plant biomass
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2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-230
Author(s):  
Idrissa Diédhiou ◽  
Pedro Pérez Martínez ◽  
Emmanuel Martínez Castro ◽  
Wilson Geobel Ceiro-Catasú

Maize is the most important crop in Mexico, being central to the diets of consumers, particularly smallholders, and an undetermined amount is allocated as straw, green fodder, and, to a lesser extent, as silage for animal feed. Nitrogen fertilizer is considered one of the most important factors affecting growth, grain yield, and maize biomass production. In this context, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of nitrogen fertilizer on maize production. A randomized complete block experimental design consisted of three treatments of nitrogen (180, 160, and 80 kg/ha) with three replications and morphological (plant height, stem thickness, and rate of growth), yield, and yield components (cob weight, length, thickness, number of rows per cob, and plant biomass) variables were used. The results suggest that the increase in nitrogen levels increases all the parameters of maize production. However, at 160 kg/ha, the greatest production of fodder was recorded with 5.99 tons/ha, superior to the one reported at 180 kg/ha, which was 5.47 tons/ha. We conclude that the maize fodder production can be optimized with the use of 160 kg/ha in the conditions of the altiplano of San Luis Potosí (Mexico).


2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 951
Author(s):  
Gheorghe Cristian Popescu ◽  
Monica Popescu

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are essential soil microorganisms for terrestrial ecosystems and form beneficial symbioses with the root systems of most agricultural plants. The purpose of this paper was to examine the effect of the community of six AMF on the growth, physiological response, and flowering performance in organic potted lavender culture. The mixture of AMF containing Rhizophagus irregularis, Claroideoglomus claroideum, Funneliformis mosseae, Funneliformis geosporum, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, and Glomus microaggregatum was added in a pot with peat, volcanic rock, and coconut bark. We analyzed the fresh shoot biomass, root biomass, total plant biomass, leaf area, flowering performance, photosynthesis rate, and photosynthetic pigment content. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was performed to get a better understanding of the relationships between the studied variables. The total plant biomass was more pronounced in plants with AMF-S20g (212.01 g plant−1) and AMF-S30g (220.25 g plant−1) than with AMF-S10g (201.96 g plant−1) or in untreated plants (180.87 g plant−1). A statistically significant increase for Chl a, Chl b, and Car was found for AMF-S20g and AMF-S30. Our findings suggest that the AMF mixture application in a growing substrate with peat, coconut bark, and volcanic rock improved plant growth, physiological processes, and ornamental value in mycorrhizal lavender plants. This environmentally friendly agricultural practice could be used for the sustainable production of lavender.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Bukharina ◽  
Nadezhda Islamova

The aim of this research was to study the effect of inoculation with the Cylindrocarpon magnusianum endotrophic micromycete on the physiological and biochemical parameters of tomato test plants under the action of heavy metal salts. The plants were inoculated with the fungus culture (control population) and populations of this fungus preliminarily adapted to the action of the stress factor. Then, inoculated plants were grown under control conditions and on substrates with different concentrations of heavy metal salts (zinc, copper, lead and chromium). After the plants were inoculated with the control population of the C. magnusianum fungus, a stimulating effect increasing the plants’ resistance to the action of the heavy metal salts was not detected. When the plants were inoculated with adapted populations of the C. magnusianum fungus, adaptive reactions of the plants associated with the content of photosynthetic pigments in the leaves and the formation of plant biomass were significantly manifested. Under these conditions, a more intense development of fungal infection in plant roots was observed in contrast to the use of the control fungal population. These findings therefore demonstrated an effective partnership between the C. magnusianum fungus and the root system of plants under extreme conditions for plant life. Keywords: Cylindrocarpon magnusianum, micromycetes, heavy metals, inoculation, biochemical indicators


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saglara Mandzhieva ◽  
Natalia Chernikova ◽  
Tamara Dudnikova ◽  
David Pinskii ◽  
Tatiana Bauer ◽  
...  

The growth and development of plants is one of the criteria for assessing the degree of soil pollution with heavy metals. Morphological and anatomical changes in test plants affected by pollutants, such as growth retardation, shoot bending, and decreased root length and mass, indicate the worsening of environmental conditions. The effect of various ratios of soil and sand polluted with copper (Cu) on morphobiometric parameters of spring barley (Hordeum sativum distichum), Ratnik variety, was studied in a model vegetative experiment. Haplic calcic chernozem was used as a substrate with different ratios of soil/sand. It was determined that an addition of sand into the soil in the amounts of 25%, 50% and 75% of soil mass resulted in the alteration of the physical properties of the chernozem, which was reflected in the morphometric parameters of the plants. The most notable changes in the parameters were observed after pollution of soil-sand substrates with Cu(CH3COO)2 in the amounts of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg. The maximum growth and development retardation of the barley plants was found at the maximum content of sand and the maximum concentration of Cu. The pollutant reduced the root length and, to a lesser degree, the height of the aboveground components of the plant, which as a result, decreased the total plant biomass. Keywords: trace elements, soil, agricultural crops, particle size distribution


2022 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-68
Author(s):  
Juraj Faragó

Increasing concerns for security of the fossil fuel supply emphasizes the need to complement fossil fuel-based energy sources with renewable energy sources. Plant biomass represents an abundant renewable resource for the production of bioenergy and biomaterials. This review summarizes the last advancements in the use of biotechnological tools to improve bioethanol production from plant biomass through genetic engineering the starch content and composition and lignocellulosic matter characteristics, and increasing the capacity of plants to produce harvestable yield and ameliorating the negative abiotic stresses on plants so as to increase yield.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Panita Chutimanukul ◽  
Praderm Wanichananan ◽  
Supattana Janta ◽  
Theerayut Toojinda ◽  
Clive Terence Darwell ◽  
...  

AbstractLight-emitting diodes (LEDs) are an artificial light source used in indoor cultivation to influence plant growth, photosynthesis performance and secondary metabolite synthesis. Holy basil plants (Ocimum tenuiflorum) were cultivated under fully controlled environmental conditions with different red (R) and blue (B) light intensity ratios (3R:1B, 1R:1B and 1R:3B), along with combined green (G) LED (2R:1G:2B). The photosynthetic activities of both cultivars were maximal under 3R:1B. However, the highest fresh (FW) and dry (DW) weight values of green holy basil were recorded under 3R:1B and 2R:1G:2B, significantly higher than those under alternative light conditions. For red holy basil, the highest FW and DW were recorded under 1R:3B. Moreover, 2R:1G:2B treatment promoted pigment (chlorophyll and carotenoid) accumulation in green holy basil, while red holy basil was found to be rich in both pigments under 3R:1B. Antioxidant capacity was also influenced by light spectrum, resulting in greater total phenolic content (TPC) and DPPH accumulation in both cultivars under 1R:3B. The highest content of flavonoid in green holy basil was detected under 1R:1B; meanwhile, 1R:3B treatment significantly promoted flavonoid content in red holy basil. In addition, anthocyanin content increased in red holy basil under 1R:3B conditions. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) analysis of chemical composition showed higher proportional accumulation in Methyleugenol and Caryophyllene of two cultivars grown under all light spectrum ratios at two developmental stages. Overall, specific light spectrum ratios induced different chemical composition responses in each cultivar and at each developmental stage. These results suggest that 3R:1B was favorable for biomass accumulation and photosynthetic responses in green holy basil, while 1R:3B provided antioxidant accumulation. For red holy basil cultivation, 1R:3B provided optimal growing conditions, promoting improvements in plant biomass, and physiological and antioxidant capacities.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Idris Idris Hassen ◽  
Ansa van Vuuren ◽  
Francina Lebogang Bopape ◽  
Abe Shegro Gerrano

Abstract The symbiosis of the legume bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean L.Verde) with its rhizobial partners has not been studied sufficiently compared to several other legumes throughout Africa. In this study, a nodulation compatibility screening was conducted on 16 different landraces of this legume using five Rhizobia strains previously isolated from active nodules of Desmodium uncinatum, Arachis hypogaea, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, Glycine max and Phaseolus vulgaris and deposited at the South African Rhizobium Culture Collection (SARCC). A screening assay was conducted under glasshouse to select compatible rhizobia strains that nodulate and enhance growth in one or more genotypes of V. subterranean (L.) Verdc. Pre-germinated seeds of each landraces planted in sterile river sand medium were inoculated with 108 cfu ml-1 of the rhizobial strains (2ml/seed) and monitored with regular watering for six weeks. Parameters such as nodule number, nodule color and positions, plant biomass were determined in test genotypes. Significant differences were observed among landraces in nodule number and plant biomass, and among rhizobial strains in nodule number. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that root nodule rhizobia strains SARCC-388 and SARCC-578 characterized as Bradyrhizobium zhangiangens and Bradyrhizobium centrosematis, respectively exhibited the highest nodulation compatibility with one or more bambara groundnut landraces. This study demonstrated that many of the bambara landraces did not show nodulation preference to a unique group of rhizobia, confirming that V. subterranean (L) Verdc can be nodulated by more than one species of rhizobia, especially by rhizobia belonging to the cowpea miscellany cross inoculation group.


2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 673
Author(s):  
Sulman Siddique ◽  
Muhammad Naveed ◽  
Muhammad Yaseen ◽  
Muhammad Shahbaz

Water scarcity is abiotic stress that is becoming more prevalent as a result of human activities, posing a threat to agriculture and food security. Recently, endophytic bacteria have been proven to reduce drought stress and increase crop productivity. Here, we explored the efficacy of seed endophytic bacteria in maize crops under water deficit conditions. For this purpose, twenty-seven endophytic bacteria have been isolated from three distinct maize cultivars seeds (Malka 2016, Sahiwal Gold and Gohar-19) and evaluated for desiccation tolerance of −0.18, −0.491, and −1.025 MPa induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000. The nine isolates were chosen on the basis of desiccation tolerance and evaluated for maize growth promotion and antioxidant activity under normal and drought conditions. Results showed that drought stress significantly decreased the growth of maize seedlings. However, isolates SM1, SM4, SM19, and SM23 significantly improved the root and shoot length, plant biomass, leaf area, proline content, sugar, and protein content under normal and drought conditions. Antioxidant enzymes were significantly decreased at p-value < 0.05 with inoculation of seed endophytic bacteria under drought conditions. However, further experiments of seed endophytic bacteria (SM1, SM4, SM19, and SM23) should be conducted to validate results.


Author(s):  
Amanda Lorena Dantas Aguiar ◽  
M’hamed Yassin Rajiv da Gloria ◽  
Romildo Dias Toledo Filho

The use of wood wastes in the production of bio-concrete shows high potential for the development of sustainable civil construction, since this material, in addition to having low density, increases the energy efficiency of buildings in terms of thermal insulation. However, a concern arising from the production of bio-concretes with high amounts of plant biomass is how this material behaves when subjected to high temperatures. Therefore, this work aims to evaluate the influence of high temperatures on the mechanical properties of wood bio-concretes. The mixtures were produced with wood shavings volumetric fractions of 40, 50 and 60% and cementitious matrix composed of a combination of cement, fly ash and metakaolin. Uniaxial compression tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed, with bio-concrete at age of 28 days, at room temperature (reference) and after exposure to temperatures of 100, 150, 200 and 250 °C. The density and compressive strength of the bio-concrete gradually decreased with increasing biomass content. Up to 200 °C, reductions in strength and densities less than 19% and 13%, respectively, were observed. At 250 °C, reductions of compressive strength reached 87%. Analysis performed by SEM showed an increase in the number of cracks in the wood-cementitious matrix interface and wood degradation by increasing the temperature.


2022 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami Ullah JAN ◽  
Ayesha LIAQAT ◽  
Yonghong ZHU ◽  
Jing LI ◽  
Huangyang ZHANG ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Nitrogen (N) is a required macronutrient for cotton growth and productivity. Excessive N fertilizers are applied in agriculture for crop yield maximization, which also generates environmental pollution. Improving crop N use efficiency (NUE) is the most economical and desirable way of reducing fertilizer application and environmental pollution. NUE has been an important issue in cotton. So far there is no report on cotton NUE improvement via transgenic approach. Nin-like proteins (NLP) are transcription factors regulating NUE. We previously demonstrated that AtNLP7 improved NUE and biomass when overexpressed in Arabidopsis. However, it is not known whether AtNLP7 can be used to improve NUE in crops. Results To test the feasibility, we expressed AtNLP7 in cotton and evaluated NUE and yield of the transgenic cotton in the field. Transgenic cotton showed improved NUE and yield under both low and high N conditions. In addition, plant biomass, amount of absorbed N, N contents, activities of N-assimilating enzymes, and the expression of N-related marker genes were significantly increased in transgenic cotton compared with the wild type control, suggesting that AtNLP7 enhances NUE in cotton. Conclusion Together, our results demonstrate that AtNLP7 is a promising candidate to improve NUE and yield in cotton.


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