Effects of salinity on the growth and proximate composition of selected tropical marine periphytic diatoms and cyanobacteria

Marine periphytic cyanobacteria and diatoms have been examined as a potential source of feed supplement for rearing aquatic larvae in the aquaculture industry. Culture of the periphytic diatom Amphora sp., Navicula sp., Cymbella sp. and the cyanobacteria Oscillatoria sp. at different salinities showed significant changes in biomass and specific growth rates. Diatoms growth was significantly higher at 35 g L⁻¹, while for cyanobacteria growth was better at 25 g L⁻¹. Significantly higher levels of protein and lipid were found in diatoms at low salinities (15–25 g L⁻¹) and an increase in carbohydrate at high salinities (30–35 g L⁻¹). Conversely, cyanobacteria showed a significantly higher lipid content at 30–35 g L⁻¹ compared with other salinity levels but no significant changes were observed in the protein and carbohydrate contents at different salinity levels. The present findings can be taken into consideration when culturing marine periphytic Amphora sp., Navicula sp., Cymbella sp. and Oscillatoria sp. to provide appropriate levels of protein, lipid and carbohydrate as feed supplement as well as for bioremediation in aquaculture.     

Effects of Increasing Salinity Stress and Decreasing Water Availability on Ecophysiological Traits of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Grown in a Mediterranean‐Type Agroecosystem

Quinoa is a native Andean crop for domestic consumption and market sale, widely investigated due to its nutritional composition and gluten‐free seeds. Leaf water potential (Ψ_leaf) and its components and stomatal conductance (g_s) of quinoa, cultivar Titicaca, were investigated in Southern Italy, in field trials (2009 and 2010). This alternative crop was subjected to irrigation treatments, with the restitution of 100 %, 50 % and 25 % of the water necessary to replenish field capacity, with well water (100 W, 50 W, 25 W) and saline water (100 WS, 50 WS, 25 WS) with an electrical conductivity (EC_w) of 22 dS m^?1. As water and salt stress developed and Ψ_leaf decreased, the leaf osmotic potential (Ψ_π) declined (below ?2.05 MPa) to maintain turgor. Stomatal conductance decreased with the reduction in Ψ_leaf (with a steep drop at Ψ_leaf between ?0.8 and 1.2 MPa) and Ψ_π (with a steep drop at Ψ_π between ?1.2 and ?1.4 MPa). Salt and drought stress, in both years, did not affect markedly the relationship between water potential components, RWC and g_s. Leaf water potentials and g_s were inversely related to water limitation and soil salinity experimentally imposed, showing exponential (Ψ_leaf and turgor pressure, Ψ_p, vs. g_s) or linear (Ψ_leaf and Ψ_p vs. SWC) functions. At the end of the experiment, salt‐irrigated plants showed a severe drop in Ψ_leaf (below ?2 MPa), resulting in stomatal closure through interactive effects of soil water availability and salt excess to control the loss of turgor in leaves. The effects of salinity and drought resulted in strict dependencies between RWC and water potential components, showing that regulating cellular water deficit and volume is a powerful mechanism for conserving cellular hydration under stress, resulting in osmotic adjustment at turgor loss. The extent of osmotic adjustment associated with drought was not reflected in Ψ_π at full turgor. As soil was drying, the association between Ψ_leaf and SWC reflected the ability of quinoa to explore soil volume to continue extracting available water from the soil. However, leaf ABA content did not vary under concomitant salinity and drought stress conditions in 2009, while differing between 100 W and 100 WS in 2010. Quinoa showed good resistance to water and salt stress through stomatal responses and osmotic adjustments that played a role in the maintenance of a leaf turgor favourable to plant growth and preserved crop yield in cropping systems similar to those of Southern Italy.     

A nutritional disorder in pistachio from near Athens,Greece

Abstract

A problem pistachio orchard near Athens, Greece had many trees with severely scorched leaves. Half or more of each leaflet v/as brown and dry but tips and edges were most affected. Affected leaves were also of lighter green color than normal leaves and slightly resembled Fe deficiency. Leaf analysis indicated low K, low Fe, and high Mg. Irrigation water contained moderate levels of Mg and Na chlorides and chloride toxicity was possibly another factor. Improvement was observed when Fe chelate was applied to the orchard but Mg‐induced K deficiency was possibly a major factor. Response to K applied to soil was not observed after four months, however.     

Agricultural Polymers Revisited: Salinity Interactions and Soil-Water Conservation

A synthetic superabsorbent polymer used to improve water-holding capacity of soils was investigated. Two water qualities, two irrigation intervals, and two application rates were administered to 24 treated soil columns. Polymer absorbance of water was proportional with time but inversely proportional to salinity levels. After a threshold period, which was longer for the lower water application rate, cumulative evaporation (E = √ct) increased with decrease in irrigation interval and the type of amendments added in order of control > peat moss > the absorbent copolymer. The value of c was largely determined by the water application rate and the type of the soil amendment. Salt and moisture distributions were governed by the amount of water conserved. Peat moss was more effective in leaching salts. The quantity of water applied per irrigation, rather than cumulative amount, seemed to affect water conservation, whereas the cumulative amount of water affected electrical conductivity–sodium absorption ratio (EC-SAR) distributions.     

盐度变化对军曹鱼稚鱼相关免疫因子及其生长的影响

研究了盐度(5、10、20、30及对照37)对军曹鱼(Rachycentron canadum)稚鱼生长及其血清溶菌酶、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)、旁路途径补体(ACP)溶血活性(ACH50)和总免疫球蛋白(T-Ig)含量等免疫因子的影响。实验周期为14 d。结果表明,在逐渐达到设定盐度后养殖14 d,盐度30组稚鱼特定生长率(SGR)最高(5.77%/d),而盐度5和10组的SGR(分别为4.24%/d和4.38%/d)显著低于其他组(P<0.05)。在低盐度环境中血清溶菌酶活性在第7天各组都有不同程度升高,其中以盐度20组升高最为显著,其次为盐度10和30组,但第14天各组溶菌酶活性又都回落至对照组水平;而稚鱼在低盐度环境中血清ALP活性受到明显抑制,且活性与盐度呈一定正相关;各组间ACP活性在第7天各盐度组间无明显差异,但实验结束时盐度5和10两组出现显著升高;而T-Ig含量在盐度10组中始终明显高于其他组。研究显示,军曹鱼稚鱼在盐度20~37范围内都可正常生长,尽管稚鱼有较强的低盐度耐受能力,但过低盐度明显影响其生长率并导致体色变黑、蛀鳍和应激增强等异常表现。此外,盐度变化还影响稚鱼多种免疫相关因子。[中国水产科学,2007,14(1):120-125]     

Aquacrop模型在北疆棉花生育期灌溉洗盐制度优化中的适用性

为明确Aquacrop模型在北疆棉田膜下滴灌和地下滴灌方式下生长和生产模拟的适用性，并探究棉田生育期最优灌溉洗盐制度，该研究以2020和2021年的田间试验数据对模型参数进行校正和验证，并用校正好的模型揭示3种灌溉水平（100%ETc、80%ETc、60%ETc，其中ETc为作物需水量）、3种淋洗总定额（0、120和240 mm）、3种灌水频率（5、7和10 d/次）和3种降水年型（湿润年、平水年、干旱年）对棉花产量和灌溉水生产力的影响。结果表明，2021年所有处理的冠层覆盖度、地上生物量归一化均方根误差（normalized root mean square error, NRMSE）不大于20.998%，一致性指数d≥0.967，决定系数R²≥0.914，产量均方根误差（root mean square error, RMSE）、NRMSE、d和R²分别为0.389 t/hm²、6.797%、0.836和0.754，模型整体模拟效果良好。基于58 a气象数据的模型模拟表明：灌溉水平、淋洗定额、降水年型对棉花产量和灌溉水生产力的影响显著，灌水频率的影响不显著；在平均土壤含盐量范围为12～18 g/kg的植棉区域，综合考虑产量、灌溉水生产力及实际生产情况，湿润年推荐80%ETc+120 mm的灌溉淋洗总定额，平水年和干旱年推荐100%ETc+120 mm的灌溉淋洗总定额；推荐延长灌水频率至10 d/次以减少灌水次数，节约成本。研究可以为Aquacrop模型在棉田中的应用积累经验，为农业水资源高效利用提供理论指导与技术支撑。     

不同盐度下饵料蛋白质含量对凡纳滨对虾生长、体成份和肝胰腺组织结构的影响

设计了蛋白质含量为20.61%、30.52%、40.43%和50.34%的4种饵料(分别为CP20、CP30、CP40和CP50),研究饵料蛋白质含量对不同盐度下(分别为低盐度LS 2、中盐度MS 22和高盐度HS 32)凡纳滨对虾[(0.0144±0.0047)g]生长、成活及体成份的影响,测定了不同处理组对虾的肝胰腺指数(HIS)和肥满度(CF),试验为期8周.结果显示:(1)盐度对凡纳滨对虾的生长、成活、肥满度和灰分含量均有显著影响(P<0.05),而对肝体指数、体粗蛋白、体粗脂肪和水分无显著影响(P0.05),中盐度组对虾各指标均最高,其次为高盐度组,低盐度组最低;中、高盐度组对虾的增重率、特殊体重(长)增长率均显著高于低盐度组对虾(P<0.05),而中、高盐度组对虾的各生长指标无显著差异(P＜0.05);(2)饵料蛋白质含量对凡纳滨对虾的各生长指标和体粗蛋白含量影响显著(P<0.05),对其它各指标影响不显著(P<0.05).各盐度下,对虾生长和体粗蛋白含量均随饵料蛋白质含量升高而升高,投喂CP20的对虾组显著低于其它各处理组(P<0.05);肥满度和肝体指数均先随饵料蛋白质含量升高至40.43%而升高,然后稍有下降;饵料蛋白质含量对各盐度下对虾成活率影响均不显著(P0.05).(3)双因素方差分析结果显示,盐度和饵料蛋白质含量,除对体灰分含量存着着显著的交互作用外(P<0.05),对其它体生化成份含量、生长及体形态指标的交互作用均不显著(P0.05).(4)饲料蛋白质含量明显影响了凡纳滨对虾肝胰腺的组织结构,投喂CP30和CP40饵料的对虾肝小体基膜完整,投喂CP40对虾的肝小体中还出现了大量的存储细胞(R细胞);而投喂CP20饵料的对虾肝小体分布松散,R细胞数量较小,并且部分肝小体基膜破损;而投喂CP50饵料的对虾的肝小体排列紧密,且B细胞内出现大量内容物质.结果提示,提高饵料蛋白质含量虽然在一定程度上加快对虾的生长速度和增加肥满度,但是并不能提高低盐底下凡纳滨对虾的成活率.饲料中蛋白质含量的不适宜,尤其是含量过低,会导致对虾肝胰腺的结构发生变化甚至发生不同程度的病理变化.     

Carbon Fluxes from Different Pools in a Mined Area under Reclamation in Minas Gerais State,Brazil

Despite the benefits of grass cultivation and organic fertilization in mining areas undergoing reclamation, these practices may be associated to CO₂ emissions and soil organic matter (SOM) losses by priming effect. In the present study, we evaluated the changes on SOM pools and C–CO₂ emissions in a bauxite‐mined area under reclamation fertilized with poultry litter (PL) (0, 10, 20, and 40 Mg ha⁻¹) and cultivated with Brachiaria brizantha . Increases of about 3·5 times in the soil labile C were observed 1 year after experiment establishment. High C–CO₂ fluxes and a significant positive priming effect were observed in the presence of B. brizantha , increasing native C mineralization by nearly 4·9 times. Nevertheless, no net soil C loss was detected, probably because of the C inputs derived from B. brizantha , which offset these losses. In fact, the grass increased total organic C by 45% when fertilized with 40 Mg PL ha⁻¹. The data obtained suggest that the cultivation of B. brizantha fertilized with PL can be a promising option for rapid recovery in SOM in areas under reclamation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interactive Effects of Salinity and Biological Nitrogen Fixation on Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Growth

The effect of salinity on the nodulation, N-fixation and plant growth of selected chickpea- Rhizobium symbionts was studied- Eighteen chickpea rhizobial strains were evaluated for their growth in a broth culture at salinity levels of 0 to 20 dS m⁻¹ of NaCl + Na₂SO₄. Variability in response was high. Salinity generally reduced the lag phase and/or slowed the log phase of multiplication of Rhizobium. Nine chickpea genotypes were also evaluated for salt tolerance during germination and early seedling growth in Petri dishes at five salinity levels (0–32 dS m⁻¹). Chickpea genotypes ILC-205 and ILC-1919 were the most salt-tolerant genotypes. The selected rhizobial strains and chickpea cultivars were combined in a pot experiment aimed at investigating the interactive effect of salinity (3, 6 and 9 dS m⁻¹) and N source (symbiosis vs. inorganic N) on plant growth. Symbiotic plants were more sensitive to salinity than plants fed mineral N. Significant reductions in nodule dry weight (59.8 %) and N fixation (63.5 %) were evident even at the lowest salinity level of 3 dS m-¹. Although nodules were observed in inoculated plants grown at 6 dS m-¹, N-fixation was completely inhibited. The findings indicate that symbiosis is more salt-sensitive than both Rhizobium and the host plant, probably due to a breakdown in one of the processes involved in symbiotic-N fixation. Improvement of salinity tolerance in field grown chickpea may be achieved by application of sufficient amounts of mineral nitrogen.     

Selective Absorption of K over Na in Sugar Beet Cultivars and its Relationship with Yield and Quality in Two Contrasting Environments of Central Greece

Selective absorption (SA) of K over Na (i.e. the preferential absorption of K over Na) has been proposed as a Na tolerance mechanism but genotypic variation for this trait has not been assessed with sugar beet in the field. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the variation of SA in 14 sugar beet cultivars and to relate SA with yield and root quality in two sites of central Greece (Amfithea and Pyrgetos). Genotypic variation for SA was significant and the SA values were higher in Pyrgetos, the site with the lower soil K and Na concentrations. In Pyrgetos, a favourable environment for sugar beet growth, cultivars yielded more and root quality was better. In that site, a negative relationship between SA and yield (fresh root weight, sugar yield) was found indicating that strong Na exclusion from root is a disadvantage for high yielding. Negative SA–yield relationships were evident in Amfithea when five cultivars with very low SA values (<1.00) were excluded from the analysis. Combined all the cultivars, curvilinear functions were the best-fitted curves for the SA–yield relationships. In Amfithea, where sugar beets had lower water content in root (WCR), a significant, positive correlation between SA and % sucrose content in fresh root weight was found. This finding was ascribed to the dilution of sucrose in roots due to the increased WCR as a result of the increased root Na concentration. In both sites, SA was positively related with root K concentration and negatively with Na concentration. The positive correlations between SA and root α-amino N concentration indicated that sugar beet N nutrition could be affected by the genotypic ability to exclude Na from the root.