Risk assessment of frost damage to sugar beet simulated under cold and semi-arid environments

The influence of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR24), applied to leaves at a concentration of 5 μM, on plant physio-biochemistry and its reflection on crop water productivity (CWP) and other agronomic traits of six maize hybrids was field-evaluated under semi-arid conditions. Two levels of irrigation water deficiency (IWD) (moderate and severe droughts; 6000 and 3000 m3 water ha−1, respectively) were applied versus a control (well-watering; 9000 m3 water ha−1). IWD reduced the relative water content, membrane stability index, photosynthetic efficiency, stomatal conductance, and rates of transpiration and net photosynthesis. Conversely, antioxidant enzyme activities and osmolyte contents were significantly increased as a result of the increased malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage compared to the control. These negative influences of IWD led to a reduction in CWP and grain yield-related traits. However, EBR24 detoxified the IWD stress effects and enhanced all the above-mentioned parameters. The evaluated hybrids varied in drought tolerance; Giza-168 was the best under moderate drought, while Fine-276 was the best under severe drought. Under IWD, certain physiological traits exhibited a highly positive association with yield and yield-contributing traits or CWP. Thus, exogenously using EBR24 for these hybrids could be an effective approach to improve plant and water productivity under reduced available water in semi-arid environments.

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Mapping of soil degradation in semi-arid environments in the Ouarzazate basin in the south of the Central High Atlas, Morocco, using Sentinel 2 A data

Remote Sensing Applications Society and Environment ◽

10.1016/j.rsase.2021.100548 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 100548

Author(s):

Abdelouhed Farah ◽

Ahmed. Algouti ◽

Abdellah. Algouti ◽

Mohammed. Ifkirne ◽

Aboubakr Ezziyani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Degradation ◽

Arid Environments ◽

The South ◽

High Atlas ◽

Central High ◽

Semi Arid ◽

Central High Atlas ◽

Sentinel 2

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Changing perceptions of the effect of plant phenolics on nutrient supply in the ruminant

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9960829 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 47 (6) ◽

pp. 829 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

JB Lowry ◽

CS McSweeney ◽

B Palmer

Keyword(s):

Phenolic Compounds ◽

Acute Toxicity ◽

Protein Interactions ◽

Nutrient Supply ◽

Arid Environments ◽

Plant Phenolics ◽

Ruminant Nutrition ◽

Forage Plants ◽

Hydrolysable Tannins ◽

Semi Arid

Mammalian metabolism of plant phenolics, initially studied in monogastric animals, gave an emphasis to their toxic and antinutrient effects. Subsequent studies in tropical ruminants and wild herbivores have highlighted the high levels than can occur in some diets and the extensive microbial modification and degradation that can occur in the tract. This paper reviews aspects of plant phenolics as they relate to ruminant nutrition in tropical or semi-arid environments in which some forage plants contain high levels of phenolic compounds. Effects range from occasional acute toxicity of hydrolysable tannins, to acetate-releasing microbial degradations that apparently enable certain phenolics to act as nutrients. The most important and complex effects are those due to tannin-protein interactions. Although these can clearly reduce feed intake, nutrient digestibilities, and protein availability, many of the interactions are still not understood. The diverse effects of plant phenolics on nutrient flow probably result from the balance between adverse effects on some organisms and the rate at which they are degraded or inactivated by other organisms, and improved animal performance can likely be obtained by manipulation of rumen microbial metabolism.

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