scholarly journals Soil bacterial communities associated with stony soils influence the tuber size of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haipeng Guo ◽  
Chuntao Hong ◽  
Jianhong Zhang ◽  
Wensheng Qin ◽  
Bin Wei
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Tuber Growth ◽  
Strong Correlations ◽  
Tetrastigma Hemsleyanum ◽  
Soil Microbiota ◽  
Rock Fragments ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Physical And Chemical

Abstract Background Plants grown in stony soils have better-developed root systems and higher crop yields than those grown in non-stony soils. The roles of various physical and chemical effects of stony soils on plant growth have been published, but the roles of soil microbiota and rhizosphere microbiota have not been investigated. Methods Tetrastigma hemsleyanum plants were cultivated for two years in stony soils and in the same soil from which rock-fragments had been removed. The microbiome and the tuber transcriptome were analyzed, using multiple bioinformatics methods. Results The soil microbiota of these two soils were markedly different, and the stony soils contained high abundances of bacterial taxa belonging to the Actinobacteria, Rokubacteria, Rhizobiales, Desulfarculaceae, and Chthoniobacteraceae. These discriminatory taxa in soils may promote the tuber growth of T. hemsleyanum, through releasing nutrients from rocks and colonizing the rhizosphere and tuber surface of T. hemsleyanum. In addition, stony soils induced a dramatic change in the tuber’s transcriptome, particularly with respect to the pathways of phytohormone biosynthesis, photosynthesis, and biotic stress resistance, expression levels of which showed strong correlations with the aforementioned bacterial taxa. Conclusions These results indicated that beneficial effects of stony soils on plant growth may be closely correlated with their specific microbiota, which can, in turn, influence multiple biological processes of host. This is the first study to reveal the role of stony soils-driven microbiota in tuber growth, and stony soils can represent a microbial repository for the screening of microbial isolates to increase plant yield.

The role of the chemical industry in improving the effectiveness of agriculture

1985 ◽  
Vol 310 (1144) ◽  
pp. 201-213 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Plant Growth ◽  
Chemical Industry ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Application Technology ◽  
Novel Technology ◽  
Basic Plant ◽  
Technological Opportunities

The development and marketing of novel technology by the chemical industry has been a fundamental ingredient in the improvement of crop yields. Further advances will result from the continuing development of more effective pesticides. Improved application technology and better diagnosis of precise crop requirements will also lead to the more efficient usage of existing and future products. New approaches to crop improvement based on chemical plant-growth regulators and genetic engineering of plants represent major technological opportunities for the future. Realization of these opportunities demands a substantially increased investment in basic plant research, a requirement already recognized within the chemical industry.

scholarly journals Application and Mechanisms of Plant Growth Promoting Fungi (PGPF) for Phytostimulation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Motaher Hossain ◽  
Farjana Sultana
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Intrinsic Factor ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Plant Growth Promoting ◽  
Growth Promoting ◽  
Increasing Demand

Plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) constitute diverse genera of nonpathogenic fungi that provide a variety of benefits to their host plants. PGPF show an effective role in sustainable agriculture. Meeting increasing demand for crop production without damage to the environment is the biggest challenge nowadays. The use of PGPF has been recognized as an environmentally friendly way of increasing crop production. These fungi have proven to increase crop yields by improving germination, seedling vigor, plant growth, root morphogenesis, photosynthesis, and flowering through either a direct or indirect mechanism. The mechanisms of PGPF involve solubilizing and mineralizing nutrients for easy uptake by plants, regulating hormonal balance, producing volatile organic compounds and microbial enzyme, suppressing plant pathogens and ameliorating abiotic stresses. Successful colonization is an intrinsic factor for most PGPF to exert their beneficial effects on plants. A certain level of specificity exists in the interactions between plant species and PGPF for root colonization and growth promoting effects. There is a gap between the number of reported efficacious PGPF and the number of PGPF as biofertilizer. Efforts should be strengthened to improve the efficacy and commercialization of PGPF. Hence, this chapter summarizes valuable information regarding the application and mechanisms of PGPF in sustainable agriculture.

scholarly journals Recent Developments in the Application of Nanomaterials in Agroecosystems

Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2411
Author(s):  
Haleema Saleem ◽  
Syed Javaid Zaidi
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Zerovalent Iron ◽  
Soil Organisms ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Plant Seed ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Survival And Reproduction ◽  
Iron Iron

Nanotechnology implies the scientific research, development, and manufacture, along with processing, of materials and structures on a nano scale. Presently, the contamination of metalloids and metals in the soil has gained substantial attention. The consolidation of nanomaterials and plants in ecological management has received considerable research attention because certain nanomaterials could enhance plant seed germination and entire plant growth. Conversely, when the nanomaterial concentration is not properly controlled, toxicity will definitely develop. This paper discusses the role of nanomaterials as: (1) nano-pesticides (for improving the plant resistance against the biotic stress); and (2) nano-fertilizers (for promoting the plant growth by providing vital nutrients). This review analyzes the potential usages of nanomaterials in agroecosystem. In addition, the adverse effects of nanomaterials on soil organisms are discussed. We mostly examine the beneficial effects of nanomaterials such as nano-zerovalent iron, iron oxide, titanium dioxide, nano-hydroxyapatite, carbon nanotubes, and silver- and copper-based nanomaterials. Some nanomaterials can affect the growth, survival, and reproduction of soil organisms. A change from testing/using nanomaterials in plants for developing nanomaterials depending on agricultural requirements would be an important phase in the utilization of nanomaterials in sustainable agriculture. Conversely, the transport as well as ecological toxicity of nanomaterials should be seriously examined for guaranteeing its benign usage in agriculture.

scholarly journals Legume Biofortification and the Role of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria in a Sustainable Agricultural Era

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Roriz ◽  
Susana M. P. Carvalho ◽  
Paula M. L. Castro ◽  
Marta W. Vasconcelos
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Hormonal Regulation ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Green Technology ◽  
World Population ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria ◽  
Plant Growth Promoting ◽  
Growth Promoting

World population growth, together with climate changes and increased hidden hunger, bring an urgent need for finding sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural approaches to improve crop yield and nutritional value. The existing methodologies for enhancing the concentration of bioavailable micronutrients in edible crop tissues (i.e., biofortification), including some agronomic strategies, conventional plant breeding, and genetic engineering, have not always been successful. In recent years, the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) has been suggested as a promising approach for the biofortification of important crops, including legumes. Legumes have many beneficial health effects, namely, improved immunological, metabolic and hormonal regulation, anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory effects, and decreased risk of cardiovascular and obesity-related diseases. These crops also play a key role in the environment through symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation, reducing the need for N fertilizers, reducing CO2 emissions, improving soil composition, and increasing plant resistance to pests and diseases. PGPB act by a series of direct and indirect mechanisms to potentially improve crop yields and nutrition. This review will focus on the: (i) importance of legumes in the accomplishment of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for production systems; (ii) understanding the role of PGPB in plant nutrition; (iii) iron biofortification of legumes with PGPB, which is an interesting case study of a green technology for sustainable plant-food production improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Silica Sol-Gel Microbead Encapsulation as a Novel Delivery Method for Symbiotic Microbes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Elissiry ◽  
Jingwen Sun ◽  
Ann M. Hirsch ◽  
Chong Liu
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
Similar Amount ◽  
Delivery Method ◽  
Hormone Production ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Synthetic Fertilizer ◽  
Inorganic Nanomaterials

Synthetic fertilizer is responsible for the greatly increased crop yields that have enabled worldwide industrialization. However, the production and use of such fertilizers are environmentally unfriendly and unsustainable; synthetic fertilizers are produced via non-renewable resources and fertilizer runoff causes groundwater contamination and eutrophication. A promising alternative to synthetic fertilizer is bacterial inoculation. In this process, a symbiotic relationship is formed between a crop and bacteria species that can fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphorus, and stimulate plant hormone production. The bacteria carrier developed here aims to maintain bacteria viability while in storage, protect bacteria while encapsulated, and provide a sustained and controllable bacterial release. This novel bacterial delivery method utilizes inorganic nanomaterials, silica microbeads, to encapsulate symbiotic bacteria. These microbeads, which were produced with aqueous, non-toxic precursors, are sprayed directly onto crop seeds and solidify on the seeds as a resilient silica matrix. The bacterial release from the carrier was found by submerging coated seeds in solution to simulate degradation in soil environments, measuring the number of bacteria released by the plate count technique, and comparing the carrier to seeds coated only in bacteria. The carrier’s effectiveness to enhance plant growth was determined through greenhouse plant assays with alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i>) plants and the nitrogen-fixing <i>Sinorhizobium meliloti</i> Rm1021 strain. When compared to bacteria-only inoculation, the silica microbead carrier exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) increased holding capacity of viable bacteria and increased plant growth by a similar amount, demonstrating the capability of inorganic nanomaterials for microbial delivery. The carrier presented in this work has potential applications for commercial agriculture and presents an opportunity to further pursue more sustainable agricultural practices.

Silica Sol-Gel Microbead Encapsulation as a Novel Delivery Method for Symbiotic Microbes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Elissiry ◽  
Jingwen Sun ◽  
Ann M. Hirsch ◽  
Chong Liu
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
Similar Amount ◽  
Delivery Method ◽  
Hormone Production ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Synthetic Fertilizer ◽  
Inorganic Nanomaterials

Synthetic fertilizer is responsible for the greatly increased crop yields that have enabled worldwide industrialization. However, the production and use of such fertilizers are environmentally unfriendly and unsustainable; synthetic fertilizers are produced via non-renewable resources and fertilizer runoff causes groundwater contamination and eutrophication. A promising alternative to synthetic fertilizer is bacterial inoculation. In this process, a symbiotic relationship is formed between a crop and bacteria species that can fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphorus, and stimulate plant hormone production. The bacteria carrier developed here aims to maintain bacteria viability while in storage, protect bacteria while encapsulated, and provide a sustained and controllable bacterial release. This novel bacterial delivery method utilizes inorganic nanomaterials, silica microbeads, to encapsulate symbiotic bacteria. These microbeads, which were produced with aqueous, non-toxic precursors, are sprayed directly onto crop seeds and solidify on the seeds as a resilient silica matrix. The bacterial release from the carrier was found by submerging coated seeds in solution to simulate degradation in soil environments, measuring the number of bacteria released by the plate count technique, and comparing the carrier to seeds coated only in bacteria. The carrier’s effectiveness to enhance plant growth was determined through greenhouse plant assays with alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i>) plants and the nitrogen-fixing <i>Sinorhizobium meliloti</i> Rm1021 strain. When compared to bacteria-only inoculation, the silica microbead carrier exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) increased holding capacity of viable bacteria and increased plant growth by a similar amount, demonstrating the capability of inorganic nanomaterials for microbial delivery. The carrier presented in this work has potential applications for commercial agriculture and presents an opportunity to further pursue more sustainable agricultural practices.

Review of Constipation Treatment Methods with Emphasis on Laxative Foods

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 675-688
Author(s):  
Shamsi Abbasalizadeh ◽  
Behzad Ebrahimi ◽  
Aslan Azizi ◽  
Rogaye Dargahi ◽  
Maryam Tayebali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Lifestyle Factor ◽  
Flax Seed ◽  
Lifestyle Modifications ◽  
Food Ingredients ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Daily Exercise

Constipation is a common public health concern experienced by all individuals during their life affecting the quality of life. In this paper, we aimed to provide an overview of the existing evidence regarding the role of food ingredients, including bran, prune, fig, kiwifruit, and flax-seed in constipation treatment. We searched Scopus, Pub Med, and Science Direct by using the keywords, “laxative foods” and “constipation”, for searching studies assessing laxative food ingredients and their beneficial effects on constipation treatment and/or control. Lifestyle modifications such as increasing dietary fiber and fluid intake and daily exercise are the proposed first line treatments for constipation. Optimizing ‘diet’ as an efficient lifestyle factor may contribute to the well-being of patients. The use of laxative food ingredients including bran, prune, fig, kiwifruit, flax-seed, probiotics, and prebiotics is a convenient alternative to cope with constipation. According to previous findings, laxative food ingredients could be considered as effective treatments for subjects suffering from constipation. Many studies have assessed the pharmacological and non-pharmacological roles of these ingredients in treating constipation, however, their importance has not been thoroughly investigated.

Dietary Carotenoids in Managing Metabolic Syndrome and Role of PPARs in the Process

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 846-853
Author(s):  
Raghunandan Purohith ◽  
Nagendra P.M. Nagalingaswamy ◽  
Nanjunda S. Shivananju
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Bioactive Constituents ◽  
Dietary Antioxidants ◽  
Predisposing Factor ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Pathological Conditions ◽  
Established Relationship ◽  
Comprehensive Study

Metabolic syndrome is a collective term that denotes disorder in metabolism, symptoms of which include hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and endothelial dysfunction. Diet is a major predisposing factor in the development of metabolic syndrome, and dietary intervention is necessary for both prevention and management. The bioactive constituents of food play a key role in this process. Micronutrients such as vitamins, carotenoids, amino acids, flavonoids, minerals, and aromatic pigment molecules found in fruits, vegetables, spices, and condiments are known to have beneficial effects in preventing and managing metabolic syndrome. There exists a well-established relationship between oxidative stress and major pathological conditions such as inflammation, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. Consequently, dietary antioxidants are implicated in the remediation of these complications. The mechanism of action and targets of dietary antioxidants as well as their effects on related pathways are being extensively studied and elucidated in recent times. This review attempts a comprehensive study of the role of dietary carotenoids in alleviating metabolic syndromewith an emphasis on molecular mechanism-in the light of recent advances.

Short-Term Ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide Therapy in Patients with Myasthenia Gravis: a Pilot Study to Possible Future Implications of Treatment

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 232-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuela Onesti ◽  
Vittorio Frasca ◽  
Marco Ceccanti ◽  
Giorgio Tartaglia ◽  
Maria Cristina Gori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Myasthenia Gravis ◽  
Repetitive Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide ◽  
Open Pilot

Background: The cannabinoid system may be involved in the humoral mechanisms at the neuromuscular junction. Ultramicronized-palmitoylethanolamide (μm-PEA) has recently been shown to reduce the desensitization of Acetylcholine (ACh)-evoked currents in denervated patients modifying the stability of ACh receptor (AChR) function. <p> Objective: To analyze the possible beneficial effects of μm-PEA in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) on muscular fatigue and neurophysiological changes. <p> Method: The duration of this open pilot study, which included an intra-individual control, was three weeks. Each patient was assigned to a 1-week treatment period with μm-PEA 600 mg twice a day. A neurophysiological examination based on repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) of the masseteric and the axillary nerves was performed, and the quantitative MG (QMG) score was calculated in 22 MG patients every week in a three-week follow-up period. AChR antibody titer was investigated to analyze a possible immunomodulatory effect of PEA in MG patients. <p> Results: PEA had a significant effect on the QMG score (p=0.03418) and on RNS of the masseteric nerve (p=0.01763), thus indicating that PEA reduces the level of disability and decremental muscle response. Antibody titers did not change significantly after treatment. <p> Conclusion: According to our observations, μm-PEA as an add-on therapy could improve muscular response to fatigue in MG. The possible modulation of AChR currents as a means of eliciting a direct effect from PEA on the conformation of ACh receptors should be investigated. The co-role of cytokines also warrants an analysis. Given the rapidity and reversibility of the response, we suppose that PEA acts directly on AChR, though further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

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