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Salinity, particularly in the arid and semiarid regions, is considered the main limiting factor of productivity besides drought stress. The present study reports the outcomes of the foliar applicat...

This paper presents the results of an extensive experimental program undertaken to optimize compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and abrasion wear of heated high performance concrete using Taguhi method and the utility concept. The design of experiments (DOEs) was first carried out by Taguchi method using a standard L 25(35) orthogonal array of three factors with five materials parameters levels. The factors considered in this context of HPC were: fiber volume fracture, age time and post-heat temp. The prism specimens 60x60x300 mm with various volume fractions were casted, left for different age times (7 day, 28 day, and 56 day) then heated up to 200 °C, 400 °C, and 800 °C for a time of 3hrs then they were subsequently tested in the cooled conditions. Based on the experimental results, the materials parameter responses were analyzed.

Under the global water crisis, utilizing low-quality water sources in agriculture for irrigation has offered an effective solution to address the shortage of water. Using an excess of low-quality water sources may cause serious risks to the environment, which threaten crop safety and human health. Three kinds of irrigation water (0.413, 1.44, and 2.84 dS m−1) were selected under foliar-applied bio-nanofertilizers of selenium (100 mg L−1) and copper (100 mg L−1) in individual and/or combined application. The nanofertilizers were tested on the production of tomato under greenhouse. After harvesting, the quality of tomato yield and soil biology was evaluated. Using saline water for irrigation caused many main features in this study such as increasing the accumulation of salts, soil organic matter, and CaCO3 in soil by 84.6, 32.3, and 18.4%, respectively, compared to control. The highest tomato yield (2.07 kg plant−1) and soluble solids content (9.24%) were recorded after irrigation with low water quality (2.84 dS m−1) and nano-Cu fertilization. The plant enzymatic antioxidants and soil biological activity were decreased in general due to the salinity stress of irrigation water. After 30 days from transplanting, all studied soil biological parameters (soil microbial counts and enzymes) were higher than the same parameters at harvesting (80 days) under different categories of water quality. The values of all soil biological parameters were decreased by increasing water salinity. This study was carried out to answer the question of whether the combined nanofertilizers of selenium and copper can promote tomato production under saline water irrigation. Further investigations are still needed concerning different applied doses of these nanofertilizers.

It is urgent that we increase global food production to support population growth. Food production requires significant resources, amongst them water and energy. Therefore, any losses of food or other agricultural products also means a waste of water and energy resources. A significant amount of these losses occurs during the postharvest stage, primarily during processing and storage. This is considered avoidable food waste. The water-energy-waste nexus (WEW), and its relationship to food production, needs to be investigated from a circular bioeconomy lens. Furthermore, alternative uses of the wastes should be investigated. This review focuses on agro-wastes and their management as sources for bioactive compounds, biofertilizers, biomaterials, nanomaterials, pharmaceuticals and medicinal agents, and growth media, e.g., for plant tissue culture. We also investigated the potential contribution of agro-wastes to bioenergy production (bioethanol, biogas, and biofuel). Proper management of agro-wastes may support the mitigation of climate change, produce innovative bio-ingredients and biodegradable materials, and enhance green growth and a circular bioeconomy. We argue that the management of agro-wastes cannot be discussed without referring to the role of water and energy within the food system. Thus, this review focuses on agricultural wastes and their handling, applications, environmental impacts, and potential benefits in the agricultural and medical industries in light of the WEW nexus.

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the utilization of compost derived from grape fruit waste (GFW) as an ingredient in nursery substrates for germination and development of c...

Although the North Delta region in Egypt is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, it suffers from a severe shortage of fresh water needed to irrigate crops. So usually farmers resort to the use of low-quality water, such as agricultural drainage water, which could pose a threat to the quality of crops and then human health. Two field experiments were carried out during two consecutive summer seasons of 2014 and 2015 aimed at delivering more information about the pros and cons of alternative irrigation for tomato using fresh and agricultural drainage water with or without applying of magnetic field. The twelve surface irrigations, which tomato needs during its whole growing season, were applied alternatively between fresh and agricultural drainage water, respectively, at the following percentages (100 + 0), (75 + 25), (50 + 50), (25 + 75) and (0 + 100). Magnetic field was applied using iron fillings at a rate of 150 kg ha−1. The results revealed that growth parameters, early, total and relative yield, marketable yield and total chlorophyll and NPK content of leaves were gradually decreased with increasing the irrigation using agricultural drainage water. However, irrigating tomato by 100% fresh water had the highest values, while using of 100% agricultural drainage water displayed the lowest values. Contrarily, vitamin C, total soluble solids (TSS) and fruit firmness where at their highest values when tomato irrigated by 100% of agricultural drainage water. Applying of magnetic field not only enhances the growth, yield and quality of tomato under irrigation using agricultural water but also under fresh water. These results are of importance in areas where the use of agricultural drainage water irrigating crops is inevitable for enhancing yield and its quality and consequently ensuring food safety.

Onion is one of the most important export crops in Egypt; its productivity and exportation is restricted mainly by purple blotch disease. In vitro and field experiments during two growing seasons were conducted aiming to improve control of Alternaria porri (the pathogen causing purple blotch disease) by the application of combinations of elemental sulfur (S0) and Trichoderma spp. (T. harzianum and T. viride). Fungicide (Ridomil Gold M Z-68% WG) was applied as pesticide treatment control. In vitro experiments revealed that supplementation of S0 at 2 g L−1 to the growth medium that was utilized to culture Trichoderma spp. inhibited (100%) the growth of Alternaria porri. Trichoderma viride showed higher efficiency in controlling purple blotch than T. harzianum, and resulted in disease controlling rates that were similar to those by fungicide (Ridomil Gold). Disease incidences decreased by 63.9% in onion plants that were inoculated with T. viride, compared to 66.3% when fungicide was applied. Also, antioxidant activity of catalase and peroxidase was the highest when S0 was applied at 240 kg ha−1 and the onion plants were treated with T. harzianum and/or T. viride. Application of S0 at 240 kg ha−1, in combination with inoculating onion seedlings with T. harzianum, led to enhanced onion growth and yield over fungicide application (traditional practice of farmers) in both seasons. As a result, green bulb yield (t ha−1) and total soluble solids (TSS, %) were 41.9 and 21.7% higher, respectively; harvested dry bulb (t ha−1), marketable bulb yield and TSS were 33, 35 and 13% higher, respectively; while nonmarketable bulb yield was 21.5% lower than those under fungicide application.

Human health and its improvement are the main target of several studies related to medical, agricultural and industrial sciences. The human health is the primary conclusion of many studies. The improving of human health may include supplying the people with enough and safe nutrients against malnutrition to fight against multiple diseases like COVID-19. Biofortification is a process by which the edible plants can be enriched with essential nutrients for human health against malnutrition. After the great success of biofortification approach in the human struggle against malnutrition, a new biotechnological tool in enriching the crops with essential nutrients in the form of nanoparticles to supplement human diet with balanced diet is called nano-biofortification. Nano biofortification can be achieved by applying the nano particles of essential nutrients (e.g., Cu, Fe, Se and Zn) foliar or their nano-fertilizers in soils or waters. Not all essential nutrients for human nutrition can be biofortified in the nano-form using all edible plants but there are several obstacles prevent this approach. These stumbling blocks are increased due to COVID-19 and its problems including the global trade, global breakdown between countries, and global crisis of food production. The main target of this review was to evaluate the nano-biofortification process and its using against malnutrition as a new approach in the era of COVID-19. This review also opens many questions, which are needed to be answered like is nano-biofortification a promising solution against malnutrition? Is COVID-19 will increase the global crisis of malnutrition? What is the best method of applied nano-nutrients to achieve nano-biofortification? What are the challenges of nano-biofortification during and post of the COVID-19?

The global food production and its quality face a lot of challenges, which already decreased the availability of these foods. These challenges were mainly linked to global climate changes and their ramifications, which are expressed as environmental stresses like drought, flooding, low or high heat stress. The new pandemics like COVID-19 also represent a new challenge for the entire universe. Although, there are increasing concerns about combined stress on cultivated plants, still more studies are needed to cover all botanical issues including physiological, morphological, biochemical and histological traits. Further studies are required to focus on different combined or multiple stresses in particular the individual stress is rare in the nature. This work is an invitation for publication reviews, comments, notes and original articles about the anatomical changes in stressful plants particularly under combined stress. The EBSS journal also welcomes the serious and promising studies, which will handle the environmental issues related to stress in the era of COVID-19.

Improving the productivity of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants subjected to combined salinity and heat stresses is a significant challenge, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Gianco F1 cucumbers were grafted onto five cucurbit rootstocks and, together with an ungrafted control, were grown in Egypt in a net house with saline soil during the summer season over two years. The vegetative growth, yield, quality, biochemical, and mineral composition traits were measured. Although many differences were observed among treatments, in general, the grafted plants had a performance better than or similar to that of the ungrafted plants, based on the different parameters measured. In particular, the cucumber plants grafted onto the Cucurbita maxima × C. moschata interspecific hybrid rootstocks VSS-61 F1 and Ferro had the highest early and total marketable yields. These two rootstocks consistently conferred higher vigor to the scion, which had lower flower abortion rates and higher chlorophyll contents. The fruit quality and N, P, and K composition in the leaves suffered few relevant changes as compared with the control. However, the leaves of the VSS-61 F1 had higher catalase activity, as well as proline and Se contents, while those of Ferro had higher Si content. This study reveals that the grafting of cucumber plants onto suitable rootstocks may mitigate the adverse effects caused by the combination of saline soil and heat stresses. This represents a significant improvement for cucumber cultivation in saline soil under high-temperature stress conditions in arid regions.

By the end of 2019, the universe was woken up to see one of the unprecedented dramatic catastrophes all the over the world, which called the COVID-19 pandemic or coronavirus. This virus already changed the global map and enforced the globe to start a new era that no one can predict the volume of changes worldwide on social, economic and environmental levels. The pollution of soil and air as two compartments of the agroecosystem were and still represent two vital columns of the environment structure. Based on the social distancing, lockdown and quarantine, the air pollution was reduced in several cities worldwide, whereas this relationship on soil as a complex system still needs mor and more investigations. Therefore, the most immediate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on soils and vice versa are mainly depending on the human activities. The managing soils may include both restoring of soils from the virus impacts and to sustain crop yields for long-term sustainability to keep the soil healthy for next generations. Therefore, this review is an attempt to highlight the mutual impact of COVID-19 on pollution of soil and air. Many open questions are needed to be investigated such as what are the expected environmental impacts of COVID-19 on soil and air? Is there any links between air pollution and COVID-19? Is there any role of soil in spreading the COVID-19 pandemic? What about the soil pollution status under COVID-19 outbreak? What is the projected management scenario of soil and air pollution under COVID-19 outbreak? What is the potential presence of COVID-19 and its behavior in the soil?

The world’s burgeoning population faces a great challenge concerning food security, which could be achieved through different sustainable agricultural practices. Trichoderma, as a ubiquitous fungus, is one of the most promising microorganisms that might offer several avenues for sustainable agriculture. Trichoderma spp. may guarantee a better solution for conventional problems in agriculture through several approaches including the protection of cultivated plants from undesirable abiotic and biotic conditions under changing environments and promoting their growth in poor or limited soil nutrients. The promising role of Trichoderma for vegetable production as a biocontrol and biofertilizers has been confirmed but this role of Trichoderma as a plant pathogen still needs more studies. Trichoderma could inhibit or suppress the growth of soil phytopathogens, promoting plant growth and soil health, through activation of many mechanisms including synthesis of antibiotics, mycoparasitism and competition for nutrients against plant deleterious microorganisms. The sustainable approaches of Trichoderma including biofortification, bio-remediation and phyto-remediation as well as exploring future research opportunities will be also handled in this work.

The production of cucumber under combined salinity and heat stress is a crucial challenge facing many countries particularly in arid environments. This challenge could be controlled through exogenous foliar application of some bio-stimulants or anti-stressors. This study was carried out to investigate the management and improving cucumber production under combined salinity and heat stress. Nano-selenium (nano-Se, 25 mg L

Greenhouse cucumber production is considered an important tool beside open field production. The production of greenhouse cucumber in developing countries particularly in arid environments might achieve as low cost structures and almost without air conditions. These conditions have increased the constrains of cucumber production to be include more stresses beside salinity, drought and heat stress. These stresses mainly include biotic stress and abiotic stresses, which cause a high loss in the cucumber productivity. Thus, this review is an attempt to highlight the problems of greenhouse cucumber production under abiotic stress (mainly drought and salinity) and different strategies, which should be adapted against these stresses. Several studies have handled the individual stresses, which impact on greenhouse cucumber production but fewer studies have investigated the multiple or combined stresses. Salinity and drought are most common abiotic stresses under changing climate, which mainly cause a trouble in cucumber antioxidant enzyme activity and generate an oxidative stress leading to a loss in cucumber productivity. New strategies should be adapted to ameliorate or mitigate the expected damage resulting from salinity and drought-stressed cucumber.

The production of protected cultivation of vegetables could be considered a sustainable solution in arid and semi-arid regions. These regions already suffer from the raising temperature due to the global warming, which represents a great challenge facing our universe nowadays. Hence, the production of vegetables under greenhouse system during the high temperatures may be considered a serious problem in these arid zones due to heat stress. In greenhouses, the production of tomato seedlings should avoid the high temperature stress in particular in arid and semi-arid in summer. The heat stress may cause a lot of troubles for the tomato seedlings in greenhouses in summer starting with the photosynthetic rate, and the metabolism processes in seedlings and in turn the growth and development of these seedlings. Although studies have recognized heat stress on tomato seedlings, research has yet to systematically investigate the effect of heat stress on tomato seedlings in greenhouse in summer under arid and semi-arid regions particularly in developed countries, which their greenhouses have not any climate controllers. Therefore, the management of tomato seedlings may need to address the production problems caused by heat stress in greenhouse conditions particularly in arid and semi-arid zones

The global food production for the worldwide population mainly depends on the huge contributions of the agricultural sector. The cultivated crops of foods need various elements or nutrients to complete their growth, and these are indirectly consumed by humans. During this production, several environmental constraints or stresses may cause losses in the global agricultural production. These obstacles may include abiotic and biotic stresses, which have already been studied in both individual and combined cases. However, there are very few studies on multiple stresses. On the basis of the myriad benefits of nanotechnology in agriculture, nanofertilizers (or nanonutrients) have become promising tools for agricultural sustainability. Nanofertilizers are also the proper solution to overcoming the environmental and health problems that can result from conventional fertilizers. The role of nanofertilizers has increased, especially under different environmental stresses, which can include individual, combined, and multiple stresses. The stresses are most commonly the result of nature; however, studies are still needed on the different stress levels. Nanofertilizers can play a crucial role in supporting cultivated plants under stress and in improving the plant yield, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Similar to other biological issues, many open-ended questions still require further investigation: Is the right time and era for nanofertilizers in agriculture? Will the nanofertilizers be the dominant source of nutrients in modern agriculture? Are nanofertilizers, and particularly biological synthesized ones, the magic solution for sustainable agriculture? What are the expected damages of multiple stresses on plants?

Distribution of selenium (Se) in soils around the world is not identical and many soils are classified as Se-poor soils. Therefore, Se fortification of crops grown on these soils is crucial, where increasing Se intake by human - below toxic threshold - is vital for better health. The recent work aims to investigate the possible use of Se to alleviate the detrimental effects of soil salinity on lettuce and enhance its growth, yield quality and Se enrichment. Field experiments were conducted during two successive seasons (2016 and 2017) in salt-affected soil (EC 4.49 dS m−1, pH 8.65) using four concentrations of Se (0, 50, 75 and 100 ppm) by three different application methods. Antioxidant capacity, ion leakage, Se content in plant and soil, yield and vegetative parameters of lettuce were measured. The results showed that Se addition mitigated the detrimental effect of salinity on lettuce growth and its development. Se application (100 ppm) increased also the head weight, leaf area, leaves dry weight and chlorophyll content by 46.4, 66.4, 61.8 and 31.5%, respectively, compared to control plants. Likewise, catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities increased by 108.8 and 123.6%, respectively, as a result for using 100 ppm of Se. Otherwise, Se (100 ppm) reduced the electrolyte leakage from lettuce leaves by 68.4% against control. The positive effect of Se (100 ppm) on lettuce under salinity was fully verified with data of total yield which increased by 42.1% over control. Foliar application increased Se content in lettuce without exceeding the toxic level and residual Se in soil was the lowest among other treatments. The present work reports that in salt-affected soils spraying lettuce with Se (100 ppm) improves its growth, antioxidant capacity, Se fortification and yield quality.

The present work was carried out to study the effect of some saftey compounds, i.e. plant guard (Trichoderma harzianum), humic acid and compost tea and resistance inducers (salicylic acid and benzothiadiazole) besides fungicide (Vitavax-T)) on controlling soil borne diseases such as root rot and wilt of pea plants (cv. Master-B). Data comprised growth, yield and quality parameters under greenhouse and open field conditions during 2012 and 2013 growing seasons. All safe compounds and inducers were evaluated to control Fusarium solani, Fusarium moniliform, Fusarium oxysporum and Macrophomina phaseolina, the causal agents of pea root rot and wilt diseases compared to fungicide. Most treatments significantly protected pea plants from pre and post-emergence damping off, increased pea growth and yield components compared to control plants. Under open field conditions, pea plants were infected naturally with F. oxysporum f.sp. pisi, wilt % was significantly reduced by all treatments compared to untreated plants (control). As a result of treatments, vegetative growth parameters (plant height, No. of leaves ∕plant, plant fresh and dry weight), chlorophyll content, yield parameters (green pod yield, total dry seed yield, pod length and weight of 100 seeds) and catalase antioxidant enzyme of pea plants were increased significantly compared to untreated plants. These results provide alternative and safe compounds to control pea wilt diseases and consequently, save the fungicide cost , reduce environmental pollution as well as improving plant growth and total yield of pea plants.

Silicon (Si) plays an important role in plant growth and development, but the uptake, accumulation in tissue, and beneficial effects of Si differ greatly between plant species. Net house experiments were conducted with Cucumis sativus L. ‘Shabah F1’ in 2013 and repeated in 2014 to determine the effects of Si supplementation on yield, fruit quality, and chemical composition. Diatomite (86-89% SiO2) was applied to cucumber plants three times at two-week intervals after two weeks from transplanting through either foliar spraying (50, 100, 200 mg/l or soil drenching in the root area (500, 1000 and 2000 mg/l). All treatments produced higher early and marketable fruit yield (number and weight) in both years. At all growth stages, application of Si significantly increased fruit firmness, but the effects of Si on total soluble solids varied depending on growth stage and concentration of Si. Significant differences among treatments for ascorbic acid content of cucumber fruits were found in 2013 but not 2014. Tissue analyses showed that Si-treated plants had more Si in the leaves and fruits (% dry wt.), and phosphorus and potassium (% dry wt.) in the leaves compared to untreated controls. We conclude that both foliar sprays and soil drenches of Si have the potential to increase cucumber yield and fruit quality in net house production. Key words: Cucumis sativus, diatomite, foliar spraying, soil drenching.

Selenium is an essential micronutrient required for the health of humans and lower plants, but its importance for higher plants is still being investigated. The biological functions of Se related to human health revolve around its presence in 25 known selenoproteins (e.g., selenocysteine or the 21st amino acid). Humans may receive their required Se through plant uptake of soil Se, foods enriched in Se, or Se dietary supplements. Selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) have been applied to biofortified foods and feeds. Due to low toxicity and high efficiency, Se-NPs are used in applications such as cancer therapy and nano-medicines. Selenium and nano-selenium may be able to support and enhance the productivity of cultivated plants and animals under stressful conditions because they are antimicrobial and anti-carcinogenic agents, with antioxidant capacity and immune-modulatory efficacy. Thus, nano-selenium could be inserted in the feeds of fish and livestock to improvise stress resilience and productivity. This review offers new insights in Se and Se-NPs biofortification for edible plants and farm animals under stressful environments. Further, extensive research on Se-NPs is required to identify possible adverse effects on humans and their cytotoxicity.

The global agriculture is facing many challenges including sustainable use and conservation of natural resources, climate change, urbanization, and pollution resulting from agrochemicals (e.g., fertilizers and pesticides). So, the sustainable agriculture is an urgent issue and hence the suitable agro-technological interventions are essential (e.g., nano- and bio-technology) for ensuring the safety and sustainability of relevant production system. Biotechnology and nanotechnology also can be considered emerging solutions to resolve the global food crisis. Nanoparticles or nanomaterials can be used in delivering different nutrients for plant growth. These nanoparticles as nanofertilizers have positive and negative effects on soils, soil-biota and plants. These effects mainly depend on multiple factors including nanofertilizer properties, plant species, soil fate and dynamics as well as soil microbial communities. Nanofertilizers could improve the nutrient use efficiencies through releasing of nutrients slowly and steadily for more than 30 days as well as reducing the loss of nutrients in agroecosystems and sustaining farm productivity. Here we review the plant nano-nutrition including the response of plants and soils to nanonutrients and their fate, dynamic, bioavailability, phytotoxicity, etc. Concerning the effects of nanonutrients on terrestrial environments are still an ongoing processes and it demands further researches as well as a knowledge gap towards different changes in shape, texture, color, taste and nutritional aspects on nanonutrients exposed plants as a major component in the food chain. Moreover, the interaction between nanonutrients and plants, soils, soil biota and the entire agroecosystem will be also highlighted.

Humanity faces major challenges involving energy, water, food, environment, poverty, diseases, education, democracy and population. Green nanotechnology could be a solution for providing sustainable energy, clean water and a better environment. Various nanomaterials can sustain the agricultural sectors. Here we review the applications of nanoparticles for soil security and plant nutrition.

Selenium (Se) is a naturally occurring metalloid element which occurs nearly in all environments. Se is considered as a finite and non-renewable resource on the Earth. The common sources of Se in earth’s crust occur in association with sulfide minerals such as metal selenide, whereas it is rarely found in elemental form (Se0). While there is no evidence of Se need for higher plants, several reports show that when Se added at low concentrations, Se exerts beneficial effects on plant growth. Se may act as quasi-essential micronutrient through altering different physiological and biochemical traits. Thus, plants vary considerably in their physiological and biochemical response to Se. This review focusses on the physiological importance of Se forms as well as different Se fertilizers for higher plants, especially plant growth, uptake, transport, and metabolism.

Cucumber leaves have been sprayed with a solution of hydrogen peroxide (H202) or Pharmaplant-turbo combined with organic or inorganic fertilizers under plasic house. Under the influence of H202, leaves exhibited resistant against Podoshaera fusca fungus, the causal agent of cucumber powdery mildew. H202 (15 mM) was able to decrease the disease severity from 90.4% to 12% in two experiments conducted in two seasons. Pharmaplant-turbo (Turbo) is new chemical compound and used as an antifungal compound. Turbo in 1 ml/L was able to decrease the disease severity from 90.4% to 11.5% in the both experiments as well. Both of H202 and Turbo were combined with organic treatment (compost + compost tea + seaweed extracts) which showed significant effect against cucumber powdery mildew fungus and strongly suppressed it as compared to control leaves. Organic treatment produced higher vegetative growth characters and greater early and total yields as compared to inorganic treatment, also organic fruits produced the lower nitrate content and the higher ascorbic acid content as compared to inorganic fruits. Our study have indicated that, H202 and Turbo combined with organic fertilizers play a role in the resistance of cucumber against powdery mildew by decreasing the disease severity. We suggest to give more attention to the direct application of H202 in low concentration and Turbo against powdery mildew diseases and other plant diseases.

This work was conducted at private nursery in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate during 2006 and 2007 seasons to investigate the possibility of using grape manufacture waste compost (GMWC) and farm wastes compost (FWC) in ornamental and vegetable nurseries as partially or totally replacement of coconut peat (CP) and vermiculite (V) in the growing medium and also to find out the optimum media of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum, cv. Castle Rock) and Cockscomb (Celosia plumosa) as comparing to a mixture of CP and V (1:1 v/v). The authors used a ten mixtures as followed: 1- Control (CP+V at 1:1 v/v), 2-GMWC (100 %), 3- GMWC +CP (1:1 v/v), 4- GMWC + V(1:1 v/v),5- GMWC +CP + V (1:1:1 v/v/v), 6- FWC (100 %),7- FWC+ CP (1:1 v/v), 8- FWC+ V (1:1 v/v), 9- FWC+ CP+ V (1:1:1 v/v/v), 10- GMWC+FWC+CP+V (1:1:1:1 v/v/v/v). Data recorded as seedling height, No. of leaves, total pigments, shoot fresh and dry weights, root length and root fresh and dry weights in order to assess the quality of both transplants of tomato and cockscomb. Both seedlings grown in medium contain a mixture of GMWC+CP+V displayed quality traits similar or better as to those of recorded from the control treatment.