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Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress that limits the growth and productivity of horticultural crops. Most fruit crops are glycophytes, and their production is adversely affected by salt stress. The key findings indicate that salinity reduces several plant growth parameters such as shoot and root length, number of leaves, plant biomass and relative water content as well as biochemical parameters such as photosynthetic pigments and proline. Physiological results show decreased water absorption, nutrient imbalances such as changes in ion concentrations and hormone levels and increased oxidative stress. Several mitigation strategies are recommended, such as the use of salt-tolerant rootstocks, application of growth regulators and soil amendments to enhance salt tolerance in tropical fruit crops. This review concludes that integrating physiological and agronomic strategies is essential for mitigating the adverse effects of salinity on tropical fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manufacturing a multilayer evaporator with a delicate structure and removing salt accumulation during prolonged operation are challenges in seawater desalination. A flexible single‐layer salt‐rejecting monolithic porous evaporator (SRMPE) is presented that floats on the near surface of seawater without any support structure. The hydrophilic component of this network polymer modulates the water association state in SRMPE, achieving a high evaporation rate of 3.47 kg m−2 h−1 and an efficiency of 94.3%. With a large capillary water flux (14.4 L m−2 h−1), the SRMPE exhibits superior and rapid self‐cleaning by removing sodium chloride (NaCl) powder (33% by weight) within 1.25 h in simulated seawater (salinity, 3.5%) under 1 sun radiation. Furthermore, even after continuous irradiation for 12 h in highly concentrated brine (25% salinity), no salt crystallizes on the evaporator surface. It may stimulate creative work by scientists and engineers in the design of simple, highly efficient salt‐rejecting, self‐cleaning interfacial solar evaporators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel demodulation scheme for a point-type fiber sensor is designed for salinity concentration monitoring based on a Sagnac interferometer (SI) composed of a tapered polarization-maintaining fiber (TPMF) and optical time stretching technology. The SI, constructed using a PMF with a taper region of 5.92 μm and an overall length of 30 cm, demonstrated a notable enhancement in the evanescent field, which intensifies the interaction between the light field and external salinity. This enhancement allows for a direct assessment of salinity concentration changes by analyzing the variations in the SI reflection spectra and the experimental results indicate that the sensitivity of the sensor is 0.151 nm/‰. In contrast to traditional fiber optic sensors that depend on spectral demodulation with slower response rates, this work introduces a new approach where the spectral shift is translated to the time domain, utilizing a dispersion compensation fiber (DCF) with the demodulation rate reaching up to 50 MHz. The experimental outcomes reveal that the sensor exhibits a sensitivity of −0.15 ns/‰ in the time domain. The designed sensor is anticipated to play a pivotal role in remote, real-time monitoring of ocean salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the impact of salinity on two different maize cultivars and their ability to tolerate salt stress. The study reveals that the more salt-tolerant cultivar is better at excluding sodium (Na+) and retaining potassium (K+), which are crucial for minimizing Na+ uptake. The researchers also discovered that the salt-tolerant cultivar experienced a net influx of hydrogen ions (H+) under severe salt stress, while the salt-sensitive cultivar did not. This suggests that net H+ influx is an important but often overlooked trait in salt tolerance. Additionally, the study found that K+ efflux and Na+ influx help maintain charge balance during H+ influx. [Extracted from the article]

The galvanic corrosion performance of AM60B coupled to DC01 was characterized in simulated environments with varying water salinity. The results showed that the coupled DC01 effectively accelerated the corrosion rate of AM60B, and the increased salt concentration had a significant effect on the deterioration process. The corrosion of AM60B mainly exhibits metal dissolution, and the formed Mg(OH)2 has weak a protective effect on the alloy substrate. Furthermore, the distributions of the corrosion potential and the corrosion current density of the AM60B/DC01 couple were simulated and intensively discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The depletion of freshwater resources, as well as climate change and population growth, are threatening the livelihoods of thousands of people around the world. The introduction of underutilized crops such as quinoa may be important in countries with limited productivity and/or limited access to water due to its resistance to different abiotic stresses and its high nutritional value. The aim of this review is to assess whether techniques such as germination, malting and fermentation would improve the nutritional and bioactive profile of quinoa. The use of nitrogen oxide-donating, oxygen-reactive and calcium-source substances increases germination. The ecotype used, temperature, humidity and germination time are determining factors in germination. The presence of lactic acid bacteria of the rust-type phenotype can improve the volume and texture during baking of the doughs, increase the fiber content and act as a prebiotic. These techniques produce a significant increase in the content of proteins, amino acids and bioactive compounds, as well as a decrease in anti-nutritional compounds. Further studies are needed to determine which conditions are the most suitable to achieve the best nutritional, functional, technological, and organoleptic quinoa properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) released by macroalgae supports coastal ocean carbon cycling and contributes to the total oceanic DOC pool. Salinity fluctuates substantially in coastal marine environments due to natural and anthropogenic factors, yet there is limited research on how salinity affects DOC release by ecologically important macroalgae. Here we determined the effect of short‐term salinity changes on rates of DOC release by the habitat‐forming fucalean seaweed Sargassum fallax (Ochrophyta). Lateral branches (~4 g) cut at the axes of mature individuals were incubated across a salinity gradient (4–46) for 24 h under a 12:12 light:dark cycle, and seawater was sampled for DOC at 0, 12, and 24 h. Physiological assays (tissue water content, net photosynthesis, respiration, tissue carbon, and nitrogen content) were undertaken at the end of the 24‐h experiment. Dissolved organic carbon release increased with decreasing salinity while net photosynthesis decreased. Dissolved organic carbon release rates at the lowest salinity tested (4) were ~3.3 times greater in the light than in the dark, indicating two potential DOC release mechanisms: light‐mediated active exudation and passive release linked to osmotic stress. Tissue water content decreased with increasing salinity. These results demonstrate that hyposalinity stress alters the osmotic status of S. fallax, reducing photosynthesis and increasing DOC release. This has important implications for understanding how salinity conditions encountered by macroalgae may affect their contribution to the coastal ocean carbon cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is a significant threat that causes considerable yield losses in date palm. The root endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica has proven effective in providing salt stress tolerance to host plants. However, the underlying molecular mechanism facilitating the date palm's response to P. indica inoculation, and its involvement in the salt stress tolerance, remains unknown. In this study, the colonization of P. indica on date palm seedlings exposed to saline conditions was observed through confocal microscopy, and its impact on gene expressions was evaluated using the transcriptomic analysis. Our findings show that P. indica colonization reinforced the cortical cells, prevented them from plasmolysis and cell death under salinity. The RNAseq analysis produced clean reads ranging from 62,040,451 to 3,652,095 across the treatment groups, successfully assembling into 30,600 annotated genes. Out of them, the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) varied across the treatments: i.e., 2523, 2031, and 1936 DEGs were upregulated, while 2323, 959, and 3546 were downregulated in Salt, Fungi, and Fungi+Salt groups, respectively. Furthermore, principal component analysis based on transcriptome profiles revealed discrete clustering of samples from different treatment groups. KEGG and GO pathways enrichment analysis highlighted variation in the number and types of enriched pathways among the treatments. Our study indicated variations in gene expression related to plant hormone biosynthesis and signal transduction (auxin, abscisic acid, gibberellin, and ethylene), ABC transporters, sodium/hydrogen exchanger, cation HKT transporter, transcription factors such as WRKY and MYBs, and the plant immune system (lipoxygenase and jasmonate) of the date palm seedlings. By characterizing the transcriptome of date palm roots under salt stress and with colonization of P. indica, the present findings provide valuable perspectives on the molecular mechanisms responsible for inducing salinity stress tolerance in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zostera japonica (Z. japonica), the most widely distributed seagrass species in temperate estuaries, has experienced a dramatic decline of nearly 75% over the past decade. While previous research has investigated the adaptation of seagrass individuals and populations to single stress factors, the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction of multiple stressors remain poorly understood. This study conducted laboratory experiments to examine the response of Z. japonica at different life stages to environmental pressures, specifically salinity and turbidity, as indicated by changes in free amino acids (FAAs). The results demonstrate that Z. japonica exhibits stronger adaptability to high salinity environments but displays weaker adaptability to freshwater conditions. Through single stress experiments, the salinity and turbidity thresholds for FAA homeostatic disturbance in Z. japonica were determined at seedling, juvenile, and mature stages. As Z. japonica matures, its metabolic pathways expand and diversify, allowing the regulation of key FAAs to enhance stress resistance. Turbidity stress exerts a more pronounced negative impact on the cellular homeostasis of Z. japonica compared to salinity stress, and when turbidity levels exceed 150 NTU, they significantly intensify the negative effects of salinity stress on the seagrass. Furthermore, under strong salinity-turbidity interactions, the concentration of key FAAs generally decreases by 20-30%, indicating inhibition of growth and development in Z. japonica. These findings have important implications for the conservation of intertidal seagrass beds and estuarine ecosystems in the face of multiple human activities and environmental stressors. The study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying Z. japonica's adaptations to salinity and turbidity stress, contributing to the development of targeted strategies to mitigate the impacts of environmental pressures on seagrass populations and promote the resilience of these critical marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study explored the differential interaction between ethylene (ET) and abscisic acid (ABA) in relation to salt stress in mustard (Brassica juncea L.) plants. Significant reductions in seed germination, growth, and photosynthesis were observed with 100 mmol NaCl. Among the cultivars tested, the Pusa Vijay cultivar was noted as ET-sensitive. Pusa Vijay responded maximally to an application of 2.0 mmol ethephon (Eth; 2-chloethyl phosphonic acid-ethylene source), and exhibited the greatest growth, photosynthesis, activity of 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase (ACS), and ET evolution. Notably, Eth (2.0 mmol) more significantly improved the seed germination percentage, germination and vigor index, amylase activity, and reduced H2O2 content under salt stress, while ABA (25 µmol) had negative effects. Moreover, the individual application of Eth and ABA on Pusa Vijay under both optimal and salt-stressed conditions increased the growth and photosynthetic attributes, nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) assimilation, and antioxidant defense machinery. The addition of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (0.01 µmol AVG, ET biosynthesis inhibitor) to ABA + NaCl-treated plants further added to the effects of ABA on parameters related to seed germination and resulted in less effectiveness of growth and photosynthesis. In contrast, the effects of Eth were seen with the addition of fluoridone (25 µmol Flu, ABA biosynthesis inhibitor) to Eth + NaCl. Thus, it can be suggested that ET is crucial for alleviating salt-induced inhibition in seed germination, growth, and photosynthesis, while ABA collaborated with ET to offer protection by regulating nutrient assimilation and enhancing antioxidant metabolism. These findings provide insight into the complex regulatory processes involved in ET–ABA interaction, enhancing our understanding of plant growth and development and the mitigation of salt stress in mustard. It opens pathways for developing hormonal-based strategies to improve crop productivity and resilience, ultimately benefiting agricultural practices amidst a challenging environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoplankton is a polyphyletic group of organisms that responds rapidly to environmental conditions and provides a reliable response to changes, making it a good ecological indicator for water quality monitoring. However, a gradient is almost essential for a reliable relationship between pressure and impact. In a low-gradient environment, ingenuity is required to outsmart the limitations of the commonly used linear relationship. Here, we examine changes in biomass and functional biodiversity by analysing larger data sets (2013–2022) in six ecologically diverse, natural, deep Croatian karst lakes with low nutrient gradients using nonlinear correlation coefficients and multivariate analyses in 209 samples. We found that phytoplankton biomass was most strongly influenced by nutrients, salinity and alkalinity, while light availability and total nitrogen strongly influenced phytoplankton functional biodiversity. An additional analysis of the TN:TP ratio revealed that the oligotrophic Lake Vransko is nitrogen-limited, and lakes Kozjak and Prošće are phosphorus-limited. This further clarified the relationship of phytoplankton to nutrients despite the low gradient. The complex analysis in this study provides a new perspective for predicting changes in the structure and succession of phytoplankton in deep karst lakes for successful management under apparent anthropogenic pressure and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Antarctic photopsychrophile, Chlamydomonas priscui UWO241, is adapted to extreme environmental conditions, including permanent low temperatures, high salt, and shade. During long-term exposure to this extreme habitat, UWO241 appears to have lost several short-term mechanisms in favor of constitutive protection against environmental stress. This study investigated the physiological and growth responses of UWO241 to high-light conditions, evaluating the impacts of long-term acclimation to high light, low temperature, and high salinity on its ability to manage short-term photoinhibition. We found that UWO241 significantly increased its growth rate and photosynthetic activity at growth irradiances far exceeding native light conditions. Furthermore, UWO241 exhibited robust protection against short-term photoinhibition, particularly in photosystem I. Lastly, pre-acclimation to high light or low temperatures, but not high salinity, enhanced photoinhibition tolerance. These findings extend our understanding of stress tolerance in extremophilic algae. In the past 2 decades, climate change-related increasing glacial stream flow has perturbed long-term stable conditions, which has been associated with lake level rise, the thinning of ice covers, and the expansion of ice-free perimeters, leading to perturbations in light and salinity conditions. Our findings have implications for phytoplankton survival and the response to change scenarios in the light-limited environment of Antarctic ice-covered lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity poses a significant challenge to tomato plant development and metabolism. This study explores the use of biostimulants as eco-friendly strategies to enhance tomato plant tolerance to salinity. Conducted in a greenhouse, the research focuses on the Solanum lycopersicum L. behavior under saline conditions. Tomato seeds were treated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), compost, and their combination under both non-saline and saline conditions (0 and 150 mM NaCl). Plant height, number of flowers and fruits, shoot fresh weight, and root dry weight were negatively impacted by salt stress. The supplementation with compost affected the colonization of AMF, but the application of stress had no effect on this trait. However, the use of compost and AMF separately or in combination showed positive effects on the measured parameters. At the physiological level, compost played a beneficial role in increasing photosynthetic efficiency, whether or not plants were subjected to salinity. In addition, the application of these biostimulants led to an increase in nitrogen content in the plants, irrespective of the stress conditions. AMF and compost, applied alone or in combination, showed positive effects on photosynthetic pigment concentrations and protein content. Under salt stress, characterized by an increase in lipid peroxidation and H2O2 content, the application of these biostimulants succeeded in reducing both these parameters in affected plants through exhibiting an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity. In conclusion, incorporating compost, AMF, or their combined application emerges as a promising approach to alleviate the detrimental impacts of salt stress on both plant performances. These findings indicate optimistic possibilities for advancing sustainable and resilient agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buttonweed (Cotula coronopifolia) is native to South Africa but invasive in wetlands in Europe, North America, and Australasia, where it excludes native plants. Despite being dry-fruited, field studies suggest migratory waterbirds can disperse its seeds via gut passage (endozoochory), aiding its expansion. To explore the potential for endozoochory in different regions and habitats, we collected seeds from six populations in Spain, Sweden, and the UK. Germination was tested under different salinity levels (0, 5, 10, 15 g/L) and simulated gut passage treatments: scarification, acidification, or both. No germination occurred at 15 g/L. Higher salinity reduced and delayed germination, but full gut passage treatment (i.e., both scarification and acidification) increased germinability and accelerated germination. Scarification or acid treatment alone resulted in intermediate germination patterns. There were significant salinity × population and gut passage × population interactions on germinability. The acceleration effect of gut passage on germination was stronger at 5–10 g/L than at 0 g/L. This study highlights how migratory birds can facilitate the spread of alien plants introduced by humans. Endozoochory by waterbirds is an understudied mechanism for the long-distance dispersal of dry-fruited alien plants. Further research on C. coronopifolia, including population genetics, is necessary to understand dispersal mechanisms and facilitate management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective nitrogen removal from anaerobic co-digestion is a major challenge to achieving dual-carbon goals. This study explored the acclimatization process of a lab-scale two-stage partial nitritation and anammox process of a stepwise increase in the percentage of raw anaerobic co-digestion liquor from kitchen waste, human feces, and municipal sludge in a venous industrial park in China, which has not been reported yet. Under limited dissolved oxygen (below 0.5 mg/L) and high ammonia levels (200–1500 mg/L), based on adjusting aeration rates, partial nitritation rapidly started up in 50 days. After acclimatization, partial nitritation still performed efficiently and stably, with the final total nitrogen loading rate (TNLR) of 1.24 ± 0.09 gN/L/d, nitrite accumulation rate of 99 ± 4%, and ratio of eff. nitrite/ammonia of 1.32 ± 0.13. In the anammox process, the final total nitrogen removal efficiency, total nitrogen removal rate, and TNLR reached 94 ± 5%, 1.27 ± 0.03 gN/L/d, and 1.36 ± 0.05 gN/L/d, respectively. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) was also reduced in both reactors, with COD removal rates of 0.7 gCOD/L/d in the partial nitritation and 0.4 gCOD/L/d in the anammox process. Overall, the PNA system demonstrated its feasibility in adapting to high ammonia, salinity, and iron levels, when treating anaerobic co-digestion liquor, particularly regarding resource recovery in venous industrial parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgal lipids are precursors to the production of biodiesel, as well as a source of valuable dietary components in the biotechnological industries. So, this study aimed to assess the effects of nutritional (nitrogen, and phosphorus) starvations and salinity stress (NaCl) on the biomass, lipid content, fatty acids profile, and predicted biodiesel properties of green microalga Monoraphidium braunii. The results showed that biomass, biomass productivity, and photosynthetic pigment contents (Chl. a, b, and carotenoids) of M. braunii were markedly decreased by nitrogen and phosphorus depletion and recorded the maximum values in cultures treated with full of N and P concentrations (control, 100%). These parameters were considerably increased at the low salinity level (up to 150 mM NaCl), while an increasing salinity level (up to 250 mM NaCl) reduces the biomass, its productivity, and pigment contents. Nutritional limitations and salt stress (NaCl) resulted in significantly enhanced accumulation of lipid and productivity of M. braunii, which represented more than twofold of the control. Furthermore, these conditions have enhanced the profile of fatty acid and biodiesel quality-related parameters. The current study exposed strategies to improve M. braunii lipid productivity for biodiesel production on a small scale in vitro in terms of fuel quality under low nutrients and salinity stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinity poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity, impacting the growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants. This study investigates the potential of melatonin (MT; 100 µM) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S; 200 µM sodium hydrosulfide, NaHS) to confer the tolerance of wheat plants to 100 mM NaCl. Salinity stress induced the outburst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting in damage to the chloroplast structure, growth, photosynthesis, and yield. Application of either MT or NaHS augmented the activity of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, upregulated the expression of Na+ transport genes (SOS1, SOS2, SOS3, NHX1), resulting in mitigation of salinity stress. Thus, improved stomatal behavior, gas-exchange parameters, and maintenance of chloroplast structure resulted in enhanced activity of the Calvin cycle enzymes and overall enhancement of growth, photosynthetic, and yield performance of plants under salinity stress. The use of DL-propargylglycine (PAG, an inhibitor of hydrogen sulfide biosynthesis) and p-chlorophenyl alanine (p-CPA, an inhibitor of melatonin biosynthesis) to plants under salt stress showed the comparative necessity of MT and H2S in mitigation of salinity stress. In the presence of PAG, more pronounced detrimental effects were observed than in the presence of p-CPA, emphasizing that MT was involved in mitigating salinity through various potential pathways, one of which was through H2S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red rice (Oryza glaberrima L.) is a main food ingredient with some special characteristics and health benefits; therefore, enhancing its grain yield is necessary. However, the limited fertile land causes cultivation in the sub-optimal land, such as saline soil. Saline stress can cause damage to plant cells; hence, it is vital to apply exogenous antioxidants that can act as osmoprotectants. The presented study sought to determine the physiological characteristics of red rice under salinity stress conditions with ascorbic acid applications. The study commenced in a factorial separate plot design (SPD) with three features. The salinity levels (3-4 and >4-5 mho/cm) comprised the main plots, red rice cultivars (Inpari 24, Inpari 7, Pamelen, and MSP17) in the subplots, with the ascorbic acid concentrations (0, 500, 1000, and 1500 ppm) kept in the sub-sub-plots. The results showed that the studied red rice cultivars differed in responses to ascorbic acid concentrations under saline soil conditions. Cultivar MSP17 was the most tolerant genotype to salinity stress compared with the three other red rice cultivars based on physiological attributes. Applying ascorbic acid improved red rice genotypes’ physiological characteristics (especially chlorophyll content and nutrient uptake) under saline stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work analyzes the biochemical composition and the influence of some abiotic factors on cells of Nitzschia sp. strains at different stages of the life cycle. The results of the experiment showed the ability of cells to grow in the salinity range of 10–60‰ at the pre-reproductive stage and in the range of 4–60‰ at the reproductive stage which indicates a relatively wide salinity tolerance of the studied species. The optimal salinity (25‰) and illumination (2.95 klx) for a 12-h photoperiod were found to be the same for both parent and daughter cells. The light saturation coefficient for them was 1.4 klx, indicating high energy efficiency of photosynthesis. Analysis of the biochemical composition of two Nitzschia sp. strains in the reproductive and pre-reproductive stages of the life cycle was carried out. During the accumulative cultivation a high content of monoenoic and polyenoic acids was observed. In general, the amount of saturated fatty acids (UFAs) was higher in parental cells, and the amount of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) was higher in post-initial cells. The quantity of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was almost the same in both cultures. The ω-6/ω-3 ratio showed a predominance of ω-3 fatty acids in both parental and daughter strains. Nitzschia sp. represents an interest for biotechnology given its biochemical composition and fairly high energy efficiency when grown in culture. However, it is extremely important to take into account the phase of the life cycle of the strains in order to obtain individual valuable products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of cold plasma as an environmentally friendly, efficient, and cost-effective method has garnered interest for its potential to alleviate the deleterious effects of abiotic stress on plants. This study investigates the impact of nitrogen oxide (NO) cold plasma treatment on wheat (Triticum durum Desf. ‘GAP’) seed germination, seedling growth, and pigment composition under salinity stress conditions. Seeds were exposed to NO cold plasma for 0, 5, 10, and 15 minutes and subsequently sown in Petri dishes with sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations of 0, 100, 150, and 200 mM to assess morphological and physiological responses between the 7th and 10th days of germination. Results indicated that cold plasma treatment significantly enhanced germination rates and seedling growth under both control and saline conditions, with the 15-min exposure yielding the most pronounced improvements. However, cold plasma treatment alone either decreased leaf pigment content or had no significant effect, whereas under salinity stress, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid levels showed varied increases with treatment duration. Conversely, anthocyanin levels decreased under salt stress with plasma treatment. The differential effects on pigment composition highlight a complex interaction between cold plasma treatment and plant physiological responses under abiotic stress, suggesting avenues for further research into optimizing treatment protocols for agricultural resilience. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on cold plasma applications in agriculture, offering insights into sustainable practices that could mitigate the impacts of global challenges like soil salinity on crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt stress poses a substantial threat to fruit cultivation in arid and semi-arid regions. An essential aspect of mitigating this challenge involves understanding the adaptive changes in plants under salinity conditions. In this study, salinity stress (0, 20, 40, and 80 mM) induced in Ankara and Deveci pear varieties grafted onto OH×F 97, OH×F 333, and BA 29 rootstocks. Plant height and diameter, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic pigments and K+/Na+ ratio exhibited a decreasing trend, indicating the impact of salt stress. Conversely, the salt stress index and the activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase showed an increasing trend, highlighting the plant’s defense mechanisms against oxidative stress. In our comprehensive evaluation, the Deveci × OH×F 97 demonstrated a higher level of tolerance to sodium chloride stress compared to other combinations. Notably, combinations involving the BA 29, particularly Ankara × BA 29, exhibited more pronounced damage under NaCl stress. An intriguing finding was the announced response of enzymatic antioxidants, where despite a higher increase in SOD activity in the Deveci × OH×F 97, CAT and APX activities were generally higher in the Ankara × BA 29. This suggests the effective operation of enzymatic antioxidants in ameliorating oxidative damage in cells exposed to NaCl stress, irrespective of the overall stress tolerance of the plant, within the Pyrus. This study contributes valuable insights into the complex interplay between pear varieties, rootstocks, and NaCl stress, providing a foundation for informed decision-making in orchard management practices to enhance the resilience of pear cultivation in challenging environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When carbon dioxide is sequestrated in a saline aquifer, the dissolution of carbon dioxide plume results in density difference between the brine with dissolved carbon dioxide and the ambient brine. This causes fingering flow and transport, or convective mixing, that is the dominant mechanism for the carbon dioxide solubility trapping. This work presents the first theoretical relationship for the carbon dioxide convective mixing flux from the plume that is critical for evaluating the long-term safety of carbon dioxide storage in a saline aquifer. This new development is based on the optimality: the density-difference driven fingering flow and transport are self-organized in such a way that the downward mass transport rate of dissolved carbon dioxide is maximized. The optimality has a root in nonequilibrium thermodynamics and been successfully applied to modeling the gravitational fingering flow for soil water in the vadose zone. Our theoretical relationship is shown to be able to accurately predict the experimental results of the convective mixing flux in threedimensional porous media that were reported by the two different research groups. The average relative error between the theoretical flux values and experimental observations is about 10% or less, while uncertainties exist in the test observations. The flux for Sleipner carbon dioxide injection site (22 kg/m²/yr), estimated using our new relationship, is also consistent with the previous estimates in the literature, in a range between 0 and 30 kg/m²/yr with the most likely value of 15 kg/m²/yr, that were obtained using a complex model to analyze the field data. These comparisons support the usefulness and validity of our relationship that does not need the knowledge of individual fingers associated with the convective mixing and is easy to use in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying how the demands of migration are met at the level of gene expression is critical for understanding migratory physiology and can potentially reveal how migratory forms evolve from nonmigratory forms and vice versa. Among fishes, migration between freshwater and seawater (diadromy) requires considerable osmoregulatory adjustments, powered by the ion pump Na+, K+-ATPase (NKA) in the gills. Paralogs of the catalytic α-subunit of the pump (NKA α1a and α1b) are reciprocally upregulated in fresh- and seawater, a response known as paralog-switching, in gills of some diadromous species. We tested ontogenetic changes in NKA α-subunit paralog expression patterns, comparing pre-migrant and migrant alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) sampled in their natal freshwater environment and after 24 h in seawater. In comparison to pre-migrants, juvenile out-migrants exhibited stronger paralog switching via greater downregulation of NKA α1a in seawater. We also tested microevolutionary changes in the response, exposing juvenile diadromous and landlocked alewife to freshwater (0 ppt) and seawater (30 ppt) for 2, 5, and 15 days. Diadromous and landlocked alewife exhibited salinity-dependent paralog switching, but levels of NKA α1b transcription were higher and the decrease in NKA α1a was greater after seawater exposure in diadromous alewife. Finally, we placed alewife α-subunit NKA paralogs in a macroevolutionary context. Molecular phylogenies show alewife paralogs originated independently of paralogs in salmonids and other teleosts. This study demonstrated that NKA paralog switching is tied to halohabitat profile and that duplications of the NKA gene provided the substrate for multiple, independent molecular solutions that support a diadromous life history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizobacteria play a crucial role in plant growth and yield, stimulating primary production and improving stress resistance. Climate change has several consequences worldwide that affect arable land and agriculture. Studies on plant–soil–microorganism interactions to enhance plant productivity and/or resistance to abiotic stress may open new perspectives. This strategy aims to make agricultural‐relevant plant species able to complete their biological cycle in extreme soils with the help of inoculated or primed plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR).We provide an overview of the evolution of interest in PGPR research in the last 30 years through: (i) a quantitative search on the Scopus database; (ii) keyword frequencies and clustering analysis, and (iii) a keyword network and time‐gradient analysis.The review of scientific literature on PGPR highlighted an increase in publications in the last 15 years, and a specific time gradient on subtopics, such as abiotic stresses. The rise in PGPR as a keyword co‐occurring with salinity and drought stresses aligns with the growing number of papers from countries directly or partly affected by climate change.The study of PGPR, its features, and related applications will be a key challenge in the next decades, considering climate change effects on agriculture. The increased interest in PGPR leads to deeper knowledge focused specifically on researching agriculturally sustainable solutions for soils affected by salinity and drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a euryhaline fish species that inhabits estuarine and coastal regions, the spotbanded scat (Selenotoca multifasciata) experiences growth influences during its larval stage due to variations in salinity. Here, we evaluated salinity required by early-stage spotbanded scat juveniles to achieve the highest growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, survival, and antioxidant capacity. We reared spotbanded scat juveniles (all 0.50 ± 0.05 g) in 0–35‰ salinity gradients for 50 days and recorded their survival rate every 10 days. After 50 experimental days, we measured morphological data, stomach and intestinal digestive enzyme activities, and liver antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde contents. In general, 5–15‰ salinity led to 100% survival. The 5‰ salinity group demonstrated the highest values for the following measures: final wet body weight; weight gain rate; specific growth rate; growth percentage; average daily gain; stomach amylase and lipase specific activities; and intestinal amylase, lipase, trypsin, and pepsin specific activities. However, stomach trypsin and pepsin activities did not demonstrate significant between-group differences (all p > 0.05). The 25‰ salinity group demonstrated the highest liver superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and malondialdehyde content. Finally, the 0‰ salinity group demonstrated the highest liver catalase activity. Thus, spotbanded scat juveniles demonstrate the highest survival rates, growth performance, and digestive enzyme activity at 5‰ salinity and the strongest oxidative stress responses at 25‰ salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estuaries are essential habitats for recreational and commercial fish that are shaped by both natural and anthropogenic processes. In Louisiana a combination of climate change and planned coastal restoration actions is predicted to increase freshwater introduction to coastal estuaries. As such there is a need to quantify the relationships between estuarine fish ecology and salinity to aid in predicting how species will respond to shifts in salinity. We investigated the relative abundance and dietary niches of adult (24.5 ± 5.4 cm standard length) spotted seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus across varying salinity regimes (oligohaline, mesohaline, and polyhaline) within Barataria Bay, Louisiana, using a combination of net sampling and gut content and stable isotopes analysis. We found that the relative abundance of C. nebulosus was lowest at the oligohaline site, translating to approximately five fewer fish captured for every single psu decrease in a site's average annual salinity. In contrast, we found that diets and, to a lesser extent, isotopic niches had a high degree of overlap across sites with differing salinity regimes. Fish and penaeid shrimp were the most common and important prey taxa recovered from guts at all sites. The small isotopic differences found among sites were likely due to spatial variation in hydrogeochemical baselines, and the observed isotopic overlap provides support for the idea that C. nebulosus move between adjacent salinity regimes and forage throughout Barataria Bay. Our results contribute to a greater understanding of the salinity preference and trophic ecology of C. nebulosus that can aid in predicting their responses to future salinity and habitat changes within Barataria Bay associated with predicted climate change and planned coastal restoration actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is a very important parameter from an environmental perspective, and therefore, efficient and accurate systems are required for marine environmental monitoring and productive industries. A plasmonic sensor based on doubly deposited tapered optical fibers (DLUWTs—double-layer uniform-waist tapers) for the measurement of salinity is presented. The physical principle of the sensor, as well as its structure, is discussed, and its performance is experimentally demonstrated, obtaining very good sensitivities. The possibility of shifting towards higher wavelength measuring ranges associated with DLUWTs is also exploited. At the same time, we have considered the necessity of an extensive characterization of the behavior of the refractive index of salty water, both with variations in temperature and the composition of the salts dissolved. This is important due to the somehow changing reality of salinity measurements and the possibility of establishing new approaches for the determination of absolute salinity as opposed to practical salinity based on electrical conductivity measurements. The results obtained, which show high sensitivity and a good performance in general without the need for the use of semi-empirical algorithms, permit, in our opinion, an advance in the tendency towards refractometric determination of salinity with optical sensors apt for in situ, real-time, accurate measurements in realistic measuring conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

miRNA are endogenous regulatory molecules comprising 20–24 nucleotides playing a crucial role in the growth and development of various organs in animals as well as plants. In plants, miRNAs regulate biotic and abiotic stress responses conferring tolerance by functioning as negative and positive regulators. Down-regulation of the target genes is accomplished by repressing translation or by cleavage of a transcript or by inhibiting transcription. Various studies on crop plants like rice, wheat, and sugarcane have revealed the importance of miRNA in conferring abiotic stress tolerance against salinity and drought and biotic resistance against pests such as plant pathogens and insects. The biotic and abiotic stress regulates the target gene expression through the differential expression of specific miRNAs. An in-depth study of miRNA as a molecular marker in plants under stress conditions, profiling miRNA expressions and thorough understanding of its role in gene regulation may help in enhancing crop productivity and crop management against various stress conditions. So, the main objective of this review is to summarize recent advances in miRNA regulation in plants with special emphasis on its role in stress tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have examined the morphological and micromorphological responses of different halophytes to determine their salt tolerance mechanisms. However, few studies have focused on the South African edible halophytes. This study examined the leaf micromorphology, elemental composition, and anatomical responses using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) to examine salt tolerance levels in Trachyandra ciliata (L.F) Kunth. The treatments included varying sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations: 50 mM, 100 mM, 150 mM and 200 mM, while control (0 mM) was watered with nutrient solution only. From the SEM micrographs, salt glands were observed protruding from the epidermis along the vascular system under low salinity and salt crystals appeared under higher concentrations, which makes this plant maintain cellular homeostasis under high salinity, and the plant can be classified as a recretohalophyte. Stomatal distribution, stomatal density and the number of open stomata decreased with increasing salinity. EDX revealed the presence of some important elements such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and more in the leaves. The results showed that increased salinity led to a decrease in the percentage composition of P, K and Ca2+, while Mg2+ was high under the control and low salinity (50 mM), decreased under 100 mM and increased again with increasing salinity. On the contrary, increasing salinity caused an increase in Na+ and Cl- in a stable manner. These findings reveal that T.ciliata acquires salt tolerance through changes to its leaf surface properties, osmotic adjustment, and the regulation of Na+ uptake and distribution in the leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), a valuable crop, suffers greatly from salt stress. This study investigates the potential of green silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) synthesized using Aloe vera extract to relieve the harmful effects of salt stress on spinach seed germination and growth. The experiment evaluated various seed germination and plant growth characteristics of spinach cultivar Viroflay RZ under five Ag-NP concentrations (0, 20, 40, 80, and 100 ppm) and four salinity levels (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl) in a controlled laboratory setting. This studymeasured seed germination percentage, rate and relative germination, vigor indices, plant height, root length, shoot and root dry weight, and chlorophyll content. Data analysis revealed that salinity stress significantly inhibited seed germination and all other studied parameters, especially at higher salt concentrations. The impact of green Ag-NPs on these traits varied considerably under salt stress. A complex statistical model showed a non-linear relationship between Ag-NP concentration and its effect, with an optimal concentration potentially alleviating the negative effects of salt stress. The study suggests that pre-treating spinach seeds with green Ag-NPs at an optimized concentration might enhance their tolerance to salt stress, potentially improving germination and growth under saline conditions. This research promotes using eco-friendly nanotechnology to mitigate the detrimental effects of salinity on agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Perennial sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis L.) is a medicinal plant belong to the sunflower family with anti-diabetic, antidepressant and anti-cancer properties. The crisis of salinization of agricultural lands is considered as one of the most important problems of the world and Iran, and as an environmental stress, it has a direct effect on many plant characteristics under stress. Since there is little information about the response of Sonchus plant to salinity stress, the present experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of salinity on some morphological and physiological traits as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes under salinity conditions. Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with three repetitions in 2018 in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture of Urmia University. Salinity stress was applied at four levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM of NaCl salt) at the 6-8 leaf stage, and shoot dry weight, root dry weight and root length were recorded. Also, photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids), protein content, relative leaf water content (RWC), proline and carbohydrate contents, antioxidant capacity (DPPH and FRAP) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes including catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (PX) were measured in the lower and middle leaves of the plants. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the obtained data and comparison of the means of the treatments using Duncan’s test were implemented in SAS 9.4 software. Results: The results showed that root length, root dry weight and shoot dry weight decrease significantly with increasing salinity level. Also, the content of chlorophyll a and b increased in salinity conditions, while salinity decreased the amounts of carotenoids. The highest amount of chlorophyll was observed in the lower leaf under 150 mM NaCl. The content of protein, proline and soluble sugar was enhanced with increasing salinity level; the maximum amount of these parameters was observed in the middle leaf at 150 mM NaCl. The highest amount of total phenolic and flavonoid compounds was observed at the stress level of 50 mM NaCl. The content of sodium ion (Na+) increased with increasing salinity level, while the amount of potassium ion (K+) declined. The activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase enzymes, as well as FRAP and DPPH antioxidant capacity increased in salinity conditions. Conclusion: According to the obtained results, it can be concluded that Sonchus arvensis plant copes with salinity through increasing some osmolytes under stress conditions. Moreover, an enhancement of the amount of chlorophyll a and b at high levels of salinity showed that Sonchus arvensis is probably a salt-tolerant plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) often faces salt stress and delayed sowing practices. These two events usually occur simultaneously in real field conditions that cause severe consequences on mineral balance, osmotic adjustment, reactive oxygen species (ROS) rampaging and antioxidant machinery. To address these issues, a two-year field-based study was directed at Jalalpur Pirwala Research Farm (JPRF), Multan-Pakistan. The experiment consisted of the following factors, a) timely sown under normal conditions (NS) and late sowing under normal conditions (LS) b) timely sown on saline conditions and late sown under saline conditions (LS+SS) c) foliar application of plant growth promoters hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2), salicylic acid (SA), thiourea (TU) and control (no spray) firstly to assess the influence of plant growth promoters (PGPRs) on the nutrient acquisition, osmoprotectants metabolism, ROS homeostasis and antioxidant clustering under SS, LS and their combined treatments. Results revealed that PGPRs foliar applications such as TU, followed by SA and H 2 O 2 played plausible roles in maintaining nutrient balance, osmoregulation, and circumventing the ROS. Exogenous application of TU increases the proline (18.24–20.01 %), total free amino acids (29.09 %-33.99 %), glycine betaine (3.43 %-15.34 %), total -soluble proteins (10.98 % -15.96 %) and total soluble sugars (15.21 %-20.36 %) for both years, under control conditions. Moreover, LS+SS followed by SS and LS declined the grain nutrient quality, shoot mineral content, and demolished the equilibrium between ROS and antioxidants, however, plants up-regulate the defensive mechanisms by enhancing the substantial content of antioxidants and osmoprotectants. So, wheat is moderately tolerant to combined LS+SS stress that evidently deteriorates its nutritional quality, but its performance can be enhanced by using PGPRs in delayed-sown wheat that often grows in marginally saline areas. [Display omitted] • Late-sown wheat faces severe nutrient imbalance under saline conditions. • Nutrient acquisition and, antioxidant metabolism play key role in wheat tolerance. • Plant growth promoters (PGPRs) improved the defence mechanisms and combat the effect of combined stress. • PGPRs maintain the nutrient balance and osmoregulation in late-sown wheat under salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Methyl jasmonate (MJ) mitigated salt stress effects on purple basil. • MJ increased chlorophyll, anthocyanin, sugars, and phenolics in purple basil. • MJ increased the growth and post-harvest quality of purple basil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of methyl jasmonate (MJ) in mitigating the negative effects of salt stress on purple basil. For this, plants were grown in an entirely randomized design in a 3 × 2 factorial scheme (salinity × MJ treatments), and seven replicates. Salinity levels corresponded to non-stress (irrigation water without NaCl addition), mild stress (40 mM NaCl), and severe stress (80 mM NaCl), and MJ treatments corresponded to control (0 µM – water) or 1 mM solutions, applied as leaf sprays. The growth, physiology, and post-harvest attributes of purple basil were determined. Salt stress impaired growth, photosynthetic capacity, chlorophyll content, and relative water content, while it increased electrolyte leakage (P ≤ 0.05). However, the application of exogenous methyl jasmonate (MJ) mitigated the effects of salt stress on growth and gas exchange in purple basil. MJ also increased chlorophyll and relative water content while decreasing electrolyte leakage. Mild and severe salt stress differentially impacted chlorophyll fluorescence, while methyl jasmonate (MJ) partially mitigated these effects. Salt stress also reduced the contents of anthocyanins, sugars, and phenolic compounds, whereas MJ increased their levels under both non-stressed and salt-stressed conditions. In conclusion, MJ alleviated the effects of mild and severe salt stress and enhanced the post-harvest quality of purple basil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Salt-coping strategies were studied investigating roots through a rhizoslide setup. • Different salt tolerance mechanisms were identified in the two halophyte species. • New Zealand spinach accumulated sodium and showed increased WUE at 100 mM NaCl. • Quinoa behaved as a sodium excluder with restricted growth at 100 mM NaCl. • Salinity affected both root architecture and plant transpiration. Soil salinity, root sodium concentration, and transpiration rate are important environmental factors impacting plant growth and productivity. This study investigates the salt-coping strategies of two plant species under varying salinity levels: New Zealand spinach species grown at three salinity levels (i.e., 0, 100, and 200 mM NaCl) and three varieties of quinoa, i.e., "Vikinga", "Dave 407" and "Red Head", grown with or without salt (i.e., 0 and 100 mM NaCl). The plants were grown on glass fiber sheets (rhizoslides) under controlled laboratory conditions. The relationship between transpiration rate, salinity, and root architecture was analyzed for each species. The root apparatus of New Zealand spinach was significantly more developed in plants grown at 100 mM NaCl compared to both 200 mM NaCl and control. The quinoa varieties responded differently to the increasing salt concentrations, with salt-treated "Red Head" plants significantly reducing their total root length and salt-treated "Vikinga" significantly reducing its lateral roots compared to the controls. Salt concentration near New Zealand spinach roots was lower compared to areas without roots, suggesting active salt uptake. In contrast, quinoa rhizoslides exhibited higher salt concentration in proximity to the roots, indicative of salt exclusion. The study provides insights into the adaptation and tolerance mechanisms of these two species to salinity, elucidating the mechanisms by which plants regulate their sodium uptake and root growth. The obtained results suggest that not only the selection of appropriate plant species (halophytes), but also varieties, plays a crucial role in improving crop productivity in salt-affected areas. Elucidating the salt-coping mechanisms of halophytes in relation to soil and climatic conditions is important to better predict their behavior in various saline environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet sorghum is an important sugar crop and forage with a strong tolerance to soil salinity. We have previously analyzed the ion accumulation traits and transcriptome of a sweet sorghum cultivar under NaCl treatments. However, the mechanisms underlying Na+, K+, Cl−, and NO3− transports and the osmotic adjustment of sweet sorghum under salt stresses need further investigations. In this study, the growth, photosynthesis, inorganic ion and organic solute contents, and leaf osmotic adjustment ability of the sweet sorghum cultivars "Lvjuren" and "Fengtian" under NaCl treatments were determined; meanwhile, the expressions of key genes associated with the Na+, K+, Cl−, and NO3− transport were analyzed using the qRT-PCR method. The results showed that NaCl treatments more severely inhibited the growth and photosynthesis of "Lvjuren" than those of "Fengtian". After NaCl treatments, "Fengtian" could more efficiently restrict the overaccumulation of Na+ and Cl− in leaf blades than "Lvjuren" by withholding large amounts of Na+ in the roots or reserving high quantities of Cl− in the leaf sheaths, which could be attributed to the upregulated expressions of SbNHX2, SbHKT1;4, SbHKT1;5, SbCLCc, and SbCLCg or the downregulated expression of SbNPF6.4. "Fengtian" exhibited significantly lower leaf osmotic potential but higher leaf water potential and turgor pressure under NaCl treatments, suggesting that the former possessed a stronger osmotic ability than the latter. The contents of K+, NO3−, soluble sugar, and betaine in leaf blades, as well as the contributions of these osmolytes to the leaf osmotic potential, in "Fengtian" were significantly higher than those in "Lvjuren". In addition, the upregulated expressions of SbAKT1, SbHAK5, SbSKOR, SbNPF3.1, SbNPF6.3, and SbNPF7.3 should be responsible for maintaining K+ and NO3− homeostasis under NaCl treatment. These results lay a foundation for uncovering the salt tolerance mechanisms of sweet sorghum and large-scale cultivation of this species in saline areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is a serious abiotic stress that limits crop production and food security. Micronutrient application has shown promising results in mitigating the toxic impacts of salinity. This study assessed the impacts of zinc seed priming (ZSP) on the germination, growth, physiological and biochemical functioning of sorghum cultivars. The study comprised sorghum cultivars (JS-2002 and JS-263), salinity stress (control (0 mM) and 120 mM)), and control and ZSP (4 mM). Salinity stress reduced germination and seedling growth by increasing electrolyte leakage (EL: 60.65%), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2: 109.50%), malondialdehyde (MDA; 115.30%), sodium (Na), and chloride (Cl) accumulation and decreasing chlorophyll synthesis, relative water contents (RWC), total soluble proteins (TSPs), and potassium (K) uptake and accumulation. Nonetheless, ZSP mitigated the deleterious impacts of salinity and led to faster germination and better seedling growth. Zinc seed priming improved the chlorophyll synthesis, leaf water contents, antioxidant activities (ascorbate peroxide: APX, catalase: CAT, peroxidase: POD, superoxide dismutase: SOD), TSPs, proline, K uptake and accumulation, and reduced EL, MDA, and H2O2 production, as well as the accumulation of toxic ions (Na and Cl), thereby promoting better germination and growth. Thus, these findings suggested that ZSP can mitigate the toxicity of salinity by favoring nutrient homeostasis, antioxidant activities, chlorophyll synthesis, osmolyte accumulation, and maintaining leaf water status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate information regarding crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and its components is essential for proper water management. Salinity has become increasingly serious in many parts of the world, affecting the use of saline water in irrigation for various biochemical processes, hence the importance of understanding the effects of soil and water salinity on ETc. This study aimed to determine the transpiration (Tr) and soil evaporation (Es) components that constitute ETc in tomatoes irrigated by drip irrigation and to investigate the effects of irrigation water salinity levels on ETc and its components, as well as on the crop coefficient (Kc) used to determine ETc. In addition, the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) values determined by the measurements obtained with the lysimeter system were compared with the ETo values calculated using the Almeria (ETo_Alm), FAO Radiation (ETo_FAO-Rad), and Hargreaves (ETo_Harg) models. During the spring growing period of 2022, tomatoes were cultivated under four different irrigation water salinity levels: S0 = 0.7 (control), S1 = 2.5 (low), S2 = 5.0 (medium), and S3 = 7.5 (high) dS m−1. The Tr values in S0, S1, and S2 treatments were measured by the sap flow method. Radiation-based ETo prediction models had strong relationships with lysimeter-measured ETo values (R2 > 0.977 and RMSE < 0.53 mm). The results indicated that increasing salinity levels led to a decrease in both Tr and ETc while causing an increase in Es. In the S0, S1, and S2 treatments, Es accounted for 16.3, 45.0, and 36.2%, respectively. Actual Kc values also decreased with increasing salinity. The results indicate that different actual Kc values can be used when calculating evapotranspiration in decision-making processes in greenhouse tomato production in Antalya and when irrigation water with different salinity levels is used. Additionally, actual ETc responses of tomatoes to salinity can be used to manage saline water in irrigation scheduling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity stress can significantly impact productivity in agricultural area with limited water re-sources. Our study focused on how plants under salt stress respond to phosphorus availability in terms of growth and biochemical reactions in cotton genotypes. Two cotton genotypes with different P efficiencies (SK39 and JM21) were used in a hydroponic experiment with 300 mM NaCl and three P treatments (10, 20, and 30 mM). Salinity stress decreases root growth, shoot growth, biomass production, and chlorophyll content, according to the experimental findings. In treated plants, it also increased the levels of oxidative stress. However, this effect was alleviated by phosphorus therapy, which controlled the production of proline, total soluble sugars, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Interestingly, salt-sensitive JM21 responded to phosphorus supplementation more favorably than salt-tolerant SK39. Our research emphasizes the critical role that phosphorus especially P20 plays increasing the salinity stress sensitivity of cotton plants and offers insightful in-formation on the mechanisms underlying the role of phosphorus in reducing salinity stress effects. This study also revealed interspecific variability in cotton genotypes and characteristics, primarily represented by attributes related to cotton growth and morphological indicators such as dry matter biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity stress emerges as an important menace to global food security, particularly affecting susceptible crops such as common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The disruption of ion balances caused by salt stress within plant cells reduces water and nutrient absorption and hampers growth and productivity. Sacchorhiza polyschides, a brown macroalga rich in essential elements and macrominerals, has drawn attention as a natural biostimulant, being a potential remedy to bolster crop resilience against salt stress. This study delves into the effect of water extracts of Sacchorhiza polyschides (SPE) across varying concentrations (1%, 2%, and 5%) in common bean plants under salt stress (68.4 mM NaCl) conditions. Two different methods of application were used: by spraying the aerial part of the plant or by irrigation together with the watering solution. The effects of both systems of application were studied on the aerial parts of the plants. SPE exhibited significant enhancements in morphological parameters, chlorophyll content, carbon–nitrogen activities, and antioxidant enzymatic system activities, alongside increasing osmolyte accumulation, compared to salt-stressed plants without biostimulation. Moreover, SPE reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels caused by salt stress, mitigating lipid peroxidation. The concentrations of 2% and 5% SPE applied by spraying showed the most significant results in most of the parameters analyzed. By shedding light on the underlying science behind this biostimulant effect, this research underscores the potential of SPE to enhance crop resilience and augment food production in salt-challenged environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is causing drastic reduction in crop yields around the globe due to increase in soil salinity, drought and heat stress. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) is regarded as a very significant food security crop considering the climate change scenario. Two quinoa genotypes (Puno and Titicaca) were cultivated on salt affected soil under drought stress with different sowing dates. Compared with early sowing, late sowing combined with salinity and drought stress caused drastic decline in plant growth and grain yield due to imposition of heat stress. Plant biomass and grain yield decreased by 26% and 39% in Puno, and by 34% and 49% in Titicaca under late sowing accompanied by salt and drought stress. Relative water contents and stomatal conductance of leaves declined in the same trend in both genotypes. Shoot Na+ concentration was the highest whereas K+ concentration was the lowest in both genotypes when drought and salt stress were combined under late sowing. Grain minerals (Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, K, P, N and Mn) and dietary contents (protein, lipids, carbohydrates and fibre) were decreased more under the combination of salinity and drought for late sowing as compared to early sowing. When salinity and drought stress were combined under late sowing, the contents of H2O2 and TBARS were 1.9 and 2.2‐fold higher in Puno and 2.4 and 2.6‐fold higher in Titicaca, respectively. The oxidative stress was mitigated by enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and POD) more in Puno than Titicaca. Plant biomass and grain yield were higher in Puno with better grain quality than Titicaca. Hence, this genotype should be cultivated on salt affected soils facing drought and high temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shape of nanochannels plays a crucial role in the ion selectivity and overall performance of reverse electrodialysis (RED) systems. However, current research on two-dimensional nanochannel shapes is largely limited to a few fixed asymmetric forms. This study explores the impact of randomly shaped nanochannels using dimensionless methods, controlling their randomness by varying their length and shape amplitude. The research systematically compares how alterations in the nanochannel length and shape amplitude influence various system performance parameters. Our findings indicate that increasing the nanochannel length can significantly enhance the system performance. While drastic changes in the nanochannel shape amplitude positively affect the system performance, the most significant improvements arise from the interplay between the nanochannel length and shape amplitude. This compounding effect creates a local optimum, resulting in peak system performance. Within the range of dimensionless lengths from 0 to 30, the system reaches its optimal performance at a dimensionless length of approximately 25. Additionally, we explored two other influencing factors: the nanochannel surface charge density and the concentration gradient of the solution across the nanochannel. Optimal performance is observed when the nanochannel has a high surface charge density and a low concentration gradient, particularly with random shapes. This study advances the theoretical understanding of RED systems in two-dimensional nanochannels, guiding research towards practical operational conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is a global problem facing all aspects of the agricultural sector. Heat stress due to increasing atmospheric temperature is one of the most common climate change impacts on agriculture. Heat stress has direct effects on crop production, along with indirect effects through associated problems such as drought, salinity, and pathogenic stresses. Approaches reported to be effective to mitigate heat stress include nano-management. Nano-agrochemicals such as nanofertilizers and nanopesticides are emerging approaches that have shown promise against heat stress, particularly biogenic nano-sources. Nanomaterials are favorable for crop production due to their low toxicity and eco-friendly action. This review focuses on the different stresses associated with heat stress and their impacts on crop production. Nano-management of crops under heat stress, including the application of biogenic nanofertilizers and nanopesticides, are discussed. The potential and limitations of these biogenic nano-agrochemicals are reviewed. Potential nanotoxicity problems need more investigation at the local, national, and global levels, as well as additional studies into biogenic nano-agrochemicals and their effects on soil, plant, and microbial properties and processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations over a saltwater lagoon in the Altiplano show that evaporation E is triggered at noon, concurrent to the transition of a shallow, stable atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) into a deep mixed layer. We investigate the coupling between the ABL and E drivers using a land–atmosphere conceptual model, observations, and a regional model. Additionally, we analyze the ABL interaction with the aerodynamic and radiative components of evaporation using the Penman equation adapted to saltwater. Our results demonstrate that nonlocal processes are dominant in driving E. In the morning, the ABL is controlled by the local advection of warm air (∼5 K h−1), which results in a shallow (<350 m), stable ABL, with virtually no mixing and no E (<50 W m−2). The warm-air advection ultimately connects the ABL with the residual layer above, increasing the ABL height h by ∼1 km. At midday, a thermally driven regional flow arrives to the lagoon, which first advects a deeper ABL from the surrounding desert (∼1500 m h−1) that leads to an extra ∼700-m h increase. The regional flow also causes an increase in wind (∼12 m s−1) and an ABL collapse due to the entrance of cold air (∼−2 K h−1) with a shallower ABL (∼−350 m h−1). The turbulence produced by the wind decreases the aerodynamic resistance and mixes the water body releasing the energy previously stored in the lake. The ABL feedback on E through vapor pressure enables high evaporation values (∼450 W m−2 at 1430 LT). These results contribute to the understanding of E of water bodies in semiarid conditions and emphasize the importance of understanding ABL processes when describing evaporation drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub-Saharan Africa, and in particular Mozambique, has considerable potential of salinity gradient energy, which could foster coastal development. However, the lack of scientific based information hinders the development of policies and investments in harnessing this source of energy in Sub-Saharan Africa. The present study, used historical data of temperature and salinity and estimated the potential of salinity gradient power in four main estuaries in Mozambique. The theoretical salinity gradient power ranged, on average, from 843.6 MW, in Incomati River estuary to 2,800.0 MW in Zambezi Delta. The Bons Sinais Estuary and Limpopo Estuary had 1,086.8 MW and 1292.0 MW, on average, respectively. The salinity power estimated in the Mozambique estuaries studied was above the maximum power densities for electrodialysis osmotic energy storage systems, which is set at 5 W m−2, and has potential extractable energy of about 3,000MW, and could benefit about 2 million coastal rural households (about 7% of the total Mozambican population) on irrigation and lighting houses. Further studies may be focused in determining the seasonal and salinity intrusion effects on salinity power gradient in the Mozambican estuaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biostimulants such as ascorbic acid, known as vitamin C, have been reported to have numerous positive roles in plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. However, little is known about the biostimulant effects of ascorbic acid on alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Accordingly, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of 1 mM ascorbic acid, applied as foliar spray, on the salt tolerance of a Moroccan alfalfa population Demnate 201. One month-old M. sativa seedlings were exposed to 200 mM NaCl for four weeks with or without 1 mM of exogenous ascorbic acid treatment. The results showed that salinity stress significantly (p < 0.001) reduced plant biomass, disturbed photosynthesis-related parameters and induced oxidative stress. However, ascorbic acid foliar spray counteracted the observed negative effects of salinity. It significantly (p < 0.001) improved plant growth and photosynthetic parameters. Besides, stress indicators, including Na+ in shoot and root, hydrogen peroxide and electrolyte leakage, were significantly reduced by 42%, 29%, 12% and 34%, respectively, in treated and salt-stressed alfalfa plants. Interestingly, the decrease in oxidative stress markers was positively correlated to the ability of ascorbic acid to induce the accumulation of flavonoids and to increase the antioxidant activity of guaiacol peroxidase. Furthermore, compatible solutes, such as proline and soluble sugars, were found higher especially in salt-stressed alfalfa plants treated with 1 mM ascorbic acid. Our findings showed that ascorbic acid supply could be an eco-friendly and sustainable technique to mitigate the toxic effect of salt and could improve alfalfa forage production when grown in salt-affected soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the ecophysiology of invasive species is one of the main steps in understanding the dynamics of territorial expansion of these species and establishing prevention, control, and combat measures and protocols. For freshwater molluscs, one of the main limiting factors is salinity. Laboratory tests closer to reality are needed to make more efficient models. Melanoides tuberculata is an invasive freshwater snail monitored worldwide, and it also has implications for human health. Recent studies supported that its rapid expansion has been enabled through its adaptation to both estuarine conditions and saline waters. The present study aims to determine the real tolerance range of M. tuberculata through a stepwise acclimation test as a more realistic model of a transitional gradient from a lentic to an estuarine environment and so determine the real potential for salinity adaptation. It also aims to check differences in the tolerance responses between age groups and life history, using two distinct populations subject to distinct ambient conditions. The stepwise acclimation test was effective in proving that M. tuberculata may be highly adaptable to salinity variation, contrasting with all previous tests. Thus, the results support the hypothesis of dispersion via estuaries by salinity-tolerant M. tuberculata juveniles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bay of Marseille (BoM), located in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea, is affected by various hydrodynamic processes (e.g., Rhône River intrusion and upwelling events) that result in a highly complex local carbonate system. In any complex environment, the use of models is advantageous since it allows us to identify the different environmental forcings, thereby facilitating a better understanding. By combining approaches from two biogeochemical ocean models and improving the formulation of total alkalinity, we develop a more realistic representation of the carbonate system variables at high temporal resolution, which enables us to study air–sea CO 2 fluxes and seawater p CO 2 variations more reliably. We apply this new formulation to two particular scenarios that are typical for the BoM: (i) summer upwelling and (ii) Rhône River intrusion events. In both scenarios, our model was able to correctly reproduce the observed patterns of p CO 2 variability. Summer upwelling events are typically associated with a p CO 2 decrease that mainly results from decreasing near-surface temperatures. Furthermore, Rhône River intrusion events are typically associated with a p CO 2 decrease, although, in this case, the p CO 2 decrease results from a decrease in salinity and an overall increase in total alkalinity. While we were able to correctly represent the daily range of air–sea CO 2 fluxes, the present configuration of Eco3M_MIX-CarbOx does not allow us to correctly reproduce the annual cycle of air–sea CO 2 fluxes observed in the area. This pattern directly impacts our estimates of the overall yearly air–sea CO 2 flux as, even if the model clearly identifies the bay as a CO 2 sink, its magnitude was underestimated, which may be an indication of the limitations inherent in dimensionless models for representing air–sea CO 2 fluxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the salt stress on plant growth are usually increased by the water stress. We studied the impact of both stresses in simultaneous pulses of drought and salinity on Paspalum dilatatum. This forage species is native to South America, spread in grasslands in many tropical, subtropical, and temperate areas of the world, and very common in grasslands of the Flooding Pampas of Argentina. Mimicking what happens in nature. We compared a pot experiment, a non-stressed control against water stress for a month (midpoint between field capacity and wilting point), and two saline stresses (moderate, 6 d·Sm−1and strong, 12 d·Sm−1), also for a month. Aerial biomass (green leaf; non-leaf green material, and dry material) and roots were harvested, weighed, and analyzed for nitrogen, phosphorus, and cations. The biomass of all components significantly decreased when both stresses were applied. Water plus strong saline stress reduced by half the total biomasses, compared to the control. The proportion of aerial biomass/root biomass ratio as well as aerial green component/dry materials ratio tend to decrease when subjected to both stresses. Nitrogen concentration in plants was not significantly affected, but phosphorus concentration increased in aerial biomass components, from 0.10 to 0.18 mg·kg−1between the extreme treatments, but did not change in roots. Sodium concentration in plants increased (i.e. in green leave sodium (Na) increased from 0.27 to 2.01 mg·kg−1between the extreme treatments), whereas other cations either did not change or decreased, affecting the ratios between them. Sodium performance allows us to infer that the Na accumulation of P. dilatatum behaves in an intermediate range, compared to very tolerant to salts or non-salt tolerant species of the Paspalum genus. In agreement, when salts were applied in the form of a pulse, P. dilatatum tolerated higher salinity than that found by other authors for the same species, using continuous salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that hinders plant development and productivity and influences agricultural yield. Seed priming is a technique used to boost germination and seedling growth under abiotic stress. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of seed priming with potassium nitrate (KNO3) at various levels (0%, 0.50%, 1.00% and 1.50%) under salt stress (0, 75, 100 mM NaCl) on two maize verities (MNH360 and 30T60) for the growth, development and metabolic attributes results revealed that in maize variety MNH360, KNO3priming's significantly enhanced growth parameters than in maize variety 30T60 under control and salt-stressed conditions. Priming with KNO3enhanced carotenoids and total chlorophyll in the 30T60 variety that protected the maize plants from salt stress. Nevertheless, it was shown that priming with 1.00% KNO3acts as safeguarded to protect them from oxidative damage by salt stress minimizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation through increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and total soluble protein. The findings of the present study confirm that the use of the KNO3seed priming technique is a low-cost, environmentally friendly technique for mitigating adverse impacts of salt stress in maize crops by activating the antioxidant defense system and improving chlorophyll and osmolyte contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides the first estimation of sea ice-melt amount in the Sea of Okhotsk based on spring hydrographic data accumulated for nearly a hundred years. Just after sea ice melts completely, a low-salinity layer appears on the ocean surface, overlying the layer of Winter Water at the freezing point. The integration of the salinity decrease from Winter Water should correspond to the total ice-melt amount. We developed an algorithm to extract the profiles that clearly show the salinity deficit and converted the salinity deficit to the ice-melt amount from all available data. The climatological map shows that ice-melt amount decreases toward the ice edge and exhibits large values around the northern Sakhalin Island, reflecting the ice thickness distribution. In the southern area (south of 48°N), where sea ice is transported from the north, the average ice-melt amount is estimated to be ~ 71 cm in thickness. It is clearly shown that the ice-melt amount has decreased by ~ 30% in the southern area since the 1990s. These changes possibly affect the regional climate through the decreased latent heat of sea ice and potentially affect biological production through weakened stratification caused by decreased ice melt. We also suggested that ice-melt amount did not show a significant trend during the 1930s–1970s, implying that our methodology could extract information on sea ice before the era of satellite observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]