scholarly journals Chitosan as Soil Amendment Affects Lettuce Growth, Photochemical Efficiency, and Gas Exchange

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 476-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenping Xu ◽  
Beiquan Mou

Chitosan has become of interest as a crop biostimulant suitable for use in sustainable agriculture since it is biocompatible, biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and readily available in large quantity. Short-term (35 d after transplanting) effects of chitosan, applied as a soil amendment at 0%, 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15%, 0.20%, or 0.30% (w/w), on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) growth, chlorophyll fluorescence, and gas exchange were evaluated in a growth chamber study. Chitosan at 0.05%, 0.10%, and 0.15% increased leaf area from 674 to 856, 847, and 856 cm2, and leaf fresh weight from 28.6 to 39.4, 39.1, and 39.8 g, respectively. Only chitosan at 0.05% and 0.10% increased leaf dry weight from 3.42 to 4.37 and 4.35 g, respectively, while chitosan at 0.30% decreased leaf number, area, fresh and dry weight. Chitosan at 0.10%, 0.15%, 0.20%, and 0.30% increased leaf chlorophyll index from 29.8 to 34.4, 35.4, 37.5, and 41.4, respectively. Chitosan at 0.20% and 0.30% increased leaf maximum photochemical efficiency and photochemical yield, and chitosan at 0.10%, 0.15% 0.20%, and 0.30% increased leaf electron transport rate. Leaf photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance (gS) increased from 9.3 to 12.7, 14.0, and 16.6 μmol·m−2·s−1 carbon dioxide, and from 0.134 to 0.183, 0.196, and 0.231 mol·m−2·s−1, under chitosan at 0.15%, 0.20%, and 0.30%, respectively. The results indicated that chitosan, at appropriate application rates, enhanced lettuce growth, and might have potential to be used for sustainable production of lettuce.

2015 ◽  
Vol 105 (6) ◽  
pp. 738-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gisele Pereira Domiciano ◽  
Isaías Severino Cacique ◽  
Cecília Chagas Freitas ◽  
Marta Cristina Corsi Filippi ◽  
Fábio Murilo DaMatta ◽  
...  

Rice blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, is the most important disease in rice worldwide. This study investigated the effects of silicon (Si) on the photosynthetic gas exchange parameters (net CO2 assimilation rate [A], stomatal conductance to water vapor [gs], internal-to-ambient CO2 concentration ratio [Ci/Ca], and transpiration rate [E]); chlorophyll fluorescence a (Chla) parameters (maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II [Fv/Fm], photochemical [qP] and nonphotochemical [NPQ] quenching coefficients, and electron transport rate [ETR]); concentrations of pigments, malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2); and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), and lypoxigenase (LOX) in rice leaves. Rice plants were grown in a nutrient solution containing 0 or 2 mM Si (−Si or +Si, respectively) with and without P. oryzae inoculation. Blast severity decreased with higher foliar Si concentration. The values of A, gs and E were generally higher for the +Si plants in comparison with the −Si plants upon P. oryzae infection. The Fv/Fm, qp, NPQ, and ETR were greater for the +Si plants relative to the −Si plants at 108 and 132 h after inoculation (hai). The values for qp and ETR were significantly higher for the –Si plants in comparison with the +Si plants at 36 hai, and the NPQ was significantly higher for the –Si plants in comparison with the +Si plants at 0 and 36 hai. The concentrations of Chla, Chlb, Chla+b, and carotenoids were significantly greater in the +Si plants relative to the –Si plants. For the –Si plants, the MDA and H2O2 concentrations were significantly higher than those in the +Si plants. The LOX activity was significantly higher in the +Si plants than in the –Si plants. The SOD and GR activities were significantly higher for the –Si plants than in the +Si plants. The CAT and APX activities were significantly higher in the +Si plants than in the –Si plants. The supply of Si contributed to a decrease in blast severity, improved the gas exchange performance, and caused less dysfunction at the photochemical level.


2006 ◽  
Vol 131 (4) ◽  
pp. 469-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terri Starman ◽  
Leonardo Lombardini

A study was conducted to characterize the morphological and physiological responses of four herbaceous perennial species subjected to two subsequent drought cycles. Lantana camara L. `New Gold' (lantana), Lobelia cardinalis L. (cardinal flower), Salvia farinacea Benth. `Henry Duelberg' (mealy sage), and Scaevola aemula R. Br. `New Wonder' (fan flower) were subjected to two consecutive 10-day drought cycles. Growth response, leaf gas exchange, and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured during the experiment. The morphology of L. cardinalis and L. camara was not affected by drought, while S. farinacea had reductions in plant height and leaf area and S. aemula had reductions in dry weight. Overall, plant growth and development continued even when substrate water content was reduced to 0.13 mm3·mm-3, which indicated a level of substrate water below container capacity was sufficient for greenhouse production of these species. The drought treatments had little effect on the photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) of Photosystem II. An increase in minimal fluorescence (Fo) was observed in S. aemula on the last day of the second cycle. Drought treatment caused increased leaf-level water use efficiency (WUE) at the end of the first cycle in L. cardinalis and S. aemula, but not in L. camara and S. farinacea. Plants of L. camara, S. farinacea, and S. aemula that had received drought during both cycles became more water use efficient by the end of the second cycle, but L. cardinalis did not.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaghoub Aghaye Noroozlo ◽  
Mohammad Kazem Souri ◽  
Mojtaba Delshad

AbstractAmino acids have various roles in plant metabolism, and exogenous application of amino acids may have benefits and stimulation effects on plant growth and quality. In this study, the growth and nutrient uptake of Romain lettuce (Lactuca sativa subvar Sahara) were evaluated under spray of glycine or glutamine at different concentrations of 0 (as control), 250, 500 and 1000 mg.L-1, as well as a treatment of 250 mg.L-1 glycine+250 mg.L-1 glutamine. The results showed that there was significant increase in leaf total chlorophyll content under Gly250+Glu250, Gly250 and Glu1000 mg.L-1treatments, and in leaf carotenoids content under 250 mg.L-1 glutamine spray compared with the control plants. Shoot fresh and dry weights were highest under 500 mg.L-1 glycine, whereas root fresh weight was highest under 250 mg.L-1 glycine spray. Foliar application of glycine and glutamine had no significant increase in leaf mineral concentrations except for iron, in which 1000 mg.L-1Gly spray resulted in significantly higher leaf Fe concentration compared with the control plants. Leaf vitamin C was increased at 250 and particularly 500 mg.L-1 spray of glycine and glutamine compared with the control. Nevertheless, different amino acid treatments had no significant effect on plant height, leaf SPAD value, root dry weight, and leaf concentrations of N, K, Ca, Mg and Zn. The results indicate that foliar application of glycine and glutamine amino acids can have beneficial effects on lettuce growth, as higher fresh yield, leaf chlorophyll content and vitamin C were obtained by low to moderate concentrations of glycine and/or glutamine amino acids.


HortScience ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (9) ◽  
pp. 1217-1224 ◽  
Author(s):  
William C. Kreuser ◽  
Frank S. Rossi

Petroleum-derived spray oils (PDSOs) have been used for pest management in horticulture and agronomy for over a century. Civitas™ is a new PDSO designed for use in the turfgrass industry. It is commonly mixed with low rates of pesticides to reduce the environmental impact and improve plant stress tolerance. Civitas can cause phytotoxicity, which has limited its acceptance by the turfgrass industry. Civitas is mixed with a green pigment called Harmonizer™ to sustain acceptable turfgrass color. A field study and a growth chamber study were designed to quantify phytotoxicity, understand the role of Harmonizer, and isolate the cause of Civitas-induced phytotoxicity. Civitas, Harmonizer, their combination (Two-Pack), and a water-only control were applied to a research putting surface in Ithaca, NY, during 2012 and 2013. Civitas and Harmonizer were applied every 2 weeks at the rates of 5.0 and 0.3 mL·m−2, respectively. Visual turfgrass quality rating and canopy temperature were quantified several times weekly. Civitas caused chlorosis and decline in visual quality during both years. Harmonizer masked chlorosis but did not prevent a drop in stand density during the second field season. Treatments were replicated on annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) in a growth chamber experiment. Civitas did not increase electrolyte leakage or alter the composition of cuticle; however, there were signs of oil persistence on the leaves and stomata and evidence of reduced gas exchange. Chlorosis resulting from oil persistence and reduced gas exchange is consistent with chronic PDSO phytotoxicity. This research demonstrated the potential for phytotoxicity with high rates of Civitas. Lower application rates likely reduce the potential for phytotoxicity but may also minimize the pest control benefits associated with the product.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 574
Author(s):  
Yun-Yin Feng ◽  
Jin He ◽  
Yi Jin ◽  
Feng-Min Li

Both water stress and P deficit limit soybean seed yield, but the effects of water regimes and P application rates, their interaction on P status, acquisition, and partitioning, and their roles in yield performance have not been well-studied. Two soybean genotypes (Huangsedadou (HD) and Zhonghuang 30 (ZH)) with contrasting seed yield and root dry weight (DW) were used to investigate the P status, P acquisition, P partitioning, and yield formation under two water regimes (well-watered (WW) and cyclic water stress (WS)) and three P rates (0 (P0), 60 (P60), and 120 (P120) mg P kg−1 dry soil). The results show that increased P and water supply increased the seed yield, shoot and root DW and P concentrations and accumulations in different organs. Cultivar ZH had a significantly higher seed yield than HD at P60 and P120 under WS and at P0 under WW, but a lower seed yield at P60 and P120 under WW. Cultivar ZH had a significantly higher P harvest index and P acquisition efficiency, but a significantly lower shoot and root DW than HD. The interaction between water treatments and P rates had significant effects on leaf and stem P concentration. Cultivar ZH had significantly lower P partitioning to leaves and stems but significantly higher P partitioning to seeds than HD. The seed yield was positively correlated with leaf and seed P accumulations and P acquisition efficiency under WS. We conclude that (1) adequate water supply improved the P mobilization from leaves and stems at maturity, which may have improved the seed yield; and (2) the high P acquisition efficiency is coordination to high P partition to seeds to produce a high seed yield under water- and P-limited conditions.


Author(s):  
E. A. Effa ◽  
A. A. J. Mofunanya ◽  
B. A. Ngele

Background: Soil pH is one of the most important factors that contribute to crop growth and productivity. The present research was designed to assess the influence of soil amendment using organic manure and agricultural lime on the relative growth rate (RGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR) of Phaseolus vulgaris and Vigna aconitifolia grown on soils from different locations. Methodology: The three locations were: Akamkpa, Calabar Municipality and Odukpani. The pH for the three soil locations were 4.0, 7.0 and 9.0, respectively. The treatments were; control (0 g), OM1 (100 g organic manure), OM2 (200 g organic manure), AL1 (100 g agricultural lime), AL2 (200 g agricultural lime), OM1 + AL1 (50 g organic manure + 50 g agricultural lime) and OM2 +AL2 (100 g organic manure and 100 g agricultural lime). Results: Results obtained on the RGR of the leaf dry weight of P. vulgaris treated with OM2 was the highest (0.50 g/wk) followed by OM1 (0.41 g/wk). OM1 + AL1 had the highest RGR of the stem dry weight of P. vulgaris grown on soil from Calabar Municipality. In the RGR of the root dry weight, OM2 had the highest mean value in both plants grown on Akamkpa soil. Results obtained at 4 weeks after planting (WAP) revealed that there was significant (P<0.05) increase in NAR of plants grown on soil from Akamkpa. The highest NAR was obtained for V. aconitifolia treated with OM2 (0.0447 g/wk) followed by OM2 + AL2 (0.0057 g/wk) for both V. aconitifolia and P. vulgaris. P. vulgaris grown on Akamkpa and Odukpani soils treated with AL2 (0.0032 g/wk), OM1 + AL1 (0.0041 g/wk) and OM2+ AL2 (0.0062 g/wk) had the highest NAR at 8 WAP. Conclusion: The RGR and NAR of the two bean varieties were improved following treatments with organic manure and agricultural lime.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 35-43
Author(s):  
Mariusz Szmagara ◽  
Krystyna Pudelska ◽  
Wojciech Durlak ◽  
Barbara Marcinek ◽  
Kamila Rojek

Striving to intensify horticultural production, new and more effective bio-preparations are being sought to stimulate plant growth and development. Bio-algeen S90 is a natural agent based on sea algae, the high bi- ological activity of which results from the high content of natural growth regulators. The aim of the study was to verify the influence of Bio-algeen S90 on the growth, morphological characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence of Rosa multiflora seedlings. The bio-preparation was applied one, two and three times at con- centrations: 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg.dm−3. Following parameters were measured to evaluate the response of plants to the bio-preparation: F0 – initial fluorescence, Fm – maximal fluorescence in the dark-adapted state, Fv/Fm – maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII. All concentrations of the bio-preparation and frequency of its application stimulated the number of shoots in a bush, the length of shoots and the diameter of the root crown of plants intended for budding. The most beneficial was the two-fold bio-preparation application at a concentration of 0.4 mg.dm–3. Bio-algeen also positively influenced the chlorophyll fluorescence parame- ters. The highest mean F0 and Fm values were recorded with the two-fold preparation treatment. There was no significant effect of the bio-preparation on the Fv/Fm index, which was within the range of 0.75–0.66.


2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 386-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meral INCESU ◽  
Berken CIMEN ◽  
Turgut YESILOGLU ◽  
Bilge YILMAZ

Salinity continues to be a major factor in reduced crop productivity and profit in many arid and semiarid regions. Seedlings of Diospyros kaki Thunb. and D. virginiana L. are commonly used as rootstock in persimmon cultivation. In this study we have evaluated the effects of different salinity levels on photosynthetic capacity and plant development of D. kaki and D. virginiana. Salinity was provided by adding 50 mM, 75 mM and 100 mM NaCl to nutrient solution. In order to determine the effects of different salinity levels on plant growth, leaf number, plant height, shoot and root dry mass were recorded. Besides leaf Na, Cl, K and Ca concentrations were determined. Also leaf chlorophyll concentration, chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv’/Fm’) and leaf gas exchange parameters including leaf net photosynthetic rate (PN), stomatal conductance (gS), leaf transpiration rate (E), and CO2 substomatal concentration (Ci) were investigated. Significant decrease of leaf number, shoot length and plant dry mass by increasing salinity levels was observed in both rootstocks. D. virginiana was less affected in terms of plant growth under salinity stress. Leaf chlorophyll concentration reduction was higher in the leaves of D. kaki in comparison to D. virginiana in 100 mM NaCl treatment. By increasing salinity levels PN, gS and E markedly decreased in both rootstocks and D. kaki was more affected from salinity in terms of leaf gas exchange parameters. In addition there was no significant difference but slight decreases were recorded in leaf chlorophyll fluorescences of both rootstocks.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-128
Author(s):  
Nicholas L. Hurdle ◽  
Timothy L. Grey ◽  
Patrick E. McCullough ◽  
Donn Shilling ◽  
Jason Belcher

AbstractBermudagrass is a major forage species throughout Georgia and the Southeast. An essential part of achieving high-yielding, top-quality forages is proper weed control. Indaziflam is a residual herbicide that controls many broadleaf and grass species by inhibiting cellulose biosynthesis. Research conducted in Tift and Colquitt counties in Georgia determined optimal PRE rates for indaziflam for bermudagrass forage production. Treatments applied at spring greenup of established ‘Alicia’ bermudagrass included indaziflam at 47, 77, 155, or 234 g ai ha−1 PRE, pendimethalin at 4,480 g ha−1 PRE, a split application of indaziflam at 47 g ha−1 PRE followed by the same rate applied POST after the first cutting, and a nontreated control (seven treatments in all). Forages were machine harvested three times each year for each location beginning at least 47 d after treatment (DAT), with final cuttings up to 168 DAT. For all treatments, fresh- and dry-weight yields at each harvest and totals for the season did not differ from the nontreated control. Indaziflam at 155 and 234 g ha−1 did cause minor stunting at 44 DAT, but this was transient and not observed at the second harvest. Indaziflam applied PRE has the potential to provide residual control of troublesome weeds in bermudagrass forage and hay production, with ephemeral stunting at the recommended application rates.


Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanqin Jiang ◽  
Qilong Zeng ◽  
Jiguang Wei ◽  
Jiafeng Jiang ◽  
Yajing Li ◽  
...  

Soil pH is a key factor affecting the growth of blueberries. Understanding the response mechanism of blueberries to different pH values and selecting suitable evaluation indexes are the basis of breeding new blueberry cultivars with high pH tolerances. The effects of different soil pH treatments for 17 months on the plant growth, fruit yield, photosynthetic characteristics, and leaf microelement concentration of Vaccinium ashei Reade ‘Climax’ and V. corymbosum hybrid ‘Chaoyue No. 1′ were studied. Plant height, main stem diameter, branch number per plant, leaf dry weight, stem dry weight, root dry weight, and total dry weight decreased with increasing soil pH. With an increase in soil pH, the first flowering date, 50% flowering date, first ripening date, and 50% ripening date of the two cultivars were postponed, and the flower bud numbers per plant, the floret numbers per bud, and yield per plant showed a downward trend. Moreover, the fruit quality decreased, which was reflected in the increase in the titratable acid content (TA) and the decrease in the total soluble solids content (TSS) and the TSS:TA ratio in the high pH treatment. With increasing soil pH, the chlorophyll content index (CCI), maximal photochemical efficiency of the PSII (Fv/Fm), quantum photosynthetic yield of the PSII (Y(II)) and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of the two cultivars showed a downward trend, and some microelement concentrations in the leaves were imbalanced. Under high pH treatment, ‘Chaoyue No. 1′ had a relatively higher plant biomass and fruit yield, so it had a stronger tolerance to high pH than ‘Climax’ did. More strongly acidified rhizosphere soil capacity, as well as higher CCI, Fv/Fm, Y(II), and Pn values were the main reasons for the high pH tolerance of ‘Chaoyue No. 1′. Compared with destructive biomass indicators such as plant weight, nondestructive indicators such as CCI, Fv/Fm, and Y(II) can be more valuable indicators for fast and accurate evaluation of blueberry tolerance to high pH at early stages of treatment.


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