Improvement of photosynthetic pigment characteristics, mineral content, and antioxidant activity of lettuce (lactuca sativa l.) by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and seaweed extract foliar application

Beneficial plant-microbe interaction for enhancing crop yield and quality is a sustainable way to achieve eco-friendly, desirable agricultural productions. The main objective of this experiment was to evaluate the individual and combined effects of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) strain (Funnehformis mosseae) and a seaweed extract (SWE) derived from Ascophyllum nodosum, on the growth and physiological responses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Lettuce plants were inoculated with commercial AMF inoculum (5 g kg(-1) soil), and SWE foliar application was done at three levels (0.5, 1.5, and 3 g L-1). The findings revealed that AMF along with SWE generated the greatest impact. In fact, co-application of AMF inoculation and 3 g L-1 SWE considerably enhanced root colonization, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, and mineral content in the shoots and roots (N, P, K, Ca, Fe, Zn, and Mn content) of lettuce plants. This combination improved initial fluorescence (F-0), photochemical efficiency of PSII (F-V/F-m) and Y(NO) and total antioxidant activity (TAA), whereas the maximum fluorescence, (F-m) and Y(II), showed the highest increase in lettuce plants treated with AMF and 1.5 g L-1 SWE. Furthermore, AMF inoculation along with SWE, at concentrations 1.5 and 3 g L-1, considerably enhanced variable fluorescence (F-V) and the activity of water decomposition in electron donor photosystem II (F-V/F-0). As a result of these findings, it can be stated that the co-application of AMF and SWE positively improves the growth and development of lettuce plants.Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/FT/2022/004]; University of Maragheh, IranTomas Bata University in Zlin, TBU: IGA/FT/2022/004; University of Maraghe

Growth and antioxidant responses of lettuce (lactuca sativa l.) to arbuscular mycorrhiza inoculation and seaweed extract foliar application

Biofertilizers, such as arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) and seaweed extract (SWE), have been effective in environmental and agricultural ecosystems. In this study, the effects of AMF, SWE, and their co-application were assayed on the growth and antioxidant potential of lettuce plants. The experiment was conducted as a factorial based on a completely randomized design with two factors and four replications under greenhouse conditions. The first factor was AMF (Glomus mosseae) at two levels consisting of AMF application (20 g pot(-1)), and without using AMF; and the second factor was SWE foliar spraying (Ascophyllum nodosum) at 0.5, 1.5 and 3 g L-1 concentration. The results revealed that the highest root colonization (85%) belonged to AMF and SWE (3 g L-1) x AMF; the lowest colonization rate (65%) was observed for AMF x SWE (0.5 g L-1) treatment. The highest growth parameters (leaf number, shoot and root fresh weight, head diameter), biochemical traits (total soluble proteins, carbohydrates content) and TAA, total antioxidant activity by FRAP method and ascorbic acid, total phenolics, and flavonoids content were obtained with the co-applications. Therefore, the best results of the evaluated traits were achieved with AMF x SWE (3 g L-1). The TAA value was increased three-fold compared to the control. Total phenolics and flavonoids content were 2.24 and 6.59 times higher than the control, respectively. On the other hand, leaf dry weight was decreased with the further growth of the plants. Overall, the co-application of AMF with SWE can be recommended to producers as an alternative and environment-friendly strategy to improve the qualitative and quantitative traits of the lettuce crop.University of Maragheh; Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně: IGA/FT/2022/00

Growth and Antioxidant Responses of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) to Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Inoculation and Seaweed Extract Foliar Application

Biofertilizers, such as arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) and seaweed extract (SWE), have been effective in environmental and agricultural ecosystems. In this study, the effects of AMF, SWE, and their co-application were assayed on the growth and antioxidant potential of lettuce plants. The experiment was conducted as a factorial based on a completely randomized design with two factors and four replications under greenhouse conditions. The first factor was AMF (Glomus mosseae) at two levels consisting of AMF application (20 g pot−1), and without using AMF; and the second factor was SWE foliar spraying (Ascophyllum nodosum) at 0.5, 1.5 and 3 g L−1 concentration. The results revealed that the highest root colonization (85%) belonged to AMF and SWE (3 g L−1) × AMF; the lowest colonization rate (65%) was observed for AMF × SWE (0.5 g L−1) treatment. The highest growth parameters (leaf number, shoot and root fresh weight, head diameter), biochemical traits (total soluble proteins, carbohydrates content) and TAA, total antioxidant activity by FRAP method and ascorbic acid, total phenolics, and flavonoids content were obtained with the co-applications. Therefore, the best results of the evaluated traits were achieved with AMF × SWE (3 g L−1). The TAA value was increased three-fold compared to the control. Total phenolics and flavonoids content were 2.24 and 6.59 times higher than the control, respectively. On the other hand, leaf dry weight was decreased with the further growth of the plants. Overall, the co-application of AMF with SWE can be recommended to producers as an alternative and environment-friendly strategy to improve the qualitative and quantitative traits of the lettuce crop

Growth and Antioxidant Responses of Lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> L.) to Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Inoculation and Seaweed Extract Foliar Application

Biofertilizers, such as arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) and seaweed extract (SWE), have been effective in environmental and agricultural ecosystems. In this study, the effects of AMF, SWE, and their co-application were assayed on the growth and antioxidant potential of lettuce plants. The experiment was conducted as a factorial based on a completely randomized design with two factors and four replications under greenhouse conditions. The first factor was AMF (Glomus mosseae) at two levels consisting of AMF application (20 g pot−1), and without using AMF; and the second factor was SWE foliar spraying (Ascophyllum nodosum) at 0.5, 1.5 and 3 g L−1 concentration. The results revealed that the highest root colonization (85%) belonged to AMF and SWE (3 g L−1) × AMF; the lowest colonization rate (65%) was observed for AMF × SWE (0.5 g L−1) treatment. The highest growth parameters (leaf number, shoot and root fresh weight, head diameter), biochemical traits (total soluble proteins, carbohydrates content) and TAA, total antioxidant activity by FRAP method and ascorbic acid, total phenolics, and flavonoids content were obtained with the co-applications. Therefore, the best results of the evaluated traits were achieved with AMF × SWE (3 g L−1). The TAA value was increased three-fold compared to the control. Total phenolics and flavonoids content were 2.24 and 6.59 times higher than the control, respectively. On the other hand, leaf dry weight was decreased with the further growth of the plants. Overall, the co-application of AMF with SWE can be recommended to producers as an alternative and environment-friendly strategy to improve the qualitative and quantitative traits of the lettuce crop

Seaweed extract and arbuscular mycorrhiza co-application affect the growth responses and essential oil composition of Foeniculum vulgare L.

Abstract The influence of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) inoculation, seaweed extract (SWE) foliar use, and their co-applications were evaluated on the growth-associated traits, antioxidant potential, essential oil profile, and the nutrients content of fennel plants. A factorial experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with two factors and four replications in the greenhouse. The factors were: AMF inoculation (not inoculated and inoculated with 5 g kg−1) and SWE foliar application (0, 0.5, 1.5, or 3 g L−1). The highest root colonization percentage was recorded in plants treated with AMF + 3 g L−1 of SWE. The top recorded plant height, leaf number, leaf dry weight, biomass, thousand seed weight (TSW), total soluble proteins and total soluble carbohydrates content, antioxidant activity, and essential oil content belonged to AMF + 3 g L−1 of SWE. Furthermore, the co-application of AMF + SWE resulted in a considerable enhancement of the photosynthetic pigments content and, in N, P, K, Fe, Zn, and Mn contents in the shoots and roots. The GC-FID and GC–MS analysis revealed that (E)-anethole (73.28–76.18%), fenchone (5.94–8.26%), limonene (4.64–6.58%), methyl chavicol (2.91–3.18%), and (Z)-β-ocimene (1.36–2.01%) were the principal essential oil constituents. The top (E)-anethole and fenchone contents were obtained by AMF + SWE. Altogether, the simultaneous application of AMF and SWE could be introduced as an environment-friendly strategy to reach reliable growth responses, especially in fennel plants' enriched with some precious essential oil constituents

Influence of drought stress and mycorrhizal (funneliformis mosseae) symbiosis on growth parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence, antioxidant activity, and essential oil composition of summer savory (satureja hortensis l.) plants

Introduction: Drought stress unfavorably influences the growth and physiological traits of plants in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. This study aimed to determine the effects of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF; Funneliformis mosseae) inoculation on the physiological and biochemical responses of summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) under different irrigation regimes. Methods: The first factor was different irrigation regimes, including no drought stress (100% field capacity; FC), moderate drought stress (60% FC), and severe drought stress (30% FC); the second factor included the plants without AMF (AMF0) and with AMF inoculation (AMF1). Results: The results showed that better values, higher plant height, shoot mass (fresh and dry weight), relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), photosynthesis pigments, Fv, Fm, Fv/Fm, and total soluble proteins were obtained in the plants inoculated with AMF. The highest values were obtained for plants with no drought stress, then the plants subjected to AMF1 under 60% FC, and the lowest ones for plants under 30% FC without AMF inoculation. Thus, these properties are reduced under moderate and severe drought stress. At the same time, the utmost activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), and the highest malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2, proline, and antioxidant activity (TAA) were achieved for 30% FC + AMF0. It was also found that AMF inoculation improved essential oil (EO) composition, also as EO obtained from plants under drought stress. Carvacrol (50.84-60.03%) was the dominant component in EO; γ-terpinene (19.03-27.33%), p-cymene, α-terpinene, and myrcene, were recognized as other important components in EO. The higher carvacrol and γ-terpinene contents were obtained from summer savory plants with AMF inoculation and the lowest for plants without AMF and under 30% FC. Conclusion: According to the present findings, using AMF inoculation could be a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to improve physiological and biochemical characteristics and the essential oil quality of summer savory plants under water shortage conditions.Tomas Bata University in Zlin, TBU: IGA/FT/2023/003Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/FT/2023/003