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Heat stress substantially reduces tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) growth and yield globally, thereby jeopardizing food security. DnaJ proteins, constituents of the heat shock protein system, protect cells from diverse environmental stresses as HSP‐70 molecular co‐chaperones. In this study, we demonstrated that AdDjSKI, a serine‐rich DnaJ III protein induced by pathogens, plays an important role in stabilizing photosystem II (PSII) in response to heat stress. Our results revealed that transplastomic tomato plants expressing the AdDjSKI gene exhibited increased levels of total soluble proteins, improved growth and chlorophyll content, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and diminished PSII photoinhibition under elevated temperatures when compared with wild‐type (WT) plants. Intriguingly, these transplastomic plants maintained higher levels of D1 protein under elevated temperatures compared with the WT plants, suggesting that overexpression of AdDjSKI in plastids is crucial for PSII protection, likely due to its chaperone activity. Furthermore, the transplastomic plants displayed lower accumulation of superoxide radical (O2•─) and H2O2, in comparison with the WT plants, plausibly attributed to higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities. This also coincides with an enhanced expression of corresponding genes, including SlCuZnSOD, SlFeSOD, SlAPX2, and SltAPX, under heat stress. Taken together, our findings reveal that chloroplastic expression of AdDjSKI in tomatoes plays a critical role in fruit yield, primarily through a combination of delayed senescence and stabilizing PSII under heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In order to reduce the use of synthetic and chemical agents in agriculture, more and more research is turning to ecological, more environmentally friendly methods. Plant aqueous extracts are products that can be a significant source of various elements, depending on the type and quality of soil on which the plant species from which the solution is prepared is grown. Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of aqueous extracts of different plant species on the yield and quality parameters of soybean seeds (Glycine max L.). Aqueous extracts of: nettle, nettle+comfrey, banana, banana peel, onion, willow and soybeans were used foliarly. The 1st foliar treatment plants was done when first flowers opened and the 2nd treatment was done when first pod reached final length. Result: The effect of aqueous extracts depends on the agroecological conditions and the analyzed traits. In 2020 the greatest effect was achieved on the free proline, SOD, Px and CAT. In 2021 the application of certain aqueous extracts had a significant effect on the yield, gerimination energy, germination percentage and vigour seed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Induced mutagenesis was employed in horse gram cv. CRIDA 1-18R with an objective of evolving mutants with increased yield potential. Methods: Based on preliminary study, the variety has been irradiated with desirable doses of gamma rays (200 Gy and 300 Gy), electron beam (100 Gy and 200 Gy) and its combination (100 Gy) and the material were forwarded to M2 generation following parentprogeny row basis. The genotypes exhibiting superior yield than control were further forwarded to M3 generation. Multivariate analyses were performed to determine the induction of micro-mutants for 11 quantitative traits. Result: The reduction in mean value over control was observed for most of the yield component traits at M2 generation. Among the mutagenic treatments, combination of gamma rays with electron beam registered high mean values for pod length (5.05 cm), number of pods per plant (54.42) and single plant yield (25.68 g) at M3 generation. Non-significant skewness and / or kurtosis at M3 population denoted the absence of epistatic interactions for plant yield. An increase in variability pattern, H2 and GAM at M3 generation indicated the scope for trait (plant height, number of seeds per pod, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per plant, biological yield and single plant yield) improvement through selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extreme phenotypes carried on by transgressive segregation are, moreover, heritably stable in contrast to heterosis. It has been hypothesized that the development of extreme or "transgressive" traits in segregating hybrid populations assists in the adaptive divergence of hybrid taxa. The investigation on French bean was experimented to evaluate transgressive segregants generated in the F2 generation for yield and related traits. Methods: The present study on French bean was conducted during rabi 2019 to 2022 to elicit data on transgressive segregants produced for yield and related traits in F2 generation. Fertile F1 hybrids were developed from three crosses: IC 632961 × Arka Sukomal, IC 632961 × Arka Arjun and Arka Arjun × IC 63296. Heterosis was estimated for yield and related traits in these hybrids. The F2 progeny were evaluated in open field condition. Mean, standard deviation and percentage of transgressive segregants were estimated for quantitative traits under investigation. Result: Transgressive segregants were observed in all three crosses, with the highest number of transgressive segregants for yield traits found in the progeny of the cross IC 632961 × Arka Sukomal. The identification and isolation of such transgressive segregants indicate that the parents possess favourable alleles and genes governing the traits of interest, which can be consolidated into a single or a few genotypes through stringent selection. Superior and desirable transgressive segregants were observed for all sixteen yield and its component traits, except for leaf length, in the two cross combinations Arka Arjun × IC 632961 and IC 632961 × Arka Arjun. The highest percentage of transgressive segregation was observed for the number of inflorescences per plant (79.49%), followed by the number of pods per plant (78.46%) and pod yield per plant (75.61%) in the F2 generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea L.) is a medicinal plant known for its anthocyanin pigment content, which imparts a blue color to its flowers. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of shading on butterfly pea flower growth and production. The research design utilized a randomized complete block design (RCBD) for shading treatments. We replicated each treatment level four times, resulting in 20 experimental units, each containing four plants, for a total population of 80 plants. We conducted the experiment at the Experimental Garden of Gunadarma University Campus F7, implementing shade nets at different intensity levels (55%, 65%, 75%, and 85%), along with a control treatment without shading. We made observations on various plant growth parameters such as leaf count, plant length, days to first flower appearance, flower count, fresh weight, and dry weight. The results indicated that shading significantly influenced butterfly pea plants' growth. Plants without shading tended to exhibit better growth in several parameters, such as increased leaf count, higher plant length, and earlier days to first flower appearance. These findings underscore the importance of sunlight in supporting the growth and production of butterfly pea plants. Therefore, careful consideration of shade management is essential in agricultural practices to ensure optimal growth and maximum yield from butterfly pea plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ethiopia using inorganic fertilizer started in the early 1970s. But it still depended solely on urea and DAP. Today, according to ATA and Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources K, Zn, B, S, and Cu are in deficit in Ethiopia and Amhara Region as well as in Wag-Lasta areas. But some studies conducted in Wag-Lasta and throughout the region in different crops indicate that these nutrients had no response on crop yields. So, this experiment was conducted in 2017 rain feed cropping season on five farmers' parcels per location to verify the response of sorghum to potassium, zinc, and boron nutrients. The treatments were: NPS, NPSK, NPSZnB, and NPSZnBK, with the recommended rate of 46 and 23 kg ha-1 N and P2O5, respectively for Sekota, 23 kg ha-1 N, and P2O5 for Lasta. Moreover, 150, 1.47, and 0.07 kg ha-1 KCl, Zn, and B, respectively used uniformly in both locations. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The collected data were analyzed by SAS software version 9.0. Analysis of variance revealed that the application of potassium, zinc, and boron had no significant effect (P =0.05) on sorghum yield and yield components at all sites. The exchangeable potassium content in the soil of the study sites is above the critical value level. The result disagrees with the soil fertility map which showed more than 98% of potassium deficiency and more than 80% NPSZnB deficiency. Hence, the application of K, Zn, and B nutrients had no yield advantage over the recommended N and P nutrients in the Wag-Lasta areas. Therefore, currently to increase production and productivity of crops in Wag-Lasta areas using of recommended rate of nitrogen and phosphorous with organic fertilizer sources for each district is the best option rather than using K, Zn, and B nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ascorbic acid (AsA) plays an indispensable role in plants, serving as both an antioxidant and a master regulator of the cellular redox balance. Ascorbate oxidase (AO) is a blue copper oxidase that is responsible for the oxidation of AsA with the concomitant production of water. For many decades, AO was erroneously postulated as an enzyme without any obvious advantage, as it decreases the AsA pool size and thus is expected to weaken plant stress resistance. It was only a decade ago that this perspective shifted towards the fundamental role of AO in orchestrating both AsA and oxygen levels by influencing the overall redox balance in the extracellular matrix. Consistent with its localization in the apoplast, AO is involved in cell expansion, division, resource allocation, and overall plant yield. An increasing number of transgenic studies has demonstrated that AO can also facilitate communication between the surrounding environment and the cell, as its gene expression is highly responsive to factors such as hormonal signaling, oxidative stress, and mechanical injury. This review aims to describe the multiple functions of AO in plant growth, development, and stress resilience, and explore any additional roles the enzyme might have in fruits during the course of ripening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowering regulation is a reflection of plant self-adaptation to the environment and is the main determinant of plant yield. The quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of agronomic traits associated with the flowering stage of Agropyron Gaertn. was conducted using a cross-pollinated (CP) hybrid population with a total of 113 plant lines between A. mongolicum Keng Z2098 and A. cristatum (L.) Gaertn. Z1842 under four different environmental conditions and the genetic map constructed of 1,023 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The results showed that 28 QTLs were detected on seven linkage groups. Each QTL explained 0.39–18.46% of the phenotypic variation, with a logarithm of odds (LOD) value ranging from 2.52 to 30.51. Specifically, QTLs were identified for various characteristics: one QTL identified for tiller number (TN), two for plant height (PH), three for days-to-flowering (DTF), five for flag leaf length (FLL), three for flag leaf width (FLW), three for spike length (SL), eight for spike width (SW), one for spikelet number per spike (SNS), and two for flower number per spike (FNS). One stable QTL controlling the SW was detected in two environments at the same loci and was located at 26 cM (Marker29867–Marker26864) on chromosome 5, showing a positive genetic effect. The two QTL enrichment regions suggested that the QTLs might contribute to trait correlation or pleiotropic genes. The identified QTLs potentially offer utility for marker-assisted breeding selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three cyanobacterial strains, Anabaena laxa C11, Nostoc carneum BF2, Anabaena doliolum BF4, producing plant growth promoting metabolites such as sugars, indole acetic acid and proteins were selected for priming seeds of three varieties of tomato and two of spinach, followed by nursery raising of seedlings in soil-less potting mixes. The performance of two tomato varieties NS2533 and NS4266, was superior, as compared to Jewel, with enhancement of 12% to 29% in terms of length and weight of root/shoots, as well as 76% more pigments. In tomato, Nostoc carneum BF2 was superior, closely followed by Anabaena laxa C11. Among the two Spinach varieties evaluated, Pusa All green responded with 15–20% significantly higher values of seedling traits, as compared to Mulayam. Vigor indices were significantly higher with the cyanobacterial priming treatments, with Anabaena laxa C11, showing 27% higher values, over control. Principal Component and Multivariate Analyses highlighted the significant correlation between chlorophyll and available N content of mix with biometrical and pigment-related attributes. Transplantation of best performing varieties of tomato -NS4266 and spinach -Pusa All green in climate-controlled polyhouse recorded significantly higher yields in the cyanobacterium-primed plants, over control. Such promising crop-cyanobacterium interactions can be explored for enhancing the productivity of nursery-raised vegetable crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enhancement of the plant seed yield and quality represents the basis of the successful productivity of the deriving crop. The effect of single and combined foliar treatments of lettuce plants with sodium selenate and garlic bulb extract on seed yield and quality and on mature plant biochemical characteristics was investigated using four lettuce cultivars (Bouquet, Picnic, Moskovsky parnikovy and Cavalier). The seed production of plants treated with Se increased by 20–41%, compared to the untreated control plants, while the augmentation was as much as 10–23% and 17–27% under garlic extract and the joint application of Se and garlic, respectively. Garlic extract stimulated the accumulation of Se in lettuce seeds, which rose by 1.21–1.29 times compared to the Se-treated plants. The proline levels in lettuce seeds exceeded the corresponding values recorded in the control ones by 1.32–1.64 times in the case of the Se supply, 1.10–1.47 times upon garlic extract application and 1.09–1.31 times under the combined Se/garlic treatment. All the treatments given to lettuce plants increased the leaf weight by 1.10–1.30 times, compared to the untreated control. The seed Se levels positively correlated with the leaf weight (r = 0.621; p < 0.005), chlorophyll (r = 0.672, p < 0.002) and total antioxidant activity (AOA; r = 0.730, p < 0.001) of plants grown from these seeds. Positive correlations were also recorded between the seed proline content and lettuce plant leaf weight, chlorophyll and AOA (r = 0.868, 0.811 and 0.815, respectively, at p < 0.001). Lettuce yield was positively correlated with the leaf AOA, chlorophyll and ascorbic acid content (r = 0.942, 0.921 and 0.665, respectively, at p < 0.001). The results indicate high prospects of Na2SeO4 and garlic extract application to seed-addressed lettuce plants, to improve seed productivity and quality, as well as lettuce yield and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the research is to determine the duration of the interphase period, total water consumption, plant height, yield and quality of sunflower seeds, depending on the characteristics of hybrids and foliar top dressing with microfertilizers. Methods. Experimental studies were conducted during 2020-2021 in the experimental field of Mykolaiv National Agrarian University (Ukraine). Results. It was determined that all the studied microfertilizers extended the duration of interfacial periods of sunflower plants. The largest total water consumption of sunflower plants (2259 m3/ha) was formed in the hybrid NK Kamen in the variant with foliar top dressing with microfertilizer Quantum, which was 0.9-6.5% more than in the same variant with hybrids Darius and Tutti. The highest height of sunflower plants among the hybrids submitted for study was formed by Darius -- 165.7-170.9 cm, which was 5.0-5.7% higher than the height of plants of the NK Kamen hybrid and 7.2-8.0% more than the height of Tutti hybrid. It was found that the highest yield of sunflower seeds (2.55 t/ha) on average over the years of research was formed in the hybrid NK Kamen in the variant with foliar top dressing with microfertilizer Quantum, which exceeded its level in the non-fertilized control by 18.6% and the average yield for all variants of the experiment by 12.3%. The highest yield of sunflower seeds (2.56 t/ha) among the hybrids submitted for study was provided by NK Kamen in 2021, which was 12.3% more than in the Darius hybrid and 6.6% more than in the Tutti hybrid. Foliar top dressing with microfertilizers significantly affected the quality indicators of seeds of the studied sunflower hybrids. The maximum fat content values (from 50.1 up to 52.7%, depending on the hybrid) were achieved by applying Quantum microfertilizer in the 5-6-leaf phase. The conditional yield of oil from seeds in this variant of nutrition is also determined to be the maximum -- from 1.13 up to 1.34 t/ha, depending on the hybrid. Less effective for the growth and development of plants and the formation of their productivity was the preparation Rostok, with the introduction of which the duration of the growing season increased by 1-2 days; total water consumption increased by 29-35 m3/ha; the height increased by 1.1-4.6 cm; seed yield increased by 0.80-0.28 t/ ha; the content fat in seeds increased by 0.02-0.03%; oil seed yield increased by 0.12-0.15 t/ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable plant production requires less use of synthetic chemicals in plant nutrition and protection. Microbial products are among the most promising substitutes for chemicals. With the increasing popularity and availability of such products, it has become obligatory to use different microbes together. The effect of this has been tested in several studies, but their results have sometimes been contradictory depending on the microbial strains tested and the mode of application. We tested the effect of two commercially available antagonists and Funneliformis mosseae alone and in combination on tomato. Mycorrhizal treatment increased plant growth and yield, both alone and combined with the antagonists; however, mycorrhizal root colonization was not influenced by the antagonist. This treatment also led to a slight decrease in the occurrence of Trichoderma spp. on tomato roots but did not impede the colonization of roots by the applied Trichoderma strain. Our result confirmed that Trichoderma asperellum (T34) and Streptomyces griseoviridis (K61) can be safely combined with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), namely with F. mosseae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of semi‐transparent solar panels offers opportunities for their application in greenhouses where the radiation is a critical issue. The light passing through these panels is often affected, leading to a decrease in certain wavelengths that could potentially impact plant growth and quality. To address this concern, this study is performed to investigate the growth and yield of tomato and broccoli plants cultivated under semi‐transparent photovoltaic solar panels compared to those grown under conventional greenhouse plastic. Their physiological and metabolic changes are also examined. A decrease in the yellow/green spectrum after installation of the solar panels is observed. In both plants, slight alterations are observed by solar panels, enhancing even the height of plants and fruit yield in case of tomato. However, both plants showed changes related to their photosynthetic activity and some metabolite concentration. Specifically, there are significant reductions in An (photosynthetic rate) and lower levels of trigonelline in plants grown under solar panels. These reductions may be attributed to the different radiation conditions experienced by the plants, which do not appear to directly impact plant growth. The obtained results highlight the promising potential of solar panel‐integrated greenhouses that optimize economic and energy benefits while maintaining product quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study aimed to clarify the effects of drought during flowering period on the carbon and nitrogen metabolism, growth, and yield of Tartary buckwheat. Tartary buckwheat cultivar Jinqiao 2 was treated with well-watered (CK), slight soil-drought stress (LD), moderate soil-drought stress (MD), and severe soil-drought stress (SD), with the soil water potential maintained at − 0.02 to − 0.03, − 0.04 to − 0.05, − 0.05 to − 0.06, and − 0.06 to − 0.07 MPa, respectively. With prolonged growth period and an increase in drought stress, the antioxidant enzyme activities and the contents of substances and activities of enzymes related to carbon and nitrogen metabolism in Tartary buckwheat leaves initially increased and then decreased. Meanwhile, the contents of malondialdehyde and superoxide anion showed a continuous. LD treatment induced the highest antioxidant enzyme activities and the contents of substances and activities of enzymes related to carbon and nitrogen metabolism but the lowest contents of malondialdehyde and superoxide anion in Tartary buckwheat leaves. Compared with CK, LD treatment increased the grain number, 1000-grain weight (MTS), and yield per plant by 6.52%, 17.37%, and 12.35%, respectively. In summary, LD treatment can increase the antioxidant enzyme activities and the contents of substances and activities of enzymes related to carbon and nitrogen metabolism, thus enhancing the adaptability of Tartary buckwheat to drought stress and increasing the yield per plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress (DS) is one of the important abiotic stresses facing cash crops today. Drought can reduce plant growth and development, inhibit photosynthesis, and thus reduce plant yield. In this experiment, we investigated the protective mechanism of AMF on plant photosynthetic system by inoculating Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis(P.py) with a clumping mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) under drought conditions. The drought environment was maintained by weighing AMF plants and non-AMF plants. The relative water content (RWC) of plant leaves was measured to determine its drought effect. DS decreased the RWC of plants, but AMF was able to increase the RWC of plants. chlorophyll a fluorescence curve measurements revealed that DS increased the OKJIP curve of plants, but AMF was able to reduce this trend, indicating that AMF increased the light absorption capacity of plants. DS also caused a decrease in plant Y(I) and Y(II). ETRI and ETRII, and increased Y(NO) and Y(NA) in plants, indicating that DS caused photosystem damage in plants. For the same host, different AMFs did not help to the same extent, but all AMFs were able to help plants reduce this damage and contribute to the increase of plant photosynthesis under normal water conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global cannabis market is continuously expanding and as a result, the cannabis industry demands new and improved agronomic cultivation practices to increase production efficiency of cannabidiol (CBD), which is valued for its therapeutic benefits. This study investigates the influence of three rootstock types on the survival rate, morphological parameters, and biochemical composition of cannabis: potentially dwarfing rootstocks (PDR), potentially vigorous rootstocks (PVR), and seedlings-as-rootstocks (SAR). Rootstocks were used for grafting two scion genotypes: 'ScionII' = chemotype II of industrial hemp, and 'ScionIII' = chemotype III of high CBD accumulating variety. Contrary to expectations, PVR and SAR did not outperform PDR on most of the measured variables. SAR showed the highest survival rate of the grafted cannabis plants (40–70%). The rootstock type had a statistically significant influence only on the bud compactness index in 'ScionII', with PDR being particularly noticeable. A comparative analysis of the 'rootstock/scion' combinations with their controls (non-grafted scions) revealed grafting's substantial improvement in most traits. Specifically, PDR increased CBD content by 27% in 'ScionIII', inflorescence yield and CBD yield per plant increased by 71% and 84%, respectively, when SAR was used in 'ScionII'. SAR showed to be the most effective rootstock type for CBD production. Our findings suggest grafting as a promising technique for optimizing cannabis's agronomic and medicinal potential, highlighting the necessity for further research on its underlying mechanisms to refine production efficiency and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to find out the effect of organic inputs on yield attributing characters and quality of strawberry cv. Festival was carried out in Garo Hills region of Meghalaya, India during 2022-2023 at Department of Horticulture, North-Eastern Hill University, Tura Campus in West Garo Hills District of Meghalaya. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design with eight different treatments which were replicated thrice. Treatment T2 (vermicompost 250g/plant) was found to be superior over other treatments for parameters like number of shoots (6.67-11.00), number of leaves (9.33-26.00), leaf area (31.50 cm²-104.50 cm²), total numbers of runners (7.00) and yield parameters like number of fruit set (13.00), fruit set percentage (81.61%), fresh fruit weight (16.55g), fruit length x diameter (34.00 mm x 30.00 mm) and yield of the plant (495.26g). Whereas, T1(vermicompost 300g/plant) recorded the highest in number of flowers (2.66-4.00), duration of flowering (107.00 days) and minimum days taken for flowering (43.00 days). Meanwhile, it was also recorded that T2(vermicompost 250g/plant) was found to have maximum total soluble solids (TSS) (10.47°Brix), total sugar (4.38%), reducing sugar (2.33%), non-reducing sugar (2.05%), titratable acidity (1.80%), ascorbic acid (16.46 mg/100g) and anthocyanin content (23.92 mg/100g). The overall findings indicate the potential of vermicompost (250g/ plant) in organic production of strawberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance on seed yield and yield attributing traits of 41 advance breeding lines were used to estimate parameters of genetic variability, association analysis and diversity analysis between seed yield and its contributing traits. Traits such as biological yield per plant, number of seeds per pod, seed yield per plant, stem thickness, height of first fruiting node, number of effective pods per plant, total number of pods per plant, harvest index and primary branches per plant revealed high genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance as percent of mean. High magnitude of positive direct effect and significantly positive correlations on seed yield per plant was found with number of effective pods per plant, biological yield per plant, harvest index and number of secondary branches per plant. Clustering analysis based on various morphological traits assorted 41 desi chickpea genotypes into four clusters. Traits like biological yield, plant height and 100 seed weight contributed most towards the genetic divergence. Genotypes ICCV211103, ICCV211106, ICCV211108, ICCV211111, ICCV211116, RVG 204, JG 24, JG 12, JG 16, Virat and Vishal recorded maximum positive principal component scores for the traits viz., plant height, total number of pods per plant, number of effective pods per plant, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, stem thickness, biological yield per plant, harvest index, seed yield per plant, 100 seed weight and stem height at first fruiting node, therefore these genotypes will as promising donor lines for chickpea yield improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Encrusted seeds receive a thinner coating than encrusted seeds and the coating process is halted before full roundness is achieved. This is beneficial for soybean seeds and enhances water-use efficiency during germination. Additionally, adding essential nutrients to seeds promotes germination and growth, enabling soybean plants to grow faster and to have a higher yield. Methods: Soybean seeds were encrusted with 3.45 g/kg NH4NO3, 4.60 g/kg NaH2PO4.H2O and 1.87 g/kg KCl, using vermiculite as the encrusting material and 0.4% w/w aqueous-carboxymethyl cellulose as the binder. The encrusting process was carried out in a rotary drum (Model SKK12) spinning at 40 rpm and the seeds were evaluated for seed quality parameters. Result: Encrusting seeds with all three types of plant nutrients had a positive impact on enhancing seed quality compared to nonencrusted seeds. In particular, encrusting seeds with 50 g/kg vermiculite and 1.87 g/kg KCl did not hinder the germination process. Moreover, it enhanced both the germination rate and speed of germination. Additionally, it promoted plant growth, including fresh and dry root weight, fresh shoot weight, fresh and dry plant weight, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, seed weight per plant and pod weight per plant. Therefore, encrusting seeds with 50 g/kg vermiculite and 1.87 g/kg KCl is recommended to enhance the quality of Chiang Mai 60 soybean seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present germplasm of cluster bean lack the needed natural variability for developing early maturing short statured lines. Therefore, an attempt was made to study the magnitude of heritable variability stimulated through induced mutation in M3 generation. Methods: M3 generation seeds of cluster bean variety MDU1 treated with gamma rays, electron beam and combination of gamma ray with EMS were used in the present investigation. The biometric observations were recorded on ten selected M3 plants from each family of every treatments for six traits viz., plant height, days to first flowering, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per plant, pod length and pod yield per plant. The same method was followed for recording observations on untreated parental materials also. Result: Studies on the variability parameters indicated that the phenotypic variance, genotypic variance, heritability and genetic advance were higher in combination treatment for all the traits. The shortest mutant and the earliest flowering (3M11) was observed in combination of 100 Gy of gamma ray+20 mM EMS. Mutant for the highest number of clusters (3M3) was observed in combination treatment of 300 Gy gamma ray with 20 mM EMS. The mutants for the highest number of pods per plant (3M1 and 3M2) and the highest pod yield (3M1) were identified at 400 Gy of gamma ray treatment. Fifteen desirable mutants were selected and forwarded to next generation for testing the stability in different environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Strawberry plants supplemented with nutrient formulation 2 (hydroponic) perform better growth and showed 2.19-fold increase in fruit yield as compared to soil control group plants. • Strawberry plants grown in Treatment 3 (semi- hydroponic) perform better growth and had 3.08-fold increase in fruit yield as compared to soil control group plants. • Strawberry plants cultivated in soilless hydroponics showed better growth, nutrient uptake, physiology, fruit yield and anthocyanin content. The widely grown octoploid strawberry (2n = 8x = 56) (Fragaria × Ananassa Duch.), cherished for its delectable flavour, rich nutritional content, and pleasing aroma has consistently held a significant position in global fruit market. Despite of rising demand, strawberry plants are not grown universally, likely due to variations in weather conditions across regions, available of infectious soil pathogen and insufficient knowledge of soilless hydroponic cultivation. The current research aims to establish an efficient nutrient medium that enhances the growth and yield of strawberry (Fragaria × Ananassa Duch.) Cv. Winter Dawn, using soilless hydroponic and semi-hydroponic cultivation methods. The fruit fresh weight and total fruit yield of formulation 2 treated plants (EC 2.41 mScm−1) in hydroponic condition exhibited a 1.73-fold and 2.18-fold higher respectively as compared to soil control plants. Among the five different growing medium treatments in semi-hydroponic condition, the fresh weight and total strawberry fruit yield was found to be maximum in treatment 3 and observed 2.04-fold and 3.03-fold increase respectively as compared to plants grown in soil control condition. The high yield may be due to higher uptake of macronutrients (NPK) by the plants supplemented with F2 formulation and T3 substrate medium the plants. As a result, the strawberry fruits of these plants accumulated higher amount of anthocyanin, which ultimately enhanced the fruit quality. The studies concluded that formulation 2 in hydroponic and treatment 3 in semi-hydroponic were most effective in terms of growth, nutrient uptake, physiology, fruit yield and anthocyanin content. The result of this study gives an alternative to the farmers for cultivation of strawberry plants in soilless hydroponic and semi-hydroponic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objective: Lentil (Lens Culinaris Medik.) belongs to cool season pulses. It is annual, self pollinated and diploid crop and its seed is rich in protein. Lentil, such as other legumes that are in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria plays an important role in reducing fertilizer consumption and increasing the productivity of other crops that are in rotation with lentil. Success in breeding programs depends on genetic diversity, heritability and selection. Investigating the genetic diversity is the basis of breeding and releasing high-yielding cultivars with high quantitative and qualitative characteristics and capacities. Therefore, the evaluation of genetic diversity in crops is essential for breeding programs and the protection of genetic resources. For this purpose, it is necessary to collect plant germplasm to be evaluated as a base population, and genotypes with yield potential and other desirable traits are identified and exploited. Due to the low yield potential of the exsistance cultivars, investigating the genetic diversity among native lentil lines and comparing them with control cultivars could assiste the breeder in selecting superior lines in terms of yield potential and agromorphological triats. Material and Methods: To select and introduce new cultivars, native lentil lines collected from the target areas in Zanjan province were evaluated in the two cropping years of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 in the experimental farm of Zanjan University's Faculty of Agriculture. In both years of the experiment, improved cultivars such as Kimia, Sabz Koohin, Gachsaran, Maragheh and Bilehsavar were used as control cultivars. The first year, the experiment was conducted in the augmented design based on randomized complete bloke design with 200 lines. Each experimental unit consisted of one metere row. The distance between the rows was 25 cm, the distance on the rows was 5 cm, and the planting depth was 5 cm. At the beginning and end of each block, two rows of Sabz Koohin were planted as borders. The second year, Due to echeaving enough seeds from the first year, the experiment was carried out in square lattice design with tow replications and larger experimental units for the selected lines from the first year. Each experimental unit consisted of two one-meter rows. The distance between the rows, the distance on the rows and the planting depth were similar to the first year experiment. At the beginning and end of each incomplete blocks, two rows of Sabz Koohin were planted as borders. Results: In the first year, the results of analysis of variance showed that there is significant difference among lentil lines in terms of canopy temperature difference, podding period, number of seed per plant, seed yield per plant, harvest index per plant, number of seed per area, seed yield per area and 1000-seed weight at 0.01and 0.05 level. in this year, canopy temperature difference, podding period, first branch height, number of pod per plant, number of vacant pod per plant, number of seed per plant, seed yield per plant, harvest index per plant, number of seed per area, seed yield per area and 1000-seed weight had high value of genetic variation coefficient, heritability and genetic advance. lines 14, 68 and 165 were the superior lines in terms of phonological traits. The height of the plant and the height of the first pod in lines 85, 92, 193 and 195 were higher than other lines. Lines 32, 90 and 156 had the highest number of full pods. Lines 122, 163, 165 and 200 had the highest seed yield per plant. The 1000-seed weight in lines 163, 166, 171 and 174 was higher in compared with other lines. The highest seed yield was observed in lines 23, 150, 192 and 200. Finaly, based on the results of comparison of mean with superior control cultivar for each trait by LSD method and considering the degree of importance of traits, the 95 superior lentil lines from 200 examined lines were selected. In the second year, the results of analysis of variance indicated a significant variation among lentil lines in terms of all studied traits except for the first branch height at 0.01 and 0.05 levels. The canopy temperature difference, number of vacant pods per plant and number of seed per plant had high value of genetic variation coefficient. High heritability was observed in the days to 50% flowering, flowering period, days to 50% podding, days to 50% physiological maturity, seed filling period and straw yield per plant. The canopy temperature difference, flowering period, first pod height, number of vacant pod per plant, seed yield per plant, biomass per plant and straw yield per plant had high genetic advance. lines 150, 155, 173 and 176 were the superior lines in terms of phonological traits. The highest plant height and the highest height of the first pod was observed in lines 146 and 180 and lines 12, 47 and 130 respectively. Lines 1, 131 and 176 had the highest number of full pods. In terms of yield and yield components per plant, lines 1, 131 and 176 had the highest number of seeds and seed yield. The 1000-seed weight in lines 23, 52, 163 and 178 was higher in compared with other lines. In terms of yield and yield components, lines 55, 69, 86, and 176 were recognized as the superior lines. Finally, based on the results of comparison of mean lines with superior control cultivar for each trait by LSD method and considering the degree of importance of traits, the 44 superior lentil lines from 100 examined lines were selected. Conclusion: The evaluated lines were significantly different from each other in terms of most traits. High heritability was observed in the days to 50% flowering, flowering period, days to 50% podding, days to 50% physiological maturatry, seed filling period and straw yield per plant. Comparing to the control cultivars, the evaluated lines had a higher mean in most of the studied traits. Therefor by selecting superior lines in terms of yield potential and agromorphological traits this genetic potential can be used to create superior population and introduce high yield cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the cultivation of crops in recent times, in addition to taking care of the balanced supply of nutrients to plants and the protection of soil resources, it is also important to take into account the non-productive factor by implementing production systems based on balanced fertilisation. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of soil kind and the application of a new fertiliser based on a urea and ammonium nitrate solution with potassium thiosulphate (UAN-KTS) on the yielding and biometric characteristics of spring wheat, spring rape, and maize to determine the optimal N:K:S ratio. An increase in the soil kind increased the weight of 1000 spring rape seeds, the yield of maize fresh matter, a reduction in the height of spring wheat and maize plants, a reduction in the yield of spring wheat grains and straw, and the yield of the fresh and dry matter of spring rape straw. A higher nitrogen dose promoted the growth of spring rape at the later growing stage and maize and had a positive effect on the yield of spring wheat grains and straw, spring rape seeds and straw, and the above-ground parts of maize. The application of potassium fertilisers caused a significant increase in the spring rape plant height, an increase in the yield of spring wheat grains and straw and spring rape seeds and straw, the above-ground parts of maize, a reduction in the plant height at the beginning of the spring wheat growing period, and a reduction in the weight of 1000 spring rape seeds (only on the soil with rich quality). The fertiliser with the N:K2:S2 ratio had a particularly favourable effect on the yielding of spring wheat. In the cultivation of maize, the same effect was most often obtained under the influence of fertiliser in the ratio of N:K1:S1 on the weaker soil fertilised at the same time as a higher dose of nitrogen (N 1) and N:K2:S2 (in other cases). In the case of spring rape, generally, fertiliser with N:K1:S1 was the strongest, although, in some objects, a higher yield was achieved under the influence of N:K2:S2. The existence of statistically confirmed correlations (expressed as the percentage of the variability observed) between the soil kind and the fertilisers applied and the yielding and biometric characteristics of the plants were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetranychus urticae is an important pest of tomato crops globally, affecting plant yield and growth. Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium robertsii have the potential to control T. urticae. We investigated the influence of two B. bassiana (i.e., WG-12 and WG-19) isolates and one M. robertsii (WG-02) isolate when colonizing different plant organs (leaves, stems, and roots) and their influence on the growth of tomato plants, through foliar, root-dipping, and seed-soaking application techniques. We also examined the acaricidal activity of the three isolates against T. urticae (female adults), spraying tomato leaf discs with each isolate separately. After 28 days, WG-12 and WG-19 colonized 97 and 91% of the leaves after foliar inoculation, whereas WG-02 exhibited the lowest leaf colonization (76%). The height of the tomato plants, the root length, the number of leaves, and the weight of the biomass above and below the ground were enhanced significantly after inoculation with WG-02 vs. B. bassiana isolates and control. The complete mortality of T. urticae was caused by WG-12 and WG-02 after 10 days, whereas WG-19 killed 94% of the adults. For the effective management of T. urticae, we propose the application of the WG-02 isolate since it provides complete protection and promotes the growth of tomato plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature and drought events significantly impact crop growth and development. In the soybean-producing region of the Guanzhong Plain in China, understanding the dynamics of these climatic phenomena is vital for soybean yield preservation. Through a fixed-position observation experiment that analyzed four growth stages, nine agronomic traits, and soybean yield per unit area from 1998 to 2023, this research evaluated the characteristics of high-temperature and drought processes in various growth stages. It also examined the influence of high-temperature processes, drought processes, and their combined effects on agronomic traits and yield. The results indicate the following: (1) High temperature was a constant factor during the soybean growth period, with temperature-related indices markedly surpassing those related to drought. Notably, the occurrence of high-temperature and drought events was more prevalent during the flowering–podding stage than at the podding or grain-filling stages. (2) High temperature profoundly affected soybean yield components, primarily through a decrease in the number of grains per plant during the flowering–podding stage, subsequently impacting the grain weight per plant and yield. In years with extremely high temperatures, the soybean plant height was reduced by 6.1 to 15 cm, the main stem node number decreased by 0.1 to 2.9, the branch number decreased by 0.2 to 0.6, the number of pods per plant decreased by 4.8 to 13.7, the number of grains per pod decreased by 0.1 to 0.3, the number of grains per plant decreased by 13.5 to 32.6, the grain weight per plant decreased by 3.8 to 6.9 g, and the 100-grain weight decreased by 0.1 to 4.5 g. The common impact of high temperature combined with drought processes in different growth stages was reflected in the reduction in the number of branches by 0.1 to 1.4 and the reduction in the number of grains per pod by 0.02 to 13.7. This study underscores the importance of addressing the quantitative effects of climate change and extreme weather on soybean yield, which could help to develop effective adaptation and mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing concerns regarding health and eco-safety have led to a resurgence in the recognition of natural products. Although plant colorants are often mentioned in ethnobotanical studies in northern Thailand, they have not been comprehensively examined. This study aims to (i) investigate the colorant plants used by ethnic minorities in northern Thailand and (ii) compare colorant plants used among the groups in northern Thailand with other regions worldwide. Data on colorant plants used by ten ethnic groups across 142 villages in northern Thailand were extracted in a systematic review of 42 published references. The importance of the colorant plant species was evaluated using the ethnobotanical index "use value" (UV), and the homogeneity of knowledge was assessed using the "information consensus factor" (ICF). The similarity of colorant plants used among the ethnic minority groups and beyond was evaluated using Jaccard's index. The 42 published references included information about 104 colorant plant species belonging to 85 genera and 43 families from seven provinces in northern Thailand. This represents nearly half of the 212 colorant plant species reported across all 72 provinces in Thailand. The most important species were Strobilanthes cusia and Morinda angustifolia, which are sources of blue and red colors. Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, and Lamiaceae were the plant families with most species used as colorants. The colorant plant species yielded ten different color shades, with blue being the most prevalent. The Jaccard's index varied from 0 to 0.27 among the northern Thai ethnic minorities and from 0 to 0.13 for regions outside of northern Thailand. The regions located closest to northern Thailand exhibited the highest degree of similarity. This study provides valuable insights into the traditional knowledge and usage of dye plants in northern Thailand, contributing to preserving the cultural heritage and providing basic knowledge for the sustainable use of natural colorants for modern applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of climate change, developing resilient crops is crucial for global food security in the 21st century to feed a growing population. Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) plays a vital role in ensuring global food and nutritional security. Traits like early flowering enable the crop to mature faster, thereby shortening the growing window and reducing yield losses caused by moisture and heat stresses during the reproductive phase. However, issues like limited genetic diversity in this trait remain unaddressed. To address this gap, our study aims to comprehensively assess genetic variability and trait associations in 158 lentil accessions. In the present study, we observed significant variations for days to 50% flowering (67–90 days), days to maturity (109–122 days) and 100 seed weight (1.69–2.68 g) throughout a period of two consecutive years (2020–2021 and 2021–2022). The observed variability in these traits offers a valuable avenue for the improvement of lentil yield through targeted selection and hybridization. Additionally, correlation analysis showed negative correlation between days to 50% flowering and grain yield per plant, while plant height had a significant (P < 0.01) positive correlation with all traits except yield per plant. Furthermore, we identified specific germplasm with exceptional traits that hold significant potential for future breeding programmes. The genotypes EC 223197-A and EC 267696 were identified for early flowering with high yield, and other genotypes that were identified for various traits would serve as breeding material for the introgression of these traits into elite cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An investigation was performed to identify epistasis, additive, dominance components of genetic variation and yield and yield variability attributing characteristics by triple test cross testing involving three testers (P1, P2 and F1) and ten rice lines. Methods: The study materials consisted of F1 seeds of three crosses, involving six parents namely, ASD16, ADT47, ASD18, CO51, TKM9 and MTU 7029. They are evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications. Observations were reported for seven traits, namely plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of productive tillers per plant, length of panicle, number of grains per panicle, weight of 1000 grains and yield of grain per plant on five randomly selected plants per replication. Result: The segregating population of three crosses exhibited wide range of variability for most of the traits. The difference between GCV and PCV was low for most of the characters indicated less influence of environment. Among the three crosses ASD18 X CO15 recorded high percent of heritability and genetic advance for grain yield per plant. The estimate of total epistasis revealed that i type of epistasis (additive X additive) was highly significant for number of tillers per plant, number of productive tillers per plant, panicle length and 1000 grain weight. The effect of the additive (D) variance was very important for all the traits except the number of grains per panicle. Across all traits, the degree of dominance (H/D)1/2 was less than unity (< 1) suggesting, partial of dominance. Since, the pre dominance component of epistasis in autogamous crop is additive X additive (i type), it was suggested that the selection may be post ponded to later generation until all the non-additive components of variance has been mitigated to additive components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary aim of the present study was to identify bacterial isolates with yield-enhancing potential for application as biofertilisers in the cultivation of sweet potato. Therefore, endophytic and rhizospheric strains were isolated from sweet potato plantations in Hungary to identify bacterial strains with plant growth-promoting and antifungal potential. In total, seven Bacillus licheniformis strains were identified and subjected to detailed ecophysiological investigations. Experiments have been conducted to investigate the tolerance of selected strains to different limiting factors such as pH, temperature, and water activity, which affect survivability in various agricultural environments. The majority of tested B. licheniformis strains exhibited plant growth-promoting potential (e.g., production of indole-3-acetic acid up to 40.42 μg mL−1, production of ammonia up to 0.87 mg mL−1, phosphorus solubilising activity, siderophore production), with two strains (SZMC 27713 and SZMC 27715) demonstrating inhibitory activity (ranging between 7% and 38%) against plant pathogenic fungi prevalent in sweet potato cultivation. Furthermore, strain SZMC 27715 induced accelerated germination and a significantly higher germination rate in tomato seeds compared to the control. In a field study, it was observed that strain SZMC 27715 had a potent yield enhancing effect in sweet potato, where a significant yield per plant increase was observed in all treatments (1.13, 1.09 and 1.40 kg) compared to the control plants (0.92 kg). The highest yield per plant was observed when the cuttings were soaked combined with two additional foliar treatments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the successful utilisation of the B. licheniformis strain as a biofertiliser for yield enhancement in sweet potato cultivation. Based on our results, strain SZMC 27715 has potential for application as a biofertiliser in sweet potato cultivation either as a standalone option or in a microbial consortium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Oldenlandia genus comprises approximately 240 species of plants, yet only a limited number of these have been investigated for their chemical composition and medicinal properties. These species contain a wide range of compounds such as iridoids, anthraquinones, triterpenes, phytosterols, flavonoids, anthocyanidins, vitamins, essential oils, phenolic acids, and coumarins. These diverse phytochemical profiles underscore the pharmacological potential of Oldenlandia plants for various medical purposes. Among other chemical constituents, ursolic acid stands out as the most important active compound in Oldenlandia, owing to its proven anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and hepatoprotective properties. The evaluation of Oldenlandia's pharmacological prospects indicates that the holistic utilization of the entire plant yields the most significant effects. Oldenlandia diffusa showcases anticancer and anti-inflammatory capabilities attributed to its varying constituents. Across a broad spectrum of pharmacological capacities, anticancer research predominates, constituting the majority of medical uses. Oldenlandia diffusa emerges as a standout for its remarkable anticancer effects against diverse malignancies. Antioxidant applications follow, with O. corymbosa demonstrating potent antioxidant properties alongside O. umbellata and O. diffusa. Subsequent priority lies in anti-inflammatory studies, wherein O. diffusa exhibits noteworthy efficacy, trailed by O. corymbosa also takes the lead in antimicrobial activity, with O. umbellata as a strong contender. Additional investigation is essential to ascertain the relative significance of these species in various pharmacological applications. This comprehensive assessment underscores the multifaceted potential of Oldenlandia as a versatile herbal resource, offering diverse pharmacological capacities. The call for sustained exploration and research remains essential to unlock the full extent of Oldenlandia's medicinal benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an invasive, early-season pest of strawberry in Florida, causing feeding injury to young foliage that results in stunted plant growth and yield loss. Spinetoram, an effective insecticide for thrips pests with up to 3 applications per season permitted in strawberry, is often applied repeatedly during the early-season (Oct–Nov) to manage S. dorsalis , leaving few or no applications for flower thrips pests later in the season (Dec–Mar). Therefore, new strategies are needed to manage S. dorsalis with less insecticide, with the hypothesis that the first insecticide application can be delayed because young strawberry plants can compensate for minor feeding injury without compromising strawberry yield. Experiments conducted in strawberry field plots in Balm, FL, during 2018 and 2019 showed that delaying a spinetoram application for 14 days after infesting a plant with zero, 5, 10, or 20 S. dorsalis adults did not reduce the plant vigor and yield compared to spinetoram application after 4 days. Furthermore, young plants recovered from injury (10–30% bronzing injury on leaf veins and petioles) due to 1 or 2 S. dorsalis adults or larvae per trifoliate. A strategy of delaying the first spinetoram application when plants have 4–5 trifoliates should help reduce the number of insecticide applications needed for S. dorsalis management and reserve spinetoram applications for later in the season. Lower input costs in Florida strawberry without compromising yields due to thrips damage will improve the economics and sustainability of production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indirect selection for yield contributing traits in segregating generation is practiced to realize the potential of yields which depends on nature and magnitude of genetic variability. The present study aims to estimate genetic variability and relation between yield and its related attributes of segregating population of mung bean. A high yielding mung bean variety China mung was crossed with LM-1668. The F2 segregating population was generated. The population comprised of 150 F2 plants along with parents were evaluated during summer 2022. The observations on pod and seed traits were recorded and data was subjected to statistical analyses to estimate genetic variability, heritability and correlation among the traits and path coefficients. Wide range of variation was observed in the F2 segregating generation for pod and seed traits. The skewness of all the traits except seed yield and test weight was less than 1.0 which suggested that the traits followed normal distribution. Around 12 transgressive segregants were observed for seed yield in this cross which can be further selected for breeding higher seed yield varieties in mung bean. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was found for plant height, primary branches, seeds per pod, and test weight suggesting that these traits are under the control of the additive gene action and can be improved by simple phenotypic selection. A Significant positive association and high direct effect was noticed with number of seeds per plant on seed yield revealed that the selection based on these traits would ultimately improve the pod yield. Hence, the above mentioned characteristics should be given top most priority while formulating a selection strategy for improvement of yield in mung bean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The adverse effects of thermal power plants on crop yield have not received adequate attention. Thus, this study aims to evaluate these effects systematically to fill the gap by utilizing county-level wheat yield data from North China spanning from 2005 to 2016. Our findings indicate that the presence of an additional upwind thermal power plant is associated with a 1.4% decline in wheat yield. Notably, these yield losses are more pronounced in regions characterized by lenient environmental regulations or a high density of large-scale thermal power plants. Reduced wheat yield due to thermal power plants results in a decline in social welfare. Furthermore, we confirm that air pollution emitted from thermal power plants is the primary driver behind the decline in wheat yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, the Indonesian government has been recommending double-row transplanting systems, i.e., Jajar Legowo (JL) and Jejer Manten (JM), to increase rice production. These systems have been reported to obtain higher yield of Indica rice cultivars than the standard tile (TL) system, primarily due to the border effect. However, scientific investigations of the border effect in these transplanting systems remain limited. This study was conducted during the summer seasons in Japan in 2022 and 2023 to observe the plant growth and yield of a Japonica rice cultivar, Nikomaru, and to investigate differences in meteorological properties, such as intercepted solar radiation (SRint). The study found that higher plant competition for light in JM and JL caused a lower tiller number and above-ground biomass (Wt) per hill than in TL. However, due to denser planting, JM and JL obtained higher tiller numbers, Wt, and sink capacity per unit area than TL. Additionally, the denser canopy in JM and JL compared to TL increased SRint by the whole canopy, even though the space between the double rows was wider. Although SRint was not significantly different among the systems, higher normalized difference vegetation index in JM and JL was strongly correlated with a higher sink filling rate due to the healthier canopy absorbing more solar radiation. The synergistic effect of higher sink capacity and sink filling rate led to higher yields in JM and JL than in TL. This study suggests that JM is the best transplanting system for increasing rice yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the findings of a study on the impact of biofortification on the growth, yield, and quality of brinjal (eggplant) in coastal soil. The study tested different treatments involving the application of fortified organic manures and micronutrients to the soil and through foliar sprays. The results showed that the combined application of recommended fertilizer and fortified vermicompost, along with foliar sprays of zinc and iron, resulted in the highest growth, yield, and quality parameters of brinjal. The study suggests that these treatments can improve the productivity of brinjal in nutrient-poor soils and combat hidden hunger. [Extracted from the article]

This article presents the findings of a study conducted in Andhra Pradesh, India, on the quality traits of bitter gourd hybrids. The study focused on parameters such as TSS, vitamin C content, iron content, and charantin content. Certain hybrids, including Preethi x Special Boldar and Kashi Mayuri x Special Boldar, showed promise for quality attributes like TSS, vitamin C, and iron. Additionally, hybrids like Kashi Mayuri x IC-68314 and IC-68314 x Special Boldar exhibited high charantin content, which is known for its anti-diabetic properties. The study suggests that these hybrids have the potential to improve the quality traits of bitter gourd. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the effects of foliar application of nutrients on the yield and economics of cluster bean cultivation under dryland conditions. The study conducted at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, involved nine different treatments. The results showed that the treatment with recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) combined with foliar spray of NPK (0:0:50) and 0.5% ZnSO4 at flower initiation resulted in the highest plant height, number of branches, number of pods, and test weight of cluster bean. This treatment also increased the seed and straw yield by 38.8% and 47.8% compared to the control, with higher net returns, benefit-cost ratio, and rainwater-use efficiency. The findings suggest that this integrated approach can enhance the yield and profitability of cluster bean cultivation in dryland areas. [Extracted from the article]

White savory is a medicinal plant native to Iran. It is known for its tolerance to water-deficit conditions. A farm experiment evaluated cultivation in dryland conditions while describing interactions among organic fertilizers (O. F.). Planting densities affected essential oil (EO) and yield-related traits in white savory under dryland farming. This experiment was conducted in the Mehregan Research Station, Kermanshah, by a split-plot design based on RCBD with three replications, and three fertilizer treatments, i.e., cow manure (30 tons ha-1), wheat straw enriched with sulfate ammonium (10 tons ha-1), and farm soil. There were three planting densities, i.e., low-density (2.66), medium-density (4), and high-density (8 plant m-2) during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 crop years. The highest two-year average of fresh yield (3149.90 kg ha-1) and dry yield (1611.70 kg ha-1) occurred in response to rotten cow manure × high-density treatment. The highest two-year average of EO percentage (2.19%) resulted from using rotten cow manure × low-density planting. The highest EO yield (32.60 kg ha-1) resulted from enriched straw × high-density planting. The highest plant fresh yield (3434.02 kg×ha-1), plant dry yield (1231.98 kg ha-1), and EO yield (24.68 kg ha-1) resulted from the second year of harvest. We recommend dry farming S. mutica in a modified substrate using 30 tons ha-1 rotten cow manure and a row spacing of 50 × 25 cm in mountainous regions, where annual rainfall is more than 450 mm on average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research was evaluated across twelve parents and their thirty-two hybrids to determine the best combiners for fifteen yield related variables and additionally measure the degree of heterosis. In line x tester analysis, there was a noticeable variance for the genotypes in every single characteristic examined. The parents IC 45790, IC 45813, and Parbhani Kranti were determined to be superior combining parents based on gca effects. The finest specific combining hybrids for taking advantage of heterosis were identified to be IC 45790 x Parbhani Kranti, IC 45813 x Arka Anamika, IC 45790 x Arka Anamika and Okra-27 x Okra-29. For each characteristic investigated over the commercial check, significant heterosis has been observed in a desired aspect. The greatest percentage of positive heterosis was observed over the commercial check in the crosses IC 45790 x Parbhani Kranti, IC 45813 x Arka Anamika and IC 45790 x Arka Anamika for fruit yield per plant. Utilising these hybrids in multiple crossings could be a useful strategy for observable enhancement of the plant attributes under examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven lines and four testers were crossed in line x tester mating design to evolve twenty-eight hybrids. These hybrids were studied along with their eleven parents for gene action and combining ability for fifteen characters. Among the hybrids, the F1 hybrids of L4 x T3 (LCA 625 × G-4) followed by L7 x T4 (Pant C-1 × LCA 678), L7 x T2 (Pant C-1 × K1), L5 x T4 (LCA620 × LCA 678) and L7 x T3 (Pant C-1 × G-4) showed maximum fruit yield per plant. Considering the gca effects of the parent L7, L5, L4, T4 and T3 (Pant C-1, LCA 620, LCA 625, LCA 678 and G-4) were the best since they possessed significant and desirable gca effects for more than seven characters. Therefore, it may be concluded that crosses involving L7, L5, L4, T4 and T3 (Pant C-1, LCA 620, LCA 625, LCA 678 and G-4) would result in the identification of superior segregants with favourable genes for yield and its component traits. Based on sca effects, the hybrid L4 x T3 (LCA 625 × G-4) and L7 x T4 (Pant C-1 × LCA 678) was the best hybrid, since it had a desirable performance for ten characters viz., days to fifty percent flowering, plant spread, fruit length, fruit width, fruit pedicel length, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, 1000 seed weight, ascorbic acid content, capsaicin content and fruit yield per plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifty traditional as well as commercial rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes were analyzed using Mahalanobis' D² statistics, considering nine plant variables in deciding the most appropriate parental candidates for hybridization. Based on D² standards, the genotypes were divided into nine diverse groups. Notably, Cluster I held the greatest number of genotypes (twenty) while clusters VIII and IX housed the fewest, one genotype each. Clusters V and IX showed the wider between cluster distance and cluster VII with the highest within cluster distance which showed significant genetic heterogeneity was seen among the genotypes in these groupings. The greatest cluster means for single plant yield, as well as a number of other yieldrelated characteristics, were notably shown by clusters II, IV, VI and VII. While, earliness trait was well performed by cluster V. It is advised to give genotypes from clusters II, IV, VI and VII priorities while moving forward with hybridization in order to generate unique recombinants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THE USE of Trichoderma spp. as a substitute has the potential to reduce the reliance on synthetic fertilizers and increase plant yield. Therefore, this study aimed to obtain (1) the types of Trichoderma spp., dosage, and their interactions that can improve agronomic, yielding, and pyruvate content, as well as (2) the relationship between these characteristics and yield ha-1 of Samosir shallot. It was conducted in Dolok Martumbur Village, Muara Subdistrict, North Tapanuli District, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia, from June to December 2021. The Factorial Randomized Block Design was selected within three replicates in this study. The types of Trichoderma spp. such as T. harzianum, T. virens, T. viridee, and T. asperellum were used as the first factor and the second was dosages of 0, 20, 40, and 60g polybag-1. The data were processed with ANOVA, followed by DMRT at P< 0.05, and correlated with Pearson using IBM SPSS. Based on the results, the highest increase in agronomic, yielding, and total pyruvate was found in T. asperellum isolates. There were increased roots fresh weight, number of bulbs, bulbs diameter, and total pyruvate by 40.23; 15.71; 15.49; and 23.34% along with increasing the isolate dosage up to 60 g polybag-1. Likewise, their interactions of T. asperellum isolates at a dosage of 20 to 40g polybag-1 could be increased the highest bulbs weight, yield ha-1, and total pyruvate. Furthermore, root fresh weight, the number of bulbs, bulbs weight, and total pyruvate positively and significantly correlated with increasing yield ha-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Chemistry & Biotechnology is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)