Influence of water application on photosynthesis, growth and biomass characteristics in Jatropha curcas

The effect of CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, water use efficiency, growth and biomass productivity were studied in Jatropha curcas under different moisture levels of water (100, 75, 50 and 25% of field capacity). CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, transpiration, growth and biomass were reduced in response to decreasing moisture content of water.  The decreased CO2 assimilation during irrigation stress was found largely dependent on stomatal closure, which reduced available internal CO2 concentration and restricted water loss through transpiration based on leaf gas exchange hypothesis linked with stomatal limitation for photosynthesis to reduce carbon uptake followed by loss in leaf area expansion which declined total carbon uptake, growth and biomass in Jatropha curcas seedlings

Photosynthetic electron transport rate and root dynamics of finger millet in response to Trichoderma harzianum

Finger millet (ragi) is the main food grain for many people, especially in the arid and semiarid regions of developing countries in Asia and Africa. The grains contain an exceptionally higher amount of Ca (>300 mg/100 g) when compared to other major cereals. For sustainable production of ragi in the current scenario of climate change, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of Trichoderma harzianum (TRI) on ragi performance. The performance of photosynthetic pigment pool, photosynthetic apparatus, and root dynamics of three varieties of ragi (PRM-1, PRM-701, and PRM-801) in response to four treatments viz., C (soil), S+ TRI (soil + Trichoderma), farmyard manure (soil+ FYM), and FYM+TRI (Soil + FYM + Trichoderma) were studied. Results have shown a significant increase in the photosynthetic pigment pool and optimized functional and structural integrity of the photosynthetic apparatus in response to the combination of farmyard manure (FYM) with TRI. Higher yield parameters viz., φ(Po) and φ(Eo), δ(Ro), efficiency ψ(Eo), performance indices – PIabs and PItotal, and enhanced root canopy and biomass were observed in all three varieties. Improved electron transport from PSII to PSI, root canopy and biomass, may also suitably favor biological carbon sequestration to retain soil health and plant productivity in case grown in association with FYM and TRI

Ethylene mediated physiological response for in vitro development of salinity tolerant tomato

Tomato is an important crop and has immense health benefits and medicinal value. Here, we described how salinity stress affects tomato plant growth and developmental processes and productivity. It causes ionic toxicity, oxidative damage, osmotic stress, and hormonal imbalance. In this review, we emphasized the crucial role of ethylene (ET) towards in vitro development of tomato crop by mediating stress response, particularly high salt. There are evidences that salinity stress modulates the expression of ACS and beta-CAS, which leads to ET and cyanide accumulation. We draw attention to how ET negatively or positively mediates salinity stress response by maintaining endogenous biomolecules, Na+/K+ ion balance and redox homeostasis. How ET inhibitors and polyamines as protectants reverse the negative effects of ET/salinity stress-induced cellular damage by cross talk with important physiological processes-photosynthesis and respiratory and salt overly sensitive (SOS). The literature appraised herein will contribute to a better understanding of the development of salinity stress tolerant tomato