Plant diseases significantly threaten global food security, with viral infections, particularly Watermelon Mosaic Virus (WMV), causing substantial losses in economically important crops such as squash. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of beneficial bacteria isolated from various plants in promoting growth and mitigating the effects of WMV in squash. Understanding the interactions between plants and beneficial microbes could provide sustainable solutions for managing viral infections in agriculture. Sixty-two bacterial isolates were obtained from the rhizosphere of basil, mint, thyme, and squash plants. Among these, six strains exhibited notable plant growth-promoting activities, including the synthesis of indole acetic acid, solubilization of phosphate and zinc, ammonia production, and activity of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACCD). Morphological observations and 16S rRNA …

Robinia pseudoacacia L., commonly known as black locust, is a nitrogen-fixing species characterized by multiple uses. Among these uses, black locust is of special interest to beekeepers due to its abundant flowering and delicious honey. Given the great importance of honey production in Italy, beekeepers are looking for genotypes that have a delayed flowering time. As a consequence, the aim of the present study was to develop a complete protocol of micropropagation for genotypes, which have been selected in the Veneto region due to their delayed flowering, ie, about 3 months, in comparison with the normal flowering time (from late April to early June). The subsequent steps of the micropropagation protocol (explant decontamination, shoot induction, proliferation, and rooting) were investigated and optimized. The most effective decontamination treatment of explants (axillary buds from shoots developed in a greenhouse) was obtained using 50 mg/L AgNO3 for 20 min. This method resulted in the highest survival and regeneration rates for the explants (90%), although contamination was slightly higher than when using HgCl2 and NaOCl. The best medium for shoot establishment was MS with 1 mg/L of mT, which achieved 100% regeneration of the explants. In comparison with BA, mT at 1 mg/L was shown to be the best stimulator of shoot proliferation, especially in combination with 0.7 mg/L GA3 (Proliferation Rate, 4.7). An intermediate 2 h treatment with AgNO3, in combination with mT, was shown to be beneficial in improving the shoot proliferation and quality in the subsequent subculture in a gelled medium. As for shoot rooting, the shoots …

Population and food demand increased rapidly so to face this increment; we must dramatically increase food crop production to ensure global food security. Hence, saline agriculture is a possible solution for producing food in salt-affected soils using saline water for irrigation. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of applying different types and doses of biochar to saline soil under irrigation by saline water on soil quality indicators and growth parameters and yield of arugula plant. Four types of biochar: banana leaves biochar (BLB), rice straw biochar (RSB), sorghum stalks biochar (SSB), and wood chips biochar (WCB) were applied to the soil in the pots at levels of 1%, 3%, and 5% (w/w). This pot experiment was cultivated by arugula under irrigation with saline water (6.2 dS m- 1). Total available nitrogen increased significantly relative to the control treatment (unamended soil) by 41%, 34%, 43%, 34%, 33%, 24%, 41%, and 44% under adding 3%WCB, 5%WCB, 1%BLB, 3%BLB, 5%BLB, 5%SSB, 1%RSB, and 5%RSB treatments, respectively. Results showed significant increases in available potassium (K) over the control treatment by 48%, 125%, 410%, 738%, 137%, 352%, 632%, 158%, 576%, and 849% for 5%WCB, 1%BLB, 3%BLB, 5%BLB, 1%SSB, 3%SSB, 5%SSB, 1%RSB, 3%RSB, and 5%RSB treatments, respectively. Cation exchange capacity increased significantly relative to the control treatment by 26%, 22%, 30%, 58%, 31%, 54%, 28%, and 48% for 3%WCB, 5%WCB, 3%BLB, 5%BLB, 3%SSB, 5%SSB, 3%RSB, and 5%RSB, respectively. Relative to the control treatment, the fresh biomass of the arugula plant significantly improved by 97%, 143%, 76%, 129%, 103%, 146%, 81%, 57%, 121%, and 97% for 3%WCB, 5%WCB, 1%BLB, 3%BLB, 1%SSB, 3%SSB, 5%SSB, 1%RSB, 3%RSB, and 5%RSB, respectively. The highest value of fresh biomass, nitrogen uptake, and phosphorus uptake of arugula plant were observed at 3%SSB applications. According to the results obtained from our study, we recommend adding sorghum stalks biochar at 3% which is a promising approach to rehabilitate saline soil and use saline water for sustainable crop production, this is attributed to the effective improvement of the nutrient uptake, productivity, and growth of arugula plant under saline conditions as it enhances the tolerance of plants under salt stress as well as improved nutrient supply and soil quality. Also, adding 3% sorghum stalks biochar saves the costs of addition and production compared to adding 5% dose. This study also provided useful information about the optimal quantities and types of biochar used to improve the productivity of saline soils.
 

Abstract :

Biochar, produced through pyrolysis of organic materials, has shown potential in improving soil properties and reducing population density of plant parasitic nematodes. Biochar prepared from rice straw, moringa wood and mango bushes were applied in vitro at various concentrations (1, 3 and 5%) against Pratylenchus penetrans. Results indicated that biochar types had significant effect on nematode mortality, the mortality rate increased with increasing the concentration and exposure period. Rice straw biochar had the highest effect on suppressing P. penetrans at concentration 5% for 72h (%90), followed by moringa wood (%86.33) then mango bush (%65.67). In vivo, the highest concentration of biochar was used. Rice straw biochar had the highest effect. It reduced the root lesion and population density of P. penetrans infecting peanut seedlings (%39.50) and (418.88), followed by moringa wood (%59.25) and (497.77) mango bushes came last with (%77.77) and (543.33). The use of biochar also led to an increase in plant height and root weight compared to the control infected (only nematode) and control healthy (without nematode). These findings suggest that biochar from these plant sources could serve as an eco-friendly alternative for nematode management in peanut cultivation. Future research should focus on optimizing biochar and application techniques to enhance its efficiency in sustainable peanut production.