Common bean is a legume able to form symbiotic associations both with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Rhizobium bacteria. Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Billò is an important and valuable crop widely cultivated in North-Western Italy. AMF are known to improve plant nutrition, in particular phosphorus acquisition, and  hence seed quality. Rhizobium leguminosarum is a gram-negative bacterium, symbiont of various species of Fabaceae that is able to fix atmospheric nitrogen.

In this study, 15 different Rhizobium strains were isolated (from root nodules or soil) and characterized by molecular and biochemical traits. One strain was selected for a field trial. The aim of this work was to check, in field conditions, the possibility to improve bean seed yield and quality by means of inoculation with AMF and/or rhizobia under conditions of low fertilization. At harvesting, root nodulation and mycorrhizal colonization were assessed and seed quality parameters were evaluated.

Yield parameters and fiber content were not influenced by microorganism inoculation nor by the reduced fertilization, whilst protein concentration was higher in the seeds of Rhizobium-inoculated plants in combination or not with AMF. Starch concentration increased in the seeds of plants inoculated with rhizobia alone. Mg, K and Zn concentrations were positively affected by AMF, while Mn concentration was higher in the presence of Rhizobia.

In conclusion, an environment-friendly practice like low chemical fertilization can be associated to inoculation with soil microorganisms in order to improve bean seed quality.

The concept of symbiosis can be described as a continuum of interactions between organisms ranging from mutualism to parasitism, and in which changes con occur over time. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are among the most important plant symbionts. They provide nutrients to the host plant and, in change, receive photosynthates and the possibility to complete their life cycle, so their relationship is generally described as mutualistic. Once the symbiosis is established, mycorrhizal plants are more tolerant to biotic or abiotic stresses, however, little is known about the AMF effects on the plant during the early stages of infection.

The aim of this work was to assess the effects of inoculation with the AM fungus Funelliformis mosseae on plants of Solanum lycopersicum cv. Rio grande, at four different harvest times: 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after inoculation. At each harvest, mycorrhizal colonization, shoot and root weights and morphometric parameters, as well as photosynthetic activities were evaluated.

The presence of AMF in the tomato root system was observed only starting from the 14th day after inoculation, and its level increased over time. Even if few effects on the morphometric parameters were observed, some differences between mycorrhizal and control plants were detected at photosynthetic level.

In conclusion, considering the fungus and the plant species tested in this work, the AMF inoculation, in the early stages of growth, didn’t affect plant performance at macroscopic level, while some positive effects were observed in the photosynthetic process.

Acorus calamus (diploid, 2n=24) containing very low β-asarone content (0.6%) as determined by high performance liquid chromatography has been reported. Various bioactive molecules, viz., acorenone, α- & β-asarone, asaryldehyde, caryophylene, isoasarone, methylisoeugenol and safrol have been isolated from Acorus calamus without assigning proper cytotypes. The use of triploid (2n=36), tetraploid (2n=48) and hexaploid (2n=72) cytotypes having increased β-asarone contents with increased ploidy level in pharmaceutical drug industry always pose great concerns due to the risk of associated human diseases. The different cytotypes show great variability in morphological characters and chemical composition of essential oils in the leaves and the rhizomes. Diploid A. calamus has very insignificant β-asarone level which is known to be toxic and cause chromosomal aberrations, mutations and cancer. Therefore, diploid A. calamus obviously is the ideal raw material as potential drug source. An efficient and reproducible callus-mediated plant regeneration protocol has been developed for large scale production of diploid A. calamus which can ensure sustainable development and utilization of the highly threatened species found in the wild wetland habitats. For callus induction, 2,4-D was used on full-strength Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium using different explants. Callus was induced with optimum frequency by shoot axillary bud on MS medium supplemented with 2 mgL^-1 2,4-D. MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mgL^-1 NAA and 2 mgL^-1 BAP resulted in highest regeneration (90%) which produced maximum number of shoots capable of growing into independent plantlets. Such protocols would ensure availability of quality raw materials for large-scale drug manufacturing operations.  

Fresh rhizome extracts of four elite Zingiber species, viz., Zingiber kangleipakense, Zingiber montanum, Zingiber officinale and Zingiber zerumbet prepared in aqueous ethanol/methanol were used for their comparative free radical scavenging and radioprotective properties. Various methods such as ferric ion reducing power assay, DPPH ion scavenging assay, nitric oxide scavenging assay, metal chelating assay, thiyl free radical reactivity assay and hydroxyl ion scavenging assay were employed for the free radical scavenging capabilities. Antioxidant components such as total phenol content, flavonoid content and ascorbic acid contents were also assessed. The two plant samples, viz., Z. officinale and Z. kangleipakense were selected for radioprotective assays both for in vitro and in vivo using plasmid pBR322DNA and bone marrow cells of albino rats, respectively. Reduction in the open circular form as well as chromosomal aberrations with application of plant extracts as compared to control group confirmed the radioprotective potentials. The results show that the extracts possess potential antioxidant molecules having capacities to scavenge and counteract radiation-induced free radical species largely through physico-chemical vis-à-vis biochemical pathways. The accessibility of these extracts in radiation countermeasures do provide immense nutraceutical potentials.

A trail was conducted at the greenhouse of the Cotton Research Institute, Agric. Res. Cent., Giza, Egypt, during 2016 and 2017 seasons on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Giza 90) in order to study the response of cotton plant to Algae extract and Poly Ethylene Glycol (PEG) under irrigation by saline water (control, 4000 and 8000 ppm). Results indicated that, the lowest values of plant height, number of fruiting branches/plant, number of open bolls/plant, boll weight, seed index and seed cotton yield/plant, were obtained when plants irrigated with 8000 ppm, while, lint percentage was significantly increased. Such treatment induced inhibitive effect on anatomical structures of both stem and leaf of cotton. Irrigation with saline water decreased stem diameter due to the prominent decrease in all included tissues (cortex, phloem and xylem tissues as well as vessel diameter). Likewise, saline water decreased thickness of both midvein and lamina of leaflet blades of cotton. The decrease in lamina thickness was accompanied with decrements in thickness of palisade and spongy tissues compared with the control. Also, the main vascular bundle of the midvein was decreased in size. PEG gave the highest averages of plant height and number of fruiting branches/plant, followed by plants sprayed with Algae extract. Treating plants with Algae extract and PEG significantly increased the values of leaf and stem anatomical characters. Moreover, the increase induced stem diameter by foliar application with Algae extract and PEG could be as a results of increases in all included tissues of main stem.

The The aim of this work is to study the effect of salt stress on the development of adaptive reactions and growth parameters of different pigmented wheat genotypes to estimate parameters that can help choose salt-tolerant wheat cultivars. The different pigmented wheat genotypes have revealed variation in the anthocyanin content, which may affect the development of adaptive reactions under increasing salinity stress. In the early stage of treatment with salt at a lower NaCl concentration (100 mM), anthocyanins and proline accumulate, which shows rapid development of the stress reaction. A dose-dependent increase in flavonol content has been observed for wheat genotypes with more intensepurple-blue pigmentation after treatment with 150 mM and 200 mM NaCl.The content of Na⁺ and K⁺ obtained at different levels of salinity on the basis of DW was more than 3 times greater than the control, with a significant increase of both ions under salt stress. The purple-blue pigmented wheat genotypes are characterized by higher anthocyanin content after salt stress treatment,resulting in significantly higher dry matter production.

The tea industry plays a key role in the agriculture sector and the economy of Kenya contributing about 11% of the agriculture sector's contribution to Gross Domestic Product. Pestalotiopsis theae the causal organism of grey blight of tea is a serious problem of tea. Because of concerns of high toxicity and environmental safety, chemical residues in made tea alternatives to chemical control are needed. The antagonistic potential of five Trichoderma isolates (T4, T5, T13, T17 and T26) was evaluated for biological control capacity of Pestalotiopsis theae the causal organism of grey blight of tea. The genus Trichoderma is a hyperparasitic fungus that uses different mechanisms of biological control. Three antagonistic mechanisms employed by Trichoderma were evaluated. The results showed that all selected Trichoderma isolates were significantly effective (p≤0.05) in the control of P. theae. On dual plate culture the maximum inhibitory activity of the Trichoderma was exhibited by T17 at 50.36% compared to the least T4 with 39.42%. For volatile metabolites test, T3 was the most inhibitory (55.83%) and T5 the least inhibitory (31.25%). Results from non- volatile metabolites of Trichoderma indicated that T3 and T17 exhibited highest inhibition to the growth of Pestalotiopsis at 68.40% and 67.16% respectively while T5 was least at 14.07% inhibition. From the results we can conclude that the efficacy of the Trichoderma isolates depended on the mechanism considered and that overall T17 was the most efficacious of the Trichoderma sp isolate in the control of Pestalotiopsis theae.

Fresh extract (liquid) of Lantana camara was screened weekly and continuous field sprays for its ability to control the insects infesting Lycopersicum esculentus (Tomatoes) plants in the investigation. Infrared Spectroscopy was used to identify the presence and the environment of functional groups of organic molecules present in extracts (wet and dry). The mineral elements was also determined to investigate the elements present in both extracts. The results from the investigation (IRS) showed that both extracts (wet and dry)contained amino acids such as; Glycine, Valine, Leucine, Serine, Aspartic acid, Lysine, and others as the active ingredients present. The fresh extract when sprayed weekly repelled and killed the insects infesting the plants and when sprayed continuously, the leaves of the plants was affected by changing the colour to yellow and stunted the growth of the plants occurred. Thus, the plants later survived when the continuous spraying was stopped. Moreover, the elemental analysis of the two extracts was also analyzed and result showed that they contained ash contents and minerals nutrients such as; Na, K, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu, Ca and P. Hence, thepresence of these elements would help in improving the growth and enhance the performance of the plants.