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Recently, biomass crops attracted considerable attention as a possible alternative to fossil fuels; nevertheless, the interest in its agronomic practices such as irrigation and fertilization is still unclear. This study aims at determining the appropriate phosphorus (P) fertilization management in the early development stage of giant reed (Arundo donax L.). The uptake, transportation, and fertilization use efficiency of P were reported in three ecotypes of giant reed, i.e., STM (Hungary), BL (the USA), and ESP (Spain). Somatic embryo-derived plantlets were developed under glasshouse environment in clean sand (quartz) augmented with 0, 25, 50, 100, and 150 mg P kg−1, added as monosodium phosphate. P-treated plants possessed a fibrous root system characterized by many lateral roots, while control plants (received no P) had a root system distinguished with long axial roots with very few lateral branches. Phosphorus uptake significantly varied according to plant ecotype, plant parts, and applied P concentration. Giant reed ecotypes showed different responses to uptake and accumulation of P, where P contents in the STM, ESP and BL ecotypes were 392, 413, and 445 μg g−1, respectively. The accumulation of P in different plant parts was as follows: leaf blade > culm > root. The treatment of 50 mg P kg−1 displayed the highest P content in all plant parts. The BL and STM ecotypes showed the same translocation factor (TF) of 4.96, while the ESP ecotype exhibited a lower TF of (4.03). The treatment of 50 mg P kg−1 revealed the highest TF (5.94). The BL ecotype showed P use efficiency (PUE) of 7.08 compared with 6.49 and 5.85 for the ESP and STM ecotypes, respectively. The 50 mg P kg−1 exhibited the highest PUE (13.37). The BL ecotype displayed the highest CO 2 assimilation rate (12.46 μmol photons m−2 s−1). Also, the rate of CO 2 assimilation increased upon increasing the rate of the applied P. Our results reveal that the appropriate P fertilization rate of the ESP, STM, and BL ecotypes is 25, 25, and 50 mg P kg−1, respectively. • Somatic embryo-derived seedlings did not develop under P deprivation conditions. • Uptake of P significantly depended on the ecotype and applied P concentration. • 25 and 50 mg P kg−1 showed the best effect on giant reed growth. • 100 and 150 mg P kg−1 did not significantly induce giant reed growth. • The best applied P rate to the STM, ESP and BL ecotypes is 25, 25, and 50 mg kg−1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation within the green biorefinery focused on value-measuring properties of by-products derived from leaf protein concentrate production, particularly from Jerusalem artichokes. Results showed fiber fractions ranged from 17 to 28 % per 1 kg of fresh biomass, while brown juice fractions ranged from 57 to 68 %. Protein content varied from 7 to 14 m/m% for fiber and 0.3–1.4 m/m% for brown juice, with Rubik and Piri varieties exhibiting minimal differences in crude protein content between harvests. Amino acid analysis revealed significant amounts of leucine and lysine in both fractions. Phenolic compounds, notably hydroxy-methoxy flavones, were abundant in brown juice, with Rubik variety showing promising total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). Qualitative determination identified chlorogenic acid and two isomers among cinnamic acid derivatives, suggesting potential medicine candidates. Brown juice fractions, especially from Rubik variety, hold promise for applications such as biostimulants. Further exploration of phenolic components in brown juice could yield valuable insights. • Investigation of by-products from green biorefinery reveals versatile distribution of Jerusalem artichokes. • Phenolic components, are abundant in brown juice, suggesting potential applications in biostimulants. • Qualitative analysis unveils higher phenolic diversity in brown juice, including promising cinnamic acid derivatives. • Leucine and lysine are found in significant amounts in both fractions, highlighting their nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of amorphous silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) in enhancing growth and yield of cucumber under water deficit and salinity stresses was assessed. A field experiment under greenhouse conditions was established using 4 different levels of SiNPs (100, 200, 300 and 400 mg kg−1) and 3 different watering regimes calculated based on crop evapotranspiration (ET c) (100, 85 and 70% of ET c). Electrical conductivity and sodium adsorption ratio of irrigation water were 1.7 dS m−1 and 4.63 respectively. The results revealed that SiNPs improved growth and productivity of cucumber regardless of quantity of supplied water; however, the greatest increase corresponded to irrigating cucumber at the rate of 85% of ET c. Applying SiNPs at rate of 200 mg kg−1 showed the greatest increase specially when cucumber plants received 85% of their ET c causing an increase of 20, 51 and 156% in plant height, chlorophyll and fruit yield, respectively, compared to untreated plants. These increases could be due to alerting nutrient uptake as SiNPs clearly increased contents of nitrogen (by 30%), potassium (by 52, 75 and 41% in root, stem and leaf, respectively) and silicon (by 51, 57, 8 and 78% in root, stem, leaf and fruit, respectively). Otherwise, same treatment reduced sodium uptake by 38, 77 and 38% in root, stem and leaf, respectively; consequently, potassium-sodium ratio increased by 149, 735 and 127% in root, stem and leaf, respectively. The significant role of SiNPs in mitigating water deficit and salinity stresses could be referred to high silicon content found in leaf which regulates water losses via transpiration. Also, high K+ content found in roots of cucumber helps plants to tolerate abiotic stresses as a result of maintaining ion homeostasis and regulating the osmotic balance as well as controlling stomatal opening which helps plants to adapt to salinity and water deficit stresses. Image 1 • Reducing water supply by 30% of ET c decreased growth and yield of cucumber. • Applying SiNPs enhanced cucumber yield under water deficit and salinity stress. • 200 mg kg−1 SiNPs increased fruit yield with reduction in water supply by 15%. • SiNPs enhanced water and nutrient use efficiencies as well as balanced nutrient uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work was aimed to elucidate the role of engineered nanosilica (SiNPs) particles to mitigate the damaging impacts of Na + -derived salinity on cucumber ( Cucumis sativus ) Beit Alpha variety by conducting in vitro experiments applying various Na + concentrations i.e. 0, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000 mg L −1 . By treating seeds and seedlings, respectively, of cucumber with SiNPs (0, 100, 200 and 300 ppm) and subsequent determination some germination and vegetative parameters as well as chemical analysis of seedlings, we verified that SiNPs succeeded to alleviate the detrimental effects of high Na + salinity by increasing germination parameters and vegetative growth of cucumber seedlings. Even as little as 100 ppm of N-Si results in considerable improvement of seed germination and seedlings growth of cucumber compared to the control, while 200 ppm was optimal among the doses tested. At 5000 mg Na + L −1 , applying SiNPs with 200 ppm increased final germination percentage by 101% over control, vigor index by 101%, germination rate index by 116%, germination index by 110%, fresh mass by 13%, K + /Na + ratio by 77%, shoot dry mass by 384%, root dry mass by 304% and plant height by 70%. The results mentioned in this paper obviously outline the large practical relevance of SiNPs and imply that applying of SiNPs for cucumber seeds and seedlings under high Na + -derived salinity enhances germination and growth as a result for decreasing Na + uptake and sequentially improves high K + /Na + ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]