Poor aeration in NFT and a means for its improvement

Because water can restrict rapid diffusive exchange of gases we have examined how far the nutrient solution is adequately aerated in NFT systems used for glasshouse tomato production. Measurements were at various places of: the concentrations of dissolved O₂ and dinitrogen oxide (nitrous oxide), the maximum rate of O₂ flow to an O₂-consuming sink (O₂ flux density), and the electrochemical (redox) potential. Whalehide pots containing peat-based or peat-sand based composts used to stand the plants in the NFT solution were found waterlogged and poorly aerated. Dissolved O₂ in solution drawn from the pots rarely exceeded 1-2 mg l^-1. This small amount of O₂ was associated with accumulations of dinitrogen oxide, a gaseous product of anaerobic microbial respiration. Oxygen flux density was also small but redox potentials remained above 300 mV which was too high to favour the formation of Phytotoxins such as Mn(II), Fe(II) or H₂S. Replacing the composts with more open structured inorganic media such as Perlite, Rockwool or Capogro almost completely eliminated the symptoms of poor aeration observed in the composts. On one occasion the O₂ dissolved in the flowing nutrient solution was found to be depleted by c. 50%. Thus the whole system can sometimes be subject to considerable O₂ deficits.     

低温和镁胁迫对黄瓜幼苗生长和生理特性的影响

利用人工气候箱,采用珍珠岩培养,研究不同温度下镁对黄瓜幼苗生长、碳氮代谢和活性氧清除系统的影响。结果表明,低温下,镁胁迫降低了黄瓜的总叶片数、叶面积、根长、全株干质量和壮苗指数,增大了根冠比。适温下,镁胁迫使黄瓜叶片可溶性蛋白、还原糖和可溶性总糖含量、硝酸还原酶活性下降,根系活力提高;低温下,各处理硝酸还原酶活性、根系活力、可溶性总糖含量较对照降低,还原糖含量较对照升高,多镁和适镁使可溶性蛋白的含量较对照降低,缺镁则使其含量较对照提高。多镁和缺镁均导致黄瓜幼苗叶片MDA、H2O2含量及O2 产生速率升高,缺镁升幅大于多镁。低温缺镁对植株的伤害最大,可能与活性氧的增加有关。适温下,镁胁迫使POD、SOD活性升高,其中POD活性升高幅度最大,而CAT活性降低;适温下植株可能主要通过提高POD活性来抵御镁胁迫。     

普通土壤栽培增施CO2和有机土栽培对日光温室秋黄瓜产量和品质的影响

在日光温室条件下,研究了普通土壤栽培增施CO₂及有机土栽培对黄瓜产量和营养品质的影响,并对比了两种栽培方式下CO₂的变化。结果表明：有机土栽培与增施CO₂的普通土壤栽培均在上午提高了温室内CO₂浓度,使温室中CO₂浓度在上午光合作用最强的时期显著高于普通土壤栽培,最终表现为黄瓜生长优于普通土壤栽培。生理分析表明：普通土壤栽培增施CO₂和有机土栽培均可增加黄瓜叶片叶绿素含量,并显著提高了植株的根系活力和净光合速率。增施CO₂对盛果期黄瓜果实中可溶性固形物和VC含量有显著提高作用,分别提高10.21%和7.23%;而有机土栽培下黄瓜总糖和粗蛋白含量显著高于其他处理。黄瓜盛果期增施CO₂增产效果明显,单株产量较对照显著提高,与有机土栽培产量相当。增施CO₂对黄瓜产量的影响主要在采收中后期;而有机土栽培对黄瓜产量的影响主要是在采收的前中期。有机土栽培不仅改善了根区环境,还对温室CO₂浓度有很好改善作用,可以不用增施CO₂而实现优质高产。     

Diurnal variations in the oxygen content and acid requirement of recirculating nutrient solutions and in the uptake of water and potassium by cucumber and tomato plants

The oxygen content of recirculating nutrient solutions was measured in July and August, together with the amounts of acid required to maintain a constant pH in the solution and the rates of uptake of water and potassium. The oxygen content of the solutions declined to a minimum during the brightest part of the day. The oxygen deficit was highly correlated with both the temperature and the amount of acid required to maintain the pH of the nutrient solution. Under similar environmental conditions, the oxygen content of the solution was reduced to lower concentrations by cucumber (2.7 mg l^?1; 34% saturation) than by tomato plants (6.7 mg l^?1; 84% saturation), reflecting the thicker root mat formed by cucumber.     

负水头供不同营养液对温室樱桃番茄生长和产量的影响

采用负水头灌溉装置,通过调节装置的供水吸力值来持续稳定地控制栽培基质的湿度,供给不同浓度磷酸二氢钾（KH₂PO₄）营养液配方进行樱桃番茄基质栽培试验,研究营养液中不同磷酸二氢钾浓度对樱桃番茄株高、茎粗、产量、水肥利用效率和根系活力的影响。结果表明：在负水头供水控水技术条件下,适当提高营养液中磷酸二氢钾浓度,有利于增加樱桃番茄株高、茎粗,效果显著;同时可以提高果实产量、水分利用效率和N、K利用效率以及根系活力。负水头供给营养液樱桃番茄栽培生产中,2.5 S处理即340 mg•L^-1的KH₂PO₄浓度可作为推荐用量。     

Nitrogen fertilization under saline conditions in tomato and cucumber plants

Summary

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum, Mill.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus, L.) seedlings were grown in a growth chamber in 4 litre containers filled with nutrient solutions. Four experiments were conducted with four NaCl levels factorially combined with four N levels. The concentrations of NaCl were 4, 25, 50, and 100 mmol l^?1 and 4, 16, 32, and 64 mmol l^?1 in the tomato and cucumber experiments respectively. The N levels in allexperiments were 2, 6, 10 and 15 mmol l^?1 added as NO₃^? or as NH₄⁺ + NO₃^? (2:1). Salinity had a statistically significant negative effect on all responses considered, although the effect was N source-dependent. Addition of N enhanced development of shoot and root dry weights of both species. The optimum N concentration in the nutrient solution varied between 6 and 10 mmol l^?1, although the most appropriate N fertilizer varied with species. Leaf Cl^? concentration decreased in both species when NO₃^? was used as the N source, whereas it increased in the comparative tissues of plants fed with NH₄⁺ + NO₃^?. The effect of treatments on the other nutrients show effects of excess of NaCl, as the form of N source interferes with the uptake of essential nutrients which may cause nutritional disorders.     

Against the wall—Root growth and competition in four perennial winter hardy plant species grown in living walls

Plants in living walls face challenges from intraspecific and interspecific competition from plants around them, as well as water and nutrient availability in the growing media. This paper explores these challenges using four different species of hardy perennials.Campanula poscharskyana ‘Stella’, Geranium sanguineum ‘Max Frei’, Sesleria heufleriana and Veronica officinalis ‘Allgrün’ were grown in two types of vertical growing media, made of either coir or stone wool, in transparent boxes under greenhouse conditions. In the media, plants were placed above each other, two plants of same species, two plants of different species, or a plant grown alone. Root frequency was registered over 56 days and the activity of individual root systems was studied through uptake of ¹⁵N. In addition, plant dry weight and N content as well as water content in the growing media were measured at cessation of the experiment.Shoot and root growth as well as nutrient content in plants were higher in coir than in stone wool and plants placed at the top position had significantly higher biomass than at the bottom position. The stone wool media had significantly higher water content in the lower part of the media while the coir media had water more evenly distributed. Species differences in root frequency were found. Campanula and Geranium showed strong root growth and had root frequencies of up to 0.9, whereas Sesleria and Veronica had less root growth, in some cases only root frequencies around 0.3. The species reacted differently to root competition and planting position and there were differences in the competitive ability between the species. Campanula and Geranium were not affected by competition, whereas both Veronica and Sesleria showed altered root growth due to competition depending on the growing medium. When Geranium was grown above Veronica in stone wool, plant biomass and ¹⁵N uptake increased in Veronica indicating environmental modification, with one species improving the growing conditions for another.The results revealed that growing plants vertically in a living wall is complex, and that choice of growing medium and species composition is important for a successful living wall. Planting combinations should therefore be tested before being used in commercial applications.     

Effect of slow-release oxygen supply by fertigation on horticultural crops under soilless culture

Oxygen deficiency has an immediate effect on both water and nutrient uptake, the yield of the whole plant under different soilless culture is affected. The oxygen level required for the respiration of the root system then becomes a limiting factor as much in soil culture as in soilless culture. The total area of soilless crops in SE Spain today is estimated to be about 5000 ha. The objective of this experiment was to study the effect of potassium peroxide as an oxygen generator on vegetable crops growing in commercial substrates and to determinate the supply fraction for its use. Bioassay was used to determinate the fraction of potassium peroxide needed. Three greenhouse experiments were conducted in soilless culture with perlite and rockwool. Sweet pepper, melon and cucumber crop were supplied with potassium peroxide through fertigation to increase the oxygen content for one day per week. There were treatments: one with (T1) and the other without potassium peroxide (T0) in the nutrient solution. Fertigation parameters, yield and its quality were measured. Bioassay suggested that one gram per litre is the best fraction to use in soilless culture. Yield of sweet pepper was about 20% higher for T1 than T0 and 15% for melon; there was no significant difference in cucumber plants.     

Exogenous paraquat changes antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation in drought-stressed cucumber leaves

In order to examine whether paraquat modifies the functioning of antioxidants and oxidative stress levels in drought-stressed plants, a cucumber cultivar (Cucumis sativus cv. Yuexiu no. 3) was grown hydroponically for 2 days. Drought stress, which was induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG), increased the contents of malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide radical (O₂⁻) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in cucumber leaves, while pretreatment of paraquat decreased them. Under drought stress induced by PEG, we observed the decreased contents of MDA, H₂O₂ and O₂⁻ in paraquat-pretreated plants in comparison to unpretreated stressed plants. Drought stress and paraquat both increased the activities of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX, EC 1.11.1.7), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1), monodehydroascorbate reducatase (MDHAR, EC 1.6.5.4), glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2), reduced glutathione (GSH) and reduced ascorbate (AsA). But the combined effect of paraquat application and drought stress resulted in the highest activities of antioxidants. So paraquat is able to moderate the activities of scavenging system enzymes and to influence oxidative stress intensity under drought stress induced by PEG.     

Effects of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) on yield,growth and nutrient contents of organically grown strawberry

The effects of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) on the fruit yield, growth and nutrient element content of strawberry cv. Fern were investigated under organic growing conditions between 2006 and 2008. The experimental plot was a completely randomized design with 3 replicates. Three PGPB strains (Pseudomonas BA-8, Bacillus OSU-142 and Bacillus M-3) were used alone or in combination as bio-fertilizer agent in the experiment. Data through 3 years showed that the use of PGPB significantly increased fruit yield, plant growth and leaf P and Zn contents. Root inoculation of M3 and floral and foliar spraying of OSU-142 and BA-8 bacteria stimulated plant growth resulting in significant yield increases. M3 + BA-8, BA-8 + OSU-142, M3, M3 + OSU-142 and BA-8 applications increased cumulative yield by 33.2%, 18.4%, 18.2%, 15.3% and 10.5%, respectively. Number of fruits per plant significantly increased by the applications of M3 + BA-8 (91.73) and M3 (81.58) compared with the control (68.66). In addition, P and Zn contents of strawberry leaves with bacterial inoculation significantly increased under organic growing conditions. Available P contents in soil were increased from 0.35 kg P₂O₅/da at the beginning of the study to 2.00, 1.97 and 1.82 kg P₂O₅/da by M3 + OSU-142, M3 + BA-8 and M3 + BA-8 + OSU-142 applications, respectively. Overall, the results of this study suggest that root inoculation of Bacillus M3 alone or in combination with spraying Bacillus OSU-142 or Pseudomonas BA-8 have the potential to increase the yield, growth and nutrition content of strawberry plant under organic growing conditions.     

Quantifying the effects of nitrogen on fruit growth and yield of cucumber crop in greenhouses

Nitrogen supply can improve crop growth and yield. An over-use of nitrogen fertilizer in greenhouse crop productions, however, causes many environmental problems. The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of nitrogen on fruit growth and yield so as to facilitate the optimization of nitrogen management for cucumber (Cucumis sativus) crop in greenhouses. Four experiments with different levels of nitrogen treatments, substrates and planting dates on cucumber (cv. Deltastar) were conducted in greenhouses located at Shanghai during 2005 and 2007. Using data of one experiment, seasonal time courses of leaf nitrogen content (N_L), leaf area per plant (LA), and the number of fruits growing per plant (n_FG), as well as time course of the length of individual fruit growing on the plant (L_F(i)) under different levels of nitrogen supply conditions were, respectively, determined as functions of a photo-thermal index (PTI). The impact of N_L on LA was determined by curve fitting to the experimental data. The source/sink ratio (LA/n_FG), an indicative of the source size per fruit, was then derived from the seasonal time courses of LA and n_FG. The impact of N_L on L_F(i) was indirectly quantified by the relationship between source/sink ratio (LA/n_FG) and the elongation rate of individual fruit (R_FL(i)). Both the harvest date and fresh weight (W_F(i)) of individual fruit growing at different node, and number of harvested fruits (n_FH) were then calculated as functions of the fruit length. These quantitative relationships were assembled to form a model for predicting the effects of nitrogen on fruit growth and yield (fruit fresh weight per plant). Independent data from other experiments were used to validate the model. Our model gives satisfactory predictions of cucumber fruit growth and yield under different levels of nitrogen supply and growing season conditions. The coefficient of determination (r²) and the relative root mean squared error (rRMSE) between the predicted and measured values are, respectively, 0.92 and 0.22 (r², rRMSE) for leaf area per plant, 0.90 and 0.24 for the number of fruits growing on the plant, 0.91 and 0.22, 0.90 and 0.23, and 0.92 and 0.21, respectively, for the length, harvest date and fresh weight of individual fruit growing on the plant, 0.94 and 0.20 for yield. The model may be used for the optimization of nitrogen management for cucumber production in greenhouses. Further model calibration and test would be needed when applying this model to a wider range of conditions.     

Improving the fruit yield and quality of cucumber by grafting onto the salt tolerant rootstock under NaCl stress

To investigate the feasibility of using salt tolerant rootstock to increase fruit yield and quality of cucumber under NaCl stress, a greenhouse experiment was carried out to determine fruit yield, leaf relative water content, fruit quality, and mineral composition of cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Jinchun No. 2), either self-grafted or grafted onto the commercial salt tolerant rootstock Figleaf Gourd (Cucurbita ficifolia Bouche) and Chaofeng Kangshengwang (Lagenaria siceraria Standl). Plants were grown in a substrate culture (peat:vermiculite:perlite = 1:1:1, v/v) and irrigated with half-strength Hoagland solutions containing 0, 30, or 60 mM NaCl. The results showed that salinity significantly reduced fruit yield of cucumber owing to a decrease both in mean fruit weight and fruit number. Rootstock had no significant effect on leaf relative water content. Plants grafted onto Figleaf Gourd and Chaofeng Kangshengwang had higher fruit number, marketable and total fruit yield than those of self-grafted plants under 0, 30, and 60 mM NaCl, which could be attributed to, at least in part, the higher K⁺ but lower Na⁺ and/or Cl⁻ contents in the leaves. Salinity improved fruit quality by increasing fruit dry matter, soluble sugar, and titratable acidity contents of all the plants, but had no significant effect on vitamin C content. In comparison to the self-grafted plants, plants grafted onto Figleaf Gourd and Chaofeng Kangshengwang had an overall improved fruit quality under NaCl stress owing to an increase in contents of soluble sugar, titratable acidity, and vitamin C, and a decrease in the percentage of non-marketable fruit and Na⁺ and/or Cl⁻ contents of fruits in comparison to the self-grafted plants, mainly under 60 mM NaCl. Overall, it is suggested that the use of salt tolerant rootstock could provide a useful tool to improve fruit yield and quality of cucumber under NaCl stress.     

Effects of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on yield,growth and nutrient contents in organically growing raspberry

During 2003 and 2005, plant growth promoting effects of two Bacillus strains OSU-142 (N₂-fixing) and M3 (N₂-fixing and phosphate solubilizing) were tested alone or in combinations on organically grown primocane fruiting raspberry (cv. Heritage) plants in terms of yield, growth, nutrient composition of leaves and variation of soil nutrient element composition in the province of Erzurum, Turkey. The results showed that Bacillus M3 treatment stimulated plant growth and resulted in significant yield increase. Inoculation of raspberry plant roots and rhizosphere with M3 and/or OSU-142 + M3, significantly increased yield (33.9% and 74.9%), cane length (13.6% and 15.0%), number of cluster per cane (25.4% and 28.7%) and number of berries per cane (25.1% and 36.0%) compared with the control, respectively. In addition, N, P and Ca contents of raspberry leaves with OSU-142 + M3 treatment, and Fe and Mn contents of the leaves of raspberry with M3 and OSU-142 + M3 applications significantly improved under organic growing conditions. Bacterial applications also significantly effected soil total N, available P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn contents and pH. Available P contents in soil was determined to be increased from 1.55 kg P₂O₅/da at the beginning of the study to 2.83 kg P₂O₅/da by OSU-142, to 5.36 kg P₂O₅/da by M3 and to 4.71 kg P₂O₅/da by OSU-142 + M3 treatments. The results of this study suggest that Bacillus M3 alone or in combination with Bacillus OSU-142 have the potential to increase the yield, growth and nutrition of raspberry plant under organic growing conditions.     

灌水量对温室自根与嫁接黄瓜根系分布及水分利用效率的影响

 为探求黄瓜适宜的节水灌溉方式,以温室栽培的黄瓜自根苗和嫁接苗为试验材料,设定每次灌水150、300和450 m³ · hm^-2的不同灌水量,研究灌水量对黄瓜根系分布、商品瓜产量和水分利用效率的影响。结果表明,与常规灌水量对照（每次450 m³ · hm^-2）相比,适度减少灌水量,在多数情况下不会显著影响黄瓜根系生长、垂直分布与水分利用,每次150 m³· hm^-2的灌水量对自根与嫁接黄瓜的产量无显著影响,水分利用效率显著提高。每次150 m³ · hm^-2灌水量下,嫁接黄瓜的根系旺盛且粗壮,同时诱发了大量毛细根向土壤深层分布,使其产量显著高于自根黄瓜,因此在减量灌溉条件下,嫁接具有良好的促根节水丰产的效果。     

Effects of oxygen-enriched nutrient solution on greenhouse cucumber and pepper production

A series of experiments were conducted with greenhouse cucumber and pepper plants to determine the effects of oxygen enrichment of the irrigation water on yield and fruit shelf-life. The experiments were carried out in soilless culture in research greenhouses. Depending on the experiment, treatments included sub-ambient (2 mg L⁻¹), ambient (5–6 mg L⁻¹), medium (16 mg L⁻¹) and high (30–40 mg L⁻¹) levels of oxygen in the supply tank. Cucumber plants were grown in yellow cedar sawdust and pepper plants in either sawdust or perlite. Oxygen enrichment resulted in a promotion of cucumber yield in only one experiment; in two other experiments, none of the oxygen treatments, including those at sub-ambient levels, had an effect. There were no effects of oxygen enrichment on pepper yield. However, in both cucumber and pepper, fruit shelf-life was extended in oxygen-enriched treatments. In terms of system efficacy, oxygen levels in the irrigation water were measured at the dripper and found to decrease by 20–67% of initial values compared to the supply tank values, depending on the initial oxygen concentration and on the experiment. Oxygen concentrations decreased even further to virtually ambient levels when measured in the drain water or in the substrate reservoir. Cucumber plant growth was promoted under conditions which facilitated consistently high oxygen in the root zone, achieved through heavy irrigation (1 min in two) with oxygen-enriched nutrient solution of plants grown in saturated substrate (pumice). However, those extreme irrigation rates would not be practical for commercial cucumber or pepper production. Overall, this study demonstrates that oxygen enrichment of porous substrates under typical hydroponic conditions is difficult and possibly because of this, effects on yield are infrequent. However, fruit shelf-life may be improved.     

Biocompatibility of sweetpotato and peanut in a hydroponic system

'Georgia Red' peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and TU-82-155 sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] were grown in monocultured or intercropped recirculating hydroponic systems in a greenhouse using the nutrient film technique (NFT). The objective was to determine whether growth and subsequent yield would be affected by intercropping. Treatments were sweetpotato monoculture (SP), peanut monoculture (PN), and sweetpotato and peanut grown in separate NFT channels but sharing a common nutrient solution (SP-PN). Greenhouse conditions ranged from 24 to 33 degrees C, 60% to 90% relative humidity (RH), and photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) of 200 to 1700 micromoles m-2 s-1. Sweetpotato cuttings (15 cm long) and 14-day-old seedlings of peanuts were planted into growth channels (0.15 x 0.15 x 1.2 m). Plants were spaced 25 cm apart within and 25 cm apart between growing channels. A modified half-Hoagland solution with a 1 N: 2.4 K ratio was used. Solution pH was maintained between 5.5 and 6.0 for treatments involving SP and 6.4 and 6.7 for PN. Electrical conductivity (EC) ranged between 1100 and 1200 microS cm-1. The number of storage roots per sweetpotato plant was similar for both SP and SP-PN. Storage root fresh and dry mass were 29% and 36% greater, respectively, for plants in the SP-PN treatment than for plants in the SP treatment. The percent dry mass of the storage roots, dry mass of fibrous and pencil roots, and the length-to-diameter ratio of storage roots were similar for SP and SP-PN sweetpotato plants. Likewise, foliage fresh and dry mass and harvest index were not significantly influenced by treatment. Total dry mass was 37% greater for PN than for SP-PN peanut plants, and pod dry mass was 82% higher. Mature and total seed dry mass and fibrous root dry mass were significantly greater for PN than for SP-PN plants. Harvest index (HI) was similar for both treatments. Root length tended to be lower for seedlings grown in the nutrient solution from the SP-PN treatment.     

Gas exchange and antioxidant response of sweet pepper to foliar urea spray as affected by ambient temperature

This paper analyses the effect of different air temperatures (10, 20 and 30 °C) on the response of sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Herminio) to foliar urea applications after growing plants for 20 day with and without nitrogen (N) applied to the growing substrate. Leaf CO₂ assimilation, chlorophyll fluorescence, root respiration, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzymes were analysed. Spraying plants with urea increased leaf CO₂ assimilation of N-deficient plants when applied at 20 or 30 °C, compared with non-sprayed plants. When plants were sprayed with urea at 10 °C chlorophyll fluorescence of leaves was similar to that of plants that were supplied with full N in the nutrient solution. Root respiration was not affected by urea sprays whilst leaf NO₃⁻ concentration was increased by urea but only when it was sprayed at 10 or 20 °C. Lipid peroxidation and ascorbate peroxidase in N-deficient plants were reduced significantly by urea sprays, especially when plants were sprayed at 20 °C with N-limitation in the growing substrate. This study shows that N-limitation in the growing substrate induces a temperature-dependant increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes in leaves of pepper and applications of foliar urea can be optimised, when applied at the appropriate temperature, to partly replace the N supplied to the roots of sweet pepper.     

Rhizobacteria as bioenhancer and biofertilizer for growth and yield of banana (Musa spp. cv. ‘Berangan’)

Banana, an important fruit crop, requires high amounts of fertilizers for commercial cultivation, which is costly and can be hazardous to the environment when used excessively. Inoculations of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been shown to produce beneficial effects through growth stimulation in legumes and cereals, and an attempt has been made to use rhizobacteria in bananas. Three experiments were conducted to observe the effects of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) inoculation on root stimulation and colonization, nutrient absorption, growth and yield of bananas (Musa spp. cv. ‘Berangan’, AA type). The results showed that inoculation together with 33% N improved the bioenhancing activity by increasing root and shoot growth, and photosynthetic rate. The PGPR inoculation with 33% N-fertilizer also increased the Ca uptake capacity resulting in higher Ca concentration in root, corm and pulp but increased the Mg concentration in the root only. In addition, the total accumulation of nutrients was heavily influenced by PGPR inoculation due to enhanced root proliferation. The PGPR inoculation greatly increased the bunch yield (35–51%). The strains Sp7 and UPMB10 were evaluated for their N₂ fixing capacities in association with banana roots by ¹⁵N isotopic dilution technique and acetylene reduction assay (ARA). The results conclusively showed that roots of PGPR-inoculated plants fixed N₂ and produced higher ARA values and inoculated plants together with the least N-fertilizer supply showed the highest amount of nitrogen derived from atmosphere (Ndfa). The findings from the above studies demonstrated that PGPR strains (Sp7 and UPMB 10) inoculation with minimal N-fertilizer supply are effective as a bioenhancer for increasing plant growth, nutrient uptake and yield of bananas.     

Methylene blue increases the tolerance of tomato plants to abiotic stresses

Summary

Environmental stresses such as high temperature and high salinity are known to cause oxidative stress in plants by enhancing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which have a strong impact on plant development. Mitochondria constitute one of the major sources of ROS in roots. Recently, it has been shown in mammalian systems that methylene blue (MB) at very low concentrations can attenuate mitochondrial ageing by scavenging ROS. In the present study, we tested whether MB could be used to protect tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) seedlings against the harmful effects of high salinity and high root temperature. Tomato seedlings were grown hydroponically and were subjected to two abiotic stresses: high salinity (150 mM NaCl) in the nutrient medium, or high root temperature (35ºC) for 14 d. These stress treatments were applied with or without the addition of 10^–8 M MB. The results showed that, under normal conditions, MB enhanced root and shoot growth, increased root respiration, decreased root H₂O₂ and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, and enhanced root superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Both high salinity and high root temperature stress impaired root and shoot growth, and caused an enhancement of root oxidative stress. MB had a significant protective effect against both abiotic stresses and restored the levels of oxidative stress-related components (i.e., H₂O₂ and MDA) in root and leaf tissues almost to normal levels. It is hypothesised that MB could confer its protective effect not only through interactions with root mitochondria, but also via additional cellular targets in the root.     

Influence of Different Soilless Substrates to Morpho-physiological Characteristics and Yield Relations in Strawberries

Some of the advantages of soilless production systems over conventional systems are higher yield, better pest control management and more efficient labor use. Among berries, strawberry responds quite well to soilless production systems. Major yield-affecting factors for strawberries in soilless systems may be listed as; growing medium, source and types of plantlets, density of plants and efficiency of fertigation system. The present research was conducted with strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa ‘Camarosa’) grown in four different media; (1) Cocopeat (C), (2) Peat (P) and (3 and 4) 1:1 mixtures with Pumice (Pu), to evaluate the effects of soilless media on marketable yield and root-shoot morpho-physiological parameters. Correlation measurements were made to assess if there is any interaction between yield and any tested morpho-physiological feature. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse, using frigo plantlets (11.6 plantlet/m²) planted in July and through 1 June of following year. Results showed that growth medium had an effect on yield, numbers of developed leaves, shoot-root dry mass, number and length of roots. Yield was correlated with these morphological features. Growth medium also had an influence on plant nutrient accumulations i.?e., shoot accumulation of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) and root accumulation of phosphorus (P) and all the micro-nutrients that with exception of boron (B). There were some interactions between yield and plant nutrient content of tissues determined by correlation analyses. The most striking were negative correlations with yield and shoot N–K amounts and positive correlation with yield and root P amount. Some positive correlations were also found between yield and copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) contents of both shoot and root tissues. Boron (B) contents was correlated only with the root tissues. The medium which had the best overall performance for soilless strawberry production was C?+?Pu and should be recommended to be used with frigo plantlets of ‘Camarosa’.