Aims: This study evaluated the role of sodium, potassium, proline and soluble sugars accumulation in the ameliorative effect of an exogenous application of calcium on the detrimental effect of salinity on tomato plants. Study Design: The experiment was implemented as a Completely Randomized Design (RCD) with four treatments and three replications. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was realized in a green house of the Faculty of Agronomical Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic from June to July 2020. Methodology: Three weeks old plants of the tomato cultivar “Padma” was submitted in pots to four treatments comprising the control (without NaCl); salt stress (120 mM NaCl) and a combination of 120 mM NaCl and exogenous application of 40 mM CaSO4 or Ca (NO3)2 by irrigation every two days. Plants growth, sodium (Na) and potassium (K) as well as proline and soluble sugars contents of leaves and roots were determined after two weeks. Results: Salt effect reduced significantly plant growth at P =.05, root K content at P =.05 and leaf K/Na ratio at P =.01 whereas it increased significantly leaf Na at P =.05 and root soluble sugars content at P =.05. The application of exogenous calcium (Ca) induced a significant amelioration of plant growth at P =.01 more marked with CaSO4 than with Ca (NO3)2. This treatment induced a significant decrease at P =.01 in leaf and root Na content and a significant increase at P =.05 in root K content only for CaSO4, a significant increase at P =.01 in leaf K/Na ratio and a significant increase at P =.01 in leaf and root proline content only for Ca(NO3)2. Conclusion: The ameliorative effect of both forms of calcium was due mainly to sodium (Na) exclusion from leaves and potassium (K) accumulation associated to a maintain of high K/Na ratio mainly in leaves. The importance of proline accumulation as an indicator of this ameliorative effect was associated only to Ca(NO3)2.

The use of biotechnological approaches to increase soil fertility and productivity allows to obtain sustainable agriculture with lesser use of chemical fertilizers. The present study aimed to determine whether the inoculation of Bacillus panthothenicus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas syringae, or Serratia marcescens combined with reduced doses of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) fertilizer can improve the growth and yield of maize on poor ferruginous soils under field conditions in central Benin. For this purpose, maize seeds of the EVDT 97 STR C1 variety were inoculated with 10 ml suspension of five plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains, and the plots were fertilized at seeding with the recommended doses (0, 25, 50, 100%) of 200 kg/ha of NPK and 100 kg of urea for corn cultivation. The study was conducted in a completely randomized design with 3 replicates. The results showed that except for P. syringae , which induced the highest fresh aerial biomass (94.51%) and dry aerial biomass (63.63%), all other parameters were positively improved with inoculation associated with reduced doses of NPK + urea. The best height, leaf area, fresh underground biomass, and grain yield were recorded in response to the application of P. syringae + 50% NPK + urea, with an increase of 26.82, 32.23, 107.57, and 30.64%, respectively, compared to those of the control. The inoculation of seeds with P. syringae + 50% NPK + urea can be considered to be an environmentally sustainable strategy for maize cultivation.

on the best technical itineraries for the production and storage of chilli peppers is essential to revitalize and develop this sector by improving the sanitary quality of the chilli peppers produced in Benin.

Integrated production in sustainable agriculture aims to improve the efficiency of biological inputs through plant-based bioformulations or microorganisms, which are an excellent source of natural fertilisers. A variety of plant stimulants are increasingly used in crop production for environmentally sustainable agriculture. These products have different names and the designations are confusing. The aim of this work is to clarify what is meant by biofertilizer and biostimulant. A biofertilizer is a bacterial or fungal inoculant applied to plants with the aim of increasing the availability of nutrients and their use by plants, regardless of the nutrient content of the inoculant itself. A plant biostimulant is substance or microorganism applied to plants for the purpose of improving the nutritional efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance and/or quality characteristics of crops, regardless of its nutrient content. By extension, plant biostimulants also refer to commercial products containing mixtures of these substances and/or microorganisms. Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) can be called biofertilisers or biostimulants; PGPR formulations are biostimulants. It can be noted that biofertilisers are included in biostimulants.

Fruit juice production sector is developing in Benin's major cities and appears to have both organisational and technical shortcomings. This study aimed to 1) establish the socio-professional profile of actors in the fruit juice production sector in Abomey-Calavi and Cotonou municipalities and 2) evaluate the adoption level of hygienic practices of enterprises. The methodological approach adopted in this study combined a semi-structured survey with direct observations in fifty enterprises. The statistical analysis was carried out using the R.4.0.0 software. The study revealed that fruit juice enterprises in both municipalities are mainly artisanal (90%) and located in residential areas (94%). They are therefore exposed to contamination risks from domestic and road activities. More than half of these enterprises were created less than five years ago. Three administrative types of enterprises were noted: non-structured (32%), semi-structured (34%) and structured (34%). Almost half of the enterprises belong to at least one professional association. Only a few enterprises have marketing authorization. Women predominate in the positions of director and production assistant. The majority of production managers are men. Most directors and production managers have a university education, but not necessarily in the field of food sciences. The adoption level of hygie-