A Cotton BURP Domain Protein Interacts With α-Expansin and Their Co-Expression Promotes Plant Growth and Fruit Production

Grafting onto drought tolerant rootstocks has been proposed as a useful strategy to overcome future water scarcity periods. The ‘de Ramellet’ tomato is a drought tolerant landrace selected under semiarid Mediterranean summer conditions under rain-fed or low irrigation. In this manuscript, the responses of a commercial hybrid ‘de Ramellet’ genotype grafted onto a traditional ‘de Ramellet’ (RL) and a commercial Maxifort (Mx) tomato rootstocks under commercial greenhouse conditions are studied. Non-grafted (NON) and self-grafted (SELF) plants were used as controls. Two water regimes were established: well-watered (WW, covering plant water demands) and water deficit (WD, reducing 50% irrigation as compared to WW). The results confirm an improvement in agronomic performance of Mx as compared to NON, but also show a similar improving effect of RL. Grafting enhanced plant growth regardless of the rootstock under WW conditions. Similarly, water-use efficiency (assessed as leaf carbon isotope composition) increased in grafted plants under WD treatment as compared to NON. Despite the lack of significant differences, RL tended to promote higher fruit production and fruit number than Mx, irrespective of the water treatment, whereas RL was the single graft combination with higher fruit production than NON under WD. In conclusion, the results uncover the potential of drought-adapted landraces to be used as rootstocks in order to increase plant growth and fruit production under both well-watered and water deficit cultivation conditions.

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Increased Plant Growth with Hematite Nanoparticle Fertilizer Drop and Determining Nanoparticle Uptake in Plants Using Multimodal Approach

Journal of Nanomaterials ◽

10.1155/2019/6890572 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Armel Boutchuen ◽

Dell Zimmerman ◽

Nirupam Aich ◽

Arvid Mohammad Masud ◽

Abdollah Arabshahi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽

Crop Production ◽

Optical Emission ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Green Gram ◽

Nanoparticle Dispersion ◽

Inductively Coupled ◽

Red Bean ◽

Species Specific

There is an emerging scientific interest in the use of nanoparticle fertilizers for enhanced agricultural and bioenergy crop production to meet the growing food and energy demands of the world. The objective of designing the nanoparticle fertilizers is to effectively deliver the required nutrients for the plants without adding large quantities of fertilizer to the environment. However, most reports on nanoparticle fertilizers so far, involved the addition of nanoparticles to the hydroponic system or the soil. In this study, we report a new modified seed presoak strategy using a drop of Fe-enriching hematite nanoparticle dispersion to enhance plant growth and production in four different legume species, i.e., chickpea, green gram, black bean, and red bean. The hematite nanoparticle fertilizer drop promoted a 230-830% increase in plant growth with green gram showing the highest increase, based on our prolonged and statistically reliable growth studies. In general, we observed an increase in the survival span of plants, a twofold increase in fruit production per plant, nearly two times faster fruit production, and healthy second-generation plants with the nanoparticle treatment; however, there were slight species-specific variations. We used a novel multimodal material characterization approach combining three techniques, hyperspectral imaging, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), to evaluate the internalization and transport of the nanoparticle fertilizer within the plants. Our results indicated that the hematite nanoparticles were transported through the roots and stems and were localized in the leaves after 10 days of growth in pots of soil. Therefore, the modified seed presoaking method using a drop of hematite nanoparticle will be highly attractive in enhancing plant growth and health, while minimizing environmental impacts.

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Responses of Leaf Photosynthesis, Plant Growth and Fruit Production to Periodic Alteration of Plant Density in Winter Produced Single-truss Tomatoes

The Horticulture Journal ◽

10.2503/hortj.okd-060 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 86 (4) ◽

pp. 511-518 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Chengyao Jiang ◽

Masahumi Johkan ◽

Masaaki Hohjo ◽

Satoru Tsukagoshi ◽

Mitsuru Ebihara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Plant Density ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Leaf Photosynthesis

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Effects of Inoculations with Mycorrhizal Fungi of Soilless Potting Mixes During Transplant Production on Watermelon Growth and Early Fruit Yield

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.43.2.354 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 354-360 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Andreas Westphal ◽

Nicole L. Snyder ◽

Lijuan Xing ◽

James J. Camberato

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Citrullus Lanatus ◽

The United States ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Infested Soil ◽

Positive Effects ◽

And Function

Watermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai, crops are continuously exposed to soilborne diseases. In many areas of the United States, greenhouse-raised watermelon seedlings are transplanted to the field to allow for early crop establishment and early fruit production. This practice can result in weakened root systems, which potentially make the plant prone to premature senescence and reduce crop productivity. Mycorrhizal fungi have been reported to improve plant growth in many crops through enhanced root growth and function. We hypothesized that amending potting mixes with commercial inocula of mycorrhizal fungi during seeding of watermelon in a greenhouse would improve watermelon production when seedlings were transplanted to the field. Colonization of watermelon roots with mycorrhizal fungi from three commercial formulations was compared with the colonization of onion roots to confirm the efficacy of the mycorrhizae. Two inocula of mycorrhizal fungi that resulted in colonization of watermelon roots were tested in the field and glasshouse for their potential to improve watermelon production. MycoApply improved early plant growth in two tests, one under Meloidogyne incognita-infested conditions in loamy sand and another at two phosphorus fertilizer levels (0 or 22 kg·ha−1 P) in a loam soil. Mycor Vam Mini plug improved early fruit yield in soil infested with M. incognita. Application of Myconate (formononetin), a potential enhancer of colonization with mycorrhizae, increased early fruit yield in M. incognita-infested soil. Myconate had positive effects when potting mixes were not amended with inoculum of mycorrhizal fungi, but reduced watermelon growth when mycorrhizal fungi were supplied in the potting mix. In glasshouse tests, inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi did not suppress disease. Mycorrhizal fungi inoculations improved early plant establishment and increased the most valuable early fruit yield under some environmental stress conditions but did not increase total fruit yields.

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Supplementary Far-Red Light Did Not Affect Tomato Plant Growth or Yield under Mediterranean Greenhouse Conditions

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10121849 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 1849

Author(s):

Onofrio Davide Palmitessa ◽

Beniamino Leoni ◽

Francesco Fabiano Montesano ◽

Francesco Serio ◽

Angelo Signore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gas Exchange ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Fruit Quality ◽

Light Emitting Diode ◽

Red Light ◽

Growth Yield ◽

Fruit Production ◽

F1 Hybrid ◽

Light Emitting ◽

Red Radiation

In the Mediterranean region, tomato plants are often cultivated in two short cycles per year to avoid the heat of summer and the low solar radiation of winter. Supplementary light (SL) makes it possible to cultivate during the dark season. In this experiment, a tomato F1 hybrid cultivar DRW7723 was cultivated in a greenhouse for a fall-winter cycle. After transplant, light emitting diode (LED) interlighting, with two light spectra (red + blue vs. red + blue + far-red) was applied as SL. Plant growth, yield, gas exchange, nutrient solution (NS) consumption, and fruit quality were analyzed. In general, the effects of adding far-red radiation were not visible on the parameters analyzed, although the yield was 27% higher in plants grown with SL than those grown without. Tomatoes had the same average fresh weight between SL treatments, but the plants grown with SL produced 16% more fruits than control. Fruit quality, gas exchange and NS uptake were not influenced by the addition of far-red light. Interlighting is, therefore, a valid technique to increase fruit production in winter but at our latitude the effects of adding far-red radiation are mitigated by available sunlight.

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Overexpression of AtGRDP2, a novel glycine-rich domain protein, accelerates plant growth and improves stress tolerance

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2014.00782 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

MarÃa A. Ortega-Amaro ◽

AÃda A. RodrÃguez-HernÃ¡ndez ◽

Margarita RodrÃguez-Kessler ◽

EloÃsa HernÃ¡ndez-Lucero ◽

Sergio Rosales-Mendoza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Stress Tolerance ◽

Rich Domain ◽

Domain Protein

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Earthworms and Fusarium oxysporum: effect on strawberry plant growth and production

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2018v39n4p1437 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 1437

Author(s):

Mario Gámiz Infante ◽

Manuel Avilés Guerrero ◽

Celia Borrero Vega ◽

Wilian Carlo Demetrio ◽

Jair Alves Dionísio

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Fusarium Oxysporum ◽

Fusarium Wilt ◽

Lumbricus Terrestris ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Life Forms ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Positive Interactions ◽

Soil Pathogens ◽

Positive Effects

Earthworms are soil invertebrates that play an important environmental role and are often referred to as “ecosystem engineers”. These invertebrates can influence several organisms, from microscopic life forms to plants. Although many works had reported positive effects of earthworms on plant growth, studies combining these invertebrates and soil pathogens showed numerous positive interactions. Fusarium wilt is a global disease that can cause severe damage to strawberry fields. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of inoculation of earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) and Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae) in strawberry plants. This greenhouse experiment was carried out in the University of Seville School of Agricultural Engineering, Utrera City, Spain. Strawberries (Rooted cuttings) were planted in plastic pots and administered the following treatments: Control (absence of F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae and earthworms), T1 (absence of F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae, two L. terrestris per pot), T2 (inoculum of F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae, absence of L. terrestris), and T3 (inoculum of F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae and two L. terrestris). Weekly fruit production was measured for seven months. After this period the shoot fresh weight and the leaf nutrient content was measured. The results obtained showed no interaction between L. terrestris and F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae on strawberry production. T1 treatment resulted in fruit production superior to other treatments, including the control. An absence of differences in dry shoot matter was observed with earthworm treatment, and small differences were found in the leaf nutrient content. The earthworm inoculation was unable to suppress the negative effects of Fusarium wilt in strawberry production. However, positive effects such as a reduction in the disease severity were found in the earthworm treated plants. In treatments without F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae inoculation, the presence of earthworms increased plant productivity by 44.21 g per pot, compared with the control.

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