322,945 research outputs found
Application of WET Sensor for Management of Reclaimed Wastewater Irrigation in Container-Grown Ornamentals (Prunus laurocerasus L.)
No full textFirst report of Fusarium pseudograminearum causing root and crown rot in the halophyte Salicornia europaea
No full textSalicornia europaea L. (glasswort), a euhalophyte in the Amaranthaceae family, is a valuable green vegetable. In July 2021, an outbreak of root and crown rot disease occurred on S. europaea grown in peat-filled pots under greenhouse. Symptoms appeared on 20–25% of 6-month-old plants. The fungus was identifed as F.
pseudograminearum by means of morphological observations and molecular sequence analysis based on tef-1α gene (EF-1/EF-2) and using species-specifc PCR primers (Fp1-1/Fp1-2). This pathogen is known as the causal agent of crown rot in cereals and has sporadically been reported on wheat plants and seeds of soybean and vetch in Europe. A pathogenicity test was then conducted in a growth chamber to fulfll Koch’s postulates. Forty-eight seedlings (57 days after sowing) were grown in aerated non-saline nutrient solution in which a suspension of F. pseudograminearum macroconidia had been poured (fnal concentration 105 ml−1). Other 48 plants (controls) were grown hydroponically in a separate growth chamber and inoculated with sterile distilled water. Twenty-four days after inoculation (dpi), half of control and inoculated plants was transferred into a new sterile nutrient solution while the other half was transplanted into pots flled with sterilized peat. After 80 dpi, 100% of pot-grown plants showed root and crown rot symptoms whereas only 70% of infected hydroponically-grown plants developed symptoms. No evidence of disease was observed in the controls.
F. pseudograminearum was consistently re-isolated from diseased plants in both cultivation systems (64.5–83.0%). Further investigations are in progress on this new pathosystem in saltwater hydroponics
Germination ecology of wild living walls for sustainable vertical garden in urban environment
No full textGermination characteristics of 10 xerophytic species, widespread in the Mediterranean were studied. A variety of seed treatments were explored to overcome the seed dormancy, including scarification and stratification. Only in Convolvulus cantabrica dormancy was shown to be physical, since it could be removed by seed coat scarification. Several species showed light-dependent germination, possibly related to the fact that in their micro-environment of incubation they are exposed to minimum seed burial. Emergence tests in peat-perlite substrate were carried out in order to verify the optimal burial conditions for seed propagation. This inhibition was found to be inversely related to the low unit weight of seed. Species with minute seeds, such as Erigeron karviskianus and Phagnalon rupestris, had the best performance of germination without burial, while the larger ones such as C.cantabrica and Centranthus ruber, had the best performance at 6 and 4 mm of sowing, respectively
A Systematic Review on Ketamine and Esketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression and Suicidality in Adolescents: A New Hope?
No full textTreating depression in adolescents is a significant challenge, and major depressive disorder (MDD) with suicidal ideation and treatment-resistant depression (TRD) are common and potentially devastating to optimal psychological and physical development in this age group. Suicide is among the leading causes of youth mortality, and TRD occurs in up to 40% of adolescents with MDD. TRD involves severe, persistent symptoms that are hard to treat, significantly reducing functioning and quality of life. We conducted a literature search focusing on key terms related to ketamine and esketamine for MDD with suicidal ideation and TRD in adolescents, aiming to review the potential utility of these molecules in adolescents for these conditions. Ketamine has shown efficacy in reducing depressive symptoms in adolescents with TRD. Esketamine has shown efficacy in reducing depressive symptoms and treating suicidal ideation in adolescents. Both ketamine and esketamine have demonstrated favorable safety and tolerability profiles. Using these drugs for serious conditions like adolescent MDD with suicidal thoughts and TRD can effectively treat symptoms, reduce self-harm and suicide risks, and provide a window for longer-term therapeutic interventions. The prompt and effective treatment of TRD could improve adolescents’ quality of life. However, more research is needed to optimize treatment protocols and evaluate long-term effects
Unraveling the Boundaries, Overlaps, and Connections between Schizophrenia and Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
No full textSchizophrenia (SCZ) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) typically have distinct diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches. SCZ is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and cognitive impairments, while OCD involves persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). The co-occurrence of these disorders increases clinical complexity and poses significant challenges for diagnosis and treatment. Epidemiological studies indicate a significant overlap, with prevalence rates of comorbid OCD in SCZ patients ranging from 12% to 25%, which is higher than in the general population. Etiological hypotheses suggest shared genetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors, with genetic studies identifying common loci and pathways, such as glutamatergic and dopaminergic systems. Neuroimaging studies reveal both overlapping and distinct neural abnormalities, indicating shared and unique neurobiological substrates. Environmental factors, like early life stressors and urbanicity, also contribute to the comorbidity. The overlapping clinical features of both disorders complicate diagnosis. Treatment approaches include combining SSRIs with antipsychotics and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The complexity of SCZ and OCD comorbidity underscores the need for a dimensional, spectrum-based perspective on psychiatric disorders, alongside traditional categorical approaches, to improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes
Irrigation water quality for greenhouse horticulture
No full textWater, in terms of both quantity and quality, is crucial to the success of horticulture greenhouse production. As water supplies are often limited, it is necessary to use low quality water for irrigation purposes. This is particularly true in Mediterranean countries, where growers increasingly face problems associated with low quality water. In this chapter the most important water physical and chemical quality parameters are discussed. These include pH, alkalinity and salinity. Furthermore, a review of the criteria for water quality assessment is presented. Water tests to be conducted prior to selecting a greenhouse site are also briefly described with reference to the official methods of water analysis. The presence of high soluble salts in irrigation water is one of the most limiting factors in greenhouse crop production. As an alternative to using seawater – a common practice in some Mediterranean areas (e.g. Almería, Spain) – wastewater from industrial processes or lower grade water from wells contaminated by seawater infiltrations can be used. Management and agronomic techniques that may be used to combat some of the problems associated with the use of these “waters” are discussed, including methods to correct poor quality irrigation water
Stress abiotici e bilancio ormonale nelle piante coltivate
No full textAbiotic stresses cause extensive losses to agricultural production worldwide. The most important abiotic stresses, i.e. those causing main losses of productivity, are induced by water deficiency, high salinity, high or low temperatures and nutient deficiency. From a strictly agronomic point of view, however, we must consider as relevant also other stresses, such as hypoxia due to waterlogging , excessive concentrations of nutrients or the presence of heavy metals in the soil, mechanical perturbation due to intense meteoric events (rain, wind and hail) or to the manipulation to which plants are subjected during cultivation, post production handling and storage. Particular stress conditions are those due to the reduced substrate volume (root restriction), and the elevate plant density, which causes the so-called “shade avoidance syndrome”. These last two stresses are particularly important in nursery and in pot plant production.
Plants are able to perceive environmental stimuli and to adapt to different environments, however, the degree of tolerance and adaptability to abiotic stresses varies among species and varieties. Plant hormones are involved in the response to environmental stresses, in many cases acting as chemical messengers and triggering metabolic pathways leading to the acquisition of stress tolerance. It is now widely accepted that abscisic acid (ABA) plays a major role in the physiological changes induced by environmental stresses and endogenous ABA levels significantly increase in response to many environmental stimuli. Also other hormones, however, play an important role in many stress situations, such as ethylene, whose biosynthesis can be considered as a physiological marker of plant health status, or cytokinins which mediate many responses of the plant to abiotic stresses, often interacting with abscisic acid, auxins and ethylene.
The present paper is aimed to analyze the role of endogenous plant hormones in the plant response to different environmental stresses. For each hormone, after a brief description, which also deals with the basic biochemical aspects, we focused our attention on particular stress situations pointing out the possible interactions with other hormones and presenting simple physiological models.of the mechanism of stress tolerance acquisition
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