RESUMEN
Sapota (Achras sapota), a fruit tree with nutritional and medicinal properties, is known to thrive in salt-affected areas. However, the underlying mechanisms that allow sapota to adapt to saline environment are yet to be explored. Here, we examined various morphological, physiological, and biochemical features of sapota under a gradient of seawater (0, 4, 8, and 12 dS m-1) to study its adaptive responses against salinity. Our results showed that seawater-induced salinity negatively impacted on growth-related attributes, such as plant height, root length, leaf area, and dry biomass in a dose-dependent manner. This growth reduction was positively correlated with reductions in relative water content, stomatal conductance, xylem exudation rate, and chlorophyll, carbohydrate, and protein contents. However, the salt tolerance index did not decline in proportional to the increasing doses of seawater, indicating a salt tolerance capacity of sapota. Under salt stress, ion analysis revealed that Na+ mainly retained in roots, whereas K+ and Ca2+ were more highly accumulated in leaves than in roots, suggesting a potential mechanism in restricting transport of excessive Na+ to leaves to facilitate the uptake of other essential minerals. Sapota plants also maintained an improved leaf succulence with increasing levels of seawater. Furthermore, increased accumulations of proline, total amino acids, soluble sugars, and reducing sugars suggested an enhanced osmoprotective capacity of sapota to overcome salinity-induced osmotic stress. Our results demonstrate that the salt adaptation strategy of sapota is attributed to increased leaf succulence, selective transport of minerals, efficient Na+ retention in roots, and accumulation of compatible solutes.
Asunto(s)
Frutas/química , Fotosíntesis/genética , Prolina/metabolismo , Tolerancia a la Sal/genética , Plantas Tolerantes a la Sal/química , Agricultura , Salinidad , ÁrbolesRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to address the current scenario of LBW and infant nutritional and to analyze the effect of maternal status and pattern of their breast feeding practices on perinatal and postnatal infant development. METHODS: Cross-sectional study design with structured questionnaires was used among 510 mother-infant pair to collect data. Maternal anthropometric, socio-economic and demographic characteristics and breast feeding practice were used as independent variable and birth weight and infant growth status as dependent variable. Descriptive and crosstab analysis were used to analyze the effect. RESULTS: The study revealed that about 29.4% infants were born with low birth weight (LBW). Mother with no education and from low income family were more likely (OR: 3.484, 95%CI: 1.993-6.089 and OR: 2.078, 95% CI: 1.274-3.387) to have LBW infant compared with mother with higher education and from higher income family. Similarly, lower maternal height, weight and MUAC (< 150 cm, <50 kg and < 22 cm respectively) were shown to have more risk of having LBW compared with higher height, weight and MUAC (RR: 1.628, 2.375 and 2.115; 95%CI: 1.250- 2.120, 1.844- 3.059, 1.623- 2.757). The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was found among 45% mother. Postnatal growth and development of infant was not found significantly different (P > 0.05) among those who breast feed exclusively and non-exclusively. CONCLUSION: The study confirms that lower level of maternal education; family income and anthropometric measurement significantly increase the risk of LBW. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice was not found satisfactory.