Research

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14 pages, 4192 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Utilization of Festuca arundinacea Schreb. Biomass with Different Salt Contents for Bioethanol and Biocomposite Production

by Jolanta Batog, Aleksandra Wawro, Krzysztof Bujnowicz, Weronika Gieparda, Elżbieta Bilińska, Aurelia Pietrowiak, Szymon Rojewski and Artur Adamczak

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(15), 8738; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13158738 - 28 Jul 2023

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Abstract

Soil salinity is one of the particularly important environmental factors, which limits the growth and development of plants, reduces the amount of crops and causes serious economic damage. The study found that Festuca arundinacea can be successfully used for the management and bioremediation [...] Read more.

Soil salinity is one of the particularly important environmental factors, which limits the growth and development of plants, reduces the amount of crops and causes serious economic damage. The study found that Festuca arundinacea can be successfully used for the management and bioremediation of saline habitats, and it is characterized by a very well-developed root system and an average high biomass production of approx. 14.8 Mg∙ha⁻¹, which can be used for industrial applications. Tall fescue biomass from soils with different levels of salinity was used to obtain bioethanol using 1.5% NaOH pretreatment and for the process of simultaneous enzymatic hydrolysis and ethanol fermentation (SSF). It was found that the content of Na⁺ ions in the tall fescue biomass had no significant effect on the amount of ethanol obtained (the average 19.32 g∙100 g⁻¹ of raw material). F. arundinacea biomass was also used as a natural filler to obtain green composites using a biodegradable polylactide (PLA) matrix. It has been shown that tall fescue biomass with the lowest sodium content in biomass (approx. 2.5 mg∙g⁻¹) from an area with high saline (above 6 g NaCl∙L⁻¹) has the smallest effect on reducing the tensile and flexural strength of composites. Moreover, the highest value of bioethanol concentration (21.2 g∙100 g⁻¹ of raw material) for this biomass sample was obtained. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Halophytes Plants)

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10 pages, 1989 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combined Remediation Effects of Pioneer Plants and Solid Waste towards Cd- and As-Contaminated Farmland Soil

by Jiamei Wu, Chenxu Zhang, Huifen Yang, Pan Chen and Jian Cao

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 5695; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13095695 - 05 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1188

Abstract

The development of phytoremediation technology is constrained by gentle phytoextraction efficiency and slow biomass accumulation. In this study, a combined remediation of pioneer plants and solid waste towards Cd- and As-contaminated farmland soil was explored. Pioneer plants Cynodon dactylon and two material formulas [...] Read more.

The development of phytoremediation technology is constrained by gentle phytoextraction efficiency and slow biomass accumulation. In this study, a combined remediation of pioneer plants and solid waste towards Cd- and As-contaminated farmland soil was explored. Pioneer plants Cynodon dactylon and two material formulas (Steel slag (SS):pyrolusite (PY):ferrous sulfide (FS) = 3:3:2 or 1:2:8) were used in pot experiments. The DTPA method was used to extract the bioavailable heavy metals from soil, and then, the reduction rates of the bioavailable heavy metals were calculated. After harvesting plants, data of moisture content, biomass, root length and plant height were obtained. The remediation effect was evaluated according to the above indexes. The experimental results showed that the remediation effect of Bidentis pilosa was better than that of Cynodon dactylon. The addition of solid waste material significantly reduced the content of bioavailable Cd and As in soil by 97.73% and 53.54%, respectively. Suitable wastes may be a potential addition to heavy metal contaminated soils to promote phytoremediation of heavy metals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Halophytes Plants)

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21 pages, 4294 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Importance of Soil Elevation and Hydroperiods in Salt Marsh Vegetation Zonation: A Case Study of Ria de Aveiro

by Marisa Marques Gouveia, Natasha Nonemacher Magni, Carina Lurdes Lopes, Américo Soares Ribeiro, João Miguel Dias and Helena Silva

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(7), 4605; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13074605 - 05 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1364

Abstract

Salt marshes are among the most valuable ecosystems on earth; however, previous research has reported global losses in their extent accompanied by an impairment of their ecological processes. Nonetheless, investigations on salt marsh vegetation ecology are still lacking in many sites, including in [...] Read more.

Salt marshes are among the most valuable ecosystems on earth; however, previous research has reported global losses in their extent accompanied by an impairment of their ecological processes. Nonetheless, investigations on salt marsh vegetation ecology are still lacking in many sites, including in Ria de Aveiro. As such, this study aimed to (1) monitor, characterize, and understand the evolution of salt marsh vegetation communities at three different study sites with different environmental conditions and stages of degradation, where we also sought to (2) identify the main delimiting abiotic factors associated with the distribution of the main species. To do so, a multidisciplinary approach that involved the survey of vegetation from permanent transects and the collection of ecological, physicochemical, and hydrodynamic data at sampling points within the monospecific stands of the main species was reported. The results showed that, of the abiotic factors deemed as the main delimiting forces of salt marsh vegetation, the soil elevation and hydroperiod were the most restrictive factors, as they ultimately influenced species composition at the different study sites and explained most of the variation observed between the studied monospecific stands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Halophytes Plants)

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13 pages, 1817 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Constant and Intermittent Contact with the Volatile Organic Compounds of Serendipita indica Alleviate Salt Stress In Vitro Ocimum basilicum L.

by Hassiba Fraj and Stefaan P. O. Werbrouck

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1776; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13031776 - 30 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1434

Abstract

Serendipita indica is a plant growth-promoting fungus. It is a natural soil dweller that can colonize the roots of a wide range of plants, including cultivated crops. S. indica has been reported to improve plant nutrient uptake and increase stress tolerance when inoculated [...] Read more.

Serendipita indica is a plant growth-promoting fungus. It is a natural soil dweller that can colonize the roots of a wide range of plants, including cultivated crops. S. indica has been reported to improve plant nutrient uptake and increase stress tolerance when inoculated into the soil. The present study was undertaken to study the effect of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of S. indica on salt-stressed Ocimum basilicum ‘Fin vert’ in vitro, either in a culture vessel with a semi-solid medium or via a modified temporary immersion bioreactor system (SETIS). For all salt concentrations, VOCs of S. indica significantly improved plant growth in both semi-solid medium and SETIS bioreactors. This resulted in heavier and taller plants, more shoots per plant, and longer roots. This was even observed for the control without salt. At 9 g/L NaCl, plants with Serendipita were able to give longer roots than those without (1.2 cm vs. 0.0 and 1.7 cm vs. 1.7 cm) in the semi-solid medium and SETIS, respectively. Nevertheless, the VOCs were not able to make the plant salt tolerant to this high concentration. The increase in total phenolic and flavonoid content and radical scavenging suggest that the antioxidant defense system is triggered by the S. indica VOCs. In the semi-solid system, without VOCs, 1 g/L NaCl led to an increase in total chlorophyll content (TCC) and a significant decrease in TCC was further measured only at 6 g/L NaCl or more. However, when VOCs were added, the bleaching effect of the salt was partially restored, even at 6 and 9 g/L NaCl. A significant decrease in TCC was also measured in the SETIS system at 6 g/L NaCl or more and treatment with VOC did not make any difference. An exception was 9 g/L, where the VOC-treated plants produced more than three times more chlorophyll than the non-treated plants. These findings will encourage the application of Serendipita indica for stress reduction. In addition, the proposed original adaptation of a temporary immersion system will be instrumental to investigate stress reduction associated with volatile compounds and better understand their mechanism of action. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Halophytes Plants)

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13 pages, 1788 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Profiling of Limonium vulgare Mill. Using UHPLC-DAD-ESI/MS² and GC-MS Analysis

by Benedict Carius, Helena Silva, Artur M. S. Silva and Diana C. G. A. Pinto

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(13), 6384; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12136384 - 23 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1345

Abstract

Limonium vulgare Mill. is a plant growing widely in harsh environments, such as salt marshes, for which a chemical profile is still unknown, although some interesting bioactivities were already reported. So, this halophyte chemical profile must be established to find the possible bioactive [...] Read more.

Limonium vulgare Mill. is a plant growing widely in harsh environments, such as salt marshes, for which a chemical profile is still unknown, although some interesting bioactivities were already reported. So, this halophyte chemical profile must be established to find the possible bioactive compounds, valorize the species, and contribute to the salt marsh’s exploitation. This work set the chemical profile of L. vulgare’s aerial parts (leaves and inflorescences) using UHPLC-DAD-ESI/MS² and GC-MS analysis. The lipophilic profile showed a richness in fatty acids, alkanes, and terpenoids, β-sitosterol being the major compound in inflorescences in the fruiting stage (0.822 ± 0.015 mg/g of the dry plant) and leaves (0.534 ± 0.017 mg/g of the dry plant). In contrast, in the inflorescences in the flowering stage, the major compound is nonacosane (0.228 ± 0.001 mg/g of the dry plant). The polyphenolic profile demonstrates that L. vulgare produces several flavonoids from which quercetin and myricetin can be highlighted; in particular, myricetin derivatives are prevalent in all extracts. Amongst the flavonoids, myricetin 3-rhamnoside is the most abundant in the inflorescences in the flowering stage (6.35 ± 0.05 mg/g of the dry plant), myricetin in leaves (9.69 ± 0.11 mg/g of the dry plant), and in the inflorescences in the fruiting stage baicalin presents the highest amount (5.15 ± 0.07 mg/g of the dry plant). This is the first report on L. vulgare’s chemical profile and the results indicate that this species is an exciting source of bioactive compounds, suggesting it has a use to produce nutraceuticals and/or pharmaceuticals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Halophytes Plants)

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Review

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27 pages, 1856 KiB

Open AccessReview

Potential of Halophytes-Associated Microbes for the Phytoremediation of Metal-Polluted Saline Soils

by Pauline Bonaventure, Linda Guentas, Valérie Burtet-Sarramegna and Hamid Amir

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(7), 4228; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13074228 - 27 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1800

Abstract

Saline ecosystems are often the target of spills and releases of pollutants such as metals, as many industrial companies settle in or around these areas. Metal pollution is a major threat for humans and ecosystems. In line with sustainable development, nature-based solutions and [...] Read more.

Saline ecosystems are often the target of spills and releases of pollutants such as metals, as many industrial companies settle in or around these areas. Metal pollution is a major threat for humans and ecosystems. In line with sustainable development, nature-based solutions and biological tools such as phytoremediation offer eco-friendly and low-cost solutions to remove metals or limit their spread in the environment. Many plant-growth-promoting (PGP) effects are frequently prospected in plant-associated microbes such as the production of auxins, siderophores, or extracellular polymeric substances to enhance phytoremediation. Halophytes are nowadays presented as good phytoremediators for metal-contaminated saline environments such as coastal regions, but little is known about the potential of their associated microbes in the bioaugmentation of this technique. Here, we review the studies that focused on halophytes-associated microbes and their plant-growth-promotion capacities. Moreover, we discuss the limitation and applicability of bioaugmented phytoremediation in saline ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Halophytes Plants)

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13 pages, 448 KiB

Open AccessReview

Climate Change Modulates Halophyte Secondary Metabolites to Reshape Rhizosphere Halobacteria for Biosaline Agriculture

by Asadullah and Asghari Bano

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1299; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app13031299 - 18 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1721

Abstract

To feed the ever-increasing population under changing climate scenarios, it is imperative to investigate the role of halophytes, which are equipped with special adaptation mechanisms to cope under extreme conditions of salinity. In the current review, we aimed to report newly identified bioactive [...] Read more.

To feed the ever-increasing population under changing climate scenarios, it is imperative to investigate the role of halophytes, which are equipped with special adaptation mechanisms to cope under extreme conditions of salinity. In the current review, we aimed to report newly identified bioactive secondary metabolites that might play a role in establishing rhizosphere microbe associations, elucidate the negative impacts of salt stress, and direct the growth and yield of halophytes. A systematic approach was developed that deciphers those metabolites involved in regulating the physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of halophytes to salt stress. The mechanism of salinity tolerance, recruitment of beneficial microbes, and signaling role of secondary metabolites were also discussed. The role of halotolerant rhizobacteria’ secondary metabolites in the physiology and growth parameters of halophytes was also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Halophytes Plants)

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18 pages, 1832 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Halophytes as Medicinal Plants against Human Infectious Diseases

by Maria João Ferreira, Diana C. G. A. Pinto, Ângela Cunha and Helena Silva

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7493; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12157493 - 26 Jul 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2856

Abstract

Halophytes have long been used for medicinal purposes. However, for many decades, their use was entirely empirical, with virtually no knowledge of the bioactive compounds underlying the different applications. In recent decades, the growing problem of antibiotic resistance triggered the research on alternative [...] Read more.

Halophytes have long been used for medicinal purposes. However, for many decades, their use was entirely empirical, with virtually no knowledge of the bioactive compounds underlying the different applications. In recent decades, the growing problem of antibiotic resistance triggered the research on alternative antimicrobial approaches, and halophytes, along with other medicinal plants, regained attention as an underexplored pharmacological vein. Furthermore, the high nutritional/nutraceutical/pharmacological value of some halophytic species may represent added value to the emerging activity of saline agriculture and targeted modification of the rhizosphere, with plant-growth-promoting bacteria being attempted to be used as a tool to modulate the plant metabolome and enhance the expression of interesting metabolites. The objective of this review is to highlight the potential of halophytes as a valuable, and still unexplored, source of antimicrobial compounds for clinical applications. For that, we provide a critical perspective on the empirical use of halophytes in traditional medicine and a state-or-the-art overview of the most relevant plant species and metabolites related with antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Halophytes Plants)

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