Effects of foliar spray of two kinds of zinc oxide on the growth and ion concentration of sunflower cultivars under salt stress

This study investigated the effects of foliar application of normal and nano-sized zinc oxide on the response of sunflower cultivars to salinity. Treatments included five cultivars (‘Alstar’, ‘Olsion’, ‘Yourflor’, ‘Hysun36’ and ‘Hysun33’), two salinity levels [0 and 100 mM sodium chloride (NaCl)], and three levels of fertilizer application. Fertilizer treatments were the foliar application of normal and nano-sized zinc oxide (ZnO). Foliar application of ZnO in either forms increased leaf area, shoot dry weight, net carbon dioxide (CO₂) assimilation rate (A), sub-stomatal CO₂ concentration (Ci), chlorophyll content, Fv/Fm, and Zn content and decreased Na content in leaves. The extent of increase in chlorophyll content, Fv/Fm and shoot weight was greater as nano-sized ZnO was applied to the normal form. The results show that the nano-sized particles of ZnO compared to normal form has greater effect on biomass production of sunflower plants.     

Silicon modulates the activity of antioxidant enzymes and nitrogen compounds in sunflower plants under salt stress

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an important oilseed crop with clear sensibility to salt stress. In this study, we evaluated silicon (Si) effect on the nitrogen metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activity in sunflower plants subjected to salinity. A 4 × 4 factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design with four replicates was used, consisting of four concentrations of Si (0.0; 1.0; 1.5; and 2.0 mM) and four concentrations of NaCl (0; 50; 100; and 150 mM) in the nutrient solution. The salinity reduced the nitrate content, but the increasing Si concentration in the medium improved the nitrate uptake, leading this ion to accumulate in salt-stressed plants, particularly in the roots. The nitrate reductase activity and the proline and soluble N-amino contents were also significantly increased by Si in salt conditions. The salinity increased electrolyte leakage and reduced the activity of enzymes superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and catalase in sunflower plants, but these decreases were reversed by Si at 2 mM, thus alleviating the effects of salinity on these variables. We conclude that Si is able to positively modulate nitrogen metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activities in sunflower plants in order to alleviate the harmful effects of salinity.     

Effect of indigenous mycorrhizal colonization on phosphorus‐acquisition efficiency in soybean and sunflower

Despite a general consent about the beneficial contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on natural ecosystems, there is an intense debate about their role in agricultural systems. In this work, soybean (Glycine max L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) field plots with different P availabilities were sampled across the Pampean Region of Argentina (> 150 samples from Mollisols) to characterize the relationship between available soil P and indigenous mycorrhizal colonization. A subsequent pot experiment with soybean and sunflower was carried out to evaluate the effect of P supply (0, 12, and 52 mg P kg^–1) and AMF inoculation on AMF colonization and crop responsiveness to P in a Mollisol. Both crops showed high AMF colonization in the field (average: 55% for soybean and 44% for sunflower). While mycorrhizal colonization in soybean was significantly and negatively related to available soil P, no such trends were apparent in sunflower. Also, total biomass was 3.5 and 2.0 times higher in mycorrhizal than in nonmycorrhizal pot‐grown soybean under low‐ and medium‐P conditions, respectively. Sunflower, on the other hand, did not benefit from AMF symbiosis under medium and high P supply. While mycorrhization stimulated P‐uptake efficiency in soybean, the generally high P efficiency in sunflower was not associated with AMF symbiosis.     

Adaptation of Medicago sativa cv. Gabès to long‐term NaCl stress

The perennial Medicago sativa cv. Gabès is widely grown on saline soils in Tunisian oases. The mechanisms by which this NaCl‐tolerant cultivar maintains a positive growth balance were analyzed. In this plant of considerable agronomic interest, biochemical analyses were conducted in order to study the effects of salinity on mature leaves. Free‐radical detoxification mechanisms and changes induced by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to the NaCl stress were compared between the upper (young) and lower (old) carbohydrate source leaves. Long‐term NaCl (150 mM) treatment significantly reduced the size of source leaves supporting growth. Salinity damage was greater in the lower than in the upper leaves. This damage was associated with a high Na⁺ : K⁺ ratio and a decrease in the activity of H₂O₂‐scavenging enzymes, leading to lipid peroxidation. In lower source leaves that were mainly affected by ionic stress, superoxide dismutase (SOD) was overexpressed and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) activity increased. In contrast, in upper source leaves that were mainly exposed to water deficit, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities increased whereas GPX activity was unchanged. The upper source leaves maintained adequate ionic and water status and an efficient ROS detoxification, allowing sinks to be supplied with photoassimilates and maintaining a positive growth balance in this cultivar of alfalfa.     

The role of antioxidative metabolism of tomato leaves in long‐term salt‐stress response

The antioxidative protection system as adaptation strategy to high soil salinity in the leaves of two tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) hybrids (Buran F1 and Berberana F1) was investigated. Changes in the activity of superoxide‐dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), as well as total and oxidized ascorbate concentrations (AA and DHA) in the plant leaves subjected to three salinity levels (EC 3.80 dS m⁻¹, 6.95 dS m⁻¹, and 9.12 dS m⁻¹) relative to non‐saline control were analyzed during the fruiting phase. The obtained results clearly indicate a relation between SOD activity and AA concentration in the antioxidative protection without any peroxidase‐related H₂O₂ detoxification. Increased SOD activity accompanied by high AA concentration was noticed at all salinity levels, but the response of hybrids was specific for the particular salt concentration. The first salinity level (EC 3.80 dS m⁻¹) induced the highest level of AA in the Buran F1 (70%), while in Berberana F1 hybrid leaves the highest AA concentration (64%) was noticed at the third salinity level (9.12 dS m⁻¹). All salinity levels caused a decline in POD and APX activities in both hybrids. The possibility of a predominant role of ascorbate and SOD in the antioxidative protection of mature tomato leaves under long‐term salt stress is discussed.     

Nutrient responses and glutamate and proline metabolism in sunflower plants and calli under Na2SO4 stress

The growth of Helianthus annuus L. calli and plants was reduced in the presence of Na₂SO₄ (10, 25, 50, and 100 mM). SO₄^2— and Na concentrations increased in stressed calli and plants while NO₃^—, Cl^—, P, K, and Mg decreased in stressed plants and Ca in shoots. Stressed calli showed decreases of NO₃^—, Ca, K, and Mg concentrations. Calli adapted to 50 mM Na₂SO₄ accumulated more K and Ca and less ammonium than stressed non‐adapted calli. Proline exhibited increases in stressed calli and plants that were accompanied by decreases of proline oxidase activities while pyrroline‐5‐carboxylate reductase (P5CR) and ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) activities increased. Adapted calli accumulated more proline and had higher P5CR and OAT activities than stressed non‐adapted calli. Glutamate concentration decreased with stress, together with a stimulation of cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GS1) and a decrease of plastidal GS (GS2) activity. These data strongly suggest that the increase of P5CR and GS1 activities are responsible for the decrease of glutamate concentration leading, together with the stimulation of OAT and the inhibition of the proline oxidation metabolism, to an increase of proline levels in Na₂SO₄‐stressed sunflower cells. These data also show that salt stress increases the release of endogenous ammonium and suggests that the increase of GS1 activity plays an important role in its elimination.     

Physiological and growth responses of two different salt-sensitive cucumber cultivars to NaCl stress

Abstract

The effect of NaCl stress on the growth, membrane permeability, anti-oxidant enzyme activities and ion content of cucumber seedlings was investigated. Two cultivars (Jinchun No. 2, a relatively salt-sensitive cultivar, and Zaoduojia, a relatively salt-tolerant cultivar) of cucumber were used. Shoot and root dry weights, plant height, stem diameter, leaf area and leaf number of both cultivars decreased when NaCl concentrations increased. The decreases in shoot and root dry weights and leaf area were more significant in Jinchun No. 2 than in Zaoduojia. Meanwhile, the salt injury index, the membrane permeability, malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities of both cultivars increased significantly with salt stress, and the increases in the salt injury index and MDA were higher in Jinchun No. 2 than in Zaoduojia, whereas the increase in POD activity was lower in Jinchun No. 2 than in Zaoduojia. Free proline content of Zaoduojia increased markedly with increasing concentrations of NaCl, whereas the content of Jinchun No. 2 was unaffected by salt stress. In addition, the contents of Na⁺ in the leaf, stem and root of both cultivars increased significantly, whereas the contents of K⁺ decreased significantly, resulting in an increase in the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio when NaCl concentrations increased. These results suggest that Zaoduojia exhibits a better protection mechanism against oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation by maintaining higher proline content and POD activity than the salt-sensitive Jinchun No. 2 cultivar.     

Effects of fertilizer type and rate on labile soil fractions of a sandy Cambisol—long‐term and short‐term dynamics

The application of density fractionation is an established technique, but studies on short‐term dynamics of labile soil fractions are scarce. Objectives were (1) to quantify the long‐term and short‐term dynamics of soil C and N in light fraction (LFOC, LFON, ρ ≤ 2.0 g cm^–3) and microbial biomass C (C_mic) in a sandy Cambisol as affected by 28 y of different fertilization and (2) to determine the incorporation of C₄‐C into these labile fractions during one growing season of amaranth. The treatments were: straw incorporation plus application of mineral fertilizer (MSI) and application of farmyard manure (FYM) each at high (MSI_H, FYM_H, 140–150 kg N ha^–1 y^–1) and low (MSI_L, FYM_L, 50–60 kg N ha^–1 y^–1) rates at four field replicates. For all three sampling dates in 2008 (March, May, and September), stocks of LFOC, LFON and C_mic decreased in the order FYM_H > FYM_L > MSI_H, MSI_L. However, statistical significance varied markedly among the sampling dates, e.g., with LFOC being significantly different (p ≤ 0.05) in the order given above (sampling date in March), significantly different depending on the fertilizer type (May), or nonsignificant (September). The high proportion of LFOC on the stocks of soil organic C (45% to 55%) indicated the low capacity of soil‐organic‐matter stabilization on mineral surfaces in the sandy Cambisol. The incorporation of C₄‐C in the LFOC during one growing season of amaranth was small in all four treatments with C₄‐LFOC ranging from 2.1% to 3.0% of total LFOC in March 2009, and apparent turnover times of C₃‐derived LFOC ranged from 21 to 32 y for the sandy soils studied. Overall, our study indicates that stocks of LFOC and LFON in a sandy arable soil are temporarily too variable to obtain robust significant treatment effects of fertilizer type and rate at common agricultural practices within a season, despite the use of bulked six individual cores per plot, a common number of field replicates of four, and a length of treatments (28 y) in the order of the turnover time (21–32 y) of C₃‐derived LFOC.     

Growth and photosynthesis of salt‐stressed sunflower (Helianthus annuus) plants as affected by foliar‐applied different potassium salts

In order to assess the effectiveness of foliar‐applied potassium (K⁺, 1.25%) using different salts (KCl, KOH, K₂CO₃, KNO₃, KH₂PO₄, and K₂SO₄) in ameliorating the inhibitory effect of salt stress on sunflower plants, a greenhouse experiment was conducted. Sodium chloride (150 mM) was applied through the rooting medium to 18 d–old plants and after 1 week of salt treatment; different K⁺‐containing salts were applied twice in 1‐week interval as a foliar spray. Salt stress adversely affected the growth, yield components, gas exchange, and water relations, and also caused nutrient imbalance in sunflower plants. However, foliar‐applied different sources of potassium improved shoot and root fresh and shoot dry weights, achene yield, 100‐achene weight, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, water‐use efficiency, relative water content, and leaf and root K⁺ concentrations of sunflower plants grown under saline conditions. Under nonsaline conditions, improvement in shoot fresh weight, achene yield, 100‐achene weight, photosynthetic and transpiration rates, and root Na⁺ concentration was observed due to foliar‐applied different K sources. Of the different salts, K₂SO₄, KH₂PO₄, KNO₃, and K₂CO₃ were more effective than KCl and KOH in improving growth and some key physiological processes of sunflower plants.     

Decline in leaf growth under salt stress is due to an inhibition of H+‐pumping activity and increase in apoplastic pH of maize leaves

In this study, salt‐induced changes in the growth rate of maize (Zea mays L.) were investigated during the first phase of salt stress. Leaf growth was reduced in the presence of 100 mM NaCl, and effects were more pronounced for the salt‐sensitive cv. Pioneer 3906 in comparison to the hybrid SR03. While hydrolytic activity of plasma membrane remained unaffected, H⁺‐pumping activity was reduced by 47% in Pioneer 3906, but was unchanged in SR03. Changes in apoplastic pH were detected by ratiometric fluorescence microscopy using the fluorescent dye fluorescein isothiocyanate‐dextran (50 mM). Pioneer 3906 responded with an increase of 0.2 pH units in contrast to SR03 for which no apoplastic alkalization was found. With respect to the hypothesis that the apoplastic pH is influenced by salinity, it is suggested that salt resistance is partly achieved due to efficient H⁺‐ATPase proton pumping, which results in cell‐wall acidification and loosening.     

Differential response of short‐ and long‐duration cassava cultivars to applied mineral nitrogen

The differential response of two contrasting cassava cultivars to different rates of soil‐applied nitrogen (N) on the number of tuberous roots, harvest index, yield, nitrogen uptake, and fertilizer‐nitrogen‐use efficiency was studied over a period of 2 years on a typic Plinthustults in Kerala state in Southern India. The experiment was laid out in a split‐plot design with two popular cultivars of cassava, namely Sree Vijaya (6 months) and M‐4 (10 months) in the main plots, and eight urea‐N rates (0, 12.5, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha^–1) in subplots. Half of the N was applied at the time of planting and the other half 60 d later. The study revealed significant differences between the two cultivars regarding their response to fertilizer‐N application. The tuberous‐root yield of the short‐duration cultivar Sree Vijaya increased significantly up to 100 kg N ha^–1 whereas the yield of the long‐duration cultivar M‐4 increased significantly only up to 50 kg N ha^–1 rate. Also the N‐use‐efficiency parameters (i.e., agronomic, recovery, and physiological efficiencies) were higher in Sree Vijaya than in M‐4 but declined at N rates beyond 100 kg ha^–1. The more efficient N use in the short‐duration cultivar was associated with a higher N uptake and a more efficient internal use.     

Potassium–sodium interactions in soil and plant under saline‐sodic conditions

About 7% of the total land around the globe is salt‐affected causing a great loss to agriculture. Salt stress refers to the excessive amount of soluble salts in the root zone which induce osmotic stress and ion toxicity in the growing plant. Among toxic ions, sodium (Na⁺) has the most adverse effects on plant growth by its detrimental influence on plant metabolism in inhibiting enzyme activities. An optimal potassium (K⁺) : Na⁺ ratio is vital to activate enzymatic reactions in the cytoplasm necessary for maintenance of plant growth and yield development. Although most soils have adequate amounts of K⁺, in many soils available K⁺ has become insufficient because of large amounts of K⁺ removal by high‐yielding crops. This problem is exacerbated under sodic or saline‐sodic soil conditions as a consequence of K⁺‐Na⁺ antagonism. Here K⁺ uptake by plants is severely affected by the presence of Na⁺ in the nutrient medium. Due to its similar physicochemical properties, Na⁺ competes with K⁺ in plant uptake specifically through high‐affinity potassium transporters (HKTs) and nonselective cation channels (NSCCs). Membrane depolarization caused by Na⁺ makes it difficult for K⁺ to be taken up by K⁺ inward‐rectifying channels (KIRs) and increases K⁺ leakage from the cell by activating potassium outward‐rectifying channels (KORs). Minimizing Na⁺ uptake and preventing K⁺ losses from the cell may help to maintain a K⁺ : Na⁺ ratio optimum for plant metabolism in the cytoplasm under salt‐stress conditions. It would seem a reasonable assumption therefore that an increase in the concentration of K⁺ in salt‐affected soils may support enhanced K⁺ uptake and reduce Na⁺ influx via HKTs and NCCSs. Although very useful information is available regarding K⁺‐Na⁺ homeostasis indicating their antagonistic effect in plants, current knowledge in applied research is still inadequate to recommend application of potassium fertilizers to alleviate Na⁺ stress in plants under sodic and saline‐sodic conditions. Nevertheless some encouraging results regarding alleviation of Na⁺ stress by potassium fertilization provide the motivation for conducting further studies to improve our understanding and perspectives for potassium fertilization in sodic and saline‐sodic environments.     

Use of GGEbiplot methodology and Griffing's diallel method for genetic analysis of partial resistance to phoma black stem disease in sunflower

Abstract

The objectives of the present study were to estimate the general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) for partial resistance to phoma black stem and to identify the most promising combination for the selection of improved breeding lines. The response of five parental genotypes and their F1 hybrids to a phoma black stem isolate (MA6) were evaluated in a diallel programme under controlled growth chamber conditions. Significant GCA and SCA indicate that both additive and non-additive gene effects contributed in the inheritance of partial resistance to phoma black stem, however, the Baker ratio showed that the additive genetic effects were more important than nonadditive ones. It is recommended that the GGEbiplot methodology could be an excellent tool for visualizing entry by tester (diallel) data. By using this technique to analyse black stem severity data, interaction among the sunflower genotypes in providing partial resistance to phoma black stem was clearly identified. Based on GGEbiplot presentation and Griffing's diallel analysis, the mutant line ‘M6-54-1’ showed the largest GCA, indicating contribution towards partial resistance, and the genotype B454/03 presented the smallest GCA, indicating contribution towards susceptibility. Our results show that the F1 hybrids ‘SDR18×B454/03’ and ‘M6-54-1×B454/03’ showing heterosis for partial resistance to phoma black stem come from the crosses between a susceptible genotype ‘B454/03’ and two partially resistant genotypes (SDR18 and M6-54-1), originated from different breeding programmes. We conclude therefore that these genotypes possess at least some different resistance genes, which were expressed in the hybrids and led to the observed effects.     

Salt‐resistant and salt‐sensitive wheat genotypes show similar biochemical reaction at protein level in the first phase of salt stress

Salinity has a two‐phase effect on plant growth, an osmotic effect due to salts in the outside solution and ion toxicity in a second phase due to salt build‐up in transpiring leaves. To elucidate salt‐resistance mechanisms in the first phase of salt stress, we studied the biochemical reaction of salt‐resistant and salt‐sensitive wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes at protein level after 10 d exposure to 125 mM–NaCl salinity (first phase of salt stress) and the variation of salt resistance among the genotypes after 30 d exposure to 125 mM–NaCl salinity (second phase of salt stress) in solution culture experiments in a growth chamber. The three genotypes differed significantly in absolute and relative shoot and root dry weights after 30 d exposure to NaCl salinity. SARC‐1 produced the maximum and 7‐Cerros the minimum shoot dry weights under salinity relative to control. A highly significant negative correlation (r² = –0.99) was observed between salt resistance (% shoot dry weight under salinity relative to control) and shoot Na⁺ concentration of the wheat genotypes studied. However, the salt‐resistant and salt‐sensitive genotypes showed a similar biochemical reaction at the level of proteins after 10 d exposure to 125 mM NaCl. In both genotypes, the expression of more than 50% proteins was changed, but the difference between the genotypes in various categories of protein change (up‐regulated, down‐regulated, disappeared, and new‐appeared) was only 1%–8%. It is concluded that the initial biochemical reaction to salinity at protein level in wheat is an unspecific response and not a specific adaptation to salinity.     

Soil incubation study showed biogas digestate to cause higher and more variable short‐term N2O and N2 fluxes than mineral‐N

Today, a large share of mineral fertilizer is substituted by biogas digestates. Biogas digestates are known to promote N₂O production, compared to mineral fertilizer. In particular, the initial phase following fertilizer application is crucial for the N gas release as N₂O and also N₂. However, this period impact has been rarely investigated, especially not across various field sites. Thus, undisturbed soil cores from two fertilizer types (biogas digestate vs. mineral fertilizer) at five sites with different site characteristics were investigated in a short‐term laboratory experiment under N₂‐free helium–oxygen incubation atmosphere. Across sites, biogas digestate soil cores showed significantly higher absolute N₂O fluxes compared to mineral fertilizer soil cores, even though this effect was dominated by samples from one site (Dornburg with the highest biogas digestate fertilization rate). Also relative N₂O fluxes showed a similar tendency. On average, absolute and relative N₂ fluxes differed between the two fertilizer types, while N₂ fluxes were highest at the Dornburg site. A N₂O/(N₂O+N₂) ratio of denitrification below or equal to 0.5 clearly highlighted the importance of N₂O reduction to N₂ for three of five the biogas digestate soil cores. Soil characteristics like bulk density and water‐filled pore space as proxies for gas diffusivity in soil, as well as N availability ( ${\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-}$, ${\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}$), significantly affected the N₂O and N₂ fluxes from the biogas digestate soil cores. While this study presents data on short‐term N₂O and N₂ fluxes, there is a need for further studies in order to investigate the dynamics, the duration of the observed effects and their significance at the field scale.     

Effects of salinity stress on growth indices,physiological parameters and element concentration in Banebaghi (Pistacia sp.) as rootstock for pistachio

Banebaghi is considered a natural hybrid in Pistacia genus that can be used as rootstock for pistachio. In order to study the effects of salinity stress on growth indices, physiological parameters and element concentration in Banebaghi, an experiment was arranged as a factorial in completely randomized design (CRD). Factors were salinity of irrigation water (0, 60 and 120 mM of sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, respectively), growth type (mutica growth type and pistachio growth type) and stem height (stem height lower half of the plant and stem height upper half of the plant) with four replications. Our results showed that salinity reduced vegetative parameters, SPAD index, leaf relative water content (RWC) and water use efficiency (WUE). Shoot dry weight of seedlings in both heights, decreased at the salinity level of 120 mM, at about 60% compared with control. At the highest level of salinity (120 mM), seedlings with a height lower half of the plant had lower reduction in the fresh and dry weight of the root and showed more resistance to the salinity stress because of maintaining RWC of leaves and high levels of potassium and calcium in the shoot. Salinity increased sodium (Na) concentration of shoot and root in both growth types: mutica and pistachio. Seedlings with pistachio growth type and a height upper half of the plant and seedlings with mutica growth type and a height lower half of the plant had more resistance to salinity stress.     

Temporal changes in chemical properties of air‐dried stored soils and their interpretation for long‐term experiments

The usefulness of stored soils from long‐term experiments is often questioned because of changes that might occur during storage. We examined changes during long‐term storage (8–69 years) in the chemical properties of soils with a range of pH values (3.4–8.1 in water) from woodland and grassland experiments at Rothamsted Experimental Station in the UK. No significant changes during storage were measured for total C and N. Large but erratic changes in exchangeable Na⁺ content between 1959 and 1991 were probably caused by contamination of the 1959 samples by perspiration and from sodium‐based glassware. Exchangeable K⁺ increased during storage but only by a small amount. Small changes in exchangeable Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were measured in some samples but not in others. Generally the amount of exchangeable cations increased slightly during storage. This is probably linked to the decreases of 0.4 units in the pH of acid soils, which we attribute to the hydrolysis of approximately 0.25% of the exchangeable Al³⁺. A doubling of the amount of exchangeable Mn²⁺ during storage for 32 years was probably caused by re‐equilibration of Mn species. The most practicable way to prepare soil samples for long‐term storage is to dry them in air. However, those who study changes in soil by re‐analysing samples of the soil stored for a long time must (i) use the same methods of analysis, or (ii) demonstrate that different methods lead to the same results, and (iii) know what changes can arise during storage.