DNA barcoding of marine macroalgae as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution.

Metal pollution in the marine coastal environment is an important topical issue. In this study, the water quality in five locations along the Alexandria coast (Eastern Harbor, El-Tabia pumping station, El Mex Bay, Sidi Bishir, and Abu Talat) was assessed by measuring physicochemical parameters from water samples. Depending on the morphological classification of macroalgae, the collected morphotypes were related to Ulva fasciata, Ulva compressa, Corallina officinalis, Corallina elongata, and Petrocladia capillaceae. Corallina officinalis and Corallina elongata demonstrated a high capacity for Cd, Pb, and Ni accumulation, and the highest values of Fe, Cu, and Mn were reported in Ulva fasciata and Ulva compressa. Two standard markers were applied, and results showed that the morphological classification matched the molecular data. Moreover, the analysis of algae can only reflect the accumulation of metals. The conclusion is that Ulva compressa and Corallina officinalis are potentially suitable indicators of localized short-term heavy metal pollution.

Enhancing drought stress tolerance in Camelina (Camelina sativa L.) through exogenous application of potassium.

The current study was performed under controlled conditions to study the effects of exogenous potassium application on carotenoid contents and drought tolerance in Camelina. Water deficit levels such as 100% FC (control) and 40% FC (drought stress) were imposed after germination of Camelina plants grown to maturity, and different treatments of exogenous K+ were applied at the vegetative stage. We have reported 17 traits of plant growth, physiology, antioxidant enzyme activity, focusing on carotenoids in Camelina to explore their potential yield and yield components. For this purpose, we used multivariate analysis techniques (descriptive statistics, correlation matrix, analysis of variance [ANOVA] and principal components analysis [PCA] to determine the best relation between potassium and studied traits). The results showed a large number of variations in the studied trait under control and water deficit condition. Plant fresh weight (g) was negatively correlated with shoot length and SOD insignificantly correlated with plant fresh weight (g) under water deficit conditions. Potassium loading predicted that foliar application (3 mM K2 SO4 ), foliar application (6 mM KNO3 ), foliar application (12 mM KNO3 ) and foliar application (12 mM K2 SO4 ) are the important doses that contribute the most to enhance the growth, physiological and biochemical activities and carotenoids to improve the Camelina yield under water deficit condition. These doses should be considered in the future to improve the Camelina yield under semi-arid conditions with increased genetic diversity (varietal selection).