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The high sink strength of cassava storage roots prevented the down-regulation of photosynthesis under elevated CO2 concentrations, leading to higher yields., Cassava has the potential to alleviate food insecurity in many tropical regions, yet few breeding efforts to increase yield have been made. Improved photosynthetic efficiency in cassava has the potential to increase yields, but cassava roots must have sufficient sink strength to prevent carbohydrates from accumulating in leaf tissue and suppressing photosynthesis. Here, we grew eight farmer-preferred African cassava cultivars under free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) to evaluate the sink strength of cassava roots when photosynthesis increases due to elevated CO2 concentrations ([CO2]). Relative to the ambient treatments, elevated [CO2] treatments increased fresh (+27%) and dry (+37%) root biomass, which was driven by an increase in photosynthesis (+31%) and the absence of photosynthetic down-regulation over the growing season. Moreover, intrinsic water use efficiency improved under elevated [CO2] conditions, while leaf protein content and leaf and root cyanide concentrations were not affected. Overall, these results suggest that higher cassava yields can be expected as atmospheric [CO2] increases over the coming decades. However, there were cultivar differences in the partitioning of resources to roots versus above-grown biomass; thus, the particular responses of each cultivar must be considered when selecting candidates for improvement.

Pumpkin is one of the underutilized fruit-vegetables in Uganda although it is one of the crops believed to have carotenoids with pro-vitamin A activity that are not common to many other crops. While other crops are being bred or fortified to increase their nutritional benefits of β-carotene and other micro nutrients required for healthy growth and care for immunosuppressed people, the value of pumpkins in this regard remains under researched. This study sought to determine the nutritional physico-chemical parameters of selected pumpkin cultivars grown in Uganda. The seeds of 14 cultivars of pumpkin from four agro-ecological zones of Uganda were grown under similar conditions. Their mature pulp was then analyzed for their proximate, mineral and carotenoid composition including glucose, starch, crude fibre, crude fat, ash, crude protein, moisture, iron, zinc, calcium, potassium, lutein, α-carotene, trans-β-carotene, cis-β-carotene, total carotenoid and total pro-vitamin A carotenoid content using standard procedures. The proximate, calcium, potassium and the carotenoid content varied significantly across all the accessions (PE‚0.05) while the iron and zinc content did not vary significantly across all the accessions (PEƒ0.05) respectively. The results from the study show that pumpkin pulp is a good source of dietary fibre, protein, calcium, potassium, iron and carotenoids with pro-vitamin A activity. Therefore, pumpkin can be utilized in the food processing industry as a food supplement and for several other value addition avenues such as wine and flour production. Key words: Accession, carotenoid, cultivar, proximate, pumpkin, value addition.

Understanding the complexity and biodiversity of fungal communities associated with the wheat endosphere can facilitate the identification of novel strains that might be beneficial to the host plant. However, the differentiation and taxonomic classification of the endosphere-associated fungi with respect to various cultivars and plant organs are challenging, time-consuming, and expensive, even with the use of molecular techniques. In the present work, we describe a fast, simple, and low-cost method based on high-resolution melting PCR (HRM-PCR) for the identification and differentiation of wheat endogenous fungal isolates. Using this approach, we differentiated 28 fungal isolates, which belonged to five different genera, namely Alternaria, Penicillium, Epicoccum, Fusarium, and Trichoderma. Furthermore, the results of the study revealed that this method can allow large-scale screening of cultured samples.

Lr46/Yr29/Pm39 (Lr46) is a gene for slow rusting resistance in wheat. The aim of the study was to analyze the miRNA expression in selected common wheat cultivars carrying resistance genes, Lr46 among others (HN Rod, Pavon‘S’, Myna‘S’, Frontana‘S’, and Sparrow’S’) in response to leaf rust infection caused by Puccinia triticina Erikss. In the Pavon ‘S’, Myna ‘S’, Frontana‘S’, and Sparow‘S’ varieties a product with a length of 242 bp has been identified, which is specific to the Xwmc44 marker linked to the brown rust resistance gene Lr46. In the next step, the differences in the expression of microRNA (miR5085 and miR164) associated with the Lr46 gene, which is responsible for different resistance of selected wheat cultivars to leaf rust, were examined using emulsion PCR (ddPCR). In the experiment, biotic stress was induced in mature plants by infecting them with fungal spores under controlled conditions in a growth chamber. For analysis the plant material was collected before inoculation and 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after inoculation. The experiments also showed that plant infection with Puccinia triticina resulted in an increase in miR164 expression in cultivars carrying the Lr46 gene. The expression of miR164 remained stable in a control cultivar (HN ROD) lacking this gene. This has proved that miR164 can be involved in leaf rust resistance mechanisms.

Bacterial wilt, caused by the Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum species complex, is an important vascular disease that limits tomato production in tropical and subtropical regions. Two major quantitative trait loci (QTL) of bacterial wilt resistance on chromosome 6 (Bwr-6) and 12 (Bwr-12) were previously identified in Solanum lycopersicum 'Hawaii 7996'; however, marker-assisted breeding for bacterial wilt resistance is not well established. To dissect the QTL, six cleaved amplified polymorphic sites (CAPS) and derived CAPS (dCAPS) markers within the Bwr-6 region and one dCAPS marker near Bwr-12 were developed, and resistance levels in 117 tomato cultivars were evaluated. Two markers, RsR6-5 on chromosome 6 and RsR12-1 on chromosome 12, were selected based on the genotypic and phenotypic analysis. The combination of RsR6-5 and RsR12-1 effectively distinguishes resistant and susceptible cultivars. Furthermore, the efficiency of the two markers was validated in the F3 generation derived from the F2 population between E6203 (susceptible) and Hawaii 7998 (resistant). Resistant alleles at both loci led to the resistance to bacterial wilt. These markers will facilitate marker-assisted breeding of tomato resistant to bacterial wilt.

Superior bread-making quality is required before breeding lines can be commercially classified. In South Africa, breeding lines together with a quality standard from five environments must be submitted for quality analysis for three consecutive seasons before such lines can be classified for commercial use. Breeders depend on falling number and mixograph analysis to indicate which breeding lines must be selected for submission. Time availability determines whether whole flour or white flour will be used for this quick screening process. During the classification process, the lines have to adhere to 11 primary quality criteria, which include hectolitre mass, falling number, grain and flour protein content, flour yield, flour colour, farinograph water absorption, alveograph stability/distensibility ratio, alveograph dough strength, loaf volume and corrected loaf volume. The aim of this study was to compare flour obtained from three different milling procedures, by using six selected Mixsmart parameters as indicators of the primary classification criteria for commercial cultivar release, to determine whether faster milling procedures such as a hammer mill or Junior Quadrumat mill will give the same results as the currently used Buhler mill. Seed of ten genotypes from two environments was used. There were sufficient correlations between the Mixsmart parameters and primary quality criteria, for selection of the best potential breeding lines, whether whole flour, white flour from the Junior Quadrumat mill or flour from the Buhler mill was used. Linear discriminant analysis confirmed that no differences existed between the three milling procedures for mixograph analysis as indicator of quality.

Brazil imports about 60% of all the malt used by the brewing industry which is spread throughout the country. Even though it is an agricultural country, only a small portion of the barley production has the characteristics to produce barley malt for brewing. Seeking supply to the ever-growing demand and reducing the dependency on other countries and logistic costs, malting industries and genetic enhancement companies endeavor to adapt barley to the Brazilian Savannah conditions. For the barley to be malted, it is crucial to develop cultivars with the necessary malting qualities and adapted to the region and with good yield. Considering the importance of protein to the brewing process, four protein quantification methods were compared: combustion methods - carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen elemental analysis and Dumas - and digestion ones - Kjeldahl and flux injection analysis (FIA). The methodologies tested showed good correlations (higher than 0.881) and variations were associated with matrix complexity. All protein quantification methods were satisfactory from an agronomic perspective. Yet, we recommend the combustion ones as they generate fewer residues and results are ready in up to 6 minutes. Therefore, they are the most suited for barley and malt analysis considering lab routine.

Hybrids and cultivars of single type tuberose was evaluated to fulfill the need to develop new hybrids as demanded by commercial growers. Evaluation of fifteen genotypes showed significant variation in growth, floral and bulb characters. Cultivar Arka Prajwal was significantly superior over all genotypes, which recorded least number of days for opening of 1st floret (78.55 days) with maximum diameter of spike (1.18 cm), length of floret (6.05 cm), weight of individual floret (3.12 g) and weight of spike (121.43 g).The hybrid genotype L1P4 (Variegated X Phule Rajani) was observed to be superior in terms of rachis length (39.78 cm), inter-nodal length (7.25 cm), length of bulb (8.09 cm), diameter of bulb (3.76 cm) and diameter of bulb-lets (1.85 cm). Among the hybrid genotypes L1P4 also recorded maximum plant height (116.39 cm), spike length (109.58 cm), weight of cut spike (105.08 g) and vase life (11.00 days). However, it was foundto be at par for number of florets per spike (57.25), length of floret (5.92 cm) and number of spikes per clump (10.14) with all other cultivars and hybrids tested. From the overall performance, it was found that the cultivar Arka Prajwal was the best. Genotype L1P4 found promising for loose as well as cut flower production because of its number of florets, inter-nodal length and spikes per clump which are important characters considering loose flower for taking maximum number of pickings. However, characters such as rachis length, spike length, vase life and weight of spike which are imperative for cut flowers are also noted superior in genotype L1P4.

Peeling industry is the most important outlet for poplar resource composed of many cultivars. A comprehensive evaluation of wood quality of these different cultivars is necessary for a better knowledge of their suitability for innovative applications, like LVL for construction, in order to help foresters in their choices. This research participates to this approach, focusing on mechanical properties of LVL boards produced from ten cultivars, having grown in four different soils. Two trees were harvested per soil type and per cultivar; the tests were performed on eighty trees, which were peeled 1.4 mm thick and 3 mm thick. The produced veneers were used to manufacture 160 LVL boards using two adhesives: polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and melamine–urea–formaldehyde (MUF). Each board was characterized by non-destructive and destructive mechanical tests, measuring their density, modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture. The results show that the boards’ mechanical performance is neither linked to veneer thickness nor adhesive type. No cultivar or soil effect was clearly identified. The studied cultivars are not suitable for structural applications. Nevertheless, a discussion about an increase in the poplar rotation duration seems relevant in order to be able to use this wood for construction.

Changes in the composition of nectarine cuticular waxes along with variations in fruit conductance and brown rot susceptibility during development suggest a role for cuticular waxes in fruit permeability and defence., The cuticle is composed of cutin and cuticular waxes, and it is the first protective barrier to abiotic and biotic stresses in fruit. In this study, we analysed the composition of and changes in cuticular waxes during fruit development in nectarine (Prunus persica L. Batsch) cultivars, in parallel with their conductance and their susceptibility to Monilinia laxa. The nectarine waxes were composed of triterpenoids, mostly ursolic and oleanolic acids, phytosterols, and very-long-chain aliphatics. In addition, we detected phenolic compounds that were esterified with sugars or with triterpenoids, which are newly described in cuticular waxes. We quantified 42 compounds and found that they changed markedly during fruit development, with an intense accumulation of triterpenoids during initial fruit growth followed by their decrease at the end of endocarp lignification and a final increase in very-long-chain alkanes and hydroxylated triterpenoids until maturity. The surface conductance and susceptibility to Monilinia decreased sharply at the beginning of endocarp lignification, suggesting that triterpenoid deposition could play a major role in regulating fruit permeability and susceptibility to brown rot. Our results provide new insights into the composition of cuticular waxes of nectarines and their changes during fruit development, opening new avenues of research to explore brown rot resistance factors in stone fruit.

Fulvic acid treatment increases yield and nodulation in Medicago sativa, in glasshouse and field experiments. De novo transcriptome analysis shows the up-regulation of early nodulation genes in response to fulvic acid., The use of potential biostimulants is of broad interest in plant science for improving yields. The application of a humic derivative called fulvic acid (FA) may improve forage crop production. FA is an uncharacterized mixture of chemicals and, although it has been reported to increase growth parameters in many species including legumes, its mode of action remains unclear. Previous studies of the action of FA have lacked appropriate controls, and few have included field trials. Here we report yield increases due to FA application in three European Medicago sativa cultivars, in studies which include the appropriate nutritional controls which hitherto have not been used. No significant growth stimulation was seen after FA treatment in grass species in this study at the treatment rate tested. Direct application to bacteria increased Rhizobium growth and, in M. sativa trials, root nodulation was stimulated. RNA transcriptional analysis of FA-treated plants revealed up-regulation of many important early nodulation signalling genes after only 3 d. Experiments in plate, glasshouse, and field environments showed yield increases, providing substantial evidence for the use of FA to benefit M. sativa forage production.

Nitrogen (N) is a major limiting factor affecting crop yield in unfertilized soil. Thus, cultivars with a high N use efficiency (NUE) and good grain protein content (GPC) are needed to fulfill the growing food demand and to reduce environmental burden. This is especially true for rice (Oryza sativa L.) that is cultivated with a high input of N fertilizer and is a primary staple food crop for more than half of the global population. Here, we report that rice asparagine synthetase 1 (OsASN1) is required for grain yield and grain protein contents under both N-sufficient (conventional paddy fields) and N-limiting conditions from analyses of knockout mutant plants. In addition, we show that overexpression (OX) of OsASN1 results in better nitrogen uptake and assimilation, and increased tolerance to N limitation at the seedling stage. Under field conditions, the OsASN1 OX rice plants produced grains with increased N and protein contents without yield reduction compared to wild-type (WT) rice. Under N-limited conditions, the OX plants displayed increased grain yield and protein content with enhanced photosynthetic activity compared to WT rice. Thus, OsASN1 can be an effective target gene for the development of rice cultivars with higher grain protein content, NUE, and grain yield under N-limiting conditions.

O objetivo do presente estudo é de avaliar o efeito da aplicação foliar de diferentes doses de silício sobre características produtivas e qualitativas das frutas de morangueiro ‘Pircinque’ cultivado nas condições edafoclimáticas do Planalto Norte Catarinense. O experimento foi realizado na área experimental do Instituto Federal de Santa Catarina, IFSC – Campus Canoinhas, e os morangueiros da cultivar Pircinque foram cultivados em sistema convencional no solo, com ambiente protegido (estufa), adotando-se um espaçamento de plantio de 30 centímetros entre plantas e linhas de plantio, com três linhas de cultivo por canteiro. Os tratamentos consistiram na aplicação foliar de cinco doses de silício, sendo elas: 0, 100, 200, 300 e 400 g/100L água, utilizando-se o produto comercial Agrisil® (99% Si). As aplicações foram realizadas a cada 21 dias, e foi avaliado seu efeito em parâmetros produtivos (número de frutos, produção, produtividade e massa fresca de fruto) e qualitativos das frutas (% comerciais, deformados e pequenos, sólidos solúveis, acidez total, Ratio e firmeza de polpa). A aplicação de silício proporcionou aumento do percentual de frutas comerciais em todas as dosagens avaliadas, além de resultar em aumento da firmeza de polpa. Ressalta-se que a aplicação do silício nas doses de 300 g e 400 g/100L água, apresentam maiores efeitos na firmeza de polpa, o que pode resultar em melhor conservação pós-colheita das frutas. A aplicação foliar de silício não influencia as variáveis produtivas e qualitativas avaliadas dos frutos do morangueiro ‘Pircinque’ cultivado no Planalto Norte Catarinense.

Wild plants with a wide distribution, including those exposed to a wide variety of environmental conditions, may have variations in key functional traits relevant for agricultural applications. The East Asian wild radish (Raphanus sativus var. raphanistroides) is an appropriate model plant because it is widely distributed and has outstanding sink capacity as well as two cultivars within the species. Multiple common garden trials with 14 populations and three testing sites were conducted across the Japanese archipelago to quantify variations in yield and allocation. Significant inter-population variations and interaction effects with testing sites were detected for the root and shoot mass and the root mass fraction (RMF). While the rank order of the population changed drastically among sites and the variance components of genetic effects were small in yield traits (2.4%-4.7%), RMF displayed a large genetic variance (23.2%) and was consistently higher in the northern populations at all sites. Analyses revealed that the mean temperature of growing season of the seed origin was the most prominent factor explaining variation in RMF, irrespective of the sites. We concluded that the trait of resource allocation had a temperature-related cline and plants in cooler climates could invest more resources into their roots.

The Dynamic model has been described as one of the most accurate models to quantify chill accumulation based on hourly temperatures in nuts and temperate fruits. This model considers that a dynamic process occurs at a biochemical level that determines the endodormancy breaking through the accumulation of the so-called portions. The kinetic parameters present in the model should reflect how the fruit trees integrate chilling exposure and thus they should be characteristic for each species. However, the original parameter values, reported in the late 1980s, are still being used. Even if the use of such parameter values is useful to compare among chilling requirements (CRs) for different species or cultivars, it is not the optimal choice when one intends to explain the CR variations in different years for a given cultivar. In this work we propose a data-based model calibration that makes use of phenological data for different apricot cultivars within different years to obtain model parameters, which minimize the variations among years and that have, at the same time, physical meaning to characterize the incumbent species. Results reveal that the estimation not only reduces the accumulated portion dispersion within the considered time periods but also allows to improve the CR predictions for subsequent years. We propose a set of model parameter values to predict endodormancy breaking dates in the apricot cultivars studied here., The financial support of this research work was provided by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) of the Spanish Government and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through project AGL2017-86627-R

SUMMARY In this study, 71 durum wheat cultivars (Triticum durum Desf.), 22 emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum L.) and 11 wild emmer (Triticum dicoccoides L.) genotypes were genetically characterized to determine the alleles associated with high cadmium (Cd) content. After genotypic characterization, 14 cultivars selected among all genotypes with low and high Cd content were phenotyped by a pot experiment to verify the genotypic data. Identification of 32 durum wheat, one emmer wheat and four wild emmer genotypes showed that they have alleles associated with high Cd content, while 68 genotypes of which 39 durum wheat, 21 emmer wheat and 7 wild emmer cultivars had alleles associated with low Cd content, respectively. Moreover, phenotypic data obtained from pot experiment were similar to the molecular data. To sum up, the marker successfully classified durum wheat cultivars into either high or low accumulators and these results can be safely used in breeding programs to improve new durum wheat cultivars with alleles associated with low Cd content. Due to routine use of phosphorus fertilizers in agricultural areas and other anthropogenic factors related to Cd toxicity, new durum wheat cultivars with low Cd content should be urgently developed for safe production of macaroni or other types of wheat products for human and animal consumption.

Leak is caused primarily by the fungus-like organism Pythium ultimum, which can cause severe crop loss in storage. Previous research has shown temperature as a major contributing factor to the incidence of leak in stored potatoes. The hypothesis that pulp and early storage temperatures affect cultivar susceptibility of leak has not been studied. The objective of this study was to determine the leak susceptibility of multiple russet-skinned potato cultivars and understand how leak susceptibility is affected by pulp and early storage temperatures. To accomplish the objective, Russet Norkotah selections (CO-3, TXNS-112, TXNS-278, TXNS-296, and Standard) were bruised and inoculated with a dilute spray solution of oospores of P. ultimum and stored at 21.1 C for four days to determine susceptibility between selections. To understand how pulp temperature affects cultivar susceptibility, pulp temperatures of Bannock Russet, Clearwater Russet, Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet, Teton Russet, and Umatilla Russet tubers were equilibrated to 12.8, 15.5, 18.3, and 21.1 C bruised, inoculated, and maintained at the same temperatures for four days. To address the effect of pulp and early storage temperature, cultivars Bannock Russet, Russet Norkotah CO-3, Russet Burbank, and Umatilla Russet tubers at tuber pulp temperatures of 15.5 or 21.1 C, were bruised, inoculated, and then held for 4 days at early storage temperatures of 12.8, 15.5, 18.3, and 21.1 C to simulate the ability to alter pulp temperatures with storage conditions. Selections of Russet Norkotah were similar in leak incidence; however Standard Russet Norkotah was significantly more susceptible. The impact of pulp temperature at bruising and inoculation showed all cultivars were significantly less susceptible to leak (19 to 63% incidence) at 12.8 C than at 21.1 C (72 to 93% incidence). When pulp temperatures were 15.5 or 21.1 C at bruising and inoculation and then exposed to early storage temperatures of 12.8, 15.5, 18.3, and 21.1 C, leak incidence was 11, 34, 59, and 74%, respectively; indicating the overriding impact that immediately cooling potatoes, opposed to initial tuber pulp temperatures, has on leak development. Cultivar susceptibility of leak was affected by temperature. Results highlight the importance of growing cultivars that are less susceptible to leak and to harvest susceptible cultivars when pulp temperatures are below 15.5 C or cool tubers below 15.5 C when adequate refrigeration or cooling air are available to rapidly modify temperatures in storage.

O raleio é uma das principais práticas culturais do pessegueiro, podendo ser realizada de maneira manual ou química. Este estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito de ethephon como raleante químico de frutos da cultivar de pessegueiro Chimarrita. O experimento consistiu na aplicação de ethephon nas doses de 0, 50, 80, 110 and 140 mg L-1, por pulverização até o ponto de gotejo, e de um tratamento de raleio manual, todos realizados em 10/09/2015, em pomar comercial localizado em Veranópolis-RS. O delineamento experimental foi completamente casualizado com seis repetições e uma planta por parcela. As avaliações ocorreram em seis ramos demarcados por planta, totalizando 36 ramos por tratamento. As variáveis analisadas foram: percentual de frutos raleados, índice de frutificação, massa, diâmetro e comprimento de fruto, firmeza de polpa, sólidos solúveis (SS) e acidez titulável (AT). A concentração de ethephon de 80 mg L-1 apresentou taxas de índice de frutificação (21,2%) e de frutos raleados (72,1%) próximos ao tratamento de raleio manual (manejo tomado como referência), com valores obtidos de 22,4% e 75,2%, respectivamente. As características físico-químicas não diferiram entre o tratamento de ethephon 80 mg L-1 e o raleio manual, com massa de fruto e SS de 104,9 g e 8,0 ºBrix para a dose de 80 mg L-1 e 113,1 g e 8,1 ºBrix para o raleio manual. A aplicação de ethephon a dose de 80 mg L-1 mostra-se eficiente para o raleio de frutos de pessegueiro cultivar Chimarrita.

Wines produced from grapes cultivated in cool climate areas are characterized by high levels of organic acids. One method to correct this is malolactic fermentation (MLF). The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of different strains of Oenococcus oeni bacteria (Viniflora CH11, Viniflora CH16, Viniflora CH35, Viniflora Oenos, SIHA LACT Oeno) during the biological acidity reduction process. Red wine from Rondo and Regent cultivars was obtained by ethanol fermentation of the pulp, at 20 °C for 14 days. The profile of organic acids was examined with a particular focus on changes in the content of l-malic and l-lactic acids. Additionally, the impact on profile and quantity of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity was measured. The results showed that MLF had a positive influence on content of organic acids through the reduction of l-malic acid content with a simultaneous increase of the amount of l-lactic acid. The best effect was obtained with the CH11 and CH35 bacterial strains. The biological acidity reduction process had no significant (P > 0.05) impact on phenolic content or antioxidant capacity. However, the wine making process (ethanol fermentation, maturation) contributed to the reduction of polyphenols and in consequence lower antioxidant capacity of the final tested wines. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The present study provides useful information on the impact of different Oenococcus oeni bacterial strains on MLF in red wines, reduction of l-malic to l-lactic acid, and stability of phenolic compounds during MLF and the maturation period. Also, this article provides information about phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity during malolactic fermentation and maturity of red wines made from hybrids of Vitis vinifera such as Rondo and Regent cultivars.

In this study, DNA markers were developed for discrimination of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa L.) cultivars based on retrotransposon insertion polymorphisms. We performed a comprehensive genomic search to identify retrotransposon insertion sites and subsequently selected one retrotransposon family, designated CL3, which provided reliable discrimination among strawberry cultivars. Through analyses of 75 strawberry cultivars, we developed eight cultivar-specific markers based on CL3 retrotransposon insertion sites. Used in combination with 10 additional polymorphic markers, we differentiated 35 strawberry cultivars commonly cultivated in Japan. In addition, we demonstrated that the retrotransposon-based markers were effective for PCR detection of DNA extracted from processed food materials, whereas a SSR marker was ineffective. These results indicated that the retrotransposon-based markers are useful for cultivar discrimination for processed food products, such as jams, in which DNA may be fragmented or degraded.

Cyanides are deadly toxic substances commonly found in cassava root tuber. Higher content of cyanides causes bitter taste of the root tuber. Therefore, analysis of cyanide content has been used as one of criteria for bitterness in cassava. The substitute common method used for this purpose was organoleptic test that could lead to poisoning, or argentometry, which is complicated, time-consuming, and requires lots of reagents. Therefore, a fast, easy, and safe method is strongly demanded. In this work, a smart screening technology kit (SST-Kit) was developed using ninhydrin reagent. This simple, fast, and low-cost method can be applied in the field for the analysis of cyanide levels in cassava. This method was optimized to the concentration of sodium carbonate from 0.5 to 2.0% by measuring the red color intensity produced under various times of reading from 1 to 3 minutes and three sample preparation techniques. The optimum condition for SST-Kit to read the cyanides level was achieved under the condition of 0.5% of sodium carbonate with a time readout of 2 minutes, using grinding preparation technique followed by dilution. The SST-kit had been applied on cassava samples with the accuracy of more than 90%.

This research analyzed the volatile composition of the fruits pulp of six prickly pear cultivars (NT, NE, NO, NA, FR, and ORI) growing in Spain, by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography (GC-MS and GC-FID). A total of 35 compounds were isolated, identified, and quantified, with aldehydes, alcohols, and terpenes being the predominant chemical families, and esters, ketones, linear hydrocarbons, and terpenoids being also found. Nonanol, 2,6-nonadienal, 1-hexanol, 2-hexenal, and D-limonene were the predominant compounds. NT and FR cultivars showed the highest concentration of total volatile compounds. On the other hand, NE and NO cultivars presented the lowest concentration. Future studies on sensory evaluation are required to determine the sensory quality of the fruits of these Spanish cultivars.

Burkholderia glumae causes bacterial seedling rot (BSR) and bacterial grain rot (BGR) in rice (Oryza sativa), both of which are important diseases in Japan. We previously evaluated major Japanese cultivars for BGR resistance and selected standard cultivars for resistance assessments. Here, we assessed the BSR occurrence rate in cultivars from the World Rice Collection (WRC) and other sources and found wide variation in resistance. Next, we evaluated major Japanese cultivars for BSR resistance and found that two Japanese landraces, ‘Kujuu’ and ‘Aikoku’, showed “strong” resistance; most others were categorized as “medium” or “medium to weak”. We previously developed a near-isogenic line (RBG1-NIL) by introducing the genomic region containing RBG1, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for BSR resistance, from ‘Nona Bokra’ (indica) into ‘Koshihikari’ (temperate japonica). The resistance level of RBG1-NIL was “strong”, indicating the effectiveness of RBG1 against BSR. The correlation between BSR and BGR resistance scores was low, indicating that it is necessary to introduce QTLs for resistance from different sources to develop cultivars resistant to both BSR and BGR. On the basis of the screening results, we selected standard cultivars for BSR resistance to cover a range of resistance levels.

Walnut is an important cultivated tree with high economic value and wide distribution across China. The objective was to breed a new walnut cultivar with high yield and desirable nut and tree qualities that could meet the demands of the walnut industry in China. ‘Liaoning 4’ walnut cultivar is lateral bearing which originated from a controlled cross between the Persian walnut (J. regia) selections ‘Liaoning Chaoyang big and rough walnut’ and ‘11001’. During long term assessment and research, ‘Liaoning 4’ walnut performed well and it was released as a new cultivar in China on 15 Oct. 2018. It has a high yield and excellent nut traits and has thus been widely planted in North China.

Seasonal progression in the nutritional concentration of fruit peel, pulp and leaves of Daisy tangerine cultivar were evaluated during fruit development period. Marked variations in nutritional content during specific fruit developmental stages were observed. Overall, leaves were the main sight of nutrient accumulation than fruit parts and their concentration was increased with the advancement in fruit maturity. The general order of abundance of macro and micronutrients in leaves was calcium (Ca)>nitrogen (N)>potassium (K)>magnesium (Mg)>phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe)>manganese (Mn)>zinc (Zn)>copper (Cu) respectively. Overall, P and K were higher in the pulp, while most of the micronutrients registered greater accumulation in the peel. However, in case of N, almost equal distribution was observed in peel and pulp of Daisy fruits. Leaf nutrient showed a strong association with peel, pulp and dry matter accumulation.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) has been considered one of the most important crops in Ethiopia. Landraces and improved accessions in Ethiopia were characterized on the basis of polymorphism data for SSR markers, and classified into two groups: I and II. Cluster I was further divided into two sub-clusters, Ia and Ib. Cluster Ia corresponded to Japonica-like type, Cluster Ib to Japonica type, and Cluster II to Indica type with some Indica-like type. Many landraces and improved varieties belonged to Cluster Ia. Superior landraces were included in Cluster Ib. Further categorization based on blast resistance demonstrated three groups: Clusters A, B1, and B2. Cluster A comprised accessions with relatively high resistance, whereas Clusters B1 and B2 included susceptible accessions. Most of the improved varieties were found in Cluster A. Superior landraces, X-Jigna classified into Ib or DNA type tended to be susceptible in Cluster B2 for blast resistance. These results demonstrated that traditional landraces preferred by farmers should be improved for disease resistance using blast-resistant varieties. In order to avoid hybrid sterility occurring in cross-hybridizing breeding between Indica and Japonica types, desirable parental accessions can be chosen within the same DNA cluster. The clustering information among accessions may be useful in breeding schemes for selection of counterparts in cross-breeding programs.

A citrus cultivar identification system using CAPS marker has been developed on nursery trees, but this needs to be extended to include various product types, such as imported fruits and processed products. Here, we developed a new cultivar identification system using TaqMan-MGB SNP genotyping assay. Eight probe and primer sets were designed to amplify PCR fragments

In yellow soybeans, inhibition of seed coat pigmentation by RNA silencing of CHS genes is suppressed by low temperature and a viral suppressor, resulting in ‘cold-induced seed coat discoloration’ and ‘seed mottling’, respectively. Differences exist in the degree of cold-induced seed coat discoloration among Japanese yellow soybean cultivars; for example, Toyomusume is sensitive, Toyohomare has some tolerance, and Toyoharuka is highly tolerant. In this study, we compared the degree of seed mottling severity due to soybean mosaic virus (SMV) among these three soybean cultivars. Obvious differences were found, with the order of severity as follows: Toyohomare > Toyomusume > Toyoharuka. RNA gel blot analysis indicated that CHS transcript abundance in the seed coat, which was increased by SMV infection, was responsible for the severity of seed mottling. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR analysis revealed why mottling was most severe in SMV-infected Toyohomare: the SMV titer in its seed coat was higher than in the other two infected cultivars. We further suggest that a major gene (Ic) for tolerance to cold-induced seed coat discoloration can relieve the severity of seed mottling in SMV-infected Toyoharuka.

The world demand for quality coffee is growing and the market is increasingly demanding for sustainable practices, leading coffee growers to search for new coffee processing processes always aiming for maximum quality. The objective of this work was to verify the benefits of using the LNF CNA - CNB enzyme complex in the postharvest process, in order to compare the results of drying time and the final beverage quality of the product. The research was carried out at Fazenda Iracema, municipality of Machado - Minas Gerais, with mechanically harvested coffees from the cultivar Mundo Novo, with 80% maturation, and the treatments were: natural and washed coffee, with and without application of enzymatic complex and drying in suspended, concrete and mixed courtyards (initially in the yard and finished in rotary dryers), the enzyme complex dosage was 1 ml CNB + 2.5 ml CNA per liter of water, applied to 60 liters of coffee. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial scheme (2- types of “washed or natural” processing; 2- with and without enzymatic application; 3 - “suspended, concrete and drying” drying forms), with 4 repetitions per treatment, totaling 48 experimental plots. The coffees were dried to 11.5% humidity and evaluated by the SCAA. It was concluded that the use of LNF (CNA - CNB) enzymatic complex in the coffee drying process did not influence the final drying time results, nor did it influence the coffee beverage aroma attributes. The drying forms directly influence the drying time. Enzymes; post-harvest; specialty coffees.

Unripe mango contains an important amount of starch that has been conventionally isolated by the wet milling of pulp/pomace. Nevertheless, wet milling is costly and requires a vast amount of water that leads to an increased environmental footprint. In this project, mango starch was isolated using centrifugal sedimentation of cold-pressed juice or wet milling of dry pulp, and the starch fractions were comparatively investigated in terms of starch yield, purity and morphology. Furthermore, since the efficiency of extraction and starch properties might be dependent on the mango cultivar, the molecular structure and functionality of juice-extracted starches from two widely cultivated varieties (Haden and Palmer) were comparatively investigated. Centrifugal sedimentation showed 26 and 9% higher starch yields than conventional wet-milling for Haden and Palmer, respectively. Juice-extracted starches presented a lower degree of damage and aggregation than wet-milled counterparts. Mango starches presented C-type crystalline pattern and subtle differences gelatinization temperatures and molecular weight (ranging from 1.1 to 1.7 × 108 gmol−1).

Mangifera sylvatica Roxb. is an underutilised and threatened wild fruit species found in Bangladesh, which is highly valued by local people as a source of fruit and is an important source of nutrition. As part of a feasibility study of the domestication and cultivar development potential of M. sylvatica, a preliminary study examined the morphological traits (fruit, kernel and pulp mass), nutritional profile (carbohydrate, sugar, pH, fat, protein, mineral and vitamins) and medicinal traits (total phenolic and phenolic profiling). The fruit of M. sylvatica is small (27.00g ± 7.03g) with a comparatively bigger kernel fruit (40% of its body weight). M. sylvatica fruit pulp has been proved to be a good source of carbohydrate, Vitamin C, sodium (Na) and potassium (K) and also has good medicinal properties (mangiferin and quercetin). The kernel is also a rich source of carbohydrate and has a good fatty acid profile (rich in stearic and oleic acids) consistent with cocoa butter, which indicates its potential to be used in the chocolate and confectionery industry. There is continuous variation in these traits, indicating opportunities for multiple trait cultivar development targeted at the food and pharmaceutical industries. The information generated in the study can be used as a stimulus to the process of domestication and to encourage widespread use of the species, which will ultimately help to conserve this wild underutilised fruit species.

It is estimated that the global number of people affected by micronutrient deficiency, known worldwide as hidden hunger, is over two billion and also considered a public health problem. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate biofortified cassava cultivars in relation to their physical-chemical composition, total carotenoids and to verify their sensory acceptance by schoolchildren. The study was conducted in Santa Maria, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil, with four cassava cultivars, two biofortified with yellow pulp (BRS 399 and BRS 396); two non-biofortified varieties: one with yellow pulp (“Gema de ovo”) and another with white pulp (“Vassourinha”). After cooking the roots, the nutritional composition (moisture, protein, lipid, ash, and total starch), the total carotenoid content, and the sensory acceptance of the roots by the children at school, in the countryside of Julio de Castilhos and Dilermando de Aguiar, was determined. The contents of moisture, protein, lipids, ash, and starch showed significant variations between the cultivars analyzed. The highest levels of total carotenoids were found in biofortified cultivars (12.85 µg g-1). In the non-biofortified cultivars, “Gema de ovo” and “Vassourinha”, the levels were 12.01 µg g-1 and 3.30 µg g-1, respectively. Sensory acceptance was 78.7%, demonstrating the potential for the insertion of biofortified roots in school meals. Resumo Estima-se que o número global de pessoas afetadas pela deficiência de micronutrientes, também conhecida mundialmente como fome oculta, seja superior a dois bilhões, sendo assim considerada um problema de saúde pública. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar cultivares biofortificadas de mandioca quanto a composição físico-química e teor de carotenoides totais, além de verificar sua aceitação sensorial por escolares. O estudo foi realizado em Santa Maria-RS, Brasil, com quatro cultivares de mandioca, sendo duas variedades biofortificadas com polpa amarela (BRS 399 e BRS 396) e duas variedades não biofortificadas: uma com polpa amarela (“Gema de ovo”) e outra com polpa branca (“Vassourinha”). Após o cozimento das raízes, a composição nutricional (umidade, proteína, lipídio, cinzas e amido total), o teor de carotenoides totais e a aceitação sensorial das raízes pelas crianças, nos municípios sul-rio-grandenses de em Júlio de Castilhos e Dilermando de Aguiar, foram determinados. Os teores de umidade, proteína, lipídios, cinzas e amido apresentaram variações significativas entre as cultivares analisadas. Os maiores níveis de carotenoides totais foram encontrados nas cultivares biofortificadas (12,85 µg g-1). Nas cultivares não biofortificadas, “Gema de ovo” e “Vassourinha”, os níveis foram de 12,01 µg g-1 e 3,30 µg g-1, respectivamente. A aceitação sensorial foi de 78,7%, demonstrando potencial para inserção de raízes biofortificadas na alimentação escolar.

The main purpose of this study is to determine the contents of 3 major phenolic compounds (gallic acid, catechin, and epicatechin) in 22 different grape cultivars/hybrids obtained from 2 different breeding programs. Additionally, changes in these phenolic components in the grape leaves of some resistant/tolerant species were determined in relation to powdery and downy mildew diseases in viticulture. The skin, pulp, and seeds of grape berries were analysed over two years, while changes in the phenolic contents of grape leaves were determined before and after these diseases for two years. The major phenolic contents of new hybrids/cultivars were compared with those of popular cultivars in different parts of the grapes, and significant differences in phenolic contents were found among hybrids/cultivars and different grape parts. Variations in the contents of phenolics in grape seeds, skins, and pulp were high, but seeds contained higher levels of these phenolics than pulp and skin. Analyses of the relationship between two viticultural diseases and phenolic changes in resistant/tolerant cultivars in relation with the susceptible “Italia” cultivar revealed that an increase in the content of the phenolic compounds was found after powdery mildew disease. Hybrids/cultivars with high phenolic contents are recommended to develop new superior cultivars, which are resistant to grape fungal diseases, in breeding programs.

Some ripe mangoes were collected from the mango orchard located at Digha in Patna district, in Patna of Bihar. The pulp and peels of these mangoes were separated and they were lyophilized and stored at 20°C and thereafter they were analyzed separately for total phenolics in the pulp and the peels of these mangoes of Maldah Cultivar (principle). The total content of phenolics in the pulp and peels of the ripe Maldah mangoes were estimated using folin-ciocatten reagent at 75 nm in an UV-Vis Spectrophotometer using galic acid for expressing the standard curve and subsequently the total result was expressed as mg GAE (Galic Acid Equivalent/100g of fresh weight). Surprisingly the result shows the greater content of phenolics in peels in respect of the pulps.

Summary Sub‐Saharan Africa is projected to see a 55% increase in food demand by 2035, where cassava (Manihot esculenta) is the most widely planted crop and a major calorie source. Yet, cassava yield in this region has not increased significantly for 13 yr. Improvement of genetic yield potential, the basis of the first Green Revolution, could be realized by improving photosynthetic efficiency. First, the factors limiting photosynthesis and their genetic variability within extant germplasm must be understood.Biochemical and diffusive limitations to leaf photosynthetic CO2 uptake under steady state and fluctuating light in 13 farm‐preferred and high‐yielding African cultivars were analyzed. A cassava leaf metabolic model was developed to quantify the value of overcoming limitations to leaf photosynthesis.At steady state, in vivo Rubisco activity and mesophyll conductance accounted for 84% of the limitation. Under nonsteady‐state conditions of shade to sun transition, stomatal conductance was the major limitation, resulting in an estimated 13% and 5% losses in CO2 uptake and water use efficiency, across a diurnal period. Triose phosphate utilization, although sufficient to support observed rates, would limit improvement in leaf photosynthesis to 33%, unless improved itself.The variation of carbon assimilation among cultivars was three times greater under nonsteady state compared to steady state, pinpointing important overlooked breeding targets for improved photosynthetic efficiency in cassava., See also the Commentary on this article by https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16433.

MYB10, bHLH and WD40 are correlative regulatory factors of anthocyanin. In this paper, the expression of MYB10, bHLH and WD40 in the peel and the pulp of two plum cultivars were analyzed with the materials of ‘Cuihongli’ and ‘Qiangcuili’. The results showed that, with the development of the fruit of ‘Cuihongli’, the expression of MYB10 in the peel was downregulated firstly then upregulated, and the expression of MYB10 was not detected in the flesh of ‘Cuihongli’s pulp and the peel and the pulp of the ‘Qiangcuili’. The expression of bHLH and WD40 showed that the they had no significant correlation with the accumulation of anthocyanin in the two cultivars. It is suggested that the deletion of MYB10 gene expression result in the lack of anthocyanin in the flesh of ‘Qiangcuili’ .

Summary Much of humanity relies on rice (Oryza sativa) as a food source, but cultivation is water intensive and the crop is vulnerable to drought and high temperatures. Under climate change, periods of reduced water availability and high temperature are expected to become more frequent, leading to detrimental effects on rice yields.We engineered the high‐yielding rice cultivar ‘IR64’ to produce fewer stomata by manipulating the level of a developmental signal. We overexpressed the rice epidermal patterning factor OsEPF1, creating plants with substantially reduced stomatal density and correspondingly low stomatal conductance.Low stomatal density rice lines were more able to conserve water, using c. 60% of the normal amount between weeks 4 and 5 post germination. When grown at elevated atmospheric CO 2, rice plants with low stomatal density were able to maintain their stomatal conductance and survive drought and high temperature (40°C) for longer than control plants. Low stomatal density rice gave equivalent or even improved yields, despite a reduced rate of photosynthesis in some conditions.Rice plants with fewer stomata are drought tolerant and more conservative in their water use, and they should perform better in the future when climate change is expected to threaten food security.

Due to their antioxidant properties, biophenolic compounds from vegetables and derived products are very demanded by the consumers. The olive fruit pulp is rich in these compounds, and, in this paper, the influence of irrigation on the levels of these compounds has been investigated. Methanolic extracts from olive paste samples submitted to different irrigation treatments were analyzed by front-face fluorescence. Excitation-emission matrices, recorded as a set of emission spectra in the range 290–450 nm, and in the excitation range of 240–290 nm, were analyzed by means of Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC). The loadings and scores corresponding to three components were obtained. In the same samples, polyphenols were also analyzed by chromatography. High correlations were found between the first component PARAFAC scores and epicatechin (R = 0.856) and catechin plus epicatechin concentrations (R = 0.873), second component scores and oleuropein (R = 0.892, only when epicatechin concentration is lower than 0.55 mg/L) and the third component scores and vanillic acid concentrations (R = 0.877). The representation of the two first PARAFAC component scores allowed discriminate between the different irrigation treatments. Polyphenol concentrations obtained by both methods were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Duncans multiple test. The obtained results showed significant differences between the irrigation treatments.

Grain size is important for brewing-rice cultivars, but the genetic basis for this trait is still unclear. This paper aims to identify QTLs for grain size using novel chromosomal segment substitution lines (CSSLs) harboring chromosomal segments from Yamadanishiki, an excellent sake-brewing rice, in the genetic background of Koshihikari, a cooking cultivar. We developed a set of 49 CSSLs. Grain length (GL), grain width (GWh), grain thickness (GT), 100-grain weight (GWt) and days to heading (DTH) were evaluated, and a CSSL-QTL analysis was conducted. Eighteen QTLs for grain size and DTH were identified. Seven (qGL11, qGWh5, qGWh10, qGWt6-2, qGWt10-2, qDTH3, and qDTH6) that were detected in F2 and recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from Koshihikari/Yamadanishiki were validated, suggesting that they are important for large grain size and heading date in Yamadanishiki. Additionally, QTL reanalysis for GWt showed that qGWt10-2 was only detected in early-flowering RILs, while qGWt5 (in the same region as qGWh5) was only detected in late-flowering RILs, suggesting that these QTLs show different responses to the environment. Our study revealed that grain size in the Yamadanishiki cultivar is determined by a complex genetic mechanism. These findings could be useful for the breeding of both cooking and brewing rice.

The aim of this work was to investigate and compare the amounts of biologically active compounds, dry matter and soluble solids in pulp and peels of four pear cultivars (‘Ksena’, ‘Beloruskaja pozdniaja’, ‘Alna’ and ‘Aleksandr Lucas’). The research was carried out at Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (Lithuania) in 2020. Four pear cultivars (‘Ksena’, ‘Beloruskaja pozdniaja’, ‘Alna’ and ‘Aleksandr Lucas’) were cultivated at a farm in the Joniškis District of Lithuania. Pears were grown following traditional pear production technology. The amounts of dry matter, soluble solids, vitamin C and fiber were determined using the standard method. The total content of phenolic compounds was determined using a Folin-Ciocalteu reagent with a UV/VIS spectrophotometer. The research results showed that significantly the highest amounts of soluble solids were found in the ‘Alna’ pear fruit pulp (14.25% f. w.). The ‘Alna’ peel sample had significantly the highest amount of total phenolic compounds (1290.99 mg 100 g–1 d. w.). The highest content of dry matter was found in the ‘Aleksandr Lucas’ pear fruit peel (24.67%). The ‘Aleksandr Lucas’ and ‘Beloruskaja pozdniaja’ pear fruit peel contained significantly the highest amounts of vitamin C (2.70 and 2.63 mg 100 g–1 f. w., respectively). The highest content of fiber was found in the ‘Ksena’ fruit peel (36.12% d. w.). The investigated pear peel sample had significantly higher amounts of dry matter, vitamin C, total phenolic compounds and fiber than the pulp. However, the pulp contains the highest contents of soluble solids.

Grape production has a long history in the Elazig province and surrounding vicinity and produced grapes have been used for table consumption and also processed into traditional beverages, Şıra (special non-alcoholic grape juice) and wine. In the Elazig province, the main grape cultivars are ‘Ağın Beyazı’, ‘Öküzgözü’, ‘Boğazkere’, ‘Şilfoni’, ‘Tahannebi’, and ‘Köhnü’. Among them, ‘Köhnü’ cultivar is highly preferred by consumers due to its black color and perfect berry characteristics. The cultivar has grown for centuries in different parts of Elazig and shows a great variability for most of its morphological and biochemical characteristics. In the present study, we aimed to determine morphological and biochemical traits in six ‘Köhnü’ clones sampled from Elazığ. The cluster weight of six clones was found between 334–394 g. The highest total phenolic content was observed in seeds followed by peel and pulp samples. The seed extract of Clone 2 had the highest total phenolic content at 254 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g fresh weight. The results also showed that peel, pulp, and seed samples of ‘Köhnü’ grape clones had considerable amounts of antioxidant components determined by DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), and TEAC assays and might be rich sources of natural antioxidants. Among the six ‘Köhnü’ clones, Clone 3, and Clone 6 differed from the others in respect to the highest cluster weight, the highest concentrations of total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. The results also implied that all clones could be used potentially as a readily accessible source of natural antioxidants and as a possible pharmaceutical supplement.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the main cereals consumed in the world and is very important for food security. Harvest time and storage may influences physical and physiological quality, and also the fungal incidence in the grains. This work evaluated physical and physiological quality and fungal incidence in wheat grains of BRS Parrudo cultivar wheat at different harvest moisture contents and stored under hermetic and conventional conditions, PET bottles and kraft paper bags, respectively. Harvesting was done when wheat reached moisture contents (MCs) of 28.6, 18.5 and 12.9%, followed by drying at 38°C in a forced air circulation oven until MC was 13%. The wheat was then stored for 240 days. Quality evaluations were done after drying and every 60 days during the storage period. The quality of the wheat declined throughout the storage period, regardless of the MC, and harvest delay negatively affected quality. Fusarium spp. and other fungi declined while Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. increased regardless of harvest MC or storage.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the potential of Piriformospora indica and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) to ameliorate salinity stress in HD 2967 wheat cultivar. Plants were treated with four different levels of salinity viz. 0, 50, 100 and 200 mM NaCl (electrical conductivity value 0.01, 5.84, 11.50 and 21.4 mS cm−1, respectively) under greenhouse conditions, using a completely randomized design experiment. Plants inoculated with PGPB and P. indica showed decrease in lipid peroxidation, relative membrane permeability and lipoxygenase enzyme (LOX) activity as compared to uninoculated plants. The result of this study showed that PGPB and P. indica inoculated HD 2967 wheat plants accumulated higher content of proline, α-tocopherol and carotenoid as compared to uninoculated plants. The HD 2967 wheat plants either inoculated with PGPB or P. indica showed significantly higher activities of antioxidant enzymes viz. superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase than that of the uninoculated plants. Moreover, PGPB inoculated plants showed greater activity of antioxidant enzymes than the plants inoculated with P. indica. Salinity stress tolerance was more pronounced in the PGPB inoculated than P. indica inoculated plants. This study revealed the potentiality of PGPB and P. indica as bio-ameliorator under salinity stress, and suggests that this plant microbial association could be a promising biotechnological tool to combat the deleterious effects of salinity stress.

The aim of the present study was to characterize the aroma profile of olive oil of the “Ntopia” (local) cultivar from the Ionian islands (Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Leukada, and Kerkyra) (Greece), and investigate whether specific volatile compounds could be considered as indicators of olive oil geographical origin, using computational statistics. In this context, 137 olive oil samples were subjected to headspace solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry using the internal standard method. Computational statistics on the semi-quantitative data of olive oil samples, as rapid machine learning algorithms, showed that specific volatile compounds could be used as indicators of geographical origin of olive oil of the “Ntopia” cultivar, among the four main Ionian islands. Volatile compounds such as ethanol, pentanal, 2,4-dimethylheptane, 3,7-dimethyl-1,3,6-octatriene (E), 2,5-dimethylnonane, 1-hexanol, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, octanal, dl-Limonene, acetic acid hexyl ester and dodecane could aid to the geographical origin discrimination of “Ntopia” olive oil cultivar when two (Zakynthos and Kefalonia) or four (Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Leukada and Kerkyra) Ionian islands are subjected to statistical analysis. The discrimination rate using the cross-validation method was 100% and 85.7%, respectively. These results were further evaluated using training and holdout partitions, during which a comparable classification rate was obtained. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00217-021-03863-2.

Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) is one of the most important tropical bulbous-ornamental cultivated for production of long-lasting flowers spikes. Adaptation and acclimatization of different cultivars under humid agro-climatic conditions of Goa are to be confirmed for their better performance. The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the performance of tuberose cultivars under agro-climatic conditions of Goa during 2014- 2017. Five single and six double cultivars of tuberose were evaluated during the study period. All the cultivars differed in their growth and flowering behaviour. Among the single cultivars, evaluated, maximum number of florets per spike (47.00) was observed in Pune local whereas spike-length (75.59 cm) was maximum in Mexican Single. Among the double cultivars, evaluated, maximum plant height (52.21 cm) and maximum number of leaves per plant (59.63) were recorded with cultivar Arka Suvasini. Leaf length was significantly higher (52.93 cm) in Pearl double whereas leaf width (2.04 cm) was maximum in Calcutta Double. Days to appearance of flower spike were earlier in Arka Suvasini. Minimum days taken for opening of basal floret (84.88 days) were recorded with cultivar Arka Suvasini. Spike girth (0.68 cm), Spike fresh-weight (69.06 cm), floret stalk-length (3.6 cm), floret diameter (5.24 cm), weight of individual floret (3.49 g) and vase life (7.93 days) was significantly maximum in Cv. Arka Suvasini followed by Pearl Double. Based on the performance evaluation cv. Mexican Single among single types and cv. Arka Suvasini and Pearl Double among double types could be recommended for commercial cultivation under agro climatic conditions of Goa.

Seed coat cracking in soybeans [Glycine max (L). Merr.] leads to commercial and agronomic losses. The Japanese elite soybean cultivar ‘Fukuyutaka’ is often used as a parent for breeding, but its high rate of seed coat cracking is an obstacle to its further use in breeding programs. To establish a DNA marker-assisted selection system for seed coat cracking, genetic factors related to high rates of seed coat cracking were surveyed, and a quantitative trait locus (QTL) with a stable effect on seed coat cracking in both years of a two-year replication experiment was detected on chromosome 20. Comparison of a set of near-isogenic lines (NILs) around this locus verified that the presence of the ‘Fukuyutaka’ allele significantly increased seed coat cracking in the kernel. The locus is located in a genomic region spanning 3.2 Mb. Marker-assisted selection for the locus will improve the selection efficiency of ‘Fukuyutaka’-derived breeding populations.

The Actinidia genus includes a number of commercial fruit species with a wide range of countries of origin. Some species such as A. arguta or A. kolomikta are characterized by a high level of resistance to frost. The aim of this study was to compare the fruit of selected cultivars of kiwiberry. In the kiwiberry fruit, sucrose was the predominant type of sugar. Citric acid was dominant in all samples; it was most represented in the pulp of kiwiberry seedlings and in the skin of kiwiberry ‘Issai’. Kiwiberry fruits feature a higher ascorbic acid content in the skin in comparison with the commercial A. chinensis cultivars. Antioxidant activity of kiwiberry fruit skin was up to 18 times higher than that of the pulp. In view of the kiwiberry fruit having no hair, it is possible to eat the whole fruit, including the skin containing substances beneficial to health.

The field experiments were conducted during Rabi 2013-14 and 2014-15 to screen out twelve varieties/entries of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) for their relative susceptibility against aphids. None of the varieties/entries escaped the infestation of aphids. The build-up of aphid infestation started from second half of December and reached to its maximum in the first to third week of February in both years and then gradually declined. On the basis of grade index of mean aphid population, coriander varieties RCr- 684 (25.45 aphids/plant), RCr-446 (26.45 aphids/plant), ACr-1 (26.60 aphids/plant), RCr- 436 (41.75 aphids/plant), Gujarat Coriander-2 (42.45 aphids/plant), Pant Haritma (43.50 aphids/plant) and Gujarat Coriander-1 (43.70 aphids/plant) were categorized as least susceptible, Rajendra Swati and RCr-41 were moderately susceptible, whereas, Swati (CS-6), Sadhna (CS-4) and Sindhu (CS-2), 73.88, 70.60 and 69.50 aphids/plant, respectively were categorized as highly susceptible varieties of coriander against aphids under field conditions. Coriander variety RCr-684 received maximum yield (16.82 and 16.63 q/ha) for both the years followed by ACr-1 and RCr-446.

Papaya ring spot virus (PRSV) disease has been the major impediment in papaya cultivation. The disease is transmitted through three aphid vectors and field tolerance towards this disease varies among Carica papaya cultivars as well as within the Vasconcellea genus. Leaf morphological traits are known to have influence on the probing preferences of aphids. Hence, this study was conducted to know whether the leaf parameters could contribute to the incidence of PRSV possibly by influencing the probing or feeding behaviour of aphid vectors. Leaf parameters viz., leaf thickness, leaf epicuticular wax content, presence and type of trichomes, trichome density were correlated with disease incidence at field conditions. The result revealed that leaf thickness along with epicuticular wax content had significant negative correlation with disease incidence. Similarly, trichome density had negative impact on disease incidence at 99.92% significance level. High epicuticular wax content and high trichome density in V. cauliflora and V. cundinamarcensis were found to be negatively associated with low to very low infection indicating that these parameters may have limited the vector transmission significantly.