Agricultural biotechnology is very familiar with the properties of nanomaterial and their potential uses. Therefore, the present experiment was conducted to test the beneficial effects of nanosilicon ...dioxide (nSiO2: size- 12nm) on the seed germination of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill. cv Super Strain B). Application of nSiO2 significantly enhanced the characteristics of seed germination. Among the treatments, 8gL−1 of nSiO2 improved percent seed germination, mean germination time, seed germination index, seed vigour index, seedling fresh weight and dry weight. Therefore, it is very clear that nSiO2 has a significant impact on the seed germination potential. These findings could provide that alternative source for fertilizer that may improve sustainable agriculture.
Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly persistent and mobile pollutants raising alarming concerns due to their capability to accumulate in living organisms and exert toxic effects on ...human health. We studied the accumulation of different PFAS in the leaves and fruits of tomato plants grown on a PFAS-polluted soil in North-East Italy. Tomato plants were grafted with different rootstocks characterized by different vigor, and irrigated with PFAS-polluted groundwater. Leaves and fruits of the first and sixth truss were analyzed at full plant maturity. All tomato varieties accumulated PFAS in leaves and fruits, with the highest concentrations detected in the most vigorous rootstock and reflecting the PFAS concentration profile of the irrigation water. PFAS with a chain length from 4 to 8 C atoms and with carboxylic and sulfonic functional groups were detected in plant leaves, whereas only carboxylic C4, C5, and C6 PFAS were detected in tomato fruits. A general trend of decreasing PFAS concentrations in fruits upon increasing height of the plant trusses was observed. Calculation of the target hazard quotient (THQ) showed increasing values depending on the plant vigor. The hazard index (HI) values showed values slightly higher than 1 for the most vigorous plants, indicating potential risks to human health associated with the consumption of contaminated tomato fruits.
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•PFAS accumulated depending on the plant's vigor•Only short chain PFAS translocated up to the fruits•PFBS and PFOA were detected exclusively in the leaves.•The health risk associated with the consumption of tomatoes is of concern.
Background: Plant strategies for adapting to drought could be improved by associations between plant roots and soil microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth ...promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). In this study, the impact of a selected AMF complex and a selected PGPR species on the growth of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) under induced water stress was evaluated.
Methods: Three different inoculation treatments were applied to tomato seedlings (a complex of AMF composed mainly of Glomus genus a Bacillus sp. PGPR treatment and a combination of both) and three different water levels (75%, 50% and 25% of field capacity).
Result: A significant damaging impact of drought on tomato growth parameters and root mycorrhizal colonization, although the presence of microbes stimulated tomato plants growth and decreased the impact ofdrought stress. Indeed inoculated plants presented greater heights, fresh and dry weights, leaves number and area; greater water status; and greater proteins, sugars and chlorophylls contents either with the AMF complex or the Bacillus sp. in normal and drought stress conditions compared to the non-inoculated plants. However dual inoculation recorded the highest values under all water levels treatments.
Salinity stress can impede development and plant growth adversely. However, there is very little molecular information on NaCl resistance and volatile emissions in Lycopersicum esculentum. In order ...to investigate the effects of salt stress on the release of volatile compounds, we quantified and compared transcriptome changes by RNA-Seq analysis and volatile constituents with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) coupled with solid-phase microextraction (SPME) after exposure to continuous salt stress. Chemical analysis by GC-MS analysis revealed that NaCl stress had changed species and quantity of volatile compounds released. In this research, 21,578 unigenes that represented 44,714 assembled unique transcripts were separated from tomato leaves exposed to NaCl stress based on de novo transcriptome assembly. The total number of differentially expressed genes was 7210 after exposure to NaCl, including 6200 down-regulated and 1208 up-regulated genes. Among these differentially expressed genes (DEGs), there were eighteen differentially expressed genes associated with volatile biosynthesis. Of the unigenes, 3454 were mapped to 131 KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways, mainly those are involved in RNA transport, plant-pathogen interactions, and plant hormone signal transduction. qRT-PCR analysis showed that NaCl exposure affected the expression profiles of the biosynthesis genes for eight volatile compounds (IPI, GPS, and TPS, etc.), which corresponded well with the RNA-Seq analysis and GC-MS results. Our results suggest that NaCl stress affects the emission of volatile substances from L. esculentum leaves by regulating the expression of genes that are involved in volatile organic compounds’ biosynthesis.
•A comparative transcriptome analysis of Lycopersicum esculentum leaves under salt stress was performed using RNA-seq technology.•The differentially expressed genes and critical metabolism pathways related to volatile biosynthesis were identified.•qRT-PCR results corresponded well with the RNA-Seq analysis and GC-MS results.•Our results may be helpful to have insight into connection between volatile substances emission and their gene expression.
Ilex paraguariensis Saint Hilaire (St. Hil) is an important crop in the north of Argentina, mainly cultivated in the Misiones province. Trichoderma genera are well known for their biological control ...and plant growth-promoting properties. The application of Ilex paraguariensis endophytes to improve crop production is an interesting alternative to the use of agrochemicals. To evaluate the capability of Trichoderma spp. endophytes, it was performed antagonism tests of Trichoderma spp. against phytopathogenic fungi associated with these crops using dual culture assay. It was also evaluated the chitinase production of these strains using a colorimetric Somogyi-Nelson method to determine biocontrol capability of these endophytes. Moreover, the capability of plant growth promotion on tomato seeds was evaluated. We observed that Trichoderma was capable to invade and reduce phytopathogen growth and particularly three strains produced chitinase and induced growth promotion on Lycopersicum esculentum seeds.
•Low and high temperature decreased shoot fresh weight.•Se and N-Se can improve select tomato plant growth parameters after a short-term pulse of high and/or low temperature stress.•A low level of Se ...applied at high and low temperature stress promoted shoot and root growth.•Se is more effective in alleviating the deleterious effect of high/low temperature stress than N-Se.
High and low temperatures are environmental stresses that can damage agricultural crops and limit their distribution and yield. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of selenium (Se) and nano-selenium (N-Se) on tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill. cv. ‘Halil’) plant growth in response to high and low temperature stress since Se is a well-known stress moderator. Se was applied at 0μM (control), 2.5μM (Se1), 5μM (Se2) and 8μM (Se3). Similarly, N-Se was applied at 1μM (N-Se1), 4μM (N-Se2), 8μM (N-Se3) and 12μM (N-Se4). All plants were exposed to optimal temperature (25/17±2°C day/night=T1), then to high (24h at 40°C=T2) and low (24h at 10°C=T3) temperature stress, then placed at optimal conditions for 10 days. Se, when applied at 2.5μM, promoted plant growth after both high and low temperature stress were applied. More specifically, shoot dry weight and diameter increased in T2, shoot fresh weight, dry weight and diameter increased in T3, and root fresh weight, dry weight and root volume increased in T2 and T3. N-Se had no effect on plant growth. In T3, Se1 increased the chlorophyll content of leaves by 19.2% while N-Se1 improved it by 27.5%. Root volume increased 33.3% after treatment with Se1 in T2 and by 60% in T3. Se and N-Se increased relative water content after T2 and T3 stress. Thus, Se and N-Se can improve select tomato plant growth parameters after a short-term pulse of high and/or low temperature stress.
Appropriate soil conditions are important for the success of culturing tomatoes. In fact, there are mineral elements that are essential for the good and healthy development of tomatoes, namely, ...nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, and zinc. Additionally, organic matter and pH play important parts in the process. In this context, this study aimed to characterize a soil destined to produce an industrial tomato variety in South Portugal. As such, mineral elements content, pH, electrical conductivity, humidity, organic matter, and color (without humidity and without humidity and organic matter) were analyzed in 16 soil samples before any type of soil preparation was carried out. Through principal components analysis (PCA), it was possible to observe that electrical conductivity and humidity are more correlated with each other than pH and organic matter. However, the pH of soil varied between 6.9 (minimum) and 7.3 (maximum): in accordance with the ideal range values for tomato production. Additionally, regarding quantification of mineral elements, Fe showed a higher content, followed by K, Ca, P, Mg, S, Zn, and As. However, regarding the color of the soil without humidity and without humidity and organic matter, there were significant differences between CieLab parameters (L, Chroma, and Hue). Nevertheless, soil conditions of the field presented good requirements for tomato production, despite the higher levels of Fe in the soil and the presence of As.
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