Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Khalid H. Alamer Author-Workplace-Name: Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Science and Arts, King Abdulaziz University, 21911 Rabigh, Saudi Arabia Title: Role of glycine betaine in mitigating salt-induced oxidative stress in Vigna radiata Abstract: The impact of exogenously applied glycine betaine (GB; 0, 5, 10, 20 and 50 mmol) was evaluated in preventing Vigna radiata from the adverse effects of salt (100 mmol NaCl) stress. Salinity reduced growth parameters, such as plant height and fresh and dry weight of plants, while GB application significantly alleviated the decline. Salinity stress led to a decline in total chlorophylls and carotenoids, as well as a reduction in the net photosynthetic rate and gas exchange attributes, including stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO2. However, GB supplementation significantly alleviated this decline. Salinity stress increased the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide and methylglyoxal, while as applied GB reduced their accumulation, causing a significant decline in the lipid peroxidation. Application of GB, at all concentrations, increased the activity of the antioxidant enzymes under normal and salinity stress treatments with 10 and 20 mmol concentrations, imparting the highest increase. Increase in the radical scavenging activity due to GB application was also supported by increased total antioxidant activity assays measured as percent DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging. In addition, GB-supplemented plants exhibited an apparent increase in the activities of glyoxalase I and glyoxalase II enzymes. Accumulation of osmotic compounds like proline, sugars and GB increased significantly due to GB application and showed a further increase in salt-stressed plants. More importantly, the GB-treated plants exhibited a considerable decline in sodium accumulation, causing a decline Na/K in them. Glycine betaine was effective in mitigating the deleterious effects of salinity. Keywords: abiotic stress, legume, mung bean, osmolytes, salt stress, tolerance mechanisms Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 1-15 Volume: 72 Issue: 1 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/451/2025-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/451/2025-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202601-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:72:y:2026:i:1:id:451-2025-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Chao Li Author-Workplace-Name: National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, P.R. China Author-Name: Yanling Tian Author-Workplace-Name: National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, P.R. China Author-Name: Wei He Author-Workplace-Name: Observation and Research Station of Land Use Security in the Yellow River Delta, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Shandong Provincial Territorial Spatial Ecological Restoration Center, Jinan, P.R. China Author-Name: Yanhong Lou Author-Workplace-Name: National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, P.R. China Author-Name: Hong Pan Author-Workplace-Name: National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, P.R. China Author-Name: Quangang Yang Author-Workplace-Name: National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, P.R. China Author-Name: Guoqing Hu Author-Workplace-Name: National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, P.R. China Author-Name: Yuping Zhuge Author-Workplace-Name: National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: National Center of Technology Innovation for Comprehensive Utilization of Saline-Alkali Land, Dongying, P.R. China Author-Name: Hui Wang Author-Workplace-Name: National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: National Center of Technology Innovation for Comprehensive Utilization of Saline-Alkali Land, Dongying, P.R. China Title: The temperature sensitivity of stable organic carbon storage rises with increasing soil salinity Abstract: Soil salinisation is a key determinant in soil fertility decline, exerting a direct negative impact on soil organic carbon. In the context of global warming, investigating the response mechanisms of soil organic carbon pools with varying salinity levels to climate change is essential for accurately assessing the carbon cycle and emission potential of degraded soils. Based on soil samples (B1-B6) collected along a coastal salinity gradient, indoor incubation experiments were conducted at 15 °C and 25 °C to characterise soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity (Q10). Double-exponential models were used to simulate soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralisation, characterising active and stable organic carbon pools. The results demonstrated that the Q10 value of the stable organic carbon pool (7-8% of SOC mineralisation) was 103% higher than that of the active organic carbon pool (the initial 1% of SOC mineralisation). The Q10 value of the stable organic carbon pool was 32.6% higher at the high-salinity sites (B1, B2) than at the low-salinity sites (B4, B5). Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen (TN), and total salt (TS) were key regulators of Q10. The Q10 of the active organic carbon pool correlated positively with SOC and TN but negatively with TS, whereas the stable pool showed the opposite trends. The stable organic carbon pool exhibits a salinity-amplified Q10, implying that predictive models must account for this mechanism to avoid substantially underestimating carbon losses from degraded saline soils. Keywords: coastal saline soil, SOC decomposition, terrestrial ecosystem, abiotic stress, carbon pool fractions Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 16-27 Volume: 72 Issue: 1 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/479/2025-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/479/2025-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202601-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:72:y:2026:i:1:id:479-2025-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Halyna Panakhyd Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Agriculture of the Carpathian Region of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Obroshyne, Ukraine Author-Name: Nadiia Kozak Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Agriculture of the Carpathian Region of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Obroshyne, Ukraine Author-Name: Yurii Olifir Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Agriculture of the Carpathian Region of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Obroshyne, Ukraine Author-Name: Tetiana Partyka Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Agriculture of the Carpathian Region of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Obroshyne, Ukraine Author-Name: Oleh Havryshko Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Agriculture of the Carpathian Region of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Obroshyne, Ukraine Author-Name: Hryhorii Konyk Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Agriculture of the Carpathian Region of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Obroshyne, Ukraine Author-Name: Oleh Stasiv Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Agriculture of the Carpathian Region of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Obroshyne, Ukraine Title: Effect of fertilisation and utilisation methods of red clover on surface nutrient balance Abstract: The research was conducted in a long-term stationary experiment established on light grey forest surface-gleyed soil in 1965. Data presented in this study were collected during 2022-2024 growing seasons within the framework of this long-term experiment. The experiment is registered in the NAAS long-term field experiments registry (certificate No. 29) and the Global Long-Term Agricultural Experiments Network (GLTEN). The study examined the effect of growing red clover in a four-field crop rotation on nutrient balance at different fertiliser and lime doses and ratios. Red clover was used for feed and feed-green manure purposes. The research aimed to substantiate optimal methods of utilising this valuable forage crop and optimise fertilisation systems to ensure sustainable agricultural development. Growing the first cut of red clover for feed purposes and the second as green manure with fertilisation (N105P101K101 + organic fertilisers + liming) ensures a positive surface balance of 402 kg/ha of nitrogen, 150 kg/ha of phosphorus, and 204 kg/ha of potassium. These data are almost twice higher than indicators under minimal fertilisation doses. Despite the reduction in symbiotic nitrogen fixation from 217 kg/ha to 147 kg/ha when growing red clover in crop rotation with intensive fertilisation, it remains an effective phytobiological ameliorant. Keywords: biological fixation, symbiotic activity, leguminous crops, fertilisation systems, surface nutrient balance Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 28-38 Volume: 72 Issue: 1 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/369/2025-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/369/2025-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202601-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:72:y:2026:i:1:id:369-2025-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Abeer H. Elhakem Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology, College of Sciences and Humanities, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia Author-Name: Rasha S. El-Serafy Author-Workplace-Name: Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt Title: The changes in growth and metabolic adaptation responses in Java plum seedlings exposed to Cassia javanica extract under salinity Abstract: Developing and employing new, sustainable, and eco-friendly biostimulants that enhance plant growth and alleviate the harmful effects of environmental challenges is a major focus for many researchers. Salt stress is a critical constraint on plant growth and a limiting factor in crop productivity, particularly during the early developmental stages in the nurseries. Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (Java plum) is an important fruit tree and widely cultivated in gardens as an ornamental plant. This study was designed to develop Cassia javanica subsp. nodosa leaf extract (CLE) as a new sustainable and eco-friendly biostimulant capable of triggering the metabolic adaptation to salt stress in Java plum seedlings grown in nurseries. CLE successfully mitigated reductions in growth, biomass yield, and secondary metabolite production caused by salinity. Although salt stress depressed morphological characters and biomass yield, CLE foliar spray enhanced these parameters. Moreover, CLE enhanced the ferric reducing antioxidant potential, catalase, and superoxide dismutase enzyme activities, increased phenolic content, and reduced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Additionally, CLE application increased seedling biomass and stimulated antioxidant activity, osmoprotectant accumulation, and overall tolerance to salinity stress. These observations provide new insights into CLE's potential as an eco-friendly biostimulant for enhancing salt tolerance in Java plum seedlings. Keywords: abiotic stress, toxicity, osmotic stress, nursery application, osmoregulation, sustainable biostimulants Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 39-48 Volume: 72 Issue: 1 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/374/2025-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/374/2025-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202601-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:72:y:2026:i:1:id:374-2025-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Yangyang Li Author-Workplace-Name: School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, P.R. China Author-Name: Zengyuan Tian Author-Workplace-Name: School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Jixia Su Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, P.R. China Author-Name: Kaiyong Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, P.R. China Author-Name: Pengpeng Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Institute for Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Hua Fan Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, P.R. China Title: Decoupling of stomatal and mesophyll recovery drives photosynthetic resilience to water deficit in sugar beet: evidence from multiscale structural and functional traits Abstract: Water deficit severely constrains sugar beet productivity by impairing photosynthetic capacity. However, the underlying structure-function mechanisms conferring photosynthetic resilience remain poorly characterised. This study investigates the temporal dynamics of photosynthetic limitations and structural adaptations in sugar beet during water deficit and subsequent rehydration. We found that water deficit significantly reduced the maximum net CO2 assimilation rate (ANmax) and the Rubisco carboxylation rate (Vcmax) by impairing CO2 diffusion and biochemical processes. The reduction in photosynthetic capacity is primarily and stably attributed to mesophyll limitation, while contributions from stomatal and biochemical limitations flexibly change with deficit degree and rehydration. Severe water deficit caused irreversible structural damage that hinders recovery even after rehydration, while moderate water deficit allows partial restoration of leaf and chloroplast function. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) demonstrated that CO2 diffusion was governed by the volume fraction of intercellular air space (fias, β = 0.28) and surface areas of the chloroplasts exposed to leaf intercellular air spaces (Sc/S, β = 0.35), with Sc/S indirectly influencing mesophyll conductance (gm) through fias mediation (β = 0.53). Severe water deficit caused irreversible fias reduction and chloroplast interface damage (59% cell volume loss). These findings establish that resilience to water deficit in sugar beet depends on mesophyll structural integrity, with fias and Sc/S as key modulators of gm recovery. The study advances understanding of stress recovery mechanisms in sugar beet and provides a framework for multiscale crop improvement in the context of climate change. Keywords: sugar crop, stress condition, drought, chlorophyll, leaf thickness, chloroplast ultrastructure Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 49-65 Volume: 72 Issue: 1 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/564/2025-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/564/2025-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202601-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:72:y:2026:i:1:id:564-2025-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jiri Krucky Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Vaclav Hejnak Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Pavla Vachova Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jana Ceska Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jan Kubes Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Milan Skalický Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Foliar silicon modulates structural and biochemical responses of buckwheat to water deficit Abstract: Drought is a major abiotic stressor that limits crop growth and is often associated with oxidative stress. We evaluated whether foliar silicon (Si) application affects primary root anatomy, plant height, and phenolic metabolism in three common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) cultivars (La Harpe, Panda, and Smuga) exposed to water deficit. Plants were grown under controlled conditions in four treatments: control; drought; control + Si, and drought + Si. Qualitative anatomical assessment revealed that Si promoted more advanced development of the primary root central cylinder, most notably in La Harpe under drought conditions, where a continuous ring of secondary xylem and a well-developed pith were observed. Drought significantly reduced plant height in all cultivars; Si partially alleviated this reduction in La Harpe and Panda, but not in Smuga. Drought generally increased total phenolic content (TPC) and phenolic acid content (PAC) in both leaves and roots, and Si further enhanced these responses, with the highest values under drought + Si. Overall, the results indicate cultivar-dependent effectiveness of foliar silicon (Si) and suggest that Si contributes to coordinated structural and biochemical adjustments under water deficit conditions. To assess the transferability of these responses, further verification across a broader range of genotypes and under different intensities and durations of drought is warranted. Keywords: xylem development, growth inhibition, phenolic compounds, water stress, cultivar specificity Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 66-75 Volume: 72 Issue: 1 Year: 2026 DOI: 10.17221/539/2025-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/539/2025-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202601-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:72:y:2026:i:1:id:539-2025-PSE