The objective of this work was to study the interactive effect of biochar and plant growth-promot... more The objective of this work was to study the interactive effect of biochar and plant growth-promoting endophytic bacteria containing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase and exopolysaccharide activity on mitigating salinity stress in maize (Zea mays L.). The plants were grown in a greenhouse under controlled conditions, and were subjected to separate or combined treatments of biochar (0% and 5%, w/w) and two endophytic bacterial strains (Burkholderia phytofirmans (PsJN) and Enterobacter sp. (FD17)) and salinity stress. The results indicated that salinity significantly decreased the growth of maize, whereas both biochar and inoculation mitigated the negative effects of salinity on maize performance either by decreasing the xylem Na + concentration ([Na + ] xylem ) uptake or by maintaining nutrient balance within the plant, especially when the two treatments were applied in combination. Moreover, in biochar-amended saline soil, strain FD17 performed significantly better than did PsJN in reducing [Na + ] xylem . Our results suggested that inoculation of plants with endophytic baterial strains along with biochar amendment could be an effective approach for sustaining crop production in salt-affected soils.
Comparative effectiveness of Enterobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas fluorescens for mitigating th... more Comparative effectiveness of Enterobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas fluorescens for mitigating the depressing effect of brackish water on maize.
Citation: Panuccio MR, Jacobsen SE, Akhtar SS, Muscolo A. 2014. Effect of saline water on seed ge... more Citation: Panuccio MR, Jacobsen SE, Akhtar SS, Muscolo A. 2014. Effect of saline water on seed germination and early seedling growth of the halophyte quinoa. AoB PLANTS 6: plu047;
Saline stress seriously disrupts the growth and physiology of plants, whereas phytohormones play ... more Saline stress seriously disrupts the growth and physiology of plants, whereas phytohormones play an important role in regulating plant responses to salinity stress. The involvement of phytohormones in salt tolerance of tomato and the interaction between potassium and phytohormones was studied in relatively salt-tolerant (Indent-1) and salt-sensitive (Red Ball) genotypes under salt stress at three levels of NaCl (0, 75, 150 mM) combined with two levels of K (0, 4.5 mM) under controlled conditions in a climatic chamber. Results showed that the salt-tolerant genotype had significantly higher concentrations of ABA and ethylene under saline conditions compared to control (0 mM NaCl) and salt-sensitive genotype. The concentration of hormones was significantly higher in the treatment where no K was applied and it was lower in treatments where K was applied indicating that K application reduced the negative impact of salinity stress and thus increased the hormone concentration. Enhanced concentration of hormones in salt-tolerant genotype positively affected plant physiology and thus better chlorophyll content index (CCI), stomatal conductance and ion homeostasis that is higher K + /Na + ratio in the xylem. Salt stress altered the stomatal morphology and significantly decreased stomatal density and aperture in both genotypes. It was concluded that under salt stress enhanced phytohormones concentration positively affected the tomato plant physiology, especially in the salt-tolerant genotype and this could be one of the factors responsible for its better salt tolerance. Potassium application served as ameliorant and reduced the negative effects of salt stress and could be used as an effective tool for tomato production.
Biochar is an amendment that can be used for enhancing soil water storage which may increase crop... more Biochar is an amendment that can be used for enhancing soil water storage which may increase crop productivity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of biochar on physiology, yield and quality of tomato under different irrigation regimes. From early flowering to fruit maturity stages, the plants were subjected to full irrigation (FI), deficit irrigation (DI) and partial root-zone drying irrigation (PRD) and two levels of biochar (0% and 5% by weight). In FI, the plants were irrigated daily to pot water holding capacity while in DI and PRD, 70% of FI was irrigated on either the whole or one side of the pots, respectively. In PRD, irrigation was switched between sides when the soil water content of the dry side decreased to 15%. The results showed that addition of biochar increased the soil moisture contents in DI and PRD, which consequently improved physiology, yield, and quality of tomato as compared with the non-biochar control. However, leaf N content and chlorophyll content index (CCI) were decreased significantly in biochar treated plants. Furthermore, given a same irrigation volume, PRD offered advantages over DI in improving water use efficiency, leaf relative water content, membrane stability index and fruit yield. Overall, fruit quality was improved under reduced irrigation (i.e. DI and PRD) as compared with FI. It was concluded that incorporation of biochar under DI and particularly, PRD might be a novel approach to improve water productivity and quality of tomato.
The objective of this work was to study the interactive effect of biochar and plant growth-promot... more The objective of this work was to study the interactive effect of biochar and plant growth-promoting endophytic bacteria containing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase and exopolysaccharide activity on mitigating salinity stress in maize (Zea mays L.). The plants were grown in a greenhouse under controlled conditions, and were subjected to separate or combined treatments of biochar (0% and 5%, w/w) and two endophytic bacterial strains (Burkholderia phytofirmans (PsJN) and Enterobacter sp. (FD17)) and salinity stress. The results indicated that salinity significantly decreased the growth of maize, whereas both biochar and inoculation mitigated the negative effects of salinity on maize performance either by decreasing the xylem Na + concentration ([Na + ] xylem ) uptake or by maintaining nutrient balance within the plant, especially when the two treatments were applied in combination. Moreover, in biochar-amended saline soil, strain FD17 performed significantly better than did PsJN in reducing [Na + ] xylem . Our results suggested that inoculation of plants with endophytic baterial strains along with biochar amendment could be an effective approach for sustaining crop production in salt-affected soils.
Comparative effectiveness of Enterobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas fluorescens for mitigating th... more Comparative effectiveness of Enterobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas fluorescens for mitigating the depressing effect of brackish water on maize.
Citation: Panuccio MR, Jacobsen SE, Akhtar SS, Muscolo A. 2014. Effect of saline water on seed ge... more Citation: Panuccio MR, Jacobsen SE, Akhtar SS, Muscolo A. 2014. Effect of saline water on seed germination and early seedling growth of the halophyte quinoa. AoB PLANTS 6: plu047;
Saline stress seriously disrupts the growth and physiology of plants, whereas phytohormones play ... more Saline stress seriously disrupts the growth and physiology of plants, whereas phytohormones play an important role in regulating plant responses to salinity stress. The involvement of phytohormones in salt tolerance of tomato and the interaction between potassium and phytohormones was studied in relatively salt-tolerant (Indent-1) and salt-sensitive (Red Ball) genotypes under salt stress at three levels of NaCl (0, 75, 150 mM) combined with two levels of K (0, 4.5 mM) under controlled conditions in a climatic chamber. Results showed that the salt-tolerant genotype had significantly higher concentrations of ABA and ethylene under saline conditions compared to control (0 mM NaCl) and salt-sensitive genotype. The concentration of hormones was significantly higher in the treatment where no K was applied and it was lower in treatments where K was applied indicating that K application reduced the negative impact of salinity stress and thus increased the hormone concentration. Enhanced concentration of hormones in salt-tolerant genotype positively affected plant physiology and thus better chlorophyll content index (CCI), stomatal conductance and ion homeostasis that is higher K + /Na + ratio in the xylem. Salt stress altered the stomatal morphology and significantly decreased stomatal density and aperture in both genotypes. It was concluded that under salt stress enhanced phytohormones concentration positively affected the tomato plant physiology, especially in the salt-tolerant genotype and this could be one of the factors responsible for its better salt tolerance. Potassium application served as ameliorant and reduced the negative effects of salt stress and could be used as an effective tool for tomato production.
Biochar is an amendment that can be used for enhancing soil water storage which may increase crop... more Biochar is an amendment that can be used for enhancing soil water storage which may increase crop productivity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of biochar on physiology, yield and quality of tomato under different irrigation regimes. From early flowering to fruit maturity stages, the plants were subjected to full irrigation (FI), deficit irrigation (DI) and partial root-zone drying irrigation (PRD) and two levels of biochar (0% and 5% by weight). In FI, the plants were irrigated daily to pot water holding capacity while in DI and PRD, 70% of FI was irrigated on either the whole or one side of the pots, respectively. In PRD, irrigation was switched between sides when the soil water content of the dry side decreased to 15%. The results showed that addition of biochar increased the soil moisture contents in DI and PRD, which consequently improved physiology, yield, and quality of tomato as compared with the non-biochar control. However, leaf N content and chlorophyll content index (CCI) were decreased significantly in biochar treated plants. Furthermore, given a same irrigation volume, PRD offered advantages over DI in improving water use efficiency, leaf relative water content, membrane stability index and fruit yield. Overall, fruit quality was improved under reduced irrigation (i.e. DI and PRD) as compared with FI. It was concluded that incorporation of biochar under DI and particularly, PRD might be a novel approach to improve water productivity and quality of tomato.
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