SEED PRIMING AND EXOGENOUS APPLICATION OF SALICYLIC ACID ENHANCE GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) BY REGULATING PHOTOSYNTHETIC ATTRIBUTES

Low and uneven germination is a serious problem for the successful production of okra seedlings. Priming of seeds as well as supplementation of different plant growth regulators exhibited better response in successful seedling production which eventually results in higher yield. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of seed priming and exogenous application of salicylic acid (SA) on okra seed germination and plant development. The okra seeds were primed by 1 mM and 2 mM of SA for 60 minutes whereas the seeds were washed several times with distilled water for the control treatment. Similar doses of SA have been exogenously sprayed to the 12 days okra seedlings for 4 days. The results of the study revealed that seed priming with SA enhanced germination percentage (GP), increased coleoptile length and weight, shoot and root length, and seed vigor index (SVI). Similarly, exogenous application of 1 mM SA increased relative water content (RWC), contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll while a higher dose of SA (2 mM) degraded the leaf pigments. Supplementation of SA altered photosynthetic attributes, net photosynthetic (Pn) and transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), and water use efficiency (WUE). Moreover, SA treatment reduced the time duration of flower bud initiation and days to first flowering and enhanced the yield per plant. The results of this study indicated that seed priming and exogenous application of SA enhanced germination and okra productivity by regulating RWC and photosynthetic attributes where 1 mM SA is more effective compared to 2 mM SA

Genetic and Morphological Diversity Assessment of Five Kalanchoe Genotypes by SCoT, ISSR and RAPD-PCR Markers

Determining the appropriate parents for breeding programs is the most important decision that plant breeders must make to maximize the genetic variability and produce excellent recombinant genotypes. Several methods are used to identify genotypes with desirable phenotypic features for breeding experiments. In this study, five kalanchoe genotypes were morphologically characterized by assessing plant height, number of inflorescences, number of flowers, flower length, flower diameter and number of petals. The analysis showed the distinction of yellow kalanchoe in the plant height trait, while the orange kalanchoe was distinguished in the number of inflorescences, the number of flowers and flower length traits, whereas the violet kalanchoe possessed the largest flower diameter and the highest number of petals. The molecular profiling was performed by random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD), inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and start codon targeted (SCoT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tools. Genomic DNA was extracted from young leaves and the PCR reactions were performed using ten primers for each SCoT, ISSR and RAPD marker. Only four out of ten primers showed amplicon profiles in all PCR markers. A total of 70 bands were generated by SCoT, ISSR and RAPD-PCR with 35 polymorphic bands and 35 monomorphic bands. The total number of bands of RAPD, ISSR and SCoT was 15, 17 and 38, respectively. The polymorphism percentages achieved by RAPD, ISSR and SCoT were 60.25%, 15% and 57%, respectively. The cluster analysis based on morphological data revealed two clusters. Cluster I consisted of violet and orange kalanchoe, and cluster II comprised red, yellow and purple kalanchoe. Whereas the cluster analysis based on molecular data revealed three clusters. Cluster I included only yellow kalanchoe, cluster II comprised orange and violet kalanchoe while cluster III comprised red, and purple kalanchoe. The study concluded that orange, violet and yellow kalanchoe are distinguished parents for breeding economically valued traits in kalanchoe. Also, the study concluded that SCoT and RAPD markers reproduced reliable banding patterns to assess the genetic polymorphism among kalanchoe genotypes that consider the basis stone for genetic improvements in ornamental plants

Impact of the Static Magnetic Field on Growth, Pigments, Osmolytes, Nitric Oxide, Hydrogen Sulfide, Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase Activity, Antioxidant Defense System, and Yield in Lettuce

Magnetic fields are an unavoidable physical factor affecting living organisms. Lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa var. cabitat L.) were subjected to various intensities of the static magnetic field (SMF) viz., MF0 (control), SMF1 (0.44 Tesla (T), SMF2 (0.77 T), and SMF3 (1 T) for three exposure times (1, 2, and 3 h). SMF-treated seedlings showed induction in growth parameters and metabolism comparing to control. All photosynthetic pigments were induced markedly under SMF, especially chlorophyll a. SMF at different intensities boosted osmolytes, non-enzymatic antioxidants, and the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity over non-magnetized seedlings. Oxidative damage criteria viz., hydrogen peroxide, superoxide radical, and lipid peroxidation, as well as polyphenol oxidase activity, were kept at low values under SMF-treated seeds relative to control, especially SMF2. Electron donors to antioxidant enzymes including nitrate reductase, nitric oxide, and hydrogen sulfide induced via SMF exposure and consequently the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferases, catalase, and peroxidases family enzymes were also stimulated under SMF, whatever the intensity or the exposure period applied. All these regulations reflected on the enhancement of lettuce yield production which reached 50% over the control at SMF3. Our findings offered that SMF-seed priming is an innovative and low-cost strategy that can improve the growth, bioactive constituents, and yield of lettuce

Influences of Priming on Selected Physiological Attributes and Protein Pattern Responses of Salinized Wheat with Extracts of Hormophysa cuneiformis and Actinotrichia fragilis

Biological effects of extracts obtained from the seaweeds Hormophysa cuneiformis (J.F.Gmelin) P.C.Silva and Actinotrichia fragilis (Forsskål) Bùrgesen were investigated using wheat for the improvement of growth and amelioration of the negative effects of soil salinity. Exposure of plants to salt stress resulted in an overall decrease in growth, chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids and soluble sugars, as well as nutrient uptake (i.e., K, Ca and Mg) and K+/Na+ ratio. At the same time, increases were found in proline, total free amino acids, phenolic compounds, malondialdehyde (MDA), Na+ ions, as well as the activities of peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Priming wheat seeds with H. cuneiformis and A. fragilis extracts mitigated the negative impacts of salinity by enhancing growth and all the above attributes except MDA and Na+. Treatments with H. cuneiformis or A. fragilis extracts resulted in an increased intensity of the polypeptide bands with 200, 159, 120, 40, and 22 KDa which were already apparent in the control. A. fragilis showed higher effectiveness than H. cuneiformis extracts under both control and stressed regimes. Our results highlight “biofertilizer” properties of two seaweeds and furnish mechanistic insight into their salinity-improvement action, which is pertinent for both applied and basic research

Facilitation Effects of Haloxylon salicornicum Shrubs on Associated Understory Annuals, and a Modified “Stress-Gradient” Hypothesis for Droughty Times

Perennial shrub-annual plant interactions play key roles in desert regions influencing the structure and dynamics of plant communities there. In the present study, carried out in northwestern Saudi Arabia, we examined the effect of Haloxylon salicornicum shrubs on their associated understory annual species across four consecutive growing seasons, along with a record of the seasonal rainfall patterns. We measured density and species richness of all the annual species in permanent quadrats located beneath individual shrubs, as well as in the spaces between shrubs. During wet growing season H. salicornicum shrubs significantly enhanced the density and species richness of sub-canopy species, whereas in the relatively dry seasons they exerted negative effects on the associated species. In all growing seasons, the presence of shrubs was associated with enhanced soil properties, including increased organic carbon content, silt + clay, and levels of nutrients (N, P and K). Shrubs improved soil moisture content beneath their canopies in the wet growing season, while in the dry seasons they had negative effects on water availability. Differences in effects of H. salicornicum on understory plants between growing seasons seem due to the temporal changes in the impact of shrubs on water availability. Our results suggest the facilitative effects of shrubs on sub-canopy annuals in arid ecosystems may switch to negative effects with increasing drought stress. We discuss the study in light of recent refinements of the well-known “stress-gradient hypothesis”

Foliar Application of Auxin or Cytokinin Can Confer Salinity Stress Tolerance in Vicia faba L.

Soil salinity severely declines the availability of water and essential minerals to the plants, which hinders growth. The present study evaluates the potential roles of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 6-benzyladenine (BA) for mitigating the adverse effects of soil-salinity in faba bean (Vicia faba L.). Plants were exposed to 150 mM NaCl stress and were sprayed with IAA (1.15 mM) or BA (0.9 mM). Our results revealed that foliar application of IAA or BA improved the growth traits of salinized faba bean due to the increased uptake of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ ions, accumulation of free amino acids, soluble sugars, and soluble proteins, and activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase. The principal component analysis (PCA) and heatmap clustering indicated that salinity-exposed plants exhibited lower growth and biomass production, which correlated with higher accumulation of Na+ and malondialdehyde. Moreover, electrophoretic patterns of protein showed new bands in IAA- or BA-treated salt-stressed plants, indicating that IAA or BA treatment can reprogram the metabolic processes to confer salinity tolerance. We also found that IAA has a greater capacity to ameliorate the salt stress than BA, although there is no significant difference in yield between these treatments. Finally, these findings can be helpful for a better understanding of IAA- and BA-mediated salt tolerance mechanisms and increasing production of faba bean in saline soils

Exogenous Auxin-Mediated Salt Stress Alleviation in Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.)

Auxin not only controls the development processes, but also regulates the stress responses of plants. In this investigation, we explored the potential roles of exogenously applied indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in conferring salt tolerance in the faba bean (Vicia faba L.). Our results showed that foliar application of IAA (200 ppm) to salt-exposed (60 mM and 150 mM NaCl) plants promoted growth, which was evidenced by enhanced root–stem traits. IAA application ensured better osmotic protection in salt-stressed plants which was supported by reduced proline and enhanced soluble sugar, soluble protein, and total free amino acid contents in the roots, stem, and seeds. IAA application also increased the number of nodules in salt-stressed plants, which may facilitate better nitrogen assimilation. Moreover, IAA mediated improvements in mineral homeostasis (K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+) and the translocation of Na+, while it also inhibited excessive accumulation of Na+ in the roots. Salt-induced oxidative damage resulted in increased accumulation of malondialdehyde, whereas IAA spraying relegated malondialdehyde by improving antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase. Together, these results together with a principal component analysis uncovered that foliar spraying of IAA alleviated the antagonistic effects of salt stress via enhancing osmolyte accumulation, ionic homeostasis, and antioxidant activity. Finally, exogenous IAA enhanced the yield of broad beans under high salinity conditions

Deciphering the response of medicinal plants to abiotic stressors: A focus on drought and salinity

Both salinity and drought stand as significant abiotic stresses that adversely affect crop production worldwide. While medicinal plants offer substantial economic and social benefits, their productivity faces challenges globally due to abiotic stresses. The distinctive quality of medicinal plants stems from their active ingredients. However, these abiotic stresses can compromise the potency of active and herbal ingredients in medicinal plants. Both drought and salinity result in osmotic stress and Na+ toxicity, leading to a myriad of morphological, physiological, biochemical, and metabolic changes in plants. Such changes encompass alterations in water relationships, water use efficiency (WUE), relative growth rate (RGR), nutrient balance, transpiration rate, stomatal conductivity, CO2 uptake and diffusion, photosynthesis potential, and overall productivity. Being a pivotal physiological process crucial for plant survival, photosynthesis becomes one of the earliest processes to be affected under abiotic stress. Specifically, drought and salinity diminish the photosynthesis rate by disrupting chlorophyll metabolism, inducing oxidative stress, and prompting plastid degradation. This decline can be attributed to the adverse effects of ion absorption disturbances on chloroplast development and the protein translation machinery within plastids. Interestingly, plant responses to both salinity and drought often mirror each other. To combat these challenges, medicinal plants employ a range of protective mechanisms. These include preserving cell wall architecture, accumulating osmolytes, generating antioxidants, initiating stomatal closure, and boosting secondary metabolite levels. This review delves into the growth, development, and photosynthesis of various medicinal plants under the duress of salinity and drought

The Impact of Priming with Al2O3 Nanoparticles on Growth, Pigments, Osmolytes, and Antioxidant Enzymes of Egyptian Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Cultivar

Lower concentrations of nanoparticles (NPs) could have positive effects on plants. In the present experiment, we tested the efficacy of seed priming Egyptian roselle cultivar with aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al2O3 NPs). Plants grown with different concentrations (0.01, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5%) of Al2O3 NPs-primed seeds showed varied responses. An increasing impact with 0.01% Al2O3 NPs was noticed on growth traits, such as fresh weight, dry weight, shoot length, root length, and leaf area, and physio-biochemical activities like chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoid contents, soluble sugars, protein, amino acid, proline, and the activities of defense enzymes viz-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Nevertheless, a decrease was noted in malondialdehyde (MDA) when plants were primed with 0.01% Al2O3 NPs. Seed priming with 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5% Al2O3 NPs caused the negative effects in the aforementioned parameters. The principal component analysis revealed significant correlations among the various studied parameters. Therefore, seed priming with Al2O3 NPs at 0.01% was expected to serve as an effective measure for inducing positive effect in Egyptian roselle cultivar