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Clustering consists of various applications on machine learning, image segmentation, data mining and pattern recognition. The proper selection of clustering is significant in feature selection. Therefore, in this paper, a Text Feature Selection (FS) and Clustering using Grasshopper–Chameleon Swarm Optimization with Density Peaks Clustering algorithm (TFSC-G-CSOA-DPCA) is proposed. Initially, the input features are pre-processed for converting text into numerical form. These preprocessed text features are given to Grasshopper–Chameleon Swarm Optimization Algorithm, which selects important text features. In Grasshopper–Chameleon Swarm Optimization Algorithm, the Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm selects local feature from text document and Chameleon Swarm Optimization Algorithm selects the best global feature from local feature. These important features are tested using density peaks clustering algorithm to maximize the reliability and minimize the computational time cost. The performance of Grasshopper–Chameleon Swarm Optimization Algorithm is analyzed with 20 News groups dataset. Moreover, the performance metrics, like accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, execution time and memory usage are analyzed. The simulation process shows that the proposed TFSC-G-CSOA-DPCA method provides better accuracy of 97.36%, 95.14%, 94.67% and 91.91% and maximum sensitivity of 96.25%, 87.25%, 93.96% and 92.59% compared to the existing methods such as TFSC-BBA-MCL, TFSC-MVO-K-Means C, TFSC-GWO-GOA-FCM and TFSC-WM-K-Means C, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance of twenty early maturing sugarcane clones and two checks were assessed for cane yield and quality traits. Data were recorded for germination per cent, numer of tillers, cane height, cane thickness, single cane weight, cane yield, Brix %, sucrose %, purity %, CCS % and sugar yield. The basis of overall performance, four test clones viz., C 32011, C 31098, C 31095 and C 32029 exhibited better performance in respect of cane yield with mean values of 142.25 t/ha, 138.35 t/ha, 137.82 t/ha and 137.57 t/ha respectively against best standard CoC (Sc) 24 (125.15 t/ha). Highest average sugar yield was observed in C 31098 (17.92 t/ha), C 32011 (17.74 t/ha), C 32031 (17.69 t/ha) and C 31095 (17.65 t/ha) against the best standard CoC (Sc) 24. From the results, it was concluded that test clones viz., C 31098, C 32011, C 32031 and C 31095 could be forwarded to next selection stage for further Breeding programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canopy temperature depression (CTD) has been used to estimate crop yield and drought tolerance. However, when to measure CTD for the best breeding selection efficacy has seldom been addressed. The objectives of this study were to evaluate CTD as a drought response measure, identify suitable crop stage for measurement and associated molecular markers. CTD was measured using an infrared camera on 59, 62, 69, 73, 76 and 82 days after sowing (DAS) and the grain yield, shoot biomass and harvest index (%). CTD recorded at 62 DAS was positively associated with the grain yield by 40% and shoot biomass by 27% and such association diminished gradually to minimum after 76 DAS. Moreover, CTD at 62 DAS also showed similar positive association with the grain yield recorded in two previous years ( r = 0.45***, 0.42***). Genome-wide and candidate gene based association analysis had revealed the presence of nine SSR, 11 DArT and three gene-based markers that varied across the six stages of observation. Two SSR markers were associated with CTD through crop phenology or grain yield while the rest were associated only with CTD for computing marker-trait associations (MTAs). The phenotypic variation explained by the markers was the highest at 62 DAS. These results confirm the importance of continued transpiration and the ability of the roots to supply stored soil water under terminal drought. The selection for grain yield through CTD is done best 15 days after the mean flowering time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Well-adapted Kabulis were less productive than the desis. [•] Compared to desis, kabulis require a longer reproductive duration for best adaptation. [•] Under terminal drought, kabulis are relatively poor in canopy temperature regulation. [•] Kabulis had more and wider xylem vessels that might offer less resistance to water flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is aimed at evaluating the ability of plasma-activated water (PAW) to reduce the chlorpyrifos pesticide residue in black grapes. Raw black grapes were spiked with a known concentration (10, 15, and 20 ppm) of chlorpyrifos (20% EC) and bubbled with 120 V air plasma at three different time intervals (5, 10, and 15 min). GC-MS analysis of these plasma-bubbled grapes showed up to 65.25% reduction (20 ppm sample) in chlorpyrifos content after 15 min of treatment. However, the treatment also reduced the grape juice's ascorbic acid (19.97 ± 2.69 to 9.15 ± 2.02 mg/ml), antioxidant scavenging activity (77.42 ± 2.97 to 53.30 ± 4.77 %), total flavonoids (3.00 ± 0.53 to 2.61 ± 0.57 mg QE/ml), total soluble solids (14.23 ± 1.96 to 11.95 ± 1.86 °), total suspended solids (1.95 ± 0.16 to 1.80 ± 0.03 g/l), and turbidity (246.63 ± 11.42 to 224.1 ± 24.85 NTU). Meanwhile, other physicochemical attributes such as pH, titrable acidity, total phenol content, color index, and texture values had slight changes after plasma bubbling. Thus, plasma bubbling proved to be an effective method to remove the chlorpyrifos pesticide present in grapes, and the techniques also preserve the quality of the commodity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the backdrop of climate change, genotypes with improved adaptation to elevated temperature are required; reliable screening methods are therefore important. Sowing date experiments are a practical and inexpensive approach for comparison of large collections of lines. Late-sown crops usually experience hotter conditions and phenotypes thus partially capture this environmental influence. Two sets of confounded factors, however, limit the value of sowing date trials. First, daily mean temperature correlates with both minimum and maximum temperature, photoperiod, radiation and vapour pressure deficit, and it may also correlate with rainfall. Second, temperature alters the genotype-dependent phenology of crops, effectively shifting the timing and duration of critical periods against the background of temperature and other environmental variables. Here we advance a crop-level framework to unscramble the confounded effects of sowing date experiments; it is based on four physiological concepts: (1) annual crops accommodate environmental variation through seed number rather than seed size; (2) seed number is most responsive to the environment in species-specific critical windows; (3) non-stressful thermal effects affecting seed set through development and canopy size can be integrated in a photothermal quotient relating intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and mean temperature during the critical window; (4) stressful temperature reduces yield by disrupting reproduction. The framework was tested in a factorial experiment combining four chickpea varieties with putatively contrasting adaptation to thermal stress and five environments resulting from the combination of seasons and sowing dates. Yield ranged from 13 to 577 g m −2 . Shifts in phenology led to contrasting photothermal conditions in the critical window between flowering and 400 °C d after flowering that were specific for each variety–environment combination. The photothermal quotient ranged from 2.72 to 6.85 MJ m −2 °C −1 ; it explained 50% of the variation in yield and maximum temperature explained 32% of the remaining variation. Thus, half of the variation in yield was associated with developmental, non-stressful thermal effect and (at most) 16% of the variation was attributable to thermal stress. The photothermal quotient corrected by vapour pressure deficit accounted for by 75% of the variation in yield and provided further insight on photosynthesis-mediated responses to temperature. Crop adaptation to non-stressful, developmental thermal effects and stressful temperatures disrupting reproduction involve different physiological processes and requires partially different agronomic and breeding solutions. Our analytical approach partially separates these effects, adds value to sowing date trials, and is likely to return more robust rankings of varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) is a major grain legume crop in South Asia, and terminal drought severely constrains its productivity. In this review, we describe how root systems can improve the productivity of chickpea under the terminal drought that occurs in a receding stored soil water conditions in central and south India and propose possible breeding and screening methods. In chickpea, total root biomass in early growth stages has been shown to significantly contribute to seed yield under terminal drought in central and south India. Maximising acquisition of water stored in 15–30 cm soil layer by roots had greater implications as the timing of absorption, available soil water and root size matches well for the complete use of water from this zone. However, deeper root systems and a greater exploitation of subsoil water offers potential for further productivity improvements under terminal drought. As proof of this concept, contrasting chickpea accessions for important root traits, such as root biomass and rooting depth, have been screened in a chickpea germplasm collection which comprises rich diversity for root traits. Through analysing mapping populations derived from crosses between these accessions, a ‘QTL hotspot’ that explained a large part of the phenotypic variation for the major drought tolerance traits including root traits was identified and introgressed into a leading Indian chickpea cultivar. Yield advantages of the introgression lines were demonstrated in multi-location evaluations under terminal drought. As an alternative screening method, that would indirectly asses the root system strength, to identify further promising chickpea genotypes with multiple drought tolerance traits, the leaf canopy temperature and carbon isotope discrimination measurements can be proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high yielding white seeded sesame culture VS 07 023 was developed at Regional Research Station, Vridhachalam and released as VRI 3 during 2017. It is a cross derivative of SVPR 1 and TKG 87. The culture was evaluated during rabi and summer seasons. The culture VS 07 023 has registered an overall grain yield of 995 kg/ha which was 22.74 and 17.33 per cent yield increase over the check SVPR 1 (811kg/ha) and TMV (SV) 7 (848 kg/ha), respectively over 95 locations during rabi season. Similarly, the culture VS 07 023 has registered remarkably a higher mean seed yield of 1055 kg/ha against the check SVPR 1 (862 kg/ha) and TMV (SV) 7 (928kg/ha). The per cent increase in the mean seed yield over the check was 22.49 (SVPR 1) and 13.77 per cent (TMV (SV) 7). The culture is moderately resistant to Macrophomina root rot disease. The culture VS 07 023 is white seeded containing 50 per cent oil content and exhibited a profuse branching suitable for rabi and summer irrigated conditions. In view of stable performance of sesame culture VS 07 023, it was released as a new sesame variety VRI 3 during 2017 by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore for cultivation in major sesame growing districts of Tamil Nadu during rabi and the summer irrigated conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] is an important and nutritious cereal cultivated largely in the tropics of Africa and Asia. It is adversely affected by intermittent droughts, and a trait-based selection for drought tolerance is expected to enhance yield stability. The current work has segregated the shoot biomass as total water use (T) and transpiration efficiency (TE) and assessed the importance of these components and their association with drought tolerance. A major part of the minicore collection of finger millet germplasm (n = 69) was evaluated in mini-lysimeters for the variation in T and TE under both terminal drought-stress (DS) and well-watered (WW) environments. Contribution of T to shoot biomass under drought was minor but that of TE was large and positive. Both T and TE positively influenced the shoot biomass production. Total water use explained the shoot biomass variation more when WW, whereas TE explained more variation under DS. Under DS, the minicore germplasm accessions varied in shoot biomass by 0.5-fold, T by 0.16- to 0.36-fold, and the TE by twofold. Categorization of the finger millet germplasm for TE differentiated accessions, into high and low groups, each with 11 accessions. No distinct or useful race or subrace-specific variation was found for T, TE, or the total shoot biomass productivity among the four races of finger millet. Selection and incorporation of both T and TE would enhance the efficient use of water and yield stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Drought stress reduced crop reproductive growth duration more than the vegetative. [•] Crop growth rate (C) and partitioning rate (p) were associated with yield under stress. [•] This association C and p with yield existed both in the germplasm and breeding lines. [•] Increasing p is necessary to minimize yield gap under drought. [•] The heritability of p was the highest, meriting consideration in genetic improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]