Does water status of Eucalyptus largiflorens (Myrtaceae) affect infection by the mistletoe Amyema miquelii (Loranthaceae)?

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 1239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony C. Miller ◽  
Jennifer R. Watling ◽  
Ian C. Overton ◽  
Russell Sinclair

The impact of soil salinity and host water status on the host / parasite association between Eucalyptus largiflorens (F.Muell.) and Amyema miquelii (Lehm. ex Miq.) Tiegh. was investigated in a semi-arid floodplain environment in southern Australia. Water status of potential hosts (i.e. uninfected E. largiflorens) was assessed at a range of sites with different soil salinities and then compared with mistletoe infection at the same sites. Pre-dawn leaf water potentials (Ψ) of uninfected E. largiflorens declined with increasing salinity, while leaf δ13C values increased. The proportion of infected E. largiflorens at each site decreased significantly with increasing soil salinity. A significant relationship was found between the proportion of infected trees at each site and leaf δ13C values, but not pre-dawn Ψ, of potential hosts. The impact of mistletoes on water status of infected trees was also investigated. Among infected trees, we found no significant relationship between mistletoe volume and either pre-dawn Ψ or leaf δ13C values of hosts. However, there was a significant relationship between host midday leaf Ψ and mistletoe volume, with hosts exhibiting increased stress as mistletoe volume increased. The data suggest that increasing water and / or salinity stress make E. largiflorens a less suitable host for A. miquelii.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcio Facundo Aragão ◽  
Luis Gonzaga Pinheiro Neto ◽  
Thales Vinícius de Araújo Viana ◽  
Juan Manzano-Juarez ◽  
Claudivan Feitosa Lacerda ◽  
...  

Abstract Deficit irrigation (DI) strategies and soil cover are highly effective to improve the the water productivity in semi-arid regions. However, the effective monitoring of plant water status under DI strategies becomes crucial. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the use of thermal images to estimate the water status of melon plants cultivated in soil with and without mulching under different irrigation regimes. The experience was carried out from October to December 2018. The study was carried out in a randomized block design, in a split plot arrangement. Plots were composed by soil cover (with and without mulching with plant material), and subplots by 5 irrigation regimes (120, 100, 80, 60 and 40% of crop evapotranspiration-ETc), with five replicates. The following variables were evaluated: canopy temperature (Tcanopy), leaf water potential (Ψleaf), air temperature (Tair), soil moisture, crop yield and the thermal index (ΔT), this being defined as the difference between Tcanopy and Tair. ΔT showed high correlations with crop yield and crop water consumption, evidencing that thermography is an efficient tool to identify the water status of melon plants and could be employed for a proper irrigation scheduling under the tropical semi-arid scenarios. Moreover, the use of thermal images also allowed the identification of beneficial effects of soil cover on leaf water status and crop yield, mainly under moderate DI. The obtained results also demonstrate that mulching is essential to increase melon yield and water productivity in tropical regions.



2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew T. Harrison ◽  
Walter M. Kelman ◽  
Andrew D. Moore ◽  
John R. Evans

To model the impact of grazing on the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), we measured photosynthesis in the field. Grazing may affect photosynthesis as a consequence of changes to leaf water status, nitrogen content per unit leaf area (Na) or photosynthetic enzyme activity. While light-saturated CO2 assimilation rates (Asat) of field-grown wheat were unchanged during grazing, Asat transiently increased by 33–68% compared with ungrazed leaves over a 2- to 4-week period after grazing ended. Grazing reduced leaf mass per unit area, increased stomatal conductance and increased intercellular CO2 concentrations (Ci) by 36–38%, 88–169% and 17–20%, respectively. Grazing did not alter Na. Using a photosynthesis model, we demonstrated that the increase in Asat after grazing required an increase in Rubisco activity of up to 53%, whereas the increase in Ci could only increase Asat by up to 13%. Increased Rubisco activity was associated with a partial alleviation of leaf water stress. We observed a 68% increase in leaf water potential of grazed plants that could be attributed to reduced leaf area index and canopy evaporative demand, as well as to increased rainfall infiltration into soil. The grazing of rain-fed grain cereals may be tailored to relieve plant water stress and enhance leaf photosynthesis.



2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 4812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mouna Aïachi Mezghani ◽  
Amel Mguidiche ◽  
Faiza Allouche Khebour ◽  
Imen Zouari ◽  
Faouzi Attia ◽  
...  

Sustainability of olive production is possible by adopting the modern techniques of irrigation and fertilization. In Tunisia, olive trees are usually cultivated in poor soils, under semi-arid conditions characterized by water scarcity. This study investigated the effects of different water supply and fertilization on leaf water status and crop yield of three different olive oil varieties cultivated in central Tunisia, during four experimental seasons (2014–2017). Three treatments were examined: trees conducted under rainfed conditions (TRF), which represented the control treatment, trees irrigated with 50% ETc (T50) and, finally, trees irrigated with 50% ETc and with additional fertilization (T50F). Leaf water content and potential, yield and water use efficiency have been monitored on three different varieties, Chetoui, Chemlali, and Koroneiki, which are quite typical in the considered region. For all the growing seasons, midday leaf water potentials were measured from April to September. Midday leaf water potentials (MLWP) were generally higher for the two irrigated treatments (T50 and T50F) than for non-irrigated trees (TRF). As the season proceeded, MLWPs tended to decrease during summer for all the treatments and varieties. The lowest values were observed for the non-irrigated trees, varying between −3.25 MPa to −4.75 MPa. Relative leaf water content followed the same trends of midday leaf water potentials. Chetoui showed the lowest yield, which did not exceed 1530 Kg/(ha year), even for irrigated and fertilized trees. On the other hand, the yields of Chemlali and Koroneiki, cumulated in the four years, reached the maximum value of about 20 tons/ha. For these two varieties, the cumulated yield obtained in the control treatment (TRF) resulted significantly lower than the corresponding of the other two treatments (T50 and T50F). The highest irrigation water use efficiency (WUE) was estimated for Chemlali (T50) and (TRF). WUE was equal to 1.22 Kg/m3 for Koroneiki under fertigated treatment (T50F). Application of the only water supply (50% ETc) or associated with fertilizer improved the tree water status and increased the productivity of Chemlali and Koroneiki varieties.



2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet Can Tunca ◽  
Ali Kerem Saysel ◽  
Masoud Babaei ◽  
Günay Erpul

<p>Soil salinity and sodicity are twin problems potentially affecting soil fertility, farmers’ livelihoods and food security. Management and control of these problems, particularly on irrigated farmlands require knowledge and expertise crafted through appropriate models and experiments. The accumulation of salts on the soil profiles may occur through natural processes (of weathering of soil minerals, saline groundwater intrusion), as well as by human actions, that are mostly related to poor agricultural and irrigation practices. While accumulation of salt in soil water impedes crop evapotranspiration, sodicity (abundance of sodium cations among others) threatens the soil structure and degrades its hydraulic qualities. These problems are more pervasive in arid and semi-arid regions, where inadequate precipitation rates compared to evapotranspiration limit leaching of salts and facilitates their accumulation in productive topsoil. Therefore, irrigation and agricultural practices are crucial in controlling these problems to avoid their undesired consequences.<br>We build a dynamic simulation model of salinization and sodification in soil layers so as to test the impact of alternative irrigation practices with respect to water quality, quantity and schedule, on soil fertility and farm yields. The model is developed based on the system dynamics methodology, providing a feedback rich understanding of hydraulic, solute, and crop processes. While the hydraulic flow is the driver of solute transport, salinity and sodicity influences the hydraulic flows through their impact on evapotranspiration and hydraulic conductivity. The crop growth and its demand for evapotranspiration at various stages of development is modeled, considering available moisture and the accumulation of salts in the rootzone. Moreover, the model investigates farmers’ response to salinity and sodicity through adoption of different irrigation practices and crop choices, so as to observe the long-term development of the problem under the conditions of adaptive management.<br>The model has a generic theoretical structure that benefits from soil physics to formulate the complex processes of hydraulic flows and solute transport. Model parameter values are selected as representative of the field conditions of Konya Plain in Turkey, which is a semi-arid region partially experiencing soil salinization problems. As a part of the research project entitled, “Soil Salinity and Sodicity Management by Sustainable Irrigation Practices in Konya Plain”, the Interdisciplinary Multi-Institutional Network, during model validation phase, we will utilize data from the soil experiments that are conducted by our research partners. These data will include, however will not be limited to the experimentally characterized porosity and hydraulic conductivity curves. Ultimately, the model will provide an experimental platform to manage and control soil salinity and sodicity under different environmental conditions and farmer responses.<br><br><strong>Keywords</strong>: Soil Salinity, Soil Sodicity, System Dynamics, Irrigation, Agriculture<br><br><strong>Acknowledgement</strong>: This work was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey [Project Number: TUBITAK-118Y343]<br> </p>



Trees ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Raimondo ◽  
Andrea Nardini ◽  
Sebastiano Salleo ◽  
Santa Olga Cacciola ◽  
Maria Assunta Lo Gullo


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4547
Author(s):  
Mohamed E. El-Sharnouby ◽  
Metwally M. Montaser ◽  
Sliai M. Abdallah

The flower industry depends on oil and fragrance, which is addressed in the current work. Different concentrations of NaCl (0, 250, 500, 1000, and 1500 ppm) were applied to Taif rose plants (Rosa damascena var. trigintipetala Dieck) to evaluate their effects on growth and essential oil content. Results clearly indicated the highest survival percentage (98.3%) was seen in untreated plants compared to plants under salinity stress. Moreover, increasing the NaCl levels induced an adverse effect on the growth parameters of Taif rose plants, while some essential oil contents were increased to the maximum degree of their tolerance to salinity stress. The extracted essential oils were analyzed using GC/MS. The essential oils of Taif rose plants treated with 500 ppm NaCl recorded the highest values of citronellol, geraniol and phenylethyl alcohol contents (16.56, 8.67 and 9.87%), respectively. NaCl at 250 ppm produced the highest values of heneicosane (13.12%), and then decreased to the lowest value (7.79%) with the increase of NaCl to 1500 NaCl, compared to the control and other NaCl levels. The current results could highlight the impact of salinity stress on Rosa damascena Miller var. trigintipetala Dieck for better economic and industrial applications.



2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amin Taheri-Garavand ◽  
Abdolhossein Rezaei Nejad ◽  
Dimitrios Fanourakis ◽  
Soodabeh Fatahi ◽  
Masoumeh Ahmadi Majd


Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 545
Author(s):  
Kumar Nishant Chourasia ◽  
Milan Kumar Lal ◽  
Rahul Kumar Tiwari ◽  
Devanshu Dev ◽  
Hemant Balasaheb Kardile ◽  
...  

Among abiotic stresses, salinity is a major global threat to agriculture, causing severe damage to crop production and productivity. Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is regarded as a future food crop by FAO to ensure food security, which is severely affected by salinity. The growth of the potato plant is inhibited under salt stress due to osmotic stress-induced ion toxicity. Salinity-mediated osmotic stress leads to physiological changes in the plant, including nutrient imbalance, impairment in detoxifying reactive oxygen species (ROS), membrane damage, and reduced photosynthetic activities. Several physiological and biochemical phenomena, such as the maintenance of plant water status, transpiration, respiration, water use efficiency, hormonal balance, leaf area, germination, and antioxidants production are adversely affected. The ROS under salinity stress leads to the increased plasma membrane permeability and extravasations of substances, which causes water imbalance and plasmolysis. However, potato plants cope with salinity mediated oxidative stress conditions by enhancing both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities. The osmoprotectants, such as proline, polyols (sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, lactitol, and maltitol), and quaternary ammonium compound (glycine betaine) are synthesized to overcome the adverse effect of salinity. The salinity response and tolerance include complex and multifaceted mechanisms that are controlled by multiple proteins and their interactions. This review aims to redraw the attention of researchers to explore the current physiological, biochemical and molecular responses and subsequently develop potential mitigation strategies against salt stress in potatoes.



Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1477
Author(s):  
Antonio Marín-Martínez ◽  
Alberto Sanz-Cobeña ◽  
Mª Angeles Bustamante ◽  
Enrique Agulló ◽  
Concepción Paredes

In semi-arid vineyard agroecosystems, highly vulnerable in the context of climate change, the soil organic matter (OM) content is crucial to the improvement of soil fertility and grape productivity. The impact of OM, from compost and animal manure, on soil properties (e.g., pH, oxidisable organic C, organic N, NH4+-N and NO3−-N), grape yield and direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in vineyards was assessed. For this purpose, two wine grape varieties were chosen and managed differently: with a rain-fed non-trellising vineyard of Monastrell, a drip-irrigated trellising vineyard of Monastrell and a drip-irrigated trellising vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon. The studied fertiliser treatments were without organic amendments (C), sheep/goat manure (SGM) and distillery organic waste compost (DC). The SGM and DC treatments were applied at a rate of 4600 kg ha−1 (fresh weight, FW) and 5000 kg ha−1 FW, respectively. The use of organic amendments improved soil fertility and grape yield, especially in the drip-irrigated trellising vineyards. Increased CO2 emissions were coincident with higher grape yields and manure application (maximum CO2 emissions = 1518 mg C-CO2 m−2 d−1). In contrast, N2O emissions, mainly produced through nitrification, were decreased in the plots showing higher grape production (minimum N2O emissions = −0.090 mg N2O-N m−2 d−1). In all plots, the CH4 fluxes were negative during most of the experiment (−1.073−0.403 mg CH4-C m−2 d−1), indicating that these ecosystems can represent a significant sink for atmospheric CH4. According to our results, the optimal vineyard management, considering soil properties, yield and GHG mitigation together, was the use of compost in a drip-irrigated trellising vineyard with the grape variety Monastrell.



Author(s):  
Ahmed Esmael ◽  
Sara Elsherbeny ◽  
Mohammed Abbas

Abstract Background Epileptiform activities can cause transient or permanent deficits that affect the children during development and may be accompanied by neurodevelopmental disorders like specific language impairment. Objectives The objective of this study was to find if there is a possible association and the impact of epilepsy and epileptiform activity in children with specific language impairment. Patients and methods The study was conducted on 80 children suffering from specific language impairment and 80 age and sex match healthy control children. Computed tomography brain was performed and electroencephalography was recorded for children. Intelligence quotient level, cognitive age, social, and phoniatric assessment were done for all patients. Results Eighty children with specific language impairment (51 males and 29 females) with a mean age of 4.11 ± 1.93. Patients with specific language impairment showed significantly higher rates of abnormal electroencephalography (P = 0.006) and epilepsy (P < 0.001) compared to the control group. Spearman correlation demonstrated a highly negative significant relationship linking the language, intelligence quotient with abnormal electroencephalography and epilepsy (r = − 0.91, P < 0.01 and r = − 0.91, P < 0.01 respectively). Also, there was a moderately inverse significant relationship linking the cognitive age, social with abnormal electroencephalography, and epilepsy (r = − 0.70, P < 0.05 and r = − 0.65, P < 0.05 respectively). Conclusion Epileptiform activities even without epilepsy in preschool children may alter normal language function. Specific language impairment was associated with lower intelligence quotient levels, social, and cognitive age. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04141332



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