Mild Salinity Stimulates Biochemical Activities and Metabolites Associated with Anticancer Activities in Black Horehound (Ballota nigra L.)

Black horehound (Ballota nigra L.) is one of the most important medicinal plants, as a rich source of health-promoting essential oils and metabolites. Salinity stress affects plant development and alters antioxidant activity and plant metabolite composition. The present research aimed to study the effect of salinity on physiological and biochemical changes and metabolites of B. nigra under greenhouse and in vitro culture conditions. The plants were treated with different concentrations of NaCl (25, 50, 75, 100 mM), and morphological characteristics of the plant were measured. The growth-related traits and soil plant analysis development (SPAD) were decreased both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, increased salt concentration negatively affected the cell membrane integrity. The total phenolic content and flavonoids of plants growing in the greenhouse increased by 21% at 50 mM of NaCl, but the amounts decreased significantly at higher stress levels (100 mM of NaCl). Antioxidant activity was also measured. Among the NaCl treatments, the most increased DPPH scavenging activities (IC50) under greenhouse and in vitro conditions were detected at mild salinity stress, but the activity significantly decreased in higher salinity treatments (i.e., 75 and 100 mM). In general, with increasing the salinity level to 75 mM, the activities of CAT and APX were significantly upregulated in both greenhouse and in vitro culture conditions. A correlation between total phenolics and flavonoids contents as well as antioxidant activity was obtained. Salinity level caused a shift in the metabolite expression. Mild salinity stress elevated the metabolites involved in anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities, such as β-ionone and caryophyllene oxide. However, the higher salt stress resulted in a significant reduction in their expression. Differential expression of metabolites to various levels of salt stress can be further exploited for the in vitro biosynthesis of metabolites.

Identifikasi Salinitas Tanah Menggunakan Instrumen Induksi Elektromagentik EM38 di Kecamatan Baitussalam Kabupaten Aceh Besar

Salinity is the amount of salt contained or dissolved in water or soil. Salinity can cause the change of physical characteristics of soil, especially in coastal area, that affects human daily activities, including agriculture. Baitussalam District (Kecamatan Baitussalam) is one of the districts that was hit most devastatingly by the Indian Ocean Tsunami 2004 as well as has large population with potential agricultural prospect in Aceh Besar Region (Kabupaten Aceh Besar). This research aims to identify the soil salinity level in the Baitussalam District. The sampling technique uses descriptive methodology with scalable quantitative approach in the chosen sampling areas. 26 sampling spots have been chosen according to mathematical calculation. Quantitative method is used to analyze the result in this research. Furthermore, conductivity measurement is done through induction electromagnetic method, using Geonics EM38 and to identify the soil salinity level, analysis of soil texture is conducted in the laboratory. As the result, the electrical conductivity measurement shows varying values. The minimum conductivity value is 0,004 dS/m, taken at spot T 004 in Lam Ujong Village (Desa Lam Ujong). Whereas the maximum conductivity value reaches 10,31 dS/m, taken at spot T 003 in Labuy Village. The soil salinity in the 26 sampling spots in Baitussalam District demonstrates an average level, with a value of ECa 2-4 dS/m. The result of this research is expected to be a parameter to control and develop the activities, especially for agricultural activities, in the coastal area in Aceh Besar Region, and in Baitussalam district in particular.

TINGKAT KEASINAN DAN UJI ORGANOLEPTIK TELUR AYAM RAS DENGAN WAKTU PERENDAMAN YANG BERBEDA

The purpose of this study was to determine the organoleptic value of salty taste in eggs soaked in salt solution with different soaking times. The materials used in this study were 90 eggs, rubbing ash and crust salt (table salt). The experimental design used was a completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 treatments and 3 replications. The parameters observed in this study were the organoleptic value and salinity level. The results showed that the duration of soaking eggs in a salt solution had a significant effect on the organoleptic value and salinity of the eggs (P 0.05) on the organoleptic value and the salinity level of the panelists preferred the results of soaking in a salt water solution with a long soaking time of 12 days.

Use of biochar for alleviating negative impact of salinity stress in corn grown in arid soil

Tremendous benefits of biochar (BC) amendment to soil have been reported, including their role in alleviating the impact of salinity stress in plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of BC produced at 300 ºC (BC300) and 700 ºC (BC700) on the germination rate (GR) and selected growth characteristics of corn plant irrigated with salinized water over a growth period of six weeks. The experimental treatments included: three biochar treatments [BC0 (control, without biocar addition), BC300 and BC700] and three salinity levels of irrigation water [0, 3, and 6 dS m-1]. The biochar was applied at a rate of 3%. The GR decreased with increasing salinity level, which was more evident in the first week. This stress impact was reduced when treated with the BC700 relative to the saline treatments without BC. Both BCs demonstrated contrasting effects on corn growth, nutrient uptake, and Na+ and K+ content in plant tissue. The effect of BC700 treatment on plant height and root length was limited, but the impact of salinity stress on chlorophyll meter readings, chlorophyll fluorescence parameter (Fv/Fm), dry matter yield, and N and P uptake were largely mitigated. It also increased K+ and decreased Na+ content in plant tissue. However, the BC300 treatment adversely affected plant growth parameters at each salinity level. Overall, the BC produced at a higher temperature significantly alleviated the impact of salinity stress on plant growth characteristics, which is probably attributed to their higher surface area and porosity, enhancing their salt ion sorption capacity.

Desalination Technique on Seaweeds Hydrolysate Eucheuma Cottonii for Bioethanol Production

The dissolved salts on Eucheuma cottonii hydrolysate interfere the growth of S. cerevisiae in the fermentation as it is considered as inhibitors. These salts are derived from biomass and formed from the chemicals used for hydrolysis processes such as H2SO4 and CaOH2. Ions and cations of the salts are potential as inhibitors such as Na+, Cl-, NH4+, SO42-. Osmotic pressure is raised due to the presence of salt. The efforts had been made to reduce salinity level through electrodialysis. The objective of this study was to eliminate dissolved salts in the hydrolysate in order to optimize the process of fermentation and increase ethanol yield. The results showed that the process of desalination by electrodialysis was able to reduce the salinity of 20% on the voltage of 5 V for 30 minutes; the voltage 9 V for 15 minutes; the voltage 12 V for 30 minutes. The lowest decline of SO42- occurred at treatment of 12 V for 45 minutes. The content of sulfate in the treatment decreased to 2.97 g/l or 46.22%. The more sulfate is reduced through the electrodialysis process, the better the fermentation process is carried out. Desalination treatment at a voltage of 5 V for 30 minutes had been the best treatment because it produced the highest ethanol yield of 2.06%. All the voltage treatments and the length of time on the electrodialysis process had a significant influence on the levels of ethanol yield. The process of desalination by electrodialysis was able to reduce the levels of dissolved salts, then it had a significant effect on ethanol yield.

Physiological response of Bajra-Napier Hybrids and Tri-Specific Hybrid to salinity stressPhysiological response of Bajra-Napier Hybrids and Tri-Specific Hybrid to salinity stress

Physiological responses of 3 Bajra-Napier (Cenchrus spp., syn. Pennisetum spp.) hybrid varieties, viz. BNH-3, BNH-6, BNH-10, and 1 ttri-specific hybrid (TSH) were tested under different gradients of soil salinity, i.e. Control, 4, 6 and 8 dS/m electric conductivity (EC), in a pot trial. The experiment was laid out in a factorial completely randomized design with 3 replications. Shoot dry weight, root dry weight, root:shoot ratio and chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations were reduced with increasing salinity level as compared with Control. However, the concentration of Na+ in leaves increased and K+ concentration decreased with increasing salinity level. Physiological parameters, i.e. relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), chlorophyll stability index, carotenoid stability index and K+: Na+ ratio, in leaves tended to be higher in the BNH-3 variety than in other varieties. Shoot dry weight showed highly positive significant correlation with RWC, MSI, K+ concentration and K+:Na+ ratio, while it was negatively correlated with Na+ concentration (P<0.01) All BN hybrid varieties and the tri-specific hybrid studied were susceptible to salinity stress, showing marked reductions in growth as the level of salinity increased above 4 dS/m. However, even at salinity levels producing EC of 8 dS/m these varieties still produced 25‒44% DM yields. There are prospects for improving forage yields from saline soils by planting these hybrids but further breeding studies are warranted to identify germplasm with greater tolerance of saline conditions if these soils are to be utilized effectively to contribute more to supplying forage to support the world’s ruminant population.

Effects of different salt sources and salinity levels on emergence and seedling growth of faba bean genotypes

Suitability of poor quality water for irrigation depends on salinity level and solute concentration in the water and selected crop. Salt stress is a major potential constraint for faba bean. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of different Cl- and SO4-containing salt sources in irrigation water with different salinity levels on emergence, early seedling growth and photosynthetic capacity of six faba bean genotypes. The negative effect order of salinity level was high (3 dS/m) > medium (2 dS/m) > low (1 dS/m) > control (0.05 dS/m) for all investigated parameters except dry root weight. The negative effects of Cl-containing salt sources were higher than that of SO4-containing salt sources. The worst and the best performing genotypes were determined as III-28 and III-29 on emergence percentage at 10th DAS, I-29 and III-1 on mean emergence time, III-22 and III-1 on shoot height, III-1 and I-29 on fresh biomass weight, III-22 and III-28 on fresh shoot weight, III-29 and I-29 on fresh root weight, respectively. This study showed that faba bean genotypes have different behaviors in terms of response to the increasing salinity levels artificially makeup by using different salt sources indicating that salt response of faba bean is genotype-specific.

Restoration of Salinity in the Sivash Bay to Natural Levels after the Closure of the North Crimean Canal

The paper analyzes the salinity dynamics in the Sivash Bay after the closure of the NorthCrimean based on the data from field research carried out by MHI RAS in 2014–2020. Recent field data are compared with the literature data obtained in the period before the commissioning of the North Crimean Canal. Salinity in water samples taken during 18 expeditions to the Eastern and Southern Sivash at over 100 stations was determined using the refractometric method. It was shown that after the closure of the North Crimean Canal in 2014, there was a steep increase in salinity in the Eastern and Southern Sivash. It was determined that in the area of the Sivash Bay, the haline field changes non-uniformly. The data analysis showed that salinity increases from north to south (from the Eastern to Southern Sivash), moreover salinity values in the Southern Sivash can be several times higher than those in the Eastern Sivash. In spring 2014, salinity in the Eastern Sivash varied from 27 to 33 ‰, and in 2020, 6 years after the closure of the Canal, salinity increased significantly at all stations reaching 60–70 ‰. These values are comparable to those obtained before the start of the Canal in the 1950s. The highest salinity values were observed in the South Sivash: in 2013, it was 54 ‰ and in summer 2020, for the first time since the North Crimean Canal became operational, it reached 110 ‰, which almost corresponds to the salinity level observed in 1969.

Prediction of Salinity Based on Meteorological Data Using the Backpropagation Neural Network Method

Salinity is the level of salt dissolved in water. The salinity level of seawater can affect the hydrological balance and climate change. The salinity level of seawater in each area varies depending on the influencing factors, that is evaporation and precipitation (rainfall). One way to find out the salinity level is by taking seawater samples, which requires a long time and costs a lot. In this study, the salinity level of seawater can be predicted by utilizing time series data patterns from evaporation and precipitation using artificial neural network learning, namely the backpropagation neural network. The evaporation and precipitation data used were derived from the ECMWF dataset, while the salinity data were derived from NOAA where each data was taken at the coordinate point of 9,625 113,625 in the south of Java island. Seawater salinity, evaporation, and precipitation data were formed into a 7-day time series data. This study conducted several backpropagation architectural experiments, that is the learning rate, hidden layer, and the number of nodes in the hidden layer to obtain the best results. The results of the seawater salinity prediction were obtained at a MAPE value of 2.063% with a model architecture using 14 input layers, 2 hidden layers with 10 nodes and 2 nodes, 1 output layer, and a learning rate of 0.7. Predicted sea water salinity data ranging from 33 to 35 ppt. Therefore, the prediction system for seawater salinity using the backpropagation method can be said to be good in providing information about the salinity level of sea water on the island of Java.

Production of forage palm cultivars (Orelha de Elefante Mexicana, IPA-Sertânia and Miúda) under different salinity levels in irrigation water

Brazilian semiarid region is characterized by irregular rainy periods that limits the production of forage feed for the maintenance of agricultural livestock and causes losses in the production. Despite that, semiarid region stands out in the production of forage palm, buffering the impact of drought in the area. Thus, this study aimed at analyzing the effect of different levels of salinity in irrigation water on the production of forage palm in the semiarid region. The experiment was arranged as a complete randomized block, in a 4x3 factorial arrangement and four levels of salinity (0.2, 2.0, 3.8 and 5.6 dS m-1); three cultivars (Miúda, Orelha de Elefante Mexicana and IPA-Sertânia) with 4 replications. The variables evaluated were the following: number of primary, secondary, tertiary and total cladodes, cladode biomass and estimative of threshold salinity (SL). The results showed that irrigation with saline water with an electrical conductivity of 2.0 dS m-1 negatively affected the emission of cladodes of superior orders for all forage palm cultivars. Miúda cultivar presented the best production of fresh phytomass (13.36 kg per plant) under a salinity level of 4.04 dS m-1, followed by Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (12.55 kg per plant) under a salinity level of 2.73 dS m-1 and Baiana (11.56 kg per plant) under a salinity level of 2.17dS m-1.