The effect of γ-Aminobutyrate (GABA) on maize seedlings under saline stress conditions has not been well tested in previous literature. Maize seedlings were subjected to two saline water concentrations (50 and 100 mM NaCl), with distilled water as the control. Maize seedlings under saline and control conditions were sprayed with GABA at two concentrations (0.5 and 1 mM). Our results indicated that GABA application (1 mM) significantly enhanced plant growth parameters (fresh shoots and fresh roots by 80.43% and 47.13%, respectively) and leaf pigments (chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll by 22.88%, 56.80%, and 36.21%, respectively) compared to untreated seedlings under the highest saline level. Additionally, under 100 mM NaCl, methylglyoxal (MG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxidase (H₂O₂) were reduced by 1 mM GABA application by 43.66%, 33.40%, and 35.98%, respectively. Moreover, maize seedlings that were treated with 1 mM GABA contained a lower Na content (22.04%) and a higher K content (60.06%), compared to the control under 100 mM NaCl. Peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities were improved (24.62%, 15.98%, 62.13%, and 70.07%, respectively) by the highest GABA rate, under the highest stress level. Seedlings treated with GABA under saline conditions showed higher levels of expression of the potassium transporter protein (ZmHKT1) gene, and lower expression of the ZmSOS1 and ZmNHX1 genes, compared to untreated seedlings. In conclusion, GABA application as a foliar treatment could be a promising strategy to mitigate salinity stress in maize plants.

Calla lily (Zantedeschia albomaculata (Hook.) Baill.) is an herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennial grown from rhizomes. It is commonly named “Spotted Arum”. Ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) are found in all known organisms and are known for being functionally equivalent in all of them. A completely new in vitro culture protocol was applied to Z. albomaculata with two hormones, 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and kinetin, to obtain full growth and multiplication. Due to their highly conserved sequences, the analysis of small-subunit rRNAs (16S–18S rRNAs) can provide precise statistical evaluation of a wide variety of phylogenetic connections. As a result, the plant’s 18S rRNA gene allowed for identification and partial sequencing. Also, the traditional floral method and the novel application technique for identification were applied to Z. albomaculata. In this paper we systemically describe the structural strategies of the plant’s adaptation to the surroundings at the morphological, physiological, and anatomical scale. Most the essential oils and fatty acids found in Z. albomaculata are omega fatty acids, octadecenoic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitic acid. All these fatty acids have industrial, medicinal, and pharmaceutical applications. The significant findings are the spadix sheathing leaves, and the precipitation of raphides calcium oxalate. The mitotic index showing the division activity was recorded, and it was 17.4%. The antimicrobial activity of Z. albomaculata ethanol extract was performed via the well diffusion method. This extract has shown high activity against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, compared to its lower activity against Bacillus cereus. By defining these characteristics and in vitro culture conditions, we will be able to acclimatize the plant in greenhouses, and then transfer it to the open field. The findings of this work identified the general characteristics of Zantedeschia albomaculata as an ornamental and medicinal plant in order to acclimatize this plant for cultivation in the Mediterranean climate.

The mechanism by which folic acid (FA) or its derivatives (folates) mediates plant tolerance to sodic-alkaline stress has not been clarified in previous literature. To apply sodic-alkaline stress, maize seedlings were irrigated with 50 mM of a combined solution (1:1) of sodic-alkaline salts (NaHCO₃ and Na₂CO₃; pH 9.7). Maize seedlings under stressed and non-stressed conditions were sprayed with folic acid (FA) at 0 (distilled water as control), 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 mM. Under sodic-alkaline stress, FA applied at 0.2 mM significantly improved shoot fresh weight (95%), chlorophyll (Chl a (41%), Chl b (57%), and total Chl (42%)), and carotenoids (27%) compared to the untreated plants, while root fresh weight was not affected compared to the untreated plants. This improvement was associated with a significant enhancement in the cell-membrane stability index (CMSI), relative water content (RWC), free amino acids (FAA), proline, soluble sugars, K, and Ca. In contrast, Na, Na/K ratio, H₂O₂, malondialdehyde (MDA), and methylglycoxal (MG) were significantly decreased. Moreover, seedlings treated with FA demonstrated significantly higher activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) compared to the untreated plants. The molecular studies using RT-qPCR demonstrated that FA treatments, specifically at 0.2 mM, enhanced the K⁺/Na⁺ selectivity and the performance of photosynthesis under alkaline-stress conditions. These responses were observed through up-regulation of the expression of the high-affinity potassium-transporter protein (ZmHKT1), the major core protein of photosystem II (D2-Protein), and the activity of the first enzyme of carbon fixation cycle in C4 plants (PEP-case) by 74, 248, and 225% over the untreated plants, respectively. Conversely, there was a significant down-regulation in the expression ZmSOS1 and ZmNHX1 by 48.2 and 27.8%, respectively, compared to the untreated plants.

The utilization of vermi-technology to reduce allelopathic effects is a cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally appropriate alternative to traditional chemical and mechanical methods. The current investigation was an effort to obtain vermicompost from C. erectus and its binary combination with soil and farmyard manure (FYM) using E. foetida. The pH, EC, organic carbon, macro and micro-nutrients, CO₂ emission, the average growth rate of the worms, number of worms, number of cocoons, and weight gained by earthworms were analyzed by standard methods. The present study also investigated the effect of produced vermicompost on the growth and yield of mung beans (Vigna radiata L). The maximum reduction in soil pH was observed (6.47) in vermicompost of C. erectus leaves, among other treatments. The highest N (1.86%), P (0.15%), and K (0.41%) contents were found in the vermicompost of C. erectus leaves + FYM. Similarly, the maximum plant height (36.00 cm) was achieved in vermicompost of C. erectus leaves + FYM compared to other treatments. The highest SPAD value was observed (56.37) when the soil was treated with vermicompost (C. erectus leaves + FYM) @ 5 t ha⁻¹, followed by the treatment where vermicompost (C. erectus leaves + soil) @ 8 t ha⁻¹ was applied. The soil amendment of vermicompost (C. erectus leaves + FYM) @ 5 t ha⁻¹ showed competitive results (in terms of the growth and yield parameters of mung beans) compared to other types of vermicompost and C. erectus biomass. This study has the potential to reduce the phytotoxicity of C. erectus biomass and transform it into a potent organic fertilizer through vermicomposting.