Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-napoca 

About: Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-napoca is an academic journal published by Academic Press. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Germination & Shoot. It has an ISSN identifier of 0255-965X. Over the lifetime, 2699 publications have been published receiving 26319 citations. The journal is also known as: Notulae botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Clujensis.

Effects of Nano-Iron Oxide Particles on Agronomic Traits of Soybean

Abstract: This study was performed to determine the effect of nano-iron oxide on soybean yield and quality. Field experiment was designed based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments were five levels of nano-iron oxide (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 g l-1). Results showed that nano-iron oxide at the concentration of 0.75 g l-1 was increased leaf + pod dry weight and pod dry weight. The highest grain yield was observed with using 0.5 g l-1 nano-iron oxide that showed 48% increase in grain yield in comparison with control. Other measured traits were not affected by the iron nano- particles.

Influence of Bulk and Nanoparticles Titanium Foliar Application on some Agronomic Traits, Seed Gluten and Starch Contents of Wheat Subjected to Water Deficit Stress

Abstract: Titanium (Ti) is a very interesting chemical element, especially physiologically. Although Ti is not toxic for animals and humans, its effects on plants show remarkable concentration dependence. Whereas for plants, it shows beneficial effects on various physiological parameters at low doses. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of bulk and nanoparticles titanium foliar. Application on some agronomic traits, seed gluten and starch contents of wheat under water deficit stress conditions during 2010-2011 growing seasons. The experimental design was randomized in complete blocks arranged in split-split plots with four replications. The factors included normal irrigation, water deficit stress (irrigation withholding at two growing stages of stem elongation and flowering), two growing stages for water deficit stress induction and titanium applications, five titanium concentrations, sources including control of titanium oxide (bulk), and three concentrations of 0.01%, 0.02%, and 0.03% of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Plant height, ear weight, ear number, seed number, 1000-seed weight, final yield, biomass, harvest index, gluten, and starch contents were assayed. The results showed that water deficit stress caused significant decrease in plant growth, yield and yield components. In addition, among the different titanium treatments, titanium dioxide nanoparticles at 0.02% increased almost all agronomic traits including gluten and starch content. Thus, the application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles under conditions of water deficit stress is recommended.

The effect of salt stress on antioxidant enzymes' activity and lipid peroxidation on the wheat seedling

Abstract: Salt stress as a major adverse factor can lower leaf water potential, leading to reduced turgor and some other responses, and ultimately lower crop productivity in arid and semi arid zones. Wheat is one of the main crops occupying a large area in Iran, where salt stress is the most limiting factor. Clearly, plant salt stress tolerance requires the activation of complex metabolic activities including antioxidative pathways, especially reactive oxygen species (ROS) and scavenging systems within the cells which can contribute to continued growth under water stress. In the work reported in this paper, the seeds of two local wheat cultivars (Alvand and Sardari) were grown hydroponically. Seedlings were subjected to Hoagland's solution as control, and 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM NaCl for 10 days. As a result, SOD (superoxide dismutase) increased in Sardari with the increase of salt stress, while in the case of Alvand, SOD showed constant activity at all salt stress levels. Meanwhile, CAT and GR exhibited the same trends in the two cultivars of wheat in salt stress conditions. Results indicated that in the case of Sardari, the scavenging of ROS by the scavenging system especially by SOD, CAT and GR was done well and damage to membranes or MDA was controlled. But in the case of Alvand, damage to membranes increased with the rise of stress levels. It can be concluded that all three antioxidant enzymes were limiting factors for this cultivar. Also these reasons led to the sensitivity of Alvand to salt stress.

Auxin Control in the Formation of Adventitious Roots

Abstract: Adventitious rooting is a complex process and a key step in the vegetative propagation of economically important woody, horticultural and agricultural species, playing an important role in the successful production of elite clones. The formation of adventitious roots is a quantitative genetic trait regulated by both environmental and endogenous factors. Among phytohormones, auxin plays an essential role in regulating roots development and it has been shown to be intimately involved in the process of adventitious rooting. Great progress has been made in elucidating the auxin-induced genes and auxin signaling pathway, especially in auxin response Aux/IAA and Auxin Response Factor gene families. Although some important aspects of adventitious and lateral rooting signaling have been revealed, the intricate signaling network remains poorly understood. This review summarizes some of the current knowledge on the physiological aspects of adventitious root formation and highlights the recent progress made in the identification of putative molecular players involved in the control of adventitious rooting. Despite much has been discovered regarding the effects and regulation of auxins on plant growth since the Darwin experiments, there is much that remains unknown.

Plants and natural compounds with antidiabetic action.

Abstract: Diabetes has become the most common metabolic disease worldwide. In particular, type 2 diabetes is the most commonly encountered type of diabetes, which is characterised by the inability of the organism to respond to normal levels of circulating insulin, also called insulin resistance. Current antidiabetic therapy is based on synthetic drugs that very often have side effects. For this reason, there is a continuous need to develop new and better pharmaceuticals as alternatives for the management and treatment of the disease. Natural hypoglycaemic compounds may be attractive alternatives to synthetic drugs or reinforcements to currently used treatments. Their huge advantage is that they can be ingested in everyday diet. Recently, more attention is being paid to the study of natural products as potential antidiabetics. This mini review of the current literature is structured into three main sections focused on: (a) plant extracts, (b) plant biomolecules, and (c) other natural molecules that have been used for their antidiabetic effects. Potential molecular mechanisms of action are also discussed.