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Reorientation of life style becomes necessary for staying healthy, especially during the challenging times as it is prevailing at present. Consumption of ample plant-based foods like vegetables could be an important step towards it. However, certain vegetables hold more significance as they boost immunity. Daily intake of vegetables with immunomodulation properties (modification of the immune response or the functioning of the immune system) seems promising. The immunomodulatory properties of these vegetables are attributed to the presence of certain phytoconstituents like polysachharides (e.g. RG-I in bell pepper; CMDP-4b in pumpkin; MOP-3 in drumstick), lectins (ASA I & ASA II in garlic; BOL in cauliflower), isothiocynates (Sulforaphane in broccoli), unsaturated fatty acids (pumpkin seeds), bryonolic acid (acorn squash), ribosomes inactivating protein (Lagenin in bottle gourd), glycoprotein (Luffaculin in ridge gourd), trypsin inhibitor (MoFTI in drumsticks) etc. The aim of this review is to highlight results of work done on immunomodulatory activity of vegetables. The roles of various vegetables and their phytoconstituents, which are accountable for immunomodulation and reduction in the risk of infectious as well as non-communicable diseases, have been discussed. Such information may be encouraging for researchers to carry out further advanced research on vegetables with potential immunomodulatory properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with the many known benefits of cover crops, they may be an effective ecological weed management strategy in low-input agriculture. This research aimed to determine the effect of cover crops, combined with reduced-tillage and nitrogen inputs on sweet corn (Zea mays) yield and weed communities. During the 2-year study, the impact of the cover crop on yield varied. Yield within the no-till conventional treatment plots was not significantly different from the conventional treatment [6844 and 7721 lb/acre (P = 0.592)] in year 1 but differed in year 2 (P = 0.003). Weed density and experimental area covered by weeds were not significantly different between conventional and no-till conventional treatments. Multivariate analyses showed associations between specific weed species and management practices. Weeds were greatest in no-till organic treatments, and they had significantly lower yields, suggesting additional weed control beyond cover crops may be necessary for organic vegetable systems under reduced tillage.

Relevance. Agricultural production is the main consumer of water. Globally, about 70% of fresh water is annually used for agricultural (food and non-food) production. Nearly 40% of the world's food supply comes from irrigation. Globally, the scarcity of irrigation water due to competition between industry and urban consumption threatens food security. Future population growth, income growth and changes in nutrition are expected to increase demand for water. The rate of warming in Russia since the mid-1970s about 2.5 times the global average. The highest rate of temperature increase occurs at high latitudes. The entire territory of Russia is subject to warming, both as a whole for the year and in all seasons. Water Footprint Accounting (WF), proposed by the Water Footprint Network (WFN), has the potential to provide important information for water management, especially in water-stressed regions that rely on irrigation to meet food needs.Methodology. The purpose of this systematic review was to collate and synthesize available data on global water use in vegetable production. Searched online databases covering the areas of environment, social sciences, public health, nutrition and agriculture: Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, OvidSP MEDLINE, EconLit, OvidSP AGRIS, EBSCO GreenFILE, and OvidSP CAB Abstracts. The search was conducted using predefined search terms that included the concepts of "vegetable crops" and "water footprint".Results. This article provides a brief overview of the vegetable growing water footprint and the sustainability of the blue water footprint. In general, a high green or overall (green + blue) WF may indicate that the vegetable crops are having low yields or inefficient water use. Low green and high blue WF indicate inefficient use of rainwater, which can lead to overexploitation of surface and groundwater. The water footprint can be considered a good economic ergometer, showing the level of water consumption required to obtain a certain vegetable product, whether it brings economic benefits or not, beneficial to society or not.

The composition and seasonal abundance of hymenopteran parasitoids of Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) was investigated on snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), and squash (Cucurbita pepo L. ‘Enterprise’) from 2010 to 2016 in South Florida in two studies. In the first study (2010–2016), 13 species of parasitoids were collected from the snap bean crop. Opius dissitus Muesebeck (Braconidae) was the most abundant parasitoid throughout the study period from September 2010 to February 2016. Diaulinopsis callichroma Crawford (Eulophidae) was the second most abundant parasitoid on bean in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016. Other parasitoids included Euopius sp. (Braconidae)., Diglyphus begini (Ashmead), D. intermedius (Girault), D. isaea (Walker), Neochrysocharis sp., Closterocerus sp., Chrysocharis sp., Zagrammosoma lineaticeps (Girault), Z. muitilineatum (Ashmead), Pnigalio sp. (all Eulophidae), and Halticoptera sp. (Pteromalidae). In the second study on the comparative abundance of parasitoids in three crops conducted in 2014 and 2016 using bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L., tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) arranged in a randomized complete block design, bean attracted more parasitoids than tomato and squash irrespective of parasitoid species and years. This information will help in devising a biocontrol-based integrated program for managing leafminers in beans and other vegetable crops.

The size and quality of the melon fruit yield depend on the cultivar, climatic and agronomic factors. A three-year field experiment investigated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) application and irrigation (IR) on the fruit yield of melon (Cucumis melo L. var. saccharinus Naud.) cultivars. The study was conducted on a certified organic farm located in south-eastern Poland (51.36° N, 22.83° E). The factors of the experiment were as follows: cultivar (Melba, Emir F1, Seledyn F1, Oliwin) and cultivation method (AMF and IR; AMF and non-IR; non-AMF and IR; non-AMF and non-IR as control). The dry matter (%), soluble solid (%), total sugar and reducing sugar (% fresh weight, FM), L-ascorbic acid (mg · 100 g−1 FM), and carotenoid (mg · 100 g−1 FM) contents of the fruit were determined. The highest total and marketable fruit yields were obtained using AMF and IR. Fruit from the AMF series (IR and non-IR) had the most carotenoids (respectively: 801.5 and 788.8 µg · 100 g−1 FM). The fruits of the AMF and IR plants contained the most total sugars (5.98%) and reducing sugars (2.91%) compared to the others. The control plants had the lowest number of marketable fruit, total and marketable fruit yield, and accumulated the least L-ascorbic acid, total sugars and reducing sugars. We suggest that AMF and IR can be recommended as a practical agronomic solutions for the field cultivation of melon under temperate climate conditions.

Polluted water poses significant health risks when it is part of the water sources used for irrigation, leading to the contamination of soil and plants by various pollutants. This work aims, firstly, to assess the degree of pollution of Wadi El Gourzi water (Batna, Algeria), and then to verify the consequences on their use for the irrigation of market garden plants for everyday consumption (lettuce, cilantro, parsley and spinach), both in the aerial part (stems and leaves) and in the soil where they are grown. This study focuses on trace metals (Cr, Pb, Zn and Cd). Soil pollution was assessed by calculating the soil pollution index (PI), while the uptake of these elements by plants was monitored by the transfer factor (TF). The analyses of the Wadi El Gourzi water with the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS) show a maximum abnormal concentration of Cr (17.37 mg⋅dm-3), Pb (0.71 mg⋅dm-3) and Cd (0.45 mg⋅dm-3). For the analysis of the soils irrigated by these waters, the results of the PI show that the soils used for the cultivation of parsley and lettuce are polluted by several metals (PI > 1). The concentrations of trace metals elements (TMEs) in the sampled plants show a significant accumulation of Zn, Cd, Pb and Cr by the vegetables (coriander, parsley, spinach and lettuce). These concentrations are above the permitted standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of silicon (Si) in the nutrient solution on the fruit development of 2-year-old blueberry plants (Vaccinium corymbosum L. cv. Ventura) was studied. Si was applied to the nutrient solution at a dose of 0.0, 0.6, and 1.2 mM. The parameters of fruit, stems and leaves growth, firmness, and biomass were measured. Fertigation in conjunction with traditional spread fertilization could improve the growth and yield of highbush blueberry to find the optimal method to control decay and prolong the quality of blueberries after harvest. The blueberry fruit has a light-blue appearance because its blue-black skin is covered with a waxy bloom. This layer is easily damaged or removed during fruit harvesting and postharvest handling. Si enhances the resistance of this layer to damage. A 2-year study was done to compare the effects of silicon fertigation and silicean sand and coir fiber as substrates on growth and availability of nutrients for blueberry plants during establishment of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. "Bluecrop"). The results of experiment indicated that the application of Si had better benefit on the fruit growth of blueberry plants in coir fiber, than the effect that was observed in the sand substrate. The results should improve our understanding for better preservation of postharvest quality of blueberry fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greener analytical methodologies for the estimation of ascorbic acid (AA) are poorly reported in the literature. Furthermore, the green indexes of the literature's analytical assays of AA estimation have not been assessed. As a consequence, the aim of this research is to invent and validate a simple, cost-effective, and green reverse-phase "high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC)" method for the estimating AA in the solvent extracts (SE) and ultrasound-assisted extracts (UAE) of Phyllanthus emblica, Psidium guajava, and Capsicum annuum. The greener mobile phase for AA estimation was a binary mixture of water and ethanol (70:30, v/v). At a wavelength of 265 nm, the detection of AA was carried out. The greener HPTLC technique was linear in the 25–1200 ng/band range. In addition, the method was simple, cost-effective, accurate, precise, robust, sensitive, and green. The amount of AA was highest in the SE and UAE of P. emblica compared to the SE and UAE of P. guajava and C. annuum. The amount of AA in the SE of P. emblica, P. guajava, and C. annuum was found to be 491.16, 168.91, and 144.30 mg/100 g, respectively. However, the amount of AA in the UAE of P. emblica, P. guajava, and C. annuum was found to be 673.02, 218.71, and 199.30 mg/100 g, respectively. Using the "analytical GREEnness (AGREE)" methodology, the greenness index for the developed method was calculated to be 0.88, showing that the developed method has an excellent green profile. When it came to extracting AA, the UAE method outperformed the SE method. These findings suggested that the developed method might be used to estimate the AA in a variety of vegetable crops, plant-based extracts, and commercial formulations. Furthermore, because of the use of greener solvent systems against the commonly utilized hazardous solvent systems for AA determination, this technique is also safe and sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insecticide chlordecone (CLD) was applied from 1972 to 1993 to banana fields in the French Antilles, which resulted in the long-term pollution of soils and the contamination of crops and water resources. We coupled two biophysical models describing CLD and soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics to determine the impact of a change of cropping system from banana to vegetable crops on the temporal pattern of CLD content in different soil types, and to assess how this might impact crop contamination and environmental pollution. The results indicated that a change of the cropping system when the CLD content in the topsoil (0–0.3 m) drops below the threshold (1 mg CLD kg-1) established by local authorities to allow the cultivation of vegetable crops (e.g., cucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin), might cause crop contamination due to the presence of relatively high CLD levels in the subsurface layer (i.e., 0.3–0.6 m) of nitisols and ferralsols. The impact of changing the cropping system on the risk of environmental pollution depends on the time of that change, and it is much greater for vegetable crop systems established in the early 1990s following a financial crisis affecting the banana sector. This is linked to the progressive decline of SOC stocks caused by vegetable crop systems, which reduces CLD retention in the soil and increases CLD leaching. Overall, this study highlights the urgent need to include the monitoring of CLD in the subsurface layer and the dynamics of SOC stocks in current soil testing campaigns carried out on polluted soils in French Antilles.

Purpose: A study was conducted on the effect of single-based fertilizers and compound fertilizers on the nutritive quality potential of lettuce (var. Eden), sweet pepper (var. Yellow wonder), and carrot (var. Bahia). Research method: This was accomplished following Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replications. Lettuce, sweet pepper, and carrot were fertilized using 71 kg, 100 kg, and 128 kg of ammonium sulphate (20.5 % N, 23.4 % S)/ha, 350 kg of NPK (15-15-15)/ha, and Control/No fertilizer application; 81 kg, 100 kg, and 138 kg of 6-24-12 NPK/ha, 225 kg of NPK (15-15-15)/ha, and Control; and on 43 kg, 71 kg, and 100 kg of 10-10-30 NPK/ha, 225 kg of NPK (15-15-15)/ha, and Control; respectively. Findings: Compound fertilizer resulted in high Fe content in lettuce whiles Single 2 treatment was in favour of that in carrot and sweet pepper. Single 3 treatment resulted in high Ca content in lettuce and sweet pepper whiles Single 2 treatment was in favour of that in carrot. Compound fertilizer resulted in high Mg content in lettuce whiles Single 3 treatment was in favour of that in carrot and sweet pepper. Crude protein content of lettuce, carrot, and sweet pepper was significantly high in the single-based fertilizer treatments. Compound fertilizer treatments recorded high carbohydrate content for lettuce and sweet pepper. All treatments recorded high moisture and high fat content. Limitations: No limitations. Originality/Value: Proximate composition patterns were strikingly dissimilar in all test crops.

This article introduces a dataset of 2 801 images of vegetable crops. Maize (Zea mays), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and leek (Allium ampeloprasum) crops at an early stage of development (between 2 and 5 weeks from seeding of transplanting) are supported. Two kinds of annotations are provided: (i) bounding boxes enclosing the crops of interest or their stems, weeds being left apart, and (ii) crop structures in the form of star graphs whose vertices are the plant organs (stems and leaves) and whose edges represent the connections between them. The images have been captured in various production and experimentation plots in France using an acquisition module which controls light conditions. They present a wide variety of soil conditions, weed infestation and growth stages. This dataset can benefit precision hoeing and in-field crop monitoring applications that are based on proximal imagery.

Fungal phytopathogens cause serious losses of crop production worldwide, which causes serious losses of crop production. Bacteria play a role as the biocontrol agents for plant disease control. For this reason, the present study was conducted to determine the antagonistic potential of rhizosphere soil bacteria against selected phytopathogenic fungi. The screenings of potential antagonist isolated bacteria were applied by the dual culture technique with fungi Fusarium oxysporum and Colletotrichum melongenae. Molecular characterization was performed through 16S rDNA sequencing analysis. Sixteen (16) out of fifty (50) isolated bacteria showed different degrees of antagonism (25-67%) against both fungi F. oxysporum and C. melongenae. Among them, four (4) isolated bacteria (isolates A4, C1, C2, and E2) exhibited strong antagonism (more than 50% mycelial growth inhibition) against both fungi. The 16S rDNA sequences of the isolated bacteria A4, C1, C2 and E2 were 99-100% similar to Providencia sp. TT14, Bacillus subtilis 168, Bacillus subtilis RKP-2, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IBSDG-11, respectively. Based on the capability for the control of mycelial growth against both fungi, B. subtilis IUBTC2 was selected for optimization of growth characteristics and identification the bioactive metabolites which can enhance plant growth and disease control capacity of plants against the phytopathogenic fungi. [ J Adv Biotechnol Exp Ther 2021; 4(1.000): 35-43]

Various management systems are being broadly employed to minimize crop yield loss resulting from abiotic and biotic stresses. Here we introduce a Bacillus zanthoxyli HS1 strain as a potent candidate for managing manifold stresses on vegetable plants. Considering 16S rDNA sequence and biochemical characteristics, the strain is closely related to B. zanthoxyli. The B. zanthoxyli HS1's soil-drench confers disease resistance on tomato and paprika plants against infection with Ralstonia solanacearum and Phytophthora capsici, respectively. Root and shoot growths are also increased in B. zanthoxyli HS1-treated cabbage, cucumber, and tomato plants, compared with those in mock-treated plants, after application of high salinity solution. Moreover, the pretreatment of B. zanthoxyli HS1 on cabbage plants inhibits the degradation of chloroplast pigments caused by high salinity stresses, whereas the inhibitory effect is not observed in cucumber plants. These findings suggest that B. zanthoxyli HS1 stain inhibits disease development and confers tolerance to salinity stress on vegetable plants.

Plant viruses, as obligate intracellular parasites, rely exclusively on host machinery to complete their life cycle. Whether a virus is pathogenic or not depends on the balance between the mechanisms used by both plants and viruses during the intense encounter. Antiviral defence mechanisms in plants can be of two types, i.e., natural resistance and engineered resistance. Innate immunity, RNA silencing, translational repression, autophagy-mediated degradation, and resistance to virus movement are the possible natural defence mechanisms against viruses in plants, whereas engineered resistance includes pathogen-derived resistance along with gene editing technologies. The incorporation of various resistance genes through breeding programmes, along with gene editing tools such as CRISPR/Cas technologies, holds great promise in developing virus-resistant plants. In this review, different resistance mechanisms against viruses in plants along with reported resistance genes in major vegetable crops are discussed.

Vegetable crops are acutely sensitive to pest attacks, disease proliferation, and weed development. To control these pests, farmers resort excessively to various chemical plant protection products. Therefore, this study aims to measure the intensity of pesticide use and estimate the phytosanitary pressure according to the phytosanitary practises of market gardeners in the region of Biskra, in the south-east of Algeria. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 96 randomly selected market gardeners in Biskra during two farming campaigns in 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. Results show that out of 70 different active substances, eighteen are mostly applied to seven inventoried vegetable species. Insecticides and fungicides are the most widespread. The average values of the calculated treatment frequency index range from 0.80 to 30.45. The phytosanitary pressure index is particularly dangerous for tomatoes, eggplants, and chilli peppers, with values ranging from 4.03 to 4.29 and 8.25, respectively. In conclusion, the surveyed areas were found to be experiencing considerable phytosanitary pressure, which would harm the environment and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of high content of heavy metals in food has spread broadly over the world. The presented study suggests the minimization of heavy metal content in processed food due to different applied techniques such as the frying, boiling, steaming and sous-vide. Three main food products were chosen for investigation – Daucus carota subsp. Sativus (carrot), Solanum tuberosum (potato) and Allium cepa (onion). The concentration of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Mn, Cd, Cu) was determined in samples investigated by atomic-absorption spectrometer. The health risk index (HRI) was calculated based on obtained data. In all investigated samples, high concentration of lead was identified among the heavy metals. The highest concentration of zinc, lead and manganese was determined in boiled Daucus carota subsp. Sativus, cadmium – in sous - vide Daucus carota subsp. Sativus, copper – in steamed Daucus carota subsp. Sativus. HRI values of cadmium for Solanum tuberosum samples were ranged from 6.8 to 7.1 and for lead are ranged between 3.4 and 4.9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) has a cosmopolitan distribution, and it is a feared pest of many agricultural crops. It is a complex of numerous genetically differentiated species, most of which may rapidly acquire insecticide resistance, consequently making their control problematic. This study aims to improve knowledge on the direct damage of this pest, as well as its impact on the main traits of vegetable crops. Overall, the results confirm how different host plants display variable susceptibility to B. tabaci infestation and explain trophic links between plant and pest forecasting plant growth and development under B. tabaci presence. Although many crops have developed several adaptation mechanisms that allow them to defend against limiting factors, some biotic and abiotic stresses may cause reversible or irreversible changes in plants. Among the biotic stresses, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is probably one of the main important pests that negatively affect several vegetable crops that are grown in greenhouses. The present study evaluated its impact on the morphology and physiology of two solanaceous plants, i.e., tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and eggplant (S. melongena L.), under laboratory conditions. The results showed that, for tomatoes, plant height, shoot dry weight, leaf area, and indirect chlorophyll content were strongly reduced in infested plants, compared to the uninfested control, by 39.36%, 32.37%, 61.01%, and 37.85%, respectively. The same has been shown for eggplant, although the reduction percentages of plant height, root dry weight, and indirect chlorophyll content were less marked (i.e., 16.15%, 31.65%, and 11.39%, respectively). These results could represent interesting information for a better understanding of the B. tabaci influence on plant growth, as well as for the development of management strategies to successfully control its infestations in a cropping system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Two species of Alternaria were collected from southern Ghors of Jordan, isolated and characterized: A. porii, the causal agent of purple blotch of onion, and A. solani, the causal agent of early blight of tomato. Among planted onion cultivars, Beit Alpha was found to be highly susceptible to purple blotch, and Tebal was highly resistant under field conditions. Morphologically, there were distinct differences in conidia and mycelial growth rates between A. porri and A. solani. Alternaria porii was able to infect tomato and cause severe symptoms on its leaves; however, A. solani was not able to infect onion in vitro. Copper sulfate was the most effective salt in reducing the growth of both species in vitro and completely inhibited their fungal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Algeria, vegetable crops occupy an important cultivated area which accounts for 70% of the total arable land. The Sahel and coastal areas are particularly occupied by plasticulture due to favorable pedoclimatic conditions, which also allows the outbreak of various diseases and pests. Among the latter, the root-knot nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne are considered as one of the most important phytosanitary problems both in open fields and greenhouses. Biological control is a realistic alternative to replace or at least minimize the use of chemicals. The study of microflora is essential for targeting new biological agents for pest control. Two study stations belonging to Algiers are selected: Staoueli and Bordj el Kiffan. Between 2017 and 2018, soil samples were taken at random from a depth of 0 to 10 cm inside the greenhouses (treated soils) and outside the greenhouses (no treatment). The results obtained revealed a diversity of species of nematophagous fungi belonging to 8 genera, Arthrobotrys, Dactylaria, Dactylella, Myzocytium, Harposporium, Rhopalomyces, Stylopage and Triposporina. The most frequent species is Arthorobotrys musiformis with a rate of 77.5% in untreated Bordj-el-kiffan soils and 57.5% in treated soils, Staouali has a percentage of 55% and 57.5% in treated and untreated soils respectively. This study give new insights regarding the availability of endemic nematophagous fungi vegetables fields. Parasitism assessment indicated that 8 nematophagous fungi were efficient to suppress M. incognita and M. javanica by 70% and 50%, respectively. This indicate their potential as biocontrol agents against plant parasitic nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase nitrogen (N) use efficiency and reduce water pollution from vegetable production, it is necessary to optimize N management. Fluorescence-based optical sensors are devices that can improve N fertilization through non-destructive field monitoring of crop variables. The aim of this work was to compare the performance of five fluorescence indices (SFR-R, SFR-G, FLAV, NBI-R, and NBI-G) to predict crop variables, as dry matter production, crop N content, crop N uptake, Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI), absolute and relative yield, in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) crops grown in greenhouse. Fluorescence measurements were periodically made with the Multiplex® 3.6 sensor throughout three cropping cycles subjected to five N application treatments. The performance of fluorescence indices to predict crop variables considered calibration and validation analyses. In general, the five fluorescence indices were strongly related with NNI, crop N content and relative yield. The best performing indices to predict crop N content and NNI at the early stages of the crops (i.e., vegetative and flowering phenological stages) were the SFR indices, both under red (SFR-R) and green (SFR-G) excitation. However, in the final stage of the crop (i.e., harvest stage), the best performing indices were NBI, both under red (NBI-R) and green (NBI-G) excitation, and FLAV. The two SFR indices best predicted relative yield of sweet pepper at early growth stages. Overall, the fluorescence sensor and the fluorescence indices evaluated were able to predict crop variables related to N status in sweet pepper. They have the capacity to be incorporated into best N management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Description of the subject. Despite the importance of tomato in Central Africa, little is known about the weed flora occurring in tomato crops in this part of the world. Objectives. We aimed to provide a comprehensive description of the weed flora found in tomato crops in the mountainous region of South Kivu, DR Congo. Method. Floristic inventories were made in four cultivation zones of the Kabare territory, South Kivu. Results. In total, 79 species (belonging to 64 genera and 31 families) were recorded. The most species-rich families were Asteraceae and Poaceae. Therophytes and geophytes were the dominant life forms. Weed diversity was not significantly different between sites but species composition varied considerably, likely in relation to soil type. Based on the frequency and the abundance, the most problematic weeds were Commelina benghalensis, Galinsoga quadriradiata, Commelina diffusa, Galinsoga parviflora, Bidens pilosa, Oxalis debilis and Digitaria velutina. Conclusions. The weed flora in tomato fields of the mountainous regions of DR Congo is diversified, but only a few cosmopolitan species are problematic.

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) reached West Africa in 2012 and has since become a major tomato pest. Various alternative strategies for pest control have been identified worldwide, including crop rotation, to deprive the insect of its food. However, this method can only be implemented if a good knowledge of the local host plants of the leafminer have been identified. Here, we have assessed the capacity of Tuta absoluta to develop on 27 common vegetable crops in West Africa, representing the Poaceae, Apiaceae, Convolvulaceae, Amaranthaceae, Malvaceae, Lamiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, Brassicaceae, Asteraceae, Solanaceae, and Amaryllidaceae. The tomato leafminer was only able to develop and complete its life cycle on crops within the genus Solanum. Among the 27 plant species tested, Solanum lycopersicum L. (tomato) was identified as the best host, allowing for rapid development (22.2 ± 1.4 days) and a high survival rate (84%). Solanum tuberosum L. (Irish potato) (24.4 ± 0.8 days; survival rate 40%), Solanum aethiopicum L. (African eggplant) (24.3 ± 0.6 days; survival rate 52%) and Solanum melongena L. (eggplant) (25.9 ± 1.8 days; survival rate 24%) were three other possible hosts. Larval development occurred on onion (Allium cepa L.), but not pupation. A strategy that includes a prolonged absence of the genus Solanum in a production area would be associated with a considerable reduction in leafminer population size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aimed to study the current situation of the number of protected agriculture (greenhouses), their area and quantity of output, and the most important vegetable crops planted in them in Egypt during the period (2006-2019), a study of the current situation of the most important vegetable crops grown in protected agriculture (greenhouses) and their counterparts on sustainable land in Egypt during that period, the relative importance of the cost items of greenhouses in Egypt during the study period, comparing the productivity of the unit area of the most important vegetable crops in greenhouses and its counterpart in the permanent land during the study period, studying the most important problems facing vegetable producers in greenhouses and the possibility of overcoming them with the research sample. The study has found many results: (1) An increase in the number of greenhouses in Egypt with an annual growth rate of about 2.3% during the period (2006- 2019). (2) The cucumber crop ranked first in terms of the average number of greenhouses, which amounted to about 33 thousand greenhouses, followed by the average number of greenhouses for the pepper crop, which amounted to 18 thousand greenhouses, and the beans crop came in third place with an average of 7 thousand, while the tomato crop came In fourth place, with an average of about 4 thousand greenhouses. (3) The area of the tomato crop in the permanent land came in the first place with an average area of about 3068.9 million square meters, then the area of the pepper crop in the permanent land came in the second place with an average of about 402.8 million square meters, followed in the third place by the average area of cucumbers in the permanent land, which amounted to About 245.8 million square meters, and the average area of the green bean crop in the permanent land came in fourth place, reaching about 238.1 million square meters. (4) The increase in the prices of all requirements to produce vegetable crops in greenhouses with growth rates that ranged between a minimum of about 4.9% for the pesticide component, and a maximum of about 21.9% for the covering plastic component. This rise in prices negatively affects the encouragement of investment in the field of protected agriculture, as well as the increase in the prices of these greenhouse products, which leads to the difficulty of competition in the local and foreign market. (5) By asking the producers, it became clear that they all suffer from the problem of the high costs of establishing greenhouses, and it was found that 27 products represent about 90% of the observations of the research sample suffering from the problem of the high prices of agricultural production requirements, and it was found that 22 products represent about 73.3% of the total observations The sample suffers from the problem of high transportation prices, as it turns out that about 60% of the sample suffer from the problem of high workers’ wages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a series of experimental studies on the use of an oleic extract, produced by steam separation utilizing a prototype distillation equipment. The separation process is performed with the use of wet saturated steam under pressure, using as raw material twigs and buds of dwarf silver fir. Since the volatile extracts of aromatic plants do not bring a direct nutritional contribution to the seeds subjected to germination, the germination increase and the root growth of the plants can be obtained only from the exercise of the anti-microbial, anti-oxidant and insect-repellent effect. The use of essential oils in the protection of seeds and rhizosphere is an ecological method because it does not negatively affect the number and frequency of species of useful microorganisms. The nutritional relationship that is established between the seeds treated with volatile oils and the germination bed can be influenced by the changing proportions of microbial populations with beneficial effects on productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The microbiological quality of three vegetable crops (cabbages, carrots, lettuces) and their irrigation water from the lake system of the city of Yamoussoukro were studied. The pollution indicator used is Escherichia coli (E. coli), of the thermotolerant coliform family. Methods: During the period 2017-2019, in four dry and four wet seasons, a total of 744 water samples and 13392 vegetable samples were collected in five (5) lakes belonging to the lake system. The lakes were selected because of their position in the system. The E. coli loads were evaluated after isolation on a specific COMPASS ECC Agar and confirmed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the physicochemical parameters of the lakes, evaluated according to their respective ISO standards. Result: In irrigation waters, bacterial loads and physico-chemical parameters generally have evolved from the upstream lakes to those downstream of the lake system (from lake A to lake E). Values were higher during the rainy seasons. E. coli loads on vegetables were strongly correlated with those of irrigation water, especially in dry seasons. Spearman's correlations revealed significant correlations between turbidity, DOC and bacterial loads. The risk of bacterial transmission between lake waters and surrounding vegetables is proven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production under high tunnels requires appropriate plant density and growth habit to ensure efficient use of space. This study assessed the effects of in-row spacing and bell pepper growth habit on growth and yield under high tunnels. Determinate, cv. Crusader, and indeterminate, cv. Maria, seedlings were transplanted in single rows spaced at 20, 25, and 30 cm between plants (equivalent to 31,245; 24,996; and 20,830 plants∙ha−1, respectively) with growth habit as the main plot and in-row distance as sub-plot. Leaf greenness, plant nutrient status, plant height and marketable fruit weight and number were measured. Yield per plant and per unit area were affected by growth habit and in-row distance. The indeterminate cultivar produced 33% more fruit and 13% more yield per plant than the determinate cultivar, while the determinate cultivar produced 24% heavier fruit than the indeterminate cultivar. In-row distances of 20 and 25 cm resulted in similar fruit number per hectare, while 30 cm plant spacing reduced fruit per hectare by 20%. Overall yield was not affected by in-row distance. An economic analysis is necessary to evaluate the potential profitability of a bell pepper system based on indeterminate cultivars and an in-row distance of 30 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nematode and disease resistant rootstocks have been developed for many vegetable crops including tomato, eggplant, melon, watermelon, and cucumber and are being utilized by an increasing number of growers. Grafting commercially desirable vegetable scions on nematode and disease resistant rootstocks has been significantly stimulated by the need for an alternative to banned soil fumigation with methyl bromide, which had been the primary method for managing soil‐borne nematodes, diseases, and weeds. Rootstocks resistant to root‐knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) and diseases including Fusarium wilt, Fusarium crown and root rot, Verticillium wilt, bacterial wilt, Southern blight, and sudden wilt have been developed and many are available commercially. New technologies such as transcriptomics, identification of differentially expressed genes, transgene rootstocks, and RNAi silencing are being used in the development of vegetable rootstocks which are resistant to pests, salt tolerant, and heat and cold tolerant. Overall, grafting has proven to be a successful and environmentally safe method for managing root‐knot nematodes and soil‐borne diseases by reducing infection, disease development, and inoculum build‐up in the soil, which is especially important for growth of healthy subsequent crops. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address agricultural needs of the future, a better understanding of plastic mulch film effects on soil temperature and moisture is required. The effects of different plant type and mulch combinations were studied over a 3.5-month period to better grasp the consequence of mulch on root zone temperature (RZT) and moisture. Measurements of (RZT) and soil moisture for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), pepper (Capsicum annuum) and carrot (Daucus carota) grown using polyolefin mulch films (black and white-on-black) were conducted in Ontario using a plot without mulch as a control. Black mulch films used in combination with pepper and carrot plants caused similar RZTs relative to uncovered soil, but black mulch film in combination with tomato plants caused a reduction in RZT relative to soil without mulch that increased as plants grew and provided more shade. White-on-black mulch film used in combination with tomatoes, peppers or carrots led to a reduction in RZT relative to soil without mulch that became greater than the temperature of soil without mulch. This insulative capability was similarly observed for black mulch films used with tomato plants. Apart from white-on-black film used in combination with tomatoes, all mulch film and plant combinations demonstrated an ability to stabilize soil moisture relative to soil without mulch. RZT and soil moisture were generally stabilized with mulch film, but some differences were seen among different plant types.

A series of experiments in a plastic house were carried out to test the accumulation of Pb metal in Chinese cabbage and bean plants from the application of several Pb sources. The research method used was a split-plot design with the main plot was the application of Pb source consisting of A1 = pesticide (99 mg Pb/kg), A2 = fertilizer (21 mg Pb/kg), A3 = Pb(NO3)2 (50 mg Pb/kg) and A4 = control (without the application of Pb), and the subplot was the vegetable crops consisting of B1 = Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa) and B2 = bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). The results of the experiment showed that the Pb content in the shoots of Chinese cabbage and bean plants that were previously sprayed with pesticide was significantly 231.02% (Chinese cabbage) and 257.18% (bean) higher than control plants. Meanwhile, the largest Pb concentrations in the roots of Chinese cabbage and bean plants were obtained in plants applied with Pb(NO3)2. Compared to the control treatment, there was an increase in Pb concentration by 206.32% in the roots of Chinese cabbage plant and by 310.03% in the roots of bean plant which were applied with Pb(NO3)2. Pb concentrations of Chinese cabbage which were given fertilizer increased by 14.86% in the shoot and 30.59% in the root, while those in bean increased by 10.74% in the shoot and 98.77% in the root. Pb concentrations in Chinese cabbage and beans that were given fertilizer were not significantly different from control plants. These results indicate that the application of pesticide and fertilizer containing Pb results in Pb accumulation in the plant shoots and roots as well as in the soil.

The response of root growth in containers has been studied in recent decades. The objective was to evaluate the effect of four types of containers on root and shoot growth. The containers were two shapes, round and square, and in some containers, internal vertical walls (IVWs) were placed that increased the internal container surface area with two substrates: perlite and coir fiber. Seedlings of cucumber, pepper, and tomato were transplanted. Two experiments were performed: vegetative growth and drought stress by partial decapitation and a period without fertigation. After decapitation, preexisting and new leaf area, dry biomass or the leaves, and stem were measured. The results revealed that the type of container had no effect, nor were there significant differences between substrates. The containers with IVWs exhibited an increase in biomass and the root surface. The total contact surface with the substrate of the four container types was closely related to the recorded plant growth. Thus, IVWs not only decrease mechanical problems of roots by preventing spiralling but also favor the production of biomass in vegetable plants and substantially increase the root, enabling the plants to manage water deficit and potentially improve posttransplant stress.

In recent years, in the agricultural sector there is a tendency to increase the production of crop products. However, its quality is still not high enough. To improve the situation in the vegetable growing industry, an important place is given to improving breeding and seed production, since the variety and high-quality seeds are the main elements of modern crop cultivation zonal technologies. At the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Federal Scientific Vegetable Center” (FSBSI FSVC), vegetable crop breeding has been put on the innovative path of development, where modern methods are used along with classical ones: molecular markers on the main of economical important plant determinants, accelerated creation of homogeneous lines using the methods of doubled haploids and biotechnology of functional products for healthy nutrition. As a result of purposeful selection work, domestic varieties and hybrids of vegetable crops with fundamentally new qualities were created. The geographical location of the branches of the Center allows you to create breeding achievements for all potential regions of vegetable growing. In 2019, 36 varieties and hybrids of vegetables and melon crops were created, including cabbage, carrot, tomato, onion, onion Shallot, perennial onion, garlic, peas, bean, cowpea, pumpkin, cucumber, sugar corn, green vegetables culture, spicy-flavouring plant and floral crops. In order to provide the industry with pure-grade quality seed material and increase the productivity of crops due to the full use of the potential of the variety in the FSBSI FSVC, constant work is carried out in primary seed production. Zonal cultivation technologies have been developed that will allow growing domestic products in different soil and climatic conditions of the country. Wide introduction of achievements of the Russian vegetable growing science in agricultural production is capable to provide the population of the Russian Federation with high-quality, domestic production.

As a biostimulant, amino acids play crucial roles in enhancing plant growth and development. These roles, combined with the ability to be approved for organic usage, make amino acids a good choice for sustainable farming systems. This work investigates the effect of onion seed priming with different exogenous amino acids, specifically the impact of seed priming in enhancing a diverse range of morpho-physiological responses of onion seedlings. Here, we primed onion seeds (Cultivar Giza 6) with ten exogenous amino acids. Based on the growth parameters of onion seedlings, data showed that glutamine significantly improved the most studied parameters. Germination percentage (GP) ranged from 85% in Methionine (Met) to 98.5% in Proline (Pro) and Tryptophan (Try), with 10% over the control treatment. Glutamine (Glu) enhanced the vigor index (VI) of onion, giving the seeds a high ability to produce normal seedlings. The most extended root system (≥3.3 cm) was obtained from Glu, Glycine (Gly), Pro, and Try treatments. The maximum shoot length was obtained from treatments (Glu and Try) with more than 60% over control. Priming onion seeds with amino acids (AAs) increased chlorophyll contents compared with non-primed seeds. Glutamine and Threonine (Thr) had the highest results (122 and 127 μg/g fresh weight, respectively), while the Glu treatment registered the highest Carotene contents with 50% over the control treatment. Furthermore, the data illustrate that the principal component analysis-1 (PCA1) indicates 67.2% variability, and PCA2 indicates 14.8% variability. Strong positive correlations were observed between germination percentage, root length, shoot length, dry matter, chlorophyll a, and carotene. The study concluded that the primed onion seeds by glutamine, proline, and tryptophan had the best germination rates.

The study was carried out at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during 2019 as the widespread use ofinsecticides to control crop pests has created various problems such as residues in the food chain, phytotoxicity,pesticide resistance, pest resurgence, bioaccumulation and secondary pest outbreak, in addition to causing harmfuleffect on the environment and non-targeted beneficial organisms. However, trap cropping is one such type of specialcompanion planting strategy that is traditionally used for insect pest management through vegetative diversificationused to attract insect pests away from the main crops during a critical time period by providing them an optionalpreferred choice. Trap cropping also has a tremendous potential to attract and conserve natural enemies in croppingsystems. The effect of attracting natural enemies may be an advantage compared to the other/conventional meansof pest control. Trap cropping can be integrated with other Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tactics. But trapcropping, like many other cultural tactics, remains under-exploited. Research on trap cropping has been very limited,and deserves more consideration to sustain agro-ecosystems throughout the world. In this review we have providedinformation based on trap cropping modalities and an updated list of trap cropping system in vegetable crops thatshould be proven as helpful in future trap cropping endeavors.

Technology infusion in agriculture has been progressing steadily, touching upon various spheres of agriculture such as crop identification, soil classification, yield prediction, disease detection, and weed-crop discrimination. On-demand crop type detection, often realized as crop mapping, is a primary requirement in agriculture. Alongside the topographic LiDAR and thermal imaging, hyperspectral remote sensing is a versatile technique for mapping and predicting various parameters of interest in agriculture. The ongoing developments in the methods and algorithms of remote sensing data analyses for crop mapping require the availability of curated, high-resolution hyperspectral datasets, varied by crop type, nutrient supply (nitrogen level), and ground truth data. Aimed at enabling the development and validation of approaches for crop mapping at the plant level, we present a high-resolution ground-based hyperspectral imaging dataset acquired over fields of two vegetable crops (cabbage, eggplant). These crops were grown on experimental plots of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, India, maintaining three different nitrogen levels (high, medium, and low). The datasets contain hyperspectral imagery of the vegetable crops grown under two configurations: (i) imagery, which contains only a single crop type in a scene, and (ii) imagery, which contains both crops in a single scene. In both configurations, each crop has plots representing three different nitrogen levels. Ultra-high spatial resolution hyperspectral imaging data were acquired in 400 to 900 nm with an effective spectral resolution of 3 nm and spatial resolution of 3 mm using a ground-based push-broom hyperspectral imaging system (Headwall Photonics, USA). Ground truth data were also presented. The datasets are valuable for developing and validating various methods and algorithms for precision agriculture applications, such as machine learning methods for crop mapping at plants and estimating crop growth responses to different nitrogen levels., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

The use of environmentally safe products of natural origin is a global trend today. A particular point of interest is the use of humic fertilizers. This is due to the growing awareness of the positive impact of humic substances on plant growth and development as well as on the quality of agricultural products and soil fertility. Humates are physiologically active substances. As a result, they regulate and intensify metabolic processes in plants and soil, and contribute to the bioavailability of nutrients to plants. EldORost is a new-generation humic product that contains humic substances with a high humification degree. In addition to humates, this product contains a complex of amino acids, macro-, and microelements in a bioavailable form for plants. The product is eco-friendly and completely soluble in water, which is a substantial advantage for drip irrigation systems. It can be used for all types of agricultural crops on a wide diversity of soils and climatic zones. It displays the properties of plant hormones while its optimum concentration is as low as 0.0001% (wt). The efficiency of this novel humic product was tested in laboratory and field tests conducted on potatoes and vegetable crops (tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, carrots, onions, beets). The obtained results showed high efficiency displayed in the significantly improved sowing quality of vegetable seeds, nominally increased the germination degree and seed germination energy, intensively stimulated the side root development in plants, accelerated the growth of biomass, increased the fruiting period, and reduced maturation on the yield of potatoes and vegetable crops. The obtained data allowed us to characterize this novel humic product from the perspective of an eco-friendly fertilizer and growth promoter.

The article presents the results of studying the biochemical composition of the large worldwide vegetable crops collection of the Brassicaceae family, stored at the N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR), St. Petersburg, Russia, consisting of 7303 accessions of different status (approximately 50% unique accessions) from 98 countries. Studied vegetable brassicas collection includes representatives of all botanical varieties, agroecological groups and cultivar types of the species cole crops Brassica oleracea L. and related wild Mediterranean species, leafy and root vegetable crops B. rapa L., leafy and root vegetable accessions of Indian mustard B. juncea Czern. subsp. integrifolia (H. West) Tell. and subsp. foliosa L. H. Bailey, radish and small radish Raphanus sativus L., garden cress Lepidium sativum L., salad rocket Eruca sativa L. The application of complex analysis for the study of nutrient and biologically active compounds of economically important crops from six species of Brassicaceae family, which determine the quality of vegetables and feeds, also the search within each crop for sources of valuable biochemical traits for breeding has been presented. The broadest variability of all studied traits between and within crops was revealed, the limits of natural variability were determined. The average values of the studied traits in six species within the family varied to varying degrees: they were similar in the studied species in terms of dry matter content (%), protein, total acidity; differed between species to a moderate degree in terms of the content of ascorbic acid, carotene, and the amount of volatile phenolic compounds. The species differed to a very high degree from each other in terms of the average content of sugars (total, monosaccharides, etc.), carotenoids, β-carotene, chlorophylls a and b, anthocyanins, free amino acids, and free fatty acids. Studied crops, belonging to Brassica oleracea, have the highest total sugar content among the all studied crops. B. rapa leafy crops have the highest content of phenolic compounds; B. juncea -- β-carotene and chlorophylls; Raphanus sativus -- carotenes and anthocyanins; Lepidium sativum -- the highest content of protein, total acidity, free amino acids; Eruca sativa -- carotenoids and free fatty acids. The maximum dry matter content was detected in the forage turnip B. rapa and Brussels sprout (B. oleracea), protein in leafy B. rapa crops and cauliflower (B. oleracea), total sugars and ascorbic acid in head cabbage (B. oleracea), carotenoids in L. sativum and E. sativa, carotenes, including β-carotene, chlorophylls, phenolic compounds, free fatty acids in B. rapa, anthocyanins in R. sativus, free amino acids in B. rapa and R. sativus. Among the studied variety types of each crop, sources of nutrients and biologically active substances were identified, including types with an optimal biochemical compounds composition for the human nutrition, which are proposed to be useful in breeding of the new cultivars for healthy diet and medical applications, as well as for expanding the range of brassicas crops in the diet for the population of the Russian Federation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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