<i>Ascophyllum nodosum</i> and Silicon-Based Biostimulants Differentially Affect the Physiology and Growth of Watermelon Transplants under Abiotic Stress Factors: The Case of Salinity
Salinization of cultivated soils is a global phenomenon mainly caused by agricultural practices and deteriorates plant production. Biostimulants are products which can be applied exogenously to enhance the plants’ defense mechanism and improve their developmental characteristics, also under abiotic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/3/433 |
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| author | Filippos Bantis Athanasios Koukounaras |
| author_facet | Filippos Bantis Athanasios Koukounaras |
| author_sort | Filippos Bantis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Salinization of cultivated soils is a global phenomenon mainly caused by agricultural practices and deteriorates plant production. Biostimulants are products which can be applied exogenously to enhance the plants’ defense mechanism and improve their developmental characteristics, also under abiotic stresses. We studied the potential of two biostimulants, <i>Ascophyllum nodosum</i> (Asc) seaweed and a silicon-based (Si), to alleviate the saline conditions endured by watermelon transplants. Three salinity (0 mM, 50 mM, and 100 mM NaCl) treatments were applied in watermelon seedlings transplanted in pots, while the two biostimulants were sprayed in the foliar in the beginning of the experiment. Relative water content was improved by Asc in the high salinity level. The plant area, leaf number, and shoot dry weight deteriorated in relation to the salinity level. However, the root system (total root length and surface area) was enhanced by 50 mM salt, as well as Asc in some cases. The OJIP transient of the photosynthetic apparatus was also evaluated. Some OJIP parameters diminished in the high salinity level after Asc application. It is concluded that after salt stress Asc provoked a positive phenotypic response, while Si did not alleviate the salinity stress of transplanted watermelon. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:30:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-402b8320a2f14c79920782ed381a035b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:30:15Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-402b8320a2f14c79920782ed381a035b2023-11-16T17:42:18ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-01-0112343310.3390/plants12030433<i>Ascophyllum nodosum</i> and Silicon-Based Biostimulants Differentially Affect the Physiology and Growth of Watermelon Transplants under Abiotic Stress Factors: The Case of SalinityFilippos Bantis0Athanasios Koukounaras1Department of Horticulture, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Horticulture, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceSalinization of cultivated soils is a global phenomenon mainly caused by agricultural practices and deteriorates plant production. Biostimulants are products which can be applied exogenously to enhance the plants’ defense mechanism and improve their developmental characteristics, also under abiotic stresses. We studied the potential of two biostimulants, <i>Ascophyllum nodosum</i> (Asc) seaweed and a silicon-based (Si), to alleviate the saline conditions endured by watermelon transplants. Three salinity (0 mM, 50 mM, and 100 mM NaCl) treatments were applied in watermelon seedlings transplanted in pots, while the two biostimulants were sprayed in the foliar in the beginning of the experiment. Relative water content was improved by Asc in the high salinity level. The plant area, leaf number, and shoot dry weight deteriorated in relation to the salinity level. However, the root system (total root length and surface area) was enhanced by 50 mM salt, as well as Asc in some cases. The OJIP transient of the photosynthetic apparatus was also evaluated. Some OJIP parameters diminished in the high salinity level after Asc application. It is concluded that after salt stress Asc provoked a positive phenotypic response, while Si did not alleviate the salinity stress of transplanted watermelon.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/3/433NaClphotosynthetic apparatusOJIP transientseaweedroot system architecturegrafted seedlings |
| spellingShingle | Filippos Bantis Athanasios Koukounaras <i>Ascophyllum nodosum</i> and Silicon-Based Biostimulants Differentially Affect the Physiology and Growth of Watermelon Transplants under Abiotic Stress Factors: The Case of Salinity Plants NaCl photosynthetic apparatus OJIP transient seaweed root system architecture grafted seedlings |
| title | <i>Ascophyllum nodosum</i> and Silicon-Based Biostimulants Differentially Affect the Physiology and Growth of Watermelon Transplants under Abiotic Stress Factors: The Case of Salinity |
| title_full | <i>Ascophyllum nodosum</i> and Silicon-Based Biostimulants Differentially Affect the Physiology and Growth of Watermelon Transplants under Abiotic Stress Factors: The Case of Salinity |
| title_fullStr | <i>Ascophyllum nodosum</i> and Silicon-Based Biostimulants Differentially Affect the Physiology and Growth of Watermelon Transplants under Abiotic Stress Factors: The Case of Salinity |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Ascophyllum nodosum</i> and Silicon-Based Biostimulants Differentially Affect the Physiology and Growth of Watermelon Transplants under Abiotic Stress Factors: The Case of Salinity |
| title_short | <i>Ascophyllum nodosum</i> and Silicon-Based Biostimulants Differentially Affect the Physiology and Growth of Watermelon Transplants under Abiotic Stress Factors: The Case of Salinity |
| title_sort | i ascophyllum nodosum i and silicon based biostimulants differentially affect the physiology and growth of watermelon transplants under abiotic stress factors the case of salinity |
| topic | NaCl photosynthetic apparatus OJIP transient seaweed root system architecture grafted seedlings |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/3/433 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT filipposbantis iascophyllumnodosumiandsiliconbasedbiostimulantsdifferentiallyaffectthephysiologyandgrowthofwatermelontransplantsunderabioticstressfactorsthecaseofsalinity AT athanasioskoukounaras iascophyllumnodosumiandsiliconbasedbiostimulantsdifferentiallyaffectthephysiologyandgrowthofwatermelontransplantsunderabioticstressfactorsthecaseofsalinity |