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Identification of tolerant mulberry genotypes and elucidation of stress-tolerant mechanisms are two priority areas need to be addressed for sustainable mulberry leaf production. In the present study, 16 mulberry genotypes were evaluated under at low (75% FC), medium (50% FC), and high moisture stress (25% FC) conditions along with well-irrigated plants (100% FC) and measured the photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidant potential. In well-irrigated plants, photosynthetic rate was high in S13 (16.45 µmol/m2/s), Mysore Local, RC2, and AGB8 (13.62–16 µmol/m2/s). All genotypes showed a gradual decline in photosynthetic rate during the progression of moisture stress (low to high stress). MSG2, AGB8, RC1, RC2, and Nagalur Estate showed high photosynthetic rate (7.45–10.15 µmol/m2/s) under high moisture stress, whereas low photosynthetic rate was recorded in Mysore Local (3.46 µmol/m2/s) and K2 (3.50 µmol/m2/s). All tolerant genotypes showed higher activities of SOD (104.25–122.44 Units/g) and POX (25.61–33.73 Units/g) activities under high moisture stress. Bundi-3, S34, RC2, and AGB8 showed higher SOD activity and low enzyme activity was observed in K2. Non-enzymatic antioxidants and osmolytes were high in moisture stress-tolerant genotypes. This study identified that high photosynthetic rate is one of the important physiological indicator for moisture stress tolerance in mulberry. Also higher activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and POX), presence of high quantity of non-enzymatic antioxidants (ascorbic acids, reduced glutathione, and phenols), and accumulation of osmolytes (proline and glycine betaine) are identified as stress tolerance biochemical markers in mulberry genotypes. Evaluation Index (EI) value was calculated and genotypes suitable for well-irrigated condition as well as for low, medium, and high moisture stress conditions were identified based on EI values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is sensitive to the salinity of water and soil, a common abiotic stress in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil; however, such sensitivity is variable with water management in the soil-plantatmosphere system. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the fertilization with nitrogen-potassium combinations in okra cultivated under salt stress. Photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange, growth and fruit quality were evaluated. Fertilization with N1:K1 (40% N + 40% K2O) reduced the damage caused by salt stress and increased the chlorophyll contents, while the application of N4:K4 (130% N + 100% K2O) decreased the damage caused by salt stress and increased the carotenoid contents. The combination of N:K fertilization did not affect gas exchange, however, salt stress decreased these variables. Fertilization with N2:K2 (70% N + 60% K2O) reduced the damage caused by salt stress and increased the leaf area of okra. In addition, salt stress decreased the number of fruits and increased the fresh mass of okra fruits. The N:K fertilization also reduced the damage caused by salt stress and in the soluble solids content, titratable acidity, SS/TA ratio, and ascorbic acid content. Thus, N:K fertilization can be seen as an important agronomic strategy to improve the performance of okra quality subjected to saline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to improve the quality of pickled Madan by L. plantarum NR-MD6-18 (K2) fermentation, while spontaneous fermentation was used as the control treatment. The physicochemical and microbiological quality were then monitored during fermentation at room temperature (30±2 °C) for 7 days. The main results showed that the pH in all treatments decreased after day 0 (P<0.05). The pickled Madan fermented by K2 provided higher levels of antioxidant activity and vitamin C than the control treatment on days 5 and 7 (P<0.05). Furthermore, the fermented acidic condition (pH 1.65-1.67) did not affect the texture parameters hardness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, or springiness of pickled Madan product. By the end of fermentation the lightness had significantly decreased in both treatments, while the redness and yellowness significantly increased (P<0.05). The present investigation supports potential gastronomic applications of food science. This could be a starting point for future research aimed at developing production of an instant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) starter culture without the need for large technological investments to enhance the quality of a fermented pickled product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In processing industries of chip making, potato is crucial raw material for higher economic returns, so quality and storage of potato plays important role to provide superior quality product in the market. However, agronomic technologies in this crop is lacking, so modifications were made through potassium and growth regulators were made to get good results in required crop cycle Field experiments were done from 2017-18 at the Khalsa College Amritsar, Punjab, India, to assess differences due to gibberellic acid and potassium management on potato. Treatments consisted of gibberellic acid treatments: control (G1), GA3 seed application (G2) and GA3 foliar application (G3) and five potassium nutrition management treatments consisting of control (K1), 100%inorganic K (K2), 75% inorganic K+K-biofertilizer (K3), 50% inorganic K+K-biofertilizer (K4) and K-biofertilizer (K5). The GA3 treatments did not affect any quality attributes or post-harvest loss. There was an increment in processing quality with potassium nutrition treatments (K2 and K3) expect in certain quality parameters such as total phenols, ascorbic acid, total soluble solids, and chip color. Chip color lightens with application of potassium; minimum post-harvest loss occurred with K2 and K3 treatments when tubers were kept for short-term storage after harvest. At the end of the storages sprouting was decreased with potassium treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]