Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca
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Antioxidant and cytoprotective properties of seeds and seed by-products from lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)
The seed of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., commonly known as Chinese lotus, has been used as an indigenous medicine in Taiwan. The present study aims to evaluate the variable antioxidant activity of Nelumbo nucifera ethanolic extracts (NNEE) collected from different parts of the lotus. The seed epicarp had significantly higher extractable total phenolic content (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC) than the seed and seed pod. Compared to the seed and seed pod, the seed epicarp also exhibited lower IC50 values of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), EC50 for reducing power, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging activity. Moreover, DPPH and ABTS radicals, reducing power activity, and H2O2 scavenging activity by NNEE were highly and significantly associated with TPC and TFC. Seed epicarp NNEE at a concentration of 25 μg/mL gave significantly higher protection to Raw 264.7 mouse macrophages against H2O2 induced damage compared with blanks. Seed epicarp NNEE was also found to have the most significant protection effect on oxidative DNA damage. Therefore, the NNEE of seed epicarp exhibited higher in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant activity, and can be used as a functional ingredient representing a potential source of natural antioxidants to prevent and treat oxidative stress-related disorders
Organic amendments mitigate salinity induced toxic effects in maize by modulating antioxidant defense system, photosynthetic pigments and ionic homeostasis
Salinity stress (SS) is a major and increasing abiotic stress adversely affecting plant growth and productivity across the globe. The application of organic amendments (OA) is considered to be an important practice to mitigate the adverse impacts of SS. Therefore, this study was performed to assess the impact of different OA on growth, physiology and anti-oxidant activities of maize plants grown under SS. The study was comprised of diverse SS levels; 0, 6 and 12 dS m-1, and different OA; control, cow manure (CM: 5%), sugarcane pressmud (SPM: 5%) and combination of CM (2.5%) + SPM (2.5%). The study was conducted in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement having three replications. The results indicated that SS reduced the growth and biomass production, relative water contents (RWC), chlorophyll contents, free amino acids (FAA), total soluble proteins (TSP) and increased the electrolyte leakage (EL: 40.92%), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2: 68.49%), malondialdehyde (MDA: 42.13%), and catalase (CAT: 34.24%) and ascorbate peroxide (APX: 25.70%). The application of OA significantly improved the maize growth under SS. However, the application of SPM (5%) significantly increased growth and biomass production by decreasing EL, MDA and H2O2 accumulation and increasing RWC, chlorophyll, CAT, POD, and anthocyanin, TSP and FAA. These findings suggest that application of SPM improved the growth and biomass production of maize by improving anti-oxidant activities, photosynthetic pigments, TSP, FAA reducing lipid peroxidation and EL. 
Physiological, nutritional and tolerance effects in Chrysanthemum morifolium irrigated with grey and treated water
This research provides basic information on the recovery or reuse of grey and treated water in a sustainable approach. For the research development, treated water was collected and synthetic greywater was prepared to use for irrigation of potted plants and their adaptability was measured according to the different irrigation water and physicochemical parameters in plant and soil. The results show that plants with the highest flowering and the highest accumulation of NOз in the stem were the plants irrigated with treated water in response to the total nitrogen of 41.53 mg/L. The plant's adaptability was more complicated with the irrigation of greywater but with greater growth and more resistance to pests and diseases than with the irrigation of treated water. The response to the accumulation of As, Ag, Cr, P, Pb, S, and Ti was significant differences according to the irrigation water in the different organs of the plants. During the crop development under the different types of irrigation, the pot soils are within the Mexican regulation, which presented neutral pH, slightly saline, with high organic matter, and without problems of dangerous accumulations of heavy metals
Foliar applied proline and acetic acid improves growth and yield of wheat under salinity stress by improving photosynthetic pigments, physiological traits, antioxidant activities and nutrient uptake
Salinity stress (SS) is serious abiotic stress and a major limiting factor for crop productivity and global food security. In this context, the application of osmolytes is considered as an environmental friend approach to improve plant growth under SS. Thus, the present study was conducted to determine the impact of foliar applied proline (Pro) and acetic acid (AA) on growth, yield, physiological traits, photosynthetic pigments, ionic homeostasis and antioxidant activities of wheat under SS. The study contained SS levels 0, 6 and 12 dS m-1 and foliar spray of Pro and AA; water spray, Pro (75 mM), AA (15 mM) and AA (30 mM). The study was conducted in a completely randomized design with the factorial arrangement. Salinity stress significantly reduced wheat growth and yield, by decreasing relative water contents (-49.07%), photosynthetic pigments, free amino acids (FAA: -44.79%), total soluble proteins (TSP: -15.94%) and increasing the electrolyte leakage (EL: +27.28%), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2: +51.86%), and malondialdehyde (MDA: +36.91%) accumulation. The foliar spray of Pro and AA markedly improved the wheat growth and productivity through enhanced photosynthetic pigments, RWC, FAA, TSP, antioxidant activities (catalase: CAT, ascorbate peroxide: APX: peroxidase: POD), K+ and Ca2+ uptake and decreasing EL, MDA and H2O2 accumulation and restricted entry of toxic ions (Na+ and Cl-1). Therefore, foliar application of AA and Pro effectively improves the growth and yield of wheat under SS by strengthening the antioxidant defense system, and maintaining ionic homeostasis and physiological performance
Effect of pollen sources on fruit set and quality of edible fig (Ficus carica L.) cv. ‘Bursa Siyahı’
The caprification practice has been used widely in fig cultivation because it affects the yield and quality of fig fruits, a phenomenon known as the ‘xenia effect’. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of pollen sources on fruit sets and fruit quality in the ‘Bursa Siyahı’ fig cultivar in 2017 and 2018. The eleven male genotypes and five cultivars were used as pollen source. The findings obtained in the present study showed that pollen sources significantly affected fruit set, early fruiting rate, fruit size, ostiole width, skin and flesh thickness, titratable acidity (TA), pH, and soluble solids content (SSC). The fruit set ratio varied from 32.02% (‘16 03 06’) to 76.66% (‘16 08 07’), and fruit weight varied from 77.29 g (‘16 03 06’) to 106.88 g (‘16 00 01’) based on pollen sources. The ostiole diameter ranged from 3.84 mm (‘16 ZF 08’) to 7.67 mm (‘77 00 01’). The skin thickness ranged from 3.01 mm (‘Havran’) to 5.35 mm (‘16 00 01’). The principal component analysis was performed to distinguish the pollen sources for the ‘Bursa Siyahı’ cultivar. The analysis proposed that the most important factors affecting the fig quality can be reduced to five components. Fruit weight (0.958), skin thickness (0.810), flesh l* value (0.821), pH (-0.872), and SSC (0.836) value could be regarded as the characteristic indicators for PC1, PC2, PC3, PC4, and PC5, respectively. The results showed that ‘16 09 10’, ‘16 05 03’, ‘16 08 07’, and ‘16 08 12’ pollen sources are adequate pollinators for the edible ‘Bursa Siyahı’ fig
Comparative anatomy and pollen morphology of two endemic Noccaea species (Brassicaceae) and their taxonomic significance
This study was conducted for extensive and systemic investigation of anatomical, palynological and seed morphological properties of two endemic Noccaea species, naturally growing in Turkey. Independent sample T-test and box plot were carried out using quantitative characters of the studied species. The anatomical results showed that the species had similar characteristics, though there were significant differences in root cortex cells and trachea; stem epidermis, cortex cell and endodermis; leaf upper and lower epidermis, lower cuticle, mesophyll and palisade parenchyma. Pollen grains of two endemic species were observed as radially symmetric, isopolar, with tricolpate aperture, prolate pollen shape and had small size. Pollen surface ornamentation was micro-reticulate in both species. Considering palynological characters, equatorial axis, AMB exine and intine have taxonomic importance. Seeds of N. birolmutlui were ovate to orbicular in shape and orange-brown in color, with colliculate ornamentation; however, the seeds of N. camlikensis were ovate to oblong in shape and brown and shiny in color, with colliculate-reticulate ornamentation
Androgenic ability and plant regeneration potential in some tomato varieties
Aiming to evaluate the in vitro regeneration potential, five varieties of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) were studied for their response in anther culture. Anther explants at an early stage of microspore development were inoculated onto 3 culture media. The first differentiation processes were recorded during the first three weeks of culture, in darkness. The statistical analysis of the data recorded during the anther culture showed significant differences between genotypes regarding their specific response to culture conditions and the significant influence of the initiation medium composition in triggering the differentiation processes. Under the tested conditions were induced: the embryogenic potential in 3 genotypes (ʻȘtefănești 22ʼ, ʻCostate 21ʼ and ʻChihlimbarʼ) and the indirect organogenesis in 2 genotypes (ʻArgeș 20ʼ and ʻCostate 21ʼ). Morphological characteristics of anther-derived plants from ʻArgeș 20ʼ variety, grown in greenhouse conditions (growth rate, features of leaf, flower and fruit), as well as analyses with nine SSR markers (banding patterns, the coefficient of genetic similarity and the polymorphism information content) in DNA samples from each regenerant and the donor variety, provided clear evidence of the occurrence of spontaneous genetic variation during in vitro anther culture, and of the existence of somaclonal variation in regenerated plants. The amplified products obtained with SSR primers revealed a total number of scorable bands of 160 and a mean percentage of polymorphic bands of 21.09 %. Two out the nine tested primers, SSR63 and SLM6-7 proved to be efficient in detecting genetic differences not only among regenerants, but also between them and the donor genotype
Endogenous hormone and nutritional ingredient of pendulous characteristics of Cunninghamia lanceolata var. Luotian
Cunninghamia lanceolata var. Luotian (herein, Luotian), a natural variety of Cunninghamia lanceolata (Chinese fir, herein Lanceolata), shows great potential for agricultural protection short-period and high-density plantations because of its narrow, pointed, tower-shaped crowns, thin braches and older drooping branches that die naturally at 6-7 years old. The physiological mechanisms of the pendulousness and the natural death of the branches are still unclear. To investigate these mechanisms, phytohormone levels and nutritional ingredients of different positions of branches in Luotian and Lanceolata were determined. Phytohormone analyses showed that IAA and ZR played critical functions on the branch initial growth, and that GA3 was related to bending of branches. Meanwhile, ABA may enhance abscission of the branches in Luotian. Nutritional ingredient analyses showed that the accumulation of nutritional ingredients in Luotian and Lanceolata were consistent with the morphology of their branches. An integrated analysis implied that phytohormones had a strong influence on pendulous characteristics by interacting with other factors. This study helps to elucidate the mechanism governing the pendulous trait and provides theoretical basis and technical support for its cultivation, introduction, plantation management and genetic improvement
Effect of fertilizing with different levels of phosphorous and zinc on the botanical characteristics of table beet (Beta vulgaris L.)
The interaction of phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) is a crucial factor affecting crop yield in agricultural production called a P-induced Zn deficiency. The application of Zn and P together reduces deficiencies and increases plant growth by more than the sum of the increases from Zn and P alone. This experiment was carried out during two seasons, in consecutive years, to study the effect of P and Zn levels on the physical, physiological and anatomical response in table beet plants. Treatment one was as control; the second treatment was 35 P units with 5, 10, and 20 Zn units; the third treatment was 40 P units with 5, 10, and 20 Zn units; and the fourth treatment was 45 P units with 5, 10, and 20 Zn units. The data showed that the number of leaves and the root diameters were high with the addition of 40 P units and 10 Zn units, and the roots fresh and dry weights were high under 40 P units and 10 Zn units in both seasons. The contents of TSS, AA, TS, ACY, N, P, and K were significantly increased by the use of 40 and 45 P units combined with 5 and 10 Zn units. The anatomical alterations in both leaf blade, epidermal layers, midrib zone, vessel diameter, vascular bundle area, palisade, and spongy tissues were studied. The results recommend that fertilizing table beet plants with 40 P units and 10 Zn units is suitable
Regulation mechanism of long non-coding RNA in plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are widely available transcription products of more than 200 nucleotides with unrecognizable coding potential. A large number of lncRNAs have been identified in different plants. lncRNAs are involved in various basic biological processes at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional and epigenetic levels as key regulatory molecules, including in the regulation of flowering time and reproductive organ morphogenesis, and they play important roles in the biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites. In this paper, we review the research strategies of lncRNAs and lncRNAs related to the biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites, focusing on the research strategies for studying lncRNAs and the effects of lncRNAs on the biosynthesis of terpenoids, alkaloids and flavonoids, aiming to provide new ideas for the study of the regulation of plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis