3 research outputs found
Cultivation of Genovese basil (Ocimum basilicum L. cv. Genovese) in aquaponic and hydroponic systems: A comparative study
No full textRecently, many horticultural crops have been subjected to study under hydroponic and aquaponic conditions, with a view to enhance their productivity. Nevertheless, a comparative analysis of these two soilless cultivation systems has rarely been undertaken, despite the fact that they represent two distinct approaches. This study’s objective was to compare between the aquaponic cultivation system and the hydroponic one, with the aim of identifying the most suitable soilless system for cultivating Genovese basil (O. basilicum L. cv. Genovese). For the purpose of this study, a factorial randomized complete block with three repetitions was conducted. It was carried out at the National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia under glasshouse conditions. Accordingly, the variation of the soilless cultivation systems effects was determined by measuring and evaluating plant growth, biomass production and photosynthetic performance of basil. Main results showed that plant height (25.69 ± 2.87 cm/plant), length of internodes (2.47 ± 0.17 cm/plant) and leaves number (10.89 ± 1.02 leaves/plant), fresh and dry weight of shoots (9.17 ± 0.49 g and 1.03 ± 0.05 g, respectively) and roots (5.22 ± 0.14 g and 0.37 ± 0.03 g, respectively) were significantly higher in aquaponically grown plants in comparison to hydroponics. However, no significant differences were noted between aquaponics and hydroponics regarding the shoot and root dry matter contents. In addition, the content of chlorophyll a (44.59 ± 3.42 µg∙mg-1 FW) and the efficiency of the photosystem II (Fv/Fm) (0.83 ± 0.01) were significantly higher in basil grown in aquaponics when compared to the hydroponic system. Overall, these findings indicate that aquaponics seems to be more suitable for growing basil plants than the hydroponic system
Microalgae colonization and trace element accumulation on the plastisphere of marine plastic debris in Monastir Bay (Eastern Tunisia)
No full textIn this study, we examined the toxicity potential of the epiplastic microalgal community that developed on low-density polyethylene (LD-PE) plastic debris found in two distinct regions of the Monastir Bay (Tunisia): the coast exposed to anthropogenic discharges and the open sea in front of the Kuriat Islands. Concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) accumulated in sediments and plastisphere were compared in order to determine their toxicity potential to biological life. The collected plastispheres were predominantly composed of cyanobacteria, chlorophytes, and diatoms. Diatoms display a relatively high diversity (25 species). At all stations, potentially harmful microalgae (PHM) were more abundant in the plastisphere than in seawater and the coastal zone seems to harbour increased number of potentially harmful cyanobacteria within the plastisphere. At the offshore station S1, the PHM community was dominated by the potentially harmful diatoms belonging to the genus Pseudo-nitzschia. Phormidium sp. was the main potentially harmful cyanobacterium identified in the plastisphere of S1. PTEs concentration in the plastisphere was higher than in sediment and ranking with very high contamination factors at all sites according to the sequence Pb > Cu > Cd > Ni > Zn. The highest accumulation of PTEs in the plastisphere was recorded near harbors and industrial zones with important human interference. This work shows that plastisphere can be a threat to vulnerable species not only because it can contain PHM but also because it can accumulate PTEs. © 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature
Expression of PD-1/PD-L1 axis in mediastinal lymph nodes and lung tissue of human and experimental lung fibrosis indicates a potential therapeutic target for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
No full textBackground: Mediastinal lymph node enlargement is prevalent in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Studies investigating whether this phenomenon reflects specific immunologic activation are lacking. Methods: Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/ programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression in mediastinal lymph nodes and lung tissues was analyzed. PD-1, PD-L1 mRNA expression was measured in tracheobronchial lymph nodes of mice following bleomycin-induced injury on day 14. Finally, the effect of the PD-1 inhibitor, pembrolizumab, in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis was investigated. Results: We analyzed mediastinal lymph nodes of thirty-three patients (n = 33, IPF: n = 14, lung cancer: n = 10, concomitant IPF and lung cancer: n = 9) and lung tissues of two hundred nineteen patients (n = 219, IPF: 123, controls: 96). PD-1 expression was increased, while PD-L1 expression was decreased, in mediastinal lymph nodes of patients with IPF compared to lung cancer and in IPF lungs compared to control lungs. Tracheobronchial lymph nodes isolated on day 14 from bleomycin-treated mice exhibited increased size and higher PD-1, PD-L1 mRNA levels compared to saline-treated animals. Pembrolizumab blunted bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, as indicated by reduction in Ashcroft score and improvement in respiratory mechanics. Conclusions: Mediastinal lymph nodes of patients with IPF exhibit differential expression profiles than those of patients with lung cancer indicating distinct immune-mediated pathways regulating fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis. PD-1 expression in mediastinal lymph nodes is in line with lung tissue expression. Lower doses of pembrolizumab might exert antifibrotic effects. Clinical trials aiming to endotype patients based on mediastinal lymph node profiling and accordingly implement targeted therapies such as PD-1 inhibitors are greatly anticipated. © 2023, The Author(s)
