International Letters of Natural Sciences Vol. 72

Abstract: In this study, Nusem and Beppo snack seed pumpkin cultivars were used to determine the effects of different plant activators on seed protein, lipid and fatty acids contents. In the context of study, plant activators consist of Crop-set (CR), EM1, ERS, Vitormone-Plus Drip (VIT), Bacillus subtilis (OSU 142), Bacillus megatorium (M3), Azospirillum sp. (SP 245), Spirulina platensis (SIP), Ecocompost (EKO), Camli Botanica liquid organic fertilizer (BOT) and Zincon (ZIN) were used as organic fertilizer. In the experiment, the plant activators were applied to the plants alone or in combination with each other and organic fertilizer. Two separate control groups which were organic and conventional (CONV.) fertilizer have been identified. As a result of the use of different plant activators, the highest protein content was obtained from CONV. application (35.50%), M3+SP 245 (33.09%) and M3 (33.04%); the highest lipid content was observed from SP 245+OG (45.90%), CR (44.48%) and SIP+OG (44.26%) applications. The use of different plant activators effected the fatty acid contents of seeds. Total 11 fatty acids were identified. Among the fatty acids, C16:0 (Palmitic acid), C18:0 (Stearic acid), C18:1 (Oleic acid) and C18:2 (Linoleic acid) were found dominant.

Abstract: The study objective is to evaluate the effect of mono-ammonuim phosphate (MAP; 0, 10, and 20 mM) applied as foliar application on the growth traits, green and dry yields characteristics, leaf photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence, and leaf contents of nutrients of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L., cv. “Bronco”) plants grown under saline soil conditions. To perform this objective, two field trials were conducted at the Experimental Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University during the 2016 and 2017 summer seasons. The obtained results showed that, Na⁺ content was significantly declined, while the all other tested parameters such as growth characteristics (i.e., shoot length, number of leaves per plant, area of leaves per plant, and shoot fresh and dry weights), yield characteristics of green pods and dry seeds (i.e., average pod weight, number of pods per plant, pods weight per plant, dry seed weight per plant and 100-seed weight), leaf photosynthetic pigments (i.e., total chlorophylls, total carotenoids) contents and leaf chlorophyll fluorescence (i.e., Fv/Fm and PI), leaf contents of N, P, K⁺, and Ca²⁺, and the ratios of K⁺/Na⁺, Ca²⁺/Na⁺ and K⁺+Ca²⁺/Na⁺ were significantly increased by the two levels (i.e., 10 and 20 mM) of MAP compared to the controls (without MAP). The two MAP levels conferred the same results for most of the all tested parameters; particularly growth and yields characteristics, with some exceptions. Therefore, results of this study recommend using 10 mM MAP as foliar application to optimize the common bean performances in saline soils. Keywords: Common beans, Salinity, Phosphorus, Plant performance, Antioxidant defense systems, Photosynthesis, Water relations.

Abstract: Various studies of the components of the antioxidant protection system of microalgae D. armatus under the influence of osmotic stress and active forms of oxygen will allow to develop methods for controlling carotenogenesis in a given culture and to obtain carotenoid enriched feed for zooplankton. These studies made it possible to evaluate the activity of catalase, peroxidase enzymes in cells that are cultured under the induction of carotenogenesis by free radical oxidation promoters and osmotic stress on the background of physiological changes. It is established that under these conditions, there is an increase in volumes and aggregation of vegetative cells. At the same time, the amount of biomass remains at the level of the first day of inductors application. Against the background of a decrease in growth activity, a decrease in the number of metabolically active cells in cytochrome oxidase was observed. It is also shown that, when iron sulfate is introduced with hydrogen peroxide and sodium chloride against the background of enhanced carotenogenesis, antioxidant systems are activated by increasing the activity of catalase and peroxidase. Under such conditions, it is possible to achieve increased production of carotenoids in Desmodesmus armatus culture.

Abstract: The identification and quantification of phenolic compounds of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl. var. brachydon Boiss. by LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography- tandem Mass Spectrometry) technique is the main purpose of the current study. The high concentrations of quinic acid (2534±12 ppb) and chlorogenic acid (1882±92 ppb) were detected by LC-MS/MS.. Another goal of the study is to evaluate the antioxidant activities of both ethanol and aqueous extracts of the plant material. The antioxidant potentials of extracts were determined by using five different in vitro methods including; ABTS (2,2′-Azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), DPPH(1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl), FRAP (Ferric ions Reducing Antioxidant Power), CUPRAC (Cupric ions Reducing Antioxidant Power), and ferric thiocyanate methods. The results revealed that the aqueous and ethanol extracts of S. lavandulifolia leaves have good antioxidant potential with high phenolic content.

Abstract: Abstract Salinity inhibition of plant growth is the result of osmotic and ionic effect and different plant species have developed different mechanisms to cope with those effects. With the discovery of molecular markers and marker assisted selection technology, it is possible to develop markers that identify salt tolerance. The genetic diversity of tomato genotypes were analyzed using SSRs polymorphic markers and Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean. Leaves of the twenty tomato genotypes (landraces/accessions in Nigeria) were used to isolate their DNA using Bioland Plant Genomic DNA protocols. Primers were designed from 15 different salt responsive candidate genes, using Vector NTI and the sequence genes were obtained from ncbi genomice web site. All 15 primers sets generated shows clear distinct polymorphic profiles as evident from the 6% agarose gel profile. Dendrogram generated shows three groups, none of the panel intermixed in a subgroup. The genetic distance information reported in this study might be used by breeders when planning future crosses among tomato genotypes. From the result obtained UC82B recorded the highest vegetative and yield parameters, therefore, adoption of this genotype could be help increasing the tomato production in Sokoto agro-climatic area. Abstract Salinity inhibition of plant growth is the result of osmotic and ionic effect and different plant species have developed different mechanisms to cope with those effects. With the discovery of molecular markers and marker assisted selection technology, it is possible to develop markers that identify salt tolerance. The genetic diversity of tomato genotypes were analyzed using SSRs polymorphic markers and Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean. Leaves of the twenty tomato genotypes (landraces/accessions in Nigeria) were used to isolate their DNA using Bioland Plant Genomic DNA protocols. Primers were designed from 15 different salt responsive candidate genes, using Vector NTI and the sequence genes were obtained from ncbi genomice web site. All 15 primers sets generated shows clear distinct polymorphic profiles as evident from the 6% agarose gel profile. Dendrogram generated shows three groups, none of the panel intermixed in a subgroup. The genetic distance information reported in this study might be used by breeders when planning future crosses among tomato genotypes. From the result obtained UC82B recorded the highest vegetative and yield parameters, therefore, adoption of this genotype could be help increasing the tomato production in Sokoto agro-climatic area.