Erratum to "The synergistic effects of organic composts and microelements co-application in enhancing potato productivity in saline soils" [Heliyon 10(12), 30 June 2024, Article e32694].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32694.].

The synergistic effects of organic composts and microelements co-application in enhancing potato productivity in saline soils.

Soil salinity is a major threat hindering the optimum growth, yield, and nutritional value of potato. The application of organic composts and micronutrients can effectively ameliorate the salinity-deleterious effects on potato growth and productivity. Herein, the combined effect of banana and soybean composts (BCo and SCo) application alongside foliar supplementation of boron (B), selenium (Se), cobalt (Co), and titanium (Ti) were investigated for improving growth, physiology, and agronomical attributes of potato plants grown in saline alluvial soil. Salinity stress significantly reduced biomass accumulation, chlorophyll content, NPK concentrations, yield attributes, and tuber quality, while inducing malondialdehyde and antioxidant enzymes. Co-application of either BCo or SCo with trace elements markedly alleviated salinity-adverse effects on potato growth and productivity. These promotive effects were also associated with a significant reduction in malondialdehyde content and activities of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzymes. The co-application of BCo and B/Se was the most effective among other treatments. Principle component analysis and heatmap also highlighted the efficacy of the co-application of organic composts and micronutrients in improving the salinity tolerance of potato plants. In essence, the co-application of BCo with B and Se can be adopted as a promising strategy for enhancing the productivity of potato crops in salt-affected soils.

Comparative Study of Three Biological Control Agents and Two Conventional Fungicides against Coriander Damping-off and Root Rot Caused by Rhizoctonia solani.

The in vitro and in vivo efficacy of three biocontrol agents, Trichoderma viride, Pseudomonas fluorescence, and Bacillus subtilis, were tested against Rhizoctonia solani (AG-4) infection compared to two conventional fungicides (Rizolex-T 50%wettable powder and Amistar 25%). Antifungal enzyme activity was assayed in the culture filtrate of the biocontrol agents. The impact of the tested biocontrol agents on the induction of the coriander immune system was investigated against R. solani by assessing the resistance-related enzymes and compounds in biocontrol agent-treated plants compared with the control. The obtained results revealed that all tested biocontrol agents significantly reduced the linear growth of R. solani, and T. viride recorded the highest inhibition percentage. This could be linked to the ability of T. viride to produce higher activities of antimicrobial enzymes, i.e., cellulase, chitinase, and protease, compared to P. fluorescence and B. subtilis. Applying the tested biocontrol agents significantly alleviated pre- and post-emergence damping-off and root rot/wilt diseases of infected coriander compared with untreated plants. The tested biocontrol agents exhibited significantly higher germination percentage and vigor index of the coriander than the tested fungicides. The tested biocontrol agents significantly minimized the reduction of photosynthetic pigments induced by R. solani. In addition, the results showed a significant increase in enzymes/molecules (i.e., phenylalanine, catalase, peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, phenolics, ascorbic acids, and salicylic acid) involved directly and indirectly in coriander resistance to R. solani. The principal component analysis of the recorded data recommended the role of the high accumulation of oxidative parameters (hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation) and the inhibition of phenolic compounds in the downregulation of coriander resistance against R. solani. The heatmap analysis results revealed that biocontrol agents, especially Trichoderma, enhanced the resistance against R. solani via the stimulation of salicylic acid, phenolics, and antioxidant enzymes. Overall, the data recommended the efficacy of biocontrol agents, especially T. viride, against R. solani infecting coriander plants, which could be an efficient and a safer alternative to conventional fungicides.

Canopy spectral reflectance indices correlate with yield traits variability in bread wheat genotypes under drought stress.

Drought stress is a major issue impacting wheat growth and yield worldwide, and it is getting worse as the world's climate changes. Thus, selection for drought-adaptive traits and drought-tolerant genotypes are essential components in wheat breeding programs. The goal of this study was to explore how spectral reflectance indices (SRIs) and yield traits in wheat genotypes changed in irrigated and water-limited environments. In two wheat-growing seasons, we evaluated 56 preselected wheat genotypes for SRIs, stay green (SG), canopy temperature depression (CTD), biological yield (BY), grain yield (GY), and yield contributing traits under control and drought stress, and the SRIs and yield traits exhibited higher heritability (H2) across the growing years. Diverse SRIs associated with SG, pigment content, hydration status, and aboveground biomass demonstrated a consistent response to drought and a strong association with GY. Under drought stress, GY had stronger phenotypic correlations with SG, CTD, and yield components than in control conditions. Three primary clusters emerged from the hierarchical cluster analysis, with cluster I (15 genotypes) showing minimal changes in SRIs and yield traits, indicating a relatively higher level of drought tolerance than clusters II (26 genotypes) and III (15 genotypes). The genotypes were appropriately assigned to distinct clusters, and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) demonstrated that the clusters differed significantly. It was found that the top five components explained 73% of the variation in traits in the principal component analysis, and that vegetation and water-based indices, as well as yield traits, were the most important factors in explaining genotypic drought tolerance variation. Based on the current study's findings, it can be concluded that proximal canopy reflectance sensing could be used to screen wheat genotypes for drought tolerance in water-starved environments.

Salt stress triggers augmented levels of Na+, K+ and ROS alters salt-related gene expression in leaves and roots of tall wheatgrass (Agropyron elongatum).

In turfgrass breeding, competent grass ecotypes are preferably identified for their resistance to salinity condition. This research was designed to explore genes that induce salt resistance (NHX1, NHX2, HKT1;4, SnRK2.4 and NAC9) and their role in physiological modifications of six tall wheatgrass ecotypes (Agropyron elongatum L.). The sites of sample collection were characterized by different levels of salinity, i.e. low (EC: 4 dS m-1 and pH: 6.5), moderate (EC: 7 dS m-1 and pH: 6.5) and high (EC: 12 dS m-1 and pH: 7.5). This study was designed as a split-plot in a randomized complete block where salinity treatments served as the whole-plot factor and ecotypes served as the subplot factor. The ecotypes were screened for their resistance to salinity, based on visual symptoms, salt injury index, physiological features and biochemical parameters. The results revealed that ecotype 'AE5' was most resistant to salinity than other ecotypes, whereas 'AE3' was the most susceptible. To understand why these differences occurred, measurements were aimed at revealing mRNA levels that resulted from genes responsible for salt resistance. Our results demonstrated that salinity-resistant ecotypes showed high expression levels of several genes, i.e. NHX1, NHX2, HKT1;4, SnRK2.4 and NAC9 in the leaves and roots. These results were corroborated by a decrease (by 1.5-2.5 times) in stress markers, namely, superoxide anion (O2-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as an increase (by 0.5-7 times) in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activity in salinity-resistant ecotypes when the plants were exposed to salinity. We observed higher values of initial root length and lateral root density (21% and 18%, respectively) in salinity-resistant ecotypes under salinity condition, compared to other ecotypes. There were lower expression levels of NHX1 and NHX2 in the roots, which were 3.2 and 2.1 times less, respectively, compared to the leaves. This implied that NHX1 and NHX2 expressions can lead to the sequestration of Na+ in the leaves during salinity condition. The current research revealed that HKT1;4 was more able to restrict Na + accumulation, compared to the actions of NHX1 and NHX2 genes. The over-expression of HKT1;4 in 'AE5' allowed a better maintenance of root growth during salinity condition. The expression of NAC9 had an increase of 2.1-fold which correlated with an increase in the amount of antioxidant enzymes. In general, the location of sample collection explained the differences in gene expression, especially regarding the extent to which plants respond to salinity condition. Ultimately, these differences can define physiological features in salinity-resistant and salinity-susceptible ecotypes of tall wheatgrass.

Molecular and physiological responses of Iranian Perennial ryegrass as affected by Trinexapac ethyl, Paclobutrazol and Abscisic acid under drought stress.

Drought stress is the major limiting factor which affects turfgrass management in area with restricted rainfall or irrigation water supply. Trinexapac ethyl (TE), Paclobutrazol (PAC) and Abscisic acid (ABA) are three plant growth regulators (PGRs) that are commonly used on turf species for increasing their tolerance to different environmental stresses such as drought. However, little is known about the impact of PGRs on stress tolerance of Iranian Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). The present study was conducted to examine the visual and physiological changes of Iranian Perennial ryegrass in response to foliar application of TE, PAC, and ABA under drought stress conditions. According to the obtained results, application of all three PGRs considerably restored visual quality of drought exposed plants. TE treatment increased chlorophyll content, proline content and resulted in less malondialdehyde (MDA) in drought stressed Perennial ryegrass. Application of all PGRs enhanced the relative water content (RWC) and decreased the electrolyte leakage (EL) and Hydrogen peroxide contents (H2O2 content) of plants under drought stress, though the impact of TE was more pronounced. Throughout the experiment, TE- and ABA-treated plant showed greater soluble sugar (SSC) content as compared to the control. Antioxidant enzymes activities of drought exposed plants were considerably increased by PGRs application. Catalase (CAT) and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were greater in TE-treated grasses followed by PAC-treated plants. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and peroxidase (POD) activities were significantly enhanced by TE and ABA application. The results of the present investigation suggest that application of TE, ABA and PAC enhances drought tolerance in Perennial ryegrass. TE, PAC and ABA were all effective in mitigating physiological damages resulting from drought stress, however the beneficial effects of TE were more pronounced. The result obtained of real time-PCR suggested that regulation of CAT, APX, POD and SOD genes expression at translational levels highly depended on the application of TE, PAC and ABA. Also, the results showed that deletion mutation in SOD and POD genes were not leading to enzyme inactivation.