This study formulated biodegradable, edible films with sodium alginate and varying concentrations and a combination of seed oils (watermelon seed oil, sesame seed oil) and rosehip extract. In the present study, rosehip, sesame, and watermelon seed oils, which incorporated many bioactive compounds and are known to have antioxidant properties, were incorporated into edible films to improve the film properties due to the controlled release of the active substance and thus increase the storage time. The potential to form alginate-based edible films by incorporating this extract and seed oils into alginate-based films has not been thoroughly investigated. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mechanical, physical, thermal, and antioxidant properties characterized the edible film samples. The biodegradability by soil was also performed. Blending rosehip extract and its combination with seed oils significantly improved the films' antioxidant properties while reducing moisture content. In the study, the highest total phenolic content was recorded in the rosehip + sesame oil film (R2) sample (0.418 +/- 0.015 mg GAE/g) and the lowest total phenolic content was recorded in the control sample (0.208 +/- 0.014 mg GAE/g). Additionally, the highest % moisture value was recorded in the control sample (68.060 +/- 0.530%), and the lowest % moisture value was recorded in the rosehip + sesame oil film (R2) sample (61.223 +/- 0.881%). Watermelon seed oil blended film samples showed more homogeneity and had smooth surfaces compared to control samples. Alginate-based films incorporated with seed oils and rosehip extract may have caused color differences and whiteness index due to phenolic and bioactive compounds in their content. Soil degradation properties showed that the films were biodegradable. The elongation at break value of alginate-based films combined with rosehip extract and seed oils showed a significant increase compared to the control films. According to the results, alginate-based films combined with rosehip extract (films compounded with rosehip extract only and films compounded with rosehip and selected seed oils) improved film properties compared to control films. In addition, the incorporation of rosehip extract into the films improved the film properties compared to the films obtained using only seed oil. Based on the findings of this study, the use of rosehip extract, sesame, and watermelon seed oil in the development of composite biodegradable, edible films of sodium alginate could be used as a suitable alternative for edible food packaging.

Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum (Fo), is widely recognized as one of the most devastating fungal diseases, inflicting significant damage on a wide range of agricultural and horticultural crops. Despite melatonin has recently emerged as a potential enhancer of plant resistance against Fo, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, our results demonstrate that exogenous melatonin and MeJA enhance watermelon resistance against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Niveum race 2 (FON2) in a dose-dependent manner. The optimal concentration for melatonin and MeJA was determined to be 10 mu M and 1 mu M, respectively. Both melatonin and MeJA inhibited FON2 mycelial growth on PDA medium in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, exogenous melatonin significantly stimulated upregulation of MeJA synthesis genes and increased MeJA content upon FON2 infection. However, pretreatment with a MeJA synthesis inhibitor (DIECA) suppressed the induction of melatonin-induced resistance against FON2. Furthermore, MeJA also induced the upregulation of melatonin biosynthetic gene caffeic acid O-methyltransferase 1 (ClCOMT1) and increased melatonin accumulation in response to FON2. Notably, the reduction in FON2 resistance caused by ClCOMT1 deletion was completely restored through exogenous application of MeJA. These results suggest that melatonin facilitates MeJA accumulation, which provides feedback to promote melatonin accumulation, forming a reciprocal positive regulatory loop in response to FON2 infection. Additionally, polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, and lignin are involved in the MeJA-induced resistance against FON2. The growing concern over minimizing pesticide usage and transitioning to sustainable and natural control strategies underscores the significant potential of such a mechanism in combating Fo.

Nickel (Ni) is a trace element that is toxic to plants and consequently results in toxicity symptoms and hazardous fitness problems in human beings through food chains. Nanoparticles (NPs) are being used in new ways to directly help plants handle Ni stress and act as nano-fertilizers. The purpose of the current study was to establish the use of biogenically produced zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) to reduce Ni-induced toxic effect on the growth and development of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). Watermelon seeds were sown in pot filled with five kg of soil and placed in a greenhouse. The watermelon plants were treated with Ni stress (70 mg/kg soil) at 20 DAS (days after sowing), and the treatment was applied directly into the soil. The supply of ZnONPs (100 mg/L) as foliar spray was given at 30 DAS and 38 DAS, and the sampling was performed at 55-60 DAS for biochemical and physiological analysis. The results showed that watermelon plants that were exposed to Ni had oxidative damage, which was shown by more electrolyte leakage, hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation, pigment and osmolyte loss, and a loss of ultrastructural integrity in the chloroplasts. However, watermelon plants supplemented with ZnONPs under the Ni toxicity revealed significantly increased plant fresh weight (53.18%), plant dry weight (51.25%), and root length (32.14%). Moreover, the ZnONPs supplement has beneficial impacts on photosynthesis attributes, SPAD value (21.93%), and chloroplast structure observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) under Ni stress. Application of ZnONPs also substantially reduced the oxidative stress by lowering the levels of superoxide radical (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\:{\text{O}}_{2}{-\cdot\:}$$\end{document}; 22.68%), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2; 21.18%), malondialdehyde (MDA; 21.34%), and electrolyte leakage (EL; 34.613%). The results showed that ZnONPs enhanced enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD; 39.95%), peroxidase (POD; 19.95%), catalase (CAT; 32.85%), ascorbate peroxidase (APX; 25%) that metabolize reactive oxygen species (ROS); these increases correlated with the changes observed in the \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\:{\text{O}}_{2}{-\cdot\:}$$\end{document}, H2O2 and MDA after ZnONPs application. Application of ZnONPs increased the transcriptional levels of antioxidant defense genes as compared to the Ni plants alone. In conclusion, spraying ZnONPs on foliage has high effectiveness in increasing biomass, photosynthesis, protein and antioxidant enzymes, mineral nutrient concentrations, and lowering Ni concentrations in watermelon. The results indicate biogenically produced ZnONPs can be a promising technique for the remediation of Ni-contaminated soils.

Increasing drought and soil salinity pose significant threats to crop production around the world. One potential strategy to mitigate the impacts of these environmental changes is grafting, a horticultural technique that joins tissues from different plants. This study aimed to investigate and model changes in the expression of NAC and WRKY genes in grafted watermelon under varying salt and drought stress conditions (mild to extrem). The control groups were not restricted by any limitations. Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai (watermelon) was used as the scion, and Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl (bottle gourd) served as the rootstock in our experiments. During the 14-day treatment period, individuals from the grafted watermelon and bottle gourd plants were more successful to maintained water balance and growth rates, while ungrafted plants exhibited growth retardation and tissue damage, especially under salt stress. The analysis of gene expression revealed that grafted plants showed significantly increased expression of salt- and drought-sensitive genes, including ClNAC2b, ClNAC69, ClNAC72, ClWRKY13, ClWRKY14, and ClWRKY23, compared to ungrafted plants under low-stress conditions. These adaptations, such as stomatal closure and regulation of evaporation, enabled the improved grafted plants to respond more effectively to abiotic stress, supporting their survival and normal development. Our findings underscore that grafting is an environmentally friendly, rapid, and effective technique to enhance plant resilience against abiotic stresses, offering promising avenues to improve stable food crop production amidst increasing environmental challenges.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) has been cultivated for nearly one thousand years and remains a commercially important crop. However, continuous planting often leads to the aggravation of many diseases. Watermelon Fusarium wilt (FW) is one of them, which is a fungal soil-borne disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon) that damages plant roots by invading vascular bundles. Therefore, it is imperative to comprehensively characterize the mechanism mediating disease resistance or susceptibility, as well as identify effective resistance genes, in order to breed improved disease-resistant watermelon varieties. miRNAs are endogenous non-coding RNAs that are widely involved in plant growth, development, metabolism, transport, stress response, and pathogen defense. However, there are few reports of disease-associated miRNAs, or their mechanisms of action, in Cucurbitaceae crops. In this study, the roots of both Fon-susceptible and resistant watermelon varieties were infected with GFP-labeled Fon. Three key infection time points were identified. Illumina sequencing was used to obtain Fon-resistance related miRNAs, and degradome sequencing was used to obtain miRNA target genes. A total of 23 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified at the three key infection time points, the degradation group sequencing found their only target gene. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for studies of miRNA function and regulation during the interaction between Fon and watermelon plants and clues for the screening of watermelon resistance genes. In addition, this information can be used to breed diseaseresistant watermelon varieties.

Red snow algal blooms reduce albedo and increase snowmelt, but little is known of their extent, duration, and radiative forcing. We calibrated an established index by comparing snow algal field spectroradiometer measurements with direct counts of algal cell abundance in British Columbia, Canada. We applied the field calibrated index to Sentinel-2, Landsat-8, and MODIS/Terra images to monitor snow algae on the Vowell and Catamount Glaciers (Purcells, British Columbia) in summer 2020. The maximum extent of snow algal bloom cover was 1.4 and 2.0 km2 respectively, about one third of the total surface area of the two glaciers, making these among the largest contiguous bloom areas yet reported. Blooms were first detected following the onset of above-freezing temperatures in early July and persisted for about two months. Algal abundance increased through July, after which the red snow algal bloom area decreased due to snow cover loss. At their peak in late July the blooms reduced albedo by 0.04 +/- 0.01 on average. Snow algae caused an additional 5.25 & PLUSMN; 1.0 x 10(7) J/m2 of solar energy to be absorbed by the snowpack in July-August, which is enough energy to melt 31.5 cm of snow. This is equivalent to an average snow algal radiative forcing of 8.25 +/- 1.6 W/m2 through July and August. Our results suggest that the extent, duration, and radiative forcing of snow algal blooms are sufficient to enhance glacial melt rates.