Effect of Jasmonic Acid on Stimulating The Growth and Development of Date Palm Callus (Phoenix Dactylifera L.) Cultivar Shukar in Vitro Under Salt Stress Conditions

The study was conducted in the tissue culture laboratory at the Date Palm Research Center, University of Basrah. Using the date palm callus, Shukar cultivar, obtained from culturing the apical and axillary buds in sterile artificial nutrient media, to determine the effect of adding (0, 25, 50, 75) μM concentrations of Jasmonic acid (JA) to the MS media supplemented with several concentrations of NaCl (0, 50, 100, 200) mM were added, on the growth response and morphological development of callus after four months of cultivation in the propagation media. Results showed a significant decrease in growth characteristics in response to an increase in salt level, without the degree of callus browning that’s increased with the increase in the level of sodium chloride, especially at the two levels (100, 200) mM. Results showed also that the addition of Jasmonic acid to the saline treatments greatly enhanced the growth parameters of culture callus, as the rate of biomass, water content, relative growth rate, and the number of somatic embryos generated. as well as the degree of browning decreased significantly according to the levels of sodium chloride and the concentrations of added Jasmonic acid. The study demonstrated the effective role of exogenous addition of Jasmonic acid in vitro culture systems in enhancing stress tolerance of cells and tissues cultured in saline media.

​Influence of Temperature and Salinity Stress on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Soybean (Glycine max L.)

Background: The high salt level of a germinating environment can lead to reduced, delayed, and even complete inhibition of germination and seeding growth due to osmotic action and/or ion toxicity. Based on this viewpoint, the aim of this study was to investigate germination temperature and salinity effects on germination and early seedling growth of soybean, which can be sown as first and second crops. Methods: Soybean seeds were subjected to NaCl induced saline germinating media prepared in petri dishes under two different germination temperatures (20±2 and 25±2oC). Thirty sterilized seeds per petri dish were sown in ten salt treatments (0, 100, 150, 250, 750, 1000, 2250, 5000, 7500 and 10000 ppm NaCl L-1). The study was carried out according to the completely randomized design with four replications. Result: Lower temperature promoted seed germination, while the high temperature significantly inhibited the seed germination at all NaCl doses tested. As a result, 25oC temperatures, which can only be measured at the time of the second sowing, have been found to negatively affect germination and also increase the negative effects of salt. Due to the moderate tolerance of soybeans to salt stress, the germination rate was positively affected up to 750 ppm NaCl L-1 dose and resulted in severe reductions in subsequent doses. Also, the tolerance of soybean was negatively influenced by the interaction of temperature and NaCl concentration.

Root Morphology and Rhizosphere Characteristics Are Related to Salt Tolerance of Suaeda salsa and Beta vulgaris L.

Halophytes are capable of resisting salinity, and their root system is the part in direct contact with the saline soil environment. The aim of this study was to compare the responses of root morphology and rhizosphere characteristics to salinity between a halophyte, Suaeda salsa (suaeda), and a glycophyte, Beta vulgaris L. (sugar beet). The soil salt content was set to four levels (0.7, 1.2, 1.7, and 2.7%) by NaCl-treated plants. We investigated the soil pH, EC, nutrients and soil, plant ion (Na+, Cl−, K+, and Mg2+) concentration to evaluate the rhizospheric processes, and salt tolerance of suaeda by the root mat method. The highest biomass was in the 1.2% salt level for suaeda and in the 0.7% salt level for sugar beet. The root length and root surface area of suaeda showed similar trends to biomass, but the root diameter decreased by 11.5–17.9% with higher salinity. The Na+, Cl−, and K+ accumulations in the shoot of suaeda displayed higher than that in sugar beet, while the Mg2+ accumulation was lower in suaeda than that in sugar beet. High salinity resulted in increased pH and EC values in the rhizosphere for suaeda, but lower values of these parameters for sugar beet. Under high salinity, the Olsen phosphorus content was 0.50 g·kg−1 and 0.99 g·kg−1 higher in the rhizosphere than in the non-rhizosphere for suaeda and sugar beet. We concluded that the two species [halophyte, Suaeda salsa (suaeda), and a glycophyte, B. vulgaris L. (sugar beet)] showed diverse approaches for nutrient absorption under salinity stress. Suaeda altered its root morphology (smaller root diameter and longer roots) under salt stress to increase the root surface area, while sugar beet activated rhizospheric processes to take up more nutrients.

Development of reduced-salt gel of silver carp meat batter using low frequency ultrasound: Effect on color, texture, cooking loss and microstructure

Purpose: To develop reduced-salt silver carp meat gels using low frequency ultrasound. Methods: Silver carp meat batters were prepared with 0.5, 1 (reduced-salt) and 2 % (regular salt), and sonicated (20 KHz, 500 W) for 30 and 40 min, or unsonicated (control). Changes in gel properties were evaluated in terms of color, texture, cooking loss and microstructure using color measurement, puncture test, cooking loss and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis, respectively. Results: Ultrasound and salt exposure led to marked effects on color, texture and cooking loss in fish meat gels (p < 0.05). Reduction in salt content increased the lightness (L*) and cooking loss; and also decreased the sample values of greenness (-a*), breaking force, rupture distance and gel strength. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on regular-salt level samples showed that ultrasonic exposure decreased dense aggregates and increased the number and distribution of small cavity samples. Reduced-salt samples (1 % salt) subjected to 30 min sonication had better color (lighter) than control (0 min sonication), better texture (higher gel strength) and cooking loss comparable to that of regular-salt level sample subjected to 30 min sonication, and similar to microstructures from normal salt samples without ultrasound exposure. Conclusion: Low frequency ultrasound is suitable for preparing reduced-salt fish meat gels under suitable ultrasonic conditions.

Knowledge and awareness of rural adults regarding endemic goitre

Knowledge and awareness related to goitre is very much important at community level for its prevention. Goitre is an iodine deficiency disease, which is in endemic in northern part of Bangladesh. This is a community based cross-sectional study conducted in rural areas of Kaharol Upzilla of Dinajpur district from January to December 2018. Data were collected by face to face interview from one adult in each of the purposively selected 377 households and a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The study result showed that mean age of the respondents was 36.85±12.36 years where most of the respondents (82.2%) were female and 42.7% were illiterate. All of the respondents (100.0%) of the present study knew that endemic goitre means visible swelling in front of the neck. The present study revealed that 24.9% knew that endemic goitre is caused by lack of iodine in diet and having adequate iodine in diet was a way to prevent endemic goitre and 69.2% knew which food contained iodine. Majority of the respondents (57.2%) new that iodized salt contains iodine. The present study revealed that 0.8% had good knowledge regarding endemic goitre, 50.1% had average knowledge regarding endemic goitre and 49.1% had poor knowledge regarding endemic goitre. Most of the respondents, (81.7%) considered iodine an important element for body and 69.5% took iodine rich food. Though, the respondents had positive awareness regarding use of iodized salt. Level of knowledge regarding endemic goitre was associated with age (p=0.001), educational status (p<0.000), occupational status (p<0.006). Community based awareness program among school children, clubs, housewife etc. may increase the knowledge on endemic goitre at community members.

Assessment of Salinity Tolerance of 4 Chili Pepper Genotypes in Vietnam

The article describes a new method to assess the response-ability of 4 chili pepper F1 species: Chanh Nong, Chanh Phong, Mui Ten Do, and EV258 based on the different concentrations of NaCl or CaCl2 (0, 50, 100, 200, and 300 mM). This experiment was conducted in invitro and greenhouse conditions within 12 weeks by investigated the growth and developmental parameters. Our experiment showed that salt stress caused a decrease in all indicators at higher salt concentrations. Typically, at 200 mM salt level, 100% Chanh Phong seeds germinated while less germination was found in Mui Ten Do genotype (89%), following EV258 genotype (72%) and Chanh Nong genotype (61%), respectively. While at 300 mM salt level, this rate significantly decreased the germination rate of Chanh Nong genotype (50%) and increased the period of germination from 6 to 9 days compared to the control treatment. Similarly, growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, number of flowers, and leaf area also decrease as increasing salinity; however, total phenolic compound and antioxidant activity increased. New research results indicated that the Chanh Phong genotype is potentially considered a salt-tolerant stress plant and can be used for chili pepper cultivation under climate change conditions, especially on saline lands.

Use of Invasive Green Crab Carcinus maenas for Production of a Fermented Condiment

To control the population of an invasive species of green crab, we investigated the feasibility of producing a fermented crab condiment. Commercial fermented fish condiments were tested to assess variability in the marketplace and to identify targets for lab-fermented sauces. Finely chopped crab was combined with 100 mg g−1, 200 mg g−1, or 300 mg g−1 NaCl, and spontaneously fermented for up to 120 days. Chromatographic analysis revealed that histamine content was not a safety concern as all treatments were below the current U.S. legal threshold (50 mg 100 mL−1). The majority of microbial and physicochemical properties measured within salt level (proteolytic bacterial population, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN), amine nitrogen, water activity, moisture, and biogenic amines) were statistically unchanged between days 60 and 120 of fermentation, suggesting that most of the biochemical changes happened early in the fermentation. While the production of a fermented condiment was successful and could represent an opportunity for the valorization of this invasive species, additional work is needed to accelerate the process and further understand the dynamics of the early fermentation stages.

New Resins for Ion Exchange Applications and a Process for Their Sustainable Regeneration

The report is concerned with the design and synthesis of a mixed bead resin for high salt level desalination. The resin allows for the simultaneous exchange of both anions and cations, within the same polymer. This improves the efficiency of desalination at seawater levels. A novel process for sustainable and low energy desalination for brackish water has already been achieved via ion exchange resins as explained below. The advance in resin technology improves a novel membrane process with closed–cycle regeneration of the resin. It is a superior alternative to reverse osmosis.

Experimental Data Contributing to the Elusive Surface Charge of Inert Materials in Contact with Aqueous Media

We studied the charging of inert surfaces (polytetrafluoroethylene, i.e., PTFE; graphite; graphene; and hydrophobic silica) using classical colloid chemistry approaches. Potentiometric titrations showed that these surfaces acquired less charge from proton-related reactions than oxide minerals. The data from batch-type titrations for PTFE powder did not show an effect of ionic strength, which was also in contrast with results for classical colloids. In agreement with classical colloids, the electrokinetic results for inert surfaces showed the typical salt level dependence. In some cases, the point of zero net proton charge as determined from mass and tentatively from acid–base titration differed from isoelectric points, which has also been previously observed, for example by Chibowski and co-workers for ice electrolyte interfaces. Finally, we found no evidence for surface contaminations of our PTFE particles before and after immersion in aqueous solutions. Only in the presence of NaCl-containing solutions did cryo-XPS detect oxygen from water. We believe that our low isoelectric points for PTFE were not due to impurities. Moreover, the measured buffering at pH 3 could not be explained by sub-micromolar concentrations of contaminants. The most comprehensive explanation for the various sets of data is that hydroxide ion accumulation occurred at the interfaces between inert surfaces and aqueous solutions.

Effect of dietary salt levels on the performance of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats

A 70-day feeding trial was conducted to estimate the effect of levels (0, 5, 10, and 15g/kg cassava peels, respectively) of common salt and cassava peels (dry and fresh using Gmelina arborea leaves as a basal diet on the average daily gain, dry matter intake, seed conversion efficiency and water consumption in West African Dwarf goats. Total dry matter intake and the average Gmelina arborea leaf intake increased with applied common salt, irrespective of cassava peel form. Increasing common salt level also increased average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency in both dry and fresh cassava peels, but this was not accompanied by a remarkable gain beyond 5g common salt. Moreover, the average cassava peel intake increased but not significantly (P>0.05) with salt level up to 10g beyond which there was a sharp decline and an insignificant gain with dry and fresh cassava peels, respectively. Goats fed dry cassava peels significantly (P<0.05) consumed more water as the salt level increased in the diet. It was concluded that application of 5g common salt per kg dry cassava peels promoted highest daily gain, optimum dry matter intake and feed conversion efficiency in West African Dwarf goal production. However, the response with fresh cassava peels revealed no statistically significant difference in average daily gain, total dry matter intake and feed conversion efficiency.