The foliar application of sunscreen formulations containing silicon dioxide (SiO₂) may be relevant to overcome heat burn in vegetable crops. The authors tested a Si-containing product on cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and pepper (Capsicum annum) potted plants to assess its protective properties against heat stress. Two-week-old plants were either sprayed (S+) or not sprayed (S-) with a 0.05% Si solution and were either exposed (H+) or not exposed (H-) to heat stress; greenhouse conditions were used and there was a total of four treatments (S-H-, S-H+, S+H-, and S+H+). The H+ treatment consisted of exposing plants, for 6 hours on two consecutive days, to mild heat stress (air temperature around 42ºC) and one week later to severe heat stress (air temperature around 48ºC). Also, H- plants received 25% less solar radiation than H+ plants.

Pepper plants exposed to heat burn (H+) showed a 1% decrease in their water percentage compared to H- plants. The leaf temperature was 7% lower (p < 0.01) in the S+H+ treatment group and around 5% lower in S+H- plants of both species, compared to plants not sprayed with Si (S-). In addition, plants sprayed with Si (S+H+ and S+H-) showed a 20% lower (p = 0.04) stomatal conductance (g_s). The chlorophyll content of leaves not exposed to heat-stress (H-) was almost 50% higher in S+ plants of either species, on average, of the two heat-stress treatments (mild and severe). Heat stress decreased by an average of 4% in relation to the quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) of plants of either species. Also, Si improved the Fv/Fm of all plants that were not exposed to heat stress (i.e., S+H-) and plants after exposure to severe heat stress (48ºC), but not after mild heat stress (42ºC). The number of flowers produced by cucumber plants was 60% higher in Si+H+ than in Si-H+ plants.
These results suggest a beneficial effect of silica spraying but should be confirmed in the field.

Cornelian cherry or Cornus mas is well known for its nutritional, medicinal, and ornamental uses. The cultivar Cornus mas 'Podolski' is particularly valued for its larger fruit size, high yield, and adaptability, making it a promising candidate for commercial cultivation and landscape use. However, conventional propagation methods are limited, necessitating the development of efficient in vitro techniques. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are currently being used as a light source for in vitro regeneration or the growth of plants in a controlled environment. The objective of the present work was to investigate the influence of varying sucrose concentrations (10 g·L⁻¹, 15 g·L⁻¹, 20 g·L⁻¹) and different dominating LED light spectra; White (Control); Blue (B); Blue-Red (BR); and Red (R) on the in vitro growth and morphogenesis of C. mas 'Podolski'. The parameters measured included the number of shoots, the shoot length, the number of leaves, callus induction, and regeneration rate. It was observed that both sucrose concentration and light spectrum significantly influence the in vitro growth and morphogenesis of Cornus mas 'Podolski'. Higher sucrose levels, particularly 20 g·L⁻¹ with white spectra, promote greater shoot production, while red spectra with varying sucrose concentrations enhance shoot elongation and leaf formation. Furthermore, 100% regeneration was observed in several treatments, indicating a high potential for successful plant regeneration under specific sucrose and light spectrum combinations. The lack of significant differences in callus formation across treatments suggests that callus induction is largely independent of sucrose concentration and light quality under the tested conditions. Collectively, Blue-Red spectra with varying sucrose levels are most effective for overall plant regeneration. This optimized protocol is considered for enhancing the large-scale propagation of this valuable cultivar, supporting both commercial production and conservation efforts.

Soils act as a major reservoir of microbes belonging to different groups, namely bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes. Organic matter decomposed by microbial diversity play a significant role in the growth development and yield of plants. Earthworm, which is well known as a farmer’s friend, has a great symbiotic relationship with the microbial flora present in the soil. The presence of earthworms in the soil influences the microbial community and density, which helps in accelerating and improving soil fertility. Microbes, together with earthworms, are more effective in mineralising and humifying organic matter, which is further responsible for a highly fertile soil. A clear picture about the actual microbial diversity in vermicopmpost is yet to be uncovered. Deciphering the native microflora of vermicopost and its specific role in the productivity of crop plants could be the enticing phenomenon. This work was started to figure out the major microbial diversity involved in vermicomposting compared with natural compost and simple soil microflora. The isolation of some specic microbes has been done through plate culture technique. Enumeration, comparative colony phenotyping, and microscopic studies were carried out. The present work provides strong evidence about the involvement of some specific bacteria/microflora with unique characteristics in the process of the decomposition of organic waste during the vermicomposting mechanism. Furthermore, work will be carried forward for the biochemical and genomic analysis of the microbial isolates followed by determining their role in enhancing the productivity of crop plants.

Medicinal plants have increasing worldwide potential in pharmacological therapies, and their secondary metabolites are effective, with no adverse effects on the body. Technologies for plant cell culture have proven to be useful for both researching and generating plant secondary metabolites in vitro, and phytochemicals are reported to defend against abiotic stresses. This study employed four different types of abiotic elicitors (UV, NaCl, GA3, and Pt) to examine the relationship between abiotic stresses and the generation of secondary metabolites from Datura stramonium, D. innoxia, Solanum nigrum, and S.dubium. After breaking seed dormancy, Callus tissues were derived from two organs: the seeds and leaves of all the four species. In callus tissue, the high mean total alkaloid recorded for leaves was observed with values in S.dubium˂D.stramonium˂ D.innoxia˂ S.nigrum, while the seed values were scored as S.dubium˂ D.innoxia ˂ S.nigrum ˂D.stramonium. The resulting alkaloids from the callus treated with different elicitors showed that high alkaloid levels obtained from S.nigrum seeds treated with GA3 (1082.02 μg/ml) and the lowest alkaloid levels (58.17 μg/ml) were observed in leaves treated with platinum and in controlled D.stramonium seeds. Seed explants had more alkaloid production than leaves in all species. Atropine, a tropane alkaloid, was detected in 13 samples using GC/MS. D.innoxia seeds treated with NaCl, and had the highest atropine concentration (18.82ppm).

In Brazil there has been a large increase in the use of products based on microorganisms, used for biological control. Due to this increased demand for biological products, some companies have been selling a technology called “on farm” production system, also known as “biofabrics” which consists of producing microorganisms for biological control within the property using commercial products as inoculum source. However, it occurs without any rigorous supervision and the multiplication occurs in open spaces such as water tanks, bioreactors, and milk coolers. With the lack of control over the multiplying microorganisms, published articles report the presence of several contaminants, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The present work aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality of two multiplied Trichoderma products in Curitibanos – SC, Brazil. Samples were collected on rural properties and taken to the laboratory for quantification processes by serial dilution and morphological analysis of colonies. One of them was the commercial product Trippel, with a labeled concentration of 1x10⁵ UFC ml^-1 of Trichoderma asperellum, and the other was a product of its “on farm” multiplication. We observed no contaminants in Trippel, and a concentration of 1x10⁷ UFC ml^-1. On the other hand, the multiplied product did not present Trichoderma asperellum, and the concentration of contaminants was 4x10⁹ CFU ml^-1 (mostly bacterial colonies). The on-farm multiplication of the microorganism Trichoderma asperellum was not efficient, once that only contaminants were multiplied, and the agricultural use of this multiplication will not result in the benefits expected from a commercial product. Furthermore, contaminants may be pathogenic and even antibiotic-resistant groups of microorganisms, which represents a serious health risk to farmers and can contaminate of soil and water resources.

Abstract:

Microbial priming is an emerging strategy in sustainable agriculture that involves the use of beneficial microorganisms to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. This innovative approach leverages the natural interactions between plants and microorganisms to promote plant growth and improve soil health. This study explores the application of microbial priming on almond seeds, focusing on the biostimulant effect of a soil-based microbial extract to enhance almond seed germination and seedling growth. Methods: Almond seeds were subjected to microbial priming using a microbial wash extracted from a rhizospheric native soil sample of Pistacia lentiscus. The experiment evaluated germination rates, seedling growth parameters, and conducted comprehensive physico-chemical and microbial soil analyses. AMF (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi) colonization was also measured. Results: Microbial priming significantly improved germination rates and enhanced seedling growth compared to untreated controls. Soil analysis revealed increased nutrient availability and a higher population of beneficial microorganisms. The AMF colonization was notably higher in treated plants. Conclusions: Microbial priming effectively enhances almond seed germination and seedling growth, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable biostimulation strategy in agriculture. This practice not only boosts crop productivity, but also promotes soil health by enriching microbial communities and improving nutrient cycling. Integrating microbial priming into almond cultivation can lead to more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems, reducing dependency on chemical inputs and enhancing overall crop performance.

Among the cole vegetables (Brassica oleracea L.) , Indian cauliflower holds a predominant position in India in terms of area and production. Cauliflower and other cole vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprout, kale and knolkhol are reservoir of nutrients, vitamins, antioxidant compounds and secondary metabolites like glucosinolates. Thus, enhancing the productivity of cole vegetables is of utmost importance to combat hunger and malnutrition globally. The development of hybrids is one effective way to increase the productivity of vegetable crops. In this context, Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) has proven instrumental in accelerating the breeding programmes of cole vegetables. In the past fewedecades, a large number of cytolines of cauliflower consisting of Ogura cytoplasm have been developed at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, through repeated backcrossing. To unravel the true genetic and breeding potential of these cytolines, the appraisal of morphological, reproductive and seed traits of these lines is essential. The present investigation indicated that some of the CMS lines proved promising and can be exploited in developing high-yielding early hybrids. The results also confirmed a reduction in nectar volume and flower size in cytolines as compared to those of their male fertile counterpart, which was attributed to the introgression of sterile cytoplasm. High heritability estimates also indicated the role of selection in the present germplasm. The introgression of cytoplasm also resulted in changes in petal size and sepal size. The results of the current study are instrumental in formulating a effective breeding strategy for the exploitation of these cytolines in accelerating the breeding of cauliflower.

Climate change is projected to amplify existing climate-related risks and create new risks for natural and human systems. Perennial forage species may represent a valuable alternative to annual forage crops by improving the environmental and economic sustainability of Mediterranean agro-pastoral farming systems through a reduction in soil erosion and the conservation of soil water. Under climate variability, a multi-environment experiment was conducted in Morocco under three contrasting environments—Annocer, Guich, and Tassaout—over three consecutive years (2013/214, 2014/2015, and 2015/2016). Measurements for productivity traits and summer dormancy were taken for 21 genotypes, 18 of which were (F1 hybrids) generated between two varieties of cocksfoot—Dactylis glomerata ssp glomerata and Dactylis glomerata ssp hispanica—with different ranges of senescence, parents, and Ludac values (temperate control). An evaluation of the stability and adaptability of the cocksfoot genotypes was established by AMMI (Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction) using some productivity traits (plant height, annual dry-matter production, and spring biomass) and summer dormancy to determine differences between genotypes across environments. The present study aimed to identify the effect of environmental control on the induction of summer dormancy and identify genotypes with both mean performance and high stability. The results indicated a large variability among genotypes from year to year and location to location. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed highly significant differences (P < 0.0001), which were recorded between genotypes for all measured traits, mainly due to changes in genotype rankings. Significant effects of genotype, environment, and GxE were noted. Moreover, significant correlations (P < 0.0001) were obtained between environments. Env2 and Env3 achieved the highest mean annual dry matter.

Combined drought and salinity stress, prevalent in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, is known to have more damaging effects on wheat crops as compared to the individual drought and salinity stress conditions. Different hexaploid Triticum aestivum subspecies including ssp. compactum, ssp. spelta, and ssp. sphaerococcum have not been well explored for abiotic stress tolerance. While ssp. compactum and ssp. sphaerococcum are free threshing, ssp. spelta is a hulled type. All these subspecies are autogamous and can be crossed with ssp. aestivum to produce fertile offsprings. Hence, it will be useful to identify and utilize the potential genotypes of these subspecies to develop stress tolerant wheat cultivars. Thus, more than 20 genotypes of these species have been screened in hydroponic system under controlled, drought stressed, salinity stressed, and combined drought and salinity stressed growth conditions. The tolerance level of these genotypes was estimated in terms of growth parameters, photosynthetic rates, relative water content and electrical conductivity under different stress conditions. A huge genetic variation in stress tolerance was observed within and among all the studied species. A significant correlation was identified between the stress tolerance and different parameters. The obtained results directed that these neglected hexaploid wheat subspecies can be a potential source of combined drought and salinity stress tolerance.

Acknowledgements: The authors acknowledge the TUBITAK 1001 (No. 123R072) project for the funding provided to conduct this research work.

Additional lighting is required to cultivate crops in northern latitudes and in greenhouse conditions. In the present study, the effect of two light-emitting diode sources on the growth and yield of the spring wheat cv. Zlata was studied. Plants were cultivated under complete isolation from sunlight. We employed two light spectra established by commercially available LED lamps, provided by UnieL, China (prevalence of red light), and Agroaspect, Russia (prevalence of blue light). The growth conditions, including the temperature, humidity, watering, fertilization and length of the photoperiod, were the same for all plants.

Cultivation under red light resulted in faster plant development, earlier heading, flowering and ripening of cv. Zlata. Under blue light, the time from sowing to harvesting was 107 days, while the application of the red spectral range reduced the growth time to 79 days. This led to a 2-fold decrease in the number of ears per plant, a shortening of the flag leaf and a 2-fold decrease in the total number of seeds per plant. Under blue light, the average weight of 1000 seeds of cv. Zlata was 41.75 g, and the protein content reached 17.65%. In contrast, plant growing under red light led to a decrease in the average seed weight to 30.1 g, and the protein content reduced to 16.75%.

Although the red spectral range leads to a decrease in the yield and quality of wheat seeds, this technical approach makes it possible to shorten the growth time and achieve four cycles of growing wheat plants per year in well-controlled installations. The use of the blue spectral range can be used for the production of sufficient number of high-quality seeds to speed up wheat breeding.