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Salinity is an obstacle for plant growth and the exploitation of means like cation foliar to soften the negative effects is of interest. The impacts of NaCl salinity (0, 75, 150, and 225 mM) and nano-Zn and Fe foliar applications (0 and 3 mg L −1) were examined on yield and physiological characteristics of Rosmarinus officinalis grown in an open soilless culture system. Salinity decreased root growth and above-ground plant growth (fresh and dry weight), chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll content, and zinc accumulation. Nano-Fe and Zn foliar application had positive influence on the above-ground plant growth. The results showed that Zn 2+ content was affected by the interaction between salinity and nano-Fe and Zn foliar application. The highest content of Zn 2+ was found at no saline Zn-sprayed plants. The content of Zn 2+ , hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2), malondialdehyde (MDA), and phenolics were affected by the independent effects of salinity or foliar application. Salinity increased the H 2 O 2 and MDA content but nano-zinc and iron spraying alleviated salinity impacts and both H 2 O 2 and MDA decreased. Nano-Fe and Zn foliar application increased total phenolics and total flavonoids content. Proline and chlorophyll a content, Na + , K + amounts, and K + /Na + ratio were affected by the salinity stress. Salinity decreased K + content and K + /Na + ratio but increased Na + and proline content with more pronounced effects at 225 mM NaCl. Overall, foliar application of both elements improved the growth and salt tolerance of rosemary and their application would be advisable to the cultivation practices.

The cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus F. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), is an important pest of stored cowpea, Vigna ungiculata (L.) Walpers (Fabales: Fabaceae), with ample distribution in tropical and subtropical regions. Many plant essential oils have a broad-spectrum activity against pest insects, and these oils traditionally have been used in the protection of stored products. In this study, the lethal and sublethal effects of essential oils from Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) and Heracleum persicum Desf. (Apiales: Apiaceae) were evaluated on the adults of C. maculatus at 26 ± 1° C, 70 ± 5% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 L:D. The LC50 values of E. camaldulensis and H. persicum were 56.7 and 219.4 µL/L air after 12 hr and 26.1 and 136.4 µL/L air after 24 hr of exposure, respectively. The LT50 values of E. camaldulensis and H.persicum were 6.3 and 10.9 hr, respectively. The results showed that low lethal concentration (LC20) of essential oils negatively affected the longevity, fecundity, and fertility of female adults. The sex ratio of C. maculatus offspring was not significantly affected by essential oils. Therefore, these essential oils can be suggested for controlling C. maculatus in storage systems. The introduction of essential oils into storage systems could potentially decrease seed losses.

Foliar application of micronutrients (both in common and nano-forms) to meet the nutritional demands of plants and even to overcome the stressful environments has gained great attention of agricultural systems. In our experiments, we tried to use the foliar nano-zinc and common zinc sources under salinity conditions and study their effects on some morpho-physiological traits of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) as factorial experiment based on RCBD design. ANOVA results revealed the interaction effects of salinity and zinc foliar application on elemental content (K + , Na + and Zn 2+), as well as essential oil yield of the plants. Carotenoids were influenced by the salinity levels. Soluble sugars content, flavonoids, H 2 O 2 and MDA contents were influenced by individual levels of salinity and zinc foliar applications. Eventually, nano-zinc foliar spray was able to overcome the mild salinity effects on the plant growth and physiological parameters and it could be administered to the production systems and pioneer plant producers.

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In order to characterize the essential oils of leaves and inflorescences, water distilled volatile oils of hydroponically grown Ocimum basilicum L. were analyzed by GC/EI-MS. Fifty components were identified in the inflorescence and leaf essential oils of the basil plants, accounting for 98.8 and 99.9 % of the total quantified components respectively. Phenylpropanoids (37.7 % for the inflorescence vs. 58.3 % for the leaves) were the predominant class of oil constituents, followed by sesquiterpenes (33.3 vs. 19.4 %) and monoterpenes (27.7 vs. 22.1 %). Of the monoterpenoid compounds, oxygenated monoterpenes (25.2 vs. 18.9 %) were the main subclass. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (25 vs. 15.9 %) were the main subclass of sesquiterpenoidal compounds. Methyl chavicol, a phenylpropane derivative, (37.2 vs. 56.7 %) was the principle component of both organ oils, with up to 38 and 57 % of the total identified components of the inflorescence and leaf essential oils, respectively. Linalool (21.1 vs. 13.1 %) was the second common major component followed by αcadinol (6.1 vs. 3 %), germacrene D (6.1 vs. 2.7 %) and 1,8-cineole (2.4 vs. 3.5 %). There were significant quantitative but very small qualitative differences between the two oils. In total, considering the previous reports, it seems that essential oil composition of hydroponically grown O. basilicum L. had volatile constituents comparable with field grown counterparts, probably with potential applicability in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Hydrodistilled flowerhead volatile oil composition of soilless culture-grown Chrysanthemum balsamita L. was studied for its components by GC/MS. Thirty-one constituents were quantified, comprising 94.08% of the oil. Oxygenated monoterpenes (78%) and sesquiterpenes (sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenes) (14.88%) were the major classes of identified components occurring in higher proportions. The predominant constituents of the volatile oil were carvone (52.01%), alpha-thujone (11.04%), (E)-beta-farnesene (3.91%), limonene (2.7%) and delta-cadinol (2.18%). Five sesquiterpenoidal components, namely gamma-gurjunene (1.74%), (Z, E)-farnesol (1.16%), delta-cadinene (1.14%), alpha-cedrene (1.11%) and beta-copaene-4-alpha-ol (0.44%) were identified for the first time from the volatile oil of costmary. Considering volatile oil components, the chemical profile of flowerhead volatile oil of soilless culture-grown C. balsamita L. was comparable with previously reported wild- and field- grown plants of C. balsamita L.

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