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Mustard cover crops can provide multiple soil health benefits but may adversely affect cash crops by depleting soil water. This was tested in a center-pivot irrigated corn cropping system in southwest Texas from 2018 to 2020. Changes in biomass growth of both the cover crops and corn, and soil water content in the root zone were monitored multiple times during the main growth periods of the crops. Upon termination, biomass production of cover crops averaged 4271 kg/ha, with equivalent nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to the soil of 92 kg/ha and 12 kg/ha, respectively. Over 2 years, water use during the main growth period of the mustard cover crops and the fallow area averaged at 1.4 mm/day and 1.1 mm/day, respectively, and water use of corn following the mustard and fallow averaged at 4.0 mm/day and 3.7 mm/day, respectively, although the differences were only marginally significant. Our data suggest that water use of cover crops was affected by their growth patterns. The mustard cover crops depleted soil water in a dry year (2019–2020), but to a less extent in a wet year (2018–2019). In either year, however, corn yield was not reduced in association with cover crop use, although the improved shoot biomass growth in corn associated with mustard cover crops was observed in the wet year but not in the dry year. Mustard cover crops tended to reduce deep drainage during the corn seasons, which has implications in preventing the leaching loss of nitrogen in the crop root zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roots strongly influence the growth and yield of field crops. We characterized root morphological traits of 10 winter wheat varieties in order to determine the extent they were influenced by the environments and impacted grain yield under two irrigation regimes at Bushland (a cooler, drier site with clay loam soil) and Uvalde (a warmer, wetter site with clay soil) in Texas, USA, from 2015 to 2017. Major root traits, including root diameter, specific root length (SRL), root surface area (SSA), tissue mass density (TMD), root length density (RLD), and root weight density, were measured and related to one another and to grain yield. RLD of wheat decreased but SRL and SSA increased with soil depth. Irrigation was second to environment in affecting root traits. Compared with Uvalde, the environment of Bushland promoted deeper root growth, higher TMD, but reduced SRL and SSA. Water deficit inhibited RLD and root: shoot ratio at Bushland, but moderately promoted them at Uvalde. Both SRL and RLD were positively associated with grain yield, with the former relation stronger under drought. The dichotomy of "conservative" versus "acquisitive" root strategy partially explained the variations of root traits of winter wheat in contrasting environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pattern of vertical distribution of plant roots determines plant water and nutrient uptake and influences various soil processes under field conditions. However, information of root distribution in the whole rooting profile is rarely available in practice. This paper documents a method to quickly quantify root vertical distribution pattern using limited root length density data obtained from soil cores under field conditions. It was implemented through the development of a Minitab macro and an R script, with sample calculations conducted on field collected root length density data from the winter wheat crop in Texas, USA. The method is potentially useful for quantifying plant root activities in natural soils where deep roots are difficult to access by physical means and data of root length density distribution are only available in the upper root zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban water demand in Southwest Texas has grown rapidly in recent years due to steady increases in population. Improved irrigation schemes are needed to support new water-use plans as solutions to the conflict between municipal and agricultural water use. Deficit irrigation is one possible technique for conserving water while maintaining crop yield and/or economic returns. A field experiment was conducted at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Uvalde, TX in the summers of 2008 and 2009 to examine the water saving potential of four traditional (T) and two regulated (R) deficit irrigation treatments against a full irrigation treatment. Two deficit irrigation treatments (80T and 70R) were found to be able to maintain lint yield similar to the full irrigation treatment for most cotton varieties tested. Although some differences were observed in lint quality parameters, these differences were not large enough to cause changes in the economic returns to the grower. In addition, a third treatment (50R) was able to maintain economic returns similar to the full irrigation treatment. These results indicate that the regulated deficit irrigation scheme could be further developed to achieve a possible increase in water conservation and economic sustainability for production in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand for Asian vegetables is rising rapidly due to changing demographics and increasing consumer awareness of their health benefits. However, growers are not familiar with growing these "foreign" crops due to insufficient technical information regarding suitable cultivars for different regions, production schedules, disease and pest susceptibility, and postharvest management. The objective of this study was to conduct trials in different production systems and climate regions to demonstrate the potential of growing Asian vegetables in Texas. We conducted preliminary trials of nine leafy greens in the open field, high tunnel, and greenhouse (container and hydroponic production) to explore the suitability and potential for year-round production. We also conducted field trials for warm season crops in the open field in different climate zones. Results indicated that for cool season leafy greens, open field production has a limited growing season, high tunnel has the potential to extend the growing season, while greenhouse may provide year-round production using soilless substrate container culture or hydroponic system. For warm season crops, early planting is recommended for high yield. Additional research is warranted in different regions to test more species and cultivars and optimize the production system of high-performing cultivars to maximize production and profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Texas tomato production is vulnerable to extreme heat in the spring-summer cropping period, which is exacerbated by the lack of superior genetic materials that can perform well in such environments. There is a dire need for selecting superior varieties that can adapt to warm environments and exhibit high yield stability under heat stress conditions. This research aimed at identifying heat-tolerant varieties under heat-stress conditions in controlled and open-field environments and was carried out in three stages. For the first experiment, 43 varieties were screened based on yield responses in natural open-field environment. From those, 18 varieties were chosen and exposed to control (greenhouse: 26/20 °C) and constant heat-stress (growth-chamber: 34/24 °C) conditions for three months. Measurements were done for chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll content (SPAD), plant height, stem diameter and heat injury index (HII). The last experiment was conducted in an open field with a pool of varieties selected from the first and second experiments. Leaf gas exchange, leaf temperature, chlorophyll fluorescence, SPAD value, electrolyte leakage, heat injury index and yield were assessed. From the combined studies, we concluded that heat-tolerant genotypes selected by using chlorophyll fluorescence and HII in controlled heat-stress conditions also exhibited heat-tolerance in open-field environments. Electrolyte leakage and HII best distinguished tomato varieties in open-field environments as plants with low electrolyte leakage and HII had higher total yield. 'Heat Master,' 'New Girl,' 'HM-1823,' 'Rally,' 'Valley Girl,' 'Celebrity,' and 'Tribeca' were identified as high heat-tolerant varieties. Through trait correlation analysis we provide a better understanding of which traits could be useful for screening and breeding other heat-tolerant tomato varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on Chujuc, a Western-shipper muskmelon with dense netting that originated from a cross TAM Uvalde, a Western shipper melon which is high in sugars and β-carotene, and a single F3selection out of Cruiser, a Western shipper type with firm fruit, a ropy net and abscission scar. It says that Chujuc has excellent resistance to powdery mildew races 1 and 2 and downy mildew. It notes that Chujuc seems to be well suited to semitropical and desert production areas such as south and west Texas and New Mexico.

[Display omitted] • Carotenoid and sugar profiles of melons grown at five locations were reported. • Total sugar content was higher in honeydew HD-150 grown in Georgia. • Tuscan type (DaVinci) grown in Texas had significantly higher β-carotene content. • Three ζ-carotene isomers were identified in cantaloupe cultivars. • Cultivar and location significantly influenced the phytochemical composition. The sensory and functional quality attributes of muskmelons (Cucumis melo L.), such as flavor, sweetness, color, and texture, determine consumer preferences. Genetic makeup primarily regulates these traits, but environmental factors such as soil type, irrigation, and temperature affects yields and quality. Here, we investigated variation in quality traits of diverse melon cultigens (advanced breeding lines or cultigen) grown in multiple locations (California, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, and North Carolina) across the United States. Mesocarp sugar and carotenoid concentrations varied significantly as a function of production location and cultigen. Multivariate analyses revealed significant cultigen, location, and interactive effects on fruit quality. The highest sugar content was found in a honeydew melon cultigen (HD-150; 83.1 ± 2.36 mg/g) grown in Georgia and the Western Shipper type cantaloupe (F-39; 70.8 ± 2.85 mg/g) grown in North Carolina compared to the other cultigens. The Tuscan type (Da Vinci) grown in Texas and Georgia had the highest β-carotene contents (29.1 ± 3.37 and 33.6 ± 1.73 μg/g, respectively) compared to the other cultigens. These findings suggest that cultivar and location significantly influenced melon phytochemical composition, will help melon breeding programs improve the sensory and functional qualities of melons and identify suitable cultivars for specific environments to maximize fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globe artichoke [Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus (L.) Fiori] has been recently introduced as a specialty crop in southwest Texas. Marketable yield, yield components, quality, and phenolic compounds of artichoke heads were investigated in response to three irrigation [50%, 75%, and 100% crop evapotranspiration (ETc)] regimes and four nitrogen (0 to 10, 60, 120, and 180 kg⋅ha-1) rates under subsurface drip irrigation. Field experiments were conducted over three seasons (2005-2006, 2006-2007, and 2007-2008) at Uvalde, TX. Irrigation was more effective than nitrogen (N) rates to optimize crop yield and head quality. Marketable yields significantly increased at 100% ETc compared with 75% and 50% ETc, whereas a 20% to 35% yield reduction occurred at 50% ETc across seasons. This yield reduction was associated with a decrease in both number of marketable heads and head weight and with reductions in plant physiological responses as measured in the last season. The lack of yield responses to N rates was in part the result of high pre-plant soil NO3-N and NH4-N levels. Total phenolics and chlorogenic acid of artichoke heads increased as the harvesting season progressed and were highest at 50% ETc during mid- and late harvests in one season. Based on these results, we estimate that under these environmental conditions, ≈700 mm (for a bare soil system) of water inputs and 120 kg⋅ha-1 or less of N (rate depending on soil available N) appear sufficient to obtain high marketable yields, superior size, and nutritional head quality of artichokes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the origin, description and availability of TAM Dulcito, a multiple virus-resistant sweet jalapeño pepper. It originated from an F15 selection out of the sweet jalapeño line 79053. The plant variety is adapted to the high temperatures and virus disease pressures of south Texas. Its large nonpungent fruit makes it suitable to many processed products such as mild salsas and rings for markets.