Silicon Supplied Via Roots or Leaves Relieves Potassium Deficiency in Maize Plants

Silicon - The aim of this study was to determine whether silicon (Si) supplied via nutrient solution or foliar spray is nutritionally and physiologically efficient in mitigating potassium (K)...     

Does Foliar Application of Silicon under Natural Water Stress Conditions Increase Rice Yield in Subtropical Dry Regions?

Silicon - Silicon, although not an essential element for plant, when it is absorbed can alter cells flexibility, and then may affect plant architecture; reduce leaf senescence and deleterious...     

Exploring seed and meal composition and protein solubility in soybean genotypes from different domestication periods

Traditionally, commercial soybean breeding has focused on increasing seed yield by crossing elite cultivars and limiting the genetic diversity within commercial germplasm. Wild and ancestral soybean genotypes have higher seed protein concentrations than commercial ones. Different seed protein concentrations and compositions result in diverse functional properties of soybean meal, in particular solubility is important for beverages and protein isolates production. The objectives of our study were (i) to characterize seed protein concentration and composition in genotypes from different soybean domestication periods (types) and (ii) to evaluate the protein concentration and solubility profiles of the defatted meals obtained from these genotypes. Variation within seed and meal protein concentration, composition, and solubility was evident along the domestication process. Wild relative (G. soja) and Elite genotypes had the maximum and minimum seed protein concentrations, respectively (42.9 and 36.3 g 100 g⁻¹). Soybean meal protein concentrations were 55.1, 47.7, 48.4 and 44.1 g 100 g⁻¹ for Wild relative (G. soja), Asian landraces, North American (Nam) ancestors and Elite, respectively. Ample genotypic variation was observed for β-conglycinin components, such as for β, α, and α′ subunits and for total glycinin and its components. Asian landraces had the highest protein solubility. Wild and ancestral germplasm are a reservoir of useful traits to improve soybean seed quality. This study opens the gates to the introduction of ancestral germplasm to breeding programs focused on protein quality and functionality.     

Foliar-Applied Silicon in Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) Alleviate Zinc Deficiency

Silicon - Foliar-applied silicon may reduce the damage caused by zinc (Zn) deficiency in plants. While adding silicon (Si) and Zn to the solution may increase foliar fertilization efficiency, Si...     

Coupling Ferroelectric to colloidal Nanocrystals as a Generic Strategy to Engineer the Carrier Density Landscape

The design of infrared nanocrystals-based (NCs) photodiodes faces a major challenge related to the identification of barriers with a well-suited band alignment or strategy to finely control the carrier density. Here, this study explores a general complementary approach where the carrier density control is achieved by coupling an NC layer to a ferroelectric material. The up-and-down change in ferroelectric polarization directly impacts the NC electronic structure, resulting in the formation of a lateral pn junction. This effect is uncovered directly using nano X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, which shows a relative energy shift of 115 meV of the NC photoemission signal over the two different up- and down-polarized ferroelectric regions, a shift as large as the open circuit value obtained in the diode stack. The performance of this pn junction reveals enhanced responsivity and reduced noise that lead to a factor 40 increase in the detectivity value.