The germination and growth of melon (Cucumis melo L.) plants can be severely affected by excess salts in the soil or irrigation water; however, negative effects of salt stress can be attenuated using appropriate methods of seed priming. Thus, effects of osmopriming as inducer of salt stress tolerance in melon seeds exposed to salinity levels were investigated in this study. Seeds were soaked for 22 h at 25 °C in the dark in distilled water (hydropriming) or 0.5% KNO₃ solution (osmopriming), and after drying, were distributed in plastic boxes with blotter paper containing different NaCl solutions prepared with osmotic pressure of 0.0 MPa (control), -0.3 MPa (mild stress), and -0.6 MPa (severe stress). Unprimed dry seeds were taken as control. The plastic boxes were kept into a seed germinator, at 25 °C for 14 days. A completely randomized design in a 3 × 3 factorial schemes with four replicates of 25 seeds was used. Results showed that the seed priming with water and KNO₃ may be successfully applied on melon seeds to alleviate the adverse effects of saline stress in initial stages of plant growth. However, under severe salt stress conditions, hydropriming should be used because it results in higher germination and initial growth rate of the seedlings when compared to the osmopriming. Use of unprimed seeds should not be adopted in cultivation areas affected by salinity because they result in low germination rate and reduced initial plant growth.

Seed size is an important indicator of physiological quality, since it may affect seed germination and seedling growth, especially under stress conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of seed size on germination and initial seedling growth, under salinity and water stress conditions. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design, in a 3 × 3 factorial scheme: three seed size classes (small, medium and large) and three stress treatments (control, saline or water stress), with four replicates. Water and salt stresses do not reduce the germination rate of medium and large seeds; however, the germination rate of small seeds is reduced under salt stress conditions. Drought stress drastically reduces the shoot growth of seedlings regardless of seed size, whereas root growth is higher in seedlings from medium and large seeds under water stress conditions. Under non-stressful environments, the use of large seeds is preferable, resulting in more vigorous seedlings with a greater dry matter accumulation. Medium-size seeds are more adapted to adverse environmental conditions and, therefore, should be used under conditions of water shortage and salt excess in the soil at sowing time. Seedlings are more tolerant to salinity than to water stress during the germination stage and initial growth under laboratory conditions.

The application of silicon (Si) to the soil can increase the grain yield of the soybean crop by improving the nitrogen biological fixation, due to its beneficial effect on the Bradyrhizobium-soybean symbiosis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of fertilization with calcium and magnesium silicate on plant growth, root nodulation and nitrogen (N) uptake, in two soybean cultivars [BRS 1074 IPRO (transgenic) and BRS-MG 800A (conventional)], under greenhouse conditions. The application of silicate significantly increased the number of root nodules only for the BRS-MG 800A, while the positive effects of the silicate addition on nodule size, chlorophyll level and leaf N concentration were observed in both cultivars. The soybean cultivars show distinct responses to the silicate application, with respect to growth and dry matter yield, being the BRS 1074 IPRO more responsive than the BRS-MG 800A. Therefore, Si may induce the formation of root nodules in soybean plants and lead to significant increases in the nitrogen biological fixation and plant growth. These results highlight that Si is not only involved in the improvement of plant growth, but it can be also considered a crucial element to improve the symbiotic performance of soybean plants. However, the physiological basis of how and where silicate exerts its influence on nodulation and nitrogen biological fixation still remains unknown.

The cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. contains considerable amounts of protein, iron, and calcium that could mitigate the problems of anemia and malnutrition in humans. However, the nutritional value of the edible species Nostoc sphaericum Vaucher ex Bornet & Flahault, which grows in the Moquegua region, is unknown. Descriptive research was developed, and samples were obtained from the community of Aruntaya, located in the region of Moquegua. Water samples were taken at two different points (spring and reservoir), and samples of the cyanobacteria were taken in the reservoir. The design used was completely randomized, with three repetitions. Sixteen characteristics associated with the water collected at two points were evaluated, and from the nutritional point of view, seven characteristics were evaluated in the collected algae. The physicochemical characteristics were determined using methods established in the Codex Alimentarius. For the morphological characterization at the macroscopic level, it was observed that the seaweed collected was spherical in shape, grayish-green in color, soft to the touch, and palatable. After carrying out the physicochemical and morphological characterization of the collected samples, it was verified that all were of N. sphaericum. When comparing the sixteen characteristics related to water at the two collection sites, highly significant differences (p < 0.01) were observed for most of the variables evaluated. The average data of the characteristics of the algae showed protein values of 28.18 ± 0.33%, carbohydrates of 62.07 ± 0.69%, fat of 0.71 ± 0.02%, fiber of 0.91 ± 0.02%, ash of 7.68 ± 0.10%, and moisture of 0.22 ± 0.01%. Likewise, calcium reported an average value of 377.80 ± 1.43 mg/100 g and iron of 4.76 ± 0.08 mg/100 g. High correlations (positive and negative) were obtained by evaluating seven characteristics associated with the reservoir water where the algae grew in relation to eight nutritional characteristics of the algae. In relation to the nutritional value, the amounts of protein, iron, and calcium exceed the main foods of daily intake. Therefore, it could be considered a nutritious food to combat anemia and malnutrition.

O uso de rizobactérias promotoras de crescimento de planta (RPCP) associado a inoculação de rizóbio pode otimizar a fixação biológica de nitrogênio (FBN), diminuindo o uso de fertilizantes nitrogenados e aumentando o crescimento da planta e o rendimento da cultura do feijão. Um estudo foi conduzido para investigar a eficácia da coinoculação de Rhizobium tropici e Azospirillum brasilense e da adubação nitrogenada em cobertura na nodulação, no crescimento e no rendimento de grãos do feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivado em solo arenoso da região do Cerrado brasileiro, durante duas safras de produção (“safra das águas” e “safra da seca”). O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. As parcelas constituíram de quatro tratamento de inoculação das sementes: controle (não inoculado); inoculação com Rhizobium tropici; inoculação com Azospirillum brasilense; e, coinoculação com R. tropici e A. brasilense; e as subparcelas por cinco doses de N em cobertura (0, 30, 60, 90 e 120 kg ha-1). A inoculação das sementes com Rhizobium tropici isoladamente ou combinado com Azospirillum brasilense melhorou a nodulação das raízes e o rendimento de grãos do feijoeiro comum quando a cultura foi cultivada durante a “safra da seca”. Portanto, a resposta positiva da inoculação das sementes com Rhizobium e Azospirillum no rendimento de grãos depende das condições ambientais durante a safra de produção, especialmente da menor taxa de precipitação pluvial por estimular a nodulação das raízes. A inoculação com A. brasilense isoladamente não foi uma prática agronômica eficiente para ser utilizada no cultivo do feijoeiro nas condições brasileiras, resultando em rendimento de grãos equivalente às plantas do tratamento não inoculado nas duas safras de produção. O aumento das doses de adubação nitrogenada em cobertura inibe a formação e o crescimento dos nódulos radiculares do feijoeiro. A dose de adubação nitrogenada em cobertura ótima para o cultivo do feijoeiro em solos arenosos da região do Cerrado brasileiro pode variar entre 80 e 90 kg ha-1 de N.