Soil salinity is an emerging phenomenon threatening arid and semiarid areas due to changing climatic events. Salinity, in combination with other elemental contaminants, can often harm crop performance and productivity. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the mitigating effect of Claroideoglomus etunicatum, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), on combined boron (B) toxicity and salt stress symptoms in maize plants. After the stress and AMF treatments, plants were subjected to a wide range of analyses, such as AMF colonization rates, ion leakage, plant biomass, and concentration of B, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, iron, zinc, copper, and manganese in root and shoot tissues. The results showed that the combined stress did not affect the AMF colonization rate. AMF inoculation significantly increased plant biomass, the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, and shoot B, sodium, and copper concentrations, but reduced root B concentrations and ion leakage. AMF inoculation slightly increased root dry weight and the sodium, potassium, zinc, copper and Mn contents in shoots under combined B and salinity stress, while AMF reduced the electrolyte leakage in leaves. It is inferred that AMF can ameliorate B toxicity in maize by improving biomass and reducing B concentration in plant tissues. Our research implies that C. etunicatum could be a valuable candidate for assisting in the remediation of boron-contaminated and saline soils.

Cucumber, a vital greenhouse crop, thrives in soils with a pH range of 5.5–6.5, yet the combined effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and iron amino chelates on its growth and physiological responses across varying pH levels remain underexplored. This study used a factorial design in a completely randomized setup with three replications and was conducted at the Horticulture Department of Isfahan University of Technology. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of AMF inoculation (Glomus mosseae) and iron amino chelates on the growth and physiological responses of cucumber plants at various pH levels. Treatments included two levels of AMF inoculation (non-inoculated as m1 and inoculated as m²), three levels of iron concentration (f1: no iron, f2: Johnson’s nutrient solution, f3: Johnson’s solution with iron amino chelate), and three pH levels (pH 5 (p1), pH 7 (p2), and pH 8 (p3)). The moisture was maintained at field capacity throughout the study. The results demonstrated that mycorrhizal inoculation at pH 7 significantly improved key traits, including chlorophyll content, photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, phenol content, and antioxidant activity. Mycorrhizal inoculation combined with 2 ppm of Fe amino chelate at pH 7 led to the highest improvement in shoot fresh weight of cucumber and physiological traits. However, at pH 7 without mycorrhiza, stress indicators such as ABA levels and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT, and APX) increased, highlighting the protective role of AMF under neutral pH conditions. In contrast, pH 5 was most effective for enhancing root and stem fresh weight. The lower pH may have facilitated better nutrient solubility and uptake, promoting root development and overall plant health by optimizing the availability of essential nutrients and reducing competition for resources under more acidic conditions. These findings highlight the potential of combining mycorrhizal inoculation with iron amino chelates at pH 7 not only to enhance cucumber growth and resilience in nutrient-limited environments but also to contribute to sustainable agricultural practices that address global challenges in food security and soil health.

Brassica vegetables are in high demand because they are an essential nutrient source for humans. Glucosinolates (GSLs), a major bioactive compound found in Brassicaceae, are amino acid derivatives that contribute to the health benefits of these crops. Light quality plays a significant role in plant growth and metabolite synthesis, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as artificial light sources offer many benefits. This study examined three cultivars of leafy cabbage B. oleracea. var. acephala (Kale), B. oleracea var. viridis (collard), and B. oleracea var. capitata (cabbage) grown under different LED conditions (red, blue, and blue–red) in the growing chamber. The primary objective of this study was to identify the most effective LED light spectrum for promoting GSLs accumulation and enhancing the overall plant quality. The findings of this study demonstrate that LED lights can have varying impacts on the cultivars of leafy cabbage. The different light spectra had varying impacts on the parameters examined in this study. GSLs compounds, particularly glucobrassicin, showed the most significant increase under the blue light treatment, with a 61% increase compared to the control. The R&B (red and blue) light treatment was the most effective in improving the growth traits of the shoot and root in the Kale cultivar. For the collard cultivar, the R&B light increased the leaf length and width, whereas for the cabbage cultivar, it led to an increase in the number of leaves and chlorophyll index. These findings demonstrate that the specific light quality can have different effects on the phytochemical composition and morphological characteristics of the different leafy cabbage cultivars. The blue light spectrum was particularly effective in enhancing GSLs accumulation, while the combination of red and blue light provided the most beneficial effects on overall plant growth and development across the three cultivars studied. These results suggest that the metabolism and phytochemical properties of leafy cabbage cultivars depend on exposure to multiple factors, such as cultivar type and light quality. Therefore, R&B light was the most effective light for most traits and can be suggested for performance.

The success of vegetable farming is highly dependent on seedling quality, which is influenced by the composition of the substrate. This study evaluates the potential of insect proteins and additives in peat-based growing media for professional seedling production. The research was conducted in a plastic greenhouse at the experimental farm of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Soroksár. Peat moss was supplemented with additives at 5%, 10%, and 50% (w/v) (mealworm frass), as well as with 5% and 10% black soldier fly (BSF) insect protein. These treatments, alongside a control group of pure peat moss, were tested on three horticultural species: kohlrabi, cucumber, and tomato. A completely randomized design with three replications per treatment was used to assess germination, seedling growth, and the physicochemical properties of the substrates. Results showed that low additive concentrations (5% and 10%) significantly enhanced seed germination and seedling growth, whereas high concentrations (50%) and BSF protein treatments inhibited performance. Cucumbers exhibited the highest germination rate at 5% additive, while tomatoes showed the highest germination under control treatment. Growth parameters such as plant height, stem diameter, and biomass were optimized at 10% additive for cucumber and tomatoes, while kohlrabi responded best to 5% additive. Chemical analysis indicated that substrate pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were slightly above optimal levels, affecting seedling performance in high-concentration treatments. The findings suggest that moderate supplementation (5-10%) of additives can improve seedling quality, making them a viable alternative to conventional peat-based media. However, higher concentrations and BSF protein require further refinement to mitigate negative effects. Future research should explore optimized formulations to enhance substrate performance while ensuring environmental sustainability in seedling production.