Resilience of green roofs to climate change

The successful management of cities growth rely in part on the maximization of the benefits delivered by the built environment while minimizing the environmental degradation. Circular and resourceful cites are the mainstream for climate change resilience. Green roofs, as a nature-based solution, contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation through the provision of several ecosystem services. Value of green roofs can be achieved at the level of environmental (e.g., air quality enhancement, carbon sequestration, biodiversity promotion stormwater management, acoustic insulation, and noise reduction), social (e.g., esthetic integration, well-being and life quality, rooftop gardens), and economic (e.g., life span extension, energetic efficiency, energy production, real-state valorization, business development) spheres. Buildup green roof resilience maybe underpinned by the selection of efficient and sustainable components for its installation. This chapter aims at giving an overview on the role of green roofs resilience to climate change, highlighting the provision of services and the mitigation and adaption capacity.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Poor Sleep quality and health-related quality of life impact in adolescents with and without chronic immunosuppressive conditions during COVID-19 quarantine

OBJECTIVE: To assess the possible factors that influence sleep quality in adolescents with and without chronic immunosuppressive conditions quarantined during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 305 adolescents with chronic immunocompromised conditions and 82 healthy adolescents. Online surveys were completed, which included questions on socio-demographic data and self-rated healthcare routine during COVID-19 quarantine and the following validated questionnaires: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL4.0), and Pediatric Outcome Data Collection Instrument (PODCI). RESULTS: The median current age [14 (10-18) vs. 15 (10-18) years, p=0.847] and frequency of female sex (62% vs. 58%, p=0.571) were similar in adolescents with chronic conditions compared with healthy adolescents. The frequency of poor sleep quality was similar in both groups (38% vs. 48%, p=0.118). Logistic regression analysis, including both healthy adolescents and adolescents with chronic conditions (n=387), demonstrated that self-reported increase in screen time (odds ratio [OR] 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-6.8; p=0.008) and intrafamilial violence report (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.2-3.5; p=0.008) were independently associated with poor sleep quality in these adolescents. However, the PODCI global function score was associated with a lower OR for poor sleep quality (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.94-0.99; p=0.001). Further logistic regression, including only adolescents with chronic conditions (n=305), demonstrated that self-reported increase in screen time (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.4-6.8; p=0.006) and intrafamilial violence report (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.2-3.4; p=0.011) remained independently associated with poor quality of sleep, whereas a lower PODCI global function score was associated with a lower OR for sleep quality (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.94-0.98; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Self-reported increases in screen time and intrafamilial violence report impacted sleep quality in both healthy adolescents and those with chronic conditions. Decreased health-related quality of life was observed in adolescents with poor sleep quality

Synergistic effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting bacteria benefit maize growth under increasing soil salinity

Salt-affected soils are a major problem worldwide for crop production. Bioinocula such as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can help plants to thrive in these areas but interactions between them and with soil conditions can modulate the effects on their host. To test potential synergistic effects of bioinoculants with intrinsically different functional relationships with their host in buffering the effect of saline stress, maize plants were grown under increasing soil salinity (0–5 g NaCl kg−-1 soil) and inoculated with two PGPB strains (Pseudomonas reactans EDP28, and Pantoea alli ZS 3-6), one AMF (Rhizoglomus irregulare), and with the combination of both. We then modelled biomass, ion and nutrient content in maize plants in response to increasing salt concentration and microbial inoculant treatments using generalized linear models. The impacts of the different treatments on the rhizosphere bacterial communities were also analyzed. Microbial inoculants tended to mitigate ion imbalances in plants across the gradient of NaCl, promoting maize growth and nutritional status. These effects were mostly prominent in the treatments comprising the dual inoculation (AMF and PGPB), occurring throughout the gradient of salinity in the soil. The composition of bacterial communities of the soil was not affected by microbial treatments and were mainly driven by salt exposure. The tested bioinocula are most efficient for maize growth and health when co-inoculated, increasing the content of K+ accompanied by an effective decrease of Na+ in plant tissues. Moreover, synergistic effects potentially contribute to expanding crop production to otherwise unproductive soils. Results suggest that the combination of AMF and PGPB leads to interactions that may have a potential role in alleviating the stress and improve crop productivity in salt-affected soils.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Iron metabolism in soybean grown in calcareous soil is influenced by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria: a functional analysis

Iron deficiency results in severe yield losses, particularly in calcareous soils. Recent evidences suggest that biofertilizers with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) may be an efficient strategy for enhancing iron (Fe) nutrition in legumes. This work aimed at evaluating the capacity of PGPR strains to enhance Fe uptake-related processes in soybean grown in calcareous soil. From the studied 24 PGPR, Sphingobium fuliginis ZR 1–6 and Pseudomonas jessenni ZR 3–8 strains were selected for the inoculation experiment based on their in vitro ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase, siderophores, and organic acids, to tolerate high pH, and to reduce Fe3+. The effect of bacterial inoculation on improving Fe uptake was tested using each isolate alone or combined and through the evaluation of several morphological, physiological, and molecular parameters. Inoculation with S. fuliginis showed beneficial effects particularly at the root level by the improvement of ferric chelate activity (111%) and FRO2 expression (646%), resulting in increased Fe root content (62%). Inoculation with P. jessenii increased Zn and Mn concentrations in the trifoliates (463% and 51%, respectively), decreased Zn concentration in the roots (88%), and increased the expression of FER4 in the trifoliates (5260%). Combined inoculation of both strains fostered Fe accumulation in the trifoliates and increased the expression of IRT1 and FER4 genes, indicating an improved capacity of Fe translocation to the shoots. These results suggest that inoculation with selected PGPR strains could be effective in improving Fe uptake and accumulation in soybean grown under Fe-deficient conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Impact of soybean-associated plant growth-promoting bacteria on plant growth modulation under alkaline soil conditions

Conventional strategies to manage iron (Fe) deficiency still present drawbacks, and more eco-sustainable solutions are needed. Knowledge on soybean-specific diversity and functional traits of their plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) potentiates their applicability as bioinoculants to foster soybean performance under calcareous soil conditions. This work aimed to assess the efficacy of PGPB, retrieved from soybean tissues/rhizosphere, in enhancing plant growth and development as well as crop yield under alkaline soil conditions.Seventy-six bacterial strains were isolated from shoots (18%), roots (53%), and rhizosphere (29%) of soybean. Twenty-nine genera were identified, with Bacillus and Microbacterium being the most predominant. Based on distinct plant growth-promoting traits, the endophyte Bacillus licheniformis P2.3 and the rhizobacteria Bacillus aerius S2.14 were selected as bioinoculants.In vivo tests showed that soybean photosynthetic parameters, chlorophyll content, total fresh weight, and Fe concentrations were not significantly affected by bioinoculation. However, inoculation with B. licheniformis P2.3 increased pod number (33%) and the expression of Fe-related genes (FRO2, IRT1, F6′H1, bHLH38, and FER4), and decreased FC-R activity (45%). Moreover, bioinoculation significantly affected Mn, Zn, and Ca accumulation in plant tissues.Soybean harbors several bacterial strains in their tissues and in the rhizosphere with capacities related to Fe nutrition and plant growth promotion. The strain B. licheniformis P2.3 showed the best potential to be incorporated in bioinoculant formulations for enhancing soybean performance under alkaline soil conditions

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Not AvailableThe increasing demand for crop production, given worldwide increases in the human population, puts pressure on moving natural resources towards sus-tainable development. This creates a big challenge for the upcoming generation. If improvement is not successful, there exists the unfortunate consequence that global food production may soon become insufficient to feed all of the world’s people. It is therefore essential that agricultural productivity be significantly increased in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach. Plant-beneficiary rhizo-bacteria (PBR) naturally activate microorganisms found in the soil. Because they are inexpensive, effective, and environmentally friendly, PBR are gaining impor-tance for use in crop production by restoring the soil’s natural fertility and protect-ing it against drought and soil diseases, thereby stimulating plant growth. PBR decrease the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and artificial growth regulators; the intensive use of these inputs has led to severe health and environmental hazards, such as soil erosion, water contamination, pesticide poisoning, decreased ground-water table, water logging, surface crusting and depletion of biodiversity. The use of PBR has been proven to be an environmentally sound way of increasing crop yields by facilitating plant growth through either a direct or indirect mechanism with the aim of sustaining soil health over the long term. (7) (PDF) Towards Plant-Beneficiary Rhizobacteria and Agricultural Sustainability. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325854138_Towards_Plant-Beneficiary_Rhizobacteria_and_Agricultural_Sustainability [accessed Nov 19 2018].Not Availabl