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Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is considered one of the most valuable and versatile vegetable crops globally and also serves as a significant model species for fruit developmental biology. Despite its significance, a severe genetic bottleneck and intense selection of genotypes with specific qualitative traits have resulted in the prevalence of a restricted number of (geno)types, also causing a lack of diversity across widespread cultivated types. As a result, the re-emergence of landraces as well as traditional and heirloom varieties is largely acknowledged as a countermeasure to restore phenotypic, phytochemical and genetic diversity while enriching the aroma/taste tomato palette. On those grounds, the Cypriot tomato germplasm was assessed and characterized. Ten landrace accessions were evaluated under greenhouse conditions and data were collected for 24 IPGRI discrete phenotypic traits. Grouping of accessions largely reflected the fruit shape and size; four different fruit types were recorded across accessions (flattened, heart-shaped, rounded and highly rounded). Moreover, a single run panel consisting of ten SSRs was developed and applied in order to genetically characterize 190 Cypriot genotypes and foreign heirloom varieties. Based on genetic indexes it was established that tomato landraces have a rather low level of heterogeneity and genetic variation. Finally, mineral and phytochemical analyses were conducted in order to estimate biochemical attributes (total phenolics, ascorbic acid, lycopene, β-carotene, total soluble content, titratable acidity) across genotypes; thus, ascertaining that the Cypriot panel has a high nutritional value. Due to the thermo-drought adaptation and tolerance of these genotypes, the current study serves as a roadmap for future breeding efforts in order to incorporate desirable traits or develop novel tomato lines combining resilience and alimentary value.
Filio Athinodorou; Petros Foukas; Georgios Tsaniklidis; Anastasios Kotsiras; Antonios Chrysargyris; Costas Delis; Angelos C. Kyratzis; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Nikolaos Nikoloudakis. Morphological Diversity, Genetic Characterization, and Phytochemical Assessment of the Cypriot Tomato Germplasm. Plants 2021, 10, 1698 .
AMA StyleFilio Athinodorou, Petros Foukas, Georgios Tsaniklidis, Anastasios Kotsiras, Antonios Chrysargyris, Costas Delis, Angelos C. Kyratzis, Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Nikolaos Nikoloudakis. Morphological Diversity, Genetic Characterization, and Phytochemical Assessment of the Cypriot Tomato Germplasm. Plants. 2021; 10 (8):1698.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFilio Athinodorou; Petros Foukas; Georgios Tsaniklidis; Anastasios Kotsiras; Antonios Chrysargyris; Costas Delis; Angelos C. Kyratzis; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Nikolaos Nikoloudakis. 2021. "Morphological Diversity, Genetic Characterization, and Phytochemical Assessment of the Cypriot Tomato Germplasm." Plants 10, no. 8: 1698.
Heavy metal contamination is a major health issue concerning the commercial production of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) that are used for the extraction of bioactive molecules. Copper (Cu) is an anthropogenic contaminant that, at toxic levels, can accumulate in plant tissues, affecting plant growth and development. On the other hand, plant response to metal-induced stress may involve the synthesis and accumulation of beneficial secondary metabolites. In this study, hydroponically grown Pelargonium graveolens plants were exposed to different Cu concentrations in a nutrient solution (4, 25, 50, 100 μM) to evaluate the effects Cu toxicity on plant growth, mineral uptake and distribution in plants, some stress indicators, and the accumulation of bioactive secondary metabolites in leaf tissues. P. graveolens resulted in moderately tolerant Cu toxicity. At Cu concentrations up to 100 μM, biomass production was preserved and was accompanied by an increase in phenolics and antioxidant capacity. The metal contaminant was accumulated mainly in the roots. The leaf tissues of Cu-treated P. graveolens may be safely used for the extraction of bioactive molecules.
Antonios Chrysargyris; Rita Maggini; Luca Incrocci; Alberto Pardossi; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Copper Tolerance and Accumulation on Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér. Grown in Hydroponic Culture. Plants 2021, 10, 1663 .
AMA StyleAntonios Chrysargyris, Rita Maggini, Luca Incrocci, Alberto Pardossi, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Copper Tolerance and Accumulation on Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér. Grown in Hydroponic Culture. Plants. 2021; 10 (8):1663.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntonios Chrysargyris; Rita Maggini; Luca Incrocci; Alberto Pardossi; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2021. "Copper Tolerance and Accumulation on Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér. Grown in Hydroponic Culture." Plants 10, no. 8: 1663.
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) play an essential role in global health systems, since more than 80% of population use natural products in primary healthcare. Given that the global use of herbal medicines is exponentially increasing, as well as many MAPs products are introduced into the market, many cultivation practices are applied to produce high quality and standardized plant raw materials. Thus, the present study focuses on the chemical fingerprints of two cultivated Sideritis species. In Cyprus, Sideritis cypria Post and S. perfoliata L. subsp. perfoliata are widely used in traditional medicine. To date, there is no research work presenting the comparative chemical profiling between the aforesaid species using NMR methods. In this study, 1D and 2D NMR experiments were used to compare the chemical fingerprints of these species originated from conventional cultivation practices. Iridoids (ajugol, monomelittoside, and melittoside) and one flavone (4′-methyl-isoscutellarein 7-O-[6‴-O-acetyl]-β-D-allosyl(1→2)glucoside) were present in the infusion of S. perfoliata subsp. perfoliata. The phenylethanoid glycoside, acteoside, was detected in both samples. The phytochemical profiles of these cultivated species were similar to those of Sideritis species, indicating the positive impact of cultivation practices in MAPs.
Ekaterina-Michaela Tomou; Krystalia Lytra; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Helen Skaltsa. NMR Fingerprint Comparison of Cultivated Sideritis spp. from Cyprus. Agronomy 2021, 11, 1503 .
AMA StyleEkaterina-Michaela Tomou, Krystalia Lytra, Antonios Chrysargyris, Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Helen Skaltsa. NMR Fingerprint Comparison of Cultivated Sideritis spp. from Cyprus. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (8):1503.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEkaterina-Michaela Tomou; Krystalia Lytra; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Helen Skaltsa. 2021. "NMR Fingerprint Comparison of Cultivated Sideritis spp. from Cyprus." Agronomy 11, no. 8: 1503.
Abiotic factors in nutrient solutions (NSs), such as salinity and high electrical conductivity (EC), may adversely alter plant growth and crop performance. However, there are medicinal/aromatic plants which can not only withstand these adverse conditions, but which can also increase their productivity or even enhance their quality in such conditions. As fresh water sources suitable for irrigation are becoming more and more limited, the use of low-quality water sources and hydroponic growing systems have been suggested as the main alternatives. Towards that direction, this study aims to evaluate the effect of high EC levels in NSs on geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér.) and common verbena (Verbena officinallis L.) plants cultivated in a soilless (perlite) hydroponics system. Plants were irrigated with a full nutrient solution of EC 2.1 dS m−1 and pH 5.8 until they reached a uniform size. Then, three treatments were applied, namely: (a) a control treatment with an EC of 2.1 dS m−1 in the NS, (b) a high-salinity NS created by adding 75 mM of NaCl (EC under 8.5 dS m−1) and (c) a concentrated NS with an EC of 8.5 dS m−1. In pelargonium, high salinity decreased the total phenolic and total flavonoid contents; antioxidant capacity; N, K, Mg and P content; as well as chlorophyll fluorescence, compared to the control treatment. On the other hand, increased salinity levels increased the Na and Ca content and stomatal resistance. In common verbena, salinity decreased total phenolic content and chlorophyll fluorescence but increased total flavonoid content; antioxidants; leaf K, P, Na, Cu and Zn content; and stomatal resistance, compared to the control. In both species, high EC did not affect polyphenols, flavonoids or antioxidants, whereas it increased stomatal resistance and nutrient accumulation in the leaves, and decreased chlorophyll fluorescence compared to the control treatment. Damage indices, indicated by lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide production and the elevation of enzymes’ antioxidant activities, were evidenced in both saline- and high-EC-treated plants. In conclusion, despite having the same EC levels in the nutrient solution, it seems that ionic stress caused by high mineral concentrations in the nutrient solution had less severe effects on the tested plants than the relevant osmotic stress caused by high salinity due to the addition of NaCl in the nutrient solution.
Antonios Chrysargyris; Spyridon Petropoulos; Dejan Prvulovic; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Performance of Hydroponically Cultivated Geranium and Common Verbena under Salinity and High Electrical Conductivity Levels. Agronomy 2021, 11, 1237 .
AMA StyleAntonios Chrysargyris, Spyridon Petropoulos, Dejan Prvulovic, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Performance of Hydroponically Cultivated Geranium and Common Verbena under Salinity and High Electrical Conductivity Levels. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (6):1237.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntonios Chrysargyris; Spyridon Petropoulos; Dejan Prvulovic; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2021. "Performance of Hydroponically Cultivated Geranium and Common Verbena under Salinity and High Electrical Conductivity Levels." Agronomy 11, no. 6: 1237.
The preservation of fresh produce quality is a major aim in the food industry since consumers demand safe and of high nutritional value products. In recent decades there has been a turn towards the use of eco-friendly, natural products (i.e., essential oils-EOs) in an attempt to reduce chemical-based sanitizing agents (i.e., chlorine and chlorine-based agents). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an eco-friendly product (EP—based on rosemary and eucalyptus essential oils) and two different application methods (vapor and dipping) on the quality attributes of tomato fruits throughout storage at 11 °C and 90% relative humidity for 14 days. The results indicated that overall, the EP was able to maintain the quality of tomato fruits. Dipping application was found to affect less the quality attributes of tomato, such as titratable acidity, ripening index and antioxidant activity compared to the vapor application method. Vapor application of 0.4% EP increased fruit’s antioxidant activity, whereas tomatoes dipped in EP solution presented decreased damage index (hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation levels), activating enzymes antioxidant capacity (catalases and peroxidases). Moreover, higher EP concentration (up to 0.8%) resulted in a less acceptable product compared to lower concentration (0.4%). Overall, the results from the present study suggest that the investigated EP can be used for the preservation of fresh produce instead of the current commercial sanitizing agent (chlorine); however, the method of application and conditions of application must be further assessed for every commodity tested.
Panayiota Xylia; Irene Ioannou; Antonios Chrysargyris; Menelaos Stavrinides; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Quality Attributes and Storage of Tomato Fruits as Affected by an Eco-Friendly, Essential Oil-Based Product. Plants 2021, 10, 1125 .
AMA StylePanayiota Xylia, Irene Ioannou, Antonios Chrysargyris, Menelaos Stavrinides, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Quality Attributes and Storage of Tomato Fruits as Affected by an Eco-Friendly, Essential Oil-Based Product. Plants. 2021; 10 (6):1125.
Chicago/Turabian StylePanayiota Xylia; Irene Ioannou; Antonios Chrysargyris; Menelaos Stavrinides; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2021. "Quality Attributes and Storage of Tomato Fruits as Affected by an Eco-Friendly, Essential Oil-Based Product." Plants 10, no. 6: 1125.
Strawberry is considered as a fruit of high nutritional value, with appreciated benefits on human health. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are commonly used plant symbionts that affect plant growth and its effectiveness is plant species specific. Additionally, selenium (Se) projects a special interest to humans for its antioxidant specialties, and to plants, because of the potential to make them grow faster when added to the nutrient solution. Nonetheless, the performance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in Se biofortification in strawberry is unexplored. The purpose of the present study experiment was to determine whether mycorrhizal inoculation of AMF can have a positive impact on growth and quality of strawberries, and whether Se contributes in this effort or will adversely affect the plants. Four Se concentrations (0, 1, 5 and 10 mg L−1) in the nutrient solution, with or without mycorrhizal inoculation of AMF to the root system, were evaluated. Results demonstrated that Se of 10 mg L−1 negatively affected plant growth, photosynthetic rates, decreased fruit firmness and total soluble solids, induced oxidative stress in fruits and affected nutrient accumulation in different plant organs. Mycorrhizal inoculation of AMF mainly stimulated antioxidative mechanisms of the fruits and increased nutrient accumulation for plants grown at high Se levels. Based on our observations, mycorrhizal inoculation can enhance the nutritional value of strawberry fruits and strawberry plants seem to be a strong candidate for Se biofortification, allowing the rise of Se of the consumers’ intake.
Omiros Antoniou; Antonios Chrysargyris; Panayiota Xylia; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Effects of Selenium and/or Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Inoculation on Strawberry Grown in Hydroponic Trial. Agronomy 2021, 11, 721 .
AMA StyleOmiros Antoniou, Antonios Chrysargyris, Panayiota Xylia, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Effects of Selenium and/or Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Inoculation on Strawberry Grown in Hydroponic Trial. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (4):721.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOmiros Antoniou; Antonios Chrysargyris; Panayiota Xylia; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2021. "Effects of Selenium and/or Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Inoculation on Strawberry Grown in Hydroponic Trial." Agronomy 11, no. 4: 721.
Intensive crop production and irrational use of fertilizers and agrochemicals have questionable effects on the quality of products and the sustainable use of water for agricultural purposes. Organic cultivation and/or deficit irrigation are, among others, well appreciated practices for a sustainable crop production system. In the present study, spearmint plants (Mentha spicata L.) were grown in different cultivation schemes (conventional versus organic cultivation, full versus deficit irrigation), and effects on the plant physiological and biochemical attributes were examined in two harvesting periods. Deficit irrigation decreased plant growth, but increased total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity of the plants at the second harvest. Spearmint nutrient accumulation was affected by the examined cultivation practices; nitrogen was decreased in organic cultivation, potassium and sodium were elevated at full-irrigated plants, while magnesium, phosphorus, and copper levels were higher at the deficit-irrigated plants. However, conventional/full-irrigated plants had increased height and fresh biomass at the first harvest. Essential oil content decreased at the second harvest in organic and/or deficit treated plants. Additionally, deficit irrigation affected plant growth and delayed the formation of carvone from limonene. The essential oils were further evaluated with regard to their bioactivity on a major vineyard pest Lobesia botrana. Volatile compounds from all essential oils elicited strong electroantennographic responses on female insects antennae, highlighting the role of carvone, which is the major constituent (~70%) in all the tested essential oils. M. spicata essential oils also exhibited larvicidal activity on L. botrana, suggesting the potential of their incorporation in integrated pest management systems.
Antonios Chrysargyris; Eleni Koutsoumpeli; Panayiota Xylia; Anastasia Fytrou; Maria Konstantopoulou; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Organic Cultivation and Deficit Irrigation Practices to Improve Chemical and Biological Activity of Mentha spicata Plants. Agronomy 2021, 11, 599 .
AMA StyleAntonios Chrysargyris, Eleni Koutsoumpeli, Panayiota Xylia, Anastasia Fytrou, Maria Konstantopoulou, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Organic Cultivation and Deficit Irrigation Practices to Improve Chemical and Biological Activity of Mentha spicata Plants. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (3):599.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntonios Chrysargyris; Eleni Koutsoumpeli; Panayiota Xylia; Anastasia Fytrou; Maria Konstantopoulou; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2021. "Organic Cultivation and Deficit Irrigation Practices to Improve Chemical and Biological Activity of Mentha spicata Plants." Agronomy 11, no. 3: 599.
Increasing demands by consumers for fresh, nutritional, and convenient food has led to the increase of fresh-cut produce market. Nowadays, there is a turn towards the investigation of natural products (i.e., essential oils, organic acids, and edible coatings) in an effort to lower the usage of chemical synthetic compounds (i.e., chlorine) as postharvest sanitizers. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of Origanum majorana essential oil (EO), ascorbic acid (AA), chitosan, and their combinations on quality attributes of fresh-cut lettuce stored for six days at 7 °C. When applied, Chitosan+AA resulted to a less acceptable product (visual quality and aroma), while the application of marjoram EO was able to preserve the visual quality of fresh-cut lettuce and at the same time resulted in a pleasant aroma. The application of EO+AA and Chitosan+AA increased total phenolics and antioxidant levels of fresh-cut lettuce on the fourth and sixth day of storage. The EO and EO+AA increased damage index (hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation) of fresh-cut lettuce, while at the same time these treatments decreased the activity of enzymes related with plant tissue browning (i.e., peroxidase activity and polyphenol oxidase). Chitosan decreased total valuable counts and yeasts and molds counts on the sixth day of storage, while EO, AA, EO+Chitosan, and Chitosan+AA decreased yeasts and molds after four days of application. The findings of the present work indicating that the combination of marjoram EO, AA, and chitosan could be considered further as alternative means for fresh-cut produce preservation.
Panayiota Xylia; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. The Combined and Single Effect of Marjoram Essential Oil, Ascorbic Acid, and Chitosan on Fresh-Cut Lettuce Preservation. Foods 2021, 10, 575 .
AMA StylePanayiota Xylia, Antonios Chrysargyris, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. The Combined and Single Effect of Marjoram Essential Oil, Ascorbic Acid, and Chitosan on Fresh-Cut Lettuce Preservation. Foods. 2021; 10 (3):575.
Chicago/Turabian StylePanayiota Xylia; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2021. "The Combined and Single Effect of Marjoram Essential Oil, Ascorbic Acid, and Chitosan on Fresh-Cut Lettuce Preservation." Foods 10, no. 3: 575.
Climate change will increase the occurrence of plants being simultaneously subjected to drought and pathogen stress. Drought can alter the way in which plants respond to pathogens. This research addresses how grapevine responds to the concurrent challenge of drought stress and Plasmopara viticola, the causal agent of downy mildew, and how one stress affects the other. Self-rooted cuttings of the drought-tolerant grapevine cultivar Xynisteri and the drought-sensitive cultivar Chardonnay were exposed to full or deficit irrigation (40% of full irrigation) and artificially inoculated with P. viticola in vitro or in planta. Leaves were sampled at an early infection stage to determine the influence of the single and combined stresses on oxidative parameters, chlorophyll, and phytohormones. Under full irrigation, Xynisteri was more susceptible to P. viticola than the drought-sensitive cultivar Chardonnay. Drought stress increased the susceptibility of grapevine leaves inoculated in vitro, but both cultivars showed resistance against P. viticola when inoculated in planta. Abscisic acid, rather than jasmonic acid and salicylic acid, seemed to play a prominent role in this resistance. The irrigation-dependent susceptibility observed in this study indicates that the practices used to mitigate the effects of climate change may have a profound impact on plant pathogens.
Lisa Heyman; Antonios Chrysargyris; Kristof Demeestere; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Monica Höfte. Responses to Drought Stress Modulate the Susceptibility to Plasmopara viticola in Vitis vinifera Self-Rooted Cuttings. Plants 2021, 10, 273 .
AMA StyleLisa Heyman, Antonios Chrysargyris, Kristof Demeestere, Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Monica Höfte. Responses to Drought Stress Modulate the Susceptibility to Plasmopara viticola in Vitis vinifera Self-Rooted Cuttings. Plants. 2021; 10 (2):273.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLisa Heyman; Antonios Chrysargyris; Kristof Demeestere; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Monica Höfte. 2021. "Responses to Drought Stress Modulate the Susceptibility to Plasmopara viticola in Vitis vinifera Self-Rooted Cuttings." Plants 10, no. 2: 273.
The environmental burden from crop production byproducts is gradually increasing and necessitates the sustainable management of waste towards a circular economy approach. In the present study, three byproducts (cotton ginning waste (CGW), ground hazelnut husks (GHH) and ground peanut husks (GPH)) were evaluated in lettuce cultivation. For this purpose, the tested materials were incorporated in soil at two different rates (25% and 50% of total substrate volume) while a control treatment (no addition of byproducts) was also considered. Fresh weight per plant and total yield was the highest for the GHH50% treatment. The highest fat, protein, carbohydrates and energy content were observed for the CGW25% treatment. Chemical composition also differed among the tested byproducts where CGW25% treatment had the highest total tocopherols, sugars (sucrose, fructose, trehalose and total sugars) and organic acids content. The most abundant fatty acids were α-linolenic, linoleic and palmitic acid in all the tested treatments, while the highest antioxidant activity was observed for the GHH50% treatment. Regarding polyphenols, phenolic acids content was the highest in the GHH treatments, whereas flavonoids were the highest for the CGW25% treatment. No cytotoxicity against the PLP2 non-tumor cell line was observed, whereas only the GPH50% treatment showed moderate efficacy against HeLa, HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines. The tested extracts also showed moderate antibacterial activities and only the extracts from the CGW50% treatment were more effective than the positive control against Trichoderma viride. In conclusion, the present results showed the great potential of using the tested byproducts as soil amendments for vegetable crops production, since they may improve the nutritional parameters, the chemical profile and the bioactivities of the final product. The suggested alternative use of the tested byproducts not only will increase the added value of crops but will also alleviate the environmental burden from bulky agroindustry byproducts.
Spyridon Petropoulos; Ângela Fernandes; Sofia Plexida; Carla Pereira; Maria Dias; Ricardo Calhelha; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Jovana Petrović; Marina Soković; Isabel Ferreira; Lillian Barros. The Sustainable Use of Cotton, Hazelnut and Ground Peanut Waste in Vegetable Crop Production. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8511 .
AMA StyleSpyridon Petropoulos, Ângela Fernandes, Sofia Plexida, Carla Pereira, Maria Dias, Ricardo Calhelha, Antonios Chrysargyris, Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Jovana Petrović, Marina Soković, Isabel Ferreira, Lillian Barros. The Sustainable Use of Cotton, Hazelnut and Ground Peanut Waste in Vegetable Crop Production. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (20):8511.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSpyridon Petropoulos; Ângela Fernandes; Sofia Plexida; Carla Pereira; Maria Dias; Ricardo Calhelha; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Jovana Petrović; Marina Soković; Isabel Ferreira; Lillian Barros. 2020. "The Sustainable Use of Cotton, Hazelnut and Ground Peanut Waste in Vegetable Crop Production." Sustainability 12, no. 20: 8511.
The aim of this research was to evaluate the biostimulant effects of an eco-product (EP) containing essential oils of rosemary and eucalyptus on tomato crop. Experiments were conducted to evaluate EP effects on plant growth and physiological parameters (e.g., chlorophyll content), total phenols and antioxidant activity, enzyme activities (e.g., catalase), plant macronutrient content and fresh tomato fruit quality. The application of an EP once (EP-1x) increased tomato plant height by 19%, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll content compared to the control (sprayed with water). EP triplicate (EP-3x) application significantly increased yield (0.79 kg plant−1) compared to the control (0.58 kg plant−1). However, application of EP-3x was associated with a higher percentage of fruit cracking in comparison to the control. Total phenols and antioxidant activity were affected from both the use of EP and application frequency. EP application decreased by 27.3% the leaf damage index in comparison to the control. Nutrient content in leaves (N, Mg) was significantly decreased in the case of EP-3x treatment. Fruit firmness was decreased by 19.9% in the case of EP-1x application. Fruit marketability and tomato-like aroma, fresh weight and soluble solids did not differ among the treatments. Further research is required to examine the potential use of essential oils as biostimulants.
Antonios Chrysargyris; Savvas Charalambous; Panayiota Xylia; Vassilis Litskas; Menelaos Stavrinides; Nikos Tzortzakis. Assessing the Biostimulant Effects of a Novel Plant-Based Formulation on Tomato Crop. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8432 .
AMA StyleAntonios Chrysargyris, Savvas Charalambous, Panayiota Xylia, Vassilis Litskas, Menelaos Stavrinides, Nikos Tzortzakis. Assessing the Biostimulant Effects of a Novel Plant-Based Formulation on Tomato Crop. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (20):8432.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntonios Chrysargyris; Savvas Charalambous; Panayiota Xylia; Vassilis Litskas; Menelaos Stavrinides; Nikos Tzortzakis. 2020. "Assessing the Biostimulant Effects of a Novel Plant-Based Formulation on Tomato Crop." Sustainability 12, no. 20: 8432.
Biochar can be used as an alternative component in growing media, positively affecting plant growth/yield, but also media properties. In the present study, two commercial grade biochars (BFW-forest wood; and BTS-fresh wood screening), mainly wood-based materials, were used at 7.5% and 15% (v/v), adding nutrient in two levels (100% and 150% standard fertilizer level-Fert). Biochar affected growing media properties, with increases on pH and changes on the nutrient content levels. Biochar BFW enhanced the emergence of seeds in comparison to the control. Increased fertilizer levels benefited plant yield in BFW and BTS at 7.5%, but not at 15%. Leaf stomatal conductance was reduced at 150% fertilized biochars (BFW + Fert and BTS + Fert) at 7.5%, while total chlorophylls increased at BTS + Fert at 7.5% and 15%. The addition of biochars decreased the antioxidant activity in the plant. Lipid peroxidation in lettuce was increased in most cases with the presence of biochars (BFW, BTS) and 150% fertilization, activating antioxidant (superoxide oxidase and peroxidase) enzymatic metabolisms. The addition of Biochars in the growing media increased the content of nutrients in seedlings, as plants could absorb more available nutrients. Biochar of beech, spruce, and pine species (BFW) at 7.5% was more promising for substituting peat to produce lettuce seedlings. However, examining different species (tomato, leek, impatiens, and geranium) with BFW at 7.5%, the results were not common, and each species needs to be evaluated further.
Antonios Chrysargyris; Munoo Prasad; Anna Kavanagh; Nikos Tzortzakis. Biochar Type, Ratio, and Nutrient Levels in Growing Media Affects Seedling Production and Plant Performance. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1421 .
AMA StyleAntonios Chrysargyris, Munoo Prasad, Anna Kavanagh, Nikos Tzortzakis. Biochar Type, Ratio, and Nutrient Levels in Growing Media Affects Seedling Production and Plant Performance. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (9):1421.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntonios Chrysargyris; Munoo Prasad; Anna Kavanagh; Nikos Tzortzakis. 2020. "Biochar Type, Ratio, and Nutrient Levels in Growing Media Affects Seedling Production and Plant Performance." Agronomy 10, no. 9: 1421.
Significant quantities of paper waste (PW) have been accumulated in recent years and the reuse/recycling of PW is required due to environmental concerns. In the present study, printed PW was used as a peat (P) substitute in growing medium for the Brassica seedlings production, considering recycling, sustainable agriculture, and partly peat replacement. Seeds of cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage were seeded in growing media made of 0–10–30–50% PW. The addition of PW improved the growing media pH and mineral content, reduced the media aeration, and affected seed emergence. The PW decreased plant growth and the effects were more pronounced at 50% PW. The PW ≥ 30% decreased stomatal conductance, while chlorophyll fluorescence and content of chlorophylls decreased with high PW ratio, negatively affecting the plant physiology. The PW decreased plant sodium and iron and increased potassium, calcium, magnesium, and copper content. The PW increased antioxidant activity to a certain degree for cauliflower and cabbage and resulted in no change for broccoli, while polyphenols increased in cabbage seedlings. The addition of PW did not cause cellular damage as both lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide production remained at low levels, maintaining low levels on the antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase) metabolism. The present study shows that low PW content can partially replace peat for Brassica seedling production under a sustainable agriculture and environmentally friendly scheme.
Antonios Chrysargyris; Panayiota Xylia; Gorkem Akinci; Konstantinos Moustakas; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Printed Paper Waste as an Alternative Growing Medium Component to Produce Brassica Seedlings under Nursery Conditions. Sustainability 2020, 12, 5992 .
AMA StyleAntonios Chrysargyris, Panayiota Xylia, Gorkem Akinci, Konstantinos Moustakas, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Printed Paper Waste as an Alternative Growing Medium Component to Produce Brassica Seedlings under Nursery Conditions. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (15):5992.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntonios Chrysargyris; Panayiota Xylia; Gorkem Akinci; Konstantinos Moustakas; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2020. "Printed Paper Waste as an Alternative Growing Medium Component to Produce Brassica Seedlings under Nursery Conditions." Sustainability 12, no. 15: 5992.
Low-fertility soil and the use of brackish water for irrigation act as obstacles and limit crop production. The utilization of municipal solid waste (MSW), compost (C), and treated wastewater (TWW) is receiving attention nowadays not only to overcome the above limitations but also as an efficient way for waste management and reuse of raw materials. In the present study, MSW compost in different ratios (5%, 10%, 20%, and 40%), fertigation and/or irrigation with TWW were studied in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The addition of compost increased organic content, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and mineral content of the growing media, while fertigation and TWW supported the mineral status of the growing media, and this was reflected in the increase of N, K, and Na in tomato leaves. Plants grown in compost-based media with fertigation produced more leaves, compared to the control, while irrigation with TWW did not increase the number of leaves. Plant biomass increased with the application of ≥20% C, fertigation, and/or TWW applications. Plant yield increased in 40% C, while fertigation increased yield in case of lower (5%-10% C) compost ratios, but TWW application did not change the yield. The combination of high C ratios and fertigation and/or TWW decreased tomato fresh weight. Different levels of C did not affect leaf photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, internal CO2 concentration, and chlorophyll fluorescence, but, in general, the combination of compost with fertigation and/or TWW affected them negatively. Fruit total soluble solids, acidity, ascorbic acid, firmness, and total phenolics were increased with the high ratios of compost and/or fertigation and TWW applications, but marketability did not. Bacteria (total coliform and Escherichia coli) units increased in growing media subjected to TWW, but lower levels were counted on the fruit, mainly due to splashing or fruit contact with the soil. The results indicate that up to 40% C can be added into the substrate, as increased plant growth and maintained plant yield for greenhouse tomato cultivation is observed, while fertigation and TWW could be used in a controlled manner as alternative means for nutrient and irrigation in vegetables following safety aspects.
Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Christos Saridakis; Antonios Chrysargyris. Treated Wastewater and Fertigation Applied for Greenhouse Tomato Cultivation Grown in Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Soil Mixtures. Sustainability 2020, 12, 4287 .
AMA StyleNikolaos Tzortzakis, Christos Saridakis, Antonios Chrysargyris. Treated Wastewater and Fertigation Applied for Greenhouse Tomato Cultivation Grown in Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Soil Mixtures. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (10):4287.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNikolaos Tzortzakis; Christos Saridakis; Antonios Chrysargyris. 2020. "Treated Wastewater and Fertigation Applied for Greenhouse Tomato Cultivation Grown in Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Soil Mixtures." Sustainability 12, no. 10: 4287.
In the present study, the yield, the chemical composition, and the antioxidant activities of the essential oils (EOs) of eight medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) cultivated under two environmental conditions characterized by a different altitude (namely mountainous and plain) were evaluated. Cultivation at different environmental conditions resulted in significant differences in the chemical composition and antioxidant activity for most of the studied species. In particular, high altitudes resulted in increased phenolic compounds’ content and antioxidant activity for artemisia plants, while specific parameters increased in the case of spearmint (total phenols) and rosemary (flavonoids). In contrast, in pelargonium, all the tested parameters were positively affected in the plain area, whereas, for laurel and sage, only flavanols remained unaffected. EO yield in mountainous pelargonium and spearmint decreased while, in mountainous laurel, pelargonium and spearmint increased when compared to plain areas. In addition, the major EO constituents’ content for most of the species were affected by environmental conditions. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were variably correlated with total phenols, flavonoids, and flavanols, depending on the species and the altitude. Lastly, in limited cases, antioxidant activity (DPPH or FRAP values) was positively correlated with some EO components (e.g., borneol and β-pinene in artemisia and laurel plants grown in the plain, respectively, or 1,8-cineole in mountainous grown verbena plants). In conclusion, environmental conditions (altitude) affected antioxidants’ content and EO yield and composition of the studied MAPs. These findings can be used to introduce cultivation of MAPs in specific ecosystems for the production of high added value products.
Antonios Chrysargyris; Maria Mikallou; Spyridon Petropoulos; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Profiling of Essential Oils Components and Polyphenols for Their Antioxidant Activity of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Grown in Different Environmental Conditions. Agronomy 2020, 10, 727 .
AMA StyleAntonios Chrysargyris, Maria Mikallou, Spyridon Petropoulos, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Profiling of Essential Oils Components and Polyphenols for Their Antioxidant Activity of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Grown in Different Environmental Conditions. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (5):727.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntonios Chrysargyris; Maria Mikallou; Spyridon Petropoulos; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2020. "Profiling of Essential Oils Components and Polyphenols for Their Antioxidant Activity of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Grown in Different Environmental Conditions." Agronomy 10, no. 5: 727.
Cyprus has a long tradition in grape cultivation and wine making and grapevine is important for the sustainability of the agricultural sector, like in other Mediterranean areas. Water scarcity, which is projected to increase due to climate change, could negatively affect the sector. In this research, the effects of irrigation and tillage treatments on various aspects of vine growth and product quality (e.g., yield, physiology and quality attributes), were studied in Chardonnay and Xynisteri cultivars grown in clay soils in Cyprus. Regarding soil properties and water content, N and K were more abundant in the soil than P and through the growing period irrigation tended to increase electrical conductivity (EC) in the soil. Soil water content (volumetric) was 22%–27.5% and 13%–16%, when irrigation was applied or not, respectively. Vegetative soil cover occupied 50%–55% of the surface and contained species typically present in Mediterranean farms (e.g., Poaceae, Fabaceae and Brassicaceae). Tillage increased yield in Xynisteri (4–5 kg plant−1) but negatively affected other parameters such as chlorophyll levels (in Xynisteri). In combination with irrigation, tillage increased antioxidant activity in Chardonnay (assessed by FRAP and DPPH), at harvest. Total phenolics at harvest were higher in the grape juice of Xynisteri, compared to Chardonnay (30–40 and 20–25 mg GA g−1 fresh weight, respectively). Irrigation influenced phytohormone levels in the two cultivars. ABA increased in non-irrigated Xynisteri, reflecting an increased capacity to react towards water stress. Water stress is considered to increase polyphenols in grapes, but in the case of Xynisteri it seems that irrigation water is required to obtain better quality grapes as without irrigation volumetric water content (VWC) is close to the permanent wilting point. Titratable acidity and total tannins decreased in Chardonnay, when tillage and irrigation were applied. In addition, tillage and irrigation tended to elevate the pH of the grape juice. Tillage and irrigation on the other hand, had no effect on the levels of ascorbic acid and total anthocyanin content. The results of this research may help to select management strategies that support the adaptation of viticulture to climate change in Cyprus and other Mediterranean areas.
Antonios Chrysargyris; Panayiota Xylia; Vassilis Litskas; Menelaos Stavrinides; Lisa Heyman; Kristof Demeestere; Monica Höfte; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Assessing the Impact of Drought Stress and Soil Cultivation in Chardonnay and Xynisteri Grape Cultivars. Agronomy 2020, 10, 670 .
AMA StyleAntonios Chrysargyris, Panayiota Xylia, Vassilis Litskas, Menelaos Stavrinides, Lisa Heyman, Kristof Demeestere, Monica Höfte, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Assessing the Impact of Drought Stress and Soil Cultivation in Chardonnay and Xynisteri Grape Cultivars. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (5):670.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAntonios Chrysargyris; Panayiota Xylia; Vassilis Litskas; Menelaos Stavrinides; Lisa Heyman; Kristof Demeestere; Monica Höfte; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2020. "Assessing the Impact of Drought Stress and Soil Cultivation in Chardonnay and Xynisteri Grape Cultivars." Agronomy 10, no. 5: 670.
The aim of this report was to study the effect of salinity (control: 2dS/m, S1: 4 dS/m and S2: 6 dS/m) and harvest time (first harvest on 9 May 2018 and second harvest on 19 April 2018) on the growth and the chemical composition of Centaurea raphanina subsp. mixta plants. The plants of the first harvest were used for the plant growth measurements (fresh weight and moisture content of leaves, rosette diameter, number and thickness of leaves), whereas those of the second harvest were not used for these measurements due to the flowering initiation, which made the leaves unmarketable due to their hard texture. The results of our study showed that C. raphanina subsp. mixta plants can be cultivated under mild salinity (S1 treatment) conditions without severe effects on plant growth and yield, since a more severe loss (27.5%) was observed for the S2 treatment. In addition, harvest time proved to be a cost-effective cultivation practice that allows to regulate the quality of the final product, either in edible form (first harvest) or for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical purposes as well as antimicrobial agents in food products. Therefore, the combination of these two agronomic factors showed interesting results in terms of the quality of the final product. In particular, high salinity (S2 treatment) improved the nutritional value by increasing the fat, proteins and carbohydrates contents in the first harvest, as well as the tocopherols and sugars contents (S1 and S2 treatments, respectively) in the second harvest. In addition, salinity and harvest time affected the oxalic acid content which was the lowest for the S2 treatment at the second harvest. Similarly, the richest fatty acid (α-linolenic acid) increased with increasing salinity at the first harvest. Salinity and harvest time also affected the antimicrobial properties, especially against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Trichoderma viride, where the extracts from the S1 and S2 treatments showed high effectiveness. In contrast, the highest amounts of flavanones (pinocembrin derivatives) were detected in the control treatment (second harvest), which was also reflected to the highest antioxidant activity (TBARS) for the same treatment. In conclusion, C. raphanina subsp. mixta plants seem to be tolerant to medium salinity stress (S1 treatment) since plant growth was not severely impaired, while salinity and harvesting time affected the nutritional value (fat, proteins, and carbohydrates) and the chemical composition (tocopherols, sugars, oxalic acid, fatty acids), as well as the bioactive properties (cytotoxicity and antimicrobial properties) of the final product.
Spyridon A. Petropoulos; Ângela Fernandes; Maria Ines Dias; Carla Pereira; Ricardo C. Calhelha; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Marija Ivanov; Marina D. Sokovic; Lillian Barros; Isabel C. F. R. Ferreira. Chemical Composition and Plant Growth of Centaurea raphanina subsp. mixta Plants Cultivated under Saline Conditions. Molecules 2020, 25, 2204 .
AMA StyleSpyridon A. Petropoulos, Ângela Fernandes, Maria Ines Dias, Carla Pereira, Ricardo C. Calhelha, Antonios Chrysargyris, Nikolaos Tzortzakis, Marija Ivanov, Marina D. Sokovic, Lillian Barros, Isabel C. F. R. Ferreira. Chemical Composition and Plant Growth of Centaurea raphanina subsp. mixta Plants Cultivated under Saline Conditions. Molecules. 2020; 25 (9):2204.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSpyridon A. Petropoulos; Ângela Fernandes; Maria Ines Dias; Carla Pereira; Ricardo C. Calhelha; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Marija Ivanov; Marina D. Sokovic; Lillian Barros; Isabel C. F. R. Ferreira. 2020. "Chemical Composition and Plant Growth of Centaurea raphanina subsp. mixta Plants Cultivated under Saline Conditions." Molecules 25, no. 9: 2204.
The impact of climate change on viticulture is of major importance. Several international and indigenous grapevine cultivars have been examined for their adaptive performance to drought and heat stresses. However, the underlying physiological mechanisms are not well known. In the present study we examined the short-term effects of light and moderate drought stress (DS) as well as heat stress (HS) on physiological and biochemical attributes in two grapevine cultivars: Chardonnay (international) and Xynisteri, an indigenous adapted to the specific Cypriot microclimate. Xynisteri plants exhibited decreasing leaf stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate as well as increasing total phenols and antioxidant capacity under DS conditions. These reactions were concomitant to a rapid accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation in leaves, associated to an increase of the antioxidant superoxide dismutase activity. However, Chardonnay plants did not exhibit the same responses as Xynisteri against DS (i.e., stomatal closure, total phenolics and antioxidants) over the first four days. Additionally, Chardonnay showed leaf damage with increased lipid peroxidation levels and activation of catalase and peroxidase. Interestingly, HS increased leaf stomatal conductance and decreased total phenolic content, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity in Chardonnay after 20 d of stress. In both cultivars, HS had milder effects compared to DS, and again Xynisteri showed better performance than Chardonnay in terms of damage index and antioxidative activities. Overall, Xynisteri adaptation to DS and HS was higher than that of Chardonnay, and both cultivars reacted more to the short-term DS than to HS. Although the Xynisteri performances under stress conditions provide an important resource for adaptation to stressful conditions, the impacts on earliness, yield and grape quality remain to be explored.
Nikolaos Tzortzakis; Antonios Chrysargyris; Aziz Aziz. Adaptive Response of a Native Mediterranean Grapevine Cultivar Upon Short-Term Exposure to Drought and Heat Stress in the Context of Climate Change. Agronomy 2020, 10, 249 .
AMA StyleNikolaos Tzortzakis, Antonios Chrysargyris, Aziz Aziz. Adaptive Response of a Native Mediterranean Grapevine Cultivar Upon Short-Term Exposure to Drought and Heat Stress in the Context of Climate Change. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (2):249.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNikolaos Tzortzakis; Antonios Chrysargyris; Aziz Aziz. 2020. "Adaptive Response of a Native Mediterranean Grapevine Cultivar Upon Short-Term Exposure to Drought and Heat Stress in the Context of Climate Change." Agronomy 10, no. 2: 249.
The increasing scarcity of water demands proper water management practices to ensure crop sustainability. In this study, the effect of drought stress and biostimulants application on the yield and chemical composition of green pods and seeds of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was evaluated. For this purpose, four commercially available biostimulant products, namely Nomoren (G), EKOprop (EK), Veramin Ca (V), and Twin-Antistress (TW), were tested under two irrigation regimes: normal irrigation (W+) and water-holding (W-) conditions. The highest increase (20.8%) of pods total yield was observed in EKW+ treatment due to the formation of more pods of bigger size compared to control treatment (CW+). In addition, the highest yield under drought stress conditions was recorded for the GW- treatment (5691 ± 139 kg/ha). Regarding the effects of biostimulants on the protein and ash content of pods, the application of VW+ treatment (first harvest of pods; 201 ± 1 and 79 ± 1 g/kg dw for proteins and ash content, respectively) and GW+ (second harvest of pods; 207.1 ± 0.1 and 68.4 ± 0.5 g/kg dw for proteins and ash content, respectively) showed the best results. For seeds, the application of GW+ treatment resulted in the highest content for fat, protein, and ash content (52.7 ± 0.1, 337 ± 1, 56 ± 1 g/kg dw) and energetic value (5474 ± 3 kcal/kg dw). γ-tocopherol was the main detected tocopherol in pods and seeds, and it was significantly increased by the application of TWW- (first harvest of pods; 6410 ± 40 μg/kg dw), VW- (second harvest of pods; 3500 ± 20 μg/kg dw), and VW+ (seeds; 39.8 ± 0.1 g/kg dw) treatments. EKW- treatment resulted in the lowest oxalic acid content for both pod harvests (26.3 ± 0.1 g/kg dw and 22.7 ± 0.2 g/kg dw for the first and second harvest of pods, respectively) when compared with the rest of the treatments where biostimulants were applied, although in all the cases, the oxalic acid content was considerably low. Fructose and sucrose were the main sugars detected in pods and seeds, respectively, while the highest content was recorded for the TWW- (first harvest of pods) and GW- (second harvest of pods and seeds) treatments. The main detected fatty acids in pods and seeds were α-linolenic, linoleic, and palmitic acid, with a variable effect of the tested treatments being observed. In conclusion, the application of biostimulants could be considered as an eco-friendly and sustainable means to increase the pod yield and the quality of common bean green pods and seeds under normal irrigation conditions. Promising results were also recorded regarding the alleviation of negative effects of drought stress, especially for the application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF; G treatment), which increased the total yield of green pods. Moreover, the nutritional value and chemical composition of pods and seeds was positively affected by biostimulants application, although a product specific effect was recorded depending on the irrigation regime and harvesting time (pods and seeds).
Spyridon A. Petropoulos; Ângela Fernandes; Sofia Plexida; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nikos Tzortzakis; João C. M. Barreira; Lillian Barros; Isabel C. F. R. Ferreira. Biostimulants Application Alleviates Water Stress Effects on Yield and Chemical Composition of Greenhouse Green Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Agronomy 2020, 10, 181 .
AMA StyleSpyridon A. Petropoulos, Ângela Fernandes, Sofia Plexida, Antonios Chrysargyris, Nikos Tzortzakis, João C. M. Barreira, Lillian Barros, Isabel C. F. R. Ferreira. Biostimulants Application Alleviates Water Stress Effects on Yield and Chemical Composition of Greenhouse Green Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Agronomy. 2020; 10 (2):181.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSpyridon A. Petropoulos; Ângela Fernandes; Sofia Plexida; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nikos Tzortzakis; João C. M. Barreira; Lillian Barros; Isabel C. F. R. Ferreira. 2020. "Biostimulants Application Alleviates Water Stress Effects on Yield and Chemical Composition of Greenhouse Green Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)." Agronomy 10, no. 2: 181.
Biochar has the potential to be used as a growing media component, and therefore plays a role in reducing peat usage. It has unique properties apart from the ability to sequester carbon. Here we investigated the nutrient contents of four commercial biochars and their fractions. The biochars’ feedstock was wood waste, except for one with paper fibres and husk. The fine or finer fractions in wood waste biochars contained higher levels of nutrients that were available to plants. The coarse fraction of the biochar derived from husk and paper fibre feedstock had a higher level of total N, P and K in contrast to the other three biochars. The pH of the finer fraction (pH of 9.08) was also higher compared with coarse fraction (pH of 8.71). It is important that when biochar a is used as a component of a peat based growing media, particle size information should be provided, as fractions from the same biochar can have different levels of total extractable nutrients and pH levels. If biochar is used to replace or reduce lime application rates of a peat-biochar mixtures, one must take into account the levels of total and extractable Ca and Mg levels, as these can vary. The variation of these elements was not only between biochars’ feedstocks, even at similar pH-values, but within different fractions in the same biochar. We concluded that biochars should be characterized from the feedstock as well as from the particle size aspect, as it could have a profound effect on nutrient availability of Ca and Mg. This could lead to nutrient imbalances in cultivating plants on substrate mixtures. In addition to nutrient ratios, the suitable pH-level for a given grown species should be adjusted.
Munoo Prasad; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nicola McDaniel; Anna Kavanagh; Nazim S. Gruda; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Plant Nutrient Availability and pH of Biochars and Their Fractions, with the Possible Use as a Component in a Growing Media. Agronomy 2019, 10, 10 .
AMA StyleMunoo Prasad, Antonios Chrysargyris, Nicola McDaniel, Anna Kavanagh, Nazim S. Gruda, Nikolaos Tzortzakis. Plant Nutrient Availability and pH of Biochars and Their Fractions, with the Possible Use as a Component in a Growing Media. Agronomy. 2019; 10 (1):10.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMunoo Prasad; Antonios Chrysargyris; Nicola McDaniel; Anna Kavanagh; Nazim S. Gruda; Nikolaos Tzortzakis. 2019. "Plant Nutrient Availability and pH of Biochars and Their Fractions, with the Possible Use as a Component in a Growing Media." Agronomy 10, no. 1: 10.