Search Results (47)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), an important forage crop with high nutritional value and good palatability, plays a vital role in the development of animal husbandry in China. In Northeast China, there are vast areas of saline–alkali land that remain undeveloped. Given that alfalfa is a highly adaptable forage crop, exploring its salt tolerance at the molecular transcriptional level and identifying salt-tolerant genes has great significance for breeding salt-resistant alfalfa varieties. This also provides valuable genetic resources for better utilization of saline–alkali land. In this study, we conducted two rounds of screening on 41 alfalfa varieties and identified WL168 as a salt-sensitive variety and Longmu801 as a salt-tolerant variety. After 7 days of 300 mM salt stress, both varieties showed a decreasing trend in plant height, fresh weight, and dry weight over time, but Longmu801 demonstrated better water retention ability compared to WL168. Chlorophyll content also declined, but chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll levels in Longmu801 were higher than in WL168. Hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde levels increased overall, but Longmu801 had significantly lower levels than WL168 under prolonged stress. Both varieties showed increasing trends in soluble sugars, proline, and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT), with Longmu801 significantly outperforming WL168. This suggests that the two varieties share similar growth and physiological response mechanisms, with their differences primarily arising from variations in indicator levels. In the above, comparisons between varieties were conducted based on the relative values of the indicators in relation to their controls. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that under salt stress, Longmu801 had 16,485 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) relative to its control, while WL168 had 18,726 DEGs compared to its control. Among these, 2164 DEGs shared the same expression trend, with GO functions enriched in response to oxidative stress, nucleus, plasma membrane, and others. The KEGG pathways were enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, starch and sucrose metabolism, and others. This suggests that alfalfa’s transcriptional response mechanism to salt stress involves these pathways. Additionally, the variety-specific DEGs were also enriched in the same KEGG pathways and GO functions, indicating that the differences between the two varieties stem from their unique stress-responsive DEGs, while their overall mechanisms for coping with stress remain similar. To further identify salt stress-related genes, this study conducted WGCNA analysis using 32,683 genes and physiological indicators. Six modules closely related to physiological traits were identified, and the top five genes ranked by degree in each module were selected as hub genes. Further analysis of these hub genes identified five genes directly related to salt stress: Msa085011, Msa0605650, Msa0397400, Msa1258740, and Msa0958830. Mantel test analysis revealed that these genes showed strong correlations with physiological indicators. This study will provide important insights for breeding salt-tolerant alfalfa varieties. Full article

White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is an important forage and aesthetic plant species, but it is susceptible to drought and heat stress. The phytohormone auxin regulates several aspects of plant development and alleviates the effects of drought stress in plants, including white clover, by involving auxin/indole acetic acid (Aux/IAA) family genes. However, Aux/IAA genes and the underlying mechanism of auxin-mediated drought response remain elusive in white clover. To extend our understanding of the multiple functions of Aux/IAAs, the current study described the characterization of a member of the Aux/IAA family TrIAA27 of white clover. TrIAA27 protein had conserved the Aux/IAA family domain and shared high sequence similarity with the IAA27 gene of a closely related species and Arabidopsis. Expression of TrIAA27 was upregulated in response to heavy metal, drought, salt, NO, Ca²⁺, H₂O₂, Spm, ABA, and IAA treatments, while downregulated under cold stress in the roots and leaves of white clover. TrIAA27 protein was localized in the nucleus. Constitutive overexpression of TrIAA27 in Arabidopsis thaliana led to enhanced hypocotyl length, root length, plant height, leaf length and width, and fresh and dry weights under optimal and stress conditions. There was Improved photosynthesis activity, chlorophyll content, survival rate, relative water content, endogenous catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) concentration with a significantly lower electrolyte leakage percentage, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentration in overexpression lines compared to wild-type Arabidopsis under drought and salt stress conditions. Exposure to stress conditions resulted in relatively weaker roots and above-ground plant growth inhibition, enhanced endogenous levels of major antioxidant enzymes, which correlated well with lower lipid peroxidation, lower levels of reactive oxygen species, and reduced cell death in overexpression lines. The data of the current study demonstrated that TrIAA27 is involved in positively regulating plant growth and development and could be considered a potential target gene for further use, including the breeding of white clover for higher biomass with improved root architecture and tolerance to abiotic stress. Full article

Salinity is a major constraint limiting the yield of tomatoes. However, grafting strategies may help to overcome the salt toxicity of this important horticultural species if appropriate rootstocks are identified. The present study aimed to test a new rootstock, JUPAFORT1, obtained by crossing the glycophyte Solanum lycopersicum (cv. Poncho Negro) with the halophyte wild-related species Solanum chilense to improve the salinity tolerance of the Chilean tomato landrace Old Limachino Tomato (OLT). Intact OLT plants were exposed to 0, 80, or 160 mM of NaCl for 21 days at the vegetative stage and compared with self-grafted (L/L) and Limachino plants grafted on JUPAFORT1 rootstock (L/R) under a completely randomized design. JUPAFORT1 increased OLT scion vigor in the absence of salt but did not significantly increase fresh weight under stress conditions. However, JUPAFORT1 confers to the scion an anisohydric behavior contrasting with the isohydric behavior of L and L/L plants as indicated by measurements of stomatal conductance; L/R plants were able to maintain their metabolic status despite a slight decrease in the leaf’s relative water content. JUPAFORT1 rootstock also enabled the maintenance of photosynthetic pigment concentrations in the scion in contrast to L and L/L plants, which exhibited a decrease in photosynthetic pigments under stress conditions. L/R plants encountered oxidative stress at the highest stress intensity (160 mM of NaCl) only, while L and L/L plants suffered from oxidative damage at a lower dose (80 mM of NaCl). L/R plants behaved as includer plants and did not sequester Na⁺ in the root system, in contrast to L and L/L, which behaved as excluder plants retaining Na⁺ in the root system to avoid its translocation to the shoots. The expression of genes coding for ion transporters (HKT1.1, HKT1.2, LKT1, SKOR, SOS2, and SOS3) in the root system was not modified by salinity in L/R. In contrast, their expression varied in response to salinity in L and L/L. Overall, L/R plants exhibited higher physiological stability than L/L or L plants in response to an increasing NaCl dose and did not require additional energy investment to trigger an adaptative response to salinity. This suggests that the constitutive salinity tolerance of the halophyte S. chilense was maintained in the interspecific rootstock. JUPAFORT1 issued from S. lycopersicum x S. chilense may thus improve salt-stress resilience in OLT tomatoes. Additional studies are required to identify the molecular components involved in the root-to-shoot signaling pathway in this promising material. Full article

Seed priming has become a practical pre-sowing strategy to deal with abiotic stresses. This study aims to explore the effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG) priming on seed germination and seedling growth of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi under salt stress. Regardless of seed priming, salt stress significantly inhibited the seed germination and seedling growth of S. baicalensis. PEG priming significantly alleviates the inhibitory effects of salt stress on seed germination and seedling growth when compared to non-priming and water priming. Among all treatments, PEG priming exhibited the highest germination rate, germination potential, seed vigor index, fresh weight, dry weight, and plant length; the highest contents of proline, soluble sugar, and soluble protein; the highest K⁺/Na⁺ ratio and relative water content; the highest antioxidant activities and contents; but the lowest H₂O₂, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and relative electrical conductivity in response to salt stress. In addition, PEG priming had the highest transcript levels of antioxidant-related genes among all treatments under NaCl stress. Taken together, the results demonstrated that seed priming with PEG could be recommended as an effective practice to enhance the germination and early seedling growth of S. baicalensis under saline conditions. Full article

Seldom found in saltmarshes, Linum maritimum is a halophyte of great conservation interest in the eastern Iberian Peninsula. Although the species has been reported in different plant communities, there is no information on its range of salinity tolerance or mechanisms of response to environmental stress factors. In this study, L. maritimum plants were subjected to increasing salt concentrations in controlled conditions in a greenhouse. After six months of watering with salt solutions, only plants from the control, 50 mM and 100 mM NaCl treatment groups survived, but seeds were produced only in the first two. Significant differences were found between the plants from the various treatment groups in terms of their growth parameters, such as plant height, fresh weight, and the quantity of flowers and fruits. The main mechanism of salt tolerance is probably related to the species’ ability to activate K⁺ uptake and transport to shoots to partly counteract the accumulation of toxic Na⁺ ions. A biochemical analysis showed significant increases in glycine betaine, flavonoids and total phenolic compounds, highlighting the importance of osmotic regulation and antioxidant compounds in the salt tolerance of Linum maritimum. These findings have implications for the conservation of the species, especially under changing climatic conditions that may lead to increased soil salinity in its Mediterranean distribution area. Full article

This study utilizes geophysical investigations, combining both surface and subsurface methods, assessing quality and mapping aquifers in Haryana’s Mewat district, India. The primary objectives are to delineate the interface between freshwater and saline water, both horizontally and vertically and to perform a quality and sustainability analysis. It has been observed that topsoil, approximately 12 m thick, has resistivity values ranging from 11 to 35 ohm-m, where higher values indicate lower soil saturation. Resistivity exceeding 15 ohm-m correlates with granular zones housing fresh groundwater, while values below 15 ohm-m signal saline to brackish groundwater. Approximately 55% of the region features saline groundwater, mainly in central, western, and southern areas. Freshwater resources within a depth of 30 m cover 26–30% of the area, mainly in the northwest and southwest parts. Beyond 40 m, freshwater availability drops significantly, with depths exceeding 100 m likely encountering hard rock or saline horizons. This study also highlights low freshwater yield challenges due to thin granular zones and variable bedrock depths, some as shallow as 90 m. Additionally, the research examines infiltration rates, ranging from 90 mm/h to 660 mm/h initially and 5 mm/h to 164 mm/h ultimately, with an average rate of 151 mm/h, highlighting sandy soils with some clay limitations. Utilizing available data, a three-dimensional hydrogeological model was constructed, shedding light on groundwater-related issues, such as depletion, waterlogging, water quality, and excess salinity. Groundwater development reached ~80%, categorized as semi-critical. Depletion affects areas with fresh groundwater, and waterlogging is a concern in central and north-eastern regions. In addition to salinity, other water quality issues are higher nitrate, sodium, and chloride concentrations, leading to salt-affected soils in specific blocks like Nuh and Nagina. In summary, this study offers a comprehensive assessment of groundwater resources in Mewat, Haryana, emphasizing sustainable utilization and tailored management of localized challenges. This underscores the importance of integrated water resource management to ensure prudent use while preserving the environment for future generations. Full article

Sorghum is one of the most important foods, fodder, and technical crops grown in the world. Global climate change and environmental pollution with toxic industrial and agricultural waste are the most unfavorable environmental factors affecting the growth and development of sorghum, which leads to a decrease in product quality. The development of new environmentally friendly plant growth regulators to improve growth and increase the productivity of sorghum is an urgent task of modern agriculture. Currently, considerable attention is paid to the development of new environmentally friendly plant growth regulators based on 6-methyl-2-mercapto-4-hydroxypyrimidine sodium and potassium salts (Methyur and Kamethur) and N-oxide-2,6-dimethylpyridine (Ivin). Thanks to the use of plant growth regulators Methyur, Kamethur, and Ivin, it is possible to increase the productivity of agricultural crops and their adaptive properties to stress factors of abiotic nature. This work examines the use of plant growth regulators Methyur, Kamethur, and Ivin to increase the productivity of sorghum. Field experiments were carried out on grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) cv. Yarona and sweet sorghum (Sorghum saccharatum L.) cv. Favorite. Seeds sterilized with 1% KMnO₄ solution were treated either with distilled water (control sample) or with solutions of any plant growth regulators Methyur, Kamethur, or Ivin, applied at a concentration of 10⁻⁷ M for 24 h (experimental sample). Each control and experimental sample contained 50 plant seeds; the experiments were carried out in triplicate. Then the soaked seeds were planted in the soil. Yield indicators such as panicle length (in cm) and fresh weight of grain (in grams), determined in experimental samples of sorghum plants, were calculated as % in relation to similar indicators determined in control samples of sorghum plants. It was shown that the yield indicators of sorghum plants grown for 4 months in the field, treated with Methyur, Kamethur, and Ivin at a concentration of 10⁻⁷ M exceeded those of control plants. Panicle length (in %) of experimental grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) cv. Yarona increased by 7%—in plants treated with Kamethur, 20%—in plants treated with Methyur, and 17%—in plants treated with Ivin, compared to the control. Panicle length (in %) of experimental sweet sorghum (Sorghum saccharatum (L.) Moench) cv. Favorite increased by 36%—in plants treated with Kamethur, 37%—in plants treated with Methyur, and by 25%—in plants treated with Ivin, compared to the control. Grain fresh weight (in %) of experimental grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) cv. Yarona increased by 22%—in plants treated with Kamethur, 26%—in plants treated with Methyur, and 13%—in plants treated with Ivin, compared to the control. Grain fresh weight (in %) of experimental sweet sorghum (Sorghum saccharatum (L.) Moench) cv. Favorite increased by 24%—in plants treated with Kamethur, 38%—in plants treated with Methyur, and 35%—in plants treated with Ivin, compared to the control. Based on the results obtained, a conclusion was made about the high growth-stimulating effect of plant growth regulators, similar to the phytohormones auxins and cytokinin, and the dependence of their effect on their composition. It is proposed to use new environmentally friendly plant growth regulators Methyur, Kamethur, and Ivin to improve growth and increase the productivity of sorghum while reducing the use of environmentally toxic agrochemicals for plant protection and improving the environmental condition of the entire agricultural system. Full article

Coastal areas have made substantial contributions to global economic development but are plagued by challenges such as groundwater salinization. Groundwater serves as the primary source for drinking, industrial, and domestic purposes in these coastal areas. Therefore, understanding the causes and processes of groundwater salinization holds paramount significance for effective groundwater management. The coastal area of Laizhou Bay in northern China serves as a quintessential example of such a scenario. With substantial groundwater extraction and severe groundwater salinization issues, it exacerbates the disparity between water-resource supply and demand. Currently, our understanding of the processes and influencing factors related to groundwater salinization in this region remains limited. In this study, employing hydrochemical and stable chlorine isotope analyses on 35 groundwater and seawater samples, an in-depth investigation into the complex mechanisms underlying groundwater salinization in the Quaternary aquifers of the eastern coastal plain of Laizhou Bay was conducted. The test results of the samples indicate that brine and saline groundwater are primarily of the Na-Cl type, exhibiting a hydrochemical composition similar to that of seawater. Brackish groundwater exhibits a diverse hydrochemical composition. The hydrogen and oxygen isotope characteristics of brackish and fresh groundwater resemble atmospheric precipitation, while brine, seawater, and saline groundwater show hydrogen and oxygen isotope depletion. Compared to seawater, brine exhibits significant δ³⁷Cl depletion. The analysis of the test results reveals that the formation of brine aquifers results from a complex interplay of climate change, tectonic movements, and sea–land evolution, involving lagoon development during seawater regression, salt concentration through evaporation, and subsequent water–rock interactions. The genesis of saline groundwater involves a complex interplay of brine–seawater mixing, significant evaporation, and potential input of fresh groundwater from atmospheric precipitation and river sources. The formation of brackish groundwater is predominantly influenced by atmospheric precipitation, and agricultural activities, with significant variations in NO₃⁻ concentrations attributed to varying intensities of fertilizer application in the northern plain area. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the origins of groundwater and can inform the development of policies for groundwater protection in this area. Full article

Salinity is an important factor in the aquatic environment and affects the ion homeostasis and physiological activities of crustaceans. Macrobrachium nipponense is a shrimp that mainly lives in fresh and low-salt waters and plays a huge economic role in China’s shrimp market. Currently, there are only a few studies on the effects of salinity on M. nipponense. Therefore, it is of particular importance to study the molecular responses of M. nipponense to salinity fluctuations. In this study, M. nipponense was set at salinities of 0, 8, 14 and 22‰ for 6 weeks. The gills from the control (0‰) and isotonic groups (14‰) were used for RNA extraction and transcriptome analysis. In total, 593 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, of which 282 were up-regulated and 311 were down-regulated. The most abundant gill transcripts responding to different salinity levels based on GO classification were organelle membrane (cellular component), creatine transmembrane transporter activity (molecular function) and creatine transmembrane transport (biological function). KEGG analysis showed that the most enriched and significantly affected pathways included AMPK signaling, lysosome and cytochrome P450. In addition, 15 DEGs were selected for qRT-PCR verification, which were mainly related to ion homeostasis, glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism. The results showed that the expression patterns of these genes were similar to the high-throughput data. Compared with the control group, high salinity caused obvious injury to gill tissue, mainly manifested as contraction and relaxation of gill filament, cavity vacuolation and severe epithelial disintegration. Glucose-metabolism-related enzyme activities (e.g., pyruvate kinase, hexokinase, 6-phosphate fructose kinase) and related-gene expression (e.g., hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, 6-phosphate fructose kinase) in the gills were significantly higher at a salinity of 14‰. This study showed that salinity stress activated ion transport channels and promoted an up-regulated level of glucose metabolism. High salinity levels caused damage to the gill tissue of M. nipponense. Overall, these results improved our understanding of the salt tolerance mechanism of M. nipponense. Full article

Salinity affects the morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of several plant species. The current study was conducted to investigate differential salt tolerance potentials among ten duckweed clones under different salt-stress conditions. Morphological and physiological parameters, including fronds length, fronds number, root length, root number, Na⁺/K⁺, chlorophyll, proline contents, and fresh harvest weight, were recorded for each of the ten duckweed clones collected from different Saudi Arabia regions. Additionally, the expression patterns of seven salt-related genes were monitored in a salt-tolerant duckweed genotype. The results show that the Madinah-2 (Spirodela polyryiza) and Al-Qassim (Landoltia punctata) clones presented higher performances for all the tested morphological and physiological parameters compared to other genotypes under salt-stress conditions. At concentrations greater than 150 mM NaCl, these aforementioned traits were affected for all the genotypes tested, except Madinah-2 (S. polyryiza) and Al-Qassim (L. punctata) clones, both of which exhibited high tolerance behavior under high salt conditions (200 mM and 250 mM NaCl). The principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the first five principal components accounted for 94.8% of the total variance among the studied traits. Morphological and physiological traits are the major portions of PC1. Moreover, the expression pattern analysis of NHX, BZIP, ST, and KTrans transcript revealed their upregulation in the Al-Qassim clone under salt-stress conditions, suggesting that these genes play a role in this clone’s tolerance to salt-induced stress. Overall, this study indicates that the Al-Qassim clone could be used in a brackish-water duckweed-based treatment program with a simultaneous provision of valuable plant biomass. Full article

This paper is focused on the application of Infrared Thermography to non-standard rock specimens, in terms of size and deterioration conditions, of Hungarian tuff to monitor their cooling process and to look for a relationship between the rock Cooling Rate Index and the porosity. Literature data agree on the potential of Infrared Thermography for the indirect estimation of rock porosity in fresh specimens through the IRTest, but this technique has never been tested on non-standard specimens. To this purpose, tests on three varieties of Hungarian tuffs were carried out. These materials were selected for their cultural importance linked to their usage as building stones and in other historical applications in Northern Hungary. Tuff specimens underwent a fixed number of salt crystallization cycles. The Cooling Rate Index (CRI) for each specimen was calculated according to the literature experience and correlated to their porosity estimated by water, helium, and mercury intrusion. The results show that the rock cooling process is related to porosity since more porous rocks are characterized by faster cooling. Positive linear trends were achieved for weathered specimens considering 20 min monitoring (CRI₂₀), which is double the time suitable for untreated rocks. The reason should be searched in salt crystallization’s effects on the rock texture, paving the way to further studies on this pioneering branch of technological application. Full article

Soil salinization is a common abiotic stress that severely limits the growth of Reaumuria soongarica and reduces its application value. To better understand the response of R. soongarica to salt stress and the physiological mechanisms of exogenous Ca²⁺ and NO compound treatment in alleviating salt stress, the growth parameters, antioxidant system, carbohydrate metabolism and nitrogen compound metabolism were compared on Days 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 15 and 30. The results showed that salt stress could significantly reduce the plant height, root length, fresh and dry weights of aboveground and underground parts, as well as the relative water content, severely inhibiting the growth of R. soongarica seedlings. After Ca²⁺ and NO compound treatment, these growth parameters were significantly improved, and the harm caused by stress in R. soongarica was alleviated. Regarding the antioxidant system, the Ca²⁺ and NO compound treatment could significantly increase the activities of SOD, CAT, APX and GR, as well as the contents of ASA and GSH, which indicated that exogenous Ca²⁺ and NO could eliminate the accumulated active oxygen by increasing the activities of oxidoreductases and the content of nonenzymatic antioxidant substances, thereby improving the salt tolerance of R. soongarica. Regarding carbon metabolism, after Ca²⁺ and NO compound treatment, the soluble sugar and sucrose contents, as well as the activities of sucrose phosphate synthase and sucrose synthase, were significantly increased, which indicated that Ca²⁺ and NO compound treatment could maintain higher soluble sugar and sucrose contents in R. soongarica and reduce osmotic stress caused by salt treatment. Regarding nitrogen metabolism, the Ca²⁺ and NO compound treatment reduced the harm of salt stress by regulating the nitrogen compound contents and nitrogen compound-related enzyme activities, including increases in the NO₃⁻ content and NR, NiR, GS, GOGAT and GDH activities and a reduction in the NO₂⁻ content. The results of this study indicate that the inhibition of the growth and development of R. soongarica by salt stress can be alleviated by regulating the antioxidant system, carbohydrate metabolism and nitrogen compound metabolism, which provides a theoretical basis for Ca²⁺ and NO compound treatment to improve plant salt tolerance. Full article

We conducted a study to examine the growth and physiological changes in 12 different ecotypes of Sesuvium portulacastrum collected from Hainan Island in China. These ecotypes were subjected to different concentrations (0, 200, 400, and 600 mmol/L) of sodium chloride (NaCl) salt stress for 14 days. We also analyzed the expression of metabolic genes related to stress response. Under low salt stress, indicators such as plant height in region K (0 mmol/L: 45% and highest at 200 mmol/L: 80%), internode length (0 mmol/L: 0.38, 200 mmol/L: 0.87, 400 mmol/L: 0.25, and 600 mmol/L: 1.35), as well as leaf area, relative water content, fresh weight, and dry weight exhibited an overall increasing trend with the increase in salt concentration. However, as the salt concentration increased, these indicators showed a decreasing trend. Proline and malondialdehyde contents increased with higher salt concentrations. When the NaCl concentration was 400 mmol/L, MDA content in the leaves was highest in the regions E (196.23%), F (94.28%), J (170.10%), and K (136.08%) as compared to the control group, respectively. Most materials demonstrated a significant decrease in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll content compared to the control group. Furthermore, the ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b (Rab) varied among different materials. Using principal component analysis, we identified three ecotypes (L from Xinglong Village, Danzhou City; B from Shuigoupo Village, Lingshui County; and J from Haidongfang Park, Dongfang City) that represented high, medium, and low salt tolerance levels, respectively, based on the above growth and physiological indexes. To further investigate the expression changes of related genes at the transcriptional level, we employed qRT-PCR. The results showed that the relative expression of SpP5CS1, SpLOX1, and SpLOX1 genes increased with higher salt concentrations, which corresponded to the accumulation of proline and malondialdehyde content, respectively. However, the relative expression of SpCHL1a and SpCHL1b did not exhibit a consistent pattern. This study contributes to our understanding of the salt tolerance mechanism in the true halophyte S. portulacastrum, providing a solid theoretical foundation for further research in this field. Full article

Salted eggs are normally produced by treating fresh duck eggs with a high salt concentration in order to acquire distinctive features and excellent preservation capabilities as a result of a series of physicochemical changes. This method, however, induces a high salt content in the product. The goal of this research was to create a new way of producing mildly salted duck eggs using ozonized brine salting. The brine was made by dissolving NaCl (26% w/v) in water or ozonized water at a concentration of 50 ng ozone/mL (ozonized brine). Compared to brine, ozonized brine resulted in salted eggs with reduced ultimate salt levels in both albumen and yolk (p < 0.05). The Haugh unit of the salted eggs generated by ozonized brine was similar to that of the brine-made salted egg group (p > 0.05), but the salted egg produced by ozonized brine matured and solidified faster because the yolk index (0.62) was higher than that of the brine (0.55) (p < 0.05). The final pH of salted eggs generated with brine and ozonized brine was not different (p > 0.05). Regardless of the salting method, both salted eggs contained low TVB-N content (<10 mg/100 g). Ozonized brine increased the protein carbonyl content in salted albumen, which may be related to albumen protein aggregation and served as a salt diffusion barrier. However, after boiling the salted egg, the protein carbonyl level was comparable to that of fresh albumen. The TBARS levels of boiled salted albumen prepared with brine and ozonized brine were comparable (p > 0.05), and the value was extremely low (~0.1 mg MDA equivalent/kg). The TBARS value of the salted yolk prepared with brine was higher than that of the salted yolk prepared with ozonized brine (p < 0.05), and both salted yolks showed increased TBARS values after cooking (p < 0.05). The albumen and yolk components appeared to be altered similarly by both brine and ozonized brine, according to the FTIR spectra. Furthermore, the appearance and color of the yolk and albumen in salted eggs prepared with brine and ozonized brine were comparable. Boiled salted albumen produced with ozonized brine had a denser structure with fewer voids. This could be attributed to the final salted egg’s lower salt content and lower salt diffusion rate, which were likely caused by protein oxidation and, as a result, aggregation when ozonized brine was used. Full article

Soil and water salinity are among the most fatal environmental challenges that threaten agricultural production worldwide. This study investigated the potential impact(s) of soil amendment using composted bagasse and/or foliar application of cyanobacteria-based bio-stimulants (Arthrospira platensis, also known as Spirulina platensis) to combat the harmful effect(s) of using saline water to irrigate barley plants grown in salt-affected soils during 2020/2021 and 2021/2022. Briefly, the dual application of composted bagasse and cyanobacteria-based bio-stimulants significantly improved the soil properties, buffered the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and enhanced the activity of soil enzymes (urease and dehydrogenase). Moreover, both treatments and their combination notably augmented the water relations of barley plants under salinity stress. All treatments significantly decreased stomatal conductance (gs) and relative water content (RWC) but increased the electrolyte leakage (EL) and balanced the contents of Na⁺ and K⁺, and their ratio (K⁺/Na⁺) of barley leaves under salinity stress compared with those irrigated with fresh water during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 seasons. Additionally, composted bagasse and cyanobacteria-based bio-stimulants diminished the oxidative stress in barley plants under salinity stress by improving the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POX). Consequently, the combination of composted bagasse and cyanobacteria extract resulted in superior yield-related traits such as spike length, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, straw yield, and harvest index. Collectively, our findings suggest that the integrative application of composted bagasse and cyanobacteria is promising as a sustainable environmental strategiy that can be used to improve soil properties, plant growth, and productivity of not only barley plants but also maybe other cereal crops irrigated with saline water in salt-affected soil. Full article