Pub Date : 2023-12-17DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae9121346
Md Nasim Reza, M. Chowdhury, Sumaiya Islam, Md Shaha Nur Kabir, Sang Un Park, Geung-Joo Lee, Jongki Cho, Sun-Ok Chung
The leaf is a primary part of a plant, and examining the leaf area is crucial in understanding growth and plant physiology. Accurately estimating leaf area is key to this understanding. This study proposed a methodology for the non-destructive estimation of leaf area in pennywort plants using image processing and an artificial neural network (ANN) model. The image processing method involved a series of steps, including grayscale conversion, histogram equalization, binary masking, and region filling, achieving an accuracy of around 96.6%. The ANN model, trained with 70% of a dataset, exhibited high correlations of 97.1% in training and 96.6% in testing phases, with leaf length and width significantly impacting the model output. A comparative analysis revealed the superior performance of the ANN model over the image processing method, demonstrating higher R2 values (>0.99) and lower errors. Furthermore, it showed the impact of diverse LED light combinations and nutrient levels (electrical conductivity, EC) on pennywort plant growth, indicating that the R70:B30 LED light ratio with nutrient level 2 (2.0 dS·m−1) fostered the most favorable growth for pennywort plants. The non-destructive nature, simplicity, and speed of the ANN model in estimating leaf area based on easily obtainable measurements of length and width render it an accessible and accurate tool for plant growth assessment in controlled environments. This approach offers opportunities for future studies, tracking changes in leaf areas under varied growth conditions without harming the plant, thus enhancing precision in research.
叶片是植物的主要部分,检查叶片面积对于了解植物的生长和生理学至关重要。准确估算叶面积是了解植物生长的关键。本研究提出了一种利用图像处理和人工神经网络(ANN)模型无损估算五色草植物叶面积的方法。图像处理方法包括灰度转换、直方图均衡化、二值掩蔽和区域填充等一系列步骤,准确率达到约 96.6%。使用 70% 的数据集训练的 ANN 模型在训练阶段和测试阶段分别表现出 97.1% 和 96.6% 的高相关性,叶片的长度和宽度对模型输出有显著影响。对比分析表明,与图像处理方法相比,ANN 模型的性能更优越,R2 值更高(大于 0.99),误差更小。此外,它还显示了不同 LED 光组合和营养水平(电导率,EC)对五角枫植物生长的影响,表明 R70:B30 LED 光比和营养水平 2(2.0 dS-m-1)对五角枫植物的生长最为有利。基于易于获得的长度和宽度测量值估算叶面积的 ANN 模型具有非破坏性、简便性和快速性,因此是在受控环境中评估植物生长情况的便捷而准确的工具。这种方法为未来的研究提供了机会,可以在不伤害植物的情况下跟踪不同生长条件下叶面积的变化,从而提高研究的精确度。
{"title":"Leaf Area Prediction of Pennywort Plants Grown in a Plant Factory Using Image Processing and an Artificial Neural Network","authors":"Md Nasim Reza, M. Chowdhury, Sumaiya Islam, Md Shaha Nur Kabir, Sang Un Park, Geung-Joo Lee, Jongki Cho, Sun-Ok Chung","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae9121346","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121346","url":null,"abstract":"The leaf is a primary part of a plant, and examining the leaf area is crucial in understanding growth and plant physiology. Accurately estimating leaf area is key to this understanding. This study proposed a methodology for the non-destructive estimation of leaf area in pennywort plants using image processing and an artificial neural network (ANN) model. The image processing method involved a series of steps, including grayscale conversion, histogram equalization, binary masking, and region filling, achieving an accuracy of around 96.6%. The ANN model, trained with 70% of a dataset, exhibited high correlations of 97.1% in training and 96.6% in testing phases, with leaf length and width significantly impacting the model output. A comparative analysis revealed the superior performance of the ANN model over the image processing method, demonstrating higher R2 values (>0.99) and lower errors. Furthermore, it showed the impact of diverse LED light combinations and nutrient levels (electrical conductivity, EC) on pennywort plant growth, indicating that the R70:B30 LED light ratio with nutrient level 2 (2.0 dS·m−1) fostered the most favorable growth for pennywort plants. The non-destructive nature, simplicity, and speed of the ANN model in estimating leaf area based on easily obtainable measurements of length and width render it an accessible and accurate tool for plant growth assessment in controlled environments. This approach offers opportunities for future studies, tracking changes in leaf areas under varied growth conditions without harming the plant, thus enhancing precision in research.","PeriodicalId":13034,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"1 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2023-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138966506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-16DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae9121344
Irene Granata, L. Regni, M. Micheli, C. Silvestri, M. Germanà
Salinity stress represents an increasing issue for agriculture and has a great negative impact on plant growth and crop production. The selection of genotypes able to tolerate salt stress could be a suitable solution to overcome the problem. In this context, in vitro cultures can represent a tool for identifying the NaCl tolerant genotypes and quickly producing large populations of them. The possibility of exerting selection for tolerance to NaCl by using encapsulation technology was investigated in two genotypes of fig: ‘Houmairi’ and ‘Palazzo’. The effects of five concentrations of NaCl (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM) added to the artificial endosperm were tested on the conversion of synthetic seeds and on the growth of derived shoots/plantlets. Moreover, proline (Pro) and malondialdehyde (MDA), the enzymatic activities of catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), and EL (Electrolytic Leakage), as well as the chlorophyll content, flavanols, anthocyanins, and Nitrogen Balance Index (NBI) were determined on shoots/plantlet. The obtained results clearly showed that ‘Houmairi’ and ‘Palazzo’ could tolerate salt stress, although a strong difference was found depending on each specific physiological pathway. Indeed, ‘Houmairi’ was revealed to be more tolerant than ‘Palazzo’, with different response mechanisms to salt stress. The use of encapsulated vitro-derived explants proved to be a useful method to validate the selection of genotypes tolerant to salinity stress. Further investigation in the field must validate and confirm the legitimacy of the approach.
{"title":"Application of Encapsulation Technology: In Vitro Screening of Two Ficus carica L. Genotypes under Different NaCl Concentrations","authors":"Irene Granata, L. Regni, M. Micheli, C. Silvestri, M. Germanà","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae9121344","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121344","url":null,"abstract":"Salinity stress represents an increasing issue for agriculture and has a great negative impact on plant growth and crop production. The selection of genotypes able to tolerate salt stress could be a suitable solution to overcome the problem. In this context, in vitro cultures can represent a tool for identifying the NaCl tolerant genotypes and quickly producing large populations of them. The possibility of exerting selection for tolerance to NaCl by using encapsulation technology was investigated in two genotypes of fig: ‘Houmairi’ and ‘Palazzo’. The effects of five concentrations of NaCl (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM) added to the artificial endosperm were tested on the conversion of synthetic seeds and on the growth of derived shoots/plantlets. Moreover, proline (Pro) and malondialdehyde (MDA), the enzymatic activities of catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), and EL (Electrolytic Leakage), as well as the chlorophyll content, flavanols, anthocyanins, and Nitrogen Balance Index (NBI) were determined on shoots/plantlet. The obtained results clearly showed that ‘Houmairi’ and ‘Palazzo’ could tolerate salt stress, although a strong difference was found depending on each specific physiological pathway. Indeed, ‘Houmairi’ was revealed to be more tolerant than ‘Palazzo’, with different response mechanisms to salt stress. The use of encapsulated vitro-derived explants proved to be a useful method to validate the selection of genotypes tolerant to salinity stress. Further investigation in the field must validate and confirm the legitimacy of the approach.","PeriodicalId":13034,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"15 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2023-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138967521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-16DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae9121345
Đ. Vojnović, I. Maksimović, Aleksandra N. Tepić Horecki, Danijela Žunić, B. Adamović, Anita Milić, Zdravko M. Šumić, V. Sabadoš, Ž. Ilin
Onions, essential in various salads and cooked dishes, are sought after by producers for high yields, while consumers value their quality, particularly the presence of antioxidant compounds. This study investigates the impact of production methods and biostimulants on the biomass yield and quality of onions. The two-year experiment was conducted in Vojvodina, Serbia, and compared directly seeded (DS) and from-set (FS) onions with four biostimulant treatments: control (C), seaweed extracts (T1), humic and fulvic acids (T2), and Trichoderma sp. (T3). DS onions yielded significantly more biomass, while FS onions had higher dry matter content. DS onions treated with T1 showed a significant increase in phenols (↑ 5.30%), while T2 and T3 led to declines (↓ 8.66% and ↓ 7.55%, respectively). All biostimulants reduced phenol content in FS onions. T1 and T2 significantly increased the flavonoid concentration in DS onions, with no significant changes in FS onions. T1 enhanced antioxidant properties in DS onions and reduced them in FS onions. Additionally, T2 and T3 decreased antioxidant activity in both DS and FS onions, as evidenced by DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS tests. These findings guide onion production, advocating for the fresh consumption of DS onions with higher biomass and industrial processing suitability for FS onions, emphasizing the potential of bio-based products.
{"title":"Biostimulants Affect Differently Biomass and Antioxidant Status of Onion (Allium cepa) Depending on Production Method","authors":"Đ. Vojnović, I. Maksimović, Aleksandra N. Tepić Horecki, Danijela Žunić, B. Adamović, Anita Milić, Zdravko M. Šumić, V. Sabadoš, Ž. Ilin","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae9121345","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121345","url":null,"abstract":"Onions, essential in various salads and cooked dishes, are sought after by producers for high yields, while consumers value their quality, particularly the presence of antioxidant compounds. This study investigates the impact of production methods and biostimulants on the biomass yield and quality of onions. The two-year experiment was conducted in Vojvodina, Serbia, and compared directly seeded (DS) and from-set (FS) onions with four biostimulant treatments: control (C), seaweed extracts (T1), humic and fulvic acids (T2), and Trichoderma sp. (T3). DS onions yielded significantly more biomass, while FS onions had higher dry matter content. DS onions treated with T1 showed a significant increase in phenols (↑ 5.30%), while T2 and T3 led to declines (↓ 8.66% and ↓ 7.55%, respectively). All biostimulants reduced phenol content in FS onions. T1 and T2 significantly increased the flavonoid concentration in DS onions, with no significant changes in FS onions. T1 enhanced antioxidant properties in DS onions and reduced them in FS onions. Additionally, T2 and T3 decreased antioxidant activity in both DS and FS onions, as evidenced by DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS tests. These findings guide onion production, advocating for the fresh consumption of DS onions with higher biomass and industrial processing suitability for FS onions, emphasizing the potential of bio-based products.","PeriodicalId":13034,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"9 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2023-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138967248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-15DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae9121342
S. Ran, Kun Zhang, Yuqi Zhou, Weiqun Huang, F. Zhong
To elucidate the physiological mechanisms underlying the impact of exogenous nickel ions (Ni2+) on the adaptability of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedling roots to low-nitrogen levels, the cultivar ‘Micro Tom’ was selected as the experimental material and cultivated hydroponically in the cultivation room of the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University. Two distinct nitrogen concentrations (7.66 and 0.383 mmol·L−1) and two different levels of Ni2+ (0 and 0.1 mg·L−1 of NiSO4·6H2O) were employed as treatments. On the 9th day of cultivation, we measured the root biomass, the concentrations of antioxidant compounds, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the tomato seedlings. The study showed that when the nitrogen levels were low, the growth and development of the tomato seedling roots were hindered. This led to a significant increase in the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O2−), and malondialdehyde (MDA), indicating oxidative damage to the roots. Conversely, treatment with Ni2+ induced a notable increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the seedlings and augmented the accumulation of nonenzymatic antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid (ASA) and reduced glutathione (GSH), thereby enhancing the operational efficiency of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle (ASA–GSH). Consequently, this led to substantial reductions in the H2O2 and MDA levels, ultimately mitigating the oxidative damage inflicted on the tomato seedling roots subjected to low-nitrogen stress. In conclusion, exogenous Ni2+ can reduce the peroxidative damage of tomato seedlings by promoting antioxidase activity in tomato seedlings under low-nitrogen stress, improve the tolerance of tomato seedlings to low-nitrogen stress, and maintain the normal growth and development of tomato seedlings.
{"title":"Nickel Ions Enhanced the Adaptability of Tomato Seedling Roots to Low-Nitrogen Stress by Improving Their Antioxidant Capacity","authors":"S. Ran, Kun Zhang, Yuqi Zhou, Weiqun Huang, F. Zhong","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae9121342","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121342","url":null,"abstract":"To elucidate the physiological mechanisms underlying the impact of exogenous nickel ions (Ni2+) on the adaptability of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedling roots to low-nitrogen levels, the cultivar ‘Micro Tom’ was selected as the experimental material and cultivated hydroponically in the cultivation room of the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University. Two distinct nitrogen concentrations (7.66 and 0.383 mmol·L−1) and two different levels of Ni2+ (0 and 0.1 mg·L−1 of NiSO4·6H2O) were employed as treatments. On the 9th day of cultivation, we measured the root biomass, the concentrations of antioxidant compounds, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the tomato seedlings. The study showed that when the nitrogen levels were low, the growth and development of the tomato seedling roots were hindered. This led to a significant increase in the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O2−), and malondialdehyde (MDA), indicating oxidative damage to the roots. Conversely, treatment with Ni2+ induced a notable increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the seedlings and augmented the accumulation of nonenzymatic antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid (ASA) and reduced glutathione (GSH), thereby enhancing the operational efficiency of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle (ASA–GSH). Consequently, this led to substantial reductions in the H2O2 and MDA levels, ultimately mitigating the oxidative damage inflicted on the tomato seedling roots subjected to low-nitrogen stress. In conclusion, exogenous Ni2+ can reduce the peroxidative damage of tomato seedlings by promoting antioxidase activity in tomato seedlings under low-nitrogen stress, improve the tolerance of tomato seedlings to low-nitrogen stress, and maintain the normal growth and development of tomato seedlings.","PeriodicalId":13034,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"151 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138998157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-15DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae9121341
Sinuo Sun, M. Tahir, Zushu Xie, Pengyan Wei, Jianing Yu, Hangkong Liu, Yinnan He, Xiaoying Ren, Yuanyuan Ma, Jiangping Mao
Adventitious root (AR) formation is the key to asexual reproduction; however, cytokinin (CK) hampers AR formation. But the mechanism by which CK inhibits it is still unknown. In this study, we used Malus prunifolia var. ringo apple stem cuttings that were treated with exogenous 6-benzyl adenine (6-BA) at 1 mg/L and lovastatin (CK biosynthesis inhibitor) at 1 mg/L to compare with control (untreated) cuttings. The results indicated that the control and 6-BA-treated cuttings failed to produce ARs; however, lovastatin-treated cuttings successfully produced a few ARs after 20 days (d) of treatments by increasing indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and reducing zeatin riboside (ZR) content at several time points. The 6-BA treatment induced the expression of CK-related genes, such as MdARR3, MdARR5, MdARR5-2, MdAKH4, and MdCKX5, at most time points. However, lovastatin-treated cuttings reduced their expression, which favors AR formation. Furthermore, the expression of auxin-related genes, including MdIAA23, MdARF7, and MdARF19, was induced by lovastatin treatment. Like auxin-related genes, several root-development-related genes (MdWOX5, MdWOX11, MdLB29, and MdARRO1) were also promoted in response to lovastatin treatment that were repressed by 6-BA and control cuttings. In conclusion, lovastatin treatment supports AR formation by inhibiting CK biosynthesis inside the cuttings, as compared to the control and 6-BA-treated cuttings. This study laid the foundation for future studies on the relationship of CK biosynthesis inhibitors with adventitious rooting in apples and other crops.
{"title":"Balancing Hormones and Gene Expressions for Rooting Success: Lovastatin Unveils Cytokinin Inhibition in Malus prunifolia var. ringo Apple Stem Cuttings","authors":"Sinuo Sun, M. Tahir, Zushu Xie, Pengyan Wei, Jianing Yu, Hangkong Liu, Yinnan He, Xiaoying Ren, Yuanyuan Ma, Jiangping Mao","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae9121341","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121341","url":null,"abstract":"Adventitious root (AR) formation is the key to asexual reproduction; however, cytokinin (CK) hampers AR formation. But the mechanism by which CK inhibits it is still unknown. In this study, we used Malus prunifolia var. ringo apple stem cuttings that were treated with exogenous 6-benzyl adenine (6-BA) at 1 mg/L and lovastatin (CK biosynthesis inhibitor) at 1 mg/L to compare with control (untreated) cuttings. The results indicated that the control and 6-BA-treated cuttings failed to produce ARs; however, lovastatin-treated cuttings successfully produced a few ARs after 20 days (d) of treatments by increasing indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and reducing zeatin riboside (ZR) content at several time points. The 6-BA treatment induced the expression of CK-related genes, such as MdARR3, MdARR5, MdARR5-2, MdAKH4, and MdCKX5, at most time points. However, lovastatin-treated cuttings reduced their expression, which favors AR formation. Furthermore, the expression of auxin-related genes, including MdIAA23, MdARF7, and MdARF19, was induced by lovastatin treatment. Like auxin-related genes, several root-development-related genes (MdWOX5, MdWOX11, MdLB29, and MdARRO1) were also promoted in response to lovastatin treatment that were repressed by 6-BA and control cuttings. In conclusion, lovastatin treatment supports AR formation by inhibiting CK biosynthesis inside the cuttings, as compared to the control and 6-BA-treated cuttings. This study laid the foundation for future studies on the relationship of CK biosynthesis inhibitors with adventitious rooting in apples and other crops.","PeriodicalId":13034,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"89 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138996475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-15DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae9121343
Xingyu Zhang, Cong Zhang, Yuyang Zhang
Cadmium (Cd) contamination is a growing concern, as exposure to the metal has been shown to inhibit plant growth and development. However, soil Cd pollution in China is typically mild, and thus its concentration often does not impede plant growth. On the other hand, it is unknown if increased plant growth impacts Cd uptake, movement, and accumulation. Here, we analyzed the relationship between Cd accumulation in 31 tomato cultivars and the impact on specific growth parameters in mild Cd contamination. The results showed that there are variations in the Cd distribution among the 31 tomato cultivars studied. There were higher Cd concentrations in shoots of the cultivar ‘SV3557’, whereas root Cd concentrations were the lowest. The roots of the cultivar ‘HF11’ recorded the lowest Cd content but had higher Cd content in the shoots. The Cd concentration in roots and shoots was not related to root length, plant height, and root weight. However, Cd accumulation in the shoots was markedly promoted by root length and plant height, and Cd accumulation in the roots was promoted by root weight. Subsequently, we imposed Cd on four selected tomato cultivars to ascertain their accumulation in the shoot tissues. The results revealed that, among the four tomato cultivars, Cd was highly accumulated in the leaves, followed by the stems, and the fruits (leaf > stem > fruit). When identifying significant loci associated with Cd accumulation in tomato plants, it is crucial to find a suitable indicator to assess the plant’s ability to accumulate Cd. Thus, Cd concentration in shoots can be used as a reliable proxy for evaluating tomato plants’ capacity for Cd accumulation. This study serves as a valuable reference in guiding the selection of such an index.
{"title":"Tomato Accumulates Cadmium to a Concentration Independent of Plant Growth","authors":"Xingyu Zhang, Cong Zhang, Yuyang Zhang","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae9121343","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121343","url":null,"abstract":"Cadmium (Cd) contamination is a growing concern, as exposure to the metal has been shown to inhibit plant growth and development. However, soil Cd pollution in China is typically mild, and thus its concentration often does not impede plant growth. On the other hand, it is unknown if increased plant growth impacts Cd uptake, movement, and accumulation. Here, we analyzed the relationship between Cd accumulation in 31 tomato cultivars and the impact on specific growth parameters in mild Cd contamination. The results showed that there are variations in the Cd distribution among the 31 tomato cultivars studied. There were higher Cd concentrations in shoots of the cultivar ‘SV3557’, whereas root Cd concentrations were the lowest. The roots of the cultivar ‘HF11’ recorded the lowest Cd content but had higher Cd content in the shoots. The Cd concentration in roots and shoots was not related to root length, plant height, and root weight. However, Cd accumulation in the shoots was markedly promoted by root length and plant height, and Cd accumulation in the roots was promoted by root weight. Subsequently, we imposed Cd on four selected tomato cultivars to ascertain their accumulation in the shoot tissues. The results revealed that, among the four tomato cultivars, Cd was highly accumulated in the leaves, followed by the stems, and the fruits (leaf > stem > fruit). When identifying significant loci associated with Cd accumulation in tomato plants, it is crucial to find a suitable indicator to assess the plant’s ability to accumulate Cd. Thus, Cd concentration in shoots can be used as a reliable proxy for evaluating tomato plants’ capacity for Cd accumulation. This study serves as a valuable reference in guiding the selection of such an index.","PeriodicalId":13034,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"79 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138998023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-14DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae9121337
P. Ragályi, Anita Szabó, M. Rékási, P. Csathó, Péter Csontos
Water shortage, one of the main limiting factors for plant growth and development, can be alleviated by an adequate nutrient supply. The effect of different nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) supply levels and their combinations was examined in different rainfall supply periods (wet, normal, dry) on a grass sward in a field experiment. Dry and fresh aboveground biomass production were primarily increased by the N–rainfall supply interaction, from 0.739 to 6.51 and from 1.84 to 21.8 t ha−1, respectively, but the P–rainfall supply and N–P interactions and K treatment all had significant effects. Dry matter content was primarily influenced by the N–rainfall supply interaction, increasing in response to N in dry periods and declining in wet periods. Water use efficiency (WUE) was increased by the N–rainfall supply interaction from 28.3 to 127 kg ha−1 mm−1, but the N–P interaction had a similarly strong effect, and K treatment increased it in the dry period. The N, P and K contents of the aboveground biomass were increased by treatment with the corresponding element, but were also influenced by rainfall supply. The increase in biomass, mainly due to N treatment, caused the dilution of the P and K contents in grass in treatments poorly supplied with P and K. Biomass production and WUE were significantly improved up to a dose of 200 kg ha−1 year−1 of N, up to a supply level of 153 mg kg−1 of P2O5, and 279 mg kg−1 of K2O measured in the soil. Treating grass with the N, P and K macroelements may effectively increase biomass production and water use efficiency, but above a certain level their application is unnecessary.
{"title":"Effect of Different Macronutrient Supply Levels on the Drought Tolerance of Rainfed Grass Based on Biomass Production, Water Use Efficiency and Macroelement Content","authors":"P. Ragályi, Anita Szabó, M. Rékási, P. Csathó, Péter Csontos","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae9121337","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121337","url":null,"abstract":"Water shortage, one of the main limiting factors for plant growth and development, can be alleviated by an adequate nutrient supply. The effect of different nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) supply levels and their combinations was examined in different rainfall supply periods (wet, normal, dry) on a grass sward in a field experiment. Dry and fresh aboveground biomass production were primarily increased by the N–rainfall supply interaction, from 0.739 to 6.51 and from 1.84 to 21.8 t ha−1, respectively, but the P–rainfall supply and N–P interactions and K treatment all had significant effects. Dry matter content was primarily influenced by the N–rainfall supply interaction, increasing in response to N in dry periods and declining in wet periods. Water use efficiency (WUE) was increased by the N–rainfall supply interaction from 28.3 to 127 kg ha−1 mm−1, but the N–P interaction had a similarly strong effect, and K treatment increased it in the dry period. The N, P and K contents of the aboveground biomass were increased by treatment with the corresponding element, but were also influenced by rainfall supply. The increase in biomass, mainly due to N treatment, caused the dilution of the P and K contents in grass in treatments poorly supplied with P and K. Biomass production and WUE were significantly improved up to a dose of 200 kg ha−1 year−1 of N, up to a supply level of 153 mg kg−1 of P2O5, and 279 mg kg−1 of K2O measured in the soil. Treating grass with the N, P and K macroelements may effectively increase biomass production and water use efficiency, but above a certain level their application is unnecessary.","PeriodicalId":13034,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"96 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2023-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138975518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-14DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae9121339
D. Yanykin, Dina V. Kazantseva, A. Khorobrykh
The effect of osmolytes (trehalose, sucrose, betaine, D-glucose and hydroxyectoine) on the photoassembly of the functionally active inorganic core of the water-oxidizing complex (Mn4CaO5 cluster) in Mn-depleted PSII preparations (apo-WOC-PSII) was investigated. It was revealed that the efficiency of the photoassembly of the Mn4CaO5 cluster was considerably (three times) increased in the presence of 1 M disaccharides (trehalose or sucrose) in contrast to other osmolytes. It was found that the osmolytes (especially trehalose or sucrose) improved the redox interaction of exogenous Mn2+ with apo-WOC-PSII, enhanced the protective effect of Mn2+ against the photoinhibition of apo-WOC-PSII, protected CaCl2-treated PSII preparations against thermoinactivation, and stabilized the water-oxidizing complex and electron transport from QA to QB in native PSII preparations during heat treatment. It is suggested that the ability of osmolytes to enhance the efficiency of the photoassembly of a Mn4CaO5 cluster depends on their effect on the following key processes: the redox interaction of Mn2+ with apo-WOC-PSII; the stability of apo-WOC-PSII to photoinhibition during the photoactivation procedure; and the stabilization of both the newly assembled functionally active Mn4CaO5 cluster and the electron transfer from QA to QB.
{"title":"Effect of Osmolytes on Photoassembly of Functionally Active Mn4CaO5 Cluster in Mn-Depleted Photosystem II Preparations Isolated from Spinach Leaves","authors":"D. Yanykin, Dina V. Kazantseva, A. Khorobrykh","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae9121339","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121339","url":null,"abstract":"The effect of osmolytes (trehalose, sucrose, betaine, D-glucose and hydroxyectoine) on the photoassembly of the functionally active inorganic core of the water-oxidizing complex (Mn4CaO5 cluster) in Mn-depleted PSII preparations (apo-WOC-PSII) was investigated. It was revealed that the efficiency of the photoassembly of the Mn4CaO5 cluster was considerably (three times) increased in the presence of 1 M disaccharides (trehalose or sucrose) in contrast to other osmolytes. It was found that the osmolytes (especially trehalose or sucrose) improved the redox interaction of exogenous Mn2+ with apo-WOC-PSII, enhanced the protective effect of Mn2+ against the photoinhibition of apo-WOC-PSII, protected CaCl2-treated PSII preparations against thermoinactivation, and stabilized the water-oxidizing complex and electron transport from QA to QB in native PSII preparations during heat treatment. It is suggested that the ability of osmolytes to enhance the efficiency of the photoassembly of a Mn4CaO5 cluster depends on their effect on the following key processes: the redox interaction of Mn2+ with apo-WOC-PSII; the stability of apo-WOC-PSII to photoinhibition during the photoactivation procedure; and the stabilization of both the newly assembled functionally active Mn4CaO5 cluster and the electron transfer from QA to QB.","PeriodicalId":13034,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"11 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2023-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138972251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-14DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae9121338
Natalya V. Dorogova, Yuriy V. Sidorchuk
In recent years, genome editing methods have become an integral part of the genetic engineering toolset that allows for making targeted changes to plant genomes, both in the case of single-gene mutations and multiplex modifications. These technologies were mostly proven effective for editing nuclear genomes. However, plastids, the best-known example of which is chloroplasts, have their own genome (plastome), which is also available for various genetic manipulations, including editing. Despite the fact that the modification of plastomes represents a very promising task for modern biotechnology, the structure of plastids and the peculiarities of their genome organization require the specific adaptation of genome editing methods. This applies to both the design of genetic constructs and methods of their delivery to plastids. The article provides an overview of the current state of research in the field of plastid genome editing with chloroplasts taken as an example. We consider the possibilities of using programmable genome-editing technologies, analyze their effectiveness, limitations, and problems caused by the structural features of these organelles, and their genome organization. We discuss the results of the first successful experiments in this field and try to assess the prospects for the development of tools and methods for increasing the efficiency and the specificity of this biotechnological platform.
{"title":"The Search of a Molecular “Swiss Knife” for Chloroplast Genomic Editing","authors":"Natalya V. Dorogova, Yuriy V. Sidorchuk","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae9121338","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121338","url":null,"abstract":"In recent years, genome editing methods have become an integral part of the genetic engineering toolset that allows for making targeted changes to plant genomes, both in the case of single-gene mutations and multiplex modifications. These technologies were mostly proven effective for editing nuclear genomes. However, plastids, the best-known example of which is chloroplasts, have their own genome (plastome), which is also available for various genetic manipulations, including editing. Despite the fact that the modification of plastomes represents a very promising task for modern biotechnology, the structure of plastids and the peculiarities of their genome organization require the specific adaptation of genome editing methods. This applies to both the design of genetic constructs and methods of their delivery to plastids. The article provides an overview of the current state of research in the field of plastid genome editing with chloroplasts taken as an example. We consider the possibilities of using programmable genome-editing technologies, analyze their effectiveness, limitations, and problems caused by the structural features of these organelles, and their genome organization. We discuss the results of the first successful experiments in this field and try to assess the prospects for the development of tools and methods for increasing the efficiency and the specificity of this biotechnological platform.","PeriodicalId":13034,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"212 1‐2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2023-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139002307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-13DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae9121336
A. S. Bello, Samsul Huda, Zhongwen Chen, Muhammad Fasih Khalid, Mohammed Alsafran, Talaat Ahmed
Countries in arid climates, such as Qatar, require efficient water-saving strategies and nitrogen treatment for vegetable production. Vegetable importation constituted approximately USD 352 million of Qatar’s 2019 GDP; hence, enhancing local production is essential. This study investigated the effect of varying nitrogen and water levels on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) fruit yield. Various water management strategies were also evaluated. A split plot design was employed with two water levels (W1: 50% deficit irrigation, W2: 100% full irrigation) and three nitrogen levels (N1: 50 kg N ha−1, N2: 70 kg N ha−1, N3: 100 kg N ha−1) to examine cucumber yield and physiological response. Our findings revealed that using minimal drip irrigation and reducing nitrogen levels significantly enhanced the growth, SPAD index, fruit characteristics, and yield components of cucumber. Drip irrigation had a greater influence on cucumber production than nitrogen levels. Shoot height increased by 4% from W2N1 (T1) to W1N3 (T6) and 4.93% from W2N2 (T2) to W1N2 (T5). Fruit length and width increased by 10.63% and 13.41% from T2 and T1 to T5, respectively. The highest total yield occurred at T5, followed by T6, T2, W2N3 (T3), W1N1 (T4), and T1 at 34.5, 29.1, 27.6, 25.8, 25.2, and 20.4 t/ha, respectively. The optimal combination comprised 50% deficit irrigation (W1) and 70 kg N ha−1 (N2) nitrogen. These results suggest the importance of optimizing drip irrigation for achieving maximum cucumber fruit yield in arid climates.
卡塔尔等气候干旱的国家在蔬菜生产中需要高效的节水策略和氮处理。在卡塔尔 2019 年的国内生产总值中,蔬菜进口约占 3.52 亿美元;因此,加强本地生产至关重要。本研究调查了不同氮和水水平对黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L.)果实产量的影响。同时还评估了各种水分管理策略。研究采用了两种水分水平(W1:50%亏缺灌溉,W2:100%充分灌溉)和三种氮素水平(N1:50 kg N ha-1,N2:70 kg N ha-1,N3:100 kg N ha-1)的分小区设计来考察黄瓜的产量和生理反应。我们的研究结果表明,使用最少滴灌和降低氮肥水平能显著提高黄瓜的生长、SPAD 指数、果实特征和产量成分。与氮水平相比,滴灌对黄瓜产量的影响更大。从 W2N1(T1)到 W1N3(T6),芽高增加了 4%;从 W2N2(T2)到 W1N2(T5),芽高增加了 4.93%。从 T2 和 T1 到 T5,果实长度和宽度分别增加了 10.63% 和 13.41%。总产量最高的是 T5,其次是 T6、T2、W2N3(T3)、W1N1(T4)和 T1,分别为 34.5 吨/公顷、29.1 吨/公顷、27.6 吨/公顷、25.8 吨/公顷、25.2 吨/公顷和 20.4 吨/公顷。最佳组合为 50%亏缺灌溉(W1)和 70 千克氮公顷/1(N2)。这些结果表明,在干旱气候条件下,优化滴灌对实现黄瓜果实最高产量非常重要。
{"title":"Evaluation of Nitrogen and Water Management Strategies to Optimize Yield in Open Field Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Production","authors":"A. S. Bello, Samsul Huda, Zhongwen Chen, Muhammad Fasih Khalid, Mohammed Alsafran, Talaat Ahmed","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae9121336","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121336","url":null,"abstract":"Countries in arid climates, such as Qatar, require efficient water-saving strategies and nitrogen treatment for vegetable production. Vegetable importation constituted approximately USD 352 million of Qatar’s 2019 GDP; hence, enhancing local production is essential. This study investigated the effect of varying nitrogen and water levels on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) fruit yield. Various water management strategies were also evaluated. A split plot design was employed with two water levels (W1: 50% deficit irrigation, W2: 100% full irrigation) and three nitrogen levels (N1: 50 kg N ha−1, N2: 70 kg N ha−1, N3: 100 kg N ha−1) to examine cucumber yield and physiological response. Our findings revealed that using minimal drip irrigation and reducing nitrogen levels significantly enhanced the growth, SPAD index, fruit characteristics, and yield components of cucumber. Drip irrigation had a greater influence on cucumber production than nitrogen levels. Shoot height increased by 4% from W2N1 (T1) to W1N3 (T6) and 4.93% from W2N2 (T2) to W1N2 (T5). Fruit length and width increased by 10.63% and 13.41% from T2 and T1 to T5, respectively. The highest total yield occurred at T5, followed by T6, T2, W2N3 (T3), W1N1 (T4), and T1 at 34.5, 29.1, 27.6, 25.8, 25.2, and 20.4 t/ha, respectively. The optimal combination comprised 50% deficit irrigation (W1) and 70 kg N ha−1 (N2) nitrogen. These results suggest the importance of optimizing drip irrigation for achieving maximum cucumber fruit yield in arid climates.","PeriodicalId":13034,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"142 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2023-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139006155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}