Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Khan Ira Author-Workplace-Name: Botany Section, School of Sciences, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, India Author-Name: Vanaja Maddi Author-Workplace-Name: Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad, India Author-Name: Sathish Poldasari Author-Workplace-Name: Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad, India Author-Name: Faizan Mohammad Author-Workplace-Name: Botany Section, School of Sciences, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, India Author-Name: Soysal Sipan Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Siirt University, Siirt, Türkiye Author-Name: D. Rajput Vishnu Author-Workplace-Name: Academy of Biology and Biotechnology, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia Author-Name: Djalovic Ivica Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Novi Sad, Serbia Author-Name: Trivan Goran Author-Workplace-Name: Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Author-Name: Alam Pravej Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology, College of Science and Humanities, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia Title: Response of maize (Zea mays L.) on yield, physiology and stomatal behaviour under two different elevated CO2 concentrations. Do these anatomical changes affect the physiology of the C4 crop plant under high CO2 conditions? Abstract: Rising CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is a matter of global concern and poses apprehension about how plants will adapt to the changing environment. Various studies have proved that under high CO2 levels, plant physiology alters and affects plant functioning. However, under elevated CO2, the stomatal characters and their relation with physiological responses are still not yet clear. To find out these changes in the stomatal parameters at ambient and two elevated CO2 (550 ppm and 700 ppm) levels, four genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.) viz. DHM-117, Harsha, Varun and M-24 were grown in open-top chambers. In the study, it was observed that the stomatal density increased, stomatal size altered, stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration rate (Tr) decreased under elevated CO2 (eCO2) while photosynthetic rate (Pn), water use efficiency (WUE), yield and biomass, of which especially the reproductive biomass increased. Under eCO2, stomatal and physiological changes were genotypic and CO2 concentration specific. Increased stomatal density at eCO2 was mainly due to increased abaxial stomatal density. The improved Pn and reduced Tr at 550 ppm improved the WUE in the plants, while this response was not observed at 700 ppm. These results elucidate that this C4 crop responded positively to up to 550 ppm of CO2 concentrations, and beyond this, the impact was minimal. Keywords: grain number, greenhouse gases, stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, cereals, climate change Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 601-616 Volume: 70 Issue: 10 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/105/2024-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/105/2024-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202410-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:70:y:2024:i:10:id:105-2024-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Abeer Hamdy Elhakem Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology, College of Sciences and Humanities, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia Title: Alleviating cadmium toxicity in maize plants: role of glycine betaine in enhancing growth, photosynthetic efficiency, water status, and antioxidant defense mechanism Abstract: The issue of heavy metals (HMs) contamination poses a significant challenge in the environment, exerting a severe impact on the growth and productivity of crops. Cadmium (Cd) is specifically identified as the seventh heavy metal among the top 20 pollutants, primarily due to its elevated phytotoxicity and its solubility in water. In the current study, foliar application of glycine betaine (GB) (500 µmol) investigated the toxic effects of cadmium in maize plants subjected to two Cd concentrations (50 and 100 µmol) as CdCl2. The maize plants exposed to Cd stress exhibited a massive reduction in growth, biomass, photosynthetic pigments [chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), carotenoids, and total pigments], gas exchange parameters [transpiration rate (Tr), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), intracellular CO2 concentration (ci), and stomatal conductance (gs)], relative water content (RWC), and organic osmolytes content [total soluble protein (TSS), and total soluble sugar (TSS)]. These impacts were significant with the 100 µmol CdCl2 treatment. Moreover, Cd led to remarked increase in proline, nonenzymatic antioxidants levels [ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH)] as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR). On the other hand, GB application efficiently relieved the Cd toxic impacts on maize and maintained higher growth criteria, gas exchange parameters, photosynthetic pigments, RWC, and organic osmolytes. In addition, the exogenous application of GB added more enhancement to the antioxidative system (enzymatic and nonenzymatic). These results imply that GB could significantly preserve maize growth under Cd toxicity conditions by maintaining photosynthetic characteristics, water status, and antioxidant system. This suggests an enhancement in the plant's resilience to stress induced by heavy metals. Keywords: Zea mays L., environmental pollutants, water homeostasis, physiological parameters, stomatal behaviour, adaptation Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 617-631 Volume: 70 Issue: 10 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/66/2024-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/66/2024-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202410-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:70:y:2024:i:10:id:66-2024-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Fugui Li Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Shujie Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Longhang Chai Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Zhiqiang Guo Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Peipei Li Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Yanlai Han Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Co-Construction State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Yi Wang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Co-Construction State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Title: Enhanced maize yield and nitrogen efficiency with low molecular weight fulvic acid: insights into chlorophyll a/b ratio and nitrogen metabolising enzyme activity Abstract: This study investigates the impact of various molecular weights (MWs) of fulvic acid (FA) on maize growth, grain yield, and nutrient uptake under different nitrogen levels (NLs). A 2 × 3 balanced design was employed, with high (0.2 g N/kg) and low (0.05 g N/kg) NLs, and three FA MW ranges (W1 ≤ 3 000 D, 3 000 < W2 ≤ 10 000 D, W3 > 10 000 D) were applied at 25 mg/kg in soil. Significant interactions between NLs and FA MWs were observed in chlorophyll a/b ratio, nitrate reductase and glutamate dehydrogenase activities, nitrogen content, and nitrogen uptake efficiency. Overall, under different NLs, FA application reduced chlorophyll a/b ratio, increased nitrogen metabolism enzyme activities, promoted maize growth, and thereby improved grain yield and nitrogen fertiliser uptake efficiency. Additionally, the promotion effect of low MW FA on these indicators outweighed that of high MW FA, yet the latter exhibited a more pronounced effect on increasing grain nitrogen concentration. Structural equation model analysis revealed direct effects of chlorophyll content, nitrogen accumulation, nitrogen uptake efficiency, NLs and FA MWs on maize grain yield, with FA MWs negatively impacting yield. Keywords: low nitrogen stress, nitrogen utilisation, plant growth, Zea mays L Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 632-643 Volume: 70 Issue: 10 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/320/2024-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/320/2024-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202410-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:70:y:2024:i:10:id:320-2024-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Binghua Liu Author-Workplace-Name: Shandong Academy of Forestry, Jinan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Shandong Engineering Research Center for Ecological Restoration of Forest Vegetation, Jinan, P.R. China Author-Name: Xinghong Liu Author-Workplace-Name: Shandong Academy of Forestry, Jinan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Shandong Engineering Research Center for Ecological Restoration of Forest Vegetation, Jinan, P.R. China Author-Name: Lianjia Yu Author-Workplace-Name: Shandong Academy of Forestry, Jinan, P.R. China Author-Name: Xingjian Dun Author-Workplace-Name: Shandong Academy of Forestry, Jinan, P.R. China Author-Name: Hailin Ma Author-Workplace-Name: Shandong Academy of Forestry, Jinan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Shandong Engineering Research Center for Ecological Restoration of Forest Vegetation, Jinan, P.R. China Author-Name: Fangchun Liu Author-Workplace-Name: Shandong Academy of Forestry, Jinan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Shandong Engineering Research Center for Ecological Restoration of Forest Vegetation, Jinan, P.R. China Author-Name: Lin Peng Author-Workplace-Name: Shandong Academy of Forestry, Jinan, P.R. China Title: Serendipita indica improve seed germination and seedling growth of Lolium multiflorum Lam. through amelioration of osmotic adjustment, nutrient accumulation and Na+/K+ homoeostasis under salinity conditions Abstract: A pot experiment was carried out to determine the effect of Serendipita indica on the salt response of Lolium multiflorum Lam. Although the salinity decreased the root colonisation of S. indica by 28.34%, successful colonisation of S. indica increased the seed germination rate, fresh weight, leaf relative water content and chlorophyll content by 28.09, 59.01, 38.78 and 28.80%, respectively, compared with uncolonised seedlings. Under salinity, leaf malondialdehyde content, leaf relative electrical conductivity, as well as Na+ content and Na+/K+ ratio in leaves and roots of S. indica-colonised seedlings were decreased by 33.99, 33.31, 63.40% and 47.42, 85.66 and 55.88%, respectively, compared with uncolonised seedlings. Meanwhile, compared with uncolonised seedlings under salinity, the contents of proline in leaves, N, P and K+ in leaves and roots of the S. indica-colonised seedlings were increased by 47.47, 45.69 and 30.05%, and 41.77, 19.51, 19.18 and 155.00%, respectively. These results indicate that S. indica colonisation confers salt tolerance in L. multiflorum seedlings by enhancing osmotic adjustment via actively accumulating proline and K+, increasing the uptake of nutrients such as N and P, and improving Na+/K+ homoeostasis. The study would provide a new idea for the combined application of salt-tolerant plants and symbiotic microorganisms in the ecological restoration of saline-alkali lands. Keywords: salt stress, growth performance, osmoregulation substances, ionic homeostasis, nutrients uptake Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 644-655 Volume: 70 Issue: 10 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/244/2024-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/244/2024-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202410-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:70:y:2024:i:10:id:244-2024-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Yinglei Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agronomy, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Hangyu Dou Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agronomy, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Liuyang yang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agronomy, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Yihan Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agronomy, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Wei Sun Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agronomy, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Yihao Ruan Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agronomy, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Jiameng Guo Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agronomy, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Yongchao Wang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agronomy, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Ruixin Shao Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agronomy, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Qinghua Yang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agronomy, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Engineering Research Center for Crop Chemical Regulation, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Hao Wang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agronomy, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Regulating and Controlling Crop Growth and Development Ministry of Education, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Title: Innovative approach to utilising magnetic fields to enhance wheat yield: evidence from field studies in China Abstract: Magnetic fields, as a form of physical energy, exert an influence on biological activities. However, our current understanding of the impact of magnetic fields on wheat yield remains limited. In this study, our objective was to investigate the effects of magnetic field treatment of wheat plants on their yield, root growth, absorption of nitrogen and phosphorus and soil bacterial diversity. The experiments were conducted at two agricultural research stations in China, Zhengzhou and Xuchang. Plants were treated with magnetic fields of 20, 40, 60, and 80 mT induced by permanent magnets for chronic exposure. Untreated plants were considered as controls. Our result showed that soil nutrients were found to have a substantial impact on wheat nitrogen and phosphorus absorption, and wheat nitrogen and phosphorus absorption significantly affected wheat yield. The change in soil nutrient content was caused by the change in soil bacterial community diversity and abundance, and increased soil nutrients increased wheat yield. The results suggest that magnetic field treatment stimulated wheat plant growth and yield, and changed soil nutrient content through improved soil bacterial community diversity and increased soil nitrogen and phosphorous absorption. Keywords: soil rhizosphere nutrients, microbial community, nitrogen nutrient absorption, phosphorus nutrient absorption Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 656-672 Volume: 70 Issue: 10 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/285/2024-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/285/2024-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202410-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:70:y:2024:i:10:id:285-2024-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ziyang Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, P.R. China Title: Prohexadione calcium regulates wheat tolerance to drought stress by maintaining water balance and promoting antioxidant metabolism and photosynthesis Abstract: This study explored whether and how prohexadione calcium (Pro-Ca) regulated wheat tolerance to drought stress (DS). Findings displayed that DS had significant influence on antioxidant metabolism, water balance and the photosynthesis. DS significantly improved the activity level of enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), the contents of non-enzymatic antioxidants ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH), electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), and the contents of osmotic regulatory substances soluble protein (SP), soluble sugars (SS) and proline (Pro), compared with control. Whereas DS significantly reduced transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (gs) and relative water content (RWC), photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), plant height and biomass. Compared to DS, Pro-Ca plus DS significantly promoted the antioxidant metabolism by improving the activity level of SOD, CAT, POD and APX and increasing AsA and GSH contents, which in turn reduced MDA content and EL. In addition, Pro-Ca plus DS significantly maintained water balance by promoting the accumulation of osmolytes SP, SS and Pro, which in turn increased RWC, Tr and gs. Pro-Ca plus DS also significantly promoted photosynthesis by increasing the contents of the above photosynthetic pigments, Pn and Fv/Fm, thereby promoting plant growth. These findings indicated that Pro-Ca was a potential agent to improve wheat tolerance under water deficit. Keywords: water metabolism, plant growth regulator, antioxidant ability, dry period, gas exchange parameter Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 673-681 Volume: 70 Issue: 10 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/247/2024-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/247/2024-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202410-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:70:y:2024:i:10:id:247-2024-PSE