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Stavropoulos P, Mavroeidis A, Papadopoulos G, Roussis I, Bilalis D, Kakabouki I. On the Path towards a "Greener" EU: A Mini Review on Flax ( Linum usitatissimum L.) as a Case Study. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1102. [PMID: 36903961 PMCID: PMC10005532 DOI: 10.3390/plants12051102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Due to the pressures imposed by climate change, the European Union (EU) has been forced to design several initiatives (the Common Agricultural Policy, the European Green Deal, Farm to Fork) to tackle the climate crisis and ensure food security. Through these initiatives, the EU aspires to mitigate the adverse effects of the climate crisis and achieve collective prosperity for humans, animals, and the environment. The adoption or promotion of crops that would facilitate the attaining of these objectives is naturally of high importance. Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is a multipurpose crop with many applications in the industrial, health, and agri-food sectors. This crop is mainly grown for its fibers or its seed and has recently gained increasing attention. The literature suggests that flax can be grown in several parts of the EU, and potentially has a relatively low environmental impact. The aim of the present review is to: (i) briefly present the uses, needs, and utility of this crop and, (ii) assess its potential within the EU by taking into account the sustainability goals the EU has set via its current policies.
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Ji T, Guo X, Wu F, Wei M, Li J, Ji P, Wang N, Yang F. Proper irrigation amount for eggplant cultivation in a solar greenhouse improved plant growth, fruit quality and yield by influencing the soil microbial community and rhizosphere environment. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:981288. [PMID: 36212834 PMCID: PMC9537383 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.981288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Water scarcity is a worldwide problem, and in order to obtain plenty of production, agricultural irrigation water accounts for a large portion. Many studies have shown that the interaction of root microorganisms and soil can promote crop growth. Developing ways to reduce irrigation to maintain soil fertility and ensure crop yield by regulating the root microenvironment is an important research goal. Here, we developed a reasonable irrigation plan for eggplant cultivation in a solar greenhouse. The maximum theoretical amount of water demand during eggplant planting obtained from a previous study was used as the control (CK), and the irrigation in the treatments was reduced by 10, 20 and 30% relative to this amount. The 10% irrigation reduction treatment (T1) significantly improved soil nutrients and increased soil catalase, urease and alkaline phosphatase activities (p < 0.05). Further analysis of rhizosphere microorganisms revealed the highest richness and diversity of the microbial community under the T1 treatment, with Bacilli as the most abundant bacteria and Aspergillaceae as the most abundant fungi and lower relative abundances of Chloroflexi and Acidobacteria (p < 0.05). Changes in microbial community structure under the influence of different irrigation treatments resulted in improvements in rhizosphere N cycling and nutrient catabolism. The plant–microbe interactions led to significant increases in eggplant plant height, root vigour, root surface area, leaf chlorophyll a, leaf net photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance under the T1 treatment compared to the CK treatment; soluble sugar, soluble protein and free amino acid contents in eggplant fruit increased by 10.8, 12.3 and 6.7%, respectively; and yield increased by 3.9%. Our research proved that the 10% irrigation reduction treatment (T1) could improve microbial community richness and fruit yield, which would improve irrigation efficiency and cost reduction in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuo Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong, China
| | - Xinyong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong, China
| | - Fengling Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong, China
| | - Min Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong, China
- Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Facility Agricultural Engineering (Huang-Huai-Hai Region), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tai’an, Shandong, China
- Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center for Fruit and Vegetable Production with High Quality and Efficiency, Tai’an, Shandong, China
| | - Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong, China
- Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center for Fruit and Vegetable Production with High Quality and Efficiency, Tai’an, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crop (Huang-Huai Region), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tai’an, Shandong, China
| | - Ping Ji
- School of Economics, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Ningxin Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong, China
- *Correspondence: Ningxin Wang, ; Fengjuan Yang,
| | - Fengjuan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, Shandong, China
- Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center for Fruit and Vegetable Production with High Quality and Efficiency, Tai’an, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crop (Huang-Huai Region), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tai’an, Shandong, China
- *Correspondence: Ningxin Wang, ; Fengjuan Yang,
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