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Wheat sharp eyespot is a soil-borne fungal disease commonly found in wheat areas in China, which can occur throughout the entire reproductive period of wheat and has a great impact on the yield and quality of wheat in China. By constructing a domain ontology for wheat sharp eyespot control and modeling the domain knowledge, we aim to integrate and share the knowledge in the field of wheat sharp eyespot control, which can provide important support and guidance for agricultural decision-making and disease control. In this study, the literature in the field of wheat sharp eyespot control was used as a data source, the KeyBERT keyword extraction algorithm was used to mine the core concepts of the ontology, and the hierarchical relationships among the ontology concepts were extracted through clustering. Based on the constructed ontology of wheat sharp eyespot control, the schema of knowledge extraction was formed, and the knowledge extraction model was trained using the ERNIE 3.0 knowledge enhancement pretraining model. This study proposes a model and algorithm to realize knowledge extraction based on domain ontology, describes the construction method and process framework of wheat sharp eyespot control domain ontology, and details the training and reasoning effect of the knowledge extraction model. The knowledge extraction model constructed in this study for wheat sharp eyespot control contains a more complete conceptual system of wheat sharp eyespot. The F1 value of the model reaches 91.26%, which is a 17.86% improvement compared with the baseline model, and it can satisfy the knowledge extraction needs in the field of wheat sharp eyespot control. This study can provide a reference for domain knowledge extraction and provide strong support for knowledge discovery and downstream applications such as intelligent Q&A and intelligent recommendation in the field of wheat sharp eyespot control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing agricultural nitrogen datasets in China are mostly developed using coarse national or provincial statistics. A crop‐specific nitrogen rate dataset based on the finest‐scale agricultural nitrogen statistics at the county level remains lacking. Here, we constructed a new dataset (CN‐N), which provides annual nitrogen rates for rice, wheat and maize in China at a 1‐km spatial resolution from 2004 to 2016. This dataset was developed by harmonizing county‐level and provincial agricultural nitrogen statistics with gridded crop distribution maps, resulting in 13 years of nitrogen rate maps for each crop covering 2004–2016. Validation against farmers' surveys by crop indicates CN‐N reliably quantifies average nitrogen rates and trends for each crop over 2004–2016, demonstrating improved spatial heterogeneity compared to previous datasets rasterized using only provincial statistics. Our study provides a crop‐specific, temporally consistent, gridded nitrogen rate dataset based on the finest‐scale county‐level agricultural nitrogen statistics. This can support future process‐based modelling for sustainable agricultural nitrogen management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the role of the transcription factor TaMYB72 in promoting heading and enhancing grain yield traits in wheat. The researchers used CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing to create knockout mutants of TaMYB72 and found that these mutants displayed later heading dates and increased grain yield traits compared to the wild-type plants. The study also revealed that TaMYB72 directly activates the expression of TaFT, a gene involved in flowering and spikelet development, to regulate the height and yield traits of wheat. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic basis of grain yield traits and heading date in wheat, and suggest TaMYB72 as a potential target gene for increasing grain yield in breeding programs. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Wheat is staple diet for majority of people of world and requires several nutrients for optimum growth like Nitrogen, Potassium and Zinc etc. These nutrients when added in the form of chemical fertilizers definitely increase production but at the cost of negative impact on soil, air, water and living beings. Nanoformulations can provide a possible solution to this problem. The current study tried to assess the impact of foliar application of Nano-N, K, Zn on morphological and yield related parameters of wheat. Methods: Wheat plants were grown up to harvesting stage for two consecutive years from 2018 to 2020. Pots grown plants were treated with three different concentrations of Nano-N, K, Zn and bulk/chemical N, K, Zn along-with a control setup having no external nutrients supplement. Several morphological and yield related parameters were recorded. Result: Application of Nano-N, K, Zn resulted in statistically significant increase in plant height, seeds per spike, root length, 100 seed weight, yield and biomass accumulation compared to the control and bulk/chemical N, K, Zn. Highest yield per pot of 23.87 g was obtained under nano-N, K, Zn treatment while yield under bulk fertilizers and control setup was only 7.54 g and 4.38 g respectively. Our work presents a novel combination of nitrogen, potassium and zinc nanofertilizers which not only increase quality of wheat produce but also environment friendly too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision agriculture involves the application of advanced technologies to improve agricultural productivity, efficiency, and profitability while minimizing waste and environmental impacts. Deep learning approaches enable automated decision-making for many visual tasks. However, in the agricultural domain, variability in growth stages and environmental conditions, such as weather and lighting, presents significant challenges to developing deep-learning-based techniques that generalize across different conditions. The resource-intensive nature of creating extensive annotated datasets that capture these variabilities further hinders the widespread adoption of these approaches. To tackle these issues, we introduce a semi-self-supervised domain adaptation technique based on deep convolutional neural networks with a probabilistic diffusion process, requiring minimal manual data annotation. Using only three manually annotated images and a selection of video clips from wheat fields, we generated a large-scale computationally annotated dataset of image–mask pairs and a large dataset of unannotated images extracted from video frames. We developed a two-branch convolutional encoder–decoder model architecture that uses both synthesized image–mask pairs and unannotated images, enabling effective adaptation to real images. The proposed model achieved a Dice score of 80.7% on an internal test dataset and a Dice score of 64.8% on an external test set composed of images from five countries and spanning 18 domains, indicating its potential to develop generalizable solutions that could encourage the wider adoption of advanced technologies in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meteorological variables are essential inputs for agricultural simulation models and the lack of measured data is a big challenge for the application of these models in many agricultural zones. Studies indicated that gridded meteorological datasets can be proper replacements for measured data. This paper aimed to examine a new gridded meteorological dataset namely CRU-JRA for crop modeling intents. The CRU-JRA is a 6-hourly dataset with a spatial resolution of 0.5° × 0.5° that was primarily constructed for modeling purposes. The CERES-Wheat model in the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) was used for the simulation of irrigated and rainfed wheat production systems in Iran. Results showed that the CRU-JRA maximum and minimum temperature values had a relatively fine accuracy with a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of 14% for the simulated grain yield. The performance of the CRU-JRA solar radiation values for the simulation of grain yield was similar with a NRMSE of 14.4%. The weakest performance was found for the CRU-JRA precipitation values with a NRMSE of 18.9%. Overall, the CRU-JRA dataset performed comparatively acceptable and similar to existing gridded meteorological datasets for crop modeling purposes in the study area, however further calibrations can improve the accuracy of the next versions of this dataset. More research is necessary for the investigation of the CRU-JRA dataset for agricultural modeling purposes across diverse climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat plant is one of the most basic food sources for the whole world. There are many species of wheat that differ according to the conditions of the region where they are grown. In this context, wheat species can exhibit different characteristics. Issues such as resistance to geographical conditions and productivity are at the forefront in this plant as in all other plants. The wheat species should be correctly distinguished for correct agricultural practice. In this study, a hybrid model based on the Vision Transformer (VT) approach and the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model was developed to classify wheat species. For this purpose, ResMLP architecture was modified and the EfficientNetV2b0 model was fine-tuned and improved. A hybrid transformer model has been developed by combining these two methods. As a result of the experiments, the overall accuracy performance has been determined as 98.33%. The potential power of the proposed method for computer-aided agricultural analysis systems is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat landraces are traditional varieties that have evolved over generations in response to local environments and farming practices and therefore exhibit remarkable adaptability to challenging climatic conditions and low-input farming systems. While the suitability of Mediterranean landraces to non-optimal climatic conditions during anthesis and grain ripening stage have been previously assessed, the role of photosynthesis efficiency and stomatal control on this resilience remains unexplored. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between grain yield and the post-anthesis flag leaf gas exchanges of Sicilian wheat landraces under irrigated and rainfed conditions and to compare these traits to modern durum (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum) and bread wheat (T. aestivum) varieties. Results indicate that wheat landraces respond to water availability similarly to modern varieties, reducing stomatal conductance by 26.8% and net photosynthesis by 18.1% under rainfed conditions, resulting in 10.6% lower grain yield compared to irrigated conditions. However, some landraces demonstrate comparable or even higher flag leaf net photosynthesis rates and lower transpiration levels, leading to higher yields in both rainfed and irrigated conditions, confirming their value as a source of gene pool for wheat breeding programs in drought-prone Mediterranean regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rice-wheat cropping system is the prevailing agricultural method in the North-Western states of India, namely in the Indo-Gangetic plains. The practice of open burning of rice residue is frequently employed for expedient land preparation, but it has significant adverse impacts on both the environment and human health. These include the emission of greenhouse gases, loss of nutrients, elevated concentrations of particulate matter (PM), and disruption of the biological cycle. This research aims to investigate the implementation of effective management strategies in the rice-wheat cropping system, namely via the use of tillage-based crop cultivation techniques, stubble retention, and integration approaches. The objective is to enhance soil health features in order to augment crop yield and improve its attributes. Results: The research was carried out using a split plot experimental design, consisting of three replications. The main plot consisted of four different cultivation methods, while the subplot included three genotypes of both rice and wheat. The research demonstrates the enhanced efficacy of residue application is significantly augmenting soil nutrient concentrations compared to standard tillage practices (P < 0.05). This was accomplished by an analysis of soil nutrient levels, namely nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and organic carbon (OC), at a depth of 0–15 cm. The implementation of natural farming, zero tillage, and reduced tillage practices resulted in decreases in rice grain yields of 34.0%, 16.1%, and 10.8%, respectively, as compared to conventional tillage methods. Similarly, the implementation of natural farming, zero tillage, and reduced tillage resulted in reductions in wheat grain yields of 59.4%, 10.9%, and 4.6% respectively, in comparison to conventional tillage practices. Conclusion: Regarding the individual crop genotypes investigated, it was continuously observed that Him Palam Lal Dhan 1 and HPW 368 displayed considerably greater grain yields for both rice and wheat during the two-year experimental period. Furthermore, when considering different cultivation methods, conventional tillage emerged as the most effective approach for obtaining higher productivity in both rice and wheat. Additionally, Him Palam Lal Dhan 1 and HPW 368 exhibited superior performance in terms of various crucial yield components for rice (such as panicle density, grains per panicle, panicle weight, and test weight) and wheat (including effective tiller density, grains per spike, spike weight, and 1000-grain weight). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Agropyron cristatum (L.) is a valuable genetic resource for expanding the genetic diversity of common wheat. Pubing3228, a novel wheat-A. cristatum hybrid germplasm, exhibits several desirable agricultural traits, including high grain number per spike (GNS). Understanding the genetic architecture of GNS in Pubing3228 is crucial for enhancing wheat yield. This study aims to analyze the specific genetic regions and alleles associated with high GNS in Pubing3228. Methods: The study employed a recombination inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between Pubing3228 and Jing4839 to investigate the genetic regions and alleles linked to high GNS. Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis and candidate gene investigation were utilized to explore these traits. Results: A total of 40 QTLs associated with GNS were identified across 16 chromosomes, accounting for 4.25–17.17% of the total phenotypic variation. Five QTLs (QGns.wa-1D, QGns.wa-5 A, QGns.wa-7Da.1, QGns.wa-7Da.2 and QGns.wa-7Da.3) accounter for over 10% of the phenotypic variation in at least two environments. Furthermore, 94.67% of the GNS QTL with positive effects originated from Pubing3228. Candidate gene analysis of stable QTLs identified 11 candidate genes for GNS, including a senescence-associated protein gene (TraesCS7D01G148000) linked to the most significant SNP (AX-108,748,734) on chromosome 7D, potentially involved in reallocating nutrients from senescing tissues to developing seeds. Conclusion: This study provides new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying high GNS in Pubing3228, offering valuable resources for marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding to enhance yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensive agriculture that is used in many countries has led to a reduction in biodiversity and the deterioration of the environment. Therefore, it is important to increase the adoption of cropping systems with high biodiversity. The objectives of the present study were the following: 1. assess the performance and sustainability of novel highly diversified production systems compared to the current traditional system and 2. provide quantitative economic and ecosystem service information for farmers, extension workers, and policy makers in order to support the development of sustainable and resilient high species cultivar/landrace diversification (HSD) production systems. The rotation of wheat–pea–barley was a system with low energy inputs and high outputs, significantly increasing the energy efficiency. Also, the same system demonstrated better economic and environmental indices, making it a suitable cropping system for Mediterranean areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the course of two winter periods, researchers at the Agricultural Experiment Unit, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, studied the effects of covering wheat (the Al-Furat variety) and “vitamins B9” (“folic acid”) and E “(tocopherol)” on a number of growth traits. Three independent trials were conducted utilizing a factorial design within a Randomized Complete Block Design. The first component was folic acid at 0, 250, and 500 mg L-1 ; the second component was vitamin E at 0, 1, and 2 ml L-1 . At the start of the tillering and flowering stages, both vitamins were applied. All measured characteristics (plant height, flag leaf area, total tiller count, plant dry weight at booting and 100% blooming phases, and “vitamin B9” 500 mg L-1 ) were found exceeded at this dosage. Aside from that, total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a and b content in leaves, and the pace of crop growth.Since the focus of 2 ml L-1 was higher than most of the attributes, applying vitamin E influenced the growth characteristics. The number of tillers, plant dry weight, crop growth rate, total chlorophyll, biological yield, chlorophyll a and b in leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-growth-promoting bacteria are an important economic and environmental resource as biofertilizers that can stimulate plant growth and improve agricultural yields. In this study, potential plant growth-promoting bacteria were isolated from soil samples collected in Russia. Strains that manifested active growth on a nitrogen-free medium, the Pikovskaya medium (with insoluble phosphates) and CAS (Chrome Azurol S) agar, were selected for the study. All bacterial isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. Seventeen bacterial isolates of different species were purified and quantified for their ability to grow on nitrogen-free media; dissolve phosphate; and produce ammonium, indole-3-acetic acid, siderophores, and antifungal activity. Principal component analysis identified three groups of strains: one with the maximum signs of providing "plant nutrition"; one with signs of "antimicrobial activity"; and a group "without outstanding signs". All 17 strains were involved in experiments involving growing inoculated wheat seeds (Triticum aestivum) in pots under natural environmental conditions, and were assessed by their effect on the wheat growth and yield as well as on the chemical composition of the soil. For the "plant nutrition" group, regression analysis revealed a connection between indicators of plant growth, ear length, and ammonium accumulation in the soil. However, in other groups, there were also strains showing a positive effect on plant growth, which suggests the necessity of involving additional factors to predict the ability of strains to affect plants when screened in the laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most widely grown and vital cereal crops, containing a high percentage of basic nutrients such as carbohydrates and proteins. Drought stress is one of the most significant limitations on wheat productivity. Due to climate change influences plant development and growth, physiological processes, grain quality, and yield. Drought stress has elicited a wide range of plant responses, namely physiological and molecular adaptations. Biopriming is one of the recent attempts to combat drought stress. Mitigating the harmful impact of abiotic stresses on crops by deploying extreme-habitat-adapted symbiotic microbes. The purpose of this study was to see how biopriming Triticum aestivum grains affected the effects of inoculating endophytic fungi Aspergillus fumigatus ON307213 isolated from stressed wheat plants in four model agricultural plants (Gemmiza-7, Sids-1, Sakha8, and Giza 168). And its viability in reducing drought stress through the use of phenotypic parameters such as root and shoot fresh and dry weight, shoot and root length, and so on. On a biochemical and physiological level, enzymatic parameters such as catalase and superoxidase dismutase are used. Total phenolics, flavonoids, and photosynthetic pigments are non-enzymatic parameters. Making use of molecular techniques such as reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: It has been found that using Aspergillus fumigatus as a biological biopriming tool can positively impact wheat plants experiencing drought stress. The total biomass of stressed wheat plants that had been bio-primed rose by more than 40% as compared to wheat plants that had not been bio-primed. A. fumigatus biopriming either increased or decreased the amount of enzymatic and non-enzymatic substances on biochemical scales, aside from the noticeable increase in photosynthetic pigment that occurs in plants that have been bio-primed and stressed. Drought-resistant genes show a biopriming influence in gene expression. Conclusions: This is the first paper to describe the practicality of a. fumigatus biopriming and its effect on minimizing the degrading effects of drought through water limitation. It suggests the potential applications of arid habitat-adapted endophytes in agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The processes coupled with carbon and water exchange are linked to crop assimilation, water consumption, controlling crop growth and development, and ultimately determining crop yield. Therefore, studying the characteristics of crop water constraints and their controlling factors at multiple scales is of great significance for regional and global food production stability and food security. Employing field observations and a comprehensive literature review, this study investigates the maximum water-use efficiency of wheat and its governing factors at both leaf and canopy (ecosystem) scales. The results demonstrate remarkable consistency and well-defined boundaries in maximum water-use efficiency across diverse climate regions and wheat varieties, both at the leaf and agricultural ecosystem scales. At the leaf scale, the maximum water-use efficiency of wheat was 4.5 μg C mg−1 H2O, while for wheat agricultural ecosystems, on a daily scale, the maximum water-use efficiency was 4.5 g C kg−1 H2O. Meanwhile, the maximum water-use efficiency of wheat agricultural ecosystems decreased continuously with increasing time scales, with values of 6.5, 4.5, 3.5, and 2 g C kg−1 H2O for instantaneous, daily, weekly, and monthly scales, respectively. Environmental factors, primarily vapor pressure deficit, light, and soil water content, exert significant control over leaf-level water-use efficiency. Similarly, the maximum water-use efficiency of agricultural ecosystems fluctuates in response to daily variations in meteorological elements. C3 crops like wheat exhibit remarkable resilience in their carbon–water exchange patterns across diverse environmental conditions. The findings in the current research can serve as a reference for improving crop water-use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millets have been the staple food in many parts of the world, but in recent times they have been losing ground because of the increased use of processed foods and grains, such as wheat and rice. India has been the granary of millets due to the largest production and export of Indian millets globally. The very nature of millets being drought-resistant, small seeded grass, which can be grown in arid conditions, with less water and less farming intensive, makes it a great choice for ecological agriculture and sustainable source of food for combating hunger in the rapidly changing global climate and constructing climate-resistant agri-food systems. The various health benefits of millets make them an excellent choice for patients with celiac disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, dyslipidemia, obesity, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimating wheat yield accurately is crucial for efficient agricultural management. While canopy spectral information is widely used for this purpose, the incorporation of canopy volumetric features (CVFs) remains underexplored. This study bridges this gap by utilizing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral imaging to capture images and elevation data of wheat at key developmental stages—gestation and flowering stages. We innovatively leveraged the elevation differences between these stages to calculate canopy height, develop a novel CVF, and refine the wheat yield prediction model across various wheat varieties, nitrogen fertilizer levels, and planting densities. The integration of canopy volume information significantly enhanced the accuracy of our yield prediction model, as evidenced by an R2 of 0.8380, an RMSE of 313.3 kg/ha, and an nRMSE of 11.33%. This approach not only yielded more precise estimates than models relying solely on spectral data but also introduced a novel dimension to wheat yield estimation methodologies. Our findings suggest that incorporating canopy volume characteristics can substantially optimize wheat yield prediction models, presenting a groundbreaking perspective for agricultural yield estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geostatistics is a crucial tool for data analysis in the field of precision agriculture, allowing the characterization of spatial variability magnitude, optimizing profitability and yield in agricultural areas. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the spatial dependence of the variables yield, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and surface temperature in winter wheat plants. This was achieved through fitting semivariograms with different statistical models and interpolating the study variables using Ordinary kriging. The experiment was conducted at Fazenda Santa Helena, located in the municipality of Lavras in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, with a 12-hectare winter wheat crop of the TBIO Calibre variety. Data were collected using a grid sampling method at different stages of wheat plant growth (tillering and elongation). The analyzed variables included yield, NDVI, and surface temperature. Statistical analyses were performed using the R software. Initially, the spatial dependence of the study variables was analyzed by fitting semivariograms using the Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) method and considering spherical, exponential, and gaussian models. The evaluation of errors was carried out through cross-validation, and subsequently, the data interpolation was performed using ordinary kriging with the best-fitted semivariogram model. The results demonstrated a proper fit of semivariograms for the study models, with the spherical model standing out for surface temperature variables (elongation and tillering), NDVI (tillering), and the exponential model for NDVI (elongation) and yield. Therefore, the use of geostatistics is emphasized as an important tool to assist in precision agriculture management in winter wheat crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop diversification has been proposed as a promising strategy for transitioning towards sustainable agricultural systems. The Hetao Irrigation District faces multiple challenges in ensuring food security and farmer livelihood. A diversified green manure inclusive cropping system was designed to evaluate the influences of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) incorporation on soil nutrients, yield, and economic benefit compared to the existing wheat–maize–sunflower rotation system in the Hetao Irrigation District. The specific method was as follows: spring wheat (Triticum-durum L.)–vetch rotation in the first year, maize (Zea mays L.)/vetch intercropping in the second year, and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)/vetch relay intercropping in the third year. Over a 6-year experimental observation, green manure incorporation significantly increased soil alkaline hydrolyzed nitrogen and exchangeable potassium levels. Although the effect of green manure incorporation on the yield of rotated spring wheat and intercropped maize was not prominent, it improved sunflower yield in the second rotation cycle by 11%. Consequently, only the sunflower led to an increase in income of 235 CNY ha−1 in the second rotation cycle. This indicates that the soil-property-building and yield-enhancing effects of green manure incorporation require time to accumulate. However, the benefits derived from increased yield were not sufficient to offset the production costs associated with green manure cultivation, resulting in less-than-desirable economic returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt stress affects the growth and global production of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Plant growth-promoting microbes can enhance plant resistance to abiotic stresses. In this study, we aimed to assess the inoculation of soil with Streptomyces sp. HU2014 to improve wheat tolerance to salt stress from multiple perspectives, including the interaction of the strain, the addition of NaCl, the condition of the wheat, and rhizosphere microbial communities. The results showed that the strain promoted wheat growth under NaCl stress by increasing biomass by 19.8%, total chlorophyll content by 72.1%, proline content by 152.0%, and malondialdehyde content by 106.9%, and by decreasing catalase by 39.0%, peroxidase by 1.4%, and soluble sugar by 61.6% when compared to the control. With HU2014 soil inoculation, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total phosphorus, and Olsen phosphorus increased, whereas ammonium nitrogen and pH decreased. HU2014 inoculation and/or the addition of NaCl affected the diversity of rhizosphere bacteria, but not fungi. The structure of the microbial community differed after HU2014 inoculation, with Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, Bacteroidota, and unclassified fungi being the dominant phyla, and these taxa correlated with the above-mentioned soil parameters. Thus, this study provided a promising way to enhance wheat tolerance to salt stress and improve the agricultural ecological environment by using plant growth-promoting microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers around the world time the planting of their crops to optimize growing season conditions and choose varieties that grow slowly enough to take advantage of the entire growing season while minimizing the risk of late-season kill. As climate changes, these strategies will be an important component of agricultural adaptation. Thus, it is critical that the global models used to project crop productivity under future conditions are able to realistically simulate growing season timing. This is especially important for climate- and hydrosphere-coupled crop models, where the intra-annual timing of crop growth and management affects regional weather and water availability. We have improved the crop module of the Community Land Model (CLM) to allow the use of externally specified crop planting dates and maturity requirements. In this way, CLM can use alternative algorithms for future crop calendars that are potentially more accurate and/or flexible than the built-in methods. Using observation-derived planting and maturity inputs reduces bias in the mean simulated global yield of sugarcane and cotton but increases bias for corn, spring wheat, and especially rice. These inputs also reduce simulated global irrigation demand by 15 %, much of which is associated with particular regions of corn and rice cultivation. Finally, we discuss how our results suggest areas for improvement in CLM and, potentially, similar crop models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cereals are the most broadly produced crops and represent the primary source of food worldwide. Nitrogen (N) is a critical mineral nutrient for plant growth and high yield, and the quality of cereal crops greatly depends on a suitable N supply. In the last decades, a massive use of N fertilizers has been achieved in the desire to have high yields of cereal crops, leading to damaging effects for the environment, ecosystems, and human health. To ensure agricultural sustainability and the required food source, many attempts have been made towards developing cereal crops with a more effective nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). NUE depends on N uptake, utilization, and lastly, combining the capability to assimilate N into carbon skeletons and remobilize the N assimilated. The glutamine synthetase (GS)/glutamate synthase (GOGAT) cycle represents a crucial metabolic step of N assimilation, regulating crop yield. In this review, the physiological and genetic studies on GS and GOGAT of the main cereal crops will be examined, giving emphasis on their implications in NUE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A laboratory experimentation was done in the Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University to evaluate elevated night temperature effect in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to see the response in some antioxidant and biochemical parameters in two wheat cultivars viz. HUW-234 (comparatively tolerant to heat stress) and sonalika (comparatively susceptible to heat stress). A significance difference was recorded in the parameters pertaining to antioxidant system includes catalase, SOD and APX activity were found to increase substantially when the plants kept under stress conditions (250C/240C day and night temperature) than the plants kept under controlled condition (250C/150C day and night temperature). The percent increase in the antioxidant enzyme activity was found to be more in the tolerant genotype (HUW-234) than in the susceptible genotype (Sonalika). There was 23.52 % increase was reported in the catalase activity by tolerant genotype when kept under stress conditions than those kept under control. Significant reductions were reported in most of the photosynthetic and membrane parameters viz., chlorophyll ‘a’, chlorophyll ‘b’ and membrane thermostability index. Similar percent reduction was reported with respect to biochemical parameters (total protein content, starch content and soluble sugar content) in the susceptible variety kept under high night temperature regime. Based on the pooled data of two-year experimentation it can be concluded that variety HUW-234 was found to be more tolerant than variety sonalika to HNT stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The provision of precise and dependable information regarding the extent and distribution of cropland is imperative for the evaluation of food security, agricultural planning, and resource management. Cropland is an important component of land cover type and is offered in multiple existing global/regional land cover products. However, global-scale accuracy evaluation may not be representative of class-specific or local-area accuracy, such as in Northeast China, which is an important grain-producing region of China and has various types of cultivated land (e.g., wheat, rice) and diverse terrains. It poses a great challenge in generating precise cropland classification by automated mapping. Thus, it is indispensable to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of these various land cover datasets before using them. In this study, we collected thirteen sets of global or national-scale land cover datasets. Through the visual interpretation of high-resolution images, ground "truth" samples were collected to evaluate the data accuracy across Northeast China. The overall accuracy (OA) evaluation results in Phase-2020 show that CLCD has the highest value with 0.914, followed by GlobeLand30 (0.906), GLC_FCS30 (0.902), and Esri (0.896) for cropland classification in Northeast China. CGLS-LC100 has the lowest OA (0.710). For the commission and omission errors of six datasets in Phase-2020, CGLS-LC100 has an obvious overestimation (larger commission error), while the two national-scale datasets (CLCD and CLUDs) perform relatively better. In terms of spatial consistency, high spatial agreement among the nine Phase-2015 datasets or in the six Phase-2020 datasets could be discovered in traditional agricultural regions like the Sanjiang–Songnen–Liaohe Plain, and low agreement is found in the transition areas of mountains (hills) and plains with the mixed landscape of forest (grassland) and farmland. In the aspect of comparison pairwise data, CLCD is in good agreement with GLC_FCS30, GlobeLand30, and Esri, while CGLS-LC100 is in the poorest agreement with any other dataset. The comparison and evaluation results are expected to provide a reference on which aspects and to what extent these land cover products may be consistent and guide the cropland data product selection for Northeast China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During 2018 - 2020, in the infection field of Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute - General Toshevo, Bulgaria, 34 common winter wheat and 5 durum wheat cultivars were tested for resistance to leaf rust (P. triticina). The response of the common wheat cultivars to the P. triticina pathotypes predominant in this period was studied under controlled conditions, at seedling stage. The full set of pathotypes from the pathogen population identified during the respective year of study was taken out to the infection field to achieve a maximum rate of infection accumulation on the standard susceptible cultivar Michigan amber. The field parameters final disease severity (FSD), average coefficient of infection (ACI) and resistance rate were estimated. The type of resistance of the studied cultivars was determined. The results showed that at seedling stage most of the cultivars had compatible, susceptible reaction to the P. triticina pathotypes used in the study. Under the conditions of the infection field, 7.7 % of the cultivars exhibited high level of resistance (VR). Cultivar Zhana responded with stable resistance (R), and the cultivars with this type of resistance constituted 2.6%. Moderate resistance (MR) was registered in 5.1% of the tested cultivars. With very resistant to resistant reaction (VR - R) responded 18% of the cultivars. Resistant to moderately resistant (R - MR) was the reaction of 43.6% of the investigated cultivars, and 12.8% reacted within the range of high to moderate resistance (VR - MR). Some cultivars demonstrated variation of resistance within a wider range. The cultivars, which were within the range of highly resistant to moderately susceptible (VR - MS) constituted 5.1%, as well as those within the range moderately resistant to moderately susceptible (MR-MS). In some cultivars, such as Merilin, the level of resistance remained the same as in the previous years, regardless of the variations in the pathogen population, while in other cultivars, such as Karina, Enola and Lazarka, the resistance varied over years. All cultivars with stable resistance under the conditions of the infection field (from high to moderate), can be used in the breeding programs as parental components for the development of varieties resistant to leaf rust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop domestication has led to the development of distinct trait syndromes, a series of constrained plant trait trade‐offs to maximize yield in high‐input agricultural environments, and potentially constrained trait plasticity. Yet, with the ongoing transition to organic and diversified agroecosystems, which create more heterogeneous nutrient availability, this constrained plasticity, especially in root functional traits, may be undesirable for nutrient acquisition. Such agricultural systems require a nuanced understanding of the soil‐crop continuum under organic amendments and with intercropping, and the role crop genetic resources play in governing nutrient management and design. In this study, we use a functional traits lens to determine if crops with a range of domestication histories express different functional trait plasticity and how this expression changes with soil amendments and intercropping. We utilize a common garden experiment including five wheat (Triticum aestivum) varietals with a range of domestication histories planted in a factorial combination with amendment type (organic and inorganic) and cropping design (monoculture or intercropped with soybean). We use bivariate, multivariate and trait space analyses to quantify trait variation and plasticity in five leaf and five root functional traits. Almost all leaf and root traits varied among varieties. Yet, amendment type was nearly inconsequential for explaining trait expression across varieties. However, intercropping was linked to significant differences in root acquisitive strategies, regardless of the varietals' distinct history. Our findings show substantial leaf and root trait plasticity, with roots expressing greater trait space occupation with domestication, but also the strong role of management in crop trait expression. We underscore the utility of a functional trait‐based approach to understand plant–soil dynamics with organic amendments, as well as the role of crop genetic histories in the successful transition to low‐input and diversified agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a field experiment, composted coffee waste (CW) was used as soil amendment at three different rates (2%, 4%, and 8%) in plots cultivated with wheat; the effects on the soil nematode community and plant growth were studied. By sampling twice, i.e., three and six months after the application of treatments (3MAA and 6MAA), the duration of these effects was also evaluated. Treatment using composted coffee waste (CW) led to an increased abundance of all soil nematodes, especially of bacterivores and fungivores, probably via a bottom-up effect of CW on the soil community. The most-affected genera were the enrichment opportunists Panagrolaimus and Rhabditis, which increased after CW addition in a dosage-dependent way at 3MAA, while at 6MAA they were replaced by general opportunists, mainly bacterivorous and fungivorous genera; a nematotoxic effect of CW was also observed in the 6MAA condition. The nematode indices and the metabolic footprint indicated an enriched and vigorous soil three months after CW addition and a lower enrichment status of the soil together with a higher fungal participation in the decomposition pathway six months after treatments. However, in the 6 MAA condition, the soil nutrient values were higher in the CW-treated plots. None of our treatments inhibited or enhanced plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a vital cereal crop for food security in Pakistan. In Zn-deficient soils, its productivity and quality suffer, affecting grain yield, Zn bioavailability, and nutrition, which can lead to malnutrition. Field experiments were conducted using factorial randomized block design at the Agricultural Research Institute (ARI) Tarnab, Peshawar, Pakistan to evaluate the impact of wheat genotypes (G1-TRB-72-311 synthetic hexaploid, G2-TRB-89-348 advanced line, and G3-Pirsabak-19-approved variety), Zn application methods (AM1: no Zn application, AM2: seed priming with 0.5% Zn, AM3: soil application of 10 kg ha−1 Zn, and AM4: foliar application of 0.5% Zn), and the experiment also explored the use of ZSB (BF1: with bacteria, BF0: without bacteria) to cope with Zn deficiency. The study revealed significant impacts on wheat's Zn content, uptake, and nutrient efficiency, arising from genotypes variance, Zn application approaches, and ZSB. TRB-72-311 synthetic hexaploid genotype with 0.5% foliar Zn and ZSB excelled, enhancing grain (17.8%) and straw Zn (23.1%), increasing total Zn uptake (55.0%), reducing grain phytic acid (11.7%), and boosting Zn-related efficiencies in wheat. These results prompt further discussion regarding the potential implications for agricultural practices. In conclusion, utilizing the TRB-72-311 genotype with 0.5% foliar Zn application and ZSB enhances wheat's Zn content, uptake, grain quality, and addresses malnutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimation and regular monitoring of soil moisture is very important for many agricultural, hydrological, or climatological applications. Our objective was to evaluate potential contributions of polarimetry to soil moisture estimation during crop growing cycles using RADARSAT-2 C-band images. The research focused on wheat field data collected during Soil Moisture Active Passive Validation Experiment (SMAPVEX12) conducted in 2012 in Manitoba (Canada). A sensitivity analysis was performed to select the most relevant non-polarimetric and polarimetric variables extracted from RADARSAT-2, and statistical models were developed to estimate soil moisture. In fine, three models were developed and validated: a non-polarimetric model based on cross-polarized backscattering coefficient σ H V 0 ; a polarimetric mixed model using six polarimetric and non-polarimetric retained variables after the sensitivity analysis; and a simplified polarimetric mixed model considering only the phase difference ( ϕ H H − V V ) and the co-polarized backscattering coefficient σ H H 0 . The validation reveals significant positive contributions of polarimetry. It shows that the non-polarimetric model has a much larger error (RMSE = 0.098 m3/m3) and explains only 19% of observed soil moisture variation compared to the polarimetric mixed model, which has an error of 0.087 m3/m3, with an explained variance of 44%. The simplified model has the lowest error (0.074 m3/m3) and explains 53.5% of soil moisture variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the paper was to analyze cereal production in Dolj County and in Romania in the period 2017-2021 in order to identify the main trends, based on the statistical data provided by National Institute of Statistics and processing them by comparison method and time and structural indices. Dolj County has a total area of 741,401 ha (7th place at national level - 3.11% of the total), an agricultural area of 585,135 ha (2nd place at national level - 32.57%) and an arable area of 488,560 ha (2nd place at national level - 39.03%). The county is characterized by favorable agro-productive conditions for cereal cultivation, taking into account climatic factors and soils specific to the county (for example, sandy soils for rye cultivation). The county cultivated (on average) 331,450.80 ha with cereals, predominantly wheat and grain maize (60.5, and 26.53% of the total), obtained a total production of 1,567,667 t (predominantly wheat and maize with 54.89 and 33.96% of the total), and the average yield per hectare reached 4,728 kg. It can be said that Dolj County can decisively influence, in certain situations, the cereals market in Romania and the South-West Oltenia Region, but it must be aimed at improving the performance of this side of vegetal activity, in order to capitalize on the existing potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to present an updated evolution of vegetable agricultural production in Vrancea county, during the period 2017-2021, with focus on the county's contributions in total at the country level, using the National Institute of Statistics (NIS) as principal data source. In order to meet the objectives, the methodology of research was based on indicators frequently used in papers about vegetable agricultural production, represented as values and/or percentage units. In 2021, Vrancea county detained 108 civil employment population (with 17% less than in 2017), through 22 employers in agriculture (52% less than in 2017). Among the main findings from the analyse are the following: the areas cultivated with corn grains, oat, sunflower, vegetables (all), dried onion, tomatoes, total fruits trees, plum, apples, pears, cherries and burgundy decreased among the county between 2017 and 2021 period and the areas cultivated with wheat, barley and vineyards in bearing increased. About the production, at the county level, the production of wheat, oat, barley, total fruit trees, plum, apple, pears, cherries, burgundy and grapes increased and the productions like: corn grains, sunflowers, vegetables (all), dried onion, tomatoes, decreased in the analysed period (2017-2021). From the conclusions of this paper, we found out that besides the good image in terms of wine fields, is observed that total fruit production increased by 50%, which can mean a new growth area of the county, regarding of vegetable agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kettle holes are able to increase the soil and air humidity around them. Therefore, they create a perfect habitat for phytopathogenic fungi of the genera Fusarium and Alternaria to develop, sporulate, and immigrate into neighboring agricultural fields. In our study, we establish transects from the edges of different kettle holes and field edges up to 50 m into the fields to analyze the abundance and diversity of pathogenic fungi in these transition zones by culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. However, in 2019 and 2020, low precipitation and higher temperatures compared to the long-time average were measured, which led to limited infections of weeds in the transition zones with Fusarium and Alternaria. Therefore, the hypothesized significantly higher infection of wheat plants next to the kettle holes by a strong spread of fungal spores was not detected. Infestation patterns of Fusarium and Alternaria fungi on weeds and wheat ears were spatially different. In total, 9 different Fusarium species were found in the transition zone. The species diversity at kettle holes differed from 0 to 6 species. The trend toward increased dryness in the northeast German agricultural landscape and its impact on the changing severity of fungal infections is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plays a significant role in the global agricultural economy. Breeding programs need to identify environments where genotype discrimination allows effective selection, as this is crucial for developing more productive wheat genotypes through genetic breeding. Factor analytic models can be applied to the analysis of the multi-environment trial. This approach is based on multivariate models that utilize factor analysis (FA) structures and consider environments (E), genotypes (G), and G × E effects. This study evaluated eight wheat genotypes in fifteen environments in southern Brazil to understand the G × E interactions of wheat genotypes. The primary objectives were identifying stable and responsive genotypes across a set of environments (mega-environments) and determining the main environmental covariates, such as temperature, solar radiation, precipitation, relative humidity, wind speed, and altitude, that can explain G × E interactions. The Bayesian factor analytic model was applied to the grain yield as the response variable. The model with four factors, FA(4), provided the best fit, allowing the creation of four mega-environments. Using latent regressions, we identified genotypes that are suitable for each mega-environment, as they demonstrate responsiveness and wide adaptability to those specific groups of environments. The correlations between the environmental loadings and the environmental covariates revealed that precipitation, maximum temperature, and wind speed negatively affected yield in these environments. On the other hand, the altitude covariate positively affected the grain yield in these environments. The occurrence of four mega-environments in this study suggests that the same information about genotypes can be obtained from fewer environments, indicating the possibility of reducing costs in breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the consolidation process in Brazil of an agrarian administration that required scientific and professional training of technical cadres in rural issues between 1930-1955 and sought to understand objectives of the Brazilian government in increasing techno-scientific cooperation in agrarian matters in the context South-South in those years. Through the documentary analysis of the Ministries of Agriculture and Foreign Relations of Brazil, it was noted that this political orientation was articulated with the growing need of the countries of the region to have technical and scientific support in tropical and subtropical crops, both for supplying internally as well as to strengthen their own markets in the face of the scenario that emerged with the Great World Wars. Under Tore Olsson's concept of agrarian crossings, scientific exchanges in agricultural and veterinary matters were analyzed, especially in livestock and wheat cultivation, as well as the dissemination of agrarian knowledge, technical advisory missions, and also the action of research institutes that sought to both expand technical cooperation and secure Brazilian geopolitical interests on the continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to illustrate the significant role of modern technology packages in agriculture, in particular in the growth of wheat cultivation. In this research will attempt to use O-Ring method. The purpose our using of this method is to prove that the modern technological packages used in agriculture, wheat cropping combined have a significant impact on increasing the productivity of the wheat crop in Iraq. A sample is taking from 290 farms, by divided into three governorates Namely Wasit, Babil and Diwaniyah. The packaging used to grow wheat was micronutrients, seeds, fertilizers, laser-level potassium sulphate, seeds, potassium sulphate fertilizers, Pallas herbicide, Atlantis herbicide and the farming cycle. All these elements were expressed; as A3i. This is an indicator of the intensification of agricultural inputs for developing wheat cultivation in Iraq. The results of the analysis showed that there is a high degree of correlation between each of the modern technological inputs and the rest of the modern inputs. The results also indicated that there is a growth and development in the productivity of the wheat crop because of the use of modern technologies, as there is a correlation between the use of the modern technology package and the development of the productivity of the wheat crop in Iraq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This project aims to improve the wheat growth and development simulation model (WheatSM) V4.0, a renowned wheat model, by addressing limitations in its structure and modules. The WheatSM V4.0 excelled numerically but lacked modularity, hindering maintenance, improvement, and secondary development. Therefore, the project undertook a software framework redesign, adopting a modular approach and implementing WheatSM V5.0 entirely in Python. Furthermore, the project conducted a sensitivity analysis of model parameters. Additionally, WheatSM V5.0 was seamlessly integrated into AgroStudio, an agricultural model system integration platform, enabling the provision of online cloud services. The Morris analysis indicated that photoperiod parameters significantly impacted the jointing and mature stages. Furthermore, biomass was highly sensitive to pmax (the maximum photosynthetic intensity at light saturation point), while yield was influenced by tr1 (the transfer rate of photosynthate to grain before heading). The simulated results demonstrated favorable performance in soil water storage, soil nitrate nitrogen content, winter wheat nitrogen accumulation, the development period, biomass, and yield. The NRMSE ranged from 1.2% to 15.1% for calibration and 1.0% to 18.7% for validation. The project successfully transformed WheatSM into a cloud-based service on AgroStudio, migrating from a PC-based application. Generally, this enhanced model exhibits potential for climate change assessment, wheat production optimization, and digital design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is considered to be a strategic crop for achieving food security. Wherefore, one of the current objectives of today's agriculture is to ensure a consistent and sustainable yield of this particular crop while mitigating its environmental footprint. However, along with the genetic potential of varieties, agricultural practices play a key role in ensuring a high and stable yield of wheat. Under changing climatic conditions, new eco-friendly practices were adopted in the wheat farming system in recent decades. In this review, a large number of peer-reviewed articles have been screened during the last 15 years to evaluate the potential of some environmentally friendly agricultural practices such as tillage system, biological crop protection, crop rotation, intercropping systems, and the integration of resistant varieties in achieving a high and stable wheat yield. The present investigation unveiled that embracing eco-friendly agricultural methods in the wheat farming system holds the potential to engender high and sustainable wheat yields, contingent upon a normative strategy that comprehensively addresses multiple factors. These include the intrinsic attributes of the grown wheat cultivars, plant nutritional parameters, soil agrochemical characteristics, and specific climatic conditions. Further in-depth investigations under field conditions are necessary to help in the discernment of appropriate environmentally agricultural techniques that can efficaciously optimize the yield potential of the different cultivated varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The rhizosphere is the narrow region of soil that is directly influenced by root secretions and their associated microorganisms, named as the root microbiome. The rhizosphere is known as the niche most rich in microorganisms. From a microbiological point of view, the identification of these microorganisms and the discovery of the functions they perform by living, for example, in symbiosis with plants, is of interest. Consequently, this study aims to analyze the diversity of soil bacteria inhabiting the rhizospheric zone of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), represented by four wheat cultivars (Tytanika, Nordcap, Hondia, Rotax), employing three methods of microbiome determination: (1) membership, (2) composition, and (3) functionality. Wheat cultivation in Poland is cropped on about 20% of all arable land. The studied cultivars are characterized by good yielding parameters and are highly popular for growing in Poland. A technique independent of cultivation (NGS—Next Generation Sequencing) was applied for microbial biodiversity determination, whereas for prediction of their ecological functionality, the FAPROTAX database was utilized. By performing lab analyses, we evidenced that molecular identification of the core rhizomicrobiome is particularly important for understanding the general principles regarding the selection of microorganisms around living roots and for harnessing the power of the microbiome in agricultural practice. One of the latest ecological concepts is the occurrence of a biased rhizosphere of microorganisms recruited mostly through interactions among various components of the rhizosphere, including plant roots and the bulk soil microbiome. We compared the diverse attributes of the core microbiome of wheat rhizosphere communities with wheat (W) and legume (L) forecrops determined by three different methods in this study (membership, composition, and functionality). The conclusions of the three methods of microbiome core definition suggest the presence of generalists, i.e., some representative microorganisms from Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Hypomicrobiaceae, Bradyrhizobiaceae, Sphingomonas sp., in the wheat rhizomicrobiome. The relative abundance of the core microbiome accounted for 0.1976% (W) and 0.334% (L)—membership method and 6.425% (W) and 4.253% (L)—composition method. Additionally, bacteria of the specialist group, such as Rhodoplanes sp., are functionally important in the rhizomicrobiome core. This small community is strongly connected with other microbes and is essential for maintenance of the sustainability of certain metabolic pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image analysis is widely applied in plant science for phenotyping and monitoring botanic and agricultural species. Although a lot of software is available, tools integrating image analysis and statistical assessment of seedling growth in large groups of plants are limited or absent, and do not cover the needs of researchers. In this study, we developed Morley, a free, open-source graphical user interface written in Python. Morley automates the following workflow: (1) group-wise analysis of a few thousand seedlings from multiple images; (2) recognition of seeds, shoots, and roots in seedling images; (3) calculation of shoot and root lengths and surface area; (4) evaluation of statistically significant differences between plant groups; (5) calculation of germination rates; and (6) visualization and interpretation. Morley is designed for laboratory studies of biotic effects on seedling growth, when the molecular mechanisms underlying the morphometric changes are analyzed. The performance was tested using cultivars of Triticum aestivum and Pisum sativum on seedlings of up to 1 week old. The accuracy of the measured morphometric parameters was comparable with that obtained using ImageJ and manual measurements. Possible applications of Morley include dose-dependent laboratory tests for germination affected by new bioactive compounds and fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural intensification causes plant diversity loss and environmental homogenization, which may result in changes to plant-microbiome interactions mediating plant growth and stress tolerance. We hypothesized that foliar fungal microbiomes would depend on plant traits and environmental filters, constrained by neighboring vegetation expected to serve as a fungal source. Thus, we sampled foliar fungi from four crops (three annual and one perennial), four sites per crop, and three varieties per annual crop, across a 500-km expanse in North Carolina, USA and tested the role of host traits, environmental traits, and vegetative landcover on foliar fungal community structure. Crop species and site were major determinants of community structure, primarily due to differences in plant size and growing season. Site consistently explained 10× more variation in community structure than host variety across the annual crops. Finally, reduced natural vegetative cover surrounding farms was correlated with decreased fungal richness and more homogeneous microbiome assembly. Based on these results, we posit that foliar fungal assembly in crops results from host and environmental filters acting on inputs from the nearby vegetation. Future efforts at agricultural microbiome management must therefore consider landscape management and will require an improved understanding of how agricultural intensification alters microbial source pools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat productivity is threatened by fluoride contamination in the environment. Fluoride's toxicological effects on plants have been hotly discussed due to lower growth indices, metabolic inhibition, and reduced photosynthetic activity. Fluoride toxicity was reduced in this study by using fluoride-resistant bacterial strains (SS-10a and SS-5a) in the soil. Plants of wheat were treated to varying sodium fluoride (NaF) concentrations of 0 (control), 150, 250, and 350 ppm in a randomized full block design. At 7DAT (Day After Transplantation), fluoride-resistant bacteria were inoculated into the soil of two wheat types, Ujala-15 and Faisalabad 2008. Fluoride stress reduced all growth, biomass, yield, and biochemical parameters significantly, although fluorideresistant bacteria assisted the plants in overcoming this stress and mitigating the total plant productivity loss. In cellular enzymatic extract from bacterial strain infected plants, total chlorophyll content, carotenoid content, and total soluble proteins all increased. SS-10a and SS-5a inoculated plants demonstrated an increase in ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) activity at a low level of NaF, 150 ppm. CAT and APX activity were elevated in plants treated with SS-10a and SS-5a to protect plant cells against oxidative stress at high fluoride levels (250 and 350 ppm). Plant malondialdehyde (MDA) content was also much higher in plants inoculated with bacterial strains than in treated plants, indicating that MDA plays an important role in neutralizing ROS. In both kinds, the efficacy of SS-5a in decreasing fluoride stress was much lower than that of SS-10a. Inoculation with fluoride-resistant bacterial strains can thus be a viable and practicable strategy to decrease fluoride stress under current pollution from an economic and agricultural standpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of consideration is the architectural construction and technological features of the specialized clusters, intended for agricultural needs and for specific care, such as education, recreation and sports, medical care. In this way, the significant limitations in the human environment caused by a large-scale pandemic (COVID-19), can be overcome in tall skyscraper buildings located in megacities. The COVID-19 pandemic rearranges human priorities in the big city. The supply of food and basic care occupy a central place in the life of every inhabitant. Author’s projects for skyscrapers are presented, which offer various solutions for growing honey plants, bee families (Hong Kong, Mumbai), fruits, vegetables, algae and fish products (Toronto, Mumbai). The storage of cereals in appropriate silos (Hong Kong) is an important point in the supply of wheat, corn, barley, buckwheat and others needed for the planning modules for education and emergency medical care are also offered. Opportunities for hiking, cycling on a bicycle track (Toronto), cycling trails (Elevator annual 2014), running and others are also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study analyzed the variation of quality indices of wheat grains in relation to nitrogen fertilization. The experiment was carried out at the University of Life Sciences "King Mihai I" from Timisoara, Didactic and Experimental Resort (DER), in the 2021-2022 agricultural years. The wheat 'Venezio' cultivar was cultivated in a non-irrigated system. Fertilization was done with ammonium nitrate in eight doses: 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240 and 280 kg ha-1 N a.s. (a.s. - active substance). The studied quality indices showed variable values, between 13.8-16.4±0.30% in the case of the protein content (Pro), 27-34±0.83% in the case of the gluten content (Glt), 57-73±1.91% in the case of the Zeleny Index (Zel Ind), 74.6-76.5±0.20 kg hl-1 in the case of hectolitre weight (HW), respectively 11.5-11.8±0.04% in the case of moisture (Mstr). The variation of the quality indices values in relation to N was described by polynomial equations of the 2nd degree, under variable conditions of statistical safety (p<0.001 in the case of Pro, Glt, Zel Ind; p=0.0428 in the case of HW; p=0.0729 in the case of Mstr). The variation of Zel Ind in relation to other quality indices (Pro and Glt) was quantified by quadratic regression analysis (R²=0.996, p<0.001). According to PCA, a distribution and association of the variants was obtained in relation to the level of the evaluated quality indices: variants T1 and T2 were placed independently, variants T3 and T8 were associated with humidity (Mstr); variants T4 and T7 were associated with Pro, Glt and Zel Ind indices, and variants T5 and T6 were associated with HW. PC1 explained 87.168% of variance and PC2 explained 8.0113% of variance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Fusarium is mainly known as an agricultural pathogen that affects monocotyledonous plants, it can also infect different species of weeds in the agricultural environment, thereby contributing to the production of mycotoxins in cereals. In this study, we present new developmental data on the diversity of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium avenaceum strains from weeds under field conditions. Regarding the potential for the strain dependence of mycotoxin production, this study demonstrated that all F. graminearum strains isolated from weeds and spring wheat showed high potential for deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-ADON), 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15-ADON), and nivalenol (NIV) production in spring wheat under field conditions. It was determined that F. graminearum is a typical producer of B-type trichothecenes. All strains of F. avenaceum isolated from spring wheat and weeds have the potential to produce enniatins and moniliformin in spring wheat. Each type of weed can host different Fusarium species and strains that produce completely different mycotoxins. Therefore, the distribution of mycotoxins in spring wheat grain may depend more on the Fusarium species or strains that infect the weeds than on the pathogen's host plant species. The predominance of specific mycotoxins in cereals depends on the year's weather conditions and the diversity of Fusarium species present in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ElWadi Elgadeed is one of the promising areas for national agricultural projects in Egypt. Soil fertility index and precision farming seek to maximize yield and reduce environmental damage. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the soil fertility of NPK. 25 soil samples (depth 0-50 cm) were collected. The results showed that most of the soil samples were nitrogen moderate fertile (Mf) and high fertile (Hf) with a percentage of (44%). Dissimilar, 64% of soil samples were low soil phosphorus fertility class, which has low wheat potential production (< 500 Kg ha-1). GISmap of N-soil fertility classes (FN) classified the soil samples into four groups. Relating to the GIS–map of P– soil fertility marked the absence of the very high fertile class, the minority of the high fertile class (92.00 ha, 0.09%), and the dominance of the low fertile class (7352.00 ha, 72.94 %). The potassium very high fertile class occupied the whole of the studied area (10080 ha, 100 %). GIS Maps illustrated that most of the studied area had no need for N application for low wheat production (< 500 Kg ha-1), and 5 kg ha-1 N applied to (55. 05%) of the area to moderate wheat production (500–750 Kg ha-1). Attaining high wheat production (750 -1000 Kg ha-1 ) classified the studied area into nine levels of N requirements. We assigned different eight P application levels to have high wheat production. Finally, the research referred to that there is no need for K fertilizer, even for high wheat production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of mutagens in plant breeding is used to create new germplasm, increase agricultural yield, quality, and resistance to diseases and pests. Mutagens are physical or chemical factors that can alter the DNA or RNA structure of an organism, causing mutations above the expected level. One of the most common and potent chemical mutagens is EMS (ethyl-methane sulfonate), which produces point mutations in plants, but to a lesser degree can also cause the loss or deletion of a chromosomal region. This study used inter-primer binding site (iPBS) and coupled restriction enzyme digestion inter-primer binding site (CRED-iPBS) technique analysis to determine the effect of EMS mutagens on methylation rates in wheat genotypes at seedling growth stage. Treatments with five different EMS concentrations (0%; control, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4%) at four different times (0; control, 3, 6, and 9 h) were used. Inter-primer binding site (iPBS) markers were employed to assess genomic instability and cytosine methylation in treated wheat. In seeds treated with EMS at different concentrations and times, the disappearance of regular bands and the formation of new bands due to the effects of the EMS mutagen revealed that genetic diversity exists. The CRED-iPBS analysis revealed that the 3 h + 0.1% EMS treatment produced the highest MspI polymorphism value (19.60%), while the 9 h + 0.1% EMS treatment produced the lowest value (10.90%). The mutagenic effects of EMS treatments had considerable polymorphism on a variety of impacts on the cytosine methylation and genomic instability of wheat. According to the current research, EMS mutagenesis may be a practical method for accelerating breeding programs to produce enough genetic diversity in wheat populations. Mutation-assisted breeding and the subsequent selection of desirable mutants using genetic markers may also be carried out in wheat utilizing an integrated strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key concern in agriculture is how to feed the expanding population and safeguard the environment from the ill effects of climate change. To feed a growing global population, food production and security are significant problems, as food output may need to double by 2050. Thus, more innovative and effective approaches for increasing agricultural productivity (hence, food production) are required to meet the rising demand for food. The world's most widely cultivated grains include corn, wheat, and rice, which serve as the foundation for basic foods. This review focuses on some of the key most up-to-date approaches that boost wheat, rice, corn, barley, and oat yields with insight into how molecular technology and genetics may raise the production and resource-efficient use of these important grains. Although red light management and genetic manipulation show maximal grain yield enhancement, other covered strategies including bacterial-nutrient management, solar brightening, facing abiotic stress through innovative agricultural systems, fertilizer management, harmful gas emissions reduction, photosynthesis enhancement, stress tolerance, disease resistance, and varietal improvement also enhance grain production and increase plant resistance to harmful environmental circumstances. This study also discusses the potential challenges of the addressed approaches and possible future perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) is the second most important macronutrient for crop growth and a limiting factor in food production. Choosing the right P fertilizer formulation is important for crop production systems because P is not mobile in soils, and placing phosphate fertilizers is a major management decision. In addition, root microorganisms play an important role in helping phosphorus fertilization management by regulating soil properties and fertility through different pathways. Our study evaluated the impact of two phosphorous formulations (polyphosphates and orthophosphates) on physiological traits of wheat related to yield (photosynthetic parameters, biomass, and root morphology) and its associated microbiota. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using agricultural soil deficient in P (1.49%). Phenotyping technologies were used at the tillering, stem elongation, heading, flowering, and grain-filling stages. The evaluation of wheat physiological traits revealed highly significant differences between treated and untreated plants but not between phosphorous fertilizers. High-throughput sequencing technologies were applied to analyse the wheat rhizosphere and rhizoplane microbiota at the tillering and the grain-filling growth stages. The alpha- and beta-diversity analyses of bacterial and fungal microbiota revealed differences between fertilized and non-fertilized wheat, rhizosphere, and rhizoplane, and the tillering and grain-filling growth stages. Our study provides new information on the composition of the wheat microbiota in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane during growth stages (Z39 and Z69) under polyphosphate and orthophosphate fertilization. Hence, a deeper understanding of this interaction could provide better insights into managing microbial communities to promote beneficial plant–microbiome interactions for P uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of the Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan during the winter season of 2018-19 with the objective to evaluate weed dynamics, growth, and productivity of wheat crop under stale seedbed. This experiment was held under RCBD with three replications. The study consisted of eight treatments viz: T1: stale seedbed + no herbicide, T2: stale seedbed + glyphosate @ 711 a.i mL ha-1, T3: stale seedbed + paraquat-dichloride @ 494 a.i mL ha-1, T4: stale seedbed + atlantis (mesosulfuron-methyl and iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium) @ 15 a.i g ha-1, T5: stale seedbed + glyphosate @ 356 a.i mL ha-1 + paraquat @ 247 a.i mL ha-1, T6: stale seedbed + glyphosate @ 356 a.i mL ha-1 + atlantis @ 7.5 a.i g ha-1, T7: stale seedbed + paraquat @ 247 a.i mL ha-1 + atlantis @ 7.5 a.i g ha-1, T8: stale seedbed + glyphosate @ 237 a.i mL ha-1 + paraquat @ 165 a.i mL ha-1+ atlantis @ 5 a.i g ha-1. The highest WCE (84%), HEI (13.01), Pn (13.83 µmol CO2 m-2 s-1) and gs (234.33 mmol m-2 s-1) was recorded in plots treated with glyphosate + paraquat + atlantis. The highest NAR (3.60 gm-2day-1), LAI (4.82), GCR (7.87 gm-2day-1), LAD (186.43 days) was recorded in the treatment Stale seedbed + glyphosate + paraquat + atlantis. This treatment depicted the highest productive tillers m-2 (246.33), grains spike-1 (53.67), 100-grains weight (31.88 g), and grain yield 40% (4.65 Tons ha-1) in comparison with the no herbicide treated plots. From this study, it is concluded that using the stale seedbed, pre- and post-emergence herbicides in reduced doses can restrict weeds growth till 40 DAS to maximize wheat productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper aimed to evaluate and determine the short-term effectiveness of different fertilizations methods: organic (bovine manure) and inorganic (NPK 15-15-15) on agricultural sites in eastern Algeria. Methods: The study was conducted in three different plots of 100 Ares where we tested three main treatments: mineral fertilizer with a precedent of leguminous cultivation (Min CC), manure inputs with previous manure and without crop rotation (Fum CA), mineral fertilizer with previous bare soil cultivation (MinJ). With the same tillage, the obtained results revealed that the use of cattle manure as a fertilizer is to be recommended because it allows increasing the yield of wheat compared to the soil receiving inorganic fertilization (NPK). Result: Organic fertilizers ensure and maintain soil fertility and agricultural production in the soil studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]