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The excess of salts in irrigation water restricts agricultural exploitation in arid and semi-arid regions. Thus, searching for strategies of cultivation under salt stress conditions is important for the expansion of irrigated agriculture in these regions. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the gas exchange and growth rates of naturally colored-fiber cotton genotypes irrigated with saline water and under exogenous foliar application of hydrogen peroxide concentrations. The experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions, in Campina Grande - PB, using the randomized block experimental design and 4 × 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, with four concentrations of hydrogen peroxide - H2O2 (0, 25, 50, and 75 µM), three colored-fiber cotton genotypes - CG (BRS Rubi; BRS Topázio; BRS Verde) and two levels of electrical conductivity of water - ECw (0.8 and 5.3 dS m-1), with three replicates. Irrigation using water with electrical conductivity of 5.3 dS m-1 associated with foliar application of 50 µM of hydrogen peroxide favors gas exchange and growth rates of BRS Rubi cotton, at 60 days after sowing. Salinity of 5.3 dS m-1 associated with foliar applications of 50 µM of hydrogen peroxide increased the percentage of cell damage and the internal CO2 concentration, but reduced the stomatal conductance, transpiration, CO2 assimilation rate, and growth rates of BRS Topázio cotton. RESUMO O excesso de sais na água de irrigação restringe a exploração agrícola em regiões áridas e semiáridas. Assim, a busca por estratégias de cultivo sob condições de estresse salino é importante para expansão da agricultura irrigada nestas regiões. Assim, objetivou-se com a pesquisa, avaliar as trocas gasosas e as taxas de crescimento de genótipos de algodoeiro de fibra naturalmente colorida irrigados com águas salinas e sob aplicação exógena foliar de concentrações de peróxido de hidrogênio. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em condições de casa de vegetação, em Campina Grande – PB, utilizando o delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados e arranjo fatorial 4 × 3 × 2, sendo quatro concentrações de peróxido de hidrogênio – H2O2 (0; 25; 50 e 75 µM), três genótipos de algodoeiro de fibra colorida - GA (BRS Rubi; BRS Topázio e BRS Verde) e dois níveis de condutividade elétrica da água - CEa (0,8 e 5,3 dS m-1) e com três repetições. A irrigação com água de condutividade elétrica de 5,3 dS m-1 associada a aplicação foliar de 50 µM de peróxido de hidrogênio favorece as trocas gasosas e as taxas de crescimento do algodoeiro BRS Rubi, aos 60 dias após a semeadura. A salinidade de 5,3 dS m-1 associado a aplicações foliares de 50 µM de peróxido de hidrogênio aumenta a porcentagem dano celular e a concentração interna de CO2, no entanto reduz a condutância estomática, transpiração, taxa de assimilação de CO2 e as taxas de crescimento do algodoeiro BRS Topázio.

Watermelon is cultivated in practically all Brazilian states; however, there are still disagreements as to the best way to propagate it. In addition, the Northeast region, the main producing region in the country, is increasingly facing the scarcity of low-salinity water. Given this context, this study aimed to evaluate the morphophysiology and mineral contents of the watermelon crop subjected to irrigation water of different electrical conductivities, using seedlings or direct seeding. A randomized block experimental design with split plots was used, with four replications. The plot was formed by the electrical conductivities of the irrigation water (0.3, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 dS m-1) and the subplot by the planting methods - DS = direct seeding, TP1 = transplanting of the seedling produced with water of moderate salinity (1.5 dS m-1), and TP2 = transplanting of the seedling produced with water of low salinity (0.3 dS m-1). The highest biomass accumulation was obtained in the direct seeding method. Salt stress increases the intrinsic water use efficiency in watermelon plants. The TP1 and TP2 planting methods led to the highest contents of P and K in the leaf. The increase in the salinity level increases the content of S and reduces the content of Cu and Mn. RESUMO A melancia é cultivada praticamente em todos os estados brasileiros; entretanto, ainda existem divergências quanto à melhor forma de propagação. Além disso, a região Nordeste, principal região produtora do país, enfrenta cada vez mais a escassez de água com baixos níveis de salinidade. Diante deste contexto, esse estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a morfofisiologia e os teores minerais na cultura da melancia submetida a diferentes condutividades elétricas da água de irrigação, utilizando-se mudas ou semeadura direta. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. A parcela foi formada pelas condutividades elétricas da água de irrigação (0,3; 1,5; 3,0; 4,5 dS m-1) e a subparcela pelos métodos de plantio - SD = semeadura direta, TP1 = transplantio da muda produzida com água de moderada salinidade (1,5 dS m-1) e TP2 = transplantio da muda produzida com água de baixa salinidade (0,3 dS m-1). O maior acúmulo de biomassa foi obtido no método de plantio por semeadura direta. O estresse salino aumenta a eficiência intrínseca do uso da água em plantas de melancia. Os métodos de plantio TP1 e TP2 apresentam os maiores valores nos teores foliares de P e K. O aumento do nível salino aumenta os teores foliares de S e reduz os teores de Cu e Mn.

Salt stress affects the production of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) seedlings. However, substrates with alternative materials in their composition can mitigate the harmful effects on the formation of watermelon seedlings. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the emergence and production of watermelon seedlings grown in different substrates under salt stress. The research was conducted in an agricultural greenhouse belonging to the Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira, Redenção, Ceará, Brazil. The experimental design used was completely randomized in a split-plot scheme. The plots were five levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water (ECw: 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 dS m-1) and the subplots consisted of two formulations of substrates (SB1: sandy soil + sand + bovine manure; and SB2: sandy soil + sand + biochar; both in a 1:1:1 proportion on volume basis), with five repetitions of 25 seeds. The increase in the electrical conductivity of irrigation water from 1.5 dS m-1 reduces the percentage, speed index, and mean speed of emergence and increases the mean time of emergence of the watermelon crop. Substrate formulated with biochar reduces the time and increases the emergence indexes, besides enabling higher growth and biomass accumulation of watermelon seedlings. Salt stress reduces the growth, biomass, and quality of watermelon seedlings, but with less intensity with the addition of biochar. RESUMO O estresse salino afeta a produção de mudas de melancia (Citrullus lanatus). Porém, substratos com materiais alternativos na sua composição podem mitigar os efeitos deletérios na formação de mudas de melancia. Dessa forma, objetivou-se avaliar no presente estudo a emergência e a produção de mudas de melancia cultivada em diferentes substratos sob estresse salino. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em estufa agrícola pertencente à Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira, Redenção, Ceará, Brasil. O delineamento experimental adotado foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema de parcelas subdivididas. As parcelas corresponderam à cinco níveis de condutividade elétrica da água de irrigação (CEa: 0,5, 1,5, 2,5, 3,5 e 4,5 dS m-1) e as subparcelas à duas formulações de substratos (SB1: areia + arisco + esterco bovino; e SB2: areia + arisco + biochar; ambos com proporção 1:1:1 base de volume), com cinco repetições de 25 sementes. A elevação da condutividade elétrica da água a partir de 1,5 dS m-1 reduz os índices de emergência, e aumenta o tempo médio de emergência da cultura da melancia. Substrato formulado com biochar favorece os índices de emergência, além de possibilitar maior taxa de crescimento e desenvolvimento da biomassa de plântulas de melancia. O estresse salino reduz o desenvolvimento e a qualidade de plântulas de melancia, porém com menor intensidade com adição de biocarvão.

Although salinity satellites can provide high-resolution global sea surface salinity (SSS) data, the satellite data still display large errors close to the coast. In this paper, a nonlinear empirical method based on random forest is proposed to correct two Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) L3 products in the tropical Indian Ocean, including SMOS BEC and SMOS CATDS data. The agreement between in-situ data and the corrected SMOS data is better than that between in-situ data and the original satellite data. The root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) of the satellite SSS data decreased from 0.366 to 0.275 and from 0.367 to 0.255 for SMOS BEC and SMOS CATDS, respectively. The effect of the correction model was better in the Arabian Sea than in the Bay of Bengal. The RMSD of corrected BEC (CATDS) SSS was reduced from 0.44 (0.48) to 0.276 (0.269), and the correlation coefficient was increased to 0.915 from 0.741(0.801) in the Arabian Sea while the correlation coefficient improved less than 0.02 in the Bay of Bengal. The cross-validation results highlight the robustness and effectiveness of the correction model. Additionally, the effects of different features on the correction model are discussed to demonstrate the vital role of geographical information in the correction of satellite SSS data. The proposed method outperformed other machine-learning methods with respect to the RMSD and correlation coefficient.

In order to know the efficiency of sterilization in eliminating parasites and its suitability for environment measurements, samples of the water and sediments was taken from six stations the Euphrates River. The samples were transported in clean and sterile bottles to the laboratory. A sedimentation method was used for parasites. Ten species of parasites isolated from water of the six stations while isolated seven were exists in the sediments of these stations. The water and sediments of the station first were contaminate with parasites rate 25.8% and 13.7%, the water and sediments of the second station are contaminated with parasites rate 12.8% and 20.2%, the water and sediments of the third station are contaminated with parasites rate 4.2% and 18.2%, the water and sediments of the fourth station are contaminated with parasites rate 22.8% and 18%, the water and sediments of the fifth station are contaminated with parasites rate 12.0% and 5.4% and the water and sediments of the sixth station are contaminated with parasites rate 12.9% and 1.7%. Giardia lamblia rate 25.4% it is most found in water while Trichomonas hominis rate 18.4% It is most found in sediments. A result of the study shows significant difference between of the temperature of air and water in all study stations, the air temperature ranged (40.10–15.2°C) and the water temperature between (26.3–9.4°C) while PH was (9.89–7.5), recorded electrical conductivity (5745–2515 μs/cm) and salinity was (4.80–1.56 g/cm) the river's water was of low salinity also dissolved oxygen was (12.9–6.2 mg/L). Date seed used as granular by activated carbon used for purification and remove parasite from water filter and waste water treatment.

Plants grown under salinity are subject to many morphological and physiological disorders. In this context, practices that can enable the use of saline water are essential. The deleterious effects of salinity can be mitigated by using beneficial microorganisms, especially diazotrophic bacteria. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of bacterial inoculation and co-inoculation using Bradyrhizobium spp. and Azospirillum brasilense on the growth, nodulation and production of cowpea under salt stress. The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design, in a 4 × 5 factorial arrangement, corresponding to four nitrogen sources (N1 - without nitrogen and without inoculant; N2 - fertilization with mineral nitrogen and without inoculant; N3 - inoculation of Bradyrhizobium spp.; and N4 - co-inoculation of Bradyrhizobium spp. and Azospirillum brasilense) and five values of electrical conductivity of irrigation water - ECw (0.4, 1.9, 3.4, 4.9 and 6.4 dS m-1), with five replicates. Co-inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense and Bradyrhizobium spp. favors the growth, production and nodulation of cowpea plants up to ECw of 0.4 dS m-1. Increase in the electrical conductivity of irrigation water negatively affects the growth, production and nodulation of cowpea plants in Corujinha variety, regardless of the nitrogen source used.

Drought and salt exposure are among the most prevalent and severe abiotic stressors causing serious agricultural yield losses, alone and in combination. Little is known about differences and similarities in the effects of these two stress factors on plant metabolic regulation, particularly on nitrogen metabolism. Here, we studied the effects of water deprivation and salt exposure on water relations and nitrogen metabolites in leaves and roots of date palm seedlings. Both, water deprivation and salt exposure had no significant effects on plant water content or stable carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotope signatures. Significant effects of water deprivation on total C and N concentrations were only observed in roots, i.e., decreased total C and increased total N concentrations. Whereas salt exposure initially decreased total C and increased total N concentrations significantly in roots, foliar total C concentration was increased upon prolonged exposure. Initially C/N ratios declined in roots of plants from both treatments and upon prolonged salt exposure also in the leaves. Neither treatment affected soluble protein and structural N concentrations in leaves or roots, but resulted in the accumulation of most amino acids, except for glutamate and tryptophan, which remained stable, and serine, which decreased, in roots. Accumulation of the most abundant amino acids, lysine and proline, was observed in roots under both treatments, but in leaves only upon salt exposure. This finding indicates a similar role of these amino acids as compatible solutes in the roots in response to salt und drought, but not in the leaves. Upon prolonged treatment, amino acid concentrations returned to levels found in unstressed plants in leaves of water deprived, but not salt exposed, plants. The present results show both water deprivation and salt exposure strongly impact N metabolism of date palm seedlings, but in a different manner in leaves and roots.

The most hazardous abiotic stress, salinity, restricted the world crop production, and grain chalkiness affected the grain quality to limit consumers' acceptance. The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins modulate massive biological processes in plants. Here the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing mutants were obtained to detect the function of OsbHLH044. The loss-of-function of OsbHLH044 mutants showed numerous altered plant phenotypes. Notably, the osbhlh044 mutants resulted in prominently reduced morphological and physiological parameters under salt stress. Lower antioxidant activities and higher lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide (H

Oysters are commercially important intertidal filter-feeding species. Mass mortality events of oysters often occur due to environmental stresses, such as exposure to fluctuating temperatures, salinity, and air, as well as to metal pollution and pathogen infection. Here, RNA-seq data were used to identify shared and specific responsive genes by differential gene expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis. A total of 18 up-regulated and 10 down-regulated shared responsive genes were identified corresponding to five different stressors. Total 27 stressor-specific genes for temperature, 11 for salinity, 80 for air exposure, 51 for metal pollution, and 636 for Vibrio mediterranei pathogen stress were identified in oysters. Elongin-β was identified as a crucial gene for thermal stress response. Some HSP70s were determined to be shared responsive genes while others were specific to thermal tolerance. The proteins encoded by these stress-related genes should be further investigated to characterize their physiological functions. In addition, the uncharacterized proteins and ncRNAs that were identified may be involved in species-specific stress-response and regulatory mechanisms. This study identified specific genes related to stressors relevant to oyster cultivation. These findings provide useful information for new selective breeding strategies using a data driven method.

Soybean stands out among the crops with the greatest application of transgenics, mainly for tolerance to herbicides, pests, and diseases; however, studies on salt stress in genetically modified plants are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the tolerance of both traditional and genetically modified soybean genotypes to saline stress during the germination and seedling phases. Seeds of 13 soybean genotypes were selected (five traditional (BRS Carnaúba, BRS Pérola, BRS Tracajá, BRS Sambaíba, and FTR-4389) and eight transgenic (BRS Sambaíba RR, BRS-333-RR, BRS-9820- RR, PAS-13565-74-RR, PAS-11711-007-RR, BRS-918-IPRO, AS-3810-IPRO, and M-8210-IPRO)), subjected to four osmotic potentials (0.0, 0.1, -0.2, and -0.3 MPa). The seed quality was evaluated using the following variables: the germination percentage, germination speed index, shoot length, root length, dry mass accumulation, and salinity tolerance index. All variables were found to be affected by salt stress. However, the conventional genotypes, BRS Carnaúba, BRS Pérola, BRS Tracajá, and BRS Sambaíba, and the RR group PAS-13565-74-RR, and PAS-11711-007-RR were tolerant to salinity, whereas the genotypes FTR-4389 (conventional) and BRS Sambaíba RR (RR) were less tolerant to salt stress, and all genotypes in the IPRO group were moderately tolerant to salt stress.

In aquatic ecosystems, marine and freshwater environments are separated by steep salinity gradients. The osmotic stress induced by this 'invisible wall' forms an insurmountable barrier for many aquatic lifeforms, including bacteria, algae and animals. Because the osmotic differences when transiting a salinity divide are so hard to overcome, most species have adapted exclusively to a marine or a freshwater lifestyle. A major consequence of this physiological specialization into marine and freshwater organisms is that transitions are relatively rare, impeding regular contact and colonization. While some animals use specialized organs or behaviour to cope with unfavourable salinity levels, unicellular algae such as diatoms are completely dependent on cellular mechanisms to mitigate salinity stress. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Downey and colleagues investigate the transcriptomic response of a salinity-tolerant diatom to a shock treatment with freshwater (Molecular Ecology, 2023). Through frequent sampling and integration of existing RNA sequencing data, a fine-grained model of the acclimation to hypo-osmotic stress emerges. Deciphering the pathways that drive the acute and long-term acclimation to freshwater has major implications for diatom ecology, diversification and resilience to global change.

Industries such as unconventional natural gas have seen increased global expansion to meet the increasing energy needs of our increasing global population. Unconventional gas uses hydraulic fracturing that produces significant volumes of produced waters, which can be highly saline and pose a toxic threat to freshwater invertebrates if exposure via discharges, spills, leaks, or runoff were to occur. The primary aim of the present review was to determine the sodium (Na

Objective: To better understand the wetland restoration, the physicochemical properties and microbial community in different compartments (rhizosphere and bulk soil) of the status of living and death T. chinensis covered soil zones were studied in a restored coastal tidal flat located on the Zhoushan island.Results: There were differences between growth conditions in the levels of soil pH, salinity, SOM, and nutrient. The living status of T. chinensis exhibited higher capacity of decreasing saline-alkali soil than the death condition of plants, and the living condition of T. chinensis showed higher uptake of N, P, and K as compared with the death samples. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Chloroflexi were the predominant bacterial communities as revealed via high-throughput sequencing. This study contributed to our understanding of halophyte growth on coastal phytoremediation, and guide theoretically for management of T. chinensis population.

Semi-arid regions present the inherent problem of accumulation of salts in the soil due to the use of brackish water for irrigation, and water deficit compromises the growth and physiological indices of crops. This study evaluated the effect of salt and water stress on growth and gas exchange in the zucchini cv. Caserta crop. The study was conducted at the University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony, Redenção, Ceará State, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme with five levels of electrical conductivity of the irrigation water - ECw (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 dS m-1) and two water regimes (50 and 100% of the potential crop evapotranspiration - ETc), with five replicates. At 36 days after sowing, the following traits were evaluated: CO2 assimilation rate, transpiration, stomatal conductance, internal carbon concentration, leaf temperature, relative chlorophyll index, and water use efficiency. At 45 days after sowing, the plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, and leaf area were also evaluated. The use of brackish water (1 to 2.5 dS m-1) reduced the growth parameters of zucchini cv. Caserta. The increase in ECw caused a decline in the physiological traits. Under 100% ETc, higher values of CO2 assimilation rate, transpiration, and instantaneous water use efficiency were recorded, and there was 50% ETc for internal carbon concentration, even with the increase in ECw.

Irrigation water salinity can cause serious problems in crop production, while organic fertilizer sources potentially mitigate saline stress. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the productivity of maize crops under irrigation with saline water and organic fertilization. The study was conducted in the field from August to November 2020 at the experimental farm of the Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira (UNILAB), Redenção-CE. A randomized block design was used, in subdivided plots, in which the plots consisted of two levels of irrigation water salinity (0.8 and 3.0 dS m-1). Four combinations of organic fertilizer sources were applied in the subplots, composed of 10 plants each, with four replications: C1, cattle manure + poultry biofertilizer + goat biofertilizer; C2, cattle manure + goat biofertilizer; C3, cattle manure + poultry biofertilizer; and C4, control treatment. The combination of organic fertilizer sources did not influence the accumulation of assimilates and productivity of maize crops under the irrigation water salinity of 3.0 dS m-1, except for C3, which attenuated the saline effect.

It is difficult to predict and manage the ecological consequences of multiple water quality stressors on our freshwater systems. this is due to the dynamism of the source-stressor-response relationships and multiple factors including lack of data, complex impact pathways and risks, and uncertainties that are difficult to parameterise. we present a risk-based probability modelling approach using a Bayesian network (Bn), to manage multiple water quality stressors at multiple spatial scales. we illustrate the use of this approach, by evaluating the probable ecological effects of altered water quality associated with multiple sources in three case study rivers in South Africa. water quality and land use activity were used to describe conceptual risk pathways, parameterise the Bns and model the probable consequences of multiple water quality stressors. the Bn model demonstrated that the endpoints that were selected for the study reflected the risks associated with the levels of the input water quality variables. the model further demonstrated that the electrical conductivity Bn was just as sensitive as the more complex salt model. the Bn model was further able to accurately represent risks to all systems irrespective the water quality data base size. this approach can contribute towards more sustainable water resource management.

N

In recent years, the risk from environmental pollution caused by chloramphenicol (CAP) has emerged as a serious concern worldwide, especially for the co-selection of antibiotic resistance microorganisms simultaneously exposed to CAP and salts. In this study, the multistage contact oxidation reactor (MCOR) was employed for the first time to treat the CAP wastewater under the co-existence of CAP (10-80 mg/L) and salinity (0-30 g/L NaCl). The CAP removal efficiency reached 91.7% under the co-existence of 30 mg/L CAP and 10 g/L NaCl in the influent, but it fluctuated around 60% with the increase of CAP concentration and salinity. Trichococcus and Lactococcus were the major contributors to the CAP and salinity shock loads. Furthermore, the elevated CAP and salinity selection pressures inhibited the spread of CAP efflux pump genes, including cmlA, tetC, and floR, and significantly affected the composition and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). As the potential hosts of CAP resistance genes, Acinetobacter, Enterococcus, and unclassified_d_Bacteria developed resistance against high osmotic pressure and antibiotic environment using the efflux pump mechanism. The results also revealed that shifting of potential host bacteria significantly contributed to the change in ARGs. Overall, the co-existence of CAP and salinity promoted the enrichment of core genera Trichococcus and Lactococcus; however, they inhibited the proliferation of ARGs. KEY POINTS: • Trichococcus and Lactococcus were the core bacteria related to CAP biodegradation • Co-existence of CAP and salinity inhibited proliferation of cmlA, tetC, and floR • The microorganism resisted the CAP using the efflux pump mechanism.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the physical and chemical dynamics of Lake Nokoué for its efficient management. For this purpose, two sampling campaigns per month from five stations (North, South, Central, East and West) were conducted for a period of one year (November 2020 to November 2021). Physic and chemical parameters (temperature, salinity, depth, water transparency, pH, dissolved oxygen and total dissolved solids) were measured and wet substrate samples were collected to study the granulometry. Data analysis revealed that Lake Nokoué is mainly affected by two regimes: flooding and low water. Flooding, which is not directly related to rainfall, did not begin until one month after the major rainy season in June. The sources that contributed to the flooding of Lake Nokoué were the freshwater tributaries coming mainly from the Ouèmé River and the flow of the Sô River from August to November. The inflow of fresh water contributed to the decrease in salinity and transparency of the lake from the east to the south. During the low water period (from December to July), Lake Nokoué is characterized by an increase in salinity and transparency from the south to the northeast due to the massive intrusion of sea water into the lake. The highest dissolved oxygen levels are observed in the south and center (5.92 ± 0.46 mg/L) while it varies greatly in the north and west (Eichhornia crassipes concentration zone) during flooding. The average annual depth of Lake Nokoué was 1.47 ± 0.66 m with an average annual pH of 6.85 ± 0.56.

This paper explores the transient upward flow of saline water in one-dimensional soil and soil–geosynthetics columns to evaluate preventive measures to mitigate salinity rise. Unsaturated soil concepts are utilised to elucidate the salinity movement through geotextile and geocomposite drain interfaces. The presence of a geotextile layer slowed down the capillary rise of the saline water. However, it did not prevent the breakthrough of the saline water due to the hydrophilicity of the geotextile and the suction at the geotextile base being close to the geotextile's water entry suction value. In contrast, using a geocomposite drain mitigated the upward saline wetting front. It acted as a salinity capillary barrier due to the initial hydrophobicity of its geotextile component and the air gap present in the geonet core.

Catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) coupled desalination technology provides a possibility for the effective and economic degradation of high salinity and high organic wastewater. Chloride widely occurs in natural and wastewaters, and its high content jeopardizes the efficacy of Advanced oxidation process (AOPs). Thus, a novel chlorine ion resistant catalyst B-site Ru doped LaFe

Analysis of reservoir sensitivity to velocity, water, salt, acid, alkali and stress is critical for reservoir protection. To study the tight sandstone reservoir sensitivity at different formation depths (effective stress) and formation water conditions (pH, salinity, and fluid velocity), a series of dynamic core flow tests under different pH, salinity, acid, and effective stress conditions were performed on samples from tight sandstone reservoirs of the Upper Triassic Yanchang 8 (T3y8) Member and conventional reservoirs of the Middle-Lower Jurassic Yan'an 9 (J1-2y9) Member in the Ordos Basin. The results indicate that, compared with the conventional reservoirs, the tight sandstone reservoirs are more sensitive to velocity and stress, less sensitive to water, alkali and salinity, and respond better to acid fracturing. In addition, the critical conditions (salinity, velocity, pH, and stress) for pumping drilling, completion, and fracturing fluids into tight sandstone reservoirs were investigated. A combination of scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), cathodoluminescence (CL), casting thin section (CTS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) images, high-pressure mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) measurements as well as X-ray fluorescence spectral (XRF) analyses were employed to analyze the damage mechanisms of the conventional reservoirs (J1-2y9) and tight sandstone reservoirs (T3y8) caused by fluid invasion. The results suggest that reservoir sensitivity is primarily conditioned by the composition of detrital components and interstitial fillings, petrophysical properties, pore-throat structure, and diagenetic facies. All these factors control the sensitivity types and extent of the reservoirs. Our results indicate that the poorer the reservoir physical properties, the stronger the reservoir heterogeneity and sensitivity, implying that tight sandstone reservoirs are more susceptible to changes in fluids than conventional reservoirs. This study offers insights into the reservoir damage types and helps to improve the design and implementation of protection measures for tight sandstone reservoir exploration.

Salinity is an important abiotic stress that limits the productivity of crops growing on the salt affected areas because excess salt concentration in the soil has detrimental effect on growth and development of plants. Beneficial microorganisms having the inimitable characteristics like tolerance to soil salinity, synthesis of plant growth hormones, facilitating nutrient uptake, bio-control ability and beneficial interaction with plants could be vital to address the problem. An experiment was carried out with the objectives of isolating and characterizing saline tolerant bacteria for utilizing as a tool for bioremediation. Soil samples were collected from three saline affected districts of Bangladesh viz. Khulna, Satkhira and Bhola. The highest bacterial population was found in Satkhira followed by Khulna and the lowest was found in Bhola. Eighteen (18) bacterial isolates viz. BU B1, BU B2, BU B3, BU B4, BU B5, BU B6, BU B7, BU B8, BU B9, BU S1, BU S2, BU S3, BU S4, BU S5, BU S6, BU S7, BU K1 and BU K2 were identified according to the colony color and shape. All the isolated bacteria showed positive response to produce IAA. Isolates BU S4, BU B7 and BU S1 showed highest IAA production ability. Among the 18 isolates, 12 were Gram positive and showed negative reaction on KOH test and the rest 6 isolates were Gram negative and showed positive reaction on KOH test. The isolates BU B1, BU B4, BU B6, BU S6, BU K1 and BU K2 were slow growing bacteria and the rest were fast grower. Biochemical tests indicate that 13 isolates were positive for catalase and P solubilization test. Whereas, 11 isolates could degrade the cellulose. For screening of bacterial isolates against NaCl tolerance, the isolates were cultured on NA medium having different salt concentrations. Experimental results reveal that all the isolates could tolerate 4.0% NaCl concentration except BU B6. Ten isolates showed the ability to tolerate NaCl up to 8.0%. The isolates BU B7 and BU S4 showed highest salinity tolerance along with better response to different biochemical characteristics. Therefore, these isolates may become promising for the bioremediation of soil salinity in the saline affected areas of Bangladesh.

The quality of the groundwater in the study area was evaluated through various water quality indexes for drinking and irrigation purposes. To evaluate the water quality index, 186 groundwater samples were sampled during 2 different seasons, likely pre-monsoon (PRM) and post-monsoon (POM). The collected samples were measured for physical-chemical parameters like pH, EC, TDS, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, HCO3, PO4, SO4, NO3 and H4SiO4. The research findings indicated that groundwater of the study area is approaching an alarming stage of its suitability for drinking purpose because a major percentage (i. e. 56%: PRM, 46%: POM) of samples are within poor category. Thus, the proper management strategy for water resources must be developed and a preventive management practice to address this issue must be implemented. Various water quality parameters such as electrical conductivity (EC), pH, salinity hazard, sodium hazard and permeability indexes (PI) were considered for irrigation water quality evaluation and it is inferred that the groundwater of the study area is suitable for irrigation. The PRM and POM samples with higher Na + and Cl concentrations were identified. The primary source of groundwater contamination is anthropogenic factors like domestic, agriculture effluents and mining activities. However, the groundwater of these regions is also greatly influenced by geogenic factors like weathering, rock-water interaction and precipitation which results in groundwater water level fluctuation. The research findings suggest the groundwater quality of this region is approaching an alarming stage for drinking purposes. Thus, developing a management strategy for drinking water sources and implementing preventive management practices to address this issue becomes imperative.

Soil salinity is a significant threat to global agriculture. Understanding salt exclusion mechanisms in halophyte species may be instrumental in improving salt tolerance in crops. Puccinellia tenuiflora is a typical salt-excluding halophytic grass often found in potassium-deprived saline soils. Our previous work showed that P. tenuiflora possesses stronger selectivity for K

In order to understand the incipient movement of muddy clay under different salinity conditions, three series of flume tests were performed on incipient movement of muddy clay, including tests on incipient movement of salt-free clay mud under salt water conditions (salt water-salt-free clay mud), incipient movement of salt clay mud under salt water conditions (salt water-salt clay mud), and incipient movement of salt clay mud under freshwater conditions (freshwater-salt clay mud), using a circulating flume, in which the salinity of the water body or cohesive sediment varies from 0 to 40%. Based on the particle image velocimetry system and digital image gray processing technology, the gray curves of water near the clay mud bed surface with the velocity were plotted to quantitatively differentiate the incipient velocity of the sediment for each test. The experimental results showed that the higher the salinity of the water body or cohesive sediments is, the more difficult it is to start moving. There is a logarithmic relationship between the incipient velocity of cohesive sediments and the salinity of the water or cohesive sediments. The incipient velocity increases sharply at a salinity of 0∼10% and slowly at a salinity of 10∼40%. At the same salinity, the incipient velocity of salt clay mud under freshwater conditions is the largest, followed by that of salt clay mud under salt water conditions, while that of salt-free clay mud under salt water conditions is the smallest. In addition, the flow turbulence characteristics were analyzed under the critical conditions of the onset of muddy clay. Ultimately, an empirical formula to calculate the critical incipient velocity of muddy clay is proposed by introducing the salinity. In this study, salinity is included as a reference variable, which expands the research scope of sediment initiation and provides a reference for the study of estuary dynamics.

Due to the rising population globally, and the demand for food, it is critical to significantly increase crop production by 2050. However, climate change estimates show that droughts and heatwaves will become more prevalent in many parts of the world, posing a severe danger to food output.Selective breeding based on genetic diversity is falling short of meeting the expanding need for food and feed. However, the advent of modern plant genetic engineering, genome editing, and synthetic biology provides precise techniques for producing crops capable of sustaining yield under stress situations.As a result, crop varieties with built-in genetic tolerance to environmental challenges are desperately needed. In the recent years, small RNA (sRNA) data has progressed to become one of the most effective approaches for the improvement of crops. So many sRNAs (18-30nt) have been found with the use of hi-tech bioinformatics and sequencing techniques which are involved in the regulation of sequence specific gene noncoding RNAs (short ncRNAs) i.e., microRNA (miRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA). Such research outcomes may advance our understanding of the genetic basis of adaptability of plants to various environmental challenges and the genetic variation of plant's tolerance to a number of abiotic stresses.The review article highlights current trends and advances in sRNAs' critical role in responses of plants to drought, heat, cold, and salinity, and also the potential technology that identifies the abiotic stress-regulated sRNAs, and techniques for analyzing and validating the target genes.

Since the 1950s, the widespread application of road salt for winter road maintenance and safety in cold regions has led to increased conductivity levels in many freshwater systems. Salting practices have adversely affected freshwater biota; however, the magnitude of ecological impacts may vary by species and ecosystem. Here, we examine diatom assemblage changes during the past ∼200 years from the sedimentary records of five impacted lakes (measured specific conductance values of 149–350 µS·cm−1) and a reference lake (18 µS·cm−1) located in the Muskoka River Watershed, south-central Ontario, Canada. Diatom compositional changes in the road-salt-impacted sites were consistent with increasing conductivity and increased diatom-inferred (DI)-conductivity was evident during the latter half of the 20th century in the impacted lakes, concurrent with known road-salt application. The strongest predictor of DI-conductivity changes among the six lakes was the kilometre equivalents of roads within the watershed (i.e., kilometres of road × number of lanes). Similar to changes observed in a previous study focusing on cladoceran assemblages, we conclude that even modest applications of road salt can affect diatom assemblages in softwater lakes.

A controlled experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of salinity and alkalinity stresses on the growth and physiological characteristics of Carum copticum L. The treatments included four salinity levels: 0, 50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl, and four alkalinity levels 0, 20, 40 and 60 mM NaHCO

Aims Salinity stress affects the growth of cowpea particularly at the stages of seed germination and early vegetative growth. This study examined the potential of particular stress-tolerant rhizospheric bacteria to improve the growth of cowpea under conditions of salinity stress. Methods and Results Two rhizobacillus genotypes, Bacillus filamentosus-C8 and Bacillus aryabhattai-C29 were evaluated for their potentials to protect cowpea under NaCl-induced salinity stress. At 200 mM of NaCl concentration, control (non-inoculated) cowpea was affected, C8 was not able to significantly (p ≤ 0.05) alleviate the effects of salinity stress on cowpea growth while C29 significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced leaf wilting, increased chlorophyll content and improved the growth of cowpea plant under stressed condition. Interestingly, C29 significantly (p ≤ 0.05) induced high proline content and stabilized membrane by loss of electrolytes. Conclusion Our results indicate that stabilized membrane and enhanced proline content by Bacillus aryabhattai-C29 supported the growth of cowpea under salinity stress condition. Significance and Impact of the Study This study revealed that rhizospheric bacteria screened for salinity stress tolerant have potential to be used as an effective bioprotectant for sustainable growth of cowpea under salinity stress condition.

Macrophomina (Botryosphaeriaceae) is one of the main genera of soilborne phytopathogenic fungi, which causes root and seed rot in more than 800 host plants worldwide. Recent phylogenetic studies identified the species M. phaseolina and M. pseudophaseolina in Trianthema portulacastrum and Boerhavia diffusa in melon and watermelon production areas in northeastern Brazil. Therefore, the objective of this study was: i) to verify the effect of temperature and salinity on the mycelial growth of M. phaseolina, M. pseudophaseolina and M. euphorbiicola, ii) to assess their pathogenicity on melon and watermelon seedlings, and iii) to determine their sensitivity to the fungicide carbendazim. The optimal temperature for mycelial growth rate (MGR) for Macrophomina spp. ranged from 27.18 ºC (CMM4771 – M. pseudophaseolina) to 31.80 ºC (CMM4763 – M. phaseolina). For the effect of salinity on mycelial growth of Macrophomina isolates, the EC50 ranged from 103.76 (CMM4868 – M. euphorbiicola) to 315.25 mM (CMM4801 – M. pseudophaseolina). The pathogenicity test demonstrated that M. phaseolina, M. pseudophaseolina and M. euphorbiicola are pathogenic on melon with M. phaseolina exhibiting a higher level of virulence. Macrophomina euphorbiicola isolates did not cause disease in watermelon. The most sensitive isolates to the fungicide carbendazim were CMM4868, CMM4867 (M. euphorbiicola) and CMM1531 (M. phaseolina) with EC50 of 0.003, 0.012 and 0.012 mg.L-1 a.i., respectively. All Macrophomina spp. used in these experiments were pathogenic to the tested melon and watermelon cultivars with the exception of the M. euphorbiicola isolate that did not cause damage to watermelon. RESUMO Macrophomina (Botryosphaeriaceae) é um dos principais gêneros de fungos fitopatogênicos de solo, que causam apodrecimento de raízes e sementes em mais de 800 plantas hospedeiras em todo o mundo. Estudos filogenéticos recentes identificaram as espécies M. phaseolina e M. pseudophaseolina em Trianthema portulacastrum e Boerhavia diffusa em áreas de produção de melão e melancia no Nordeste do Brasil. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi: i) verificar o efeito da temperatura e salinidade sobre o crescimento micelial de M. phaseolina, M. pseudophaseolina e M. euphorbiicola, ii) avaliar sua patogenicidade em mudas de melão e melancia, e iii) determinar suas sensibilidades ao fungicida carbendazim. A temperatura ótima para taxa de crescimento micelial (MGR) para Macrophomina spp. variou de 27,1 ºC (CMM4771 – M. pseudophaseolina) a 31,8 ºC (CMM4763 – M. phaseolina). Para o efeito da salinidade no crescimento micelial de isolados de Macrophomina, a EC50 variou de 103,76 (CMM4868 – M. euphorbiicola) a 315,25 mM (CMM4801 – M. pseudophaseolina). O teste de patogenicidade demonstrou que M. phaseolina, M. pseudophaseolina e M. euphorbiicola são patogênicas em melão com M. phaseolina apresentando maior virulência. Isolados de Macrophomina euphorbiicola não causaram doenças em melancia. Os isolados mais sensíveis ao fungicida carbendazim foram CMM4868, CMM4867 (M. euphorbiicola) e CMM1531 (M. phaseolina) com EC50 de 0,003; 0,012 e 0,012 mg.L-1 i.a., respectivamente. Todas as espécies de Macrophomina spp. utilizados nestes experimentos foram patogênicos para as cultivares de melão e melancia testadas com exceção dos isolados de M. euphorbiicola que não causaram danos à melancia.

Low salinity water flooding (LSWF) was initially considered using water with a low concentration of dissolved salts and was later extended to include modifying the ionic content of injected brines. This work investigates the effects of changing water salinity and composition along with the concentration of sulfate and iodide ions on oil recovery in carbonate reservoirs during the tertiary recovery stage. An experimental study was carried out using crude oil of 29°API, 8 core samples extracted from the Eocene carbonate reservoir (Egypt), and 6 different water salinities. The results showed additional oil recovery up to 5% of the original oil in place (OOIP) in the tertiary recovery stage with changing water salinity and water composition. Injection of high salinity (HS) and low salinity (LS) brines with high sulfate concentrations increased the incremental oil recovery by a value ranging from 1.7 to 3.8% of the OOIP. On the contrary, injection of HS and LS brines with low sulfate concentrations showed insignificant incremental oil recovery (less than 1% of the OOIP). Furthermore, injection of water with potassium iodide (KI) after injection of water with high sulfate brines showed additional oil recovery of about 1.7% of the OOIP. On the other hand, injection of water with KI after injection of water with low sulfate concentration showed insignificant incremental oil recovery (less than 0.4% of the OOIP). The concentration of sulfate in the injected water appeared to be key parameter to achieve effective waterflooding (WF) projects in carbonate reservoirs. Moreover, the results revealed that the multi-component ion exchange (MIE) mechanism seems to be the primary recovery mechanism for LSWF in carbonate reservoirs. The results and conclusions of this study can be used to develop guidelines for designing waterflooding projects in carbonate reservoirs with optimum salinity.

Soil salinization requires developing genetically salt-tolerant and high-yielding genotypes, especially in semi-arid and arid regions. In this study, two new Tunisian durum wheat cultivars,INRAT100andDhahbi,were tested for the first time in a semi-closed environment against salinity (0, 6 and 12 dS m-1). Dry weight of aerial and root parts, plant height, number of tillers per plant, spike and awn length, grain yield and its components, relative water content, relative membrane permeability, chlorophyll content, leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, i.e., initial fluorescence (F0) and the quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), potassium (K+) and sodium (Na+) accumulation and the ratio K+/Na+ were assessed. Overall, most of growth and yield performance, physiological and biochemical attributes were affected by salinity. Notably,INRAT100was characterized by a higher K+ content, K+/Na+ ion selectivity, relative water content and Fv/Fm, grain yield and lower membrane permeability than that ofDhahbiunder saline conditions. However,Dhahbiexhibited higher spike and awn length and a number of spikelets per spike. These findings suggest that INRAT100 is more tolerant to salinity thanDhahbiand might be recommended to farmers of marginal environments.

lt;bgt;Background and Objective:lt;/bgt; Water quality in freshwater bodies is involved with multiple aspects such as physical, chemical and biological processes and their interactions. Due to the vulnerability of water resources, quality control of surface water is one of the key issues in environmental conservation programs. The objectives of the present work were to study the water quality in the Anzali Lagoon and to study the classification of water based on the water quality index in different parts of the Anzali Lagoon.lt;bgt;Materials and Methods:lt;/bgt; In this study, we sampled water from January to December, 2015 in the Anzali Lagoon. All physicochemical parameters were sampled and determined according to standard methods.lt;bgt;Results:lt;/bgt; The Water Quality Index results showed the Anzali Lagoon water quality had been "medium" in site 1 and "bad" in sites 2, 3 and 4. The result showed a significant difference between sit 1 and sites 2, 3 and 4 (p0.05). However, there was no significant difference between sit 2, 3 and 4 (p0.05). The result showed a clear spatial separation among parts in the Anzali Lagoon. The Eastern part of the Anzali Lagoon showed lower water quality compared to the central and western stations.lt;bgt;Conclusion:lt;/bgt; This study showed that the level of pollution was different on all of the Anzali Lagoons. The water of the Anzali Lagoon has different quality classes according to the aggregation methods employed. Nutrient loadings from the adjacent agricultural lands combined with high mean salinity values affect all organism conditions. The three primary sources of nutrients, including fertilizers used in agriculture, household waste and livestock waste, reduced the water quality of the Anzali Lagoon.

An osmoprotectant that alleviates the bacterial osmotic stress can improve the bioreactor treatment of saline wastewater. However, proposed candidates are expensive, and osmoprotectants of anammox bacteria and their ecophysiological roles are not fully understood. In this study, a comparative analysis of 34 high-quality public metagenome-assembled genomes from anammox bacteria revealed two distinct groups of osmoadaptation.

In Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, crops are commonly subjected to freeze–thaw and salt stress factors simultaneously, and allelopathy is common, which affects the growth of highland barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), the largest food crop in Tibet. In order to explore the effects of artemisinin, salt and freeze–thaw (FAS) stress on physiological characteristics of highland barley seedlings, hydroponic experiment was carried out with the addition of 20 mg/L artemisinin and 150 mM NaCl as well as the simulation of freeze–thaw environment. The results suggested that under combined stress, the soluble protein content in combined stresses of artemisinin, FAS increased by 97.8%, the variation of relative conductivity in FAS group was lower than that in combined salt and freeze–thaw stress (FS), the relative water content decreased significantly (P

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) result in precipitation over land and ocean. Rainfall on the ocean can generate a buoyant layer of freshwater that impacts exchanges between the surface and the mixed layer. These “fresh lenses” are important for weather and climate because they may impact the ocean stratification at all time scales. Here we use in situ ocean data, collocated with AR events, and a one-dimensional configuration of a general circulation model, to investigate the impact of AR precipitation on surface ocean salinity in the California Current System (CCS) on seasonal and event-based time scales. We find that at coastal and onshore locations the CCS freshens through the rainy season due to AR events, and years with higher AR activity are associated with a stronger freshening signal. On shorter time scales, model simulations suggest that events characteristic of CCS ARs can produce salinity changes that are detectable by ocean instruments (≥0.01 psu). Here, the surface salinity change depends linearly on rain rate and inversely on wind speed. Higher wind speeds (U > 8 m s−1) induce mixing, distributing freshwater inputs to depths greater than 20 m. Lower wind speeds (U ≤ 8 m s−1) allow freshwater lenses to remain at the surface. Results suggest that local precipitation is important in setting the freshwater seasonal cycle of the CCS and that the formation of freshwater lenses should be considered for identifying impacts of atmospheric variability on the upper ocean in the CCS on weather event time scales. Significance Statement Atmospheric rivers produce large amounts of rainfall. The purpose of this study is to understand how this rain impacts the surface ocean in the California Current System on seasonal and event time scales. Our results show that a greater precipitation over the rainy season leads to a larger decrease in salinity over time. On shorter time scales, these atmospheric river precipitation events commonly produce a surface salinity response that is detectable by ocean instruments. This salinity response depends on the amount of rainfall and the wind speed. In general, higher wind speeds will cause the freshwater input from rain to mix deeper, while lower wind speeds will have reduced mixing, allowing a layer of freshwater to persist at the surface.

The oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense is an important aquaculture species in China, Vietnam, and Japan. This species could survive in the salinity ranging from 7 to 20 ppt and accelerate growth in the salinity of 7 ppt. To identify the genes and pathways in response to acute high salinity stress, M. nipponense was exposed to the acute high salinity of 25 ppt. Total RNA from hepatopancreas, gills, and muscle tissues was isolated and then sequenced using high-throughput sequencing method. Differentially expressed genes (DGEs) were identified, and a total of 632, 836, and 1246 DEGs with a cutoff of significant twofold change were differentially expressed in the hepatopancreas, gills, and muscle tissues, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome pathway enrichment analyses were conducted. These DEGs were involved in the GO terms of cellular process, metabolic process, membrane, organelle, binding, and catalytic activity. The DEGs of hepatopancreas and gill tissues were mainly enriched in PPAR signaling pathway, longevity regulating pathway, protein digestion and absorption, and the DEGs of muscle tissue in arginine biosynthesis, adrenergic signaling in cardiomyocytes, cardiac muscle contraction, and cGMP-PKG signaling pathway. Real-time PCR conducted with fifteen selected DEGs indicated high reliability of digital analysis using RNA-Seq. The results indicated that the M. nipponense may regulate essential mechanisms such as metabolism, oxidative stress, and ion exchange to adapt the alternation of environment, when exposed to acute high salinity stress. This work reveals the numbers of genes modified by salinity stress and some important pathways, which could provide a comprehensive insight into the molecular responses to high salinity stress in M. nipponense and further boost the understanding of the potential molecular mechanisms of adaptation to salinity stress for euryhaline crustaceans.

Pleurosira laevis is a salt-tolerant diatom distributed around the world. The valve of P. laevis has distinct structures called ocelli, which are sharply defined areas with fine, densely packed pores. Two formae of this diatom, P. laevis f. laevis and P. laevis f. polymorpha, are distinguished from each other by their flat or dome-shaped valve faces and degree of elevation of the ocelli, respectively. In this study, we established 4 strains of P. laevis isolated from freshwaters or coastal areas in Japan and the United States, and tracked the formation of newly formed valves with the fluorescent SDV-specific dye PDMPO in culture under several salinity conditions. The result clearly demonstrated the morphological plasticity of the valves, controlled by environmental salinity. The laevis form and polymorpha form valves were produced at salinities of 2 and 7, respectively. The salinity thresholds dictating the morphological plasticity of the valve were consistent in all 4 strains. A similar morphology to the polymorpha form was reproduced in a freshwater medium with the addition of sorbitol, suggesting that osmotic pressure plays a key role in this morphological plasticity. The highly reproducible and easily manipulated change in morphology makes this diatom an ideal model for lab experiments focusing on the molecular and genetic factors involved with valve morphogenesis.

Initially discovered in yeast, mitochondrial retrograde signalling has long been recognised as an essential in the perception of stress by eukaryotes. However, how to maintain the optimal amplitude and duration of its activation under natural stress conditions remains elusive in plants. Here, we show that TaSRO1, a major contributor to the agronomic performance of bread wheat plants exposed to salinity stress, interacted with a transmembrane domain-containing NAC transcription factor TaSIP1, which could translocate from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) into the nucleus and activate some mitochondrial dysfunction stimulon (MDS) genes. Overexpression of TaSIP1 and TaSIP1-∆C (a form lacking the transmembrane domain) in wheat both compromised the plants' tolerance of salinity stress, highlighting the importance of precise regulation of this signal cascade during salinity stress. The interaction of TaSRO1/TaSIP1, in the cytoplasm, arrested more TaSIP1 on the membrane of ER, and in the nucleus, attenuated the trans-activation activity of TaSIP1, therefore reducing the TaSIP1-mediated activation of MDS genes. Moreover, the overexpression of TaSRO1 rescued the inferior phenotype induced by TaSIP1 overexpression. Our study provides an orchestrating mechanism executed by the TaSRO1-TaSIP1 module that balances the growth and stress response via fine tuning the level of mitochondria retrograde signalling.

Methanonatronarchaeia represents a deep-branching phylogenetic lineage of extremely halo(alkali)philic and moderately thermophilic methyl-reducing methanogens belonging to the phylum Halobacteriota. It includes two genera, the alkaliphilic Methanonatronarchaeum and the neutrophilic Ca. Methanohalarchaeum. The former is represented by multiple closely related pure culture isolates from hypersaline soda lakes, while the knowledge about the latter is limited to a few mixed cultures with anaerobic haloarchaea. To get more insight into the distribution and ecophysiology of this enigmatic group of extremophilic methanogens, potential activity tests and enrichment cultivation with different substrates and at different conditions were performed with anaerobic sediment slurries from various hypersaline lakes in Russia. Methanonatronarchaeum proliferated exclusively in hypersaline soda lake samples mostly at elevated temperature, while at mesophilic conditions it coexisted with the extremely salt-tolerant methylotroph Methanosalsum natronophilum. Methanonatronarchaeum was also able to serve as a methylotrophic or hydrogenotrophic partner in several thermophilic enrichment cultures with fermentative bacteria. Ca. Methanohalarchaeum did not proliferate at mesophilic conditions and at thermophilic conditions it competed with extremely halophilic and moderately thermophilic methylotroph Methanohalobium, which it outcompeted at a combination of elevated temperature and methyl-reducing conditions. Overall, the results demonstrated that Methanonatronarchaeia are specialized extremophiles specifically proliferating in conditions of elevated temperature coupled with extreme salinity and simultaneous availability of a wide range of C1-methylated compounds and H2/formate.

Marine microorganisms have the potential to disperse widely with few obvious barriers to gene flow. However, among microalgae, several studies have demonstrated that species can be highly genetically structured with limited gene flow among populations, despite hydrographic connectivity. Ecological differentiation and local adaptation have been suggested as drivers of such population structure. Here we tested whether multiple strains from two genetically distinct Baltic Sea populations of the diatom Skeletonema marinoi showed evidence of local adaptation to their local environments: the estuarine Bothnian Sea and the marine Kattegat Sea. We performed reciprocal transplants of multiple strains between culture media based on water from the respective environments, and we also allowed competition between strains of estuarine and marine origin in both salinities. When grown alone, both marine and estuarine strains performed best in the high-salinity environment, and estuarine strains always grew faster than marine strains. This result suggests local adaptation through countergradient selection, that is, genetic effects counteract environmental effects. However, the higher growth rate of the estuarine strains appears to have a cost in the marine environment and when strains were allowed to compete, marine strains performed better than estuarine strains in the marine environment. Thus, other traits are likely to also affect fitness. We provide evidence that tolerance to pH could be involved and that estuarine strains that are adapted to a more fluctuating pH continue growing at higher pH than marine strains.

Climate change influences the ocean's physical and biogeochemical conditions, causing additional pressures on marine environments and ecosystems, now and in the future. Such changes occur in environments that already today suffer under pressures from, for example, eutrophication, pollution, shipping, and more. We demonstrate how to implement climate change into regional marine spatial planning by introducing data of future temperature, salinity, and sea ice cover from regional ocean climate model projections to an existing cumulative impact model. This makes it possible to assess climate change impact in relation to pre-existing cumulative impact from current human activities. Results indicate that end-of-century projected climate change alone is a threat of the same magnitude as the combination of all current pressures to the marine environment. These findings give marine planners and policymakers forewarning on how future climate change may impact marine ecosystems, across space, emission scenarios, and in relation to other pressures.

This study investigated the ameliorating effect of exogenous proline on some physiological responses of salt acclimated and non-acclimated Aloe vera plants against subsequent salt stress (EC 21 dS/m). Compared to control, salinity decreased leaf growth and relative water content (RWC), leaf contents of chlorophyll a, carotenoids, K/Na ratio, photosystem performance index (PIabs), while promoted leaf contents of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), maloendialdehyde (MDA) and Na, which subsequently induced oxidative stress. However, foliar applied proline was effective in alleviating the deleterious effects of salinity. Maximum amelioration of salt stress by exogenous proline was found only in salt-acclimated plants, which was attributed to the reduced leaf Na accumulation together with enhanced K content. Proline pretreatment improved plant relative water content, which was correlated with enhancement in leaf proline concentration. We showed that application of proline on salt-acclimated stressed plants alleviated the damage to PSII functioning induced by salinity, contributing to the improvement of the oxygen-evolving complex efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fo) and the quantum yield of electron transport (ΦEo). This improvement of PSII activity was achieved by higher carotenoids and phenolic accumulation. Additionally, proline treatment reduced the accumulation of H2O2 and MDA, indicating that proline pretreatment was more effective in lowering oxidative damage in salt-exposed acclimated plants, which was associated with the activation of SOD, CAT and APX enzymes. Thus, proline pretreatment could protect salt acclimated Alo vera plants against subsequent salt stress through improving K/Na ratio and water relations attributes as well as enhancing antioxidant systems, resulting in better photosynthesis under salt stress.

Cuscuta campestris Yunck. is a stem holoparasitic flowering plant, wide-spread and currently considered invasive worldwide. It has both ecological and agricultural significance. However, little is known on how the conditions of the environment, and abiotic stresses in particular, could affect the success of this parasite. A total of 22 potential host plants, belonging to 10 species and 4 families, were tested as C. campestris hosts under different saline regimes. The changes in survival rate (number of successful infections) and growth (as cm day−1) of the parasite were studied. Salinity did significantly change the survival and growth rate of C. campestris, which effect was species- and cultivar-dependent. While generally the survival of the parasite decreased with increasing salinization, the opposite effect was observed on several host plants. However, survival rate did not always coincide with higher growth rate. This suggests that salinity produces different effects on the parasite depending on the host plant and these depend strongly not only on the species, but also on the cultivar. These results strongly suggest that under salt stress the suitability of various crop plants as hosts for C. campestris may change significantly, thus affecting the overall success of the parasite. In the light of the increased salinization of soils, this may have a significant effect on the spread of C. campestris and its agricultural impact.

Microfluidic technology has gained significant scientific interest in the characterization of crude oil emulsions that are often formed in the process of oil production. Microfluidic platforms can be used to mimic the pores of natural rock and study multiphase displacement, as well as emulsion formation at a microscale level. This paper focuses on the applications of microfluidics to probe the stability of emulsified droplets against coalescence (e.g., in the presence of additives, electric field) for both water-in-oil (W/O) and oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion systems. Additionally, this study summarizes the recent efforts made to identify the effects of various experimental factors, including crude oil composition, aging, salinity, and pH on the interfacial properties of water–oil interface and their ultimate roles in the formation and stability of emulsions. Finally, main findings and some recommendations for future work related to the potential of microfluidics in different aspects of crude oil emulsion studies are discussed.

Mitochondrial iron transporter (MIT) genes are essential for mitochondrial acquisition/import of iron and vital to proper functioning of mitochondria. Unlike other organisms, research on the MITs in plants is limited. The present study provides comparative bioinformatics assays for the potato MIT gene (StMIT) as well as gene expression analyses. The phylogenetic analyses revealed monocots-dicot divergence in MIT proteins and it was also found clade specific motif diversity. In addition, docking analyses indicated that Asp172 and Gly100 residues to be identified as the closest residues binding to ferrous iron. The percentage of structure overlap of the StMIT 3D protein model with Arabidopsis, maize and rice MIT proteins was found between 80.18% and 85.71%. The transcript analyses exhibited that the expression of StMIT was triggered under drought and salinity stresses. The findings of the present study would provide valuable leads for further studies targeting specifically the MIT gene and generally the plant iron metabolism.

On the quest of discovering novel local strains of microalgal species that can be effectively cultured with industrial perspectives, two cyanobacterial strains Anabaena sp. and Cyanothece sp. were isolated from the lagoonal and saltworks waters of the Messolonghi lagoon (W. Greece). They were batch cultured at 20–21.5 °C in six combinations of three salinities (20, 40 and 60 ppt) and two light intensities (2000 and 8000 lux) resulting in: (a) Anabaena grew best at 20 and 40 ppt at high light of 8000 lux. (b) Cyanothece grew best at 40 and 60 ppt at high light. (c) Low light of 2000 lux resulted in much reduced growth in all treatments. (d) Maximal biomass yield was 1.27 and 1.77 g d.w./L for Anabaena and Cyanothece, respectively. Overall, both species have culture potential yielding biomass comparable to the average (or above) relevant values reported in the literature for various cultured cyanobacteria.

The Gulf of Riga is a relatively shallow bay connected to the deeper central Baltic Sea (Baltic Proper) via straits with sills. The decrease in the near-bottom oxygen levels from spring to autumn is a common feature in the gulf, but in 2018, extensive hypoxia was observed. We analyzed temperature, salinity, oxygen, and nutrient data collected in 2018, along with historical data available from environmental databases. Meteorological and hydrological data from the study year were compared with their long-term means and variability. We suggest that pronounced oxygen depletion occurred in 2018 due to a distinct development of vertical stratification. Seasonal stratification developed early and was stronger in spring–summer 2018 than on average due to high heat flux and weak winds. Dominating northeasterly winds in early spring and summer supported the inflow of saltier waters from the Baltic Proper that created an additional deep pycnocline restricting vertical transport between the near-bottom layer (NBL) and the water column above. The estimated oxygen consumption rate in the NBL in spring–summer 2018 was about 1.7 mmolO2m-2h-1, which exceeded the oxygen input to the NBL due to advection and vertical mixing. Such a consumption rate leads to near-bottom hypoxia in all years when vertical mixing in autumn reaches the seabed later than on average according to the long-term (1979–2018) meteorological conditions. The observed increase in phosphate concentrations in the NBL in summer 2018 suggests a significant sediment phosphorus release in hypoxic conditions counteracting the mitigation measures to combat eutrophication. Since climate change projections predict that meteorological conditions comparable to those in 2018 will occur more frequently, extensive hypoxia would be more common in the Gulf of Riga and other coastal basins with similar morphology and human-induced elevated input of nutrients.

To explore the spatial and temporal variations in salinity and suspended-sediment concentration in the Danshuei River estuary of northern Taiwan, two intensive field surveys were conducted in July 2016 and 2019 to assign high- and low-flow conditions, respectively. According to the analysis of tidal characteristics, the duration during ebb tide was longer than that during flood tide, while the maximum ebb discharge was higher than the maximum flood discharge, causing the occurrence of tidal asymmetry during ebb and flood tides. The barotropic forcing dominated during high flow, resulting in lower salinity and a shorter distance of saltwater intrusion. Based on the analyzed results using stratification indices, most of the time was spent in the state of partial mixing at the Guandu Bridge and good mixing at the Taipei Bridge during high flow, while most of the time was spent in the states of partial mixing and good mixing at both Guandu Bridge and Taipei Bridge during low flow. More stratification occurred during high flow at high slack tide compared to that during low flow. The freshwater discharges from upriver reaches controlled the suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) in tidal estuaries. The higher SSC appeared downstream of the tidal estuary at ebb tide during high flow. Observations also revealed that there was an estuarine turbidity maximum at the bottom layer of Guandu Bridge.