Research paper
Jacinta W Muiruri; Agnes M Kavoo; Mwashasha Rashid Mwajita; Fredah K. Wanzala; Tofick Wekesa
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are associated with plant roots and exhibit beneficial impacts such as stress tolerance and nutrient and water absorption. These functions opened the door to studying other fungi associated with AMF on the root’s rhizosphere. This study aimed to characterize fungal ...
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Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are associated with plant roots and exhibit beneficial impacts such as stress tolerance and nutrient and water absorption. These functions opened the door to studying other fungi associated with AMF on the root’s rhizosphere. This study aimed to characterize fungal isolates associated with rhizospheric indigenous AMF from different plant species (banana, grass and papaya) and agroecologies (Mwea, Mitunguu and Juja) in Central Kenya. A total of 30 fungal isolates were isolated from the soil samples through the pour plate technique. The isolates had diverse microscopic morphological characteristics ranging from form, margin, color, size, and surface. Physiochemical characteristics showed varied growth at different pH, temperature, and salinity with optimum growth was recorded at pH 7.0, 30oC-35℃ temperature, and salinity of 0-0.5M NaCl. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and AMF subunits sequences showed diversity similar to Aspergillus spp. Ajellomyces spp., Fusarium spp., Trichoderma spp., Penicillium spp., Glomus spp. and Diversispora spp. In conclusion, there is a symbiotic relationship between AMF and other fungal.
Research paper
Malek Ghasemi; Mohammad Ali Shiri
Abstract
Different four methods of supplementary pollination included as open pollination, hand pollination from male flowers of cv. Tomori, spray pollination with pure pollen and spray pollination with impure pollen (collected from the entrance of bees' nests at the time of opening kiwifruit male flowers) was ...
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Different four methods of supplementary pollination included as open pollination, hand pollination from male flowers of cv. Tomori, spray pollination with pure pollen and spray pollination with impure pollen (collected from the entrance of bees' nests at the time of opening kiwifruit male flowers) was conducted in three replications in 2021. When the fruit reached the maturity stage (6.2 °Brix), it was harvested and stored for 90 days at 0 °C. The results showed that kiwifruit decay (1.70%), weight loss (3.14%), total soluble solids (TSS) (149.62%) and TSS to titratable acidity (TA) ratio (TSS/TA) (333.04%) significantly (P ≤ 0.01) increased during 90 days of cold storage, whereas, fruit firmness (38.24%), TA (42.10%), total chlorophyll (53.72%), carotenoid (18.65%), vitamin C (10.34%), flavonoid (12.87%) and antioxidant activity (13.29%) significantly decreased through storage time. Furthermore, total phenolic content (TPC) significantly increased at the 30 days of cold storage and then significantly reduced. Generally, fruits produced from vine sprayed with impure pollen had higher firmness, bioactive compounds, and sensory attributes, as well as lower decay and weight loss after 90 days of cold storage. Overall, spraying kiwifruit vines with impure pollen could be recommended as a practical supplementary pollination in kiwifruit cv. Hayward regarding maintaining postharvest quality.
Research paper
Mousa Arshad; Masoud Haghshenas
Abstract
Fruit ripening involves marked physiological and biochemical changes that affect fruit color, taste, aroma, texture, and nutritional value. A significant amount of research has shown that chitosan interacts with other postharvest treatments, which can enhance the impact of the chitosan coating. This ...
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Fruit ripening involves marked physiological and biochemical changes that affect fruit color, taste, aroma, texture, and nutritional value. A significant amount of research has shown that chitosan interacts with other postharvest treatments, which can enhance the impact of the chitosan coating. This study considered the effects of chitosan coating and melatonin on banana shelf-life and fruit quality at the green mature stage. The studied variables had three levels of melatonin 0, 75, and 150 mg L-1, two levels of chitosan coating 0, 0.25, and 0.5%, and three storage durations 3, 6, and 9 days. Fruits were harvested at the green mature stage and stored at 25 °C and 80% RH for 9 days. The results showed that melatonin and chitosan coating interacted and significantly affected green mature banana quality and shelf-life during the storage time. Chitosan and melatonin interaction delayed the decrease in chlorophyll and the increase in carotenoids, fruit maturity, and color change. Our results showed that on the ninth day of storage under chitosan (0.5%) treatment along with melatonin at a concentration of 150 mg L-1, the total chlorophyll content became 3.89% lower than that under control conditions. The level of antioxidant enzyme activity in the treated samples after 3, 6, and 9 days of storage was more than in the control sample. The results showed that chitosan (0.5%) and melatonin (150 mg L-1) successfully increased the shelf life of banana fruits.
Research paper
Nibras Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar; Azizolah Khandan-Mirkohi; Seyed Alireza salami; Hossein saremi; Samira Shahbazi
Abstract
The biocontrol ability of two strains of Trichoderma fungi on infected Freesia corm by Fusarium disease and eventually growth and performance enhancement of this plant was investigated as laboratory and greenhouse experiment. Laboratory experiment includes five Trichoderma strains as T1, T20, Th4 related ...
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The biocontrol ability of two strains of Trichoderma fungi on infected Freesia corm by Fusarium disease and eventually growth and performance enhancement of this plant was investigated as laboratory and greenhouse experiment. Laboratory experiment includes five Trichoderma strains as T1, T20, Th4 related to T.harzianum species, T2 related to T.artoviride species, and Tvi related to T.virens species. Dual culture test and investigation of the inhibition and colonization rate were carried out with 11 treatments in three replications. Results revealed that strains T1 and T2 have completely covered the pathogen in 96-hours of culture by 70.07% and 68.98% and successfully inhibited the colonization of the disease agent by 84.53% and 80.72%, respectively compared to the other strains. Then, a greenhouse experiment was performed with 8 treatments with suspension of Trichoderma strains separately alone or combined in the presence of Fusarium fungus isolate on the Freesia cultivation based on RCBD design. Results showed that the strains with different levels were able to increase the growth and yield of Freesia plant and control Fusarium disease. In general, T2 strain were more effective in increasing plant growth and height of flower stem of Freesia, while T1 strain specifically improved the diameter of corm. Both T1 and T2 strains demonstrated effectiveness in controlling and reducing the severity of Fusarium disease and enhancing the growth quality of Freesia.Keywords: Biocontrol, Isolates, Ornamental plants, Pathogen, Probiotic, Strains.
Research paper
Vences Cuyno Valleser; Jean L Valleser
Abstract
Ethrel®, which contains ethylene, is used as a ripening treatment for fruits. However, there is no available information on its application as an artificial ripening agent for cacao pods. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of the varying ethephon concentrations (0, 1000, 2500, and 5000 ...
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Ethrel®, which contains ethylene, is used as a ripening treatment for fruits. However, there is no available information on its application as an artificial ripening agent for cacao pods. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of the varying ethephon concentrations (0, 1000, 2500, and 5000 ppm) on cacao ripening in a completely randomized design with three replications. Unripe cacao pods containing fully developed embryos were utilized in this study. Cacao pods treated with 5000 ppm ethephon ripened five days earlier than untreated samples. For 1000 to 2500 ppm ethephon treatments, days to ripening were achieved at 3 days after treatment (DAT). Furthermore, by 7 DAT, 100% of cacao pods treated with 2500 to 5000 ppm ethephon had ripened. The control treatment had the lowest percentage of ripened pods (50%) at 7 DAT. Total soluble solids (TSS) and titratable acidity (TA) of ripened cacao pods at 7 DAT were not altered substantially in response to ethephon concentrations. The highest TSS/TA ratio (29.13) was recorded from cacao treated with 2500 ppm ethephon. In contrast, untreated cacao pods had the lowest TSS/TA ratio (23.49). Our findings suggest that ethephon can be used as a plant growth regulator (PGR) for cacao growers to accelerate the ripening of cacao pods.
Research paper
Borzou Yousefi; Roya Karamian
Abstract
White savory (Satureja mutica Fisch.) is an oil-bearing plant, with applications in traditional medicine, pharmaceutical industries, and food additives in home-made dishes. The current research comprised a greenhouse experiment in factorial arrangement based on a completely randomized design (CRD). It ...
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White savory (Satureja mutica Fisch.) is an oil-bearing plant, with applications in traditional medicine, pharmaceutical industries, and food additives in home-made dishes. The current research comprised a greenhouse experiment in factorial arrangement based on a completely randomized design (CRD). It included four salinity levels (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl), two salicylic acid (SA) levels (0 and 2 mM), and three replicates. By increasing of NaCl concentration, the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid significantly were declined. Increasing NaCl up to 100 mM caused a significant increase in proline and soluble protein content. The amount of proline at 150 mM NaCl showed no significant change compared to 100 mM NaCl, but the soluble protein sharply decreased at 150 mM NaCl. The enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase significantly were enhanced by increasing NaCl concentrations. Saturated water deficiency was augmented significantly, and Leaf fresh and dry weights were decreased significantly at 100 and 150 mM NaCL. SA enhanced chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid content, and leaf fresh and dry weight, depending on the NaCl treatments. SA applications considerably boosted peroxidase and catalase activity at all NaCl treatments. Also, SA significantly improved superoxide dismutase activity at 50 and 100 mM NaCl, but decreased it at 150 mM NaCl. SA significantly reduced saturated water deficiency and proline content despite all NaCl treatments. SA mitigated the adverse effects of NaCl on S. mutica by improvement of antioxidant activity, photosynthetic pigments, and physiological characteristics.
Research paper
Omid Sohrabi; Abdollah Hatamzadeh; Azim Ghasemnezhad; Habibollah Samizadeh; Vahid Erfani-moghadam
Abstract
Medicinal plants have been used historically for various treatments and in human nutrition. Due to their natural occurrence and biodegradability, medicinal plants can be an eco-friendly alternative to toxic chemicals such as pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. An in-vitro experiment was conducted ...
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Medicinal plants have been used historically for various treatments and in human nutrition. Due to their natural occurrence and biodegradability, medicinal plants can be an eco-friendly alternative to toxic chemicals such as pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. An in-vitro experiment was conducted to test the impact of six medicinal plant extracts on tomato growth and callus induction. Two concentrations of each extract (50 and 100 mg L-1) were added to the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium culture. Results showed that Juniperus sabina extract (50 mg L-1) accelerated tomato seed germination by 100% in vitro, compared to the control group in MS basal medium. Callus growth (CG) and callus weight (CW) increased by 50% and by more than 200% when using Taraxacum officinale (100 mg L-1) and Conocarpus erectus (50 mg L-1) extracts, respectively. Biochemical analysis revealed that the extracts were rich in phenolic compounds (348 mg g-1 of total phenol), flavonoids (162 mg g-1), antioxidants (61%), and auxin. Antioxidant activity, plant growth regulators (PGR), and plant defense elicitation probably contributed to these outcomes. Plant extracts also affected the biochemical content of calluses, except total phenol. We recommend using these plant extracts to increase growth, accelerate seed germination, and promote callus induction. Optimal concentrations and combinations of medicinal plant extracts for maximum benefit to different plant species and their growth-related values require further research.
Research paper
Mina Taghizadeh; Mohammad ali Arab; Mosa Solgi
Abstract
Yield quality and quantity in a hydroponic greenhouse usually relies on optimum crop root health and effective nutrient mobility. This study evaluated the effects of applying arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and biochar on different growth characteristics of commercial rose cultivars in a hydroponic cultivation ...
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Yield quality and quantity in a hydroponic greenhouse usually relies on optimum crop root health and effective nutrient mobility. This study evaluated the effects of applying arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and biochar on different growth characteristics of commercial rose cultivars in a hydroponic cultivation system. In this experiment, Rosa hybrida cultivars were ‘Anjelina’ and ‘Dolce Vita’. Treatments included concentrations of 0, 1.5, 3 and 6 g L-1 biochar, and 0 and 7 g L-1 of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as organic biofertilizers for the growth of rose plants. Biofertilization at 3 g L-1 biochar and 7 g L-1 arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi optimally increased the flowering shoot diameter, flower diameter, flowering shoot length, and leaf phosphorus content. The ‘Dolce Vita’ cultivar responded more favorably to higher concentrations of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and biochar than the ‘Angelina’ cultivar in the hydroponic culture medium. Stem diameter, stem length, and flower diameter in both cultivars improved by higher biochar concentrations. The increased flowering shoot length resulted from root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and increased nutrient uptake, especially phosphorus. A higher nutrient supply increased cell division and shoot growth.
Research paper
Mitra Rahmati; Mehdi Rezaee
Abstract
Indicators for predicting the quality and vigor of fruit tree seedlings are useful if they can be easily and visually applied under different climatic regions. Considering the allometric relationships between plum seedling vigor index and morphological traits, the objective of this study was to evaluate ...
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Indicators for predicting the quality and vigor of fruit tree seedlings are useful if they can be easily and visually applied under different climatic regions. Considering the allometric relationships between plum seedling vigor index and morphological traits, the objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological traits determining quality and vigor of plum seedlings of major commercial varieties in different regions of Iran based on path analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. Plum seedlings of 8 commercial cultivars harvested with three replicates from 11 nurseries in four provinces. Morphological indicators included seedling height, diameter above the graft line (DAGL) and at root-collar (RCD), root length, number of roots and branches, dry weights of aerial parts and roots (ADW and RDW, respectively), ratio of height to DAGL and height to ADW, and vigor. Simple correlations between them were estimated. The correlation coefficients were broken down into direct and indirect effects through path analysis, with vigor as the dependent variable. Seedling vigor and some of its components, including DAGL and dry weight, increased and the ratio of height to DAGL decreased when accumulated growing degree-days (AGDD) was increased from 2700 to about 4500 °C per day in different regions. The average vigor for certified and uncertified seedlings was 11.7 and 19.2, respectively. Among the traits that can be evaluated in the nursery visually, DAGL showed higher correlation with vigor and the other morphological traits, which led to its being considered as the most important index for plum seedling evaluation.
Research paper
Rahima Khatoon; Md. Mokter Hossain; Limu Akter
Abstract
Sweet gourd (Cucurbita moschata Duch ex Poir) holds 3rd rank among the vegetables grown in Bangladesh. Salinity affects almost all growth and physiological aspects of plant development and eventually reduces yield. Salt tolerant identification among the large genetic resources and breeding population ...
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Sweet gourd (Cucurbita moschata Duch ex Poir) holds 3rd rank among the vegetables grown in Bangladesh. Salinity affects almost all growth and physiological aspects of plant development and eventually reduces yield. Salt tolerant identification among the large genetic resources and breeding population is a profitable study for solving the salinity problem. The aim of this investigation was to find out sweet gourd hybrids tolerant to salinity. Sixteen sweet gourd hybrids (F1’s) were used for testing salt stress tolerance levels. Salinity stress was induced by adding NaCl solutions (4, 8, 12, 16 and control 0.35 dSm-1). The experiment was conducted during October 2019 to March 2020 following randomized complete block design with three replications at Horticulture Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute(BARI), Gazipur. Gas exchange parameters viz; photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (E), quantum yield (Fv/Fm), and relative water contents (RWC) were measured. Results showed that gas exchange traits and RWC of all hybrids were reduced under stress as compared to control. The photosynthetic traits of sweet gourd hybrids were found sensitive to salt stress causing reduction in overall growth under salinity stress. The reduction of gas exchange traits and RWC were the minimum in P11×P12 and P6×P14 while the highest Fv/Fm and RWC were noticed in P11× P12 at 8 dSm-1 salinity, whereas at 12 and 16 dSm-1 salinity, the highest Fv/Fm and RWC were recorded in P6×P14 and P11× P12 hybrids, so the hybrid P11× P12 can be considered as a salt tolerant sweet gourd hybrid.
