Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ahmed A. Abbas Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt Author-Name: Muez Berhe Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Humera Agricultural Research Center, Tigray, Ethiopia Author-Name: Habtamu Kefale Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Plant Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Debre Markos University, Debre, Ethiopia Author-Name: Somaya A. Hussien Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt Author-Name: Rong Zhou Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, P.R. China Author-Name: Ting Zhou Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, P.R. China Author-Name: Huan Li Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, P.R. China Author-Name: Yanxin Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, P.R. China Author-Name: Zhongbo Guan Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Cereal and Oil Crops, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Shijiazhuang, P.R. China Author-Name: Chris O. Ojiewo Author-Workplace-Name: Dryland Crops Program, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya Author-Name: Jun You Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, P.R. China Author-Name: Linhai Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, P.R. China Title: Physiological and biochemical responses to cold stress in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) during the early growth stage Abstract: Cold stress significantly impacts sesame during its early growth stages, with varying responses observed among different genotypes. Ten genotypes were evaluated for phenotypic response to various temperatures during germination. Cold stress at 10, 12, 14, and 16 °C inhibited germination, with zero germination at 10 °C. At 14 °C, genotypes showed significant germination variation, and it was selected as the threshold temperature for assessing cold tolerance in sesame. Four genotypes were grouped into two, and each group with extreme germination responses (high and low) were selected for further biochemical and physiological studies. Genotypes V5 and V7 exhibited higher cold tolerance, better germination percentage, and seedling parameters under low temperatures, while V8 and V9 showed significant reductions, indicating cold sensitivity. Biochemical analyses revealed that cold-tolerant genotypes had enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes, including catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase, as well as higher proline accumulation compared to sensitive genotypes. These antioxidants played a crucial role in mitigating the oxidative stress induced by cold, as evidenced by lower levels of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde in the tolerant genotypes. Cold-tolerant genotypes also accumulated higher soluble sugars and protein levels, contributing to osmotic regulation and membrane stability. The findings highlight the importance of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in cold stress tolerance, suggesting these biochemical markers could be used to identify and develop cold-resistant sesame cultivars. The results offer valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying cold tolerance and provide a foundation for breeding efforts to improve sesame cold resistance. Keywords: colder climate, low temperature stress, oilseed crop, seed germination, soluble protein Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 293-307 Volume: 71 Issue: 5 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/79/2025-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/79/2025-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202505-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:71:y:2025:i:5:id:79-2025-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Hanna Klikocka Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics and Agribusiness, Faculty of Agrobioengineering, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland Author-Name: Anna Podleśna Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Plant Nutrition and Fertilisation, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute, Puławy, Poland Author-Name: Bartosz Narolski Author-Workplace-Name: Secondary School Complex No 5, Name Józefa Piłsudskiego, Zamość, Poland Author-Name: Janusz Podleśny Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Fodder Crop Cultivation, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute, Puławy, Poland Title: The effect of soil tillage and sulphur fertilisation on content and ratios of macronutrients in the grain of spring triticale Abstract: The aim of the experiment was to determine the yield, content and uptake of macronutrients and their ratio in spring triticale, Milewo cultivar. The field experiment was conducted in the years 2014-2016 on Cambisols. The first experimental factor was a system of soil tillage (traditional (TRD) and reduced (RED)), and the second was sulphur fertilisation (0, 25 and 50 kg S/ha). Based on the study, it was found that the application of conventional tillage and the addition of sulphur fertilisation to NPK significantly increased spring triticale grain yield. The application of reduced tillage positively affected the increase in content and uptake in grain dry matter (DM) of N, S, P, K, Mg and Ca. Adding sulphur (S) to NPK fertilisation favourably increased the content and uptake of N, S, Mg, and Ca and did not affect the content of P and K. The application of reduced tillage expanded the ionic ratio of N:S, P:S while it narrowed the N:P ratio. However, the tillage system did not affect the ionic ratios Ca:P, K:Mg, K:(Ca + Mg) and molar K:(Ca + Mg). Adding sulphur to NPK fertilisation narrowed the N:S and P:S ratios while expanding the N:P and Ca:P ratios. Weather conditions during the 2016 growing season (relatively dry, k = 1.71) favoured spring triticale yield and uptake with dry grain weight of N, S, P, Mg and Ca. The highest N, S, P, K and Ca content in grain dry matter was shown in the 2014 season (relatively humid, k = 1.96). Numerous correlations were found between grain yield and the content, uptake and reciprocal ratios of elements in grain. Keywords: Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus., mineral fertilisation, cereal, chemical composition Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 308-319 Volume: 71 Issue: 5 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/113/2025-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/113/2025-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202505-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:71:y:2025:i:5:id:113-2025-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Farag Ibraheem Author-Workplace-Name: Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Qunfodah University College, Biology and Chemistry Department, Al-Qunfodah, Saudi Arabia Author-Name: Mohammed Albaqami Author-Workplace-Name: Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Author-Name: Eman M. Elghareeb Author-Workplace-Name: Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt Title: Halophytic resilience in extreme environments: adaptive strategies of Suaeda schimperi in the Red Sea's hyper-arid salt marshes Abstract: Suaeda schimperi, a halophyte native to the Red Sea's hyper-arid salt marshes, thrives in its extreme conditions (high salinity, minimal rainfall, and elevated temperatures). However, its adaptive tolerance mechanisms to these harsh conditions remain unclear. Herein, we investigated its growth responses and physiological mechanisms after short (5 days after treatment; DAT) and long-term (15 DAT) exposure to 0, 100, 200, and 400 mmol NaCl. Moderate salinity (200 mmol NaCl) enhanced growth, inducing 103.2% (5 DAT) and 40% (15 DAT) higher leaf biomass and 43.33% and 59.6% higher root biomass, respectively, compared to non-saline conditions. Deviation from moderate salinity reduced growth and disrupted ion balance, lowering K+, raising Na+, and increasing the Na+/K+ ratio, particularly under high salinity. The moderate salinity-enhanced growth was associated with increased chlorophyll, glycine betaine, glutathione, betacyanin, and betaxanthin, as well as higher antioxidant enzyme activity (polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate, and peroxidase) at 5 DAT. At 15 DAT, sugar accumulation and unsaturated fatty acids increased, while malondialdehyde and saturated fatty acids decreased. These findings reveal multiple adaptive strategies that support S. schimperi's physiological stability under extreme environments and highlight its significance in ecological restoration and breeding salt-tolerant crops under escalating soil salinisation and climate change. Keywords: osmotic stress, saline habitat, adaptation, salt tolerance Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 320-337 Volume: 71 Issue: 5 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/73/2025-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/73/2025-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202505-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:71:y:2025:i:5:id:73-2025-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Marie Mrázková-Štýbnarová Author-Workplace-Name: Agrovýzkum Rapotín Ltd., Šumperk, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Agritec Plant Research Ltd., Šumperk, Czech Republic Author-Name: Michaela Kolářová Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Radek Štencl Author-Workplace-Name: Administration of Protected Landscape Area Jeseníky Mountains, Jeseník, Czech Republic Author-Name: Prokop Šmirous Author-Workplace-Name: Agritec Plant Research Ltd., Šumperk, Czech Republic Author-Name: Marie Bjelková Author-Workplace-Name: Agritec, Research, Breeding and Services, Ltd., Šumperk, Czech Republic Author-Name: Josef Holec Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Martin Vašinka Author-Workplace-Name: Agrovýzkum Rapotín Ltd., Šumperk, Czech Republic Author-Name: Luděk Tyšer Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Oldřich Látal Author-Workplace-Name: Agrovýzkum Rapotín Ltd., Šumperk, Czech Republic Title: Revitalising subalpine grasslands: floristic shifts under renewed grazing Abstract: The species diversity of the unique flora in the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains is currently threatened due to the absence of traditional grazing, which was historically used as a management practice. This study evaluates changes in floristic composition in areas near the Švýcárna and Ovčárna lodges, where cattle and sheep grazing was reintroduced in 2012 and 2014, respectively, after long-term abandonment. The floristic composition was assessed using permanent plots and analysed statistically. In total, 84 plant species were recorded in the Švýcárna experimental area over 12 years. All experimental plots throughout the study observed an increase in species richness. In the Ovčárna area, a similar trend was detected, particularly in grazed grasslands dominated by Avenella flexuosa, Festuca supina, and Ligusticum mutellina. The reintroduction of grazing in these areas serves not only as a symbolic return to traditional land use but primarily as an effective management tool to suppress ecological succession and maintain or enhance plant species diversity in biologically valuable habitats. Keywords: nature conservation, biodiversity, livestock, revitalisation, grazing management Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 338-352 Volume: 71 Issue: 5 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/12/2025-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/12/2025-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202505-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:71:y:2025:i:5:id:12-2025-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Faisal Anggi Pradita Author-Workplace-Name: Agronomy Department, Agriculture Institute, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland Author-Name: Maria Janicka Author-Workplace-Name: Agronomy Department, Agriculture Institute, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland Title: Seed germination strategy as an indicator of suitability for restoration of species-rich meadows Abstract: Restoration of Arrhenatherion meadows is limited both by the lack of local seed availability in natural habitats for self-restoration purposes and the lack of information on the germination of target species in these meadows. Understanding germination strategies can optimise local seed use. This study aimed to define germination strategies for groups of species based on relevant six germination parameters: germination capacity (GC), fresh ungerminated seed (FUS), median germination time, germination velocity, germination synchrony and germination uniformity. The germination test of 23 meadow species was performed according to ISTA (International Seed Testing Association) rules. The hierarchical clustering method and PCA biplot divided the species into five groups. Based on the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's test, the evaluation of six parameters in five groups showed that species such as Arrhenatherum elatius, Centaurea jacea, Plantago lanceolata, Tragopogon pratensis and Dianthus deltoides differed significantly in terms of higher GC, lower FUS and faster germination velocity than Lathyrus pratensis, Vicia angustifolia and Geranium pratense. Conversely, these three species had more synchronous germination than species such as Knautia arvensis and Briza media and expressed the shortest peak of germination period among other species. These six parameters potentially describe germination strategies across groups of species. Keywords: floristic diversity, germinability, lowland hay meadows, semi-natural meadows, temperate grasslands Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 353-362 Volume: 71 Issue: 5 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/46/2025-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/46/2025-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202505-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:71:y:2025:i:5:id:46-2025-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Danke Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Yuyang Li Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Hairun Li Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Haojing Li Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Xihui Zhao Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Jing Cao Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Guowei Xu Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agriculture, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, P.R. China Title: Phosphorus application rates affect the grain yields of different phosphorus-tolerant rice cultivars by regulating grain filling and leaf senescence characteristics Abstract: The grain filling and physiological traits of different phosphorus-tolerant rice cultivars and phosphorus fertiliser rates have not been fully studied. A pot-growth experiment with cv. Lianjing 7 (weak phosphorus tolerance) and cv. Yongyou 2640 (strong phosphorus tolerance) was conducted using four phosphorus rates, namely, 0 (P0), 0.44 (P1), 0.88 (P2), and 1.32 g/pot (P3). Results indicated that grain yield, net photosynthetic rate, soil and plant analyser development (SPAD) value, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity in leaves, and adenosine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) and sucrose synthase (SuSase) activity in grains increased and then decreased with increasing phosphorus fertiliser rate, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) content in leaves decreased first and then increased. The above indexes of cv. Lianjing 7 and cv. Yongyou 2640 were optimal at P2 and P1 treatments, respectively. The grain yield, net photosynthetic rate, SPAD value, AGPase content, SuSase content in grains, and SOD and CAT activity in the leaves of cv. Yongyou 2640 were higher, whereas the MDA content was lower than those of cv. Lianjing 7. Correlation analysis showed that AGPase and SuSase activity in superior and inferior grains, photosynthetic rate, and SOD and CAT activity in the leaves were significant or highly significantly positively correlated with grain-filling rate and rice yield. Therefore, the adoption of appropriate phosphorus fertiliser rates can increase the activity of enzymes related to starch synthesis in different phosphorus-tolerant rice, enhance antioxidant systems in leaves at the filling stage, reduce leaf MDA content, and delay leaf senescence. These effects are beneficial to grain filling and increase grain yield. Keywords: Oryza sativa L., nutrition, adaptability, grain filling characteristics, starch metabolic enzyme, antioxidant  enzyme Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 363-380 Volume: 71 Issue: 5 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/125/2025-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/125/2025-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202505-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:71:y:2025:i:5:id:125-2025-PSE