Agronomy

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19 pages, 353 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Perspectives of Bradyrhizobium and Bacillus Inoculation for Improvement of Soybean Tolerance to Water Deficit

by Jelena Marinković, Dragana Miljaković, Vuk Đorđević, Marjana Vasiljević, Gordana Tamindžić, Jegor Miladinović and Sanja Vasiljević

Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2692; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112692 - 15 Nov 2024

Viewed by 313

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the response of antioxidant parameters in soybean plants inoculated with newly isolated Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bacillus subtilis strains as single and co-inoculants under drought stress. Bacterial strains were selected according to osmotic stress tolerance (in the [...] Read more.

The objective of this study was to analyze the response of antioxidant parameters in soybean plants inoculated with newly isolated Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bacillus subtilis strains as single and co-inoculants under drought stress. Bacterial strains were selected according to osmotic stress tolerance (in the presence of 36% PEG 6000) in appropriate liquid media. The effect of soybean inoculation was examined in a soil pot experiment in water deficit conditions (0 and 7 days withholding water). The influence of water stress and inoculation was evaluated in soybean leaves, roots, and nodules through guaiacol peroxidase (POX), ionically cell-wall-bound peroxidase (POD) activity, and ABTS˙⁺ radical cation scavenging capacity, as well as parameters of N-fixation efficiency. The results showed a significant influence of inoculation on constitutive and drought-induced antioxidant and N-fixation parameters. Inoculation increased the activity of POX (up to 116, 169, and 245%), POD (up to 116, 102, and 159%), and antioxidant capacity (up to 74, 76, and 81%) in soybean leaves, roots, and nodules under water deficit, respectively. Application of bacterial strains resulted in higher shoot, root, and nodule weight and nitrogen content both in non-stressed and drought stress conditions. Overall, co-inoculation had better effects on the investigated soybean parameters compared to single inoculation. Selection and application of bacterial strains with improved tolerance to drought stress is necessary in developing inoculants that would result in enhanced crop production under unfavorable environmental conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

23 pages, 18099 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Alleviative Effect of Exogenous Application of Fulvic Acid on Nitrate Stress in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

by Kangning Han, Jing Zhang, Cheng Wang, Youlin Chang, Zeyu Zhang and Jianming Xie

Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2280; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102280 - 3 Oct 2024

Viewed by 505

Abstract

Salt stress could be a significant factor limiting the growth and development of vegetables. In this study, Fulvic Acid (FA) (0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15%, 0.2%, and 0.25%) was applied under nitrate stress (150 mM), with normal Hoagland nutrient solution as a control to investigate [...] Read more.

Salt stress could be a significant factor limiting the growth and development of vegetables. In this study, Fulvic Acid (FA) (0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15%, 0.2%, and 0.25%) was applied under nitrate stress (150 mM), with normal Hoagland nutrient solution as a control to investigate the influence of foliar spray FA on spinach growth, photosynthesis, and oxidative stress under nitrate stress. The results showed that nitrate stress significantly inhibited spinach growth, while ROS (reactive oxygen species) accumulation caused photosystem damage, which reduced photosynthetic capacity. Different concentrations of FA alleviated the damage caused by nitrate stress in spinach to varying degrees in a concentration-dependent manner. The F3 treatment (0.15% FA + 150 mM NO₃⁻) exhibited the most significant mitigating effect. FA application promoted the accumulation of biomass in spinach under nitrate stress and increased chlorophyll content, the net photosynthetic rate, the maximum photochemical quantum yield of PSII (Photosystem II) (Fv/Fm), the quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry [Y(II)], the electron transport rate, and the overall functional activity index of the electron transport chain between the PSII and PSI systems (PItotal); moreover, FA decreased PSII excitation pressure (1 − qP), quantum yields of regulated energy dissipation of PSII [Y(NPQ)], and the relative variable initial slope of fluorescence. FA application increased superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activities and decreased malondialdehyde, H₂O₂, and O₂⁻ levels in spinach under nitrate stress. FA can enhance plant resistance to nitrate by accelerating the utilization of light energy in spinach to mitigate excess light energy and ROS-induced photosystem damage and increase photosynthetic efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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16 pages, 5510 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptome Analysis Revealed the Response Mechanism of Pomegranate to Salt Stress

by Haixia Tang, Chuanzeng Wang, Jian Mei, Lijuan Feng, Qikui Wu and Yanlei Yin

Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2261; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102261 - 1 Oct 2024

Viewed by 581

Abstract

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a well-known fruit tree species and a significant pioneer ecological species on saline–alkali land with moderate resistance to salt stress. To explore its response mechanism to salt stress could provide valuable insights into the molecular and physiological [...] Read more.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a well-known fruit tree species and a significant pioneer ecological species on saline–alkali land with moderate resistance to salt stress. To explore its response mechanism to salt stress could provide valuable insights into the molecular and physiological strategies plants employ to adapt and survive in high-salt environments. In this study, changes in physiological parameters and gene expressions were examined following salt treatment. After 72 h of salt treatment, change patterns of SOD and POD differed between high and low salt concentrations. Similar changes were found in the contents of proline and total soluble sugar. RNA-Seq analysis of fifteen samples detected 32,630 genes from the pomegranate genome data. A total of 6571 DEGs, including 374 TFs, were identified across different treatments. Six special modules and 180 hub genes were obtained by WGCNA analysis. Functional annotation highlighted signaling pathways and the accumulation of primary and secondary metabolites as significant pathways. These findings could reveal the salt tolerance mechanism in pomegranate leaves, offering a theoretical foundation for enhancing plant salt tolerance through genetic engineering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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16 pages, 1166 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Morphological and Physiological Response of Maize (Zea mays L.) to Drought Stress during Reproductive Stage

by Saba Yasin, Francisco Zavala-García, Guillermo Niño-Medina, Pablo Alan Rodríguez-Salinas, Adriana Gutiérrez-Diez, Sugey Ramona Sinagawa-García and Eleazar Lugo-Cruz

Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1718; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081718 - 5 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1393

Abstract

Maize is among the most significant crops in the world regarding production and yield, but it is highly sensitive to drought, which reduces the growth, photosynthetic efficiency, grain quality, and yield production of a plant. Quantum yield efficiency of photosystem II is a [...] Read more.

Maize is among the most significant crops in the world regarding production and yield, but it is highly sensitive to drought, which reduces the growth, photosynthetic efficiency, grain quality, and yield production of a plant. Quantum yield efficiency of photosystem II is a critical photosynthetic component that is susceptible to drought stress. This study intended to investigate the effects of drought stress on growth and morpho-physiological parameters using three maize hybrids (‘P-3011w’, ‘P-3092’ and ‘iku20’) with contrasting soil moisture contents (100%, 40%) at the pre-flowering stage. The stress treatment (40%) was initiated at stage V7, for a period of 15 days; the experimental units were established in a completely randomized design with split-plot arrangement along with three repetitions in 42 L pots using a substrate of peat moss, black soil and poultry manure (1:2:1). The morphological, growth-related and physiological parameters were assessed, including chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), which was measured using a LiCor-6400-40 fluorometer. The results showed that all morphological, growth-related and physiological variables decreased under drought stress during the reproductive stage, with the exception of leaf temperature and intercellular CO₂ concentration, which increased by 12% and 54%, respectively. Drought stress significantly reduced the photosynthetic chlorophyll fluorescence (43%), due to damage to photosystem II. The lowest percentage of damage to photosystem II (34%) was observed in the iku20 genotype. In contrast, P-3011w and P-3092 had the highest levels of significantly similar damage (49% and 46%, respectively). The correlation analysis showed a highly positive interaction of chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) with net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance under drought conditions, and multiple regression analysis revealed that the maximum effect on net photosynthetic rate under drought was due to the damage it caused to photosystem II. Thus, iku20 might have a tendency to be able to withstand drought stress in the dry northeast region of Mexico. Overall, we concluded that the photosystem II was negatively impacted by drought stress thus causing a reduction in all physiological, morphological and growth-related variables. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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16 pages, 5131 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Yield Response of Grafted and Self-Rooted Tomato Plants Grown Hydroponically under Varying Levels of Water Salinity

by Elkamil Tola, Khalid A. Al-Gaadi, Rangaswamy Madugundu, Ahmed M. Zeyada, Mohamed K. Edrris, Haroon F. Edrees and Omer Mahjoop

Agronomy 2024, 14(6), 1240; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061240 - 7 Jun 2024

Viewed by 731

Abstract

To overcome the scarcity of fresh water, researchers have turned to investigating different techniques that enable using saline water to irrigate crops, aiming to increase the efficiency of using available water resources. A glasshouse experiment was conducted to investigate the yield responses of [...] Read more.

To overcome the scarcity of fresh water, researchers have turned to investigating different techniques that enable using saline water to irrigate crops, aiming to increase the efficiency of using available water resources. A glasshouse experiment was conducted to investigate the yield responses of grafted and non-grafted (self-rooted) tomato plants grown hydroponically under three levels of water salinity (2.5, 6.0, and 9.5 dS m⁻¹). Three tomato varieties (Ghandowra-F1, Forester-F1, and Feisty-Red) were grafted onto five rootstocks (Maxifort, Unifort, Dynafort, Vivifort, and Beaufort). The implemented treatments were studied in terms of tomato fruit yield and quality parameters. Although increasing the concentration of salts in the nutrient solution led to a decrease in fruit yield, the moderate salinity level (S-2: 6.0 dS m⁻¹) showed its superiority over both low salinity (S-1: 2.5 dS m⁻¹) and high salinity (S-3: 9.5 dS m⁻¹) in terms of tomato yield parameters. The studied rootstocks did not significantly improve the tomato fruit yield, but the interaction between the grafting combinations and salinity was significant for both production and quality. More specifically, tomato plants grafted onto the rootstocks “Vivifort and Beaufort” rendered the highest yield at a low salinity level (S-1: 2.5 dS m⁻¹) and a moderate salinity level (S-2: 6.0 dS m⁻¹), respectively, while at high salinity (S-3: 9.5 dS m⁻¹), grafting did not improve tomato productivity, irrespective of the rootstock. These results confirm that tomatoes can be successfully grown under hydroponic systems using salinity levels of up to 6.0 dS m⁻¹ without sacrificing fruit yield and quality. Among the studied tomato varieties, Feisty-Red was found to be appropriate for hydroponic production. The results also demonstrated that Vivifort and Beaufort rootstocks are suitable for grafting hydroponic tomatoes under low and moderate salinity levels, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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12 pages, 4236 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Low Red to Far-Red Light Ratio Promoted Growth and Fruit Quality in Salt-Stressed Tomato Plants Based on Metabolomic Analysis

by Yanxiu Miao, Ruochan Li, Caixia Li, Xiaolin Zhou, Xinxin Xu, Meihua Sun, Longqiang Bai and Leiping Hou

Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 983; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050983 - 8 May 2024

Viewed by 1176

Abstract

Salt stress poses a serious threat to tomato production. Red to far-red light ratio (R/FR) is actively involved in the regulation of tomato growth and development; however, it is still uncertain whether and how R/FR improves fruit quality under salt stress. Thus, we [...] Read more.

Salt stress poses a serious threat to tomato production. Red to far-red light ratio (R/FR) is actively involved in the regulation of tomato growth and development; however, it is still uncertain whether and how R/FR improves fruit quality under salt stress. Thus, we conducted metabolomic analysis of tomato fruits under four treatments, including R/FR = 7 (CK), R/FR = 0.7 (L), R/FR = 7 and 100 mmol·L⁻¹ NaCl (Na), and R/FR = 0.7 and 100 mmol·L⁻¹ NaCl (Na+L). Metabolomic analysis indicated that both low R/FR and salt stress enhanced organic acids and phenols accumulation; however, additional low R/FR mainly improved carbohydrates, organic acids, phenols and amino acids accumulation in salt-stressed tomato fruit. Physiological studies were consistent with the above results and further revealed that additional low R/FR drastically promoted plant growth, soluble sugar, total phenol and flavonoid contents, improved osmotic pressure balance and antioxidant capacity, and notably relieved the salt stress-induced suppressions. This study proved the importance of applying light quality regulation in salt-resistant tomato production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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12 pages, 996 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Photosynthetic Efficiency on Watermelon Cultivation in the Face of Drought

by Dayane Mércia Ribeiro Silva, Allan Cunha Barros, Ricardo Barros Silva, Wesley de Oliveira Galdino, José Wilker Germano de Souza, Isabelly Cristina da Silva Marques, Jadielson Inácio de Sousa, Viviane da Silva Lira, Alan Fontes Melo, Lucas da Silva de Abreu, Elias de Oliveira Albuquerque Júnior, Luana do Nascimento Silva Barbosa, Antônio Lucrécio dos Santos Neto, Valdevan Rosendo dos Santos, Francisco Gilvan Borges Ferreira Freitas Júnior, Fernanda Nery Vargens, João Henrique Silva da Luz, Elizabeth Orika Ono and João Domingos Rodrigues

Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 950; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050950 - 1 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1624

Abstract

Water availability is a limiting factor for plant production, especially in Brazilian semi-arid regions. The main aim of the study was to investigate the physiological effects of drought during the fruiting stage of watermelon cultivation. A completely randomized block design with four replications [...] Read more.

Water availability is a limiting factor for plant production, especially in Brazilian semi-arid regions. The main aim of the study was to investigate the physiological effects of drought during the fruiting stage of watermelon cultivation. A completely randomized block design with four replications and six treatments varied by the number of lateral drip tapes (1 or 2) and the duration of drought stress (0, 4, and 8 days) was used. The following parameters were evaluated: relative chlorophyll content, relative leaf water content, electrolyte leakage, CO₂ assimilation (A), stomatal conductance (g_s), internal CO₂ concentration, leaf temperature, transpiration (E), water use efficiency (WUE), carboxylation efficiency (CE), yield, thickness, diameter, length, and fruit °brix, at 4 and 8 days of drought. Drought negatively affected photosynthesis, particularly in treatments with a single dripper and 4 days of drought, resulting in reductions of up to 60% in A, 68% in g_s, 44% in E, 58% in WUE, and 59% in CE, but did not have a significant effect on watermelon yield after 4 or 8 days of irrigation. It was concluded that drought influences the physiological responses of watermelon plants, mainly in reducing photosynthesis, but does not drastically affect fruit productivity in short periods of stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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13 pages, 6884 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of Plasma Membrane H⁺-ATPases Associated with Waterlogging in Prunus persica (L.) Batsch

by Yuyan Zhang, Qinsi Mao, Xin Guo, Ruijuan Ma, Mingliang Yu, Jianlan Xu and Shaolei Guo

Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 908; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050908 - 26 Apr 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 962

Abstract

Plant plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase is a transport protein that is generally located on the plasma membrane and generates energy by hydrolyzing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to pump hydrogen ions (H⁺) in the cytoplasm out of the cell against a concentration [...] Read more.

Plant plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase is a transport protein that is generally located on the plasma membrane and generates energy by hydrolyzing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to pump hydrogen ions (H⁺) in the cytoplasm out of the cell against a concentration gradient. The plasma membrane H⁺-ATPases in plants are encoded by a multigene family and potentially play a fundamental role in regulating plant responses to various abiotic stresses, thus contributing to plant adaptation under adverse conditions. To understand the characteristics of the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase family in peach (Prunus persica), this study analyzed the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase family genes in peach. The results showed that there were 27 members of the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase family in peach with amino acid sequences ranging from 943 to 1327. Subcellular localization showed that 23 of the 27 members were located on the cell membrane, and the phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that peach plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase members were divided into five groups. There were four genes with tandem repeat relationships, and six plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase genes were differentially expressed after 5 days of flooding and under non-flooding conditions based on the RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analyses. This study also investigated the characteristics and possible functions of the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase family members in peach. The results provide theoretical support for further studies on their biological functions in peach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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18 pages, 9262 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification and Expression Pattern Analysis of the SOS Gene Family in Tomatoes

by Jiahui Huang, Jiayu Liu, Fangling Jiang, Min Liu, Zheng Chen, Rong Zhou and Zhen Wu

Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 773; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040773 - 9 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1473

Abstract

SOSs are key genes in the SOS (salt overly sensitive) signaling pathway, which plays an important role in maintaining ion homeostasis in plants under salt stress. Our aim was to clarify the biological function of the SOS gene family in tomato plants. [...] Read more.

SOSs are key genes in the SOS (salt overly sensitive) signaling pathway, which plays an important role in maintaining ion homeostasis in plants under salt stress. Our aim was to clarify the biological function of the SOS gene family in tomato plants. We identified 14 SpeSOS genes, 10 SpiSOS genes, 11 SpmSOS genes, 9 SlmSOS genes, and 11 SlySOS genes from the genomes of “LA0716” (Spe), “LA2093” (Spi), “LA1589” (Spm), “M82” (Slm), and “Heinz 1706” (Sly) separately. The SOS protein family in tomatoes was divided into five subgroups (SOS1, SOS2, SOS3, SOS4, and SOS5) through phylogenetic analysis. The SOS proteins of the same subgroup in tomatoes contained similar conserved domains and motif structures. A subcellular localization prediction showed that the SOS1, SOS3, and SOS5 proteins in tomatoes were located on the cell membrane, while the SOS2 and SOS4 proteins in tomatoes were located on the cytoplasm and chloroplast, respectively. SlSOS1 contained the most exons and introns (23 and 22, respectively), while SlSOS5 contained only one exon. Via the analysis of the cis-elements in the promoters of those SOS genes in tomatoes, several hormone-, light-, and abiotic stress-related cis-elements were found. In addition, qRT-PCR revealed that the SpeSOS, SpiSOS, and SlySOS genes were induced by salt stress with similar expression patterns. Additionally, the expressions of SOS1-1, SOS1-2, SOS2-2, SOS3-3, SOS4-1, and SOS5-2 were higher in salt-tolerant tomatoes compared with salt-sensitive tomatoes under salt stress. In the salt-sensitive “LA1698” tomato and salt-tolerant “LA0516” tomato, most SOS genes had the highest expression in the roots. The expressions of SOS1-1, SOS1-2, SOS2-1, SOS2-2, SOS3-2, SOS3-3, and SOS5-1 in the leaves of salt-tolerant tomatoes were significantly higher than those in salt-sensitive tomatoes. Thereby, the SOS genes in tomatoes were induced by salt stress, indicating that they participated in the regulation mechanism of tomato salt tolerance. This study laid the foundation for further study on the function of the SOS gene family and revealed the molecular mechanism of tomato salt resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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17 pages, 2543 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Physiology, Photosynthesis, and Nutrition Based on Induced Deficiencies of Macro- and Micronutrients in Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

by Jinnan Song, Jingli Yang and Byoung Ryong Jeong

Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010208 - 17 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2152

Abstract

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) contains abundant nutrients and is considered an economically important edible vegetable. The optimal nutrient levels will increase the productivity and basil quality. However, prominent research on basil regarding the diagnostic nutrient deficiency standard and the corresponding nutrient uptake [...] Read more.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) contains abundant nutrients and is considered an economically important edible vegetable. The optimal nutrient levels will increase the productivity and basil quality. However, prominent research on basil regarding the diagnostic nutrient deficiency standard and the corresponding nutrient uptake is still scarce. To this end, the basil plants were hydroponically cultured and subjected to one of 14 nutrient solution treatments, corresponding to the omission of a single nutrient element (designated as -N, -P, -K, -Ca, -Mg, -NH₄⁺, -NO₃⁻, -S, -Fe, -Mn, -B, -Zn, -Mo, and -Cu) and a complete nutrient solution (CS) as the control. The most common nutrient deficiency symptoms were chlorosis, stunted roots and growth, and even leaf necrosis and abscission, in particular of -N, -P, -NO₃⁻, and -Fe. We also found that basil is a NH₄⁺-sensitive species. The photosynthetic capacity (photosynthesis pigments, Fv/Fm ratio, and greenness index) was disturbed to varying degrees when a single nutrient was omitted from the nutrient solution. Additionally, the omission of a specific single nutrient confers significant differences in the tissue nutrients, regardless of the macronutrients and micronutrients considered. Concomitantly, multivariate analysis suggested the correlations among certain important nutrients were distinctly different under different treatments (correlation analysis); the influences of different nutrient deficiencies on the tissue nutrient concentrations showed similarity (principal component analysis). Collectively, the growth, physiological, and biochemical changes studied in this trial not only improved our knowledge for diagnosing nutrient deficiency symptoms for practical cultivation but also provided a comprehensive understanding of the internal nutrient associations in basil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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17 pages, 1514 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Putrescine Increases Frost Tolerance and Effectively Mitigates Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) Cracking: A Study of Four Different Growing Cycles

by María Celeste Ruiz-Aracil, Juan Miguel Valverde, Aleixandre Beltrà, Alberto Carrión-Antolí, José Manuel Lorente-Mento, Marta Nicolás-Almansa and Fabián Guillén

Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010023 - 21 Dec 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1398

Abstract

Sweet cherry producers must deal with different climactic challenges annually, specifically the impact of spring frost and the inherent risk of fruit cracking. This susceptibility arises from the simultaneous occurrence of spring frost during the bloom stage or the sweet cherry cracking at [...] Read more.

Sweet cherry producers must deal with different climactic challenges annually, specifically the impact of spring frost and the inherent risk of fruit cracking. This susceptibility arises from the simultaneous occurrence of spring frost during the bloom stage or the sweet cherry cracking at vulnerable maturity stages in sweet cherry trees during persistent rainfall. Given the change in climatic patterns, the implementation of new strategies and innovative approaches becomes imperative to alleviate potential damage from these climatic adversities. This study aims to explore—for the first time—the effectiveness of preharvest putrescine applications during the flowering stage and ripening on-tree to increase tolerance in sweet cherry against adverse climatic events throughout its on-tree development and at the time of harvest. In this context, foliar applications of putrescine at concentrations of 1 and 10 mM were administered to distinct sweet cherry cultivars, namely, ‘Prime Giant’ and ‘Sweetheart’. Over the course of four growing seasons, our investigation focused on evaluating the influence of this natural elicitor on the frost resilience of flower buds during the preharvest period and its impact on reducing fruit cracking in these selected cultivars. In this sense, the overall malondialdehyde content exhibited a reduction in flower buds treated with putrescine, and the fruit set experienced an increase across the majority of evaluated growing seasons. On the other hand, the incidence of sweet cherry cracking in putrescine-treated sweet cherries showed a consistent reduction in all the studied growing seasons. Our results indicate that preharvest treatments with putrescine effectively alleviate the susceptibility of flower buds to spring frost and significantly diminish fruit cracking, thereby enhancing the overall tolerance to abiotic stress. Furthermore, we evaluated different quality parameters at the time of harvest, including fruit firmness, external color, total soluble solids, and total acidity. Generally, the observed changes in these parameters were delayed in putrescine-treated fruit as compared to the control batch or remained unaffected. For this reason, the implementation of preharvest treatments based on putrescine emerges as a valuable strategy for adapting to climate change and mitigating the impact of abiotic stress, potentially increasing sweet cherry production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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24 pages, 16730 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heat Stress Recovery of Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Leaves through Nitrogen Levels

by Chunying Li, Zaiqiang Yang, Chunlong Zhang, Jing Luo, Nan Jiang, Fengyin Zhang and Wangsheng Zhu

Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 2858; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122858 - 21 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1221

Abstract

To study the impact of nitrogen application on the photosynthetic structure and photosystem activity of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) leaves during the recovery stage after heat stress, the OJIP curve and JIP parameters were determined through a control experiment in an artificial [...] Read more.

To study the impact of nitrogen application on the photosynthetic structure and photosystem activity of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) leaves during the recovery stage after heat stress, the OJIP curve and JIP parameters were determined through a control experiment in an artificial climate chamber. The tomato variety was “Jinfen No. 1”. Four day/night temperature levels (25 °C/15 °C as control CKT; 30 °C/20 °C, lightly high-temperature LHT; 35 °C/25 °C, moderate high-temperature MHT; 40 °C/30 °C, severe high-temperature SHT) were set for a duration of 7 days. Five nitrogen supply levels (N1–N5: 0, 1.3, 1.95, 2.6 and 3.75 g/plant, respectively; 2.6 g/plant is the recommended nitrogen application rate, CKTN4) were applied. The results showed that the O, K, J, I and P phases on the chlorophyll a fluorescence curve were significantly affected by different nitrogen treatments in heat stress recovery. Compared with CKT, with the increase in nitrogen supply, the fluorescence intensity of SHTN2-SHTN5 treatment increased significantly at P, I and J phases, while that of MHTN1-MHTN4 treatment decreased. The fluorescence intensity of SHTN5 and SHTN3 increased by 13.27% and 10.10% in the P phase, 13.52% and 12.1% in the I phase and 20.16% and 26.18% in the J phase, respectively. There were highly significant differences (p < 0.01) in the impact of high temperatures and nitrogen levels on the fluorescence parameters. On the 1st day after short-term heat stress, N had no significant effect on

F_{v} / F_{M}

,

F_{v}

,

F_{o}

and

F_{M}

; however, their interaction was significant (p < 0.05). On the 8th day, there were no significant interaction effects between HT and N for

F_{v} / F_{o}

, ABS/RC and

{D I}_{o} / R C

.

F_{v} / F_{o}

proved to be sensitive to the application of both high temperatures and nitrogen. Under all five nitrogen applications, temperature played a significant role in increasing

{D I}_{o} / R C

, especially for N2 and N3. The results indicated that decreasing the nitrogen application under SHT resulted in a higher number of active

R C s

and an increased value of specific energy flux (

A B S / R C

,

{T R}_{o} / R C

and

{D I}_{o} / R C

), indicating the enhanced ability of

R C

to reduce plastoquinone. The study provides a reference for the diagnosis of nitrogen nutrition under high-temperature stress using chlorophyll fluorescence methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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16 pages, 2330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selenium and Iodine Biofortification Interacting with Supplementary Blue Light to Enhance the Growth Characteristics, Pigments, Trigonelline and Seed Yield of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-gracum L.)

by Sadrollah Ramezani, Behnaz Yousefshahi, Yusuf Farrokhzad, Dariush Ramezan, Meisam Zargar and Elena Pakina

Agronomy 2023, 13(8), 2070; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13082070 - 6 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1587

Abstract

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is an annual plant belonging to the family Fabaceae and has fodder, medicinal and spice uses, and is also used as an organic fertilizer. A total of 18 treatments including the combination of two light environments (with and [...] Read more.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is an annual plant belonging to the family Fabaceae and has fodder, medicinal and spice uses, and is also used as an organic fertilizer. A total of 18 treatments including the combination of two light environments (with and without supplementary blue light), three concentrations of potassium iodate (0, 2 and 4 mg L⁻¹) and four concentrations of sodium selenate (0, 2 and 4 mg L⁻¹) were organized in a three-way factorial experiment to evaluate the growth characteristics, pigments, trigonelline and seed yield of fenugreek in a greenhouse. The application of 4 mg L⁻¹ of Se resulted in the highest carotenoid, anthocyanin, plant length, fresh weight, chlorophyll and relative water content. The fresh and dry weight of the shoot and the anthocyanin increased with the 2 h supplementation of sunlight with a blue spectrum; however, the fresh root decreased. The interaction of blue light with 0 mg L⁻¹ of Se significantly reduced the plant length. The content of trigonelline was significantly improved with the application of blue light supplementation without negatively affecting the seed yield. In general, 2 h supplementing of sunlight with blue light and feeding with 4 mg L⁻¹ of selenium and iodine are recommended to improve various traits, including trigonelline content. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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18 pages, 2832 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Nitrogen Application in Recovery Period after Different High Temperature Stress on Plant Growth of Greenhouse Tomato at Flowering and Fruiting Stages

by Chunying Li, Zaiqiang Yang, Chunlong Zhang, Jing Luo, Fengyin Zhang and Rangjian Qiu

Agronomy 2023, 13(6), 1439; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061439 - 23 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2494

Abstract

High temperatures have become a severe factor limiting growth and yield for tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) due to unfavorable, above-optimum temperatures. Temperature and nitrogen application were the main regulatory factors in tomato plant cultivation. This research was undertaken to evaluate the effects [...] Read more.

High temperatures have become a severe factor limiting growth and yield for tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) due to unfavorable, above-optimum temperatures. Temperature and nitrogen application were the main regulatory factors in tomato plant cultivation. This research was undertaken to evaluate the effects of nitrogen application and high temperature on tomato morphology, dry matter accumulation and distribution, root vitality and nitrogen content of the above ground. Tomato variety “Jinfen No. 1” was planted and exposed to 4 day/night temperature levels (25 °C/15 °C as control CKT; 30 °C/20 °C, lightly high-temperature LHT; 35 °C/25 °C, moderate high-temperature MHT; 40 °C/30 °C, severe high temperature SHT) for 7 days after five nitrogen supply levels (N1–N5: 0, 1.3, 1.95, 2.6 and 3.75 g/plant, respectively; 2.6 g/plant is the recommended nitrogen-application rate, as control CKTN4). Within conditions, there was an extremely significant difference (p < 0.01) in all tomato plant parameters and an extremely significant interaction (p < 0.01) between high temperatures and nitrogen supply levels, except for plant height sampling on the 1st day in the recovery period. Dry matter accumulation decreased, and the accumulation rate slowed down. Dry matter accumulation under low nitrogen treatment was higher than in high nitrogen treatment. The proportion of dry matter in leaves decreased, the proportion of dry matter in stems increased and the difference in dry matter accumulation and proportion of dry matter between different nitrogen treatments decreased. Under LHT, the root activity of the tomato was increased under all nitrogen levels, while under MHT and SHT, high nitrogen and low nitrogen supply significantly inhibited root activity. Lightly high-temperature stress can increase root activity, and LHTN4 can increase by 5.15% compared with CKTN4. Appropriate nitrogen application can alleviate the damage caused by high-temperature stress on tomato plants and enhance the resistance of tomato plants, while excessive nitrogen application will aggravate the damage degree of tomato plants. In this study, the optimal nitrogen application rates under CKT-SHT treatment were 2.6, 2.6, 1.95 and 1.3 g/plant, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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13 pages, 4091 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Plasticity of Morpho-Physiological Traits and Antioxidant Activity of Hydroponically Sprouted Hordeum vulgare L. When Using Saline Water

by Walid Soufan, Omar Azab, Nasser Al-Suhaibani, Khalid F. Almutairi and Mohammed Sallam

Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 1135; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041135 - 16 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1722

Abstract

Water salinity is a critical cause of the decrease in quality of fodder plants. The use of saline water as an alternative to fresh water requires the production of elite plant varieties that can tolerate excess amounts of sodium chloride. In this study, [...] Read more.

Water salinity is a critical cause of the decrease in quality of fodder plants. The use of saline water as an alternative to fresh water requires the production of elite plant varieties that can tolerate excess amounts of sodium chloride. In this study, we evaluated six genotypes of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) used as sprout fodder for their tolerance to saline water conditions. The six genotypes were tested for their germination vigor, α-amylase activity, root system architecture (RSA) phenotyping, relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll content (ChC), reactive oxygen species accumulation (ROS), and total antioxidant capacity. Increasing the salt concentration caused a significant decrease in the germination time, α-amylase activity, germination percentage, ChC, and RWC of all the genotypes, but significant differences in the RSA and ChC were detected. In addition, the plasticity of these characteristics at the seedling stage increased their potential to select varieties that could produce high amounts of green fodder when fresh water alternatives are used. Strong and positive correlations were detected between the green carpet formed under the salt treatment and ChC at the seedling stage for a local genotype and G134. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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16 pages, 1659 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exogenous Application of Salicylic Acid Modulates Oxidative Stress during the Seed Development of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Grain

by María Pinciroli, Raúl Domínguez-Perles, Sonia Medina, Camille Oger, Alexandre Guy, Thierry Durand, Mari Merce Cascant-Vilaplana, José Antonio Gabaldón-Hernández, Federico Ferreres and Ángel Gil-Izquierdo

Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 636; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030636 - 23 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1741

Abstract

The present study aimed to discover the effects of exogenously foliar-applied salicylic acid (SA) in concentrations of 0, 1 and 15 mM (applied 7 and 21 days after heading) on oxidative stress. The effects were monitored through the concentrations of phytoprostanes (PhytoPs) and [...] Read more.

The present study aimed to discover the effects of exogenously foliar-applied salicylic acid (SA) in concentrations of 0, 1 and 15 mM (applied 7 and 21 days after heading) on oxidative stress. The effects were monitored through the concentrations of phytoprostanes (PhytoPs) and phytofurans (PhytoFs) in immature and mature grains of three genotypes of rice (‘R52’, ‘R45’ and ‘Yerua’), and their influence on grains per panicle and chalkiness. Chromatographic separation of PhytoPs and PhytoFs was performed using a UHPLC coupled to triple quadrupole-MS/MS (Agilent Technologies, Germany). The concentrations of oxylipins showed differences in both harvest times (immature and mature) for each genotype. The advanced lines, ‘R52’ and ‘R45’, showed concentrations that were 24.0 and 79.0% lower than those of the immature grains, respectively. The PhytoFs concentration in “R45” was 46.0% lower in the mature grains. In unripe grains, SA reduced a single oxylipin of all those analyzed, while in mature grains, a significant decrease in six of the ten monitored biomarkers was observed. The SA produced an increase in grains per panicle, and a decrease in chalkiness. Therefore, salicylic acid-mediated antioxidant regulatory capacities due to oxylipin down-regulation could favor grain filling and, hence, rice production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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11 pages, 2505 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Higher Aluminum Tolerance of Lespedeza bicolor Relative to Lespedeza cuneata Is Associated with Saccharide Components of Root Tips

by Qing-Bin Sun, Chun-Qin Yin, Han Zheng, Xiao-Ying Dong, Ren-Fang Shen and Xue-Qiang Zhao

Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030629 - 22 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1394

Abstract

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is the primary factor limiting agricultural productivity in acid soils. The cell wall is mainly composed of saccharides and the first barrier for aluminum (Al) to enter plant root cells, but it is unknown whether and how root saccharide components [...] Read more.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is the primary factor limiting agricultural productivity in acid soils. The cell wall is mainly composed of saccharides and the first barrier for aluminum (Al) to enter plant root cells, but it is unknown whether and how root saccharide components are involved in regulating the Al tolerance of Lespedeza that is well adapted to acid soils. Here, we used Al-tolerant Lespedeza bicolor and Al-sensitive Lespedeza cuneata to examine the association of root saccharide components with Lespedeza Al tolerance through analyzing the saccharide changes of roots exposed to Al toxicity. Al-sensitive Lespedeza accumulated more Al and pectin but less hemicellulose in the root cell walls than Al-tolerant Lespedeza. Al treatment decreased the amounts of total sugar secreted from and within the roots of only Al-tolerant Lespedeza. Al treatment decreased the content of root monosaccharides including glucose and mannose in both Lespedeza species, but increased the xylose contents in only Al-sensitive Lespedeza. Taken together, less cell wall pectin rather than hemicellulose is responsible for less root Al accumulation, and Al-decreased root saccharide contents may enhance root organic-acid secretion to chelate toxic Al, both of which contribute to Lespedeza Al tolerance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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17 pages, 3097 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potassium Phosphite Induces Tolerance to Water Deficit Combined with High Irradiance in Soybean Plants

by Priscila Ferreira Batista, Alan Carlos da Costa, Adinan Alves da Silva, Gabriel Martins Almeida, Maria Fernanda Marques Rodrigues, Emily Carolina Duarte Santos, Arthur Almeida Rodrigues and Caroline Müller

Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 382; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020382 - 28 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2168

Abstract

Changes in plant metabolism due to water deficit combined with other stresses, such as high irradiance and high temperatures, cause damage to the physiology and development of crops, which can lead to significant yield losses. The aim of this study was to determine [...] Read more.

Changes in plant metabolism due to water deficit combined with other stresses, such as high irradiance and high temperatures, cause damage to the physiology and development of crops, which can lead to significant yield losses. The aim of this study was to determine the potential of potassium phosphite (PP) to induce tolerance to water deficit combined with high irradiance in soybean plants. The experiment was carried out in an acclimatized growth chamber. Soybean plants, upon reaching the R1 developmental stage, received the following treatments: PP application (0 L ha⁻¹–control; 0.6 L ha⁻¹ PP; and 1.2 L ha⁻¹ PP), two levels of PAR irradiance (650 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹–control; and 1500 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹–high irradiance (HI)), and three water availability levels (90% of field capacity (FC), and water deficit at 40% FC and 50% FC). The treatments were maintained for 12 days. The PP increased the photosynthetic rate of plants submitted to a dosage of 1.2 L ha⁻¹ and stresses of 50% FC + HI. PP also decreased the intensity of lipid peroxidation, and rate of electrolyte leakage, which suggests stability of cell membranes. These responses may have occurred due to the activation of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and peroxidase. Furthermore, the application of PP increased the proline concentrations, suggesting osmotic adjustment in response to stress. These results provide the first record of PP-induced tolerance in plants under combined water and HI stresses. PP proves to be a potential alternative method to reduce the harmful effects caused by the combined stresses of water deficit and high irradiance in soybean. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)

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