Widespread legume varieties common across arid/low-rainfall desert regions, of great economic importance, are becoming threatened despite prolonged evolution and adaptive endurance to abiotic stresses. However, research planning has paid little attention to improving agronomic conditions, particularly for legumes, in dry/arid regions. This review compiles the physiological and genetic resilience characteristics of dryland-friendly legumes, including the genetic correlation between rhizobia and improved desert soil quality and plant vigor, based on an extensive literature survey. A comprehensive discussion of recent advanced omics-based approaches to improve arid legume resilience highlights the prerequisites for incorporating underutilized legumes into desert intercropping systems to improve soil and crop performance. In this way, strategic initiatives that link genetic knowledge transfer from dryland to non-dryland legumes could help investigate the functional characterization of novel stress-resilient genes/allelic interactions.
Heavy metal contamination of agricultural soils is a critical environmental challenge because of its persistence and the risks it poses to ecosystems and human health. Heavy metals cannot be degraded, and changes in soil conditions can remobilize stable fractions into labile, bioavailable forms. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are increasingly used as bioinoculants that assist phytoremediation rather than as a stand-alone technology. Depending on the strain, host plant and soil conditions, PGPR can either mobilize metals and enhance their uptake and translocation (phytoextraction) or immobilize them in the rhizosphere and roots, reducing their transfer to aboveground tissues (phytostabilization). This critical review, supported by a structured and reproducible literature search, synthesizes the evidence on (i) plant growth-promoting traits under metal stress; (ii) direct PGPR–metal interactions, including biosorption by extracellular polymeric substances, metallothioneins, organic acids, redox transformation and microbially induced carbonate precipitation; (iii) the regulation of plant antioxidant defenses; and (iv) root exudate-driven, endophyte-assisted and formulation-based strategies. The evidence, dominated by short-term pot experiments with single metals, is critically compared, and priorities for field validation, mixed contamination and regulatory approval are identified.
Mineral nutrition is a decisive factor in the growth, development, yield, and fruit quality of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims), yet the available evidence is scattered across contrasting production systems and agroecological contexts. This review synthesizes the scientific advances, technological innovations, and outstanding challenges in the mineral nutrition of this crop, with emphasis on plant physiology, phenology, yield components, and fruit physicochemical quality attributes. The literature published between January 2000 and April 2026 in international and Latin American databases was examined and organized into thematic categories: macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg), micronutrients (Fe, B, Mn, Zn, and Cu), the beneficial element silicon, and emerging fertilization technologies. Nitrogen governs vegetative growth and biomass accumulation, with reported rates of 130–350 kg N ha−1 and yields of 15–20 t ha−1; phosphorus drives root development, flowering, and energy transfer; and potassium regulates osmotic balance, photoassimilate transport, and fruit quality, and mitigates salt stress. Calcium and magnesium sustain cell-wall integrity, chlorophyll synthesis, and fruit quality; micronutrients (Fe, B, Mn, Zn, and Cu) sustain enzymatic activity and photosynthesis; and the beneficial element silicon enhances tolerance to abiotic stress. Controlled-release fertilizers, fertigation, foliar feeding, biostimulants, biofertilizers, and beneficial microorganisms improve nutrient-use efficiency. Knowledge gaps persist in rate optimization, nutrient interactions, cultivar-specific responses, and the adaptation of fertilization programs to local conditions. Balanced mineral nutrition, integrated with emerging technologies and site-specific diagnostics, is a key strategy for increasing the yield, fruit quality, and sustainability of passion fruit production.
Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a key staple crop in Kenya, where plant-parasitic nematodes are among the most damaging yield constraints for smallholder farmers. This study evaluated fluopyram-treated banana fibre paper, a biodegradable carrier for targeted delivery of ultra-low nematicide doses, under on-farm conditions in Nyandarua County over three consecutive cropping seasons across properly and poorly managed fields. Seventeen nematode genera were identified, with Helicotylenchus and Globodera (potato cyst nematode, PCN) recording the highest population densities. Fluopyram-treated banana paper significantly suppressed Globodera juvenile densities and reduced total nematode reproductive factors by ≥26% and PCN cyst multiplication factors, the effects most pronounced under poor management. No significant nematode suppression was observed under good management. Total yield in fluopyram treatment approximately doubled in well-managed plots and increased by ~50% in poorly managed plots relative to untreated controls. Fluopyram-treated plots also produced a higher proportion of large-grade tubers under proper management, improving marketable yield. These findings demonstrate that banana fibre technology can effectively manage nematode pests under variable real-world smallholder conditions, with yield benefits amplified by good agronomic practices. The technology offers a practical, climate-smart, and sustainable nematode management tool, with potential for wide adoption across sub-Saharan Africa.
Water deficit stress poses significant challenges to chickpea production, affecting plant growth, physiological parameters, and overall crop yield. This study aimed to identify drought-tolerant chickpea genotypes and evaluate the potential of grape by-product amendments to alleviate water deficit stress. Two trials were conducted. The first one investigated the agronomic evaluation of eight chickpea genotypes (G1–G8) cultivated in three different soils to identify drought-tolerant genotypes and the poorest soil. Three chickpea cultivars, G2 (Nour), G3 (Rebha), and G4 (Bochra), were selected for their identified moderate drought tolerance and their status as widely available commercial genotypes in Tunisia. In the second trial, two grape by-product amendments were tested for their ability to enhance the drought tolerance of the selected chickpea genotypes in the poorest-performing soil. Under water deficit conditions, the stalk amendment increased the relative water content (RWC) of the drought-tolerant genotype Nour by approximately 61% compared with the non-amended treatment and a 90% improvement in SPAD chlorophyll readings in Nour under water deficit conditions. Among the tested genotypes, Nour maintained the highest photosynthetic efficiency under drought, with Fv/Fm reaching approximately 0.62 following stalk amendment, indicating improved preservation of PSII functionality. Polyphenol profiling indicated that both drought stress and soil amendments modulated the accumulation of phenolic compounds. Enhanced polyphenol levels, particularly under stalk amendment and water deficit, suggest activation of antioxidant and protective metabolic pathways involved in plant stress defense. Thus, grape by-products, especially stalk residues, demonstrate potential as sustainable soil amendments to mitigate drought stress effects in chickpea through improvements in plant–water status, photosynthetic efficiency, and stress-responsive metabolism.
