A study on nickel application methods for optimizing soybean growth.

Fertilization with nickel (Ni) can positively affect plant development due to the role of this micronutrient in nitrogen (N) metabolism, namely, through urease and NiFe-hydrogenase. Although the application of Ni is an emerging practice in modern agriculture, its effectiveness strongly depends on the chosen application method, making further research in this area essential. The individual and combined effects of different Ni application methods-seed treatment, leaf spraying and/or soil fertilization-were investigated in soybean plants under different edaphoclimatic conditions (field and greenhouse).

Agronomic biofortification increases concentrations of zinc and storage proteins in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grains.

Zinc (Zn) is an essential element for plants and mammals and its deficiency affects billions of people worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of soil Zn fertilization and foliar Zn sprays in different phenological stages of the plant on the grain nutritional quality of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

Photograph registration of petri dishes in high quality and image editing of microbiological assays.

Science is based on evidence that can be measured or observed through methodical techniques which are expressed in several ways, either quantitatively or qualitatively. Technical photograph becomes one of the most important key tools to disclose experimental results. In microbiological research, several pieces of evidence can be indicated with parameters that are deeply related to culture media; pH and color variation, halo formation, overlay of structures, culture shape, among others.

Geochemistry of selenium, barium, and iodine in representative soils of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest.

The Amazon rainforest is a heterogeneous ecosystem and its soils exhibit geographically variable concentrations of trace elements. In this region, anthropic activities - e.g.

Autofluorescence-spectral imaging as an innovative method for rapid, non-destructive and reliable assessing of soybean seed quality.

In the agricultural industry, advances in optical imaging technologies based on rapid and non-destructive approaches have contributed to increase food production for the growing population. The present study employed autofluorescence-spectral imaging and machine learning algorithms to develop distinct models for classification of soybean seeds differing in physiological quality after artificial aging. Autofluorescence signals from the 365/400 nm excitation-emission combination (that exhibited a perfect correlation with the total phenols in the embryo) were efficiently able to segregate treatments.

Long-Term Lime and Phosphogypsum Amended-Soils Alleviates the Field Drought Effects on Carbon and Antioxidative Metabolism of Maize by Improving Soil Fertility and Root Growth.

Long-term surface application of lime (L) and/or phosphogypsum (PG) in no-till (NT) systems can improve plant growth and physiological and biochemical processes. Although numerous studies have examined the effects of L on biomass and plant growth, comprehensive evaluations of the effects of this practice on net CO assimilation, antioxidant enzyme activities and sucrose synthesis are lacking. Accordingly, this study examined the effects of long-term surface applications of L and PG on soil fertility and the resulting impacts on root growth, plant nutrition, photosynthesis, carbon and antioxidant metabolism, and grain yield (GY) of maize established in a dry winter region.

Unravelling homeostasis effects of phosphorus and zinc nutrition by leaf photochemistry and metabolic adjustment in cotton plants.

Phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) uptake and its physiological use in plants are interconnected and are tightly controlled. However, there is still conflicting information about the interactions of these two nutrients, thus a better understanding of nutritional homeostasis is needed. The objective of this work was to evaluate responses of photosynthesis parameters, P-Zn nutritional homeostasis and antioxidant metabolism to variation in the P × Zn supply of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.

Nano-selenium, silicon and HO boost growth and productivity of cucumber under combined salinity and heat stress.

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.

Mechanisms of cadmium-stress avoidance by selenium in tomato plants.

Cadmium (Cd) is probably the most damaging metal to plant species; with a long biological half-life, it can be taken up by plants, disrupting the cell homeostasis and triggering several metabolic pathways. Selenium (Se) improves plant defence systems against stressful conditions, but the biochemical antioxidant responses to Cd stress in tomato plants is poorly understood. To further address the relationship of Cd-stress responses with Se mineral uptake, Cd and Se concentration, proline content, MDA and HO production, and the activity of SOD, APX, CAT and GR enzymes were analyzed in Micro-Tom (MT) plants submitted to 0.

Agronomic biofortification with selenium impacts storage proteins in grains of upland rice.

Background: Selenium (Se) is an essential element for humans and animals. Rice is one of the most commonly consumed cereals in the world, so the agronomic biofortification of cereals with Se may be a good strategy to increase the levels of daily intake of Se by the population. This study evaluated the agronomic biofortification of rice genotypes with Se and its effects on grain nutritional quality.

X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) applied to plant science: challenges towards in vivo analysis of plants.

X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) is an analytical tool used to determine the elemental composition in a myriad of sample matrices. Due to the XRF non-destructive feature, this technique may allow time-resolved plant tissue analyses under in vivo conditions, and additionally, the combination with other non-destructive techniques. In this study, we employed handheld and benchtop XRF to evaluate the elemental distribution changes in living plant tissues exposed to X-rays, as well as real-time uptake kinetics of Zn(aq) and Mn(aq) in soybean (Glycine max (L.

Bradyrhizobium sp. enhance ureide metabolism increasing peanuts yield.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of seed inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. and co-inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense. The seed treatments were as follows: control (without inoculation); A.

Natural variation of arsenic fractions in soils of the Brazilian Amazon.

Arsenic (As) in native soils of the Amazon rainforest is a concern due to its likely origin from the Andean rivers, which transport loads of sediments containing substantial amounts of trace elements coming from the cordilleras. Yet, unveiling soil As baseline concentrations in the Amazon basin is still a need because most studies in Brazil have been performed in areas with predominantly high concentrations and cannot express a real baseline value for the region. In this study, 414 soil samples (0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm layers) were collected from different sites throughout the Amazon basin - including native Amazon rainforest and minimally disturbed areas - and used to determine total and extractable (soluble + available) As concentrations along with relevant soil physicochemical properties.

Elemental composition and nutritional value of seeds from subtropical Brazil.

Consumed by populations in South America, seeds have received little study regarding elemental composition and nutritional value. Thirty-five seed sites from subtropical Brazil were sampled and seed concentrations of C, N, K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Mo, Ni, Co, Cr, Ba, and Cd were determined. The highest concentration of N was observed in samples from regions with Cfa climate (humid subtropical, oceanic climate, without dry season with hot summer) and igneous rock, which was superior to regions with Cfb climate (humid subtropical, oceanic climate, without dry season with temperate summer) and metamorphic rock.

Investigation into the relationship among Cd bioaccumulation, nutrient composition, ultrastructural changes and antioxidative metabolism in lettuce genotypes under Cd stress.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is known to have high cadmium (Cd) concentrations in its shoots, which makes it necessary to protect against Cd toxicity. Understanding Cd-induced physiological responses in lettuce plants can contribute to the definition of useful strategies to decrease Cd uptake.

Phosphorus-zinc interactions in cotton: consequences for biomass production and nutrient-use efficiency in photosynthesis.

The fragmentary information on phosphorus (P) × zinc (Zn) interactions in plants warrants further study, particularly in plants known for their high P and Zn requirements, such as cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of P × Zn interactions in a modern cultivar of cotton grown hydroponically.