Nutrient management and fertilizer application are influential elements for high yield and preferred grain quality. Negligible information is available regarding fertilizer application in the paddy fields in Afghanistan. This research elucidates the efficacy of different fertilizers’ application on growth attributes, yield potential, and grain quality of rice. The treatments included the traditional application rate of nitrogen and phosphorus (RD), animal manure (AM), animal manure with 50% nitrogen and phosphorus of the traditional application rate (AMRD), sawdust (SD), and sawdust with 50% nitrogen and phosphorus of the traditional application rate (SDRD). Growth parameters, grain yield and its components, physicochemical properties, and morphological observation using scanning electron microscopy were recorded. The results revealed that the greatest panicle number, spikelet number, and grain yield were recorded in AMRD and SDRD treatments. Both AMRD and SDRD treatments increased the percentage of protein, amylose, and lipid contents, as well as the percentage of perfect grain compared to the RD treatment. Rice grain in RD treatment had very few protein bodies and their traces (pits), as well as the formation of amyloplasts and starch granules, were normal. However, AMRD and SDRD increased the number of protein bodies and their pits in the rice endosperm. The shapes of the amyloplasts were round and polyhedral with diverse sizes. Starch granules were polygonal with sharply defined edges. This research encourages farmers to adopt the combined application of manures and fertilizers to decrease the dependence on inorganic fertilizers.

Pre-sowing seed priming is one of the methods used to improve the performance of tomato plants under salt stress, but its effect photosynthesis, yield, and quality have not yet been well investigated. This experiment aimed to alleviate the impact of sodium chloride stress on the photosynthesis parameters of tomato cv. Micro−Tom (a dwarf Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants exposed to salt stress conditions. Each treatment combination consisted of five different sodium chloride concentrations (0 mM, 50 mM, 100 mM, 150 mM, and 200 mM) and four priming treatments (0 MPa, −0.4 MPa, −0.8 MPa, and −1.2 MPa), with five replications. Microtome seeds were subjected to polyethylene glycol (PEG6000) treatments for 48 hours for priming, followed by germination on a moist filter paper, and then transferred to the germination bed after 24 h. Subsequently, the seedlings were transplanted into the Rockwool, and the salinity treatments were administered after a month. In our study salinity significantly affected tomato plants’ physiological and antioxidant attributes. Primed seeds produced plants that exhibited relatively better photosynthetic activity than those grown from unprimed seeds. Our findings indicated that priming doses of −0.8 MPa and −1.2 MPa were the most effective at stimulating tomato plant photosynthesis, and biochemical contents under salinity-related conditions. Moreover, primed plants demonstrated relatively superior fruit quality features such as fruit color, fruit Brix, sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose), organic acids, and vitamin C contents under salt stress, compared to non-primed plants. Furthermore, priming treatments significantly decreased the malondialdehyde, proline, and hydrogen peroxide content in plant leaves. Our results suggest that seed priming may be a long-term method for improving crop productivity and quality in challenging environments by enhancing the growth, physiological responses, and fruit quality attributes of Micro-Tom tomato plants under salt stress conditions.

Background: The projected increase in global temperature is expected to negatively impact food production in many regions. Rice exposure to heat stress can limit plant growth in different stages, especially at the seedling stage. In this experiment, two Indica parental lines N22 (heat tolerant) and BIM (heat sensitive) along with their F₂ hybrid were elucidated under different high temperatures (28 °C, 35 °C, and 42 °C) at the seedling stage. Results: The results indicated that the F₂ hybrid inherited the heat tolerance rate from the male heat-tolerant N22 parent. Based on phenological and physiological attributes, the F₂ hybrid exhibited excessive-performance as compared to its BIM parent under different high-temperature conditions. Specifically, absorbing the ample available water through the long-rooted system enabled rice seedlings to carry out high transpirational cooling. Furthermore, there was a strong relationship (r = 0.89, p < 0.01) between root length and transpiration rate under 42 °C. The temperature 35–42 °C caused a significant reduction in seedlings’ growth, chlorophyll content, and survival rate (18–20%), while the relative heat injury percentage and leaf temperature increased in heat-sensitive BIM parent as compared to F₂ hybrid. Conclusion: This study suggests that the breeding of heat-tolerant hybrid rice plays an important role in the production of a resilient rice plant through heat-tolerant seedlings at the initial vegetative growth stage.

Salt stress is a major constraint to crop productivity, negatively affecting plant physiology and fruit quality. This study hypothesized that seed priming with polyethylene glycol (PEG6000) might enhance antioxidant activity by mitigating oxidative stress in Solanum lycopersicum ‘Micro-Tom’ under salt stress. Seeds primed with –1.2 MPa PEG6000 were grown in Rockwool and treated with 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM NaCl. Primed plants showed a 32% increase in leaf potassium (K⁺) and a 28% decrease in sodium (Na⁺) accumulation compared to non-primed plants under 150 mM NaCl. Glucose, fructose, and sucrose contents increased by 25%, 22%, and 19%, respectively, in primed fruits, while citric acid decreased by 15%. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage were reduced by 35% and 29%, respectively, in primed plants under moderate salinity. Antioxidant enzyme activities—SOD, POD, CAT, and APX were enhanced by 30–45% in primed plants under 100 and 150 mM NaCl, compared to non-primed controls. Abscisic acid (ABA) levels increased by 40% in primed roots under salt stress. Activities of polyamine-related enzymes (DAO, PAO, and ADC) also rose significantly. Priming improved protein content by 20% and relative water content by 18%. These results suggest that PEG6000 seed priming enhances salt tolerance by boosting antioxidant defense, regulating osmotic balance, and improving ion homeostasis, offering a viable strategy for sustaining tomato productivity under salinity.

Heat stress is a critical limiting factor in rice production, and a comprehensive understanding of the physiological traits contributing to yield under such conditions remains incomplete. This study evaluated the effects of heat stress on six rice varieties: Nagina22 (N22), NERICA4 (NER), Nipponbare (NPB), IR64, Berenj-I-Mahin (BIM), and Berenj-I-Luk (BIL) exposed to maximum temperatures exceeding 40 °C from flowering to the grain-filling stage. Results demonstrated a strong correlation between the photosynthetic rate and both 1000-grain weight and transpiration rate at the flowering stage across all varieties. Under heat stress, NER, BIM, BIL, and IR64 exhibited elevated levels of malondialdehyde, indicative of oxidative damage, and sustained significant heat injury compared to ambient conditions. Heat stress notably impaired pollen viability and spikelet fertility, reducing crop yields. In contrast, the heat-tolerant variety N22 maintained the highest spikelet fertility rate, effectively regulated transpiration cooling, and significantly enhanced yield by maintaining a lower leaf temperature. The findings indicate that photosynthetic efficiency and oxidative stress during the flowering stage critically influence spikelet fertility and overall yield in rice under heat stress. This research provides valuable insights for rice breeders and agronomists, encouraging the development of heat-tolerant varieties and adaptive strategies to mitigate the adverse impacts of elevated temperatures during critical reproductive stages.