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Cadmium (Cd) is a very poisonous and non-essential heavy metal which is easily absorbed by plants. The metal makes living organisms susceptible to its acute and chronic toxicity through plant food. Similarly, Cd hinders the growth of plants by causing the loss of chlorophyll, which in turn negatively impacts the activities of photosynthesis. Therefore, this current study aims to evaluate the effects of Cd on the germination behaviour, morphology, growth and development of Pak Choi plants. The sterilized Pak Choi seeds were germinated on a soaked filter paper of a petri dish. The petri dish included seven different treatments of Cd chloride with concentrations of 0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mM. Each treatment was replicated five times. The germination and growth of the seeds were observed for 15 days. Pak Choi seedlings were also planted under hydroponic conditions to investigate their morphological characteristics, growth and development. After two weeks of growth, the application of CdCl2 was made with four treatments consisting of nutrient solution without CdCl2 (control) and 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mM CdCl2 -nutrient solution. Two weeks of plant growth were allowed before the experiment was terminated. At the end of the experiment, the chlorophyll content (SPAD), root and shoot length (cm), and fresh and dry weight (g) of plants were quantified accordingly. The increase in CdCl2 concentration led to a significant decrease in the length of root and shoot of germinated seedlings significantly. The seedling's growth of Pak Choi was inhibited three days after germination, and the seedling's height (root and shoot) in higher concentrations of CdCl2 was lower than lower doses of Cd. Chlorosis symptoms in the leaf were visible in hydroponic Pak Choi containing Cd. The growth of Cd-treated hydroponic Pak Choi was adversely affected by Cd treatment. The Cd treatment also reduced SPAD, biomass content (fresh and dry), and length of root and leaves number significantly. It can be concluded that exogenous Cd inhibits the Pak Choi germination and growth under hydroponic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water stress causes various plant morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses. Silicon application may reduce the water stress tolerance in plants by increasing the physiology parameters and the crop's vegetative growth. Hence, the study aims to evaluate the effect of water stress levels on Alternanthera sissoo, known as Brazilian spinach, and determine which silicon (Si) level is the best under water scarcity. The method implied measuring the water stress by different levels of water level applied to the plant which are 100 % (well-watered), 75 % (moderate water deficit), 50 % (high water deficit), and 25 % (severe water deficit). The variation of silicon concentrations is S0 (control), S1, S2 and S3 (0, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 %v/v) arranged in the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in the greenhouse. Growth, physiological, and biochemical parameters were analyzed during the experiment. The research findings showed that water stress results were statistically reduce the leaf area, leaf number root length, fresh weight, chlorophyll content, relative water content (RWC), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The root length, leaf area, and malondialdehyde (MDA) show the interaction between water stress level and silicon concentration. The study proposed that the Si nutrient management strategy has the potential to minimize the impacts of drought stress in Brazilian spinach. Regarding research findings, it was determined that the optimal water requirement for Alternanthera sissoo is 50 % of the water treatments, with a silicon concentration of 1.2 %v/v. This is essential for better water management of the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for agricultural products for food requirements caused the use of excessive inorganic chemical fertilisers, insecticides, fungicides, and pesticides for a quick and simple way to maximise and boost crop yield. This practice harmed food safety and caused the degradation of environmental, physical, and biological conditions. It has become alarming, and now is the time for a greener approach to increase agricultural output while minimising the use of inorganic chemical fertilisers. It was proven through many previous studies that using environmentally friendly biofertilisers has managed to increase crop yield while reducing the usage of chemical fertilisers. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are mostly used in biofertiliser production because these types of microbes will enhance plant growth and yield by mobilising the available nutrients through several biological mechanisms, including fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, solubilisation, and mobilisation of phosphate and potassium, phytohormones production, disease suppression, and stress protection. Understanding their characteristics, biological mechanisms of action, and the nutritional and physical requirements for growth is important for successfully formulating and applying PGPR as a biofertiliser. The selection of the right PGPR with the desired characteristics, the ability to adapt to the environment, and the ideal formulation of the biofertiliser are the main criteria that should be emphasised when determining the success of biofertiliser. Knowledge and awareness regarding the use, benefits, and production of PGPR as a potential biofertiliser are important and should be explored to fulfil the crop's nutritional requirements more economically and sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the highly toxic, non-essential heavy metals that inhibit plant growth and development by prompting chlorophyll loss and affecting photosynthetic activities. This study investigated the efficacy of Spirulina platensis and Sargassum polycystum extracts in alleviating Cd stress in Pak Choi at morpho-biochemical, anatomical, and molecular levels. Different concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 100 mL/L) of S. polycyctum (SAR), S. platensis (SPI), and a mixture of both extracts (SS) were exposed to 100 mg/kg Cd-contaminated Pak Choi seedlings. Non-Cd-treated Pak Choi and Cd-contaminated Pak Choi without algal extracts were assigned as positive and negative controls, respectively. The results showed that the application of algal extracts increased the plant height, fresh weight (FW), and dry weight (DW) as the extract level increased. This was greatest in 100SS with 37.51% (shoot length), 68.91% (root length), 110.8% (shoot DW), and 216.13% (root DW), while an increase of 176.7% (shoot FW) and 256.9% (root FW) was seen in the 100SPI treatment. Chlorophyll a, b, carotenoid, and chlorophyll fluorescence increased significantly after the treatment with 100SS. Antioxidant enzymes CAT, APX, POD, and protein were significantly increased in 100 mL/L extracts by 28.13% (100SS), 36.40% (100SAR), 46.92% (100SS), and 153.48% (100SS), respectively. The same treatment was also identified to dominate the development of root structures such as total length, surface area, projected area, diameter, volume, tips, and fork number. The highest reduction of Cd content in the root and shoot of Pak Choi was observed in 100SS with a 53.8% and 39.88% decrease, respectively. Increasing algal extract concentration also improved the leaf histological characteristics substantially, such as stomatal size and opening, mesophyll tissues, and vascular bundles. In addition, the fold change ratio of the Rubisco gene at 100SS treatment was noticeably greater than other algal extract treatments, with a 0.99 fold change when compared with the untreated sample. This present study illustrated that Sargassum polycyctum and Spirulina platensis extracts have the potential to effectively alleviate Cd stress in Pak Choi plants, especially with the application of 100 mL/L of an algal extract mixture. These findings contribute to the development of sustainable strategies for mitigating Cd toxicity in crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Burseraceae family consists of 18 genera and 540 species. Boswellia dalzielii is a medicinal plant used in tropical and subtropical areas for the treatment and management of various ailments. Despite the medicinal value of B. dalzielii, there is no comprehensive documentation. The study aimed to review the ethnopharmacology, biological evaluation and chemical composition of B. dalzielii. Scopus, Web of Science, BioMed Central, Science Direct, PubMed, Springer Link, and Google Scholar were searched to find published articles. The results showed that the leaves, stem bark, and root of B. dalzielii have been traditionally used in Nigeria, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Benin, Sudan, and Guinee for the treatment and management of antirheumatic, antispasmodic, analgesic, antiseptic, hypotensive, malarial mental illness, ulcer, pain, and fever. It is also found that leaves, stem bark, and root have antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and antimalarial properties with stembark having the highest activity. Chemically, it was revealed the leaf has high contents of monoterpenes hydrocarbons with alpha-pinene as the major compound. The species were largely studied in vitro, according to the literature survey. A well-designed clinical experiment is required to obtain conclusive evidence on the efficacy of stembark. The standard dose and safety of the stembark should be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to investigate the best quality parental line selection of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) varieties based on morpho-physiological and nutritional attributes. Significant variations were observed for the measured morpho-physiological and nutritional attributes among those varieties. Among the major traits; highest fresh and dry weight of fruit was recorded in variety 3 (Ok1-MKB1) and 7 (Ok7-GGS). Days to 50% flowering and days to mature fruit harvest showed that varieties 2 (Ok2-0366) and 4 (Ok4-LG) were the earliest. Variety 4 possessed the highest level of P while variety 6 (Ok6-ABM) of okra fruits contained the highest concentration of K. Zinc content was the highest in variety 4 and the lowest was in variety 1. Next, Variety 7 had the highest concentration of Mg and the lowest was in variety 6. Variety 5 (Ok5-SS103) contained the highest concentration of Fe while variety 3 had the lowest. Lastly, variety 3 possessed the highest content of Ca while the lowest was in variety 1, respectively. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed the strongest correlation (P = 0.001) in between days to 50% flowering and days to harvest, while fruit fresh weight and fruit dry weight as well. Cluster analysis grouped those 7 okra varieties into five different clusters; where V2, V3 and V6 were solely different from others, indicating the highest diversity compared to other accessions. So, for varietal improvement program, the most judicious crossing combination can be made with V2, V3 and V6 with V1 or V5 and V4 or V7, which would bring about the greater genetic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is the second major obstacle after drought conditions that hinder the high productivity of plants. Many factors contribute to the salinity problem, consequently affects the plant physiology, growth as well as production. Therefore, this research aims to determine the effects of betaine-rich Nano fertilizer on physiological parameters of sweet corn (Z. mays var. saccharata) and A. thaliana under salt stress. In this study, plants were grown in a controlled plant growth room. Five salinity levels (S0:0 dS/m, S1:2 dS/m, S2:4 dS/m, S3:6 dS/m, and S4:8 dS/m), two concentrations of betaine (B0:0 mM and B1: 50 mM) and the application of Nano fertilizer (N0: without Nano fertilizer and N1: with Nano fertilizer) were tested in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. Data for chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence (FV/FM), and leaf relative water content (RWC) were recorded. The results were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the Duncan posthoc test. Sweet corn and A. thaliana under salt stress showed a significant increase in chlorophyll content and leaf RWC, but not in FV/FM. Therefore, it is anticipated that betaine-rich Nano fertilizer could reduce salt stress by improving the physiological parameters in sweet corn as well as in A. thaliana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study is to investigate the effects of temperature on the seed germination, root development and seedling growth of watermelon. Yellow flesh watermelon seeds were incubated with control (normal temperature 25°C, 20°C, 30°C, 35°C and 40°C under lab condition. This experiment was carried out with Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five treatments and each treatment consists of five replications. The morphological and physiological parameters were measured once a week for five weeks during the germination and early seedling establishment. The results showed that seed treated under 35°C treatment produced the best results for the days require to germination, germination percentage, root development, vine and root length, leaf expansion and seedling growth of watermelon. In addition, chlorophyll content, carotenoid content, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic yield and stomatal conductance also affected positively with the temperature treatments. Fresh and dry biomass accumulation in the seedlings of watermelon was also the highest in 35°C treatment. It can be concluded that seeds incubated with 35°C during the germination increased the germination rate, root development and seedlings growth of watermelon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watermelon has been an important and demanding vegetable crop worldwide; however its production is limited by poor soil conditions. An open field experimental research was conducted at the research farm of the faculty of bioresources and food industry at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA). With the aim to find out the impact of different organic matters fertilization in amending the BRIS soil and to ascertain the growth and development of watermelon under these organic matters. The experiment was set up in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The factors taken for the experiment were five different organic matters, viz., poultry manure, vermicompost, cowdung, goat dung, and moringa leave extract at the rate of 20 t/ha, 10 t/ha, 30 t/ha, 30 t/ha and 300L/ha respectively. Soils chemical properties especially the pH, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were improved in plots were vermicompost and poultry manure were applied. Watermelon crops grown on BRIS soil treated with vermicompost significantly improves physiological properties such as vine lengths, number of leaves, number branches, leaf area and chlorophyll content. Furthermore, highest number of fruits per hectare was obtained in plants treated with vermicompost. Cowdung improves internal carbondioxide, transpiration rate and net photosynthetic rates. The application of vermicompost as an organic manure on the BRIS is thus recommended for better growth and yield of watermelon. More so, these manures can be used as a source of organic soil amender on the sandy BRIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of napthalene acetic acid (NAA) and gibeberellic acid (GA3) on plant physiological characteristics of Syzygium samarangense (wax apple) var. jambu madu. Different concentration was used in NAA and GA3 treatments where NAA at 10, 20 and 40 mg/L and GA3 at 20, 40 and 80 mg/L. In GA3 treatment, the result shown that application of 40 mg/L concentration gives the best result while, 10 mg/L and 20 mg/L treatments were the best concentration for NAA application to improve the plant physiological characteristics of Syzygium samarangense leaves. In addition, GA3 treatment had shown significant effect on new leaf length, petiole length, chlorophyll b, carotenoid content and stomatal conductance. NAA treatments had shown signifi cant effects on petiole length, chlorophyll content (SPAD), chlorophyll b, carotenoid content and photosynthetic rate of leaf. It can be concluded that/L GA3and 10 and 20 mg/L NAA treatments significantly improved the physiological characteristics wax apple plants under fi eld conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was carried out at the University Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) farm to study the effect of different types of organic fertilizers on yield performances of Albemoschus esculentus L. Moench (okra). Six different treatments (no fertilizer, NPK fertilizer, poultry manure, rat manure, goat manure and rabbit manure) were replicated three times in three beds. The experiment, arranged in Randomize Complete Block Design (RCBD), was carried out from January 2015 till May 2015. The data were collected on the growth and yield parameters including plant height (cm), leaf area (cm2), number of branch/plant, number of flower/crop, chlorophyll content, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, photosynthesis rate, internal CO2, transpiration rate, weight of pods and lastly total soluble solids. From this study, the application of poultry manure increased significantly the growth and yields performances on okra compared to other types of organic fertilizers. The results indicated a significant increase in growth parameters of okra including (plant height, number of branch, leaf area, chlorophyll content, photosynthesis rate, number of flower, weight of pod, number of pod and lastly number of seeds). Poultry manure significantly increased the plant height with 52.64 cm, while the lowest of 35.98 cm was from control plot. Okra yield of poultry manure plot had the highest number of pods with 9.67, while control plot had the lowest number of pods with 2.00. Based on the findings of the experiments, it can be concluded that application of poultry manure significantly increased the growth and yields performances on Albemoschus esculentus L. Moench (okra) compared to other types of organic fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]