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Introduction Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is one of the most important oilseed plants that has been ranked third in the oil production after soybeans and oil palm (Oil World, 2012). Drought stress is the most important limiting factor in the production of agricultural products in arid and semiarid regions (Debaeke and Aboudrare, 2004). Although water shortage in many developmental stages reduces the yield of rapeseed, the negative effects of stress during flowering and growth stages are much more pronounced (Sinaki et al, 2007). Materials and methods In order to study the ecophysiology of new winter varieties of rapeseed (six lines ready for introduction and Ahmadi's native species as control), the drought stress of the end of the season was observed in two latent cultivation conditions including the usual sowing date (11th of October) and the latent planting date (26th of October) and Irrigation was carried out in two levels including irrigation (control) and irrigation cut off from stepping stage to a factorial split plot design in a randomized complete block design with three replications in two years of cultivars 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 at the Research Institute for Correction And planting seedlings and seeds of Karaj. Planting dates and irrigation will be the main factor and the cultivars of the sub-cultivar. Data analysis was performed using SAS software. First, the Bartlett test is performed and then the combined analysis of the two-year data is tested. Comparison of mean of main effects by LSD method at 5% level and in the case of meaningful interactions, cutting and comparing the meanings were done using L.S.Means test. The results showed that the main effect of cultivar, and the effects of year on planting date and cultivar, were significant on planting date on seed oil. Results and discussion Results showed that in the first year and sowing date of 11th of October, the highest seed oil was obtained in the amount of 24.31%. The lowest amount was obtained in the second year and the sowing date of October 26th. In general, the seeding date of Oct. 11, in both years, had more seed oil yields. Regarding the interaction between sowing date and cultivar, results showed that the highest seed oil at the planting date of 11th of October and L72 was 54.44 percent. The lowest values were obtained on the 26th of October and the HW3 cultivar. In general, L72 had more seed oil in both dates. The results showed that the main effect of year, main effect of irrigation, main effect of cultivar, main effect of sowing date and interaction effects of planting date on cultivar on seed yield was significant. In the second year, oil yields more than the first year. In irrigation, the yield of oil was 231.2 kg/ha, which was 21% more than irrigation treatment. The results of interaction between sowing date and cultivar showed that the highest yield of seed oil (2576.6 kg/ha) was obtained on the 20th of September and L72 cultivars. The lowest values were obtained on the 5th of November and the HW3 cultivar. In general, the L72 had more seed oil yields on both dates. The results showed that the main effect of year, main effect of irrigation, main effect of cultivar, main effect of planting date and interaction effects of planting date on cultivar was significant on grain yield. In the second year, grain yield was more than the first year. In irrigation, grain yield was 4444.72 kg/ha, which was 30% more than irrigation treatment. The results of interaction between sowing date and cultivar showed that the highest grain yield was obtained at 4231.2 kg / ha in sowing date of 11th of October and L72 cultivar. The lowest values were obtained on the 26th of October and the HW3 cultivar. In general, the L72 had more seed yield on both dates.

Background In vitro culture of olive, as an economically valuable tree, has fundamentally a genotype-dependant low micropropagation rate which needs to be improved in already established and newly released cultivars. Various plant tissue culture media, planting systems and growth factors were evaluated in two promissing Iranian olive cultivars ˈAminˈ and ˈMeshkatˈ and the commercial Spanish cultivar ˈArbequinaˈ. Results The results showed that cultivars have their specific optimal media, i.e. ˈAminˈ in the MS with 4 mg/L zeatin, ˈArbequinaˈ in the OM with 1 mg/L zeatin, and ˈMeshkatˈ in the OM and MS with 2 mg/L zeatin, which produced significantly a higher number of axillary shoots than other media. The results also indicated a significant improvement in the growth indices of ˈAminˈ (number of axillary shoots) when cultured using periodical mini bioreactor (PMB) in the VS medium. In comparison with VS, OM did not reveal any significant differences when both culturing systems (PMB and semi-solid media (SSM)) were used. Regarding the effect of carbon source and light intensity, mannitol and 2000 cd sr m−2 greatly enhanced ˈArbequinaˈ growth indices (main shoot length and growth quality). The results of genetic stability of callus induced shoots (CIS) and meristem induced shoots (MIS) revealed that 2C DNA value assessed by partec flow cytometery (FCM) had 0.01, 0.03 and 0.08 pg discrepencies in ˈAminˈ, ˈArbequinaˈ and ˈMeshkatˈ, repectively. The Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) results also indicated that the cultivars were classified regardless of the micropropagation origin (CIS or MIS), except for ˈArbequinaˈ. The AFLP findings showed that ˈArbequinaˈ had the highest dispersal (7–38%) in CIS and MIS, while the Iranian cultivar of ˈMeshkatˈ (5–9%) had the highest stability. Conclusions This study indicated the importance of in vitro growth parameters for improving the micropropagation indices of olive cultivars. It showed that optimized protocols (OM, PMB, zeatin, mannitol and 2000 cd sr m−2) co-produced larger calli resulting in indirect organogenesis. Based on FCM and AFLP analysis, it can be concluded that true-to-typeness of micropropagated olive was cultivar-dependent.

The effect of pulsing on the postharvest behavior of cut tuberose was evaluated in the cultivars ‘Mexican Single’ and ‘The Pearl’. Spikes of both were harvested with 1 or 2 of their basal buds open and treated with 20% sucrose and 200 mg of hydroxyquinoline citrate (sucrose + HQC). Pulsing increased the relative fresh weight of spikes, although water uptake in ‘The Pearl’ was greater regardless. After 5 days, visual quality was scored as ‘excellent’ and ‘good’ in ‘Mexican Single’ and ‘The Pearl’, respectively, and the greatest number of open and of senescent flowers occurred in the latter independent of pulsing. CIE L*C*h values and total sugars increased more noticeably among pulsed florets in ‘The Pearl’, whereas higher rates of respiration occurred in the unpulsed spikes of ‘Mexican Single’. Catalase activity was constant in ‘The Pearl’, although superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities were higher and similar to, respectively, those of ‘Mexican Single’. These differences in physical, physiological and enzymatic behavior are important to consider when developing postharvest conservation and management strategies that are specific for each variety. Resumo O efeito do pulsing no comportamento pós-colheita de angélica foi avaliado para as cultivares ‘Mexican Single’ e ‘The Pearl’. As inflorescências de ambas foram colhidas com 1 ou 2 de seus botões basais abertos e tratadas com 20% de sacarose e 200 mg de citrato de hidroxiquinolina (sacarose + HQC). O pulsing aumentou o peso relativo fresco das inflorescências, embora a captação de água na ‘The Pearl’ tenha sido maior. Após 5 dias, a qualidade visual foi classificada como ‘excelente’ e ‘boa’ em ‘Mexican Single’ e ‘The Pearl’, respectivamente, e o maior número de flores abertas e senescentes ocorreu no último pulsing. Os valores de CIE L*C*h e açúcares totais aumentaram entre as flores tratadas de ‹The Pearl›, enquanto taxas mais altas de respiração ocorreram na testemunha de ‹Mexican Single›. A atividade da catalase foi constante em ‹The Pearl›, embora as atividades de superóxido dismutase e peroxidase tenham sido mais altas e semelhantes, respectivamente, às da ‹Mexican Single›. Essas diferenças no comportamento físico, fisiológico e enzimático são importantes a serem consideradas ao desenvolver estratégias de conservação e manejo pós-colheita, específicas para cada variedade.

IntroductionWheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the important crops in our country. this plant contains starch, protein, sugar and provides food for human population. In recent years, drought stress has become the main abiotic stress, and could decrease growth and yield of wheat. The application of biostimulants, i.e. amino acids, fulvic acid or seaweed extract were found to positive effect on plant growth which overcomes the harmful effect of some environmental stress such as drought. In recent years, the favorable effects of these substances on vegetative characteristics, yield and grain quality of wheat have been reported. Many studies have shown that the application of biostimulants can increase plant tolerance during abiotic stresses, especially water deficit. Little research have been done about the effects of biostimulants on wheat in Khuzestan yet. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of amini acid, fulvic acid and seaweed extract in drought stress on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of wheat. Materials and methodsThis experiment was conducted as split-plot in randomized complete block design with three replications at Behbahan Agricultural Research Station for one year (2017-2018). Irrigation interval considered as main factor in two levels: (70 mm and 130 mm evaporation from class A pan) and the sub factor was growth biostimulants in four levels :control (application of chemical fertilizers according to soil test), amino acid, fulvic acid and seaweed extract. Foliar application of amino ccid, fulvic acid and seaweed extract was done at a concentration of 0.5 % at two stages, tillering and heading. During experiment: plant height, number of spikes per m2, number of grain per spike, 1000- grain weight, grain yield, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, manganes and iron were recorded. Varince analysis were done by MSTATC statistical software and meanes were compared using Duncan,s Multiple Range Test. Results and discussionThe results showed a significant increase in grain yield in plants treated with biostimulants compared with control. The highest plant height, number of spikes per m2, number of grain per spike, 1000-grain weight and grain yield were recorded in amino acid treatment. The highest increase in N, K and grain Fe was achieved by amino acid while the highest increase in P, Zn and Mn of grain was obtained by seaweed extract compared with control. The results indicated that water deficit stress significantly reduced plant height, number of spikes per m-2, 1000 seed weight, grain yield and nutrients. Also, drought stress significantly reduced grain nutrient uptake. Intreraction of the irrigation levels and biostimulants on grain yield indicated that all biostimulants significantly increased the yield in drought stress. The application of amino acids and seaweeds significantly increased grain yield in compared with both controls (under water deficit stress and under water normal conditions) while the use of fulvic acid significantly increased grain yield in comparison to control under water deficit stress. Therefore, the application of amino acid and seaweed extract reduced the effects of water deficit stress. ConclusionsThe results of this study showed that increasing water deficit stress caused significant reduction of all studied traits. However, the application of amino acid and seaweed extract reduced the effects of water deficit stress and increased these traits compared with control under favorable irrigation condition. According to the results, the application of amino acid or seaweed extract is recommended in normal and drought stress condition for wheat cv brat.

IntroductionThe chickpea is mainly cultivated in agricultural systems in arid and semi-arid regions and needs low input. Specifications such as the ability to fix nitrogen, deep rooting and the effective use of atmospheric depression have led the plant to play an important role in stabilizing crop production systems. On average chickpea seed contain 23% protein is highly digestible. Water deficit stress is the most important factor limiting the growth and agricultural products in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Drought stress is one of the most important factors in grain yield reduction of chickpea during pod formation and grain filling. Amino acids facilitate the transfer of food in the vascular system by improving the permeability of the cell membrane. In plants under drought stress or salinity, proline is widely used as an osmotic regulator. In fact, amino acids are the main chain in the protein structure, and in turn, are effective in plant growth. Increased proline in chickpea leaves is a mechanism for osmotic adjustment under water stress conditions. Using the priming method is one of the methods for improving seed function and increasing the quality of seeds in adverse environmental conditions, In fact, priming shortens the time from planting to emergence and protects seed of harmful biotic and abiotic factors in the critical stage of seedling establishment. These treatments also result in the emergence of uniformity, resulting in a uniform establishment and improved yield in the crop. Materials and methodsIn order to study the effect of Anti-stress materials priming and foliar application on quantitative and qualitative yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) Adel cultivar under Irrigation regime an experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of Agriculture of Tarbiat Modares University as randomized complete block design arrangement in split plot with three replications. The main plots were included 1- optimal irrigation 2- Moderate Irrigation 3- severe Irrigation as withholding irrigation until depletion of 20, 45 and 70 percent of soil available water at root development zone respectively and then the plots were irrigated to field capacity from flowering to plant harvest. Priming and foliar application of anti-stress materials including proline, valine, alanine, commercial combination of amino acids and distilled water together with without anti-stress materials were randomized to the subplot units.ResultsThe results showed that priming and foliar application of anti-stress materials and optimal irrigation incresed the number of primary branches to the 58.31% and 36.38%, plant fresh weight to the 108.25% and 36.16%, chlorophyll a to the 40.90% and 68.35%, number of seeds/plant to the 74.48% and 34.66%, pod per plant to the 48.13% and 45.12%, duration of ripening to the 9.53% and 8.65, yield forage to the 30.56% and 39.44%, biological yield to the 65.16% and 44.82% in chekpea in compring with using severe irrigation and without priming and anti-stress materials foliar application treatments repectively. Also 1000 kernel weight and harvest index were increased %20.67 and 27.82% in optimal irrigation related to severe irrigation. Interaction effects between irrigation regimes and anti-stress materials on chlorophyll b showed that the highest rate chlorophyll b related to optimal irrigation with using commercial amino acids to to the 80% and the least it related to severe irrigation without anti-stress materials to the 24%. Application of amino acids was significant in most traits such as number of primary branches, plant fresh weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, Number of seeds/plant, pod per plant, duration of ripening, yield forage, biological yield. ConclusionDrought stress reduced photosynthesis and limited the amount of assimilate and thus reduced the yield and yield components In this experiment. In most cases, the application of priming and foliar application of amino acids had a positive effect on the traits, including number of primary branches, plant fresh weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, number of seeds/plant, pod per plant, duration of ripening, yield forage, biological yield at drought stress condition. Therefore, the use of amino acids, especially its commercial combination or proline, is recommended to reduce the effects of water deficit stress in the chickpea Adel cultivar.

Identification of loci and linked markers enable the marker-assisted selection for transferring the reproductive phase heat tolerance in rice. Microsatellite marker-based bulked segregant analysis (BSA) for heat tolerance was performed in F3 progenies of the cross between temperature sensitive high yielding variety Uma and tolerant variety N22. High-temperature stress ranged from 23.33 to 38.99 °C at the booting-stage, and spikelet-fertility was considered as a direct measure of tolerance. N22 has exhibited a high spikelet-fertility of 90.92 per cent against 2.62 per cent, 44.78 per cent in Uma and F3 plants, respectively. Of the 197 microsatellite markers screened, 41 were found to be polymorphic and used for BSA of tolerant and susceptible F3 bulk along with both the parents. Marker RM5749 on chromosome 4 had co-segregated with tolerance, whereas, previously reported markers for heat tolerance in rice did not have an effect in the study population. The LOD value obtained during single marker analysis for the linkage between marker RM5749 and spikelet fertility was 6.86, indicating a strong linkage with the spikelet fertility under heat stress. The failure of the reported markers in our population suggests that the reproductive phase heat tolerance mechanisms in rice vary across the populations and the markers have to be validated for each population before being employed in MAS.

Chinese cabbage, belonging to Brassica rapa species, is an important vegetable in Eastern Asia. It is well known that Chinese cabbage is quite recalcitrant to genetic transformation and the transgenic frequency is generally low. The lack of an efficient and stable genetic transformation system for Chinese cabbage has largely limited related gene functional studies. In this study, we firstly developed a regeneration system for Chinese cabbage by optimizing numerous factors, with 93.50% regeneration rate on average. Based on this, a simple and efficient Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation method was established, without pre-culture procedure and concentration adjustment of hormone and AgNO3 in co-cultivation and selection media. Using this system, transformants could be obtained within 3.5 to 4.0 months. Average transformation frequency is up to 10.83%. The establishment of this simple and efficient genetic transformation method paved the way for further gene editing and functional studies in Chinese cabbage.

The rich diversity of the Cerrado flora has great ornamental potential, however it is barely present in Landscape Architecture projects in Brazil and incipient in the commercial market. The study sought to systematize part of the knowledge generated by the experiences of eight professionals who work in the Landscape Architecture field and are part of a spontaneous and growing movement that seeks the development of management techniques and a language referenced by phytophysiognomies of the Cerrado, especially its savannas and grasslands. Information was gathered from semi-structured interviews with eight professionals with practical experience in introducing Cerrado flora species in Landscape Architecture projects and analyzed to identify motivations, composition and language aspects, most-used species, technical aspects of implementation and management and perceptions of market and production chain. Reiterated points were mapped and categorized. Interviews revealed efforts to develop a compositional language referenced by the Cerrado with a predominance of herbaceous species and high species diversity in keeping with the contemporary naturalistic Landscape Architecture movement. A list of 84 potentially ornamental species used by interviewees was compiled. Difficulties and market impasses were identified. Much needed strategies for increasing Cerrado flora species use in Landscape Architecture are: engagement of society via environmental education, communication and marketing; research on Cerrado soil and ecology for species selection; qualification of labor; advocacy for public policies including promotion of production chains, research and education. Resumo A rica diversidade da flora do Cerrado tem alto potencial ornamental, porém é pouco presente em projetos paisagísticos no Brasil e incipiente no mercado comercial. O estudo buscou sistematizar parte do conhecimento gerado pelas experiências em paisagismo de oito profissionais que fazem parte de um movimento espontâneo e crescente buscando o desenvolvimento de técnicas de manejo e de uma linguagem paisagística referenciada pelas fitofisionomias do Cerrado, especialmente suas savanas e campos. A informação foi colhida por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas com oito profissionais com experiência prática na introdução de espécies da flora do Cerrado em projetos de paisagismo e analisada para identificar aspectos de motivação, composição e linguagem, espécies mais usadas, aspectos técnicos da implementação e manejo e as percepções de mercado e da cadeia produtiva. Pontos reiterados foram mapeados e categorizados. As entrevistas revelam os esforços envidados para desenvolver uma linguagem composicional referenciada pelo Cerrado com a predominância de espécies herbáceas e alto índice de diversidade compatíveis com o paisagismo naturalista contemporâneo. Foi compilada uma lista de 84 espécies com potencial ornamental e impasses associados ao mercado foram identificados. As estratégias necessárias para estimular o aumento no uso de espécies da flora do Cerrado no paisagismo são: o engajamento da sociedade por meio de educação ambiental, comunicação, ‘marketing’; pesquisa em solos e ecologia do Cerrado para viabilizar a seleção de espécies; treinamento de mão de obra especializada; e ‘advocacy’ para obter políticas públicas promovendo as respectivas cadeias de produção, pesquisa e educação.

Stone cells have been described to substantially influence pear fruit quality, as lignin and cellulose are the main components of stone cells. However, there are limited studies on the relationship between the variation and molecular basis of stone cells, lignin and cellulose content among different pear varieties. Here, to reveal the variation of stone cell content within different cultivated species, we collected 236 germplasms of sand pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) at 50 days after flower blooming (DAFB), the key stage of stone cell formation. In our results, we measured the content of stone cells, lignin and cellulose and found that these contents ranged from 2.82% to 29.00%, 8.84% to 55.30% and 11.52% to 30.55%, respectively. Further analysis showed that the variation coefficient of stone cell, lignin and cellulose content was 39.10%, 28.03% and 16.71%, respectively. Additionally, a significant correlation between stone cell, lignin and cellulose content were detected, and the correlation coefficient between the contents of stone cell and lignin (0.912) was higher than between the contents of stone cell and cellulose (0.796). Moreover, the average lignin content (29.73%) was higher than the average cellulose content (18.03%) in stone cells in pear fruits, indicating that lignin is the main component of stone cell in pears. Finally, on the basic of the transcriptome data, we identified 10 transcription factors belonging to bHLH, ERF, MYB, and NAC transcript families, which might be involved in lignin formation in stone cells. qRT-PCR experiments verified coincident trends between expression of candidate genes and stone cell content. This research laid foundation for future studies on genetic variation of stone cells in pear fruits and provided important gene resources for stone cell regulation.

Salinity stress is one of the most important of abiotic stress that affects the yield of oilseed rape. In order to study some physiological and biochemical changes and BnaCDPK14 transcript expression in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), two tolerant cultivars (Slm046 and Zarfam) and two susceptible cultivars (Okapi and Sarigol) were planted in a growth chamber and were irrigated by water including 100 and 200 mM NaCl and normal water. Relative water content, electrolyte leakage, antioxidant enzyme guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX), antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) and the expression of calcium-dependent protein kinase 14 (BnaCDPK14) were measured. The results indicated the relative water content and electrolyte leakage (200 mM NaCl) decreased and increased under stress respectively. The antioxidant enzyme guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX), catalase (CAT) and BnaCDPK14 increased by salinity stress, tolerant cultivars showing more increase. Negative correlation was observed between the relative water content of leaves and electrolyte leakage. There was a high positive correlation between the guaiacol peroxidase and catalase contents and the expression of BnaCDPK14, indicating that by increasing the reactive oxygen species under stress, the plant enzymic antioxidant system helps the plant to cope with it. Salinity stress is one of the most important of abiotic stress that affects the yield of oilseed rape. In order to study some physiological and biochemical changes and BnaCDPK14 transcript expression in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), two tolerant cultivars (Slm046 and Zarfam) and two susceptible cultivars (Okapi and Sarigol) were planted in a growth chamber and were irrigated by water including 100 and 200 mM NaCl and normal water. Relative water content, electrolyte leakage, antioxidant enzyme guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX), antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) and the expression of calcium-dependent protein kinase 14 (BnaCDPK14) were measured. The results indicated the relative water content and electrolyte leakage (200 mM NaCl) decreased and increased under stress respectively. The antioxidant enzyme guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX), catalase (CAT) and BnaCDPK14 increased by salinity stress, tolerant cultivars showing more increase. Negative correlation was observed between the relative water content of leaves and electrolyte leakage. There was a high positive correlation between the guaiacol peroxidase and catalase contents and the expression of BnaCDPK14, indicating that by increasing the reactive oxygen species under stress, the plant enzymic antioxidant system helps the plant to cope with it. Salinity stress is one of the most important of abiotic stress that affects the yield of oilseed rape. In order to study some physiological and biochemical changes and BnaCDPK14 transcript expression in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), two tolerant cultivars (Slm046 and Zarfam) and two susceptible cultivars (Okapi and Sarigol) were planted in a growth chamber and were irrigated by water including 100 and 200 mM NaCl and normal water. Relative water content, electrolyte leakage, antioxidant enzyme guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX), antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) and the expression of calcium-dependent protein kinase 14 (BnaCDPK14) were measured. The results indicated the relative water content and electrolyte leakage (200 mM NaCl) decreased and increased under stress respectively. The antioxidant enzyme guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX), catalase (CAT) and BnaCDPK14 increased by salinity stress, tolerant cultivars showing more increase. Negative correlation was observed between the relative water content of leaves and electrolyte leakage. There was a high positive correlation between the guaiacol peroxidase and catalase contents and the expression of BnaCDPK14, indicating that by increasing the reactive oxygen species under stress, the plant enzymic antioxidant system helps the plant to cope with it.

Introduction One of the most important stages in the life cycle is germination, which is controlled by various environmental and genetic factors. Temperature and water potential are the most important factors in germination control. Different models for quantization of germination response to temperature and osmotic potential have been used. Quantification of germination response to osmotic potential and temperature is possible using non-liner regression models. Therefore, this research was carried out to determine the cardinal temperature of germination (base temperature, optimum and maximum germination) of safflower of Sofeh cultivar under different osmotic stress (drought stress) conditions and seed deterioration. Material and methods In this study germination response to water potential in different temperature were studied. Treatments included osmotic levels (0, -0.4 and -0.8 MPa), temperature (5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 35 and 40 °C) and seed deterioration (0 and 5 days). Ccumulative germination response of seeds to differential water potential and temperature were quantified using three-parameter sigmoidal model. For quantifying response of germination rate to temperature for different osmotic potential were used of 3 non-linear regression models (segmented, dent-like and beta). The root mean square of errors (RMSE), coefficient of determination (R2), CV and SE for relationship between the observed and the predicted germination percentage were used to select the superior model from among the employed methods. Germination percentage and time to 50% maximum seed germination of safflower were calculated for the different temperatures and osmotic potential by fitting 3-parameter sigmoidal functions to cumulative germination data. Results Results indicated that temperature in addition to germination percentage also on germination rate was effective. Also results showed that germination percentage and germination rate increased with increasing temperature, while germination percentage and germination rate reduced as a result of water potential increment. Results indicated that under different osmotic potential as 0, -0.4 and -0.8 MPa, the segmented model estimated base temperature as 2.23, 3.67 and 4.33 °C, the dent model estimated base temperature as 3, 3.96 and 4.33 °C, the beta model estimated base temperature as -1.22, -1.28 and -2.28 °C, the segmented model estimated optimum temperature as 23.05, 25.44 and 24.19 °C, the optimum temperature using beta model as 28.89, 28.99 and 26.46 °C, the dent-like model estimated lower limit of optimum temperature and upper limit of optimum temperature as 21.12, 21.92 and 20.16 and 30.07, 25 and 23.27 °C, ceiling temperature using segmented model were 40, 40 and 35 °C, using dent-like model were 40, 39.83 and 35 °C, using beta model were 40, 35 and 34.82 °C, the segmented model estimated fo as 23.02, 69.51 and 84.17 h, the dent-like model estimated as 27, 75.99 and 83.87 h and using beta model were 26.09, 75.09 and 103.41 h, respectively. In compared 3 models according to the root mean square of errors (RMSE) of germination time, the coefficient of determination (R2), CV and SE the best model for determination of cardinal temperatures of seed control of safflower for 0 MPa was dent-like model and for -0.4 and -0.8 MPa was segmented model and for seed deterioration of safflower in all osmotic potential was segmented model. In general, results indicated that lower limit of optimum temperature and upper limit of optimum temperature and ceiling temperature reduced but fo increased as a result of water potential increment. Conclusion Germination of safflower response to different temperatures and osmotic potentials, led to acceptable results. Utilizing the output of non-liner models at different temperatures can be useful in prediction of germination rate in different water potential.

An experiment on correlation and path analysis involving thirty F1 and six parents of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) was carried during rabi, 2018 at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The genotypic correlation coefficient was higher in magnitude than the corresponding phenotypic correlation coefficient for most of the characters. The fruit yield per plant had exhibited a highly significant and positive correlation with fruit length (0.837) and the number of fruits per plant (0.716). The genetic improvement of fruit yield thus can be obtained by selection for these yield components. Path coefficient analysis revealed that the characters viz., the number of fruits per plant (0.962), days to first harvest (0.922) and fruit girth (0.616) had a high positive direct effect on fruit yield per plant. Thus, the fruit yield per plant can be improved by making the selection of these traits in the yield improvement programme.

New peach orchards in the southeastern United States are often not irrigated until 3 or 4 years after planting. During those years, the only water comes from rainfall. Droughts in the region are becoming more common, making irrigation more important. At the same time, fertilization practices follow recommendations developed decades ago and may not be optimal for current production practices. This research aimed to investigate the effect of different irrigation and fertilization practices on young ‘Julyprince’ trees grafted onto ‘Guardian™’ rootstock. The treatments consisted of irrigated vs. nonirrigated trees, drip- vs. microsprinkler-irrigated trees, and four different fertilizer levels (25%, 50%, 100%, and 200%; with 100% = current fertilizer recommendations). Responses to the treatments varied by year. In 2016, below-average rainfall (severe drought as classified by the U.S. Drought Monitor) was recorded throughout the year. This severe drought reduced the growth of nonirrigated trees compared with irrigated trees (average reductions of 56% in canopy volume, 39% in trunk cross-sectional area, 39% in leaf and stem water potential, and 40% in leaf photosynthesis). The adverse effects on tree growth and physiological responses of the 2016 season carried over to 2017, which was characterized by a short period of below-average rainfall in early spring. Nonirrigated trees displayed advanced budbreak progression; reduced commercial yield (10.9 vs. 13.4 kg/tree for nonirrigated vs. irrigated trees); and smaller trunk cross-sectional area (54.0 vs. 70.1 cm2) and canopy volume (8.9 vs. 10.9 m3) compared with irrigated trees. In 2018, rainfall was like the historical average throughout the year. Major differences continued to be trunk cross-sectional area (103.4 vs. 126.7 cm2) and canopy volume (15.8 vs. 17.8 m3), with nonirrigated trees being smaller than irrigated trees. No major or consistent differences were found between drip vs. microsprinkler irrigation or among fertilizer levels during the 3 years of the experiment. During the first years of orchard establishments, irrigation resulted in increased plant growth, commercial yield, and superior water status (higher values of water potential) compared with no irrigation, especially when rainfall was below the historical average. Although no major differences were found between the irrigation systems, drip irrigation used 35% less water than microsprinkler irrigation. While different fertilizer levels did not induce major differences in young trees’ growth and yield, potential economic savings and long-term effects of reduced fertilizer applications are being monitored as trees mature.

The amounts and types of epicuticular waxes on onion (Allium cepa) leaves affect the severity of feeding damage by onion thrips (Thrips tabaci), a serious insect pest of onion. Onion plants with light green leaves are referred to as “glossy” and accumulate less epicuticular wax relative to the blue–green (“waxy”) foliage of wild-type onion. The onion cultivar Odourless Greenleaf (OGL) has visually glossy foliage, shows resistance to thrips feeding damage, and has the unique profile of accumulating waxes with 28 or fewer carbons. Plants of glossy OGL were crossed with the glossy inbred B9885 and waxy inbred lines DH2107, DH066619, and B8667. Hybrid progenies from glossy OGL by waxy plants had waxy foliage, indicating recessiveness of the glossy OGL phenotype relative to the waxy phenotype. Hybrids from the cross of glossy OGL with glossy B9885 were also waxy, revealing different genetic bases for the glossy phenotype in these two onions. Hybrid plants were self-pollinated and segregations in F2 families from OGL × waxy crosses fit the expected 3:1 ratio for the single locus at which the homozygous recessive genotype conditions glossy foliage. Segregations in F2 families from crosses of glossy 9885 × glossy OGL fit the 9:7 ratio, supporting two independently segregating loci, where the recessive genotype at either locus conditions the glossy phenotype. Amounts and types of epicuticular waxes on leaves of F2 progenies from crosses of OGL × waxy B8667 and glossy B9885 × OGL were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped and genetic maps were constructed. The visually glossy phenotype from OGL and its unique profile of epicuticular waxes were conditioned by one locus on chromosome 6, for which we propose the name glogl. Onion populations such as OGL with unique epicuticular wax profiles will be important germplasms for the development of onion cultivars that suffer less feeding damage from onion thrips compared with waxy onion.

Genetic variability parameters were estimated for yield and yield attributing traits in twenty five genotypes of muskmelon during kharif, 2017 at College of Horticulture, Anantharajupeta, Andhra Pradesh in randomized block design with three replications. Analysis of variance revealed a highly significant difference for all the traits studied indicating a sufficient amount of variability exists in the genotypes. With respect to per se performance, the accession Suvarna was found to be better in performance for vine length and number of fruits per plant while maximum TSS, total sugars, fruit firmness and beta carotene was recorded by Alpur-1. In general, no single accession was found to be a better per se performer for all the traits under study. High genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation coupled with heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean were recorded for fruit firmness, β- carotene, yield per plant, fruit volume and number of fruits per plant.

Introduction Drought stress is one of the most important environmental stresses affecting plant growth and yield. Chickpeas are drought tolerant plant, but drought as a limiting factor affects their yield. Drought stress in chickpeas reduces the length of flowering period and decrees the growth period. There are various strategies for mitigating drought stress, in which nanotechnology has received special attention in plant sciences in recent years. The use of nanoparticles in various plant species indicates their positive effects on plant growth and development. Nanoparticles are atomic or molecular assemblies with dimensions of 1-100 nanometers. Highly permeable nanoparticles increase the water uptake of nutrients and ultimately improve growth. The use of nanoparticles can be effective as a way to mitigate the effects of drought stress. Materials and methods The experiment was carried out as a factorial experiment with three replications in a completely randomized design in a greenhouse. The morphological and physiological characteristics of the plant were assessed at different levels (40, 60 and 90 percentage) of field capacity (FC). FC was measured by calculating the amount of soil humidity. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) are used in five concentration including 0, 5, 20, 10 and 40 mg/L. Firstly characteristics of nanoparticles were investigated by measuring zeta potential, XRD and TEM. Secondly, a 100 mg/l mother solution was prepared in deionized water. TiO2-NPs were dispersed by ultrasonic bath for 40 min before spraying the solution on the plants. The plants completely were soaked by sprayed solution 4 times each 14 days .Finally after the growth duration some morphological and physiological parameters were measured. The data were analyzed using ANOVA with Statistical Analysis System (Minitab .17) software and the significance of difference between means was determined by Tuky test. Result and discussions The results showed that the leaf area of chickpea was significantly affected by the test factors and their interactions. A 35%-increase in leaf area was observed at the lowest level of irrigation after exposure to 20 mg/L of TiO2-NPs. Chlorophyll index of chickpea was significantly affected by the test factors and their interactions. The interaction of two test factors showed that with an increase in the concentration of TiO2-NPs to 20 mg/L, chlorophyll index of chickpea was increased in all levels of irrigation. At all levels of irrigation, using the concentration of 40 mg/L of TiO2-NPs, the chlorophyll index in chickpea leaves were reduced compared to the concentration of 20 mg/L. The highest osmotic potential was observed in 40% capacity after treatment with 5 and 10 mg/L titanium dioxide nanoparticles. There were no significant differences between 40 and 20 mg/L at this level of irrigation. At all irrigation levels, the application of the nanoparticle produced the highest osmotic potential, and thus, the use of nanoparticles increases the osmotic potential compared to control plants. Osmotic regulation under the water shortage conditions decreases cellular inflammation by maintaining water and collecting material in the cell. Also, the percentage of dry weight of the whole chickpea plants was significantly affected by the test factors and their interactions. The interaction of two factors showed that with the increasing concentration of TiO2-NPs to 20 mg/L, the dry weight of chickpea in the lowest irrigation level was increased by10% compared to control plants. Stomatal conductivity in all irrigation levels had an upward trend by using TiO2-NPs. Conclusion Generally, TiO2-NPs showed a positive effect on the total dry and fresh weight of the whole chickpea plants. The application of 20 mg/L TiO2-NPs at all levels of irrigation reduced drought stress and prevented further plant losses. The application of low concentration of nanoparticles promoted plant growth and at high levels showed inhibitory effects on growth. Taken all together, due to the increasing use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture, nano compounds can be used as an appropriate alternative that increases product quality.

Ten parents were mated in partial diallel fashion to develop twenty five crosses and were evaluated along with parents in Randomised block design. All the characters studied had non-additive and additive gene action as indicated by the significant differences of analysis of variances due to specific combining ability and general combining ability. The parents VS41, VS43 and VS47 were having significant general combining ability. The crosses VS-44 x VS-47, VS-9 x VS-43 and VS-43 x VS-47 exhibited the high SCA effect for pod yield per plant. Positive sca effects combined with negative gca effects of the respective parents were noticed for days to 50 per cent flowering in many hybrids suggesting the preponderance of dominance gene action.

Exploration missions were conducted to collect, characterize and conserve valuable landraces of desi cotton from the different States of India. Sixteen accessions of desi cotton (Gossypium herbaceum L.) collected from Gujarat and Tamil Nadu was characterized based on the morphological and also using Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) markers. Improved cultivars, such as G.Cot-25, Jayadhar and DDhc-11 were used as standard checks. Morphological characterization for 18 qualitative and 12 quantitative characters underscores the variability found in the collected germplasm accessions. Diversity studies using morphological data grouped the accessions into three major clusters. Notably, a medium range of variability was observed for fibre length (18.31-23.74 mm), uniformity ratio (51.68-58.88 %), micronaire (3.10-5.62) and fibre strength (15.42-17.89 g/tex). Molecular genetic diversity among the collected desi cotton accessions was performed using 42 SSR primer pairs. Of these, 24 (57%) SSR primer pairs exhibited polymorphism. These primers produced a total of 49 alleles across all the collected accessions. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 3 with a mean of 2.04. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged between 0.09-0.45 with a mean value of 0.29.The observed heterozygosity values for the marker loci varied from 0.0 to 0.63 with a mean value of 0.16 as against the expected values (0.10 to 0.53 with the mean of 0.36). Diversity analysis using SSR markers grouped the accessions into three major clusters.

Soil salinization is a widespread problem severely impacting crop production. Understanding how salt stress affects growth-controlling photosynthetic performance is essential for improving crop salt tolerance and alleviating the salt impact. Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) is an important crop, but little information is available on its growth and leaf gas exchange in relation to a wide range of salinity. In this study, the responses of leaf gas exchange and whole plant growth of lima bean (cv. Fordhook 242) to six salinities with electrical conductivity (EC) of 2.9 (control), 5.7, 7.8, 10.0, 13.0, and 15.5 dS·m−1 in irrigation waters were assessed. Significant linear reduction by increasing salinity was observed on plant biomass, bean yield, and leaf net carbon assimilation rate (A). As EC increased from the control to 15.5 dS·m−1, plant biomass and A decreased by 87% and 69%, respectively, at the vegetative growth stage, and by 96% and 83%, respectively, at the pod growth stage, and bean yield decreased by 98%. Judged by the linear relations, the reduction in A accounted for a large portion of the growth reduction and bean yield loss. Salinity also had a significantly negative and linear effect on leaf stomatal conductance (gS). Leaf intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) and leaf C13 isotope discrimination (Δ13) declined in parallel significantly with increasing salinity. The A-Ci curve analysis revealed that stomatal limitation [Lg (percent)] to A increased significantly and linearly, from 18% to 78% and from 22% to 87% at the vegetative and pod-filling stages, respectively, as EC increased from the control to the highest level. Thus, relatively nonstomatal or biochemical limitation [Lm (percent), Lm = 100 − Lg] to A responded negatively to increasing salinity. This result is coincident with the observed Δ13 salt-response trend. Furthermore, leaf carboxylation efficiency and CO2-saturated photosynthetic capacity [maximum A (Amax)] were unaffected by increasing salinity. Our results strongly indicate that the reduction in lima bean A by salt stress was mainly due to stomatal limitation and biochemical properties for photosynthesis might not be impaired. Because stomatal limitation reduces A exactly from lowering CO2 availability to leaves, increasing CO2 supply with an elevated CO2 concentration may raise A of the salt-stressed lima bean leaves and alleviate the salt impact. This is supported by our finding that the external CO2 concentration for 50% of Amax increased significantly and linearly with increasing salinity at the both growth stages. Leaf water use efficiency showed an increasing trend and no evident decline in leaf chlorophyll soil plant analysis development (SPAD) readings was observed as salinity increased.

The aim of current study is to detect Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, and B. divergens in ticks using molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. In a totally 180 cattle examined to collect of tick samples during December 2018 to August 2019, the findings were revealed on 63 (35%) cattle infested with ticks that classified morphologically to belong to the genus of Hyalomma and genus of Rhipicephalus. From 50 tick samples tested by PCR assay, 41 (82%) were infested by Babesia genus including 30 (68.18%) infested with B. bovis and 11 (31.82%) infested with B. bigemina; whereas, no tick samples were found to be infested with B. divergens. To document the local isolated strains, five PCR products of each B. bovis and B. bigemina positive strains were selected, sequenced and reported in the NCBI under the accession numbers of (MN727083.1, MN727084.1, MN727085.1, MN727086.1, and MN727087.1) and (MN741113.1, MN741114.1, MN741115.1,MN741116.1, and MN741117.1) respectively.

Eighty five local isolates of Lactobacillus sp. which were isolated from different sources and identified by biochemical test then subjected to the primary and secondary screening processes to select the active Lactobacillus sp. isolate for biosurfactant production. Among the isolates screened, twenty six isolates with maximum for tests in primary screening were selected for secondary screening. It has been found that Lactobacillus sp. ADK2 had the highest productivity of the biosurfactant. The selected isolate with highest level of biosurfactant activity was identified as Lactobacillus plantarum ADK2 according to PCR technique. The optimum conditions of biosurfactant production by isolate Lactobacillus plantarum ADK2 using submerged fermentation were obtained in the synthetic mineral salt medium (MSM) and natural BCDFTM medium the best production medium separately, 1.5% (lactose and egg) as the best carbon source, 2% meat extract and 3.5% Pease as nitrogen source, temperature 30 °C for two media and pH 5 with pH 3 in MSM and BCDFTM respectively, after 96 hr and 72 hr in MSM and BCDFTM respectively of incubation period.

Several plant species could be produce bioactive compounds, which play a key role in protecting human health, Chia is one of these plant species which has been gaining growing popularity among the traditional medicine groups. In order to sustainably produce plant biomass and its phytochemical content. Numerous biotechnological approaches need to be employed, and elicitation has proven to be a very effective method for increased secondary metabolite production in various in vitro culture. The current research involves the application of various concentrations of SA as an elicitor with 2,4-D and BAP in callus cultures, and the main aim was to stimulate the accumulation of biomass and phytochemical contents. The results showed that the highest concentration of keamferol and gallic acid compounds in callus of S. hispanica were occurred in the treatment with 2 mgl-1 2,4-D and 2mgl-1 SA in the presence of 0.5mgl-1 BA.

This study was amid to isolate soil fungi from agriculture soil and study their roles in the biodegradation of carbendazim fungicide at different concentrations were explored for two periods of incubation. Results showed the highest degradation rates of carbendazim at 4 part per million (ppm) concentration were observed by using single culture of Aspergillus niger (69.66% and 99.96% after 10 and 20 days, respectively).In the mixed cultures of Exerohilum sp., Fusarium sp., and A. niger, the maximum degradation rate (98.34%) was achieved at the same concentration after 10 days. The mixed culture of Exerohilum sp. and Fusarium sp. demonstrated the highest degradation rates of (92.14% and 55.74%) at 8 and 12 ppm concentrations, respectively, after 10 days of incubation.

Myrtaceae family is widely distributed in Asia has been the largest group of plant; mainly trees and few shrubs. Distributed all over the world in tropical and subtropical areas. Syzygium is the largest genus with economical value found all over the Malaysian Peninsular. Evolutionary relationships within the Syzygium is unclear and there are currently no reliable criteria to divide the genus into manageable entities for systematic study. Species of Syzygium is the richest genus of woody plants in South East Asia with approximately 1000 or more species but little is known about the genus. Syzygium polyanthum Wight is one of the favourites Ulam that have been consumed for ages in Peninsular Malaysia and also as herbal medicine. The species is widely misunderstood due to extreme morphological variability, similarity in aroma and flavor. The species is substituted or adulterated with several other species. The study was aimed to construct phenetic tree and unsupervised multivariate analysis from morphological and anatomical the data matrix. Phenetic analysis, Principal component and hierarchical cluster analysis revealed they are two different cultivars species but inter variation exited among cultivars of same species. The above documented information has added new taxonomic information with regard to the identification of the cultivars in Peninsular Malaysia. The study recommends further study on de novo sequence of Serai kayu and Serai kayu hutan.

Radix auricularia (Lymnaea auricularia) snails are the main intermediate host of Fasciola gigantica in the middle and South of Iraq. Recently, some studies suggest these snails are not present in Iraq, in particular Basrah province. Thus, the current study was aimed to use the bioinformatics analysis in the determination of Radix sp. in Basrah and also aimed to identify morphological characteristics of this species in the AL-Sewaib river, Basrah. Four hundred R. auricularia snails were collected from the AL-Sewaib river during May 2018 to March 2019. The results of the bioinformatics analysis showed according to the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, the presence of R. auricularia snails in Basrah province and these snails are more closely related to Iranian R. auricularia snails than those for European counties and Russia. This study also displayed the existence of the polymorphism phenomenon in R. auricularia snails collected from the AL-Sewaib river which there were six different forms (A, B, C, D, E and F). These forms had variations in the colour and form of shells along with a variation in the number of eggs (30-56) per an egg mass. In addition to this, these R. auricularia forms had variations in their distributions. Form E had the highest spread percentage (33%) followed by 17, 15, 14, 11 and 10% for forms B, D, C, A and F, respectively. These forms had also variations in their morphological characteristics. The largest form was the form D whereas the smallest form was the form B but other forms A, C, E and F were similar and had moderate sizes.Thus, the current study concludes the existence of R. auricularaia snails in Basrah as a representative city for the southern part of Iraq and also confirmed the presence of the polymorphism phenomenon in the members of R. auricularaia obtained from the AL-Sewaib river.

This study was aimed to investigate the response surface methodology (RSM) to evaluate the effects of various experimental conditions on the removal of levofloxacin (LVX) from the aqueous solution by means of electrocoagulation (EC) technique with stainless steel electrodes. The EC process was achieved successfully with the efficiency of LVX removal of 90%. The results obtained from the regression analysis, showed that the data of experiential are better fitted to the polynomial model of second-order with the predicted correlation coefficient (pred. R2) of 0.723, adjusted correlation coefficient (Adj. R2) of 0.907 and correlation coefficient values (R2) of 0.952. This shows that the predicted models and experimental values are in good agreement. The results of the kinetic study showed that the second-order kinetic model was in good agreement with the experimental results and suggested that the mechanism of chemisorption controlled the LVX adsorption. The experimental results indicated that the adsorption of LVX on iron hydroxide flocs follows Sips isotherm with the value of the correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.937. Sips isotherm shows that both homogenous and heterogeneous adsorption can occur.

This study was carried out in Karaj, Iran in 2017 and 2018 to assess the efficacy of summer sowing (June 22) versus spring sowing (April 20) of six sugar beet genotypes at three harvest times (October 13, November 2, and November 23) via the measurement of catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and agronomic traits. Results showed that in both sowing dates, higher growth and temperature were related to higher CAT activity and MDA content, and the maximum MDA and CAT activity were observed in 1700−1900 growth degree days (GDD). Genotypes responded to the shortening of the growth period differently. The best genotypes for summer sowing were found to be ‘Paya’, ‘IR7’, and ‘Pars’ when a combination of the least response to delayed sowing and the highest root yield in the summer sowing conditions was considered. Compared to the spring sowing, the summer sowing decreased white sugar yield (WSY) of all cultivars by 28.3−50.5% in the first year and 5.3−32.4% in the second year. ‘Paya’ and ‘IR7’ were the most capable cultivars in preserving WSY so that they maintained 70% of their yields. In addition, the genotypes exhibited their highest WSY at the November 23 harvest date so that root, raw sugar and white sugar yields were 41.21, 6.35 and 5.02 t ha−1 higher at the November 23 harvest date than at the October 13 harvest date, respectively. Based on the results, if summer-sown sugar beets are considered as a cash crop in rotation with grains and there is no limitation on water supply, it can then be recommended to farmers as it can make good profits for them.

A field experiment was conducted in silty loam soil to study the effect of vermicompost fertilizer and inoculums Rhizobium legumenosarum on growth and yield of mung bean (Vigni radiate L.), and some soil properties after planting. The experiment consists of nine treatments as follows :T1: control , T2: full recommended mineral fertilizer, T3: vermicompost 8 t.ha-1, T4: vermicompost 16 t.ha-1, T5: vermicompost 8 t.ha-1+ rhizobia, T6: vermicompost16 t.ha-1+ rhizobia, T7: vermicompost 2 t.ha-1+ ½ recommended mineral fertilizer, T8: rhizobia + ½ recommended mineral fertilizer, T9: vermicompost 8 t.ha-1 + rhizobia +½ recommended mineral fertilizer. The experiment was conducted according to RCBD design with three replications. The results were indicated that the use of vermicompost 16 t. ha-1 with the rhizobia inoculation (T6) has improved some soil properties, as this treatment reduced the pH and EC of the soil to 7.18 and 2.20 dsm-1. While CEC and O.M increased to 47.9 Cmole Kg-1 and 2.96%, respectively. Whereas, the treatment T9 was superior in most of the traits, including plant height (70.1 cm), Root weight (5.8 g plant-1) and a number of active and total root nodes (41.3 and 36.6 nodes plant -1). The treatment T9 also gave the best characteristics of the yield components, including the number of pods plant-1, weight of pods plant-1, weight 1000 seeds (g), total yield and was 51.0 pods plant-1, 92.4 g plant -1,49.8 g.plant-1, 1216.95 kg.ha-1 respectively.

Twenty four Black goat does at 1st week post kidding were adapted to control diet for 2 weeks and then blocked into 4 groups (6 does/group) to be fed on one of the experimental diets (0, 5, 10 and 15% oak acorns) to study the effect of different levels of oak acorns on milk yield, milk composition and some serum biochemical traits. Results revealed that at 10th week of lactation, there was a significant increase in daily milk yield in does fed on 15% oak acorns. In contrast the group fed on 15% oak acorns exhibited a significant decrease in milk protein and solid non-fat contents at 10th week of lactation. The milk lactose yield was significantly higher in group fed on 15% oak acorns at 10th week of lactation. The serum glucose concentration at 8th week of lactation was significantly higher in does fed on 10% oak acorns while at 10th week; it was significantly higher in does fed 5% oak acorns. It could be concluded that feeding does on diets containing 15% oak acorns caused a significant increase in daily milk yield of Black goats and a significant decrease in milk protein content.

Silybum marianum (L.), is an important herbal medicine. Silymarin, the active component obtained from its edible seeds, is known for its antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. This research was aimed to study the effect of foliar application of salicylic acid (SA) at four concentrations of 1250, 2500, 5000 and 10000 μmol l-1 on the improvement of phytochemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Significant increase was found in the content of silibinin, silybin A and silybin B in plants treated with increasing concentrations of salicylic acid. The antioxidant activity was improved with increasing the SA concentration reaching the highest amount under 5000 μmol l-1 SA treatment (p < 0.05). Irrespective to the bacterial strain, an increasing pattern in the amount of antibacterial activity was found by increasing SA concentration. The study suggest that treatments with medium doses of SA could be a promising way to improve the health beneficial flavonolignans compounds of Silybum marianum resulting in a higher antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Nevertheless, it should be considered that the responses to SA are highly concentration dependent and application of higher concentrations can have an adverse effect by triggering a hyper sensitive cell death pathway.

Reproductive efficiency in terms of fertility, Prolificacy and survival rate are considered the major components of overall efficiency in sheep productivity. While fertility of Awassi ewes is moderate to high depending on feeding and management practices, however, litter size is low and Awassi is not considered a prolific breed. Heritability estimates of these traits are rather low, and reflect small genetic variation in these traits. The possible avenues for increasing reproductive capacity environmentally and genetically are discussed in the text of this review article.

This study aimed to estimate rice farms efficiency using qualitative response models. The survied field included three districts in Najaf (Al Mishkhab, Al Hirah, Al Manadhira) during agricultural season 2017, including a random sample of 80 farms, representing 7.5% of the total farms. To achieve the goals, analysis was divided into two stages, the first stage was measuring the economic efficiency according to entry guidance of rice farms, while the second stage involved the analysis of factors affecting the economic efficiency of rice farms using the binomial logistic regression model to obtain a mathematical relationship between the dependent variable (response variable), which represents the economic efficiency of rice farms and the independent variables represented by age, experience and education of the owners , geographical area and type of possession for the farms. DEAP software was used to estimate economic efficiency and SPSS software to analyze the logistic regression of the factors affecting economic efficiency. The results showed that the average economic efficiency according to the Economic efficiency was 66.7%, which means that rice farmers can obtain the same production using 66.7% of the total costs i.e. there is a 33% waste in economic resources in the research sample.The logistic regression results indicated that each of experience (more than 35 years), education (university degree) and farm area (greater than 15 dunums) had a significant effect on the efficiency of the rice crop farms.

In 2014, an intensive multileader apple rootstock orchard trial was established in Trento province, Northern Italy, using dwarf (‘M.9-T337’) and semidwarf rootstocks (‘G.935’, ‘G.969’, and ‘M.116’) and ‘Gala’, ‘Golden Delicious’, and ‘Fuji’ as the scion cultivars. Trees were trained to Biaxis (‘M.9-T337’) and Triaxis systems (‘G.935’, ‘G.969’, and ‘M.116’) with a tree density of 3175 trees and 2116 trees per hectare, respectively, and with a uniform axis (leader) density of 6348/ha. Comparisons across all training systems by cultivar system showed that after 6 years (2019), trees of ‘Fuji’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ on ‘M.116’ were the largest trees followed by ‘G.969’, ‘G.935’, and ‘M.9-T337’. With ‘Gala’, trees on ‘G.969’ were of similar size as trees on ‘M.116’ and ‘G.935’. Trees of ‘Fuji’ on ‘G.935’ produced the highest yield followed by ‘G.969’, ‘M.116’, and ‘M.9-T337’. For ‘Gala’, trees on ‘M.116’ produced similarly as the ‘M.9-T337’, whereas with ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘G.969’ and ‘G.935’ had higher yields than ‘M.9-T337’. When comparing production per ground surface area (hectare) ‘G935’ had higher yield than ‘M.9-T337’ for all the cultivars in this trial. In addition, yield efficiency of ‘Fuji’ trees on ‘G.935’ was similar or even higher than trees on ‘M.9-T337’. Rootstock did not affect fruit size with ‘Fuji’. For Gala, fruit from ‘G.969’ were significantly larger than those on ‘M.116’. ‘Golden Delicious’ on ‘G.969’ produced smaller fruit compared with those on ‘G.935’. Fruit from trees on ‘M.9-T337’ had the lowest percentage of red color with ‘Fuji’ and the highest with ‘Gala’. When yield and quality data were combined to produce marketable yield, rootstock had a dramatic effect on the cumulative gross crop value per hectare based on local farm gate values for each scion cultivar.

Background Floral temperature has important consequences for plant biology, and accurate temperature measurements are therefore important to plant research. Thermography, also referred to as thermal imaging, is beginning to be used more frequently to measure and visualize floral temperature. Accurate thermographic measurements require information about the object’s emissivity (its capacity to emit thermal radiation with temperature), to obtain accurate temperature readings. However, there are currently no published estimates of floral emissivity available. This is most likely to be due to flowers being unsuitable for the most common protocols for emissivity estimation. Instead, researchers have used emissivity estimates collected on vegetative plant tissue when conducting floral thermography, assuming these tissues to have the same emissivity. As floral tissue differs from vegetative tissue, it is unclear how appropriate and accurate these vegetative tissue emissivity estimates are when they are applied to floral tissue. Results We collect floral emissivity estimates using two protocols, using a thermocouple and a water bath, providing a guide for making estimates of floral emissivity that can be carried out without needing specialist equipment (apart from the thermal camera). Both protocols involve measuring the thermal infrared radiation from flowers of a known temperature, providing the required information for emissivity estimation. Floral temperature is known within these protocols using either a thermocouple, or by heating the flowers within a water bath. Emissivity estimates indicate floral emissivity is high, near 1, at least across petals. While the two protocols generally indicated the same trends, the water bath protocol gave more realistic and less variable estimates. While some variation with flower species and location on the flower is observed in emissivity estimates, these are generally small or can be explained as resulting from artefacts of these protocols, relating to thermocouple or water surface contact quality. Conclusions Floral emissivity appears to be high, and seems quite consistent across most flowers and between species, at least across petals. A value near 1, for example 0.98, is recommended for accurate thermographic measurements of floral temperature. This suggests that the similarly high values based on vegetation emissivity estimates used by previous researchers were appropriate.

Background Calmodulin (CaM) is one of the most important Ca2+ signaling receptors because it regulates diverse physiological and biochemical reactions in plants. CaM functions by interacting with CaM-binding proteins (CaMBPs) to modulate Ca2+ signaling. IQ domain (IQD) proteins are plant-specific CaMBPs that bind to CaM by their specific CaM binding sites. Results In this study, we identified 102 GhIQD genes in the Gossypium hirsutum L. genome. The GhIQD gene family was classified into four clusters (I, II, III, and IV), and we then mapped the GhIQD genes to the G. hirsutum L. chromosomes. Moreover, we found that 100 of the 102 GhIQD genes resulted from segmental duplication events, indicating that segmental duplication is the main force driving GhIQD gene expansion. Gene expression pattern analysis showed that a total of 89 GhIQD genes expressed in the elongation stage and second cell wall biosynthesis stage of the fiber cells, suggesting that GhIQD genes may contribute to fiber cell development in cotton. In addition, we found that 20 selected GhIQD genes were highly expressed in various tissues. Exogenous application of MeJA significantly enhanced the expression levels of GhIQD genes. Conclusions Our study shows that GhIQD genes are involved in fiber cell development in cotton and are also widely induced by MeJA. Thw results provide bases to systematically characterize the evolution and biological functions of GhIQD genes, as well as clues to breed better cotton varieties in the future.

Abrasive weeding is a nonchemical weed control tactic that uses small, gritty materials propelled with compressed air to destroy weed seedlings. Organic fertilizers have been used successfully as abrasive grits to control weeds, but the goal for this study was to explore the effects of fertilizer grit, application rates, and background soil fertility on weeds, plant available nitrogen (N) uptake, and crop yield. Field trials were conducted in organic ‘Carmen’ sweet red pepper (Capsicum annuum) and organic ‘Gypsy’ broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) and treatments included organic fertilizer grit (8N–0.9P–3.3K vs. 3N–3.1P–3.3K), grit application rates (low vs. high), compost amendments (with and without), and weedy and weed-free controls. Weed biomass was harvested at 84 days and 65 days after transplanting for pepper and broccoli, respectively. Simulated total plant available N (nitrate + ammonium) uptake was measured with ion exchange resin stakes between 7 and 49 days after the first of two grit applications. Produce was harvested at maturity, graded for marketability, and weighed. The higher grit application rate, regardless of fertilizer type, reduced the weed biomass by 75% to 89% for pepper and by 86% to 99% for broccoli. By 5 weeks after the first grit application, simulated plant N uptake was greatest following grit application with the 8% N fertilizer, followed by the 3% N fertilizer, and lowest in the weedy control. The high grit application rate of 8% N fertilizer increased pepper yield by 112% compared with the weedy control, but it was similar to that of the weed-free control. Broccoli was less responsive to abrasive grits, with yield changes ranging from no difference to up to a 36% increase (relative to the weedy control) depending on the application rate and compost amendment. This is the first evidence indicating that the nutrient composition of organic fertilizer abrasive grits can influence in-season soil N dynamics, weed competition, and crop yield. The results suggest that abrasive weeding technology could be leveraged to improve the precision of in-season fertilizer management of organic crops.

This study investigated the profile of cacao beans from the local Cameroonian Trinitario (SNK) and Forastero (TIKO) in terms of aroma precursors (amino acids and reducing sugars) through fermentation-like incubations. Treatments consisted of incubating beans in acetic acid, 100 mmol/L for two days followed by 200 mmol/L of acetic acid for three days (Treatment T1) and in 100 mmol/L of lactic acid for two days followed by 200 mmol/L of acetic acid for three days (Treatment T2). Both treatments resulted in an increase of free amino acids content by 1.5 - 2.5 times in SNK and TIKO varieties. The ratio of the hydrophobic amino acids over the rest of amino acids showed the preponderance of T1 on the hydrophobic amino acids released in TIKO while in the SNK, some varieties displayed the highest ratio in T2. Glucose and fructose content in TIKO and SNK beans increased 2 to 3 times during incubation. Galactose and raf-finose were found in unfermented beans. After incubation, raffinose was missing while at the same time a raise of galactose content could be seen. These results highlighted that acidification remains the factor inducing the releasing of free hydrophobic amino acids, the genotype being less involved., Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality, Vol. 93 (2020): Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality

A 4-year trial was established in Oct. 2016 in western Oregon to evaluate the effects of various in-row mulch treatments on yield, fruit quality, and costs of installation and maintenance during establishment of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. ‘Duke’). The treatments included douglas fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] sawdust, black weed mat (woven polypropylene groundcover), green weed mat, and sawdust covered with black or green weed mat. Fruit were harvested during 2018–20 (second through fourth growing seasons). Weed mat color had no effect on yield or fruit quality. In 2018, yield was higher with black weed mat over sawdust mulch than with black weed mat alone, whereas mulch had no effects during 2019 and 2020, or on cumulative yield. Percent total soluble solids in the berries was highest with sawdust and weed mat alone compared with weed mat over sawdust mulches, whereas berry weight, diameter, and firmness were unaffected by mulch. Sawdust was the most expensive mulch over the lifespan of the planting because it required replenishment after 2 years. Black weed mat over sawdust resulted in the highest net profit when fruit sales and cost of materials and labor were considered.

Reestablishment of damaged golf greens and fairways planted to creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera), colonial bentgrass (A. capillaris), and velvet bentgrass (A. canina) is a common practice following winter injuries. Identifying bentgrass species (Agrostis sp.) and cultivars with the potential to establish under low soil temperatures would be beneficial to achieving more mature stands earlier in the spring. Twelve bentgrass cultivars, including seven cultivars of creeping bentgrass (007, 13-M, Declaration, L-93, Memorial, Penncross, and T-1), two colonial bentgrass cultivars (Capri and Tiger II), and three velvet bentgrass cultivars (Greenwich, SR-7200, and Villa), along with ‘Barbeta’ perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) were evaluated for grass cover in the field during early spring. Bentgrass species and cultivars were seeded in the field at the same seed count per unit area. Soil temperatures were monitored in unseeded check plots from initial planting date on 8 Apr. to termination on 29 May 2013. Soil temperatures increased linearly during the 52-day experimental period from 4.7 to 23.5 °C. All species and cultivars emerged at ≈10 °C soil temperature. Bentgrass species and cultivars varied only 2 to 3 days in their initial seedling emergence, while days varied among bentgrasses from 5.5 days (to 10% cover) to 8.6 days (to 90% cover). All velvet bentgrass cultivars required higher soil temperatures (13.6 °C) and more time (26 days) following initial seedling emergence to establish to 90% cover in the early spring. Creeping bentgrass cultivars 007, 13-M, and Memorial, along with colonial bentgrass cultivars Capri and Tiger II, were statistically equal to ‘Barbeta’ perennial ryegrass in their capacity after seedling emergence to achieve faster cover at lower soil temperatures. Heavier (larger) bentgrass seed was associated with faster cover during the early stages of establishment, but seed size was uncorrelated with establishment during later stages from 50% to 90% cover.

Background The virus-induced genome editing (VIGE) system can be used to quickly identify gene functions and generate knock-out libraries as an alternative to the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). Although plant virus-mediated VIGE has been shown to have great application prospects, edited genes cannot be transferred to the next generations using this system, as viruses cannot enter into shoot apical meristem (SAM) in plants. Results We developed a novel cotton leaf crumple virus (CLCrV)-mediated VIGE system designed to target BRI1, GL2, PDS genes, and GUS transgene in A. thaliana by transforming Cas9 overexpression (Cas9-OE) A. thaliana. Given the deficiency of the VIGE system, ProYao::Cas9 and Pro35S::Cas9 A. thaliana were transformed by fusing 102 bp FT mRNAs with sgRNAs so as to explore the function of Flowering Locus T (FT) gene in delivering sgRNAs into SAM, thus avoiding tissue culture and stably acquiring heritable mutant offspring. Our results showed that sgRNAs fused with FT mRNA at the 5′ end (FT strategy) effectively enabled gene editing in infected plants and allowed the acquisition of mutations heritable by the next generation, with an efficiency of 4.35–8.79%. In addition, gene-edited offspring by FT-sgRNAs did not contain any components of the CLCrV genome. Conclusions FT strategy can be used to acquire heritable mutant offspring avoiding tissue culture and stable transformation based on the CLCrV-mediated VIGE system in A. thaliana.

Melons (Cucumis melo var. reticulatis) are potentially a high value crop for New England, but production is limited by cool spring temperatures and sudden wilt. The sudden wilt syndrome in melon, attributed to both biotic and abiotic factors, is characterized by rapid wilting of vines either just preceding or during the harvest season, reducing melon quality and shortening the harvest period. We investigated the effects of grafting melons to rootstocks of interspecific hybrid squash (Cucurbita maxima × C. moschata), which have exhibited tolerance to soilborne diseases and cooler soil temperatures. In 2015, we compared the performance of ‘Halona’ melon grafted to two rootstocks, ‘Carnivor’ and ‘NH1320’, to that of nongrafted (NG) plants at two New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Research Farms, Woodman (WRF) and Kingman (KRF). Pistillate flowering and melon harvests were 3 to 9 days earlier in NG than grafted (GR) plants. By harvest period, GR plant growth exceeded that of NG plants, and GR plants did not display wilting symptoms observed in NG plants. Total marketable yields were 57% and 90% higher for GR/‘Carnivor’ (47.8 and 45.0 Mg·ha−1) and 44% and 89% higher for GR/‘NH1320’ (43.9 and 44.9 Mg·ha−1) compared with the NG treatment (30.5 and 23.7 Mg·ha−1) at WRF and KRF, respectively. There were no differences in fruit numbers per plot between treatments, but mean fruit weight was between 33% and 71% larger in GR than NG treatments. In 2016, GR (‘NH1320’ rootstock) and NG ‘Halona’ were compared at three transplantation dates, 12 and 21 May and 1 June, and with two irrigation frequencies, drip irrigation every 2 days (2-d Irr) or every 4 days (4-d Irr). NG plants exhibited symptoms of sudden wilt in early August compared with no symptoms on GR plants. Harvests of NG melons were 3 to 8 days earlier than GR plants for all three planting dates. The increase in yields of GR plants compared with NG plants for the 12 and 21 May and 1 June planting dates were, respectively, 131%, 123%, and 149% greater with the 2-day Irr, and 93%, 100%, and 78% greater with 4-d Irr. Irrigation frequency did not significantly affect fruit size or soluble solids content (SSC), whereas grafting increased both fruit number and fruit size but did not significantly affect SSC at all three planting dates.

Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis) is native to East Asia and South Africa and has been grown as an ornamental in the United States for over 100 years. Chinese silvergrass is on the invasive species list for 12 states in the United States and is regulated for sale in New York state. It is often found along roadsides in middle-Atlantic states and Long Island, NY. In 2019 and 2020, we sowed chinese silvergrass seed harvested in Fall 2002 and Spring 2003 from several locations in North Carolina where it had naturalized and from the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN. The seed had been stored in a seed storage vault (4 °C) from 2002 to 2020. Germination in 2003 showed variation between 53% to 95% from 19 different individual plants. This same seed when resown in 2019 and 2020 had much lower germination that could be divided into three categories: no germination (five plants), germination of 1% or less (seven plants), and germination of more than 2% (seven plants). Results from this study show that seed viability may be a long-term problem in locations where chinese silvergrass has naturalized.

Two-year-old, field-grown golden kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) and fuzzy kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) plants were evaluated for injury following an early freeze event of −4.1 °C on 14 Nov. 2018 in Burleson County, TX. Plant material included seven cultivars: one seed-propagated [Sungold™ (ZESY002)] and three cutting-propagated golden kiwifruit (AU Golden Dragon, AU Golden Sunshine, CK03), and one seed-propagated (Hayward) and two cutting-propagated fuzzy kiwifruit (AU Authur and AU Fitzgerald). Observations were made 5 weeks after the frost event. Base trunk diameter (BD) and maximum trunk diameter damaged (MDD) provided a reference of plant size and crude measurement of damage intensity, as evident by presence of water-soaked necrotic and/or dehydrated tissue following the removal of a thin slice of periderm, vascular cambium, phloem, and xylem. Percent of base diameter damaged (PBDD) was calculated as MDD divided by BD and provided an assessment of damage, unbiased by plant size. Percent of shoot damaged (PSD) was visually evaluated as the percentage of entire shoot system exhibiting damage. In addition, presence of basal damage (DB) and basal cracking (CB) were recorded. A strong cultivar response was observed for BD, MDD, PBDD, and PSD. Mean cultivar values for PSD ranged from 79% and 19% for AU Authur and Sungold™ seedlings, respectively, which represented extremes among cultivars. Fuzzy kiwifruit exhibited greater injury (PBDD, PSD, DB, and CB) as compared with golden kiwifruit cultivars. Basal damage and basal cracking proved unique to fuzzy kiwifruit, as DB ranged from 0% in Sungold™ seedlings to 100% in fuzzy kiwifruit ‘AU Authur’ and ‘AU Fitzgerald’. In spite of having greater vigor, golden kiwifruit plants sustained less injury. Method of propagation had no effect on injury. PBDD and PSD proved to be reliable field assays for documenting injury, based on their strong correlation value (r = 0.92). Greater relative autumn frost tolerance of golden kiwifruit over fuzzy kiwifruit cultivars is previously unreported.

Interest is growing among small-scale growers in grafting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) for improved crop productivity. Healing of newly grafted plants is often considered to be a critical process requiring a highly controlled environment. Setting up healing chambers and managing healing conditions can be major challenges for small-scale producers that limit graft survival and discourage further attempts at using grafting technology. Here, we demonstrate a simple “chamberless healing” strategy for grafted tomato plants using regular indoor conditions without the need to install and manage a sophisticated healing chamber. We hypothesize that tomato can form a high-quality graft in a healing environment with relative humidity below 70% and ambient temperatures between 22 and 25 °C. ‘Tribute’ beefsteak tomato as the scion was grafted onto ‘Estamino’ rootstock in the 2018 experiment, whereas ‘Multifort’ and ‘Shield RZ F1 (61-802)’ were used as the rootstocks in the 2019 experiment. After grafting, the seedlings for the chamberless healing treatment were kept in uncovered seedling trays and misted with water two or three times per day. Seedlings in other treatments were placed in a humidity dome or wrapped chamber to maintain high humidity during the first few days after grafting. In the 2018 experiment, chamberless healing was compared with covered treatments with different ventilation times during the first few days after grafting. In the 2019 experiment, chamberless healing was compared with a standard graft healing chamber treatment to further validate its feasibility. In both 2018 and 2019, all treatments showed high graft survival rates (>85%) at 21 days after grafting (DAG), and plants from the chamberless healing treatment had a lower incidence of adventitious root growth than plants from other healing treatments (0% to 7% vs. 33% to 78%). In the 2019 experiment, no differences in graft union strength, photosynthetic rate, biomass accumulation, or flowering time were observed between the chamberless and standard healing treatments. Plants with chamberless healing were slightly (8%) shorter than the standard treatment at 21 DAG, but no difference was observed at 27 DAG. Although some additional management is required during healing to prevent water loss, the alternative chamberless system assessed in this study exhibited great potential to facilitate small-scale graft healing for producing grafted tomato transplants under standard indoor conditions without any sophisticated healing environment and management.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of alternating red (660 nm) and blue (460 nm) light on the growth and nutritional quality of two-leaf-color pak choi (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. communis). Four light treatments (supplemental alternating red and blue light with intervals of 0, 1, 2, and 4 hours, with a monochromatic light intensity of 100 μmol·m−2·s−1 and a cumulative lighting time of 16 hours per day) were conducted in a greenhouse under identical ambient light conditions (90 to 120 μmol·m−2·s−1 at 12:00 am) for 10 days before green- and red-leaf pak choi were harvested. The results showed that the two-leaf-color pak choi receiving alternating red and blue light exhibited more compact canopies and wider leaves than those under the control treatment, which was attributed to the shade avoidance syndrome of plants. The present study indicated that the biomass of green-leaf pak choi was much higher than that of red-leaf pak choi, but the nutritional quality of green-leaf pak choi was lower than that of red-leaf pak choi, and seemingly indicating that the regulation of metabolism for pak choi was species specific under light exposure. The trends of both biomass and the soluble sugar content were highest under the 1-hour treatment. The contents of chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll in both cultivars (green- and red-leaf pak choi) were significantly increased compared with control, without significant differences among the 1-, 2-, and 4-hour treatments, whereas chlorophyll b exhibited no significant difference in any treatment. Alternating red- and blue-light treatment significantly affected the carotenoid content, but different trends in green- and red-leaf pak choi were observed, with the highest contents being detected under the 1-hour and 4-hour treatments, respectively. With increasing time intervals, the highest soluble protein contents in two-leaf-color pak choi were observed in the 4-hour treatment, whereas nitrate contents were significantly decreased in the 4-hour treatment. Compared with 0 hours, the contents of vitamin C, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and anthocyanins in two-leaf-color pak choi were significantly increased, but no significant differences were observed in vitamin C, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids among the 1-, 2-, and 4-hour treatments, similar to what was found for the anthocyanin content of green-leaf pak choi. However, the content of anthocyanins in red-leaf pak choi gradually increased with increasing time intervals, with the highest content being found in the 4-hour treatment. Supplemental alternating red and blue light slightly increased the antioxidant capacity [1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging rate and antioxidant power], but no significant differences were observed after 1, 2, and 4 hours of treatment. Taken together, treatment with an interval of 1 hour was the most effective for increasing the biomass of pak choi in this study, but treatment with a 4-hour interval should be considered to enhance the accumulation of health-promoting compounds.

In many regions, water limitations are increasing because of frequent and persistent droughts and competition for water resources. As a result, growers in these regions, including those producing blueberries, must limit irrigation during drier years. To identify the most critical periods for irrigation, we evaluated the effects of soil water deficits during various stages of fruit development on different cultivars of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). The study was conducted for 2 years in western Oregon and included two early season cultivars, ‘Earliblue’ and ‘Duke’, a midseason cultivar, ‘Bluecrop’, and two late-season cultivars, ‘Elliott’ and ‘Aurora’. Volumetric soil water content and stem water potentials declined within 1 to 2 weeks with no rain or irrigation in each cultivar and were lowest during the later stages of fruit development. Water deficits reduced berry weight by 10% to 15% in ‘Earliblue’ and ‘Elliott’ when irrigation was withheld in the second year during early or late stages of fruit development and by 6% to 9% in ‘Aurora’ when irrigation was withheld in either year during the final stages of fruit development. However, water deficits only reduced yield significantly in ‘Aurora’, which produced 0.8 to 0.9 kg/plant fewer fruit per year when irrigation was withheld during fruit coloring. In many cases, water deficits also reduced fruit firmness and increased the concentration of soluble solids in the berries, but they had inconsistent effects on titratable acidity and sugar-to-acid ratios. As a rule, water deficits were most detrimental during later stages of fruit development, particularly in midseason and late-season cultivars, which ripened in July and August during the warmest and driest months of the year.

Direct seeding into strip-tilled zones (STZs) of living mulches may require weed suppression tactics for soil surfaces exposed within the STZ. Three surface mulch options (hydromulch, compost blanket, and a no-mulch control) were evaluated for their ability to suppress weeds and improve crop performance when applied in STZs seeded to carrot (Daucus carota). These STZs were located within one of five living mulch options [red clover (Trifolium pratense), white clover (Trifolium repens), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), a weed-free control, and a weedy control]. From measurements spanning 2 years at two North Dakota locations, dry weed biomass was lower in STZs where hydromulch or compost blankets were applied compared with the no-mulch control (12, 13, and 82 g·m−2, respectively). The presence of a living mulch adjacent to the STZ reduced carrot root biomass by 49% to 84% compared with the weed-free control. Further research should 1) investigate methods for reducing yield loss from living mulches, and 2) develop biodegradable alternatives to plastic mulches.

Gladiolus (Gladiolus ×hybridus) is an asexually propagated, herbaceous perennial and an economically important cut flower crop. In commercial production, gladioli have tall flower stalks, which limit their use to cut flowers and annual garden plants. The gladiolus breeding program at the University of Minnesota has bred and selected rapid generation cycling (RGC) cycle 1 gladiolus, which can flower in −1 soak) in comparison with noncycle 1 genotypes and commercial cultivars for potted gladiolus production. Cycle 1 genotypes flowered with all ancymidol concentrations while noncycle 1 genotypes had significantly fewer flowers or were completely nonflowering under higher concentrations. All tested genotypes had increased leaf width as ancymidol concentration increased. Conversely, flower stalk heights were shorter as the ancymidol concentration increased while the number of stalks was nonsignificant. Corms, cormel number, and fresh weights decreased in all genotypes except for one cycle 1 genotype, which had an increase in both corm number and fresh weight when treated with 100 mg·L−1 ancymidol. Cycle 1 gladiolus are more resilient to this gibberellin inhibitor even at high concentrations and can potentially be used for gladiolus potted plant production.

Plant diseases and pests are important factors determining the yield and quality of plants. Plant diseases and pests identification can be carried out by means of digital image processing. In recent years, deep learning has made breakthroughs in the field of digital image processing, far superior to traditional methods. How to use deep learning technology to study plant diseases and pests identification has become a research issue of great concern to researchers. This review provides a definition of plant diseases and pests detection problem, puts forward a comparison with traditional plant diseases and pests detection methods. According to the difference of network structure, this study outlines the research on plant diseases and pests detection based on deep learning in recent years from three aspects of classification network, detection network and segmentation network, and the advantages and disadvantages of each method are summarized. Common datasets are introduced, and the performance of existing studies is compared. On this basis, this study discusses possible challenges in practical applications of plant diseases and pests detection based on deep learning. In addition, possible solutions and research ideas are proposed for the challenges, and several suggestions are given. Finally, this study gives the analysis and prospect of the future trend of plant diseases and pests detection based on deep learning.

Flower species is one of the key determinants of the aesthetic and economic value of floral products. This research study sought to evaluate whether consumer perceptions of the aesthetic appeal and monetary valuations of floral arrangements change by substituting high-cost species with low-cost species of similar appearance. In addition, the researchers explored consumer preferences for flower symmetry, which provides information to assist floral designers in choosing and using species to increase profit margins and improve the economic efficiency of the floral industry. Two experiments were administered through an online survey. For the first experiment, no difference was shown in both willingness to pay and attractiveness ratings for flowers in the high-dollar value vs. low-dollar value comparison groups. For the second experiment, roses (Rosa hybrida) were rated the highest on attractiveness, followed by dahlia (Dahlia hybrida), ranunculus (Ranunculus asiaticus), and anthurium (Anthurium sp.). Radial flowers were considered most appealing, followed by asymmetrical flowers, and last, bilaterally symmetrical flowers. The results of this study lend insight into how the general floral consumer does not differentiate between flower species that are similar in design features such as color, size, or symmetry. This information can be used by floral business operators to sell their bouquets at a higher margin by strategically using lower-cost flower inputs.