Effect of Algae on Melon(Cucumis melo subsp.agrestis var.conomon)Growth and Development under Drought-Stress Conditions

Due to climate change,it is necessary to develop plant varieties that are resilient to climate conditions and resistant to abiotic and biotic stresses.The use of microalgae,which are microorganisms that contain carbohydrates,proteins,lipids,and vitamins,against drought tolerance is a new approach.The aim of the current study was to determine the drought-related mechanisms in the conomon melon genotype and develop drought-tolerant melon cultivars.Morphological,physiological,pomological,and molecular analyses were carried out on the algae-treated genotypes.It has been determined that commercial algae application provides the best results in leaf temperature,leaf relative water contents(LRWC),plant height,fruit length,fruit diameter,and yield,while Cag Cag(a special river in the region)stream algae application gives better results in main stem diameter.It was determined that the number of nodes in the control(without algae)plots was higher than in the other two treatments.Yield and LRWC and plant height values of genotype 7 were the best values among other genotypes.The leaf temperature measurement was lower on genotype 9 than on the other genotypes.While the highest fruit length value was measured in genotype 1,genotype 8 was superior in the main stem diameter,fruit diameter,and the number of nodes among the remaining plant materials.In terms of yield,it was determined that the interaction between genotype 2 and the commercial algae resulted in the best outcomes.In addition,the results of the genetic evaluation revealed that the materials used were not genetically distant from each other and more detailed genetic evaluations are needed.The molecular kinship analysis revealed that the genotypes used in the study were divided into three distinct groups,with individuals within each group exhibiting a high degree of relatedness to one another.As a result of the study,it was found that the application of microalgae had significant effects on improving the drought tolerance of Cucumis melo subsp.agrestis var.conomon genotypes.

Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities of wild musk melon (Cucumis melo var. agrestis) in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic rats

Objective:Wild musk melon(Cucumis melo var.agrestis,CMA)is one of the edible plants form Tamil Nadu.Traditionally,this plant was used as diabetic diet(leaves of CMA with Momordica charantia leaves),but there is no scientific report on antidiabetic action of this plant material.Hence,the current research work was designed to evaluate the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of CMA leaves(HALEC)in streptozotocin(STZ)-nicotinamide(NIC)-induced diabetic rats.Methods:Diabetes was induced by administration of STZ(60 mg/kg,i.p.)after 15 min of NIC(120 mg/kg i.p.)administration.The diabetic rats were treated with HALEC(300 and 600 mg/kg,p.o.,respectively)for 21 d.Results:After the management with HALEC,blood glucose,HbA1c levels,total cholesterol,LDL cholesterol,triglycerides levels,glycogen phosphorylase and glucose-6-phosphatase levels were significantly diminished in diabetic rats.However,haemoglobin level,HDL cholesterol,liver glycogen,total protein,hexokinase,glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase levels were significantly increased in HALEC treated diabetic rats.The histopathological studies of the pancreas in HALEC-treated diabetic rats showed almost normal appearance.L6 cell line study revealed the increased glucose uptake activity of HALEC.High performance thin layer chromatography(HPTLC)analysis confirms the presence of active principles such as rutin,gallic acid and quercetin in HALEC.Conclusion:The results indicated that HALEC possess significant antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activity in STZ-NIC-induced typeⅡdiabetic rats with protective effect.This research work will be useful for the isolation of active principles and development of herbal formulation in phytopharmaceuticals.

Effects of Meteorological Conditions on Yield and Quality of Facility Hami Melon

With different varieties of facility Hami melon(Cucumis melo var. sacchairinus) as test materials, the effects of meteorological conditions on the yield and quality of different varieties of facility Hami melon were analyzed. The results showed that among the yield and quality traits of melon, the variation degree of average single melon weight was the highest, and the coefficient of variation was 33.05%. The variation degree of leaf area index was the lowest, and the coefficient of variation was 11.00%. Through the correlation analysis of meteorological factors with the yield and quality of facility Hami melon, it was found that the quality traits of facility Hami melon were significantly positively correlated with maximum temperature and sunshine duration, and significantly negatively correlated with precipitation. The yield traits were positively correlated with maximum temperature, sunshine duration and precipitation.

Wild melon: a novel non-edible feedstock for bioenergy

In the present research work, a non-edible oil source Cucumis melo var. agrestis （wild melon） was systematically identified and studied for biodiesel production and its characterization. The extracted oil was 29.1% of total dry seed weight. The free fatty acid value of the oil was found to be 0.64%, and the single-step alkaline transesterification method was used for conversion of fatty acids into their respective methyl esters. The maximum conversion efficiency of fatty acids was obtained at 0.4 wt% NaOH （used as catalyst）, 30% （methanol to oil, v/v） methanol amount, 60 ℃ reaction temperature, 600-rpm agitation rate and 60-min reaction time. Under these optimal conditions, the conversion efficiency of fatty acid was 92%. However, in the case of KOH as catalyst, the highest conversion （85%） of fatty acids was obtained at 40% methanol to oil ratio, 1.28 wt% KOH, 60 ℃ reaction temperature, 600-rpm agitation rate and 45 min of reaction time. Qualitatively, biodiesel was characterized through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FFIR） and gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy （GC-MS）. FTIR results demonstrated a strong peak at 1742 cm-1, showing carbonyl groups （C=O） of methyl esters. However, GC-MS results showed the presence of twelve methyl esters comprised of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, non-decanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, octadecadienoic acid and octadecynoic acid. The fuel properties were found to fall within the range recommended by the international biodiesel standard, i.e., American Society of Testing Materials （ASTM）： flash point of 91℃, density of 0.873 kg/L, viscosity of 5.35 cSt, pour point of - 13 ℃, cloud point of -10 ℃, total acid number of 0.242 mg KOH/g and sulfur content of 0.0043 wt%. The present work concluded the potential of wild melon seed oil as excellent non-edible source of bioenergy.

豆饼与尿素配施对薄皮甜瓜果实酯类香味物质及关键酶的影响

以薄皮甜瓜(Cucumis melo var. makuwa Makino)果实为试材,研究了豆饼、尿素及豆饼与尿素配施对薄皮甜瓜果实酯类香气物质及关键酶的影响。结果表明,尿素处理促进了C6醇和C9醇、C6醛和C9醛物质合成,抑制了乙酸脂类和非乙酸酯类物质的合成;豆饼与尿素配施明显促进了果实中酯类物质的种类和含量的增加,尤其是提高了成熟果实中乙酸乙酯、乙酸己酯、2-甲基丁酸乙酯、异丁酸乙酯4种特征性酯类物质的含量,而豆饼处理主要是促进了非特征性酯类物质的种类和含量的增加。此外,不同处理甜瓜果实酯类物质的合成与关键酶活性变化相关,尤其是ADH和AAT活性。

“靓鼠”植物生理障碍修复剂对干旱胁迫菜瓜苗抗氧化酶活性的影响

温室穴盘栽培的菜瓜(Cucumis melo L.vat.flexuosus Naud.)幼苗经0、2、4、6d干旱胁迫后,喷施稀释250、500、750、1000倍的“靓鼠”植物生理障碍修复剂,以喷清水作对照,处理24h后测定叶片的超氧化物歧化酶(s0D)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)等抗氧化酶的活性。结果显示,“靓鼠”植物生理障碍修复剂处理能使菜瓜幼苗的s0D活性和POD活性上升,但使其CAT活性降低。由此并结合形态表现表明,“靓鼠”生理修复剂处理能提高菜瓜苗的抗旱性。

气象条件对设施哈密瓜产量和品质的影响分析

以不同品种设施哈密瓜(Cucumis melo var.sacchairinus)为试验材料,分析了气象条件对设施哈密瓜产量和品质的影响。结果表明,设施哈密瓜的产量和品质性状中,平均单瓜质量的变异程度最大,变异系数为33.05%,叶面积指数的变异程度最小,变异系数为11.00%。通过气象因子与设施哈密瓜产量和品质的相关性分析发现,设施哈密瓜的品质性状与最高温度和日照时长呈显著正相关,与降水量呈显著负相关;产量性状与最高温度、日照时长和降水量呈显著正相关。

哈密瓜生长气象条件评价指标及主要气象灾害影响分析

以新疆哈密市中熟哈密瓜(Cucumis melo var.saccharinus)为研究对象,应用1981—2020年气象数据资料、1999—2020年哈密瓜发育期资料、1961—2020年历史灾情资料,分析了哈密瓜生长的气象条件及主要气象灾害。结果表明,影响哈密瓜生长的主要气象因子有播种期、出苗期、伸蔓期的平均气温、平均最高气温和(或)平均最低气温,坐果期的气温日较差、平均相对湿度、降水量,成熟期的日照时数等。哈密瓜苗期适宜温度为18~25℃,日最高气温>35℃或日最低气温≤13℃对苗期生长有不利影响;果实膨大期的适宜温度为25~30℃;坐果期至成熟期的高温和持续降水会对哈密瓜的产量和品质造成影响。哈密瓜生长期间的主要气象灾害是苗期大风和霜冻。1999—2020年哈密市春季霜冻和大风灾害均以轻度为主。