The potential of Alternanthera littoralis P. Beauv. for saline soil phytoremediation and use as animal feed

Seed biopriming with a novel endophytic Bacillus licheniformis strain RGS enhances drought tolerance and recovery in tomato

Glycine Betaine-Induced Responses Under Saline Stress in Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa

Salinity constrains tropical fruit production, yet the physiological and metabolic responses of Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa to salt stress and glycine betaine (GB) remain insufficiently characterized. Passion fruit seedlings were evaluated in a completely randomized 2 × 3 factorial design with two GB treatments (0 and 100 mM), three salinity levels (0, 1.6, and 3.2 dS m−1), and five biological replicates per combination. Two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test at 5% was used where applicable. Leaf water potential, SPAD, detached-leaf water loss, and GC–MS-based metabolite profiles were assessed. At 3.2 dS m−1, plants without GB exhibited the most negative leaf water potential, whereas GB maintained a significantly less negative value. SPAD remained relatively stable, while detached-leaf water-loss patterns varied among treatments. Metabolomic profiling revealed changes in sugars, amino acids, and organic acids. Under the higher salinity treatment, GB was associated with higher levels of glucose, sucrose, glycine, proline, citric acid, malic acid, and succinic acid, together with a distinct PCA profile. These findings indicate that GB partially alleviated effects of the higher salinity treatment by improving plant water status and modifying primary metabolism.

Effect of Methylobacterium on the yield and quality of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea)

Abstract The soil used is sandy in texture, low in nutrients, and low in organic matter, and therefore has low cation exchange capacity. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of improving their physicochemical and biological properties by inoculating the roots with a solution of Methylobacterium and liquid compost in cauliflower cultivation, as well as integrating a treatment through an automated drip irrigation system. This biostimulant, biofertilizer, and biocontrol agent solution was used, which has applications in agriculture to improve soil health and crop productivity. The experiment was set up under a completely randomized block design with four treatments (T0, T1, T2, and T3), corresponding to doses of 0, 250, 333, and 400 mL per 200 L of water, respectively. The results indicated that treatment T3 significantly optimized the plant's physiological response to salt stress, increasing both its antioxidant capacity and chlorophyll α concentration. Likewise, physical characterization revealed significant differences in the morphological parameters of cauliflower, suggesting greater metabolic resistance and improved nutritional quality. Finally, ultrastructural analysis of the epidermis and stomata using microscopy showed that, while the control treatment (T0) had a collapsed surface, treatment T3 showed a functional and turgid ultrastructure. This demonstrates that the inoculation applied mitigates the phytotoxic impact of the substrate and optimizes the metabolic potential of the crop.

Suaeda salsa: stress adaptation, soil restoration, and agronomic potential in salt-affected environments.

Suaeda salsa is a widely distributed annual euhalophyte that thrives under both saline and saline-alkaline conditions, making it a valuable model for understanding plant salt-tolerance mechanisms and a promising resource for saline agriculture. However, the integrated understanding of how its physiological, biochemical, molecular, and microbial responses collectively support salt tolerance remains fragmented. Moreover, how these traits contribute to soil restoration and agricultural use remains insufficiently understood. S. salsa achieves optimal growth at 200 mM NaCl and tolerates salinity up to 400 mM NaCl through coordinated salt-tolerance responses. These responses comprise Na+ uptake and vacuolar sequestration, maintenance of K+/Na+ homeostasis, osmotic adjustment via compatible solutes, and strong antioxidant defenses. Moderate salinity enhances shoot biomass, chlorophyll content, electron transport rates, and carbon-assimilation enzyme activity, while high salinity triggers betacyanin accumulation that protects photosystems I and II integrity. Seed dimorphism and salinity-responsive reproductive development further support establishment in fluctuating saline habitats. Rhizosphere and endophytic microorganisms further enhance nutrient acquisition and salt tolerance, while field cultivation of S. salsa supports saline-soil reclamation and phytoremediation. Its genetic resources also highlight its potential for salt-tolerance breeding, establishing S. salsa as both a model halophyte and a practical resource for saline agriculture.

Effects of Protaetia brevitarsis frass on rhizosphere properties and chromium-arsenic accumulation in Scutellaria baicalensis grown in contaminated soil.

This study evaluated the potential of Protaetia brevitarsis frass as an organic amendment for the safe cultivation of Scutellaria baicalensis in Cr-As-contaminated soil. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted with five frass application gradients (CK, LD, MD, HD, and VHD) to assess rhizosphere properties, plant growth, and metal accumulation risk. Frass application improved soil water status, nutrient supply, and microbial biomass, but VHD markedly increased electrical conductivity, indicating a potential salinity risk. Plant growth showed a dose-dependent tradeoff: HD favored root development and leaf physiological activity, whereas VHD promoted shoot growth but reduced root allocation. The frass was rich in alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen and available phosphorus, suggesting that soil N and P increases resulted from both direct nutrient input and rhizosphere transformation. Frass treatments generally reduced Cr and As accumulation in S. baicalensis, although responses varied between metals and application rates. Redundancy analysis identified alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen as the major explanatory factor (82.6%). Because metal fractions were not determined, BCF was interpreted as an uptake-risk indicator rather than direct evidence of soil passivation. HD is recommended under the present pot conditions.

Study of the physiological and biochemical characteristics of Cupriavidus metallidurans YX16 and growth-promoting on maize seedlings under salt stress.

Findings indicate that Cupriavidus metallidurans YX16 is a salt-tolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) that effectively alleviates salt-induced damage and promotes maize growth, providing a basis for the development of microbial agents for the amelioration of saline-alkali soils.