Pollen quality, pollen production and yield of some tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) genotypes under high temperature stress in Eastern Mediterranean

Pollen quality, pollen production and yield of different high temperature tolerant tomato genotypes were evaluated under Adana, Turkey conditions in two different periods. The control treatment (normal sown, where day/night temperatures during the vegetative and generative stage are below 32/20 °C) of the first period started on February 20, 2015. The seedlings in the second period were planted on May 15, 2015. The performances of twenty-four tomato genotypes (resistant and sensitive commercial genotypes) were compared to determine high temperature resistant and sensitive tomato genotypes. Significant relationship was obtained between the yield and the number of pollens. The results of the experiment revealed that ‘Tom173’, ‘Tom119’ and ‘F15656’ genotypes were more resistant, while ‘Tom108’ and ‘Tom10’ genotypes were more sensitive compared to the other tomato genotypes tested in the experiment

Use of Mycorrhiza to Reduce Mineral Fertilizers in Soilless Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Cultivation

Intensive use of mineral fertilizers in soilless growing systems can have adverse effects on the environment and human health and could be economically expensive. Aim of this study was whether it can be reduced mineral nutrients in soilless grown melon by using mycorrhizae inoculation. The experiment has been carried out in the early spring growing period in a greenhouse in the Mediterranean climate. The eight treatments have been applied:  (1) 100% Full nutrition (control), (2) 100% Full nutrition+mycorrhiza, (3) 80% nutrition, (4) 80% nutrition+mycorrhiza (5) 60% nutrition (6) 60% nutrition+mycorrhiza (7) 40% nutrition, (8) 40% nutrition+mycorrhiza. Effects of mycorrhiza on melon plant growth, yield, fruit quality, and leaf nutrient concentrations were investigated. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization is accompanied by plant growth increases in reduced nutrient levels. The mycorrhiza inoculation had a significant enhancing effect on total yield in soilless grown melon plants. The highest increasing effect on melon yield was observed in the “80% nutrient+mycorrhiza”, and AM- inoculated plants produced 49.5% higher melon yield (12.4 kg m-2) than that of control plants without mycorrhizae (8.3 k gm-2). AM-inoculation was also able to establish an improvement in Brix and EC of melon fruit. In the nutrient contents of leaves, there were slight increases in AM-inoculated plants, except P. The P content was significantly increased in AM-inoculated 80% nutrient plants as comparison to that of its control

Screening of Tomatoes for Their Resistance to Salinity and Drought Stress

In the study, 55 tomato genotypes have been investigated for their responses against salinity stresses in 48 day old early plant growth stage. For these purposes, several morphological and physiological measurements and analysis have been done in stressed plants. Shoot and root dry weights, plant height, leaf number, leaf area, relative water content, stomatal conductance, leaf osmotic potential, leaf water potential, shoot K, Ca and Cl concentrations were measured and analyzed. Salt and drought tolerant and sensitive (intolerant) genotypes have been found out according to the responses of the tomato genotypes to the above mentioned morphological and physiological parameters. At the end of the study, the fifty-five tomato genotypes were classified as tolerant, mildly tolerant or susceptible. Shoot dry weight, plant total leaf area, leaf water potential, leaf osmotic potential, stomatal conductance, K, Ca, Na and Cl concentrations in shoot and root, K/Na, Ca/Na, membrane injury index and visual appearance of damages were more relevant parameter for screening studies. Keywords: Stress, saline, water, tolerance, selection, breedin

Composição mineral de folhas de berinjela enxertada e cultivada em solos infestados com Verticillium e nematóide-das-galhas

The objective of this work was to determine differences in leaf mineral composition between ungrafted and grafted onto (Solanum torvum) eggplant (Solanum melongena), cultivars 'Faselis' and 'Pala', grown in a soil infested with Verticillium dahliae and Meloidogyne incognita, or in a noninfested soil. Grafting increased leaf P and Mn concentrations, and decreased N concentrations, in both soils. Grafting also enhanced leaf Ca concentration of 'Pala', but it did not affect that of 'Faselis' depending on the cropping year. Leaf Mg concentration of grafted plants in infested soil was lower than that of ungrafted ones in noninfested soil. Results showed that, under the same fertilization program, the grafted 'Faselis' plants used the nutrients more efficiently than the 'Pala' ones. Use of S. torvum as a rootstock for 'Faselis' resulted in an effective protection against multiple pathogen infestation. Fertilization may be necessary when grafted 'Faselis' plants are grown in a soil infested with the pathogens, since grafting and infestation generally decrease leaf N, Mg, Ca and Fe concentrations, either by reducing the nutrient concentrations directly or by increasing leaf Mn concentration.O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar as diferenças de composição mineral das folhas entre as cultivares de berinjela (Solanum melongena), 'Faselis' e 'Pala', enxertadas em Solanum torvum ou não enxertadas, e plantadas em solos infestados ou não com Verticillium dahliae e Meloidogyne incognita. A enxertia aumentou as concentrações de P e Mn nas folhas e diminuiu as de nitrogênio, em ambos os solos. A enxertia também aumentou a concentração de Ca foliar em 'Pala', mas não em 'Faselis', conforme o ano agrícola. A concentração de Mg foliar, em plantas enxertadas em solo infestado, foi menor que a de plantas não enxertadas em solo não infestado. Com um mesmo programa de adubação, as plantas enxertadas de 'Faselis' utilizaram os nutrientes de maneira mais eficiente que as de 'Pala'. O uso de S. torvum como porta-enxerto para Faselis, em solo contaminado com os patógenos resultou em proteção efetiva contra a infestação múltipla por patógenos. Fertilizações podem ser necessárias quando plantas enxertadas de 'Faselis' são cultivadas em solos infestados, já que a enxertia e a infestação geralmente reduzem as concentrações foliares de N, Mg, Ca and Fe, seja pela redução direta nos teores dos nutrientes, seja pelo aumento da concentração foliar de Mn

Strigolactones positively regulate chilling tolerance in pea and in Arabidopsis

Strigolactones (SL) fulfil important roles in plant development and stress tolerance. Here, we characterized the role of SL in the dark chilling tolerance of pea and Arabidopsis by analysis of mutants that are defective in either SL synthesis or signalling. Pea mutants (rms3, rms4, and rms5) had significantly greater shoot branching with higher leaf chlorophyll a/b ratios and carotenoid contents than the wild type. Exposure to dark chilling significantly decreased shoot fresh weights but increased leaf numbers in all lines. Moreover, dark chilling treatments decreased biomass (dry weight) accumulation only in rms3 and rms5 shoots. Unlike the wild type plants, chilling‐induced inhibition of photosynthetic carbon assimilation was observed in the rms lines and also in the Arabidopsis max3‐9, max4‐1, and max2‐1 mutants that are defective in SL synthesis or signalling. When grown on agar plates, the max mutant rosettes accumulated less biomass than the wild type. The synthetic SL, GR24, decreased leaf area in the wild type, max3‐9, and max4‐1 mutants but not in max2‐1 in the absence of stress. In addition, a chilling‐induced decrease in leaf area was observed in all the lines in the presence of GR24. We conclude that SL plays an important role in the control of dark chilling tolerance.BBSRC, Grant/Award Number: BB/K501839/1https://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/pce2019-06-01hj2018Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)Plant Production and Soil Scienc

Grafted eggplant yield, quality and growth in infested soil with Verticillium dahliae and Meloidogyne incognita

WOS: 000276086700017The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of grafting (onto Solanum torvum Sw.) on plant growth, yield and fruit quality of the Pala and Faselis eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cultivars, grown in a soil infested with Verticillium dahliae Kleb. and Meloidogyne incognita, or in noninfested soil. Soil infestation decreased yield, plant height, final above-ground biomass, and also reduced fruit mean weight and shoot dry weight depending on cultivar or grafting. Grafting decreased fruit oxalic acid and the soluble solid contents, and increased mean fruit weight, depending on cultivar and soil infestation. Grafting also reduced the negative effects of the pathogens on disease index, plant height and shoot dry weight. Cultivar Pala was more vigorous than Faselis, and S. torvum was a vigorous rootstock. The combination of a vigorous rootstock with a weak cultivar (Faselis) is more profitable than that of a vigorous rootstock and a vigorous cultivar (Pala). Using S. torvum as a rootstock for cultivar Faselis, grown in soil infested with the pathogens, is most likely to be useful in conventional and low-input sustainable horticulture, since grafting increases protection against the pathogens, and reduces the losses in quality and yield

Screening of okra genotypes for their resistance to salinity and drought

In the study, 37 okra genotypes have been investigated for their responses against salinity and drought stresses in early plant growth stage. For these purposes, several morphological and physiological measurements and analysis have been done. Shoot and root dry weights, plant height, leaf number, leaf area, relative water content, stomatal conductance, leaf osmotic potential, leaf water potential, shoot Na, K, Ca and Cl concentrations were measured and analyzed. Salt and drought tolerant and sensitive (intolerant) genotypes have been found out according to the responses of the okra genotypes to the above mentioned morphological and physiological parameters. At the end of the study, 37 okra genotypes were classified as tolerant, mildly tolerant or susceptible. The leaf water potential, osmotic potential, stomatal conductance, membrane injury, K, Ca, Na and Cl concentrations in shoot and root were more relevant parameter for screening studies

Growth and nutrient element content in mycorrhizae colonized mint plants under saline conditions

Saline areas of the world has increased rapidly as a result of the wrong agronomic managements. The remediation of saline soils is an expensive and difficult method. Instead, the use of resistant cultivars under saline conditions or some applications such as mycorrhiza usage which increases the plant's resistance, are more rational under stress conditions. In the experiment, growth and nutrient element content of mycorrhizae colonized and control mint plants under saline conditions were investigated. As a pot experiment, we used mint plants (Mentha piperita ‘Sewiss’) and three different mycorrhiza species (Glomus macrocarpium, Glomus fasciculatum and their cocktail (1:1, v/v) were used. Salt applications were initiated 10 days after transplanting. The measurements have been done after 60 days from transplanting. The number of branches of plants, plant height, root length, fresh and dry shoot and root fresh and dry weights were measured . At the end of the experiment, nutrient content in leaves and colonization of mychorrhizae in roots were determined. Use of mycorrhizae on mint plants was determined as a positive utilization in saline conditions Under the salt stress 2 species of mycorrhizae and cocktail mix have positively affected mint plant growth. Shoot and root growths and number of branches were increased by the mychorriza supplications. Mychorriza application also increased the K and Ca uptake of mint plants under saline conditions. © 2019 International Society for Horticultural Science. All rights reserved

Biofertilizers Improve the Leaf Quality of Hydroponically Grown Baby Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

Plant nutrition through mineral fertilizers is commonly used in soilless culture systems. Our study aims to replace intensive mineral fertilizers with bio-fertilizers, at least partially. We supplemented 50% of the mineral fertilizers with Chlorella vulgaris microalgae, a mix of beneficial bacteria and mycorrhiza. In addition, we investigated how to enhance spinach quality by implementing a sustainable and eco-friendly production method. Our research focused on analyzing the parameters of leaf quality and nitrate accumulation of baby spinach grown in a floating culture system utilizing biofertilizers. When mycorrhiza, algae, and bacteria supplemented 50% of mineral fertilizers, 17.5%, 20%, and 21.9% fewer leaf yields than 100% mineral fertilizers (5270 g m−2) were achieved. However, biofertilizers improved the internal leaves’ quality of hydroponically grown baby spinach. The highest amount of total phenolic (356.88 mg gallic acid 100g−1), vitamin C (73.83 mg 100 g−1), total soluble solids (9.4%), phosphorus (0.68%), and iron (120.07 ppm) content were obtained by using mycorrhiza. Bacteria induced the lowest nitrate content (206 mg kg−1) in spinach leaves, while 100% mineral fertilizers showed the highest nitrate (623 mg kg−1) concentration. Moreover, bacteria provided the highest SPAD-chlorophyll (73.72) and titrable acidity (0.31%). The use of microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris, induced the highest amount of potassium (9.62%), calcium (1.64%), magnesium (0.58%), zinc (75.21 ppm), and manganese (64.33 mg kg−1). In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that the utilization of biofertilizers has the potential to significantly reduce the reliance on mineral fertilizers by up to 50%. Furthermore, an improvement in the quality of baby spinach, as evidenced by an increase in health-beneficial compounds, is possible. Thus, implementing biofertilizers in the cultivation of soilless baby spinach presents a promising approach to achieving both environmental sustainability and improved crop quality