Essential oils prolonged the cut carnation longevity by limiting the xylem blockage and enhancing the physiological and biochemical levels.

Postharvest characteristics, such as vase life and antimicrobial preservation of commercial cut flowers are some of the major determinants of their market value worldwide. Extending vase life while restricting microbial proliferation in cut flowers is an important challenge faced by floricultural researchers. This study evaluates the preservative efficiency of different essential oils used as additive solutions in prolonging the longevity of carnation cv. Madam Collette cut flowers and restricting microbial growth in them. Cut carnations were treated with four essential oils: geranium, thyme, marjoram, and anise at concentrations of 0, 25, 50, and 75 mg/L. While treatment with all the essential oils prolonged the longevity of the cut flowers, thyme and marjoram oils were most effective at concentrations of 50 mg/L each. The vase life of thyme-treated and marjoram-treated carnations almost doubled to 18.5 days and 18.25 days, respectively, as compared to untreated flowers. Treatment with essential oils also led to an increase in water uptake by the cut flowers enhancing their relative water content (RWC). It also restricted the sharp decline of chlorophyll and total carbohydrates content of the flowers during their vase life period. Morphological features of the stem bases of treated and untreated carnations were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The stem ends of geranium and anise-treated carnations showed less bacterial growth than untreated flowers and no apparent xylem blockage was observed even after nine days of treatment. Furthermore, the presence of essential oils also reduced lipid peroxidation and free radical generation as observed by malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 quantification, respectively. It also led to increased production of total phenols leading to enhanced membrane stability. The use of thyme and marjoram essential oils as antimicrobial preservatives and green antioxidants appears to have promising applications in both the industrial and scientific sectors.

Biochar Stimulated Actual Evapotranspiration and Wheat Productivity under Water Deficit Conditions in Sandy Soil Based on Non-Weighing Lysimeter.

The major climate-related hazard to worldwide agricultural productivity is drought, which is becoming more common because of ongoing climate change, especially in the arid and semi-arid regions. Herein, we investigated the influence of biochar soil application at 0, (B1), 7.5 ha-1 (B2), and 15 t ha-1 (B3) on the productivity and drought-tolerance indices of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Sakha 93) grown in sandy soil under irrigation levels of 100 (I1), 80 (I2), and 60% (I3) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), as well as soil properties based on non-weighing lysimeter units. Increasing water deficiency significantly decreased the actual evapotranspiration (ETa) values. A growing biochar rate caused a significant increase in ETa values, water use efficiency, and wheat productivity compared to the untreated control. Additionally, biochar supplementation revealed an improvement in soil quality as measured by the reduction in the bulk density and hydraulic conductivity with an increase in the total porosity and void ratio of the experimental soil. The correlation analysis exhibited a highly significant and positive correlation (0.98 **) between biological yield and grain yield traits. Therefore, it may be stated that these traits are the most significant components of the evaluated grain yield in wheat plants. The productivity of I1 plants was not significantly different and slightly higher than that of I2 plants. Therefore, it can be recommended that exposed wheat plants cultivated in sandy soil with I2 × B3 treatment significantly provide the highest yield while saving 20% of the irrigation water.

Seed Priming with Silicon as a Potential to Increase Salt Stress Tolerance in Lathyrus odoratus.

Water shortage is a major problem limiting the expansion of green areas and landscapes. Using seawater as an alternative source of potable water is not a novel idea, but the issue of salt stress needs to be resolved. Salinity has a negative impact on growth and the aesthetic value of ornamental plants. In order to overcome these challenges, Lathyrus odoratus seeds were hydro-primed and halo-primed with silicon (Si) and silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs), and exposed to seawater levels. Seawater markedly reduced seed germination and growth of Lathyrus seedlings, but halo-priming was shown to significantly alleviate its negative effects. Broadly, SiNPs increased the germination percentage, reduced photosynthetic pigments and carbohydrates decrease, and enhanced water relations, despite having a negative effect on germination speed. Halo-priming significantly increased the proline content and the activities of certain enzymatic (SOD, APX and CAT) and nonenzymatic (phenolic and flavonoids) compounds, that positively influenced oxidative stress (lower MDA and H2O2 accumulation), resulting in seedlings with more salt stress tolerance. Halo-priming with Si or SiNPs enhanced the Si and K+ contents, and K+/Na+ ratio, associated with a reduction in Na+ accumulation. Generally, halo-priming with Si or SiNPs increased Lathyrus seedlings salt stress tolerance, which was confirmed using seawater treatments via improving germination percentage, seedlings growth and activation of the antioxidant machinery, which detoxifies reactive oxygen species (ROS).