Growth, yield and quality of three greenhouse cucumber cultivars in relation two types of water applied at different growth stages

Two levels of salinity of irrigation water (I: wen water with EC 2.61 ds.m.l, II: desalinized water with EC 0.39 ds.m-I) were applied to three greenhouse cucumber cultivars; Alasil, Alia and Copra; at various stages of growth and for different time durations, to study the effect of irrigation water salinity on growth, quantity and quality of cucumber production. Five irrigation treatments (IT) were applied; (IT!) irrigation with desalinized water for the whole experimental period; which was 105 days, (IT2) irrigation with desalinized water from the beginning of experiment until the beginning of flowering stage (30 days) then irrigation with we1l water, (IB) irrigation with desalinized water until the beginning of fruit setting stage (35 days) then irrigation with we1l water, (lT4) irrigation with local wen water (35 days) then irrigation with desalinized water until the end of the experiment, and (ITS) irrigation with we1l water for the whole experimental period. Vegetative growth traits recorded were: plant height, leaf number, leaf area, leaf fresh and dry weight. Fruit growth traits were; length, diameter, firmness, number, fresh and dry weight. Early and total yield were also recorded. Salinity during the entire growing period and (IT5) significantly reduced early and total yield by 46.8% and 28.3% respectively. Also, it reflected higher negative results in an traits, except fruit dry weight. The negative effect of salinity on most traits was less severe when IT4 was applied. No significant differences were found between In and IB, since they resulted in intermediate negative effect in a1l studied traits; except for early yield. Significant differences among cultivars were found in fruit growth traits especially yield and its components. Highest values for fruit weight, early and total yield were recorded in Copra fillowed by Alia and Alasil, respectively. Considering that all traits were less severely affected by IT4 and that total yield was only reduced by 7.2% as compared to IT!, it can be concluded that the use of salinized irrigation water until fruit setting stage followed by desalinized water for greenhouse cucumber production is recommended to save the high cost of water desalinization

Growth, Yield, Quality and Water Use Efficiency of Grafted Tomato Plants Grown in Greenhouse under Different Irrigation Levels

Abstract: Grafting and proper irrigation managements are becoming valuable practices for optimum growth and yield of vegetables. Tube grafting treatments were applied for 'Faridah' grafted onto 'Unifort'. Irrigation level treatments included 40, 60, 80 and 100% (control treatment) based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc). Grafted plants were more vigorous (taller stem, higher leaf area, heavier vine fresh and dry weights) than un-grafted plants. The total yield was higher by 11.90-12.41% in grafted than un-grafted plants. Fruit quality: vitamin C, titratable acidity and total sugars were better in fruits of grafted than in un-grafted. The highest irrigation level (100% ETc) generated superior vegetative growth with more fruit yield production. On the other hand, water stress treatment (40% ETc) decreased yield production while, it improved fruit quality (vitamin. C, titratable acidity, total soluble solids and total sugars). Grafted plants under lower water level (WL1) enhanced vitamin C and titratable acidity. Water use efficiency increased in grafted plants under lower water level. Grafted plants under a moderate water level (80% ETc) resulted in 16.7% saving in irrigation water, with only slight reduction in yield (0.7-1

Effects of quality of water and irrigation regimes on temporal changes in soil EC and yield of greenhouse-grown bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract A greenhouse experiment was conducted in Strip Split Plot design with three replications to study the response of bell pepper (cv. Taranto) to quality of irrigation water and irrigation regimes. The main treatments included good quality water (EC-0.6 dSm ). The sub-treatments, however, included three irrigation regimes (at 100, 80 and 60 percent of crop evapotranspiration(ETc)) combined with three crop growth stages (vegetative, flowering to fruit setting and harvest). As expected, the application of saline water led to a significant increase in soil EC (up to 2.468 dSm -1) causing a drop in fresh fruit yield (from 1450.5 to 1038.8 g/plant for good quality and saline water, respectively). On the other hand, the irrigation regimes were not found to affect the soil EC, but noted to greatly affect the fresh fruit yield. The highest fresh fruit yield was obtained when irrigated at 100% ETc throughout the crop growth period. Combined effects of water quality and irrigation regimes on fresh fruit yield were found to be significant

GDF‐15 is associated with atherosclerosis in adults with transfusion‐dependent beta‐thalassemia

Abstract Objectives: To study serum growth differentiation factor‐15 (GDF‐15) serum level in β‐thalassemia patients and its relation to carotid intima‐media thickness. Background: Thalassemia is a common genetic disease resulting in decreased beta‐chains, leading to manifested anemia. It may be subsequently complicated by iron overload, which induces numerous morbidities and even death. Growth differentiation factor‐15 (GDF‐15) is a strong and independent predictor of mortality and disease progression in patients with atherosclerosis alongside with carotid‐intimal media thickness (CIMT). Patients and methods: This monocentric case‐control study was done on 90 subjects in the period from January 2020 to March 2021. Sixty transfusion‐dependent beta‐thalassemia (TDβT) cases (≥18 years) were selected from the thalassemia clinic of Hematology division at Menoufia University hospitals. We included also 30 sex and age matched healthy as the controls. Routine investigations were done beside. Serum GDF‐15 was measured by ELISA. CIMT was measured by Doppler Ultrasonography. Results: CIMT on both sides was statistically significant higher in cases (median of 0.08 cm) than in the controls (median of 0.04). GDF‐15 was also significantly higher in cases (median of 1839.89 pg/dl) than in controls (median of 256.14 pg/dl). So, we found that GDF‐15 is a predictor of and associated with atherosclerosis in thalassemic adults (OR = 39.198, p value 0.008, 95% CI: 2.576–596.5). Conclusion: GDF‐ 15 is increased in TDβT. CIMT (as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis) is increased in these patients alongside with GDF‐15, is a predictor, and associated with atherosclerosis in thalassemic adults

The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in establishment and water balance of tomato seedlings and sweet cherry cuttings in low phosphorous soil

Extreme variability in water availability during the growing season makes sweet cherry fruit more prone to cracking. Therefore, experiments were designed to explore how mycorrhizal colonization of cherry roots may influence water regulation, as well as enhanced growth performance. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate mutualists from the Order Glomales and most fruit trees establish associations with AMF naturally when transplanted to the field, particularly in low phosphorous conditions. Although plants benefit from this symbiotic relationship through increased nutrient uptake especially phosphate, management practices influence the presence of mycorrhizal colonization in the field. This project has investigated the early growth rate and establishment of cherry (and tomato plants as a model system) inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis (syn. Glomus intraradices). After one month of growth, the number of leaves of mycorrhizal tomato seedlings was significantly increased and the height was approximately doubled in response to inoculation compared with non-inoculated tomatoes. In addition, a significant effect of AM fungi on cutting survival was observed, where 65% of inoculated cherry rootstocks survived after two months from striking, compared to 45% of non-mycorrhizal cherries. The effect of AMF on water uptake is currently being investigated in both sweet cherries and tomatoes to determine how colonization affects water uptake and photosynthesis during periods of drought and excess water conditions

Development of a cucumis sativus tilling platform for forward and reverse genetics

Background: Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family that includes more than 800 species. The cucumber genome has been recently sequenced and annotated. Transcriptomics and genome sequencing of many plant genomes are providing information on candidate genes potentially related to agronomically important traits. To accelerate functional characterization of these genes in cucumber we have generated an EMS mutant population that can be used as a TILLinG platform for reverse genetics. Principal Findings: A population of 3,331 M2 mutant seed families was generated using two EMS concentrations (0.5% and 0.75%). Genomic DNA was extracted from M2 families and eight-fold pooled for mutation detection by ENDO1 nuclease. To assess the quality of the mutant collection, we screened for induced mutations in five genes and identified 26 mutations. The average mutation rate was calculated as 1/1147 Kb giving rise to approximately 320 mutations per genome. We focused our characterization on three missense mutations, G33C, S238F and S249F identified in the CsACS2 sex determination gene. Protein modeling and crystallography studies predicted that mutation at G(33) may affect the protein function, whereas mutations at S-238 and S-249 may not impair the protein function. As predicted, detailed phenotypic evaluation showed that the S238F and the S249F mutant lines had no sexual phenotype. In contrast, plants homozygous for the G33C mutation showed a complete sexual transition from monoecy to andromonoecy. This result demonstrates that TILLinG is a valuable tool for functional validation of gene function in crops recalcitrant to transgenic transformation. Conclusions: We have developed a cucumber mutant population that can be used as an efficient reverse genetics tool. The cucumber TILLinG collection as well as the previously described melon TILLinG collection will prove to be a valuable resource for both fundamental research and the identification of agronomically-important genes for crop improvement in cucurbits in general

Characterisation of alleles of tomato light signalling genes generated by TILLING

Publication Inra prise en compte dans l'analyse bibliométrique des publications scientifiques mondiales sur les Fruits, les Légumes et la Pomme de terre. Période 2000-2012. http://prodinra.inra.fr/record/256699International audienceTargeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes (TILLING) combines chemical mutagenesis with high throughput screening to allow the generation of alleles of selected genes. In this study, TILLING has been applied to produce a series of mutations in genes encoding essential components of the tomato light signal transduction pathway in an attempt to enhance fruit nutritional quality. Point mutations to DEETIO-LATED1 (DET1), which is responsible for the high pigment2 (hp2) tomato mutant, resulted in elevated levels of both carotenoid and phenylpropanoid phytonutrients in ripe fruit, whilst immature fruit showed increased chlorophyll content, photosynthetic capacity and altered fruit morphology. Furthermore, genotypes with mutations to the UV-DAMAGED DNA BINDING PROTEIN 1 (DDB1), COP1 and COP1 like were also characterised. These genotypes largely did not display phenotypes characteristic of mutation to light signalling components but their characterisation has enabled interrogation of structure function relationships of the mutated genes. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved