A hydroponic experiment was conducted to assess whether grafting with Cucurbita rootstocks could improve the salt tolerance of melon scions and to determine the physiological, biochemical, and nutritional responses induced by the rootstocks under salt stress. Two melon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivars (Citirex and Altinbas) were grafted onto two commercial Cucurbita rootstocks (Kardosa and Nun9075). Plants were grown in aerated nutrient solution under deep water culture (DWC) at two electrical conductivity (EC) levels (control at 1.5 dS m⁻¹ and salt at 8.0 dS m⁻¹). Hydroponic salt stress led to a significant reduction in shoot and root growths, leaf area, photosynthetic activity, and leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of both grafted and nongrafted melons. Susceptible plants responded to salt stress by increasing leaf proline and malondialdehyde (MDA), ion leakage, and leaf Na⁺ and Cl⁻ contents. Statistically significant negative correlations existed between shoot dry biomass production and leaf proline (r = −0.89), leaf MDA (r = −0.85), leaf Na⁺ (r = −0.90), and leaf (r = 0.63) and root (r = −0.90) ion leakages under salt stress. Nongrafted Citirex tended to be more sensitive to salt stress than Altinbas. The Cucurbita rootstocks (Nun9075 and Kardosa) significantly improved growth and biomass production of grafted melons (scions) by inducing physiological (high leaf area and photosynthesis), biochemical (low leaf proline and MDA), and nutritional (low leaf Na⁺ and ion leakage and high K⁺ and Ca⁺⁺ contents) responses under salt stress. The highest growth performance was exhibited by the Citirex/Nun9075 and Citirex/Kardosa graft combinations. Both Cucurbita cultivars have high rootstock potential for melon, and their significant contributions to salt tolerance were closely associated with inducing physiological and biochemical responses of scions. These traits could be useful for the selection and breeding of salt-tolerant rootstocks for sustainable agriculture in the future.

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is a nutrient-dense leafy vegetable of global importance, valued for its health-promoting properties. However, its growth and productivity are often constrained by inadequate nutrient management practices. To address this, a study was conducted from November 2022 to February 2023 at the Nursery Department of Horticulture, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, with the objective of evaluating the response of spinach growth to varying levels of macronutrients. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Two spinach varieties, namely Sindhi spinach and English spinach, were cultivated in pots, and macronutrients were applied as treatments, including N1 = Control N2 = NPK (2g L-1) N3 = Calcium Nitrate (0.5g L-1 and N4 = NPK (2g L-1) + Calcium Nitrate (0.5g L-1). The results of the present study revealed that English spinach consistently outperformed Sindhi spinach across growth parameters, while the combined application of NPK and calcium nitrate produced the most favorable outcomes. Overall, the study demonstrates that integrated nutrient management, particularly NPK with calcium nitrate, significantly enhances spinach growth and variety performance.

Garlic (Allium sativum) production is often constrained by poor sprouting and weak vegetative growth, which are strongly influenced by environmental cues such as temperature and day length. The present experiment was conducted during autumn 2022-23 at the Nursery, Department of Horticulture, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, to evaluate the effect of vernalization and photoperiod on the sprouting and early growth of garlic variety Desi at the green stage. The experiment followed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with a factorial arrangement comprising vernalization treatments (V1 = 5 °C + 24 h, V2 = 5 °C + 48 h, V3 = 7 °C + 24 h and V4 = 7 °C + 48 h) and photoperiods (P1 = Partial shade and P2 = Sunlight). Data were recorded for sprouting percentage, days to sprouting, plant height, leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf weight, fresh biomass, and days to harvest. Vernalization and photoperiod significantly influenced most growth attributes. Cloves treated at 7 °C for 24 h or 48 h generally showed improved performance across sprouting and vegetative parameters. Specifically, 7 °C for 24 h promoted early sprouting and higher leaf weight, while 7 °C for 48 h produced longer leaves and greater fresh biomass. Plants grown under sunlight exhibited superior plant height and biomass compared to partial shade. The interaction of 7 °C treatments with sunlight yielded the most vigorous plants overall. In conclusion, short- to moderate-duration vernalization (7 °C for 24-48 h) significantly enhanced sprouting and vegetative growth of garlic, with photoperiod playing a decisive role in optimizing these responses.

Global warming and change in climate triggers to combat the feeding need of the population, seed represent the basic requirement for a quality plant material. The present research was carried out in 2021 at Horticulture Garden Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam to assess the effect of different nutrients application on seed germination of marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) The present study was conducted to evaluate effect of different nutrients application on seed germination of marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) Therefore, the seeds of marigold were emersed in 1% solution of ammonium sulphate ((NH4)2SO4), boric acid (H3BO3), and potassium nitrate (KNO3) to get the accuracy of seed germination. Results revealed that maximum seed germination percentage (85.27%), germination rate of index (83.84), coefficient of velocity germination (2.96), mean germination time (12.73), mean germination rate (44.45), germination index (1.55), final germination percentage (1.23%), first day of germination percentage (74.61), last day of germination (13.23) and time spread germination (14.40) was observed when 1% potassium nitrate was applied and followed by boric acid {seed germination percentage (59.20%), germination rate of index (54.93), coefficient of velocity germination (24.13), mean germination time (8.84), mean germination rate (36.20), germination index (1.04), final germination percentage (3.10), first day of germination percentage (74.36), last day of germination (15.16) and time spread germination (11.90)} while the minimum results were recorded in control with mineral water seed germination percentage (18.28%), germination rate of index (3.26), coefficient of velocity germination (0.73), mean germination time (2.70), mean germination rate (11.00), germination index (0.32), final germination percentage (10.43), first day of germination percentage (37.35), last day of germination (15.06) and time spread germination (4.83) and Pearson correlation (r) exhibited a strong positive correlation observed in MGR with CVG=0.4482, FDP=0.3696, G=0.4554, GI=0.4551, GP=0.4499 and GRI=0.3766-). This study showed that seed is directly related with germination and germination-related traits. It has a great positive impact on crop yield.