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CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful genome editing tool for trait improvement in various crops; however, enhancing mutation efficiency using CRISPR/Cas9 in watermelon and melon remains challenging. We designed four CRISPR systems with different sgRNA expression cassettes to target the phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene in melon. The constructed vectors were delivered to host plants using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Phenotypic and genotypic analyses of the edited melon seedlings revealed that the CRISPR systems with tRNA and Csy4 spacers driven by the Pol II-type promoter significantly improved mutation efficiency, reaching 25.20% and 42.82%, respectively. Notably, 78.95% of the mutations generated by the Csy4 system involved large-fragment deletions (LDs) between the two target sites. In watermelon, the Csy4 system achieved a PDS editing efficiency of 41.48%, with 71.43% of the edited seedlings showing LD between the two target sites. Sequencing analysis indicated that the edited melon seedlings exhibited heterozygous, three-allele mutation and chimeric events; the edited watermelon seedlings included 2/14 homozygous mutations. Compared to the commonly used Pol III promoter, using the Pol II promoter to drive sgRNA expression cassettes containing Csy4 showed the best improvement in CRISPR/Cas9 editing efficiency in melon; this system was also effective in watermelon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers have started to experience significant global production losses in watermelon, as in many crops, because of the increase in global warming. A research using striped watermelon, ungrafted Crimson Tide grafted on Nun9075 and Paskal hybrid cultivars with dark green ground color, ungrafted and grafted on Gürdal, was conducted in 2018 and 2019 to research sunburn in watermelon in the open field. It was determined as the harvest time when the atria and leeches were dry. At harvest time, samples were taken and stored. Following these dates, one-half of the experiment received irrigation, while the other half was rainfed and continued for an additional month. Harvests were made in each plot a month later, and the sunburn rates in each plot were assessed using the 1-5 scale we developed. The Paskal variety, whose bark ground color was black in both years, had the sunburn start earlier, and after one month, there were almost no marketable fruits on the plants left in both irrigated and rainfed conditions. The burn scale rates was high in ungrafted cultivars, but increased in rainfed cultivars. There was not much difference between the grafted and ungrafted varieties in terms of Soluble Solids Content (SSC) and Titratable Acidity (TA) (%). It is recommended to use grafted seedlings and to continue irrigation in places where sunburn may occur. However, creating favorable conditions for strong vine growth that shades the watermelon fruit is the best way to avoid sunburn damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic contamination is a serious issue throughout the world and is substantial risk factor in most of the countries including India. Chronic arsenic exposure from drinking water to humans is causing major public health related issues. The present study aims to investigate the ameliorative effect of Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon) seeds against arsenic induced reproductive function and testicular toxicity in Charles Foster rats. In the present study, twenty-four male Charles Foster rats (120±5gm). The study group includes group - I (n=6) as control, and group - II (n=18) treated with sodium arsenite (8 mg per Kg body weight per day) for 90 days. The group - II was furthermore divided into three sub-groups, Group - II-a, Group - II-b and Group - II-c. The group - II-a were sacrificed to see the effect of arsenic toxicity effect after arsenic exposure. Group - II-b was left with normal food and water for next 60 days to observe auto recovery. The group - II-c rats were administered with Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon) hydroxyl ethanolic seeds extract at the dose of 400 mg per Kg body weight per day for 60 days for 90 days upon pre-treated sodium arsenite treated group (8 mg per kg body weight). After completion of the experiment, all the treated group of animals were sacrificed for biochemical, hormonal assay, histopathological, testicular and reproductive functions study. In the arsenic treated rats' group, there was significant (p<0.001) changes in serum levels of SGPT, SGOT, urea, uric acid and creatinine as well as in haematological parameters. There was decrease in the sperm counts and sperm motility accompanied by an increased incidence of sperm abnormalities and hormonal imbalance denotes infertility condition. In contrast, after the administration with C.lanatus (Watermelon) seeds hydroxy-ethanolic extract upon arsenic treated rats group, there was significant (p<0.001) improvement observed in the reproductive, hepatic and renal parameters. In the arsenic intoxicant rats' group, after administration with C. lanatus (Watermelon) seeds hydroxyl ethanolic extract, there was significant (p<001) reduction in the arsenic concentration in blood, liver, and kidney tissues as well as serum lipid peroxidation. The histopathological study also showed the C. lanatus (Watermelon) seeds hydroxy ethanolic extract significantly restored the cellular integrity of testicular cells leading to normal functioning of it against arsenic induced toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foraging insects of watermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Cucurbitaceae), were studied during flowering periods in 2016 and 2017 in Tizi-Ouzou area (Algeria). Our observations showed that a majority of watermelon visitors were apoid Hymenoptera belonging to three families. Eleven species were identified including six Apidae, four Halictidae and one Megachilidae. Apis mellifera was the most abundant species on watermelon flowers followed by Lasioglossum pauxillum and Ceratina saundersi. The daily activity study of these species demonstrated varying patterns of daily distribution. During two flowering periods, the greatest bee activity occurred in the morning recording peak visits between 8 am and 9 am and was synchronized with the maximum flowers opening. The behavioral study of these species did not reveal the pollen collection but all the visits were devoted to nectar collection. Regarding pollinating efficiency of these three species, results showed that honey bee was the fastest recording a foraging speed of 9.9 ± 1.25 flowers/min and the three species spent significantly more time on female flowers than male flowers. This work highlighted the mutual relationship between watermelons and bees. Firstly, this plant provides the nutritional needs of these insects during the drought period and secondly, the bees guarantee Cucurbitaceae pollination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover) are important pests of cucurbit crops. Plant defenses at different cell layers, including the leaf surface, mesophyll cells, and phloem, are employed to defend aphids. Here, we assessed differences in aphid resistance among six watermelon varieties and elucidated the defense mechanisms underlying aphid-resistant/susceptible watermelon varieties. The population abundance, offspring number per female, and meantime of phloem-feeding (E2 phase) of aphids were the highest on XiNong (XN), followed by JingXin (JX), TianWang (TW), ZaoJia (ZJ), and MeiFuLai (MFL), and these parameters were the lowest on JinMeiDu (JMD). Further analyses showed that there was no correlation between the aphid resistance of six watermelon varieties and defenses at the leaf surface. For defenses at mesophyll cells, aphid infestation increased salicylic acid (SA) content at 48 h post-infestation (hpi) and ROS accumulation at 6 and 12 hpi in six watermelon varieties. For phloem defenses, aphid infestation increased callose content in JMD plants but decreased callose content in JX, TW, ZJ, MFL, and XN plants at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hpi. Moreover, callose deposition suppressed by 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DDG) neutralized the resistance of JMD plants and exacerbated the susceptibility of XN plants to aphids, which exhibited a higher population abundance and E2 phase time. Collectively, phloem defenses regulated by aphid-induced callose deposition were responsible for differences in aphid resistance among the watermelon varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the period 2021-2022, three watermelon genotypes (Citrulluslanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai) were tested in the experimental field at the Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, under conventional and organic production systems. The aim of this study is to conduct a comparative study of watermelon genotypes under different growing systems, which will serve as criteria for selecting gene sources for biological breeding. The experiment included three morphologically different varieties of watermelons: Marmorna 17, Bojura and Watermelon yellow. The watermelon varieties are grown using early forced field production technology, with a planting scheme of 250/60 cm. Three variants were tested in the comparative study: conventional production (control); fertilization with vermicompost and plant protection with plant potions; fertilization with vermicompost and plant protection with commercial bioproducts. Watermelon varieties achieve relatively similar yields in the three growing systems. Yield, productivity elements and dry matter content are influenced to a greater extent by the characteristics of the variety and to a lesser extent by the cultivation system, which defines them as stable. The quality and quantity of seeds from the three watermelon genotypes is influenced by the characteristics of the variety and the cultivation system. These indicators are more variable and can be introduced as additional evaluation criteria. The studied watermelon varieties are suitable as gene sources for organic breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L. Thunb. Matsum. and Nakai) is a vegetable species with high water content that is rich in lycopene and refreshing; therefore, breeding studies are carried out intensively to develop new varieties. The breeding period in these plants can be shortened with the use of the haploidization technique, and determining the ploidy levels of plants in haploidization studies is very important. In this study, it was examined whether morphological and cytological analyses would be sufficient for ploidy determination of haploid plants obtained by ovary culture in watermelon. With this aim, the stomatal, morphological and cytological characteristics were determined, taken from 15 haploid and 19 double haploid plants. The ploidy level of the plants was detected by flow cytometry before these analyses. In this study, "Principal Component Analysis" was performed based on average values to analyze the structure of the relationship between the parameters examined. It is thought that stomatal features can be used as morphological markers in determining the ploidy levels of plants. The differences obtained from the study results may help to develop effective strategies in determining the ploidy levels of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grafting is a technique widely used worldwide to combat biotic and abiotic stresses. However, it is a relatively new concept in Pakistan and needs attention. A two years study was conducted with aim to investigate the impact of local (bottle gourd, pumpkin, vegetable marrow, sponge gourd) and exotic (Korean bottle guard and pumpkin lines 1391, 1392 and 1393 and 1395) rootstocks on growth, production and quality of watermelon scion (hybrid varieties Anarkali and Black Beauty). Self-grafted watermelon plants were utilized as control. Anarkali and Black Beauty grafted onto Desi bottle gourd rootstock showed higher grafting success percentage (89.8 % and 87.8%, respectively), particularly with Anarkali scion that showed grafting success in minimum duration, maximum chlorophyll content and early flower production compared with other grafting combinations. Anarkali and Black Beauty grafted onto Korean bottle gourd rootstock had maximum shoot diameter and highest number of shoots, respectively. Moreover, these plants also showed higher fruit weight and diameter compared with self-grafted plants. Sensory evaluation and quality analysis depicted highest quality of both varieties when grafted onto bottle gourd rootstock followed by self-grafted and Korean bottle gourd grafted plants. During 2nd year, values of almost all parameters including, vine length, length of lateral shoots, weight of largest and total fruit on vine, soluble solid content and vitamin C were highest for Anarkali grafted onto Desi bottle gourd compared to self-grafted and pumpkin 1392 rootstock grafted plants. These findings showed Desi bottle gourd as the best rootstock for both watermelon varieties, particularly Anarkali. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cucurbitaceae, the gourd family of flowering plants, is a very large and diverse family, the order Cucurbitales, contains 95 genera and 950–980 species of food and ornamental plants, and wild and weedy species mostly with high genetic diversity. This review is focused on the most important cucurbit crops (Cucumis sativus, Cucumis melo, Cucurbita spp., Citrullus lanatus, Momordica charantia, Lagenaria siceraria, and Luffa acutangula) and some their wild relatives as hosts of cucurbit powdery mildews (CPM). Powdery mildews (PM) (Ascomycota, Erysiphales) are one of the most frequently encountered and easily visible groups of plant pathogenic fungi with > 900 species. They are obligate biotrophs, they colonize above-ground plant tissues, mostly leaves, though they may also colonize stems, petioles, flowers and fruits, and they are usually debilitators, not killers. These parasitic fungi have been problematic on cucurbits for a long time world-wide, causing serious economic losses in yield and quality. All economically important cucurbit crops host CPM. Seven PM species with different taxonomic positions, host ranges, geographic distributions and ecological requirements are known on cucurbits. CPM species taxonomy and denomination rapidly changed during last few decades through detailed analyses and clarifications. At least three PM species frequently parasitize cucurbits: the endoparasite Leveillula taurica (Lt) with marginal economic importance; and two ectoparasitic species, Golovinomyces orontii (Go), and Podosphaera xanthii (Px), which are economically important world-wide. The two pathogens differ in ecological requirements and distribution, though they may occur together in mixed infections. They are highly variable at the population level for virulence, race identities, and fast adaptation of pathogens. Cucurbit-CPM species interactions are diverse and complicated, and differ between hosts and their respective pathogen genera and species. Here we present a critical overview of obstacles, gaps and recent progress in these matters for six cucurbit genera with respect to resistance resources, genetics of resistance, genetic mapping and development of molecular markers, physiology and mechanisms of resistance, developments in mlo-mediated resistance, patents, and CPM resistance breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature-based solutions (NBSs) for remediation of various emerging contaminants have gained impetus during the last few decades. In the current study, watermelon (citrullus lanatus), a highly consumed seasonal fruit, was used as a feedstock waste biomass for biochar synthesis through valorization of watermelon rinds. The watermelon biochar (WM-BC) was synthesized through slow pyrolysis at 550°C under anoxic conditions. Langmuir model with R2>99, was found to best fit the adsorption isotherm, and the adsorption kinetics was best described by the pseudo-second-order model. Various characterization tools including FTIR, SEM, BET, XRD, and TEM were used to evaluate the surface morphology of the biochar. The removal efficiency increased from 35% (dosage = 0.4 g), to 81% at WM-BC dosage of 2 g. A maximum adsorption capacity of 115.61 mg/g was found. The results from kinetic and isotherm model model suggested that the adsorption was favorable and multilayer adsorption can be considered. The adsorption mechanism was found to be governed by the co-existing factors such as hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and aromatic interactions. Results suggest that WM-BC has high potential to be employed as an adsorbent for efficient remediation of methylene blue dyes from aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Androgen receptor (AR) is known to play a crucial role in the development and progression of prostate cancer, and compounds that inhibit its activity are regarded as promising for the development of drugs to treat the disease. This study aimed to investigate the AR-inhibiting potential of Citrullus lanatus fruit compounds for prostate cancer drug development. Following HPLC identification, the binding energies, molecular interactions, and pharmacological potentials of the compounds against AR were elucidated using in silico techniques such as, molecular docking, induced-fit docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and ADMET prediction. Some of the compounds found to be present in Citrullus lanatus fruit included flavonoids such as proanthocyanin, naringin, flavan 3 ol, flavonones, naringenin, epicatechin, citrulline, and catechin. Naringenin exhibited the highest docking score in the molecular docking analysis, followed by resveratrol, ribalinidine, and epicatechin. These compounds share a common AR binding site with the standard ligand, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Some of the compounds showed favorable ADMET profiles, while others showed at least one toxicity potential. The induced-fit docking of naringenin with AR yielded a higher docking score than the initial score obtained from standard docking while preserving stable molecular contacts with the interacting amino acids. Consistent hydrogen bond interactions of naringenin with PHE 764, ASN 705, and THR 877 of AR, including a persistent pi-pi stacking contact with PHE 764, were observed from the molecular dynamic simulation. The Citrullus lanatus compounds, particularly naringenin, may therefore be considered for further research towards the development of drugs for prostate cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seedless watermelons are triploid hybrids (3n) that have been growing in popularity since the 1990s. However, the high production cost and low germination rate of the hybrid seeds pose a major problem in their production. The synseed technology could make a promising alternative for seedless watermelon propagation; however, this alternative has not yet been explored. This study aimed at producing synseeds of seedless watermelon 'Quality' using shoot tips as the propagules after which their germination and conversion were evaluated under in vitro and ex vitro conditions. In vitro shoot multiplication with different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), synseed production from BAP-multiplied shoot tips, synseed sowing in vitro using several substrates and medium supplements, and synseed sowing ex vitro using different antimicrobial agents were investigated. Results indicated that 1.0 mg L−1 BAP resulted in the highest number of shoots per shoot tip explant. Synseeds produced from BAP-multiplied shoot tips achieved faster germination compared to synseeds from non-BAP-derived shoot tips, but there was no difference in terms of conversion and acclimatization survival rates. Agar showed greater conversion and acclimatization survival rates as well as root number, root length, and shoot length than the other substrates especially when indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at 1.0 mg L−1 was added to the medium. However, this study demonstrated the possibility of using vermiculite as an alternative substrate to agar. PPM at 0.5% was a better microbial agent than 100.0 mg L−1 mancozeb for ex vitro synseed sowing as it achieved zero contamination and maintained the growing potential of synseeds with 65% germination, 85% survival, and 25% rooting rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mustafa Kemal University Journal of Agricultural Sciences / Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Biotechnology Bulletin is the property of Biotechnology Bulletin Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The expansion of the area with organic agriculture is due to the market trend towards the consumption of healthier foods. However, with the increase in the cost of fertilizers imported by the country, the adjustment of doses and management practices with alternative sources for plant nutrition, such as biofertilizer, can be an alternative for the sustainability of properties. The experiment was conducted in the experimental field of Bebedouro (CEB) of EMBRAPA Semi-Arid Region in Petrolina-PE, Brazil, from September to December 2019, to evaluate the effect of biofertilizer doses on the production aspects of three watermelon varieties in the semiarid region. The experimental design was randomized blocks, in a 6 x 3 factorial scheme, corresponding to six doses of biofertilizer (0; 80; 160; 240; 320 and 400 mL plant-1) and three varieties of watermelon (Explorer, Red Heaven, and Majestic), with four replicates. Yield, number of fruits per plant, average fruit mass, fruit diameter, fruit length, length: diameter ratio, pulp firmness, rind thickness, pH, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio were analyzed. The number of fruits per plant was not altered by biofertilizer doses. However, the variables yield and average fruit mass were altered by the interaction between varieties and biofertilizer doses. With yield of 40.22 t ha-1 obtained at the dose 201.33 mL plant-1, the Explorer variety proved to be more efficient with the use of biofertilizer in organic system. Positive responses to biofertilizer application in postharvest quality attributes were obtained in Explorer and Red Heaven varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Levulinic acid (LA) is considered a versatile chemical building block and has emerged as one of the leading platforms for products derived from biomass. It is regarded as important from an economic perspective. The main route of synthesis to obtain LA is from the degradation of cellulose by acid catalysis, with lignocellulosic biomass being a promising and sustainable way to obtain it. In this study, for the first time, the use of watermelon residues was proposed for the synthesis of levulinic acid, adding value to a residual biomass that has still been little explored for this purpose. Watermelon residues were subjected to acid hydrolysis using H2SO4 or HCl. Two reactors were analyzed for this purpose – autoclave and microwave assisted. The experiments were optimized through a central composite design, where temperature, biomass load, and acid concentration in the microwave were evaluated as variables. In the autoclave, the variables investigated were catalyst concentration and biomass loading. The highest yields, 14.8% and 17% by weight, were obtained with solid fraction (SF) in micro wave (MW). In the best condition obtained in the central composite design, the liquid fraction (LF) and SF were analyzed. It was observed that a clean product, containing only levulinic acid and formic acid, was in the liquid fraction. The MW was more efficient and is a promising alternative for reactions requiring energy. This study contributes to an energy‐saving strategy, using waste and low‐cost catalysts, sustainably contributing to a circular carbon economy based on agricultural waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flesh color of watermelon is an important trait that is determined by carotenoid composition and affects consumers’ fruit desirability. Although a complete dominant control by C locus (Cllcyb) for canary yellow flesh (CY) over red flesh has been reported, red and CY colors frequently appear as a mixed pattern in the same flesh (incomplete canary yellow, ICY) in F1 and inbred lines carrying dominant C alleles. Therefore, we examined the genetic control of the mixed color pattern in ICY using whole-genome resequencing of three ICY (ICY group) and three CY inbred lines (CY group), as well as genetic linkage mapping of an F2 population. The segregation pattern in 135 F2 plants indicated that CY is controlled by a single locus (named C2) dominant over ICY. The whole-genome resequencing of ICY and CY inbred lines revealed an ICY/CYspecific region of approximately 27.60–27.88 Mb on Chr. 2 that was polymorphic between the ICY and CY groups. Our genetic map, using nine cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence markers developed based on the single-nucleotide polymorphisms from the ICY/CY-specific region, confirmed that C2 is located on Chr. 2 and cosegregated with the marker (M7) derived from a non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism of the pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) gene (ClPPR, Cla97C02G039880). Additionally, 27 watermelon inbred lines of ICY, CY, and red flesh were evaluated using previously reported Cllcyb (C locus)- based markers and our C2 locus-linked ClPPR-based marker (M7). As a result, dominant alleles at the C2 locus were required to produce CY, in addition to dominant alleles at the C locus, while a recessive homozygous genotype at the C locus gave the red flesh irrespective of the genotype at the C2 locus. Using a ClPPR-based cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence developed in this study and Cllcyb-based markers, watermelon cultivars with CY, ICY, and red flesh could be successfully discerned, implying that the combined use of these markers will be efficient for marker-assisted selection of flesh color in watermelon breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Response surface methodology (RSM) is one of the statistical approaches that can be used to determine the correlation between extraction parameters and the extraction yield of bioactive compounds. Citrullus lanatus rind contains various therapeutic values but has often been discarded as waste. This study aims to find the optimum extraction conditions for the yield of C. lanatus rind extract, perform phytochemical screening, and determine the antioxidant activities. Extraction was carried out by maceration technique using methanol as a solvent with a solids-to-solvent ratio of 1:30 w/v. The extraction conditions of C. lanatus rind were optimized using RSM and the optimum yield of 37.24 % was predicted at 41.7 °C after 6 h of extraction. The average actual yield obtained at the optimum conditions was 37.01 % ± 0.66, indicating good agreement with the predicted value. The phytochemical screening of methanolic rind extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, phenols, and flavonoids. The total phenolic content of methanolic rind extract ranging from 56.975 to 88.245 mg GAE/g using gallic acid as a standard, and the DPPH radical scavenging activity with IC50 value of 443.10 µg/mL was obtained. This study demonstrated that this unutilized C. lanatus rind contains bioactive substituents and can act as a promising natural antioxidant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is one of the most consumed fruits in the world due to its sweet taste and high-water content. However, its consumption generates by-products namely seeds and rind. Watermelon seeds have been extensively studied and several scientific reports have previously demonstrated their richness in terms of nutrients (fat, protein, fiber, minerals and vitamins) as well as phytochemical molecules with a wide spectrum of biological activities with a positive impact on human health. Thus, the objective of this review is to summarize the latest information on the composition, phytochemicals, biological activities as well as food applications of watermelon seeds. In order to achieve this objective, several articles published, between 2011 and 2022, in renowned database were consulted. This review allowed to demonstrate the nutritional richness of watermelon seeds in minerals (K and P) and in vitamins, in particular tocopherols and vitamin E; their richness in proteins, fibers and especially in lipids making the seeds a considerable source of lipid extraction, as well as their content in bioactive molecules with beneficial effects on human health. The results of this overview highlight the importance of the recovery of watermelon seeds and their uses as a novel ingredient in the formulation of new functional food products. Watermelon seeds can also be an important alternative source for the extraction of bioactive molecules to improve human health and well-being. This encourages the consumption of watermelon seeds and motivates industrial companies in the food and pharmaceutical sectors to integrate this new element in order to develop products with added value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study was undertaken to investigate the effect of extracts of P. pellucida on salt-fructose induced dyslipidemia in rats with a view to validating its consumption for the treatment and management of hyperlipidemia, obesity and high blood pressure. Dyslipidemia was induced in rats by oral administration of high concentrations of salt (NaCl, 18% (w/v)) and fructose (10% (w/v) for 21 days. The induced rats (30) were randomly allotted into 5 groups of 6 rats per group. Test groups were treated consistently for 21 days with either 250 mg/kg bwt, 500 mg/kg bwt of Peperomia pellucida methanol extract (PPME) or standard drug (Atorvastatin, 0.6 mg/kgbwt). On day 22, the rats were anesthetized with diethyl ether and blood and liver collected for biochemical analyses. Plasma lipid profile parameters (Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and VLDL cholesterol), atherogenic indices (atherogenic index, Coronary risk index I & II) and enzymatic / non-enzymatic antioxidants (Superoxide dismutase, Peroxidase and Glutathione), were evaluated using standard procedures. Results reveal significant increase in lipid profiles and metabolites, and significant decrease in the antioxidant enzymes of test animals compared with the control as a result of induction with high salt and fructose solution. However, the altered biochemical parameters were restored in the groups treated with PPME. The study suggests that P. pellucida may be of good value in the prevention and management of dyslipidaemia, a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Chapingo Serie Horticultura is the property of Universidad Autonoma Chapingo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

One of the most important crops of the Mediterranean, watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), is almost exclusively established through seedlings. For many years, agronomists, nurseries, and farmers have aimed to produce and use high-quality seedlings for better growth in the field. However, seedling quality has not been examined as to what defines the subsequent plant, flower, and fruit development, and to what extent. Our aim was to test whether different seedling qualities labeled as "Optimum", "Acceptable", or "Not Acceptable" for cultivation actually perform variably in terms of vegetative, flowering, and fruit development, as well as fruit quality after a full growing cycle in the field. Vegetative growth (stem diameter, plant area, and leaf number) was evaluated until flowering and was enhanced for Optimum plants. The flowering of Not Acceptable plants started two days later, while Optimum plants retained a greater number of female flowers throughout the two-week blooming evaluation. Most importantly, Optimum plants developed mature fruits four and six days faster than the Acceptable and Not Acceptable ones, respectively, showing considerable yield earliness. The photosynthetic mechanism, as well as fruit morphology and phytochemical content, were not affected by quality categories. Overall, indeed it is important to use high-quality seedlings to achieve yield earliness of watermelon fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin, a multifunctional signaling molecule, has been shown to play a significant role in response to abiotic stress. Several species have been reported to unveil melatonin's effect on osmotic stress; however, the signal transduction mechanism of phytohormone-mediated melatonin biosynthesis in plant species remains unclear. In this study, although plants can biosynthesize melatonin, the exogenous application of melatonin to watermelon cells can improve cell growth in response to osmotic stress by regulating the antioxidant machinery of cells. Regarding the melatonin synthesis pathway, ClOMT (ClASMT and ClCOMT) is a multi-gene family, and ClSNAT has two members. Both ClOMTs and ClSNATs harbor the cis-elements in their promoter regions responding to various hormones. Among abscisic acid (ABA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and salicylic acid (SA), ABA treatment observably upregulated the expression of ClOMTs and ClSNATs, and the accumulation of melatonin with ABA treatment reached a level comparable to that with osmotic stress by mannitol treatment. Furthermore, when hormone biosynthesis inhibitors were added to cells before osmotic stress, the expression of ClOMTs and ClSNATs, as well as melatonin accumulation, were significantly suppressed with the ABA biosynthesis inhibitor. This study demonstrated the crucial role of melatonin biosynthesis in response to osmotic stress via plant hormone signal transduction. It showed that ABA signaling plays a dominant role in melatonin synthesis under osmotic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing number of cosmetic consumers emphasizing value consumption and sustainability, upcycling has gained attention as a solution to agricultural by-products, which are the main culprits of environmental problems. In this study, we isolated citrulluside T with whitening activity from discarded Citrullus lanatus stems and investigated the anti-melanogenic effect of citrulluside T and the underlying mechanisms. We found that citrulluside T did not exhibit cytotoxicity up to a concentration of 90 μM and significantly reduced the melanin content and intracellular tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells. In addition, citrulluside T inhibited the expression of melanogenic enzymes such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2, as well as melanin synthesis via cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)/cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)-mediated downregulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), a key transcription factor in melanogenesis. Furthermore, we found that citrulluside T exerted its anti-melanogenic effect by downregulating the β-catenin protein and upregulating phosphorylated β-catenin. Finally, we confirmed that citrulluside T was safe for skin through skin irritation tests on 33 subjects, suggesting its applicability as a protective agent against hyperpigmentation for topical applications such as cosmetics and ointments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed at determining the vitamin, phytochemical compositions and the antioxidant properties of watermelon and horned melon fruit juices. The analyses were carried out using standard methods. The results obtained showed that the fruits contained vitamins C (0.13 mg/ml and 0.68 mg/ml), A (1.60 and 0.20 mg/ml), B1 (0.0011 and 0.00009 mg/ml), B2 (0.0005 and 0.00011 mg/ml), B3 (6.62 and 0.00007 mg/ml), B9 (0.12 and 0.0021 mg/ml) and E (3.48 and 0.00042 mg/ml) for fruit juice of watermelon and horned melon respectively. From the phytochemical analysis, phytate (0.33%), alkaloids (0.48 mg/ml), Oxalate (3.24 mg/ml) and tannins (108.79 mg TAE/g) were detected only in the fruit juice of horned melon while flavonoid (3.45 mg/ml) and terpenoids (0.12 mg/ml) were detected only in the fruit juice of watermelon. Others were 0.17 and 0.06 mg/ml phenol, 0.21 and 0.46 mg/ml cardiac glycosides, 0.09 and 0.19 mg/ml saponin for fruit juices of watermelon and horned melon respectively. Horned melon juice showed no antioxidant activity up to a concentration of 100% while the fruit juice of watermelon showed varying activity at different concentrations. The EC50 for scavenging ability on DPPH and inhibition of lipid peroxidation were 40.0 and 76.0% respectively while OD0.5 for reducing power was 45.0 %. These results showed that watermelon juice is richer in phenols and flavonoids than horned melon juice. Therefore, watermelon juice could be used in pharmaceutical preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Medicinal plants are rich in phytochemicals compounds that can be beneficial for livestock production and for treatment of human diseases. This study was designed to compare biochemical, haematological and histopathological changes in rats treated with different fractions and doses of Citrullus lanatus rind (CLR). The powdered CLR was extracted with ethanol, later fractionated with different solvents (n-hexane, chloroform, ethanol) and crude ethanol extract subsequently labelled as CLRH, CLRC, CLREF and CLRCE respectively. This study was done with forty male Wistar rats randomly assigned to thirteen groups. Group A received 10ml/kg distilled water; groups B1, B2 and B3 received 100,800 and 160mg/kg CLRH respectively; groups C1, C2 and C3 received CLRC; groups D1, D2 and D3 received CLREF; groups E1, E2 and E3 received CLRCE dosages were administered similar to group B, these were done daily for 14 days. Blood and liver samples were subjected to haematological, serum biochemistry and histopathological analysis. Data were evaluated with differences between groups by analysis of variance, P<0.05 considered significant using Graphpad prism. The PCV (50.00±1.16% versus 48.50±0.65%) and leucocytes (9.37±0.71x10³cell/μl versus 9.11±0.02 x10³cell/μl) of rats treated with 1600mg/kg CLRCE were significantly high, while AST (18.00±1.16iu/Lversus 13.50±0.65iu/L) of rats treated with 1600mg/kg CLRH were significantly high when compared with rats treated with distilled water. Meanwhile there were congested central vein, hepatic atrophy and sinusoidal dilatations in liver of rats treated with 1600mg/kg of CLRC. It was concluded that CLR in ethanol is safe and improves haematological and biochemical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Demonstrated limitations in the mineral and nutritional composition of refined flours have led to calls for the possibility of enriching them with health-promoting supplements, such as high-value non-cereal seeds. Teff and watermelon seeds have been found suitable for the production of gluten-free flour, but so far, their potential to enrich conventional baking flours has not been comprehensively studied. Hence, the present study aimed at farinographic evaluation of dough based on refined wheat flour with additions of whole white teff (TF) and watermelon seed (WSF) and pomace (DWSF) flours (tested levels 10%, 20%, and 30%), as well as possibly extensive chemical characterization of the plant material tested, including LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, total phenolics, flavonoids, melatonin, and antioxidant potential. Most of the rheological traits were improved in the flour mixtures compared to the base white flour: development time and quality number (above 1.6-fold increase), softening and stability time (up to 1.3-fold change), and water absorption (up to 6%). Overall, the best results were achieved after the addition of watermelon seed pomace. The DWSF material was characterized by the highest levels of P, Mg, Na (7.5, 1.7, 0.4 g/kg, respectively), and Fe and Zn (124 and 27 mg/kg), while TF was the richest in Ca (0.9 g/kg) and Mn (43 mg/kg). Protein and fat levels were significantly higher in watermelon seeds compared to teff (about double and up to 10-fold, respectively). Phytochemical analyses highlighted the abundance of phenolics, especially flavones, in TF, WSF and DWSF flours (244, 93, and 721 mg/kg, respectively). However, the value of total polyphenols was low in all materials (<2 mg GAE/g), which also correlates with the low antioxidant potential of the samples. Watermelon seed pomace was characterized by significantly higher melatonin concentration (60 µg/kg) than teff (3.5 µg/kg). This study provides new information on the chemical composition and application opportunities of teff and watermelon seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Soil salinization poses a huge challenge to the development of agriculture and seriously decreases crop yield and quality. In recent years, grafting has become one of the key agronomic techniques used to enhance plant abiotic stress tolerance. In this study, we found that watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai] grafted onto bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria Standl.) significantly enhanced salt tolerance. Transcriptome analysis revealed that a total of 8462 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and the number of up- and down-regulated genes were 3207 and 5255, respectively. The DEGs in the bottle gourd rootstock-grafted plants were mainly involved in carbon metabolism, photosynthesis, and plant hormone signal transduction. Furthermore, proteome analysis identified 28 differently expressed proteins (DEPs) in bottle gourd rootstock-grafted plants under salt stress. These DEPs were closely associated with amino acid and protein synthesis, photosynthesis, mitochondrial metabolism and carbon metabolism, and stress defense. Combined transcriptome and proteome analyses showed that salt stress-responded genes in bottle gourd rootstock-grafted watermelon seedlings were mainly involved in plant hormone signal transduction, photosynthesis, and amino acid synthesis pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the GAPDH family play important roles in plant growth and development, as well as in stress responses. Our aim was to identify stress resistance genes through systematic analysis of the GAPDH family in watermelon. This could not only provide genetic resources for stress resistance breeding, but also form a basis for the study of plant stress resistance mechanisms.Eight GAPDHs representing four types of plant GAPDH in watermelon were identified (ClGAPA/B, ClGAPC1‐3, ClGAPCp1‐2 and ClGAPN). A comprehensive analysis of physicochemical properties, chromosome distribution, evolutionary relationships, exon‐intron structure and conserved motifs of watermelon GAPDHs was performed using bioinformatics. Expression characteristics were assessed by RT‐qPCR. Based on RT‐qPCR results, ClGAPC2 was screened as a candidate for subcellular localization analysis and functional verification in Arabidopsis thaliana.Eight GAPDHs were classified into four subfamilies. GAPDHs in each subgroup were generally conserved and shared similarities in structure and conserved motifs. ClGAPDHs had notable tissue specificity and different expression patterns in response to H2O2, chilling, salt, osmotic stress, heat, salicylic acid, gibberellin, brassinosterol, ethylene and abscisic acid treatments. Three ClGAPC genes, especially ClGAPC2, were markedly induced by several treatments. ClGAPC2 was located in the nucleus and cytoplasm of tabacum epidermal cells. The ClGAPC2 transgenic Arabidopsis showed enhanced tolerance to salinity at the germination stage.We suggest that ClGAPC2 plays important roles in the adaptation of watermelon to salinity. Our findings provided candidate genes for further improving the salt tolerance of watermelon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantity and quality of these constituent may not usually be the same under certain conditions, so fruits sold in Owerri where heavy pollutant abound were analysed, three samples of each water melon, Pawpaw, pineapple and orange fruits were bought from Owerri commercial centre and their juices extracted and stored in screw cap bottles prior to analysis. The physiochemical parameters revealed that fruits were of good quality but showed positive and negative significant relationship correlation ships such as pH-FW (0.958), pH-SG (-0.025), TS-MC (-0.999), TA-FW (-0.987). Vitamin C content ranged from 13.14 ± 0.39 mg/100g to 75.46 ±1.72 mg/100g for water melon and orange respectively. In conclusion, fruits studied showed good quality and a good source of vitamin C and mineral content. Such analysis needs to be carried out periodically to ensure quality and create awareness to the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watermelon and melon are members of the Cucurbitaceae family including economically significant crops in the world. The expansin protein family, which is one of the members of the cell wall, breaks down the non-covalent bonds between cell wall polysaccharides, causing pressure-dependent cell expansion. Comparative bioinformatics and molecular characterization analysis of the expansin protein family were carried out in the watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and melon (Cucumis melo) plants in the study. Gene expression levels of expansin family members were analyzed in leaf and root tissues of watermelon and melon under ABA, drought, heat, cold, and salt stress conditions by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. After comprehensive searches, 40 expansin proteins (22 ClaEXPA, 14 ClaEXPLA, and 4 ClaEXPB) in watermelon and 43 expansin proteins (19 CmEXPA, 15 CmEXPLA, 3 CmEXPB, and 6 CmEXPLB) in melon were identified. The greatest orthologous genes were identified with soybean expansin genes for watermelon and melon. However, the latest divergence time between orthologous genes was determined with poplar expansin genes for watermelon and melon expansin genes. ClaEXPA-04, ClaEXPA-09, ClaEXPB-01, ClaEXPB-03, and ClaEXPLA-13 genes in watermelon and CmEXPA-12, CmEXPA-10, and CmEXPLA-01 genes in melon can be involved in tissue development and abiotic stress response of the plant. The current study combining bioinformatics and experimental analysis can provide a detailed characterization of the expansin superfamily which has roles in growth and reaction to the stress of the plant. The study ensures detailed data for future studies examining gene functions including the roles in plant growth and stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roots play a crucial role in plant growth by absorbing various nutrients from soils. However, the gene expression in the lateral root regermination of pumpkin rootstocks by double-root-cutting grafting remains unclear. In this study, transcriptome sequencing was performed to analyze the nutrient uptake, hormones, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during the lateral root formation of rootstocks (F5, F1, and DM) after grafting with watermelon. Results showed that the ability of root regermination varied in the three rootstocks. F1 had the highest root length, whereas DM had the shortest roots after cutting the main roots, suggesting that F1 had the best capacity to form lateral roots. An increased trend of nutrient uptake (N, Mg2+, and K) was observed. However, the P content decreased after root cutting in the three rootstocks. Meanwhile, grafted watermelon plants exhibited different abilities to adsorb nutrient elements with the three rootstocks. Three hormones (indole acetic acid, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid) were involved in root development, and the highest amounts of salicylic acid were observed. The most significant metabolic pathways involved the mechanisms of signal transduction, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, carbohydrate transport, and cell wall biogenesis. DEGs were also related to the functions of the membrane and response to organic substances, chitin, and wounding. Our results provide a new understanding of root regermination and elucidate a potential gene expression for the regulation and improvement of the root system in grafted plants with pumpkin rootstocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agrociencia is the property of Colegio de Postgraduados and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Salinization of cultivated soils is a global phenomenon mainly caused by agricultural practices and deteriorates plant production. Biostimulants are products which can be applied exogenously to enhance the plants' defense mechanism and improve their developmental characteristics, also under abiotic stresses. We studied the potential of two biostimulants, Ascophyllum nodosum (Asc) seaweed and a silicon-based (Si), to alleviate the saline conditions endured by watermelon transplants. Three salinity (0 mM, 50 mM, and 100 mM NaCl) treatments were applied in watermelon seedlings transplanted in pots, while the two biostimulants were sprayed in the foliar in the beginning of the experiment. Relative water content was improved by Asc in the high salinity level. The plant area, leaf number, and shoot dry weight deteriorated in relation to the salinity level. However, the root system (total root length and surface area) was enhanced by 50 mM salt, as well as Asc in some cases. The OJIP transient of the photosynthetic apparatus was also evaluated. Some OJIP parameters diminished in the high salinity level after Asc application. It is concluded that after salt stress Asc provoked a positive phenotypic response, while Si did not alleviate the salinity stress of transplanted watermelon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Biológico Agropecuaria Tuxpan is the property of Revista Biologico Agropecuaria Tuxpan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) & Nakai] is widely grown on plastic mulches in the southeast United States, but responses of plants to plastic mulch color are not well understood. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of colored plastic mulches and changes in root zone temperature (RZT) on fruit yield of watermelon fruit. The mulches (152 cm wide) evaluated were: black, blue, gray, red, silver (metallic), and white. During the first weeks after transplanting, canopy development was more rapid on black, blue, and red than silver and white mulches. As the season progressed and temperatures increased, differences in canopy development among mulch treatments tended to decrease. Watermelon plant growth benefited from soil warming using plastic film mulches, mainly blue, black, and red. There were no differences in fruit yield among different colored mulches, indicating that under the temperature conditions of the present study, the RZTs during fruiting were within optimal range for watermelon which is estimated to be 28.3°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salicylic acid (SA) has been considered to attenuate the effects of abiotic stresses on plants, including water deficit that intensely affects the growth and production of plants. The goal of this work was to evaluate the role of SA in the alleviation of water stress in watermelon seedlings on a morphophysiological and biochemical level. The experiment consisted of application of SA at concentrations of 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 μmol L−1 to leaves of watermelon seedlings grown in three levels of water retention (100%, 75% and 50% WRL). To evaluate the effect on morphophysiological and biochemical aspects, the plant height, leaf area, shoot and root dry weight, chlorophyll index, relative water content, electrolyte leakage, protein content, amino acids, proline, carbohydrates, sucrose and starch concentration variables were determined. All variables were influenced by the SA concentrations and WRL, with statistically significant interaction between these factors for all except root dry weight. SA promotes increases in the concentration of organic solutes and reduces the rate of electrolyte leakage in watermelon seedlings, thus, supporting metabolism and growth of plants under stress conditions resulting from water deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid is the causal agent of charcoal rot and vine decline in cucurbits such as watermelon. Molecular methods have been used for rapid identification. However, a large number of steps used reduces its applicability. This study aimed to detect M. phaseolina in watermelon from producing areas in Northeastern Brazil by direct PCR. Plant tissue samples were collected from seven producing areas and the DNA was extracted using the CTAB method. Amplifications were performed by direct PCR using the MpKFI/MpKRI primers, then the PCR products were subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and sequenced. Amplicons of 350 bp were observed in stem tissue samples from three areas. The identity of the samples was confirmed by sequencing. This study represents the first molecular diagnosis of M. phaseolina associated with watermelon in Northeastern Brazil. The methodology presented here can be applied for a reliable and simple diagnosis of the pathogen in other crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Erciyes Agriculture & Animal Science is the property of Erciyes Tarim ve Hayvan Bilimleri Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Climate change is an inevitable process characterized by an abrupt increase in global temperature and a decrease in precipitations leading to drought incidents. Biostimulants could be a valuable tool for mitigating these harsh conditions. The objective of our study was to test the efficiency of two biostimulants, a silicon-based seaweed and the seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum, to mitigate the drought stress endured by watermelon transplants during the first few weeks after transplanting. In order to achieve this, three water treatments (100%, 75%, and 50% of field capacity) were applied in pots. Important growth parameters (leaf number, fresh weight, and plant area) deteriorated depending on water availability. This was also the case for the root system development displayed by root dry weight, total length, and surface area. It is the first time the OJIP transient has been evaluated after the application of A. nodosum for drought-stressed plants. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters showed that the photosynthetic apparatus was more stressed when A. nodosum was applied, especially in the harshest conditions (i.e., 50% field capacity). Overall, the silicon-based biostimulant failed to demonstrate drought-mitigating potential compared to the non-treated counterparts. On the other hand, A. nodosum alleviated the negative effects of water deficit, especially in the harshest conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the causal agent of powdery mildew in husk tomato and watermelon, as well as its morphological and molecular characterization. Design/methodology/approach: Leaves with powdery mildew symptoms were collected from husk tomato (Physalis ixocarpa) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) in Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico in 2018. From two isolates (Phyxa1 and Phyxa2) of husk tomato and two of watermelon (Citrus1 and Citrus2), the morphological characterization was carried out by assembling morphological structures and visualizing them under an optical microscope. For molecular characterization, the ITS region was amplified with the use of primers ITS1 and ITS4, PCR was performed and the products obtained were sequenced in the company Macrogen®. A phylogenetic analysis was performed with the resulting sequences and they were compared with other sequences available in GenBank. Results: It was determined that there is morphological and genetic variability between isolates from husk tomato and watermelon. The largest sizes of conidiophores and conidia were from Phyxa1 and Phyxa2 isolates, the smallest sizes were found in Citrus1 and Citrus2. The isolates presented a tendency to group according to the host, the Phyxa1 and Phyxa2 isolates were associated with Solanacea isolates, while the Citrus1 and Citrus2 isolates were grouped with isolates of the Cucurbitaceae family. Findings/conclusions: Podosphaera xanthii was shown to be the agent associated with powdery mildew in husk tomato and watermelon. The morphological and genetic variability of P. xanthii was determined, which was associated with the host of origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated pest and pollinator management (IPPM) has been touted as a novel approach to control pests while mitigating negative effects of insecticides on pollinators. In addition to non‐chemical approaches, IPPM programmes focus on insecticide treatments with low bee toxicity, threshold‐based applications and restricted timings to avoid sprays during pollinator foraging. However, the singular and combined effect of this approach on pollination services and pest management is understudied and generally lacks field validation.In two field studies, we evaluated the effect of IPPM insecticide programmes on striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) management, pollination and watermelon yield. The first trial (2020) featured insecticide treatments representing a factorial combination of (1) products varying in bee toxicity (bifenthrin, cyclaniliprole and acetamiprid), (2) application frequencies (weekly vs. threshold‐based) and (3) application timings (AM vs. PM), as well as an untreated control. These data were then used to inform a second trial (2021) that applied two insecticide treatments (IPPM based or grower standard) to commercial‐scale (20–30 acres) fields in collaboration with regional watermelon farms. Weekly beetle densities, pollinator visitation and yield data were collected to determine programme efficacy.Overall, beetle infestations were successfully managed with all insecticide treatments, none of which compromised marketable yield. In 2020, threshold‐based insecticide programmes offered statistically similar levels of pest control but required 20%–80% fewer applications compared to a weekly programme. Furthermore, pollinator visitation was increased in threshold‐based programmes by ~42% across all products. The on‐farm validation trial in 2021 upheld these findings; IPPM fields had effective beetle control but with 1–7 fewer insecticide applications compared to grower standard fields. IPPM fields also had 62% greater pollinator visitation and 49% more melons during harvest compared to grower standard fields.Synthesis and applications. Our study demonstrates the capacity of IPPM programmes to manage pests while mitigating negative effects on pollinators. In particular, administering insecticide applications by pest thresholds led to the greatest enhancement in pollinator function. These findings also suggest that growers can benefit from this approach with reduced insecticide costs while encouraging pollination in pollinator‐dependent crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccines and antiviral drugs are widely used to treat influenza infection. However, they cannot rapidly respond to drug-resistant viruses. Therefore, new anti-influenza virus strategies are required. Naringenin is a flavonoid with potential for new antiviral strategies. In this study, we evaluated the antiviral effects of naringenin derivatives and examined the relationship between their cellular uptake and antiviral effects. Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells were infected with the A/PR/8/34 strain and exposed to the compound-containing medium for 24 h. The amount of virus in the supernatant was calculated using focus-forming reduction assay. Antiviral activity was evaluated using IC50 and CC50 values. Cells were exposed to a constant concentration of naringenin or prenylated naringenin, and intracellular uptake and distribution were evaluated using a fluorescence microscope. Prenylated naringenin showed strong anti-influenza virus effects, and the amount of intracellular uptake was revealed by the strong intracellular fluorescence. In addition, intracellular distribution differed depending on the position of the prenyl group. The steric factor of naringenin is deeply involved in influenza A virus activity, and prenyl groups are desirable. Furthermore, the prenyl group affects cellular affinity, and the uptake mechanism differs depending on its position. These results provide important information on antiviral strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]