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Prof. Juan A. Fernández
Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena

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0 Horticulture
0 Cultivation Systems
0 Hydroponics and Soiless Culture
0 Plant genetic resources
0 Greenhouse Crops and Hydroponics

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Review
Published: 12 August 2021 in Horticulturae
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Soilless culture systems are currently one of the fastest-growing sectors in horticulture. The plant roots are confined into a specific rootzone and are exposed to environmental changes and cultivation factors. The recent scientific evidence regarding the effects of several environmental and cultivation factors on the morphology, architecture, and performance of the root system of plants grown in SCS are the objectives of this study. The effect of root restriction, nutrient solution, irrigation frequency, rootzone temperature, oxygenation, vapour pressure deficit, lighting, rootzone pH, root exudates, CO2, and beneficiary microorganisms on the functionality and performance of the root system are discussed. Overall, the main results of this review demonstrate that researchers have carried out great efforts in innovation to optimize SCS water and nutrients supply, proper temperature, and oxygen levels at the rootzone and effective plant–beneficiary microorganisms, while contributing to plant yields. Finally, this review analyses the new trends based on emerging technologies and various tools that might be exploited in a smart agriculture approach to improve root management in soilless cropping while procuring a deeper understanding of plant root–shoot communication.

ACS Style

Astrit Balliu; Youbin Zheng; Glenda Sallaku; Juan A. Fernández; Nazim S. Gruda; Yuksel Tuzel. Environmental and Cultivation Factors Affect the Morphology, Architecture and Performance of Root Systems in Soilless Grown Plants. Horticulturae 2021, 7, 243 .

AMA Style

Astrit Balliu, Youbin Zheng, Glenda Sallaku, Juan A. Fernández, Nazim S. Gruda, Yuksel Tuzel. Environmental and Cultivation Factors Affect the Morphology, Architecture and Performance of Root Systems in Soilless Grown Plants. Horticulturae. 2021; 7 (8):243.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Astrit Balliu; Youbin Zheng; Glenda Sallaku; Juan A. Fernández; Nazim S. Gruda; Yuksel Tuzel. 2021. "Environmental and Cultivation Factors Affect the Morphology, Architecture and Performance of Root Systems in Soilless Grown Plants." Horticulturae 7, no. 8: 243.

Journal article
Published: 28 July 2021 in Journal of Food Composition and Analysis
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Nowadays, literature is still limited on the effects that LEDs may trigger during postharvest. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of continuous monochromatic Yellow or Green light on total and individual phenolic and glucosinolate content of 9-day broccoli sprouts stored up to 15 days at 5 °C as a ready-to-eat product. In addition, a broad-spectrum White LED light, a Fluorescent light and storage in Darkness were used as treatments. An improvement in the total phenolic content (TPC) of 15 % and 13 % was observed under Yellow and White LED lighting, respectively, throughout the shelf-life as compared to Darkness. While Green LEDs did not affect the TPC, an increase of 34.5 % on the total glucosinolate content (TGC) was associated to this treatment on day 4. The highest increase of the TGC was observed under Yellow lighting (77 %, compared to Darkness). In contrast, Fluorescent and Darkness did not affect the TPC, but reduced the TGC (69 and 62 % compared to values at harvest, respectively). Our study demonstrates that a postharvest Yellow LED lighting stimulates the TPC and the TGC accumulation, opening the way for its further applications along the shelf life of other horticultural commodities.

ACS Style

Noelia Castillejo; Lorena Martínez-Zamora; Perla A. Gómez; Giuseppina Pennisi; Andrea Crepaldi; Juan A. Fernández; Francesco Orsini; Francisco Artés-Hernández. Postharvest yellow LED lighting affects phenolics and glucosinolates biosynthesis in broccoli sprouts. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 2021, 103, 104101 .

AMA Style

Noelia Castillejo, Lorena Martínez-Zamora, Perla A. Gómez, Giuseppina Pennisi, Andrea Crepaldi, Juan A. Fernández, Francesco Orsini, Francisco Artés-Hernández. Postharvest yellow LED lighting affects phenolics and glucosinolates biosynthesis in broccoli sprouts. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 2021; 103 ():104101.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Noelia Castillejo; Lorena Martínez-Zamora; Perla A. Gómez; Giuseppina Pennisi; Andrea Crepaldi; Juan A. Fernández; Francesco Orsini; Francisco Artés-Hernández. 2021. "Postharvest yellow LED lighting affects phenolics and glucosinolates biosynthesis in broccoli sprouts." Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 103, no. : 104101.

Journal article
Published: 03 July 2021 in Horticulturae
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The present work aims to explore the potential to improve quality of purslane microgreens by combining water salinity and LED lighting during their cultivation. Purslane plants were grown in a growth chamber with light insulated compartments, under different lighting sources on a 16 h d−1 photoperiod—fluorescent lamps (FL) and two LED treatments, including a red and blue (RB)) spectrum and a red, blue and far red (RB+IR) LED lights spectrum—while providing all of them a light intensity of 150 µmol m−2 s−1. Plants were exposed to two salinity treatments, by adding 0 or 80 mM NaCl. Biomass, cation and anions, total phenolics (TPC) and flavonoids content (TFC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total chlorophylls (Chl) and carotenoids content (Car) and fatty acids were determined. The results showed that yield was increased by 21% both in RB and RB+FR lights compared to FL and in salinity compared to non-salinity conditions. The nitrate content was reduced by 81% and 91% when microgreens were grown under RB and RB+FR, respectively, as compared to FL light, and by 9.5% under saline conditions as compared with non-salinity conditions. The lowest oxalate contents were obtained with the combinations of RB or RB+FR lighting and salinity. The content of Cl and Na in the leaves were also reduced when microgreens were grown under RB and RB+FR lights under saline conditions. Microgreens grown under RB light reached the highest TPC, while salinity reduced TFC, Chl and Car. Finally, the fatty acid content was not affected by light or salinity, but these factors slightly influenced their composition. It is concluded that the use of RB and RB+FR lights in saline conditions is of potential use in purslane microgreens production, since it improves the yield and quality of the product, reducing the content of anti-nutritional compounds.

ACS Style

Almudena Giménez; María Martínez-Ballesta; Catalina Egea-Gilabert; Perla Gómez; Francisco Artés-Hernández; Giuseppina Pennisi; Francesco Orsini; Andrea Crepaldi; Juan Fernández. Combined Effect of Salinity and LED Lights on the Yield and Quality of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) Microgreens. Horticulturae 2021, 7, 180 .

AMA Style

Almudena Giménez, María Martínez-Ballesta, Catalina Egea-Gilabert, Perla Gómez, Francisco Artés-Hernández, Giuseppina Pennisi, Francesco Orsini, Andrea Crepaldi, Juan Fernández. Combined Effect of Salinity and LED Lights on the Yield and Quality of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) Microgreens. Horticulturae. 2021; 7 (7):180.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Almudena Giménez; María Martínez-Ballesta; Catalina Egea-Gilabert; Perla Gómez; Francisco Artés-Hernández; Giuseppina Pennisi; Francesco Orsini; Andrea Crepaldi; Juan Fernández. 2021. "Combined Effect of Salinity and LED Lights on the Yield and Quality of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) Microgreens." Horticulturae 7, no. 7: 180.

Journal article
Published: 27 May 2021 in Agronomy
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Salt stress is one of the main limiting factors for plant growth and crop yield. Halophytes have been postulated as a new food source since they are able to grow under saline environments and have suitable minerals and bioactive compounds. See fennel Crithmum maritimum L. is a facultative halophyte moderately tolerant to salinity. This study was carried out in order to determine the effect spraying methyl jasmonate (MeJa) on the leaves had on the growth and nutritional quality of NaCl-treated sea fennel plants grown in a hydroponic system. For that, the seedlings were treated with (a) 0.5 mM MeJa, (b) 150 mM NaCl, and (c) 0.5 mM MeJa + 150 mM NaCl. The results showed that NaCl reduced the shoot biomass of baby leaf plants, but the addition of MeJa enabled partial recovery. At the same time, when compared with the plants treated only with NaCl, MeJa favoured the Ca and K uptake and translocation to the leaves of saline-treated plants. However, MeJa did not reduce Na levels. In all treatments, nitrate and nitrite ions were in the range of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) and essential fatty acid content was elevated, although the addition of MeJa to NaCl-treated plants reduced linolenic and linoleic acid contents as compared to the plants treated only with NaCl. Total phenolic compounds were not recovered by MeJa after their decrease by salinity and no differences in antioxidant activity was found between treatments. However, all the plants maintained their antioxidant nutritional properties and increased total flavonoids after MeJa spraying to NaCl-treated plants. These results showed that MeJa spraying alleviated the negative effects of salt stress in C. maritimum grown in floating systems, improving the growth of their edible parts and increasing the total flavonoid and mineral content without affecting the total antioxidant capacity of the plant.

ACS Style

M. Labiad; Almudena Giménez; Hafise Varol; Yüksel Tüzel; Catalina Egea-Gilabert; Juan Fernández; María Martínez-Ballesta. Effect of Exogenously Applied Methyl Jasmonate on Yield and Quality of Salt-Stressed Hydroponically Grown Sea Fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.). Agronomy 2021, 11, 1083 .

AMA Style

M. Labiad, Almudena Giménez, Hafise Varol, Yüksel Tüzel, Catalina Egea-Gilabert, Juan Fernández, María Martínez-Ballesta. Effect of Exogenously Applied Methyl Jasmonate on Yield and Quality of Salt-Stressed Hydroponically Grown Sea Fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.). Agronomy. 2021; 11 (6):1083.

Chicago/Turabian Style

M. Labiad; Almudena Giménez; Hafise Varol; Yüksel Tüzel; Catalina Egea-Gilabert; Juan Fernández; María Martínez-Ballesta. 2021. "Effect of Exogenously Applied Methyl Jasmonate on Yield and Quality of Salt-Stressed Hydroponically Grown Sea Fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.)." Agronomy 11, no. 6: 1083.

Journal article
Published: 15 May 2021 in Agriculture
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Long-term organic farming aims to reduce synthetic fertilizer and pesticide use in order to sustainably produce and improve soil quality. To do this, there is a need for more information about the soil microbial community, which plays a key role in a sustainable agriculture. In this paper, we assessed the long-term effects of two organic and one conventional cropping systems on the soil microbial community structure using high-throughput sequencing analysis, as well as the link between these communities and the changes in the soil properties and crop yield. The results showed that the crop yield was similar among the three cropping systems. The microbial community changed according to cropping system. Organic cultivation with manure compost and compost tea (Org_C) showed a change in the bacterial community associated with an improved soil carbon and nutrient content. A linear discriminant analysis effect size showed different bacteria and fungi as key microorganisms for each of the three different cropping systems, for conventional systems (Conv), different microorganisms such as Nesterenkonia, Galbibacter, Gramella, Limnobacter, Pseudoalteromonas, Pantoe, and Sporobolomyces were associated with pesticides, while for Org_C and organic cultivation with manure (Org_M), other types of microorganisms were associated with organic amendments with different functions, which, in some cases, reduce soil borne pathogens. However, further investigations such as functional approaches or network analyses are need to better understand the mechanisms behind this behavior.

ACS Style

Jessica Cuartero; Onurcan Özbolat; Virginia Sánchez-Navarro; Marcos Egea-Cortines; Raúl Zornoza; Loredana Canfora; Luigi Orrù; Jose Pascual; Juana-María Vivo; Margarita Ros. Changes in Bacterial and Fungal Soil Communities in Long-Term Organic Cropping Systems. Agriculture 2021, 11, 445 .

AMA Style

Jessica Cuartero, Onurcan Özbolat, Virginia Sánchez-Navarro, Marcos Egea-Cortines, Raúl Zornoza, Loredana Canfora, Luigi Orrù, Jose Pascual, Juana-María Vivo, Margarita Ros. Changes in Bacterial and Fungal Soil Communities in Long-Term Organic Cropping Systems. Agriculture. 2021; 11 (5):445.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jessica Cuartero; Onurcan Özbolat; Virginia Sánchez-Navarro; Marcos Egea-Cortines; Raúl Zornoza; Loredana Canfora; Luigi Orrù; Jose Pascual; Juana-María Vivo; Margarita Ros. 2021. "Changes in Bacterial and Fungal Soil Communities in Long-Term Organic Cropping Systems." Agriculture 11, no. 5: 445.

Journal article
Published: 08 May 2021 in Processes
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Mineral fertilization is considered to be useful for improving soil fertility and yields. However, its use is linked to global warming and soil and water pollution by its rapid mobilization. On the other hand, organic fertilization is recommended to maintain or improve soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks while contributing to climate change mitigation. The main goal of this study was to assess the effect of two different fertilizer types, mineral and organic, during three cowpea crop cycles on the soil’s physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, crop yield, crop quality and nutritional composition when considering two cowpea cultivars (Feijão frade de fio preto (FP) and Feijão frade de fio claro (FC)). The use of mineral fertilizers was seen to contribute to improved soil fertility due to the increase in soil properties, such as recalcitrant carbon, total nitrogen, ammonium content, available K and available Mg. On the other hand, organic fertilizers only increased the nitrate content in the soil. There were no differences in terms of cowpea crop yield, quality and nutritional composition by fertilizer type. Thus, both fertilizer types contributed to the same crop yield and quality, and thus the use of organic fertilizers can result in a sustainable alternative for maintaining cowpea crop yield and quality.

ACS Style

Virginia Sánchez-Navarro; Raúl Zornoza; Ángel Faz; Juan Fernández. Cowpea Crop Response to Mineral and Organic Fertilization in SE Spain. Processes 2021, 9, 822 .

AMA Style

Virginia Sánchez-Navarro, Raúl Zornoza, Ángel Faz, Juan Fernández. Cowpea Crop Response to Mineral and Organic Fertilization in SE Spain. Processes. 2021; 9 (5):822.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Virginia Sánchez-Navarro; Raúl Zornoza; Ángel Faz; Juan Fernández. 2021. "Cowpea Crop Response to Mineral and Organic Fertilization in SE Spain." Processes 9, no. 5: 822.

Journal article
Published: 26 March 2021 in Agronomy
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Spinach is rich in minerals, vitamins, phytochemicals and bioactive compounds with health-beneficial effects; however, this plant also tends to accumulate oxalates and nitrates in their leaves. Apart from genotype, nutrition is the pre-harvest factor that mostly affects quality attributes at harvest. Particularly, the application of compost extracts (CE) may induce resistance against soil-borne diseases and favour secondary metabolism, increasing antioxidant capacity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different types of fertilization with or without the addition of CE, on harvest quality and shelf life of minimally processed spinach (Spinacia oleracea, var. Shrike RZ) stored during 12 days at 4 °C. A compost extract (CE) was prepared by mixing a compost from agri-food wastes (vine pruning, leek waste and olive mill waste) with deionized water. CE foliar applications were done from days 28 and 56 after sowing. The treatments applied were: Control; Control + CE; NPK (inorganic NPK fertilizer 15-15-15); NPK + CE; DMPP (ENTEC Nitrofoska® plus the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP)) and DMPP + CE. After harvest, spinach leaves were minimally processed and packaged to generate a passive modified atmosphere. Nitrate content in the control treatment was reduced by the addition of CE, although in the rest of the treatments, CE addition did not produce any effect. For nitrite contents, the lowest value was obtained for the Control + CE. Moreover, the oxalate content was the lowest for the control treatment with a decreasing trend throughout the storage. The treatment Control + CE also showed the highest initial total phenolic contents, with very similar values at the end of shelf life to those observed at harvest for all the treatments. The highest differences in color as regards the initial values were detected for DMPP. Microbial loads increased for all the treatments without differences between them. The atmosphere reached at the end of the cold storage was the same for all the cases, with CO2 and O2 around 10 kPa for each one of them. After 12 days at 4 °C, all the treatments were above the limit of usability, with the spinach leaves acceptable for consumption. The results found in this study indicate that the addition of CE might be convenient for obtaining spinach rich in bioactive compounds and with low concentrations of antinutritional factors, without affecting the microbial load of the final product.

ACS Style

Almudena Giménez; Perla Gómez; María Bustamante; María Pérez-Murcia; Encarnación Martínez-Sabater; Margarita Ros; José Pascual; Catalina Egea-Gilabert; Juan Fernández. Effect of Compost Extract Addition to Different Types of Fertilizers on Quality at Harvest and Shelf Life of Spinach. Agronomy 2021, 11, 632 .

AMA Style

Almudena Giménez, Perla Gómez, María Bustamante, María Pérez-Murcia, Encarnación Martínez-Sabater, Margarita Ros, José Pascual, Catalina Egea-Gilabert, Juan Fernández. Effect of Compost Extract Addition to Different Types of Fertilizers on Quality at Harvest and Shelf Life of Spinach. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (4):632.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Almudena Giménez; Perla Gómez; María Bustamante; María Pérez-Murcia; Encarnación Martínez-Sabater; Margarita Ros; José Pascual; Catalina Egea-Gilabert; Juan Fernández. 2021. "Effect of Compost Extract Addition to Different Types of Fertilizers on Quality at Harvest and Shelf Life of Spinach." Agronomy 11, no. 4: 632.

Journal article
Published: 21 February 2021 in Scientia Horticulturae
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The rhizosphere is the closest area of soil around plant roots. Root exudates are the main plant factor responsible for changes in microbial communities. As brassica plants have a defence system based on secondary metabolites such as glucosinolates (GLS) and isothiocyanates (ITC), the aim of this study was to determine the root exudation of these metabolites by broccoli plants and the influence of elicitors on this process. Also, the effect of these exudates on plant pathogens Fusarium oxysporum, Pseudomonas syringae and Sphingomonas suberifaciens. Broccoli plants were grown under controlled conditions. Biostimulation treatment with methyl-jasmonate (MeJA) with/without NaCl conditions were applied. The glucosinolates and isothiocyanates were measured in the leaves, roots and growth solution. Also, these compounds present in the exudates were applied to cultures of pathogens to check the effect on their growth. The results indicate that broccoli plants exude both GLS and ITC, and that foliar application of MeJA has a systematic positive effect, enhancing their biosynthesis and exudation by root cells, however, the biostimulation produced a less plant growth under salinity conditions. The intact GLS plus the ITC detected in the growth solution showed a strong effect against the pathogens F. oxysporum, P. syringae, S. suberifaciens, providing the first evidence of their suppression to be implemented under agronomical conditions.

ACS Style

J.J. Rios; J.A. Pascual; M. Guillen; A. Lopez-Martinez; M. Carvajal. Influence of foliar Methyl-jasmonate biostimulation on exudation of glucosinolates and their effect on root pathogens of broccoli plants under salinity condition. Scientia Horticulturae 2021, 282, 110027 .

AMA Style

J.J. Rios, J.A. Pascual, M. Guillen, A. Lopez-Martinez, M. Carvajal. Influence of foliar Methyl-jasmonate biostimulation on exudation of glucosinolates and their effect on root pathogens of broccoli plants under salinity condition. Scientia Horticulturae. 2021; 282 ():110027.

Chicago/Turabian Style

J.J. Rios; J.A. Pascual; M. Guillen; A. Lopez-Martinez; M. Carvajal. 2021. "Influence of foliar Methyl-jasmonate biostimulation on exudation of glucosinolates and their effect on root pathogens of broccoli plants under salinity condition." Scientia Horticulturae 282, no. : 110027.

Journal article
Published: 07 February 2021 in Horticulturae
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Appropriate fertigation management plays an important role in increasing crop quality and economizing water. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of two fertigation treatments, normal (T100) and 50% sustained deficit (T50), on the physico-chemical quality of legumes. The determinations were performed on the edible parts of peas, French beans and mangetout. The trials were conducted in a protected cultivation certified organic farm. The response of legumes to the treatments varied between the cultivars tested. The fertigation treatments had a significant effect on the morphometric traits (width for mangetout and French bean; fresh weight for French bean; seed height for Pea cv. Lincoln). The total soluble solids and citric acid content have been shown to be increased by low soil water availability (T50) for mangetout. Fertigation treatments did not significantly affect the antioxidant compounds (total phenolic and ascorbic acid), minerals and protein fraction contents of legumes studied. Regarding legume health benefits, the most prominent cultivars were BC-033620 pea and French bean because of their high total phenolic (65 mg gallic acid equivalent 100 g−1 fresh weight) and ascorbic acid content (55 mg ascorbic acid 100 g−1 fresh weight), respectively. The results expand our knowledge concerning the nutraceutical quality and appropriate cultivation methods of legumes in order to make the system more sustainable and to encourage their consumption.

ACS Style

María García-García; Rafael Font; Pedro Gómez; Juan Valenzuela; Juan Fernández; Mercedes Del Río-Celestino. Effects of Fertigation Management on the Quality of Organic Legumes Grown in Protected Cultivation. Horticulturae 2021, 7, 28 .

AMA Style

María García-García, Rafael Font, Pedro Gómez, Juan Valenzuela, Juan Fernández, Mercedes Del Río-Celestino. Effects of Fertigation Management on the Quality of Organic Legumes Grown in Protected Cultivation. Horticulturae. 2021; 7 (2):28.

Chicago/Turabian Style

María García-García; Rafael Font; Pedro Gómez; Juan Valenzuela; Juan Fernández; Mercedes Del Río-Celestino. 2021. "Effects of Fertigation Management on the Quality of Organic Legumes Grown in Protected Cultivation." Horticulturae 7, no. 2: 28.

Journal article
Published: 25 January 2021 in Horticulturae
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Composts of spent mushrooms substrates can be an alternative for the partial replacement of peat as growing media in horticulture. Three mature composts from Agaricus bisporus (Ag), Pleurotus ostreatus (Pl), and 70% Ag:30% Pl (AgPl) production were used as partial components of peat growing media, used at a 1:4 compost:peat ratio for growing red baby leaf lettuce. They showed higher yields, between 3 and 7 times more than that for peat itself, even under the pressure of the plant pathogen Pythium irregulare. AgPl showed the higher suppressiveness (50%) against Pythium irregulare than Ag- (38%) or Pl- (15%) supplemented media. The combination of these raw materials and a suitable composting process is important for obtaining mature compost for use as a partial component of peat-based growing media.

ACS Style

Daniel Hernández; Margarita Ros; Francisco Carmona; José Saez-Tovar; Jose Pascual. Composting Spent Mushroom Substrate from Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus ostreatus Production as a Growing Media Component for Baby Leaf Lettuce Cultivation under Pythium irregulare Biotic Stress. Horticulturae 2021, 7, 13 .

AMA Style

Daniel Hernández, Margarita Ros, Francisco Carmona, José Saez-Tovar, Jose Pascual. Composting Spent Mushroom Substrate from Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus ostreatus Production as a Growing Media Component for Baby Leaf Lettuce Cultivation under Pythium irregulare Biotic Stress. Horticulturae. 2021; 7 (2):13.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniel Hernández; Margarita Ros; Francisco Carmona; José Saez-Tovar; Jose Pascual. 2021. "Composting Spent Mushroom Substrate from Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus ostreatus Production as a Growing Media Component for Baby Leaf Lettuce Cultivation under Pythium irregulare Biotic Stress." Horticulturae 7, no. 2: 13.

Journal article
Published: 10 October 2020 in Agronomy
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The floating system is a successful strategy for producing baby leaf vegetables. Moreover, compost from agricultural and agri-food industry wastes is an alternative to peat that can be used as a component of growing media in this cultivation system. In this study, we experimented with three composts containing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), leek (Allium porrum L.), grape (Vitis vinifera L.), and/or olive (Olea europaea L.) mill cake residues, which were used as the main component (75/25 volume/volume) of three growing media (GM1, GM2 and GM3) to evaluate their effect on the growth and quality of red baby leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). We used a commercial peat substrate as a control treatment (100% volume) and in mixtures (25% volume) with the composts. The plants were cultivated over two growing cycles, in spring and summer, and harvested twice in each cycle when the plants had four to five leaves. We found that the percentage of seed germination was significantly higher in plants grown in peat than in those grown in compost growing media. The yield was affected by the growing media in the summer cycle, and we obtained the highest value with GM1. Furthermore, the second cut was more productive than the first one for all the growing media in both cycles. The lettuce quality was also affected by the growing media. In general, the total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in the leaves was higher in plants grown in the compost growing media, particularly in the second cut, but the nitrate content in the leaves was greater in some of the compost treatments compared with the peat treatment. In addition, an in vitro suppressive activity study demonstrated that the interaction between different fungi and bacteria observed through metagenomics analysis could contribute to the effectiveness of the compost in controlling Pythium irregulare. The use of compost as a component of the growing media in the production of baby leaf vegetables in a floating system does not only favor the crop yield and product quality, but also shows suppressive effects against P. irregulare.

ACS Style

Almudena Giménez; Juan A. Fernández; José A. Pascual; Margarita Ros; José Saez-Tovar; Encarnación Martinez-Sabater; Nazim S. Gruda; Catalina Egea-Gilabert. Promising Composts as Growing Media for the Production of Baby Leaf Lettuce in a Floating System. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1540 .

AMA Style

Almudena Giménez, Juan A. Fernández, José A. Pascual, Margarita Ros, José Saez-Tovar, Encarnación Martinez-Sabater, Nazim S. Gruda, Catalina Egea-Gilabert. Promising Composts as Growing Media for the Production of Baby Leaf Lettuce in a Floating System. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (10):1540.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Almudena Giménez; Juan A. Fernández; José A. Pascual; Margarita Ros; José Saez-Tovar; Encarnación Martinez-Sabater; Nazim S. Gruda; Catalina Egea-Gilabert. 2020. "Promising Composts as Growing Media for the Production of Baby Leaf Lettuce in a Floating System." Agronomy 10, no. 10: 1540.

Article
Published: 27 June 2020 in Current Microbiology
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Strain SB0023/3 T, isolated from spores of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus iranicum var. tenuihypharum, was analysed to determine whether it represents a new species. It was studied for its applicability in the field of agriculture to reduce the input of nitrogen fertilizers. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence shows the strain to be affiliated to the genus Methylobacterium, the closest similarities (98.7%) being shared with Methylobacterium dankookense. Further phylogenomic analysis through Up-to-date Bacterial Core Gene (UBCG) confirmed Methylobacterium dankookense as its closest relative. Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization (DDH) were lower than 92% and 44%, respectively, of the values shown by its phylogenetic relatives. Its genome had an approximate length of 6.05 Mb and the G + C content of the genome was 70.1 mol%. The main cellular fatty acid was Summed Feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c). It is a Gram-staining-negative, pink-pigmented, strictly aerobic and facultative methylotroph; it grows at 28 ºC and can grow at up to 3% salinity in the presence of sodium chloride. All the data collected support the naming of a novel species to accommodate the strain SB0023/3 T, for which the name Methylobacterium symbioticum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SB0023/3 T (=CECT 9862 T =PYCC 8351 T).

ACS Style

Jose Antonio Pascual; Margarita Ros; Jesus Martínez; Francisco Carmona; Antonio Bernabé; Rocío Torres; Teresa Lucena; Rosa Aznar; David R. Arahal; Felix Fernández. Methylobacterium symbioticum sp. nov., a new species isolated from spores of Glomus iranicum var. tenuihypharum. Current Microbiology 2020, 77, 2031 -2041.

AMA Style

Jose Antonio Pascual, Margarita Ros, Jesus Martínez, Francisco Carmona, Antonio Bernabé, Rocío Torres, Teresa Lucena, Rosa Aznar, David R. Arahal, Felix Fernández. Methylobacterium symbioticum sp. nov., a new species isolated from spores of Glomus iranicum var. tenuihypharum. Current Microbiology. 2020; 77 (9):2031-2041.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jose Antonio Pascual; Margarita Ros; Jesus Martínez; Francisco Carmona; Antonio Bernabé; Rocío Torres; Teresa Lucena; Rosa Aznar; David R. Arahal; Felix Fernández. 2020. "Methylobacterium symbioticum sp. nov., a new species isolated from spores of Glomus iranicum var. tenuihypharum." Current Microbiology 77, no. 9: 2031-2041.

Journal article
Published: 09 June 2020 in Scientia Horticulturae
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Indoor plant cultivation systems are gaining increasing popularity because of their ability to meet the needs of producing food in unfavourable climatic contexts and in urban environments, allowing high yield, high quality, and great efficiency in the use of resources such as water and nutrients. While light is one of the most important environmental factors affecting plant development and morphology, electricity costs can limit the widespread adoption of indoor plant cultivation systems at a commercial scale. LED lighting technologies for plant cultivation are also rapidly evolving, and lamps for indoor cultivation are often designed to optimize their light emissions in the photosynthetically active spectrum (i.e. red and blue), in order to reduce energetic requirements for satisfactory yield. Under these light regimens, however, little information is available in literature about minimum photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) for indoor production of leafy vegetables and herbs, while existing literature often adopts light intensities from 100 to 300 μmol m-2 s-1. This study aims at defining the optimal PPFD for indoor cultivation of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), by linking resource use efficiency to physiological responses and biomass production under different light intensities. Basil and lettuce plants were cultivated at 24 °C and 450 μmol mol-1 CO2 under red and blue light (with red:blue ratio of 3) and a photoperiod of 16 h d-1 of light in growth chambers using five PPFD (100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 μmol m-2 s-1, resulting in daily light integrals, DLI, of 5.8, 8.6, 11.5, 14.4 and 17.3 mol m-2 d-1, respectively). A progressive increase of biomass production for both lettuce and basil up to a PPFD of 250 μmol m-2 s-1 was observed, whereas no further yield increases were associated with higher PPFD (300 μmol m-2 s-1). Despite the highest stomatal conductance associated to a PPFD of 250 μmol m-2 s-1 in lettuce and to a PPFD ≥ 200 μmol m-2 s-1 in basil, water use efficiency was maximized under a PPFD ≥ 200 μmol m-2 s-1 in lettuce and PPFD ≥ 250 μmol m-2 s-1 in basil. Energy and light use efficiencies were increased under a PPFD of 200 and 250 μmol m-2 s-1 in lettuce and under a PPFD of 250 μmol m-2 s-1 in basil. Furthermore, in lettuce grown under 250 μmol m-2 s-1 antioxidant capacity, phenolics and flavonoids were higher as compared with plants supplied with PPFD ≤ 150 μmol m-2 s-1. Accordingly, a PPFD of 250 μmol m-2 s-1 seems suitable for optimizing yield and resource use efficiency in red and blue LED lighting for indoor cultivation of lettuce and basil under the prevailing conditions of the used indoor farming set-up.

ACS Style

Giuseppina Pennisi; Alessandro Pistillo; Francesco Orsini; Antonio Cellini; Francesco Spinelli; Silvana Nicola; Juan A. Fernández; Andrea Crepaldi; Giorgio Gianquinto; Leo F.M. Marcelis. Optimal light intensity for sustainable water and energy use in indoor cultivation of lettuce and basil under red and blue LEDs. Scientia Horticulturae 2020, 272, 109508 .

AMA Style

Giuseppina Pennisi, Alessandro Pistillo, Francesco Orsini, Antonio Cellini, Francesco Spinelli, Silvana Nicola, Juan A. Fernández, Andrea Crepaldi, Giorgio Gianquinto, Leo F.M. Marcelis. Optimal light intensity for sustainable water and energy use in indoor cultivation of lettuce and basil under red and blue LEDs. Scientia Horticulturae. 2020; 272 ():109508.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giuseppina Pennisi; Alessandro Pistillo; Francesco Orsini; Antonio Cellini; Francesco Spinelli; Silvana Nicola; Juan A. Fernández; Andrea Crepaldi; Giorgio Gianquinto; Leo F.M. Marcelis. 2020. "Optimal light intensity for sustainable water and energy use in indoor cultivation of lettuce and basil under red and blue LEDs." Scientia Horticulturae 272, no. : 109508.

Journal article
Published: 28 May 2020 in Agronomy
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The introduction of nitrogen fixing bacteria (NFB) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) into the soil is an advisable agricultural practice for the crop, since it enhances nutrient and water uptake and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The aim of this work was to study plant nutrition, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and crop yield and quality, after inoculating seeds with NFBs ((Rhizobium leguminosarum, Burkholderia cenocepacia, Burkholderia vietnamiensis)) and/or AMFs (Rhizophagus irregularis, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, Claroideoglomus claroideum and Funneliformis mosseae) in a fava bean crop in two seasons. The composition of the nodule bacterial community was evaluated by the high-throughput sequencing analysis of bacterial 16 S rRNA genes. It was found that microbial inoculation accompanied by a 20% decrease in mineral fertilization had no significant effect on crop yield or the nutritional characteristics compared with a non-inoculated crop, except for an increase in the grain protein content in inoculated plants. None of the inoculation treatments increased biological nitrogen fixation over a non-inoculated level. The bacterial rRNA analysis demonstrated that the genus Rhizobium predominated in all nodules, both in inoculated and non-inoculated treatments, suggesting the previous presence of these bacteria in the soil. In our study, inoculation with Rhizobium leguminosarum was the most effective treatment for increasing protein content in seeds, while Burkholderia sp. was not able to colonise the plant nodules. Inoculation techniques used in fava beans can be considered an environmentally friendly alternative, reducing the input of fertilizers, while maintaining crop yield and quality, with the additional benefit of increasing the grain protein content. However, further research is required on the selection and detection of efficient rhizobial strains under local field conditions, above all those related to pH and soil type, in order to achieve superior nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

ACS Style

Virginia Sánchez-Navarro; Raúl Zornoza; Ángel Faz; Catalina Egea-Gilabert; Margarita Ros; José A. Pascual; Juan A. Fernández. Inoculation with Different Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Affects Grain Protein Content and Nodule Bacterial Communities of a Fava Bean Crop. Agronomy 2020, 10, 768 .

AMA Style

Virginia Sánchez-Navarro, Raúl Zornoza, Ángel Faz, Catalina Egea-Gilabert, Margarita Ros, José A. Pascual, Juan A. Fernández. Inoculation with Different Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Affects Grain Protein Content and Nodule Bacterial Communities of a Fava Bean Crop. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (6):768.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Virginia Sánchez-Navarro; Raúl Zornoza; Ángel Faz; Catalina Egea-Gilabert; Margarita Ros; José A. Pascual; Juan A. Fernández. 2020. "Inoculation with Different Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Affects Grain Protein Content and Nodule Bacterial Communities of a Fava Bean Crop." Agronomy 10, no. 6: 768.

Journal article
Published: 03 April 2020 in Agronomy
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In this field study, the fungicidal and nematicidal activity of two plant extracts (Larrea spp. (LR), Liquidambar spp. (LQ)), and an organosulfur soil fungicide metam sodium alone (MS), and a mix of LR and MS (LR + MS) was assayed under pepper cropping in southeastern Spain. Metam sodium treatments (MS and LR + MS) produced the highest crop yields and were more effective in controlling root-knot nematodes and fungal pathogens (Fusarium, Pythium, and Rhizoctonia solani) than the plant extracts treatments (LQ and LR). Furthermore, the effect of the metam sodium treatments applied negatively affected the soil microbial community, principally bacteria, but not fungi. These microbial community changes of the soil were principally observed after treatment application; the differences between the treatments were reduced at the end of the experiment, when recovery of the soil microbiota communities occurred.

ACS Style

María Del Mar Montiel-Rozas; Miguel Ángel Díez-Rojo; Margarita Ros; José Antonio Pascual. Effect of Plant Extracts and Metam Sodium on the Soilborne Fungal Pathogens, Meloidogyne spp., and Soil Microbial Community. Agronomy 2020, 10, 513 .

AMA Style

María Del Mar Montiel-Rozas, Miguel Ángel Díez-Rojo, Margarita Ros, José Antonio Pascual. Effect of Plant Extracts and Metam Sodium on the Soilborne Fungal Pathogens, Meloidogyne spp., and Soil Microbial Community. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (4):513.

Chicago/Turabian Style

María Del Mar Montiel-Rozas; Miguel Ángel Díez-Rojo; Margarita Ros; José Antonio Pascual. 2020. "Effect of Plant Extracts and Metam Sodium on the Soilborne Fungal Pathogens, Meloidogyne spp., and Soil Microbial Community." Agronomy 10, no. 4: 513.

Review
Published: 02 April 2020 in Agronomy
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Seed is the dissemination unit of plants initiating an important stage in the life cycle of plants. Seed development, comprising two phases: embryogenesis and seed maturation, may define the quality of sown seed, especially under abiotic stress. In this review we have focused on the recent advances in the molecular mechanisms underlying these complex processes and how they are controlled by distinct environmental factors regulating ion homeostasis into the seed tissues. The role of transporters affecting seed embryogenesis and first stages of germination as imbibition and subsequent radicle protrusion and extension were revised from a molecular point of view. Seed formation depends on the loading of nutrients from the maternal seed coat to the filial endosperm, a process of which the efflux is not clear and where different ions and transporters are involved. The clear interrelation between soil nutrients, presence of heavy metals and the ion capacity of penetration through the seed are discussed in terms of ion effect during different germination stages. Results concerning seed priming techniques used in the improvement of seed vigor and radicle emergence are shown, where the use of nutrients as a novel way of osmopriming to alleviate abiotic stress effects and improve seedlings yield is discussed. Novel approaches to know the re-translocation from source leaves to developing seeds are considered, as an essential mechanism to understand the biofortification process of certain grains in order to cope with nutrient deficiencies, especially in arid and semiarid areas. Finally, the role of new genes involved in hormone-dependent processes, oxidative response and water uptake into the seeds during their development or germination, have been described as plant mechanisms to deal with abiotic stresses.

ACS Style

María Del Carmen Martínez-Ballesta; Catalina Egea-Gilabert; Encarnación Conesa; Jesús Ochoa; María José Vicente; Jose A. Franco; Sebastián Bañon; Juan J. Martínez; Juan A. Fernández. The Importance of Ion Homeostasis and Nutrient Status in Seed Development and Germination. Agronomy 2020, 10, 504 .

AMA Style

María Del Carmen Martínez-Ballesta, Catalina Egea-Gilabert, Encarnación Conesa, Jesús Ochoa, María José Vicente, Jose A. Franco, Sebastián Bañon, Juan J. Martínez, Juan A. Fernández. The Importance of Ion Homeostasis and Nutrient Status in Seed Development and Germination. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (4):504.

Chicago/Turabian Style

María Del Carmen Martínez-Ballesta; Catalina Egea-Gilabert; Encarnación Conesa; Jesús Ochoa; María José Vicente; Jose A. Franco; Sebastián Bañon; Juan J. Martínez; Juan A. Fernández. 2020. "The Importance of Ion Homeostasis and Nutrient Status in Seed Development and Germination." Agronomy 10, no. 4: 504.

Journal article
Published: 23 March 2020 in Agronomy
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Compost tea is a liquid fraction extracted from composts, and it is of great interest in sustainable agriculture because it reduces the unsustainable use of chemical-based pesticides and fertilizers. In this study, during two spinach field cycles, we evaluated the potential beneficial effect of the foliar application of a compost tea made from onion and vineyard composts either by itself (CT) or implemented with the beneficial microorganism Trichoderma harzianum T78 (CT + Th) on the “healthy quality” and yield of baby spinach. Results showed that both the CT and CT + Th treatments produced a higher spinach yield than the control, but these treatments did not result in an increase in soil dehydrogenase activity (DHA) or soil nutrient content. Furthermore, CT + Th treatment showed the highest yield, phenolic content, antioxidant capacity and flavonoid levels. Nitrate levels were below legal amounts, and they were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower in the CT and CT + Th treatments than in the control. Data suggest that compost tea extracts from onion waste and vineyard compost and/or enriched with T. harzianum can be used in a sustainable agriculture to increase yield and quality of baby spinach.

ACS Style

Margarita Ros; María Hurtado-Navarro; Almudena Giménez; Juan Antonio Fernández; Catalina Egea-Gilabert; Pedro Lozano-Pastor; José Antonio Pascual. Spraying Agro-Industrial Compost Tea on Baby Spinach Crops: Evaluation of Yield, Plant Quality and Soil Health in Field Experiments. Agronomy 2020, 10, 440 .

AMA Style

Margarita Ros, María Hurtado-Navarro, Almudena Giménez, Juan Antonio Fernández, Catalina Egea-Gilabert, Pedro Lozano-Pastor, José Antonio Pascual. Spraying Agro-Industrial Compost Tea on Baby Spinach Crops: Evaluation of Yield, Plant Quality and Soil Health in Field Experiments. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (3):440.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Margarita Ros; María Hurtado-Navarro; Almudena Giménez; Juan Antonio Fernández; Catalina Egea-Gilabert; Pedro Lozano-Pastor; José Antonio Pascual. 2020. "Spraying Agro-Industrial Compost Tea on Baby Spinach Crops: Evaluation of Yield, Plant Quality and Soil Health in Field Experiments." Agronomy 10, no. 3: 440.

Journal article
Published: 07 March 2020 in Agronomy
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The aim of this work was to study whether the application of a directly brewed compost extract (added in the nutrient solution or by microsprinkler) could be used to improve the yield and quality of baby leaf red lettuce growing in a floating system, and to control the incidence of Pythium irregulare. Its effect on the quality of fresh-cut red lettuce was also studied. For this, two experiments were carried out over two growing cycles (winter–spring and autumn). The results showed that the use of compost extract added to the nutrient solution improved baby leaf lettuce growth and quality, reducing the nitrate content and enhancing the content of potentially health-promoting compounds such as phenols and flavonoids and the antioxidant capacity. Microbial quality was maintained during storage and the compost extract had no negative effect on the microbial load of the final product. In addition, application of the compost decreased the population of P. irregulare in the water. It is concluded that the application of directly brewed compost extract is of potential use in a sustainable soilless production system for baby leaf red lettuce, since it improves the yield and quality of the product and is able to control the incidence of P. irregulare.

ACS Style

Almudena Giménez; Juan A. Fernández; José A. Pascual; Margarita Ros; Catalina Egea-Gilabert. Application of Directly Brewed Compost Extract Improves Yield and Quality in Baby Leaf Lettuce Grown Hydroponically. Agronomy 2020, 10, 370 .

AMA Style

Almudena Giménez, Juan A. Fernández, José A. Pascual, Margarita Ros, Catalina Egea-Gilabert. Application of Directly Brewed Compost Extract Improves Yield and Quality in Baby Leaf Lettuce Grown Hydroponically. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (3):370.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Almudena Giménez; Juan A. Fernández; José A. Pascual; Margarita Ros; Catalina Egea-Gilabert. 2020. "Application of Directly Brewed Compost Extract Improves Yield and Quality in Baby Leaf Lettuce Grown Hydroponically." Agronomy 10, no. 3: 370.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2020 in Acta Horticulturae
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ACS Style

M.M. Comezaña; S. Klippstiehl; P.A. Polci; M.E. Ayastuy; R.A. Rodríguez; L. Caro; D. Belladonna; Juan A. Fernández. Effect of the use of plastic mulching in the integrated management of Meloidogyne spp. Acta Horticulturae 2020, 187 -192.

AMA Style

M.M. Comezaña, S. Klippstiehl, P.A. Polci, M.E. Ayastuy, R.A. Rodríguez, L. Caro, D. Belladonna, Juan A. Fernández. Effect of the use of plastic mulching in the integrated management of Meloidogyne spp. Acta Horticulturae. 2020; (1268):187-192.

Chicago/Turabian Style

M.M. Comezaña; S. Klippstiehl; P.A. Polci; M.E. Ayastuy; R.A. Rodríguez; L. Caro; D. Belladonna; Juan A. Fernández. 2020. "Effect of the use of plastic mulching in the integrated management of Meloidogyne spp." Acta Horticulturae , no. 1268: 187-192.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2020 in Acta Horticulturae
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ACS Style

A. Giménez; C. Egea-Gilabert; J.A. Pascual; M. Ros; Juan A. Fernández. Effect of the application of a compost tea in the production of baby leaf lettuce in a floating system. Acta Horticulturae 2020, 173 -178.

AMA Style

A. Giménez, C. Egea-Gilabert, J.A. Pascual, M. Ros, Juan A. Fernández. Effect of the application of a compost tea in the production of baby leaf lettuce in a floating system. Acta Horticulturae. 2020; (1268):173-178.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A. Giménez; C. Egea-Gilabert; J.A. Pascual; M. Ros; Juan A. Fernández. 2020. "Effect of the application of a compost tea in the production of baby leaf lettuce in a floating system." Acta Horticulturae , no. 1268: 173-178.