How Does the Addition of Biostimulants Affect the Growth, Yield, and Quality Parameters of the Snap Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)? How Is This Reflected in Its Nutritional Value?

Recently, the use of biostimulants as natural and eco-friendly fertilizers has received increasing attention because of their efficiency in terms of improving crops’ qualitative and quantitative parameters, i.e., growth, yield, and chemical composition. We studied the effect of four biostimulants—humic acid (20 g/L), vermicompost tea (15 mL/L), moringa leaf extract (1:30 v/v), and yeast extract (5 g/L), with tap water as a control treatment—on the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of snap beans. The experiment was designed using a complete randomized block with triplicates. The results showed a significant improvement in treated plant performance (growth and yield), chlorophyll, and chemical composition compared to untreated plants. Using moringa leaf extract increased the plant height, number of leaves and branches/plant, and fresh and dry weight. Additionally, the diameter of the treated plant stems and the quality of the crop and pods were also significantly higher than those of plants treated with vermicompost or humic acid extract. It is also noted that the profile of amino acids was improved using all tested biostimulants. This leads to the conclusion that the addition of moringa leaf extract and vermicompost tea not only positively affects the qualitative and quantitative properties of snap bean but is also reflected in its nutritional value as a plant-based food.

Ameliorative activity of medicinal plant fraction for neuroprotection against acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity in Drosophila melanogaster—a comparative study

Background Medicinal plant extracts used in folk medicine seem to be crucial since those are generally accepted by people without worrying about the toxicity. In our present study, we have compared the neuroprotective role of the rhizome of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. and leaf extracts of Olea dioica Roxb., against acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. Results In-vivo neurotoxic study was carried out using 7-day-old flies (wild-type D. melanogaster). Prior to co-after exposing the flies with acrylamide (8 mM) along with or without OLE-2 and CU-3 fractions (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6% w/v), the heads of flies of both the control and treated groups were homogenized for biochemical assay. ACR-treated groups have shown higher elevation in AChE, SOD, LPO, and CAT activity when compared to control and treated (plant fraction) groups. Biochemical and histopathology studies show that both the plant fractions (OLE-2 and CU-3) have neuroprotective action against acrylamide. Conclusion The present study has demonstrated that dietary supplementation with plant fraction of OLE-2 and CU-3 has increased antioxidant enzymes and decreased AChE activity in D. melanogaster. This activity could be part of the probable mechanisms of action by which OLE-2 and CU-3 fractions have extended the lifespan and locomotory activity in fruit flies. These fruit flies continue to provide an exciting system for metabolic studies and should be more extensively exploited. Based on these results, further studies on the identified bioactive compounds from these two plants are being planned.

Effects of fresh shoot biomass of siam weed Chromolaena odorata (L.) King and H. Robinson on the germination and growth of okra Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) moench

This study was carried out in the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State. Investigation was carried out on the effects of Fresh Shoot Biomass of Chromolaena odorata on okra Abelmoschus esculentus. For the laboratory experiment, about 5g, 10g, 15g and 20g each of Chromolaena odorata was weighed into plastic bottles each containing 250ml of distilled water for 24 hours. Two millilitres of the leachate was used to water the seeds of okra that was placed in Petri dishes. Each treatment had five replicates that contained four seeds of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus). For the screening experiment, loamy top soil, fresh shoot, stems and leaves of Chromolaena odorata were collected within Federal University Oye Ekiti environment and crushed into smaller bits using mortar and pestle. Three seeds, each of okra that was planted in all the pots. The growth variables considered include radicle length, plumule length, number of roots, for the green house experiment the plant height, leaf area, stem girth, and pod weight were also observed. The leachate of Chromolaena odorata resulted to a reduction in radicle length, plumule length and number of roots. The radicle length of okra treated with leachates of 15g/250ml were adversely affected, while the plumule length of 5g/250ml, 15g/250ml and 20g/250ml greatly decreased compared to the control. The highest decrease in number of roots was noticed in the 15g/250ml concentration. The control plant had the highest plant height increased in a concentration dependent manner with exception of those treated with 200g, the leaf area of the control plant was observed to be lower than all the treatment plants, but it increased in a concentration dependent manner. Also, there was a concentration dependent increase in the steam girth of A. esculentus. The pod weight of the treated plants were lower than the control. The plant treated with 50g highest moisture content, the fat content was higher in the control and plant treated with 50g than the other treated plant. The protein content of the treatment plants was observed to be significantly higher when compared to the control plant. Crude fiber content of the treatment plant was significantly higher than the treatment plants. The ash content of the control was significantly lower than the treated plants, the carbohydrate content of the control plant increased significantly compared to the treatment plant with the lowest at 150g treated plant. The study concluded that the leachate and FSB affected the seed germination, growth and the food content of Abelmoschus esculentus.

Cytoplasmic Matrix and Viroplasms Inclusions in the Presence of Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs)

Cellular ultrastructure micrographs revealed striking changes resulting from the Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV-PAV) infection in Electron microscopy. In the cytoplasm, the Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) may bind with different cytoplasmic organelles and interfere with the treated site’s metabolic processes. The micrographs of the treated plant leave with AuNPs showing; Endosomes, amorphous bodies, slender filaments fibers, myelin bodies with a high concentration of virus particles, and Gold Nanoparticles distributed in a circulated shape in the cytoplasm with virus particles.

BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE OF BEMISIA TABACI (HEMIPTERA: ALEYRODIDAE) TOWARDS METARHIZIUM ANISOPLIAE VOLATILES

The aim of this study was to investigate the behavioral response of Bemisia tabaci towards Metarhizium anisopliae (isolates PR1 and GT3) volatiles. Behavioral response of B. tabaci was investigated based on adult feeding and oviposition preference in eggplant Solanum melongena L. The highest mean number of adult (87) and egg (418) of B. tabaci were observed in the control plant, while the lowest mean number of adult (26) and egg (107) of B. tabaci were deposited in the PR1-treated plant. There were 8 and 5 compounds identified from the isolates PR1 and GT3, respectively. The highest amount of compounds of 1-Hydroxy-2-aminopropane (61.96%) and 1, 4-Dioxane-2-ol (54.18%) were released by PR1 and GT3 respectively. The results obtained so far revealed that whitefly avoided the eggplants provided with cultures of the M. anisopliae isolates emanating the volatile organic compounds and suitability largely depended upon the volatile profile.

Unlocking the potential plant growth-promoting properties of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seed endophytes bio-inoculants for improving the soil health and crop production

Sustainable agronomic practices are tried all over the world to promote safe and eco-friendly crop production. Therefore, in the present study, the effect of seed endophytic bacteria and its consortia on soil biochemical property, soil nutrient, and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under field and pot conditions are investigated. Both the experimental results proved a significant increase in total soil organic carbon (OC), electric conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), soil nutrient like available N, P and K content and important soil enzymes like dehydrogenase (DHA), beta glucosidase, alkaline phosphate, and urease was observed under the Enterobacter hormaechei BHUJPCS-15 (T1), Enterobacter cloacae BHUJPCS-21 (T2) and combined T3 (consortia of T1 and T2) treatments. Similarly, a significant increase in the grain yield (27-45% and 57-73%) in microbial treatment was found in pot and field experiments, respectively than control. In addition, whereas the higher plant biomass (14-38% and 42-78%) was recorded in the treated plant over the control plant. Similarly, the plant photosynthetic pigment (Chl a, b, total Chl) were also increased in the microbial treated plant than the control untreated chickpea plant. Our present study highlights the significance of sustainable agronomic practices for improving the soil quality and agricultural yield while reducing adverse impacts of chemicals by the use of seed endophytic microbes and their consortia.

Biotic and Abiotic Elicitors of Stilbenes Production in Vitis vinifera L. Cell Culture

The in vitro cell cultures derived from the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) have been used for the production of stilbenes treated with different biotic and abiotic elicitors. The red-grape cultivar Váh has been elicited by natural cellulose from Trichoderma viride, the cell wall homogenate from Fusarium oxysporum and synthetic jasmonates. The sodium-orthovanadate, known as an inhibitor of hypersensitive necrotic response in treated plant cells able to enhance production and release of secondary metabolite into the cultivation medium, was used as an abiotic elicitor. Growth of cells and the content of phenolic compounds trans-resveratrol, trans-piceid, δ-viniferin, and ɛ-viniferin, were analyzed in grapevine cells treated by individual elicitors. The highest accumulation of analyzed individual stilbenes, except of trans-piceid has been observed after treatment with the cell wall homogenate from F. oxysporum. Maximum production of trans-resveratrol, δ- and ɛ-viniferins was triggered by treatment with cellulase from T. viride. The accumulation of trans-piceid in cell cultures elicited by this cellulase revealed exactly the opposite effect, with almost three times higher production of trans-resveratrol than that of trans-piceid. This study suggested that both used fungal elicitors can enhance production more effectively than commonly used jasmonates.

Effect of Crude Oil Concentrations on Growth and Photosynthetic Pigments of Helianthus Annus Bio-Augmented with Micrococcus luteus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Bioremediation of soil contaminated with organic chemicals is a challenging problem in the environmental scenario. On the basis of identification of remediation capability of Helianthus annus (sunflower) assisted with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Micrococcus luteus were used to investigate the soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons (crude oil) at varying concentrations (25,50,75,100,125, &150ml/ kg of soil) in a pot experiment carried out in a green house. According to both qualitative and quantitative analysis of parameters including plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, leaf area and photosynthetic pigments including chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid indicated that H.annus showed peculiar tolerance to the higher concentration of crude oil concentration in the soil containing both micrococcus and pseudomonas (MP) (combined) consortium showing positive synergetic effect on H.annus in remediating the petroleum hydrocarbons at all concentrations more significantly at higher concentration of crude oil (150ml/kg) of soil. The results show significant increase in growth of (both Micrococcus and Pseudomonas) MP treated plant as compare to control plants; in control the leaf area 18.716 ± 1.256, stem girth 3.40±0.10 and plant height 90.72±4.062 whereas in MP treated plant leaf area 19.65 ±0.292, stem girth 3.580 ±0.048, height 98.20±3.852 respectively. On the whole Helianthus anuus is commercial oil yielding crop that can be effectively applied to phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons assisted with Micrococcus and Pseudomonas is a significant treatment for remediating the soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbon.

Induced Mutagenesis in Yellow Flowering Marigold with Colchicine in Hydrogen Peroxide

Marigold flower has many benefits in many aspects of life in Bali Island (Indonesia) including often used in religious ceremonial activities. For controlling plant pests and diseases, marigold is planted on the sidelines or on the edge of a land as an attractant crop to invite natural enemies and marigold also can produce certain substance which can reduce the incidence of nematode. In inducing mutagenesis in this research, the seeds of marigold were soaked in solution of colchicine with hydrogen peroxide as its solvent. The results of this research indicated that the treatments caused the formation of chlorophyll mutant and an increase in the length of flower diameter. Both the control and treated plant samples were attacked by leaf miner, giant land snail, virus-like disease and botrytis flower blight disease.