Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca
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Variations in seed oil and chemical composition among the safflower genotypes (Carthamus tinctorius L.)
Get PDFSeeds of oil crops are both important sources of edible oils and bioactive compounds. The present study was carried out to determine variations in oil content, bioactive compounds (total phenolic, flavonoid, carotenoid, xanthophyll and tocopherol) and fatty acid compositions in the seeds of 20 safflower genotypes. Relationships among these parameters were also examined with correlation and principal coordinate analysis. Significant differences for seed oil content and bioactive compounds were detected among the safflower genotypes. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the genotypes ranged from 5.10-14.55 mg g-1 and from 4.60-7.25 mg g-1, respectively. Total carotenoid and xanthophyll contents of seeds ranged from 3.75-19.17 mg g-1 and from 5.25-20.13 mg g-1, respectively. Total tocopherol content of safflower genotypes was between 43.56-76.42 mg 100 g-1. Oil content of the genotypes were between 24.07-34.53% with average value of 29.22%. Fatty acid analysis revealed that 16 genotypes were linoleic and 4 were oleic type and they had generally high palmitic acid content ranging from 5.6-12.89%. Total unsaturated/total saturated fatty acids ratios were between 4.55-11.59, and ‘Olas’ and ‘Linas’ had the highest values. Correlation analysis revealed 45 correlations, four were positively and 7 were negatively correlated with each other. Principal coordinate analysis showed that some genotypes were clustered separately based on their seed contents. Our results also confirmed that seed oil content, fatty acid compositions and seed chemical compositions among the safflower genotypes varied significantly and could be exploited for higher oil yield and oil quality
Biofortification with ZnO NPs as nanofertilizers to improve sustainable commercial and phytochemical quality in basil plants
Get PDFBiofortification is the process of developing a crop with bioavailable micronutrients in its edible parts. This has been done using nanofertilizers, since they can be used to feed plants in a gradual and controlled manner. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of ZnO NPs in different concentrations on the commercial and phytochemical quality of the basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) crop, as it is one of the most important aromatic plants used for chemical and pharmacological properties. Four concentrations of ZnO NPs (5, 10, 15 and 20 mg L-1) and a control treatment under a completely randomized design, were evaluated. The results show statistical differences in morphological parameters (leaf and stem fresh weight, height, number of leaves, leaf area and dry weight) with a slight tendency to increase on the treated basil plants mainly at concentration of 20 mg L-1. The highest chlorophyll content (5.54 µg g-1 FW) was obtained for the control treatment, whereas the lowest one (4.14 µg g-1 FW) was observed for the 20 mg L-1 treatment. However, carotenoid content in the leaves was markedly higher than the control, the control had the concentration of 0.84 µg g-1 FW, while the treatment with 20 mg L-1 ZnO NPs registered a value of 1.08 µg g-1 FW. The highest total phenolic, flavonoid, antioxidant capacity and vitamin C content was obtained for 20 mg L-1 ZnO NPs. Finally, basil plants treated with ZnO NPs could stimulate enzymatic activity, as demonstrated in this study. Detailed studies are suggested to understand the mechanism of action of nanoscale materials
Evaluation of the yield of strawberry genotypes by morpho-physiological parameters under deficit irrigation in the Mediterranean environment
Get PDFThe most pressing concern of the century is food security, mostly supported by irrigated agriculture. In this respect, studies on water stress have drawn increased attention with a highlighting expectation foreseen via our breeding efforts documented in this study concerning the significant commercial strawberry cultivars ‘Rubygem’, ‘Sabrina’ and ‘Festival’ along with some selected superior bred lines (‘33’, ‘36’, ‘59’, ‘61’ and ‘112’). Plants cultivated in the Spanish-type high tunnel were exposed to both full (IR100) and deficit irrigation (IR50) in the Mediterranean part of Türkiye. Fruit yield as well as certain critical morphological and physiological parameters were examined throughout the active harvest period. This study found that the parameters relating to the vegetative components, as well as the fruit weight and yield, drastically dropped when plants were subjected to deficit irrigation. Therefore, depending on the limited irrigation, as a result of the closure of stomata, it was concluded that the amount of water and stomatal conductance of the plant is associated with a decrease. IR50 was found to have less impact on low-yield genotypes than on high-yield genotypes. Photosynthetic activity and stomatal conductivity were high in the ‘33’ bred line with a high yield. On the other hand, photosynthesis activity and leaf water potential (LWP) values were relatively low in the ‘36’ bred line with low yield. The study proved that variables like photosynthetic activity, stomatal conductance, and LWP could be used as markers for high yield genotype selection
The efficiency of natural plant extracts in improving storage stability, antioxidant activity, sensory evaluation, and physicochemical properties of date juice-based energy drink
Get PDFEnergy drinks (EDs) are a type of sweetened and non-alcoholic beverage with high content of caffeine. EDs were prepared from date juice enriched with different concentrations of ginger rhizomes extract, moringa leaf extract, and caffeine. Physicochemical properties (pH, TSS, and color parameters), total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity, microbiological quality, and sensory characteristics were evaluated for freshly prepared EDs and during storage. The results showed that freshly prepared EDs from date juice and natural extracts revealed lower pH, higher TSS, and lower color parameters than the control. The inclusion of date juice and natural extracts improved the TPC, antioxidant activity, and microbiological quality of freshly prepared EDs. Storage studies exhibited that EDs containing date juice and natural extracts were more stable during storage in terms of all quality parameters estimated. However, the ED made from date juice, ginger extract, moringa extract, and caffeine was the best in terms of all parameters evaluated with higher stability during 3 months of storage at room temperature. In general, by date juice and natural plant extracts addition, a desirable ED can be prepared
Germplasm collection – valuable resources of variability for plant and ear traits in maize breeding
Get PDFMaize is one of the most important crops, both worldwide and in Romania, and preserving the diversity of the biological material used in the breeding of this plant is of particular importance. The Agricultural Research and Development Station (ARDS) Turda, Romania, inbred lines collection includes both its own genotypes and some obtained as a result of germplasm exchanges with other institutions in the country or abroad. In the present study, 575 lines created at Turda were analysed regarding some traits of the plant (plant height, ear height, total number of leaves, number of tassel branches) and the ear (ear length and weight, number of kernel rows and number of kernels/row). The biological material used in this study shows a great diversity: a medium or high variability coefficient was identified for several of the traits analysed (number of tassel branches, ear height, ear height). Frequency histograms were made for the studied lines, for plant and ear traits. A great variability also was observed in the colours of the anther and silk, but also for kernel type and colour and cob colour
Perennial forage legumes as an element of sustainable systems
Get PDFIn the current intensive systems of agricultural production, many important features, i.e., functions of the agroecosystem have been degraded and disrupted. The intensification of agricultural production inevitably leads to land degradation in terms of its physical, chemical, and biological properties. The increasing presence of monocultures, reduced crop rotation, and excessive use of mineral nutrients, lead to several negative phenomena in such agroecosystems. Along with efforts to reduce energy consumption, and environmental pollution, intensify sustainable agriculture systems, and maintain biodiversity, the possibility of increasing the area under perennial forage legumes should be considered. As nitrogen fixers, these plants are minimally fertilized with nitrogen fertilizers whose residues in the soil are lost by leaching, causing pollution of groundwater as well as surface watercourses. The introduction of perennial legumes in the crop rotation can provide numerous benefits, such as increased and more stable yields of protein-rich biomass, conservation, and repair of land resources, increased yield stability, better utilization of nutrients, water, and light, as well as weed, disease, and pest control. The introduction of legumes in production systems would limit the increasingly pronounced land degradation. In order to develop sustainable agriculture, market policy should recognize the value of products obtained from leguminous plants through certain agricultural policy measures
Agronomic biofortification with magnesium nanofertilizer and its effect on the nutritional quality of beans
Get PDFCrop quality has been compromised due to nutrient deficiencies. The macronutrient magnesium (Mg) is essential; however, it has not been considered in agronomic fertilization programs, affecting human health. The objective of the study was to increase the Mg content in the fruits of green beans cv. ‘Strike’ by applying Mg-nanofertilizer, as well as evaluating its effect on growth, performance and nutritional quality, versus magnesium sulfate (MgSO4). The experiment was carried out under shade mesh conditions in Delicias, Chihuahua, Mexico during the period August-October 2022. A completely randomized experimental design was used, with two Mg sources: Mg nanofertilizer (NanoMg) and MgSO4 at doses of 50, 100 and 200 ppm and a control without application, forming seven treatments with six repetitions each. The results indicate that the maximum yield was provided by NanoMg and MgSO4 at 200 ppm, with values greater than 300%. The Mg distribution pattern for the NanoMg treatments presented the following concentration order: root>leaf>stem>fruit; while, for the MgSO4 treatments it was: leaf>root>stem>fruit. The most efficient treatment in increasing the Mg content in the fruit was NanoMg at 200 ppm, which achieved a biofortification of more than 120% with respect to the control. Therefore, when consuming 100 g of green beans cv. ‘Strike’ biofortified by NanoMg, the recommended daily needs of the human being could be satisfied. Finally, it is concluded that nanofertilizers are the best option for a biofortification program since they offer a sustainable alternative by increasing productivity and quality in green bean fruits
The effect of seed priming with UV and gamma rays on the growth, production, and storage ability of cauliflower heads
Get PDFThe goal of the current study was to evaluate the effects of gamma ray, UV-C, UV-A (ultraviolet) treatments as seed priming on the growth, yield, quality, and the storage ability of cauliflower heads. The seeds were exposed to the following treatments: 50 and 75 kGy (gamma ray), UV-C for 15, 30, 45 minutes, and UV-A for 15, 30, 45 minutes. Plant growth and yield parameters were evaluated at the harvest time. The cauliflower heads from previous treatments were stored at 5° C for 16 days to evaluate their shelf-life traits. The results indicated that gamma ray, UV-C, and UV-A treatments enhanced the plant growth characteristics including plant height, leaf length, number of leaves, plant fresh weight, SPAD reading, and plant dry weight. Additionally, the cauliflower seeds treated with different treatments showed higher total yield, head diameter, and head weight than the control plants. The storage ability including weight loss, total soluble solids, and antioxidant capacity during refrigerated storage of cauliflower heads was not affected by the different treatments, however UVA treatment enhanced vitamin C and phenolic compounds compared to the control
The effect of melatonin on physiological, biochemical, and enzymatic properties and the expression of antioxidant genes under different irrigation regimes in wheat
Get PDFA split-plot experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with four replications in two years to study the effect of melatonin on the biochemical properties and the gene expression related to antioxidant enzyme activity in bread wheat. Irrigation levels (normal (FC = 80%)), mild stress (FC = 60%), and severe stress (FC = 40%)) were assigned to the main plots, and melatonin foliar applications (zero, 50, 100, 150, and 200 μM) were assigned to Subplots. Results showed that, with the intensification of water stress, the 1000 kernel weight decreased, and the activity of ascorbate peroxidase enzyme and flavonoid content increased. Also, the level of 100 μM melatonin had the highest 1000 kernel weight, flavonoid content, and ascorbate peroxidase enzyme activity. In this study, the highest number of grains per spike, biological yield, grain yield, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, and the lowest amount of malondialdehyde recorded for foliar treatment with 50 μM of melatonin under normal irrigation conditions and the highest proline content, total phenol, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were allocated to the 100 μM melatonin foliar treatment under severe water stress conditions. The synergistic effect of water deficit stress and melatonin foliar application increased the activity and expression level of genes related to antioxidant enzymes. So, the content of superoxide dismutase (21.30% and 65.16% respectively) and catalase (50.60% and 54.44% respectively) enzyme activity increased significantly under 100- and 150-mM melatonin foliar application in water severe water stress compared to the corresponding control treatment. Furthermore, mentioned melatonin levels increased the gene expression levels of superoxide dismutase (16.67% and 38.19% respectively), ascorbate peroxides (73.76% and 47.57% respectively), polyphenol oxidase (39.32 and 51.15%) and catalase (39.95% and 50.0% respectively) under an extreme water shortage compared with corresponding control treatment. In general, the application of 100- and 150-mM melatonin induced resistance to water deficit stress in wheat by increasing the expression of antioxidant genes
A different factor in the use of plants in landscape architecture: Sound (type, intensity and duration) in the example of Hyacinthus orientalis L.
Get PDFThe effect of music on people has been known for years and is still being researched from different aspects. The effects of music and sound waves on ornamental plants, whose effects on some vegetables, fruits and grains are examined, are also inquired. Especially the positive change in the development and showiness of the flowers of ornamental plant species with commercial importance will increase the market value of the plant. Again, with the effect of this sound wave, in order for the plants and their flowers to show the expected development, they should benefit from the planting environment and growing conditions at the maximum level. In the measurements taken from hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis L.) at the end of the duration that the plants were exposed to different types of sounds in different intensities, it was observed that these factors positively affected these parameters successively; 1 hour of bird sound in 50 dB, the number of leaves; 1 hour of bird sound in 90 dB, leaf width and floret length; 3 hours of bird sound in 70 dB, floret number; 3 hours of bird sound in 90 dB, the plant and flower height; 1 hour of bee sound in 50 dB, the stem thickness; 3 hours of vehicle sound in 50 dB, flower and floret width; 3 hours of vehicle sound in 70 dB, leaf length. At the end of the study, whereas it was determined that the bee sound had the least effect on the growth and flowering of the hyacinth, it was observed that the bird and vehicle sounds, that the plants were expose to in different intensities and durations, had a positive effect