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Wang L, Jin N, Xie Y, Zhu W, Yang Y, Wang J, Lei Y, Liu W, Wang S, Jin L, Yu J, Lyu J. Improvements in the Appearance and Nutritional Quality of Tomato Fruits Resulting from Foliar Spraying with Silicon. Foods 2024; 13:223. [PMID: 38254524 PMCID: PMC10814949 DOI: 10.3390/foods13020223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Research on silicon (Si), an element considered beneficial for plant growth, has focused on abiotic and biotic stress mitigation. However, the effect of Si on tomato fruit quality under normal growth conditions remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of applying different levels of Si (0 mmol·L-1 [CK], 0.6 mmol·L-1 [T1], 1.2 mmol·L-1 [T2], and 1.8 mmol·L-1 [T3]) in foliar sprays on tomato fruit quality cultivated in substrates, and the most beneficial Si level was found. Compared to CK, exogenous Si treatments had a positive influence on the appearance and nutritional quality of tomato fruits at the mature green, breaker, and red ripening stages. Of these, T2 treatment significantly increased peel firmness and single-fruit weight in tomato fruits. The contents of soluble sugars, soluble solids, soluble proteins, and vitamin C were significantly higher, and the nitrate content was significantly lower in the T2 treatment than in the CK treatment. Cluster analysis showed that T2 produced results that were significantly different from those of the CK, T1, and T3 treatments. During the red ripening stage, the a* values of fruits in the T2 treatment tomato were significantly higher than those in the other three treatments. Moreover, the lycopene and lutein contents of the T2 treatment increased by 12.90% and 17.14%, respectively, compared to CK. T2 treatment significantly upregulated the relative gene expression levels of the phytoene desaturase gene (PDS), the lycopene ε-cyclase gene (LCY-E), and the zeaxanthin cyclooxygenase gene (ZEP) in the carotenoid key genes. The total amino acid content in tomato fruits in the T2 treatment was also significantly higher than that of CK. In summary, foliar spraying of 1.2 mmol·L-1 exogenous Si was effective in improving the appearance and nutritional quality of tomato fruits under normal growth conditions. This study provides new approaches to further elucidate the application of exogenous silicon to improve tomato fruit quality under normal conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (L.W.); (N.J.); (Y.X.); (W.Z.); (Y.Y.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (W.L.); (J.Y.)
| | - Ning Jin
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (L.W.); (N.J.); (Y.X.); (W.Z.); (Y.Y.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (W.L.); (J.Y.)
| | - Yandong Xie
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (L.W.); (N.J.); (Y.X.); (W.Z.); (Y.Y.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (W.L.); (J.Y.)
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (S.W.); (L.J.)
| | - Wen Zhu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (L.W.); (N.J.); (Y.X.); (W.Z.); (Y.Y.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (W.L.); (J.Y.)
| | - Ye Yang
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (L.W.); (N.J.); (Y.X.); (W.Z.); (Y.Y.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (W.L.); (J.Y.)
| | - Jiaying Wang
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (L.W.); (N.J.); (Y.X.); (W.Z.); (Y.Y.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (W.L.); (J.Y.)
| | - Yongzhong Lei
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (L.W.); (N.J.); (Y.X.); (W.Z.); (Y.Y.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (W.L.); (J.Y.)
| | - Wenkai Liu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (L.W.); (N.J.); (Y.X.); (W.Z.); (Y.Y.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (W.L.); (J.Y.)
| | - Shuya Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (S.W.); (L.J.)
| | - Li Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (S.W.); (L.J.)
| | - Jihua Yu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (L.W.); (N.J.); (Y.X.); (W.Z.); (Y.Y.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (W.L.); (J.Y.)
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (S.W.); (L.J.)
| | - Jian Lyu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (L.W.); (N.J.); (Y.X.); (W.Z.); (Y.Y.); (J.W.); (Y.L.); (W.L.); (J.Y.)
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (S.W.); (L.J.)
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Emah K, Hu L, Boamah S, Chukwuka S, Tiika RJ, Zhang K, Tie J, Tang Z, Yu J. The Influence of External Parameters on the Ripeness of Pumpkins. Sensors (Basel) 2023; 24:143. [PMID: 38203005 PMCID: PMC10781241 DOI: 10.3390/s24010143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Growing pumpkins in controlled environments, such as greenhouses, has become increasingly important due to the potential to optimise yield and quality. However, achieving optimal environmental conditions for pumpkin cultivation requires precise monitoring and control, which can be facilitated by modern sensor technologies. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal placement of sensors to determine the influence of external parameters on the maturity of pumpkins. The greenhouse used in the study consisted of a plastic film for growing pumpkins. Five different sensors labeled from A1 to A5 measured the air temperature, humidity, soil temperature, soil humidity, and illumination at five different locations. We used two methods, error-based sensor placement and entropy-based sensor placement, to evaluate optimisation. We selected A3 sensor locations where the monitored data were close to the reference value, i.e., the average data of all measurement locations and parameters. Using this method, we selected sensor positions to monitor the influence of external parameters on the maturity of pumpkins. These methods enable the determination of optimal sensor locations to represent the entire facility environment and detect areas with significant environmental disparities. Our study provides an accurate measurement of the internal environment of a greenhouse and properly selects the base installation locations of sensors in the pumpkin greenhouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kubiat Emah
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (K.E.); (L.H.); (K.Z.); (J.T.); (Z.T.)
| | - Linli Hu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (K.E.); (L.H.); (K.Z.); (J.T.); (Z.T.)
| | - Solomon Boamah
- College of Plant Protection, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China;
- Gansu Provincial Biocontrol Engineering Laboratory of Crop Diseases and Pests, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Sylvester Chukwuka
- College of Information Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China;
| | - Richard John Tiika
- College of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China;
| | - Kai Zhang
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (K.E.); (L.H.); (K.Z.); (J.T.); (Z.T.)
| | - Jianzhong Tie
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (K.E.); (L.H.); (K.Z.); (J.T.); (Z.T.)
| | - Zhongqi Tang
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (K.E.); (L.H.); (K.Z.); (J.T.); (Z.T.)
| | - Jihua Yu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (K.E.); (L.H.); (K.Z.); (J.T.); (Z.T.)
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Xu Z, Huang S, Xie Y, Wang S, Jin N, Jin L, Tie J, Meng X, Li Z, Lyu J, Yu J. Physiological responses of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) to exogenous 2,4-epibrassinolide at different concentrations. BMC Plant Biol 2023; 23:649. [PMID: 38102554 PMCID: PMC10724981 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04684-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brassinolide, known as the seventh plant hormone, can improve the photosynthetic capacity of plants, promote plant growth and development, promote the formation of horticultural crop yield, improve the quality of horticultural crops, and also improve the ability of plants to resist biological and abiotic stresses. RESULTS The effects of different concentrations of exogenously sprayed 2,4-epibrassinolide (EBR) on growth, physiological and photosynthetic characteristics of 'All-round large leaf coriander' were studied in substrate culture. The results showed that 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5 mg.L- 1 EBR promoted the growth of coriander and increased the aboveground fresh and dry weights, with 0.5 mg.L- 1 EBR having the most significant effect. Spraying 0.1 mg.L- 1 EBR increased the content of soluble sugars and protein of coriander leaves. Spraying 0.1 and 0.5 mg.L- 1 EBR significantly increased the chlorophyll content and photosynthetic parameters of coriander leaves, and 0.5 mg.L- 1 EBR also significantly increased the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of coriander leaves. Spraying 0.5 mg.L- 1 EBR upregulated the expression of CsRbcS, CsFBPase, and CsAld. Correlation analysis showed that aboveground fresh weight under exogenous EBR treatment was significantly positively correlated with aboveground dry weight, plant height, Pn, Gs, Ci, and CsAld (P < 0.05), and soluble sugar content was significantly positively correlated with the number of leaves, Y(II), qP, and CsRbcS. The results of the principal component analysis (PCA) showed that there was a significant separation between the treatment and the control groups. Spraying 0.5 mg.L- 1 EBR can promote the growth of coriander, improve the quality of coriander leaves, and strengthen coriander leaf photosynthetic capacity. This study provides new insights into the promotion of coriander growth and development following the application of exogenous EBR. CONCLUSION Exogenous EBR treatment increased coriander plant height, leaf growth and aboveground dry weight, and enhanced photosynthesis. Exogenous spraying of 0.5 mg.L- 1 EBR had the most significant effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqi Xu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Shuchao Huang
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Yandong Xie
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Shuya Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Ning Jin
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Li Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Jianzhong Tie
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Xin Meng
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Zhaozhuang Li
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Jian Lyu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.
| | - Jihua Yu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.
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Sun J, Jin L, Li R, Meng X, Jin N, Wang S, Xu Z, Liu Z, Lyu J, Yu J. Effects of Different Forms and Proportions of Nitrogen on the Growth, Photosynthetic Characteristics, and Carbon and Nitrogen Metabolism in Tomato. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:4175. [PMID: 38140502 PMCID: PMC10748299 DOI: 10.3390/plants12244175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Optimal plant growth in many species is achieved when the two major forms of N are supplied at a particular ratio. This study investigated optimal nitrogen forms and ratios for tomato growth using the 'Jingfan 502' tomato variety. Thirteen treatments were applied with varying proportions of nitrate nitrogen (NN), ammonium nitrogen (AN), and urea nitrogen (UN). Results revealed that the combination of AN and UN inhibited tomato growth and photosynthetic capacity. Conversely, the joint application of NN and UN or NN and AN led to a significant enhancement in tomato plant growth. Notably, the T12 (75%UN:25%NN) and T4 (75%NN:25%AN) treatments significantly increased the gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, thereby promoting the accumulation of photosynthetic products. The contents of fructose, glucose, and sucrose were significantly increased by 121.07%, 206.26%, and 94.64% and by 104.39%, 156.42%, and 61.40%, respectively, compared with those in the control. Additionally, AN favored starch accumulation, while NN and UN favored fructose, sucrose, and glucose accumulation. Gene expression related to nitrogen and sugar metabolism increased significantly in T12 and T4, with T12 showing greater upregulation. Key enzyme activity in metabolism also increased notably. In summary, T12 enhanced tomato growth by upregulating gene expression, increasing enzyme activity, and boosting photosynthesis and sugar accumulation. Growers should consider using NN and UN to reduce AN application in tomato fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhong Sun
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (J.S.); (R.L.); (X.M.); (N.J.); (Z.X.); (Z.L.)
| | - Li Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (L.J.); (S.W.)
| | - Ruirui Li
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (J.S.); (R.L.); (X.M.); (N.J.); (Z.X.); (Z.L.)
| | - Xin Meng
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (J.S.); (R.L.); (X.M.); (N.J.); (Z.X.); (Z.L.)
| | - Ning Jin
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (J.S.); (R.L.); (X.M.); (N.J.); (Z.X.); (Z.L.)
| | - Shuya Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (L.J.); (S.W.)
| | - Zhiqi Xu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (J.S.); (R.L.); (X.M.); (N.J.); (Z.X.); (Z.L.)
| | - Zitong Liu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (J.S.); (R.L.); (X.M.); (N.J.); (Z.X.); (Z.L.)
| | - Jian Lyu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (J.S.); (R.L.); (X.M.); (N.J.); (Z.X.); (Z.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (L.J.); (S.W.)
| | - Jinhua Yu
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (J.S.); (R.L.); (X.M.); (N.J.); (Z.X.); (Z.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (L.J.); (S.W.)
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