibition by JA in the seedling root and shoot. However, treatment with GA and IAA caused an activation in the CaHGL1 expression only in the shoot. Stress treatment induced the expression of CaHGL1 under drought, cold, and salt stress. The results of the current study give insight into the activity of the HGL1 enzyme in maltose metabolism under abiotic stress, which can aid in understanding the different metabolic pathways in Cenchrus americanus under stress
Micronutrient and heavy metal bioaccumulation in Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers) grown in calcareous soil using stabilized and dried sewage sludge
Get PDFThis study examines the micronutrients and heavy metal bioaccumulation in Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers), grown in two different types of calcareous soil (CS) with the application of stabilized and dried sewage sludge (SS). At the end of the growth period, the Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu (micronutrients) concentrations in the substrate have increased. Furthermore, it was determined that the total Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu concentrations were higher in CS1 compared to CS2. For the heavy metals the concentrations of Ni and Cr have increased, and the concentration of total Cd has slightly but significantly decreased. The total Pb concentration was below the detection limit (DL for Pb <0.03 mg kg-1). It was determined that the total Ni, Cr and Cd concentrations were higher in CS1 than in CS2. In the aerial biomass of the Bermuda grass, the Fe and Zn concentrations have increased with increasing SS applications, whereas Mn concentrations have decreased. Ni, Cr, Cd and Pb concentrations were unaffected by SS applications for both types of CS. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) values for the shoot of the plant (BCFFe, BCFZn, BCFMn, BCFCu, BCFNi, BCFCr, BCFCd) were determined to be below the critical limit of 1. The application of sewage sludge has not resulted in bioaccumulation above critical limits in the shoot of the plant. However, considering Bermuda grass substrate, it can be suggested to add sewage sludge to the calcareous soil in amounts between 20–40 t ha-1, considering its long-term remanence
Changes in composition, yield, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the Ocimum tenuiflorum L. essential oils as affected by fertilizers
Get PDFThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of multifunctional microbial fertilizer and inorganic macronutrient fertilizers N, P, K on plant biomass, essential oil yield, chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum L.) grown in Hanoi, Vietnam. Among the four formulas tested, F2 emerged as the most favourable, comprising a basal fertilization of 10 tons of decomposed manure, 15 kg of multifunctional microbial fertilizer, 150 kg of P fertilizer, and 75 kg of K fertilizer, together with top dressing of 200 kg of N fertilizer and 75 kg of K fertilizer per hectare. This formula yielded the highest tulsi dry biomass (4.73 ton/ha), essential oil yield (0.831%), and essential oil production (39.29 L/ha), which were significantly different (p < 0.001) from those of the remaining formulas. In addition, the concentration of the essential oil main compound - eugenol (63.1%) of tulsi in F2 was also the highest, which may be the cause of the strongest antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli (IC50 of 320, 273 µg/mL, respectively), and antifungal activity against Candida albicans (IC50 of 400 µg/mL), as well as antioxidant activity (IC50 of 0.165 µg/mL) compared to the other formulas tested. The results suggested the role of both multifunctional microbial fertilizer and inorganic macronutrient fertilizers N, P, K on growth and essential oil biosynthesis in tulsi. These findings are important in identifying the most efficient fertilization formula for cultivating tulsi, serving the needs of the cosmetic and medicinal industries
Integrated management of yellow aphid (Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner) in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) Moench in Guerrero, Mexico
Get PDFSorghum is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world and is an important cereal for Mexico. However, it is affected by different pests, especially the yellow aphid. The objective of the research was to evaluate the effectiveness of biological, botanical and chemical insecticides in reducing Melanaphis sacchari populations in sorghum plants under greenhouse conditions. Planting was conducted in a greenhouse, using the sorghum hybrid 945-M. Pests, diseases and weeds management were implemented. The incidence of the yellow aphid was induced artificially. A total of 13 treatments were applied. The following variables were assessed: the number of aphids per leaf, the biological effectiveness of the treatments, plant height, diameter of the plant stem, number of leaves, and the weight of fresh and dry plants. An analysis of variance was conducted for each variable under study, as along with a comparison of means using the Tukey method (α=0.05) and correlation analysis using the SAS® 9.4 software. The chemical, biological and organic insecticide that exhibited the greatest control of the yellow aphid (more than 95%) were: Toretto® (sulfoxaflor), PHC® Meta Tron® (M. anisopliae), Bio-Die® (Argemonin, Berberine, Ricinin and a-Terthienyl). Adequate management strategies are needed to avoid health problems in people, environmental contamination and resistance or multiple resistance