The paper studies the lubricant properties of blends of Thevetia peruviana oil (TPO) and Cucurbita pepo L. oil (CPO) prepared at different proportions. The physicochemical properties were determined ...as per ASTM standard and the anti-wear and extreme pressure tests were performed using four-ball tribotester as per ASTM D4172–94 and ASTM D2783, respectively. The blend of 40% TPO and 60% CPO was found the best blend as per the Entropy-TOPSIS method and further at optimal concentration of 1 wt% of titanium oxide nanoparticles it exhibited the coefficient of friction of 0.0329 ±0.002 and wear scar diameter of 0.291 ± 0.005 mm. The present study indicates that TPO-CPO blends with optimal additivation can be an alternative biodegradable solution to commercial mineral oils.
•The compatibility of Thevetia peruviana oil, Cucurbita pepo L. oil and their blends with commercial oil was studied.•The physicochemical, rheological, and tribological properties of the blends with or without TiO2 were examined.•Blend B40 was found suitable as per entropy-based TOPSIS method.•Nano-biolubricants exhibited better lubricant properties.•Lubricant mechanism of oil samples was discussed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Diabetes mellitus remains one of the dreaded diseases that affect both man and woman. It also causes a disorder which incapacitates human body from producing and exhausting insulin. In this work, in ...silico method was used to explore the anti-angiotensin converting enzyme activities of selected phytochemicals obtained from Cucurbita pepo L. The optimization of the phytochemicals obtained from Cucurbita pepo L. resulted to series of descriptors which exactly describe anti-angiotensin converting enzyme activities of Cucurbita pepo L.. Also, 3-(Z)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop‑2-enoyloxy-1,4,5-trihydroxycyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid (Compound 3) with -7.7 kcal/mol proved to have better tendency to inhibit angiotensin converting enzyme than compound 1,2,4–8 as well as the referenced drug (Metformin) thereby dowregulating diabetes. The ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism excretion and toxicity) were examined and reported.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
A salina vem sendo utilizada na irrigação principalmente água à baixa disponibilidade de água doce principalmente em regiões áridas e semiáridas. No entanto, o uso destas águas pode ajudar o ...crescimento e o desenvolvimento das culturas. Dessa forma, têm testado o uso de estudos químicos a fim de minimizar os efeitos negativos nas plantas pela salinidade provocada. Nesse contexto, este estudo teve como avaliar o papel do peróxido de hidrogênio como mitigador dos efeitos do estresse salino em objetivo de abobrinha italiana cultivadas em sistema hidropônico. O trabalho foi feito em casa de plantação, em Pombal – PB. O sistema de cultivo utilizado foi o hidropônico tipo NFT - Técnica de Fluxo Laminar de Nutriente. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizados, em esquema fatorial 4 x 4, sendo quatro níveis de condutividade elétrica da solução nutritiva - CEsn (2,1 (controle); 3,6; 5,1 e 6,6 dS m-1), e quatro de peróxido de hidrogênio – H2O2 (0; 20; 40 e 6uM), com 30 repetições. A solução salina nutritiva acima de 2, as fotos m-1 secas da crescimentodS m-1 fotosintéticos os teores de pigmento, o crescimento de fitomassa das plantas de abobr italiana. Aplicação de peróxido de hidrogênio nas 60 uM no tratamento promoveu crescimento do diâmetro do caule e comprimento da raiz da abobrinha italiana. 1 m-1 dS fotosintetizantes de teores de pigmentos, o crescimento e o acúmulo de fitomassa seca das plantas de abobrinha italiana. Aplicação de peróxido de hidrogênio nas 60 uM no tratamento promoveu crescimento do diâmetro do caule e comprimento da raiz da abobrinha italiana. 1 m-1 dS fotosintetizantes de teores de pigmentos, o crescimento e o acúmulo de fitomassa seca das plantas de abobrinha italiana. Aplicação de peróxido de hidrogênio nas 60 uM no tratamento promoveu crescimento do diâmetro do caule e comprimento da raiz da abobrinha italiana.
Zucchini culture is slightly sensitive to salinity and is among the ten vegetables of highest economic value, with characteristics of precocity and easy cultivation. These characteristics are some of ...the reasons for the expansion of its cultivation among small producers. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the effect of different levels of salinity in the irrigation water and biofertilizer types on the initial growth of the zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) culture. The experiment was carried out in the full sunlight in a randomized block design, in a 5x2 factorial arrangement. The treatments consisted of a combination of five types of biofertilizers (quail, sheep, mixed, bovine, and crab) and two salinity levels of the irrigation water (0.8 and 2.5 dS m-1), with five replicates. At 30 days after transplanting, the following variables were evaluated: electrical conductivity of the substrate, plant height, number of leaves, roots length, stem diameter, leaf area, chlorophyll content, dry mass of the aerial part, root dry mass, and total dry mass. Salt stress negatively interferes with the accumulation of zucchini plant biomass. Quail, bovine, and sheep biofertilizers are more efficient about plant height, number of leaves, and stem diameter. The sheep biofertilizer attenuates the salt stress for the dry mass of the aerial part, the root, and the total dry mass.
A abobrinha italiana (Cucurbita pepo L.) é uma das culturas de grande importância para o mercado das olerícolas no Brasil, apresenta uma boa aceitação pelo mercado consumidor e possui um alto valor ...econômico. O nitrogênio é um dos nutrientes mais requeridos pela planta, sendo que o aumento das doses de forma adequada proporciona aumento da área foliar e produção de frutos. Existe evidências de que elevados níveis de fertilizantes nitrogenados atrasam a produção. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes doses de nitrogênio aplicado via fertirrigação, no desempenho agronômico da cultura da abobrinha italiana, na estação de inverno em Januária (MG). O experimento foi conduzido na Unidade de Olericultura do Instituto Federal de Educação e Ciência e Tecnologia do Norte de Minas Gerais (IFNMG) – campus Januária, no período de 10/07/2019 a 19/09/2019, em sistema convencional de cultivo em ambiente aberto, sendo constituído de cinco tratamentos, conduzido no delineamento de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos constituíram de cinco doses (0; 60; 120; 240 e 480 kg ha-1) de N sendo o fertilizante utilizado o nitrato de cálcio. Durante o experimento foram avaliados o número de folhas, área foliar, altura da planta, massas secas de limbo, pecíolo, caule, número de frutos e produtividade. A dose que proporcionou maior produtividade para a cultura foi de 341,79 kg ha-1 de N, resultando em uma produtividade de 57.537,93 kg ha-1, e a dose de máxima eficiência econômica de N foi de 326,64 kg ha-1, resultando em uma produtividade de frutos de 57.467,46 kg ha-1.
•F4.3S biostimulant enhances zucchini tolerance to drought and cold.•Improved biomass and photosynthesis were observed in treated plants.•F4.3S reduced oxidative stress and potentially ethylene ...synthesis.•Increased proline and carotenoids levels aid stress recovery.
Currently, water and cold stresses are among the primary adverse factors affecting global crop production. Biostimulants are increasingly recognized as valuable tools for enhancing plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. F4.3S is a novel biostimulant that contains compounds such as allantoin, ascorbate, salicylic acid, amino acids such as glutamate, proline, and glycine, and sources of selenium, molybdenum, and cobalt. The objective of this study was to assess the tolerance of zucchini cv. Dynaic plants supplied with F4.3S to water and cold stresses and to identify the potential action mechanisms. For this purpose, an experiment was set up in pots with plants to which the biostimulant was applied before and after subjecting the plants to stress conditions, and parameters of biomass, stress, photosynthesis, and ethylene response were evaluated. The results showed that plants supplied with F4.3S presented a better tolerance to both stresses, which was reflected in higher biomass. The potential action mechanisms could be the stimulation of photosynthetic efficiency, preventing excessive stomatal closure, maintaining a high rate of net photosynthesis, and reducing reactive oxygen species generation. Additionally, increased accumulation of protective anti-stress compounds such as proline and carotenoids, along with reduced ethylene synthesis, likely contributed to the plants' enhanced recovery post-stress. In conclusion, the F4.3S biostimulant emerges as a promising agent for augmenting plant tolerance to abiotic stresses, which is crucial for sustainable agricultural practices.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Abstract Although there are fertilization recommendations for the cultivation of zucchini, there are just few researches about the effects of nutrients in seed production. Calcium and boron have a ...low mobility in plants, and some researches recommend foliar application for these nutrients. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the foliar application of calcium and boron in the production and quality of zucchini seeds. The experimental design was randomized blocks with seven replications. Four treatments were evaluated: only calcium (0.2%) application, only boron (0.1%) application, combined application of calcium (0.2%) and boron (0.1%) and the control (without calcium and boron.) The following characteristics were evaluated: number of pollen grains per flower, hundred seeds weight; seed number and weight per fruit and seed physiological quality (germination; first germination count and speed of germination index - SGI). Only boron application reduced the number of seeds produced per fruit. The combined foliar application of calcium and boron, in addition to reducing the number of seeds, also reduced SGI. The calcium only application increased the amount of pollen per flower (superior to all other treatments) and also the number of seeds per fruit (compared to the combined application of calcium + boron), without affecting the quality of the zucchini seeds. So, it can be recomended the aplication of Ca during zucchini flowering for seed production.
•Effects of biochar under limited irrigation regimes on pumpkin crop were evaluated.•Results showed that biochar improved soil permeability and water holding capacity.•Adoption of biochar might be a ...promising approach for reducing irrigation water.•Application of biochar with reduced irrigation regime affects pumpkin physiology.
Water stress is one of the main constraints which could limits crop productivity, especially in the arid regions. This study hypothesized that the combination of biochar amendments could be a part of sustainable agricultural strategy in semi-arid environment, therefore the objective was to investigate the effects of biochar rates under different irrigation regimes on soil properties, physiology and yield of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.). The experiment was conducted in Gorgan (Iran) in two successive years (2014 and 2015) and consisted of a factorial combination of four irrigation regimes 45%, 60%, 75% and 90% (called I1, I2, I3 and I4, respectively) of maximum allowable depletion (MAD) of available soil water (ASW) with four rates of biochar derived from maize-straw feedstock 0, 5, 10 and 20 t biochar ha−1 (called B0 B5, B10 and B20, respectively). The results indicated that the incorporation of biochar into the soil increased both soil permeability (low bulk density and high pore volume) and the water holding capacity, particularly when biochar was applied at the rate of 20 t ha−1. Moreover, after pumpkin cultivation, the B20 showed high soil microbial biomass carbon. The reduction of irrigation water increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), oxygen radicals (O2−), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in pumpkin leaves, while all the antioxidant activities and proline contents declined on pumpkin plant treated with biochar, especially at the highest rate (B20). The adoption of biochar as amendment increased chlorophyll content and the uptake of nutrients in leaves regardless of irrigation regimes. The seed yield showed a decrease of 6%, 46% and 58% in I2, I3 and I4, respectively, in comparison with I1 regardless of biochar rate. Response rate to biochar was ceased in lower biochar rates by prolonging irrigation, but I2 response to biochar ceased in higher biochar rate as Bcritical (14 t biochar ha−1). This implies that I2 irrigation regime improved response of pumpkin to biochar, which was accompanied by its high WUE. These results indicate that biochar amendment could provide a suitable strategy for improving the physical status of agricultural soils, water use efficiency and vegetable crop yield.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•A total of 103 candidate WRKY gene sequences were isolated from the whole zucchini genome.•The expression profiles of tissue-specific as well as low temperature and drought stresses were anlysised ...using RNA-seq.•An unexpected high number of 21 CpWRKY genes likely associated with the response of zucchini seedling leaves to low temperature and drought stresses were identified by using qRT-PCR.
The WRKY transcription factors are important transcriptional regulators in plants, with crucial roles affecting biotic and abiotic stress responses as well as plant growth and development. In this study, a bioinformatics-based method was used to identify WRKY genes in zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.). The CpWRKY family was revealed to comprise 103 members divided into seven subfamilies (I, II-a, II-b, II-c, II-d, II-e, and III). The members of each subfamily encoded highly conserved protein functional domains. However, five members (i.e., CpWRKY43, CpWRKY58, CpWRKY63, CpWRKY80, and CpWRKY93) encoded a unique WRKY sequence variant (WRKYGKK). In addition, an examination of gene replication events during evolution indicated that 11 tandemly duplicated gene pairs were the primary driving force behind the evolution of the CpWRKY gene family. The PlantCARE analysis of CpWRKY genes detected various cis-regulatory elements in the promoter region, including ABRE, MeJARE, LTR, MBS, ARE, and GRE, suggesting the encoded WRKY proteins likely modulate zucchini growth, development, and stress responses. Furthermore, the CpWRKY genes were differentially expressed in diverse tissues (root, stem, leaf, flower, and fruit) and under low-temperature and drought stress conditions. According to their expression patterns, CpWRKY16, CpWRKY51, and CpWRKY80 are probably involved in the zucchini responses to cold and drought stresses. Our findings have clarified the evolution of the WRKY superfamily in C. pepo, while also providing valuable insights into the functions of the encoded WRKY proteins.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Relevance and methods.
Pumpkin fruits and seeds are valuable raw materials for the food
and pharmaceutical industries. Of particular value are pumpkin seeds, from which oil and
protein products are ...obtained. The purpose of our research is to identify the best breeding
samples of pumpkin in terms of seed yield and pumpkin oil and to study their biochemical
composition. The evaluation of 12 samples of pumpkin was carried out according to the main
economic and biological characteristics.
Results.
According to the yield of seeds and the yield of pumpkin oil, the following samples
were distinguished: Delta, Golosemyanno-kustovaya, Line 2-3, Line 2-5. The biochemical
composition of seed samples with high seed yields was studied in terms of the content of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. A biochemical
analysis of pumpkin seed oil for fatty acids, sterols and minerals was carried out. Seeds of
hard-barked pumpkin of Belarusian selection are sources of high protein content (34-35%)
with a wide range of essential amino acids, fats (43-45.8%), unsaturated and saturated fatty
acids, as well as carbohydrates (9.6-11.9%) , a number of vitamins, macro- and microelements.
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