Leaf-level physiology, yield, and fruit quality of two strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivars, “BG4.370” and “Splendor” grown in five growing substrates were assessed. Substrate ratios were T1: tuff (0–4 mm), T2: cocopeat + perlite 4:1, T3: peatmoss + perlite 4:1, T4: tuff + cocopeat 4:1, and T5: tuff + peatmoss 4:1. Strawberry parameters were greatly affected by substrate composition but not cultivars. Plants grown in cocopeat + perlite 4:1 had the highest photosynthesis, transpiration, radical scavenging activity, and fruit firmness while those grown in peatmoss + perlite 4:1 had the highest yield, total phenolics and nitrate concentration compared to other substrates. Given that peat-based growing substrate has raised concerns over the environmental impacts such as, a reduction of wet-lands and loss of soil organic carbon, the lower environmental impact and higher fruit quality grown on cocopeat justifies the use of cocopeat as an alternative substrate to peatmoss.

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the separability potential of Sentinel-2A (MultiSpectral Instrument, MSI) and Landsat (Operational Land Imager, OLI and Thermal Infrared Sensor, TIRS) derived indices for detecting small-extent (70%. In fact, the dNBR-Sentinel-2/Landsat-8 overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient for classifying fire severity degree were less than 70% across the studied sites, except for Sentinel-dNBR in Dibbeen (72.5%). In conclusion, Sentinel-dNBR and Landsat promise to delimitate forest fire perimeters of small-scale (<25 ha) areas, but further remotely-sensed techniques are require (e.g., Landsat-Sentinel data fusion) to improve the fire severity-separability potential.

High salinity levels of irrigated water and the accumulation of salt over time in the soil is a major concern worldwide, including in Jordan. The objective of this two-year study was to assess the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on the physiology, yield, and flower quality of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii cvs. Beaudine and Palm Beach) under different salinity levels (0.0, 20.0 and 40.0 mM-NaCl). The study was arranged in a randomized complete block design with five replicates. During the experimental period (2018–2019), chlorophyll content index (SPAD), leaf gas exchange (photosynthesis, Pn; stomatal conductance, gs; transpiration, E), flower yield, flower quality (pedicel length and diameter, number of days to flowering, flower diameter, and vase life), root sporulation, and colonization were measured. Irrigation with saline water (20 and 40 mM-NaCl) significantly increased salt accumulation in soil. The mean soil electrical conductivity (EC) after two growing seasons for the 20 mM-NaCl treatment was 2.9 dS m⁻¹ and 4.4 dS m⁻¹ for the 40 mM. High salinity level (40 mM-NaCl) reduced root AMF sporulation by 53–62% and colonization by 12–25% across cultivars. Interestingly, root colonization was higher than 50% across salinity level and in both cultivars. Saline water at 40 mM-NaCl significantly reduced SPAD, Pn, gs, E, flower yield, and quality component, especially vase life. Interestingly, leaf chlorophyll content index from AMF-inoculated plants was significantly higher than uninoculated ones across cultivars at the second growing season. In addition, inoculation with AMF significantly increased yield in both ‘Beaudine’ (34–40%) and ‘Palm Beach’ (42–44%) cultivars and across the study period, 2018 to 2019. In addition, AMF increased vase life in ‘Beaudine’ by 19% to 28% and in ‘Palm Beach’ by 21% to 22%. Overall, our results revealed that gerbera growers can increase their flower yield and postharvest flower quality component (vase life) under saline conditions (soil EC < 4.4 dS m⁻¹) by inoculating the seedlings with AMF.

Soilless substrates enhance growing environment, nutrient content, and water quality in the growing medium. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of substrate particle size on growth and flower quality (flower number and length per plant) of two asiatic hybrid lily ( Lilium × elegans ) cultivars Fangio and Ercolano. Plants were grown in 12-L pot under greenhouse conditions. Five grades of particle-size substrate, consisting of granulated volcanic material (tuff) were used as treatments. These sizes were 0 to 2, 0 to 4, 0 to 8, 2 to 4, and 4 to 8 mm. Fertigation was applied daily. Plant morphology, physiology, and flower quality were determined during flowering stage. Treatments of 2 to 4- and 4 to 8-mm tuff had lower water holding capacity (WHC), bulk density, electrical conductivity (EC), and pH compared with 0 to 2- and 0 to 4-mm tuff. In addition, plant height, leaf area, and flower quality of ‘Fangio’ were higher compared with ‘Ercolano’. Chlorophyll content and fluorescence were similar among all treatments. Leaf fresh weight, leaf area, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, and flower quality were higher in sizes of 0 to 4-, 2 to 4-, and 4 to 8-mm than 0 to 2-mm tuff, especially those from ‘Fangio’. The 0 to 4-mm substrate had an optimal and consistent flower quality results in both cultivars when compared with other tuff sizes. Overall, the results presented here suggest that using 0 to 4-mm tuff substrate holds promise for improving growth and flower quality of asiatic hybrid lily grown under soilless culture.