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Papaya is a tropical fruit crop renowned for its rich nutrition, particularly pro-vitamin A. Aroma substances are a major component of fruit quality. While extensive research has been conducted on papaya aroma, there has been a notable lack of in-depth research into a specific class of substances. To bridge this gap, our study focused on analyzing the aroma components of various papaya varieties and their biosynthesis pathways. We compared the volatile components of three papaya varieties with distinct flavors at various ripeness stages. A continuous accumulation of linalool, a volatile compound, in the 'AU9' fruit was detected as it matured. The linalool content reached 56% of the total volatile components upon full ripening. Notably, this percentage was significantly higher than that observed in the other two varieties, 'ZhongBai' and 'Malaysian 7', indicating that linalool serves as the primary component influencing the papaya's odor. Subsequently, we identified CpTPS18, a gene associated with linalool biosynthesis, and demonstrated its ability to catalyze linalool production from GPP and enhance its accumulation through overexpression in papaya fruits, both in vivo and in vitro. Based on transcriptomic analysis, it was predicted that CpMYB56 and CpNAC56 may transcriptionally activate the expression of CpTPS18. Subsequent yeast one-hybrid assay and dual luciferase analysis revealed that CpNAC56 activates the transcription of CpTPS18. Transient overexpression in vivo demonstrated that this gene could upregulate the expression of CpTPS18 and promote linalool accumulation. These results uncovered the primary volatile molecule responsible for papaya fruit odor and identified two major genes influencing its biosynthesis. The genomic resources and information obtained from this study will expedite papaya improvement for fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The nuclear factor Y (NF‐Y) transcription factors play important roles in plant development and physiological responses. However, the relationship between NF‐Y, plant hormone and plant stress resistance in tropical crops remains unclear. In this study, we identified MeNF‐YC15 gene in the NF‐Y family that significantly responded to Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis (Xam) treatment. Using MeNF‐YC15‐silenced and ‐overexpressed cassava plants, we elucidated that MeNF‐YC15 positively regulated disease resistance to cassava bacterial blight (CBB). Notably, we illustrated MeNF‐YC15 downstream genes and revealed the direct genetic relationship between MeNF‐YC15 and 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase (MeACO1)‐ethylene module in disease resistance, as evidenced by the rescued disease susceptibility of MeNF‐YC15 silenced cassava plants with ethylene treatment or overexpressing MeACO1. In addition, the physical interaction between 2C‐type protein phosphatase 1 (MePP2C1) and MeNF‐YC15 inhibited the transcriptional activation of MeACO1 by MeNF‐YC15. In summary, MePP2C1‐MeNF‐YC15 interaction modulates ethylene biosynthesis and cassava disease resistance, providing gene network for cassava genetic improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress that limits the growth and productivity of horticultural crops. Most fruit crops are glycophytes, and their production is adversely affected by salt stress. The key findings indicate that salinity reduces several plant growth parameters such as shoot and root length, number of leaves, plant biomass and relative water content as well as biochemical parameters such as photosynthetic pigments and proline. Physiological results show decreased water absorption, nutrient imbalances such as changes in ion concentrations and hormone levels and increased oxidative stress. Several mitigation strategies are recommended, such as the use of salt-tolerant rootstocks, application of growth regulators and soil amendments to enhance salt tolerance in tropical fruit crops. This review concludes that integrating physiological and agronomic strategies is essential for mitigating the adverse effects of salinity on tropical fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical pesticides have been widely used in plantations, and their effects have more disadvantages to the environment as well as to humans. Therefore, this study tries to implement organic pesticides using bamboo vinegar. Bamboo vinegar is one of the organic pesticides to control insect pests in plantation crops. The role of this organic pesticide on the insect pests of Harumanis mango is still unknown. Hence, this study aims to determine the impact of applying bamboo vinegar on the insect pests, quality, and nutrient content of Harumanis mango (MA128). Bamboo vinegar was applied in February 2021 during the flowering phase at the Harumanis plot in the Plantation Unit, Universiti Teknologi MARA Perlis. This study used a randomized complete block design with three treatments (spraying intervals) and three replications: T1 (3-day interval), T2 (5-day interval), and T3 (no bamboo vinegar). Sticky traps were installed to determine the population of insect pests in Harumanis mango. Matured fruits have been harvested, and the standard procedure of Harumanis mango postharvest handling has been followed. Then, the fruits were determined for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), vitamin C, and sugar content. Bamboo vinegar significantly reduced the abundance of insects in Harumanis mango. Additionally, the highest TPC was observed from a 3-day interval of bamboo vinegar application. A similar trend was indicated for improving TFC with bamboo vinegar application. Similarly, there was a significantly higher vitamin C and sugar content after bamboo vinegar application compared to the control group. In conclusion, applying bamboo vinegar to Harumanis mango reduced insect pests and increased the quality and nutrient content of the Harumanis mango. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dirigent (DIR) genes play a pivotal role in plant development and stress adaptation. Manihot esculenta Crantz, commonly known as cassava, is a drought-resistant plant thriving in tropical and subtropical areas. It is extensively utilized for starch production, bioethanol, and animal feed. However, a comprehensive analysis of the DIR family genes remains unexplored in cassava, a crucial cash and forage crop in tropical and subtropical regions. In this study, we characterize a total of 26 cassava DIRs (MeDIRs) within the cassava genome, revealing their uneven distribution across 13 of the 18 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into four subfamilies: DIR-a, DIR-b/d, DIR-c, and DIR-e. Comparative synteny analysis with cassava and seven other plant species (Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), poplar (Populus trichocarpa), soybean (Glycine max), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), rice (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), and wheat (Triticum aestivum)) provided insights into their likely evolution. We also predict protein interaction networks and identify cis-acting elements, elucidating the functional differences in MeDIR genes. Notably, MeDIR genes exhibited specific expression patterns across different tissues and in response to various abiotic and biotic stressors, such as pathogenic bacteria, cadmium chloride (CdCl2), and atrazine. Further validation through quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) confirmed the response of DIR genes to osmotic and salt stress. These findings offer a comprehensive resource for understanding the characteristics and biological functions of MeDIR genes in cassava, enhancing our knowledge of plant stress adaptation mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pepper weevil (Anthonomus eugenii Cano, 1894) poses a significant threat to pepper crops worldwide in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Despite its importance, the spatial distribution of pepper weevil in fields using geospatial methods like SADIE, Moran's I, and Geary's C remains unexplored. Few studies have utilized mean-variance-based methods to assess pepper weevil distribution. This study aimed to elucidate the distribution of pepper weevil in seven pepper fields located in South Florida, Miami Dade County, while also discerning any differences across fields or similarities in distribution patterns. The results revealed an aggregated distribution of pepper weevil, which tended to become more regular towards the end of the season as fruits and plants matured. Importantly, this aggregated distribution pattern observed through the geospatial techniques aligns with findings from previous studies utilizing mean-variance-based methods. Additionally, our study highlights that infested fruit counts can serve as an effective indicator of pepper weevil distribution, reducing the time required for adult population assessment. Given the cryptic nature and small size of pepper weevil adults, visual detection on plants can be challenging, whereas infested fruits are readily observable. The pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii Cano, is an economically important pest of cultivated peppers (Capsicum annuum) in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. This study aimed to ascertain the spatial distribution of pepper weevil infestation across various fields in Miami Dade County, South Florida. The spatio-temporal dynamics of pepper weevil were evaluated using 144 sample points within each of seven pepper fields. The data were analyzed using three different geospatial techniques, spatial analysis by distance indices (SADIE), Moran's I, and Geary's C, to determine the spatial distribution of pepper weevil. The SADIE analysis revealed a significant aggregation distribution in 18 out of 30 sampling dates across all fields. The results from Geary's C and Moran's I indices indicated a positive spatial autocorrelation (spatial clustering/aggregation) of pepper weevil regardless of field or pepper types. Overall, the findings from this study depict an aggregated spatial distribution pattern of pepper weevil populations, characterized by a tendency for aggregation that transitions to a more uniform distribution as the season progresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect pollinator biodiversity is changing rapidly, with potential consequences for the provision of crop pollination. However, the role of land use-climate interactions in pollinator biodiversity changes, as well as consequent economic effects via changes in crop pollination, remains poorly understood. We present a global assessment of the interactive effects of climate change and land use on pollinator abundance and richness and predictions of the risk to crop pollination from the inferred changes. Using a dataset containing 2673 sites and 3080 insect pollinator species, we show that the interactive combination of agriculture and climate change is associated with large reductions in insect pollinators. As a result, it is expected that the tropics will experience the greatest risk to crop production from pollinator losses. Localized risk is highest and predicted to increase most rapidly, in regions of sub-Saharan Africa, northern South America, and Southeast Asia. Via pollinator loss alone, climate change and agricultural land use could be a risk to human well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry systems promise a high multifunctionality providing cash and subsistence yields as well as other ecosystem services. Such land systems may be particularly promising for smallholders in tropical landscapes due to high labour intensity and productivity on limited land. Focusing on Madagascar, we here describe the history of agroforestry in the country and review the current literature on agroforestry outcomes as well as factors promoting and hindering agroforest establishment and maintenance. From this, we discuss the potential future of agroforestry in Madagascar. Historically, many crops farmed today in agroforestry systems were originally introduced as plantation crops, mostly in the nineteenth century. Since then, people co-opted these crops into mixed agroforestry systems, often focusing on clove, vanilla, coffee, or cocoa in combination with fruit trees or, for clove, with livestock. Other crops are also integrated, but shares are comparatively low. Overall, 27.4% of Malagasy exports are crops typically farmed in agroforestry systems, providing income for at least 500,000 farmers. Outcomes of agroforestry for biodiversity and ecosystem services are commonly researched, showing benefits over annual crops and monocultures. Social-economic outcomes, including yields, are more scarcely researched, but findings point towards financial benefits for smallholder farmers and a sense of community and collective memory. However, findings emphasize that research gaps remain in terms of geographic and crop coverage, also for ecological outcomes. Looking to the future, we highlight the need to overcome hurdles such as land tenure insecurity, financial barriers to implementation, and unstable value chains to scale agroforestry in Madagascar to the benefit of multifunctional land systems and human wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring host plant resistance and elevating plant defense mechanisms through the application of exogenous elicitors stands as a promising strategy for integrated pest management. The fall armyworm, a pernicious menace to grain crops in tropical and subtropical regions, stands as a formidable threat due to its capacity for devastation and a wide-ranging spectrum of host plants. There is no literature regarding artificially induced resistance in maize against fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) by exogenous application of phytohormones. The present investigation was performed to evaluate the role of jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) on two maize hybrids namely FH-1046 and YH-1898 against fall armyworm. Results showed that plant height, biomass and lengths, fresh and dry weight of root shoot which decreased with armyworm infestation improved with phytohormonal application. JA treatment resulted in a higher increase in all attributes as compared to SA treatment. Improvement in relative water contents, photosynthetic pigments and pronounced levels of phenol and proline accumulation were observed in infested plants after JA treatment. Infested plants recovered from oxidative stress as JA application activated and increased the antioxidant enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity in both FH-1046 and YH-1898. The oxidative stress reduction in infested plants after JA treatment was also evident from a fair decrease in MDA and H2O2 in both varieties. The SA and JA mediated genes expression was studied and it was found that in FH1046 maize cultivar, JA dependent genes, particularly marker genes PR1 and Lox5 were highly expressed along with TPS10 and BBT12. Whereas SPI, WRKY28, ICS and PAL were shown to be activated upon SA application. Evidently, both JA and SA elicited a robust defensive response within the maize plants against the voracious S. frugiperda, which in consequence exerted a discernible influence over the pest's developmental trajectory and physiological dynamics. A decrease in detoxification enzyme activity of the insects was observed after feeding on treated plants. Moreover, it was recorded that the survival and weight gain of FAW feeding on phytohormone treated maize plants also decelerated. In conclusion, FH-1046 was found to be more tolerant than YH-1898 against fall armyworm infestation and 1 mM JA was more effective than 1 mM SA for alleviation of fall armyworm stress. Therefore, it was inferred that phytohormones regulated redox homeostasis to circumvent oxidative damage and mediate essential metabolic events in maize under stress. To our current understanding, this study is the very first presentation of induced resistance in maize against S. frugiperda with the phytohormonal application (JA and SA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Cassava, a pivotal tropical crop, exhibits rapid growth and possesses a substantial biomass. Its stem is rich in cellulose and serves as a crucial carbohydrate storage organ. The height and strength of stems restrict the mechanised operation and propagation of cassava. In this study, the triple helix transcription factor MeGT2.6 was identified through yeast one‐hybrid assay using MeCesA1pro as bait, which is critical for cellulose synthesis. Over‐expression and loss‐of‐function lines were generated, and results revealed that MeGT2.6 could promote a significant increase in the plant height, stem diameter, cell size and thickness of SCW of cassava plant. Specifically, MeGT2.6 upregulated the transcription activity of MeGA20ox1 and downregulated the expression level of MeGA2ox1, thereby enhancing the content of active GA3, resulting in a large cell size, high plant height and long stem diameter in cassava. Moreover, MeGT2.6 upregulated the transcription activity of MeCesA1, which promoted the synthesis of cellulose and hemicellulose and produced a thick secondary cell wall. Finally, MeGT2.6 could help supply additional substrates for the synthesis of cellulose and hemicellulose by upregulating the invertase genes (MeNINV1/6). Thus, MeGT2.6 was found to be a multiple regulator; it was involved in GA metabolism and sucrose decomposition and the synthesis of cellulose and hemicellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dolichos bean [Dolichos lablab (Roxb.) (L) Var. typicus] is one of the most important leguminous vegetable crops cultivated in tropical plains of India. The mature and immature pods are rich in protein, minerals and vitamins. Most of the pole types of dolichos beans are photosensitive in nature, suited for growing in specific season like kharif and not productive when grown in summer season. Different cultivars of Dolichos bean require different seasons for getting maximum yield. With this background, studies on seasonal influence on growth and yield of dolichos bean genotypes were carried out. Methods: An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of season and genotypes in Dolichos bean. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with nine treatment combinations and four replications. In this study, three genotypes of dolichos bean viz., CO 1, Dbp-3 and Dbp-4 were sown during kharif, rabi and winter seasons. Result: The main and interaction effects on genotypes and season of sowing had a significant influence on green pod yield, crude fibre, crude protein and total dry matter production. The genotype Dbp-3 sown during kharif season recorded the highest values for green pod yield (23.43 t.ha-1), crude protein (5.99%), dry matter production at various stages of growth (65.9, 254.3, 305.8, 359.2, 389.8 and 418.0 g.plant-1 at 30, 60,90,120,150,180 days after sowing respectively) and it was significantly different from all other treatments. The same treatment i.e., genotype Dbp-3 sown during kharif season was recorded the lowest amount of crude fibre content (1.53%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sisal is an important tropical cash crop in southern China. Unfortunately, it is threatened by various diseases. In 2022, a new disease tentatively named marginal leaf blight disease (MLBD) was first observed in sisal fields across Guangxi and Guangdong provinces, with an incidence rate ranging from 13% to 30%. In this work, to isolate and identify the pathogens causing MLBD, sisal leaves exhibiting the typical MLBD symptoms were collected, and nine strains were obtained. Pathogenicity tests, morphological observations, and phylogenetic analyses confirmed that two strains, namely 22GX1-3 and 22GD1-4, identified as Phaeosphaeriopsis obtusispora, were the causative pathogens of MLBD. Further investigations into the biological characteristics of P. obtusispora showed that its mycelia exhibited optimal growth on PDA medium, with the most favourable temperature and pH being 25 °C and 7.0, respectively. The mycelia could grow in temperatures ranging from 10 °C to 32 °C but ceased at 35 °C. Lactose and yeast extract powder were also identified as the optimal carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. Additionally, the effectiveness of various control agents was assessed on a single strain, 22GX1-3. Among the twelve fungicides tested, difenoconazole was proven the most effective, with an EC50 value of 0.5045 µg/mL. To our knowledge, this is the first report for sisal MLBD caused by P. obtusispora. Our results provide crucial pieces of information for the development of effective management strategies to control sisal MLBD caused by P. obtusispora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytophthora palmivora, a hemibiotrophic oomycete, causes diseases in several economically important tropical crops, such as oil palm, which it is responsible for a devastating disease called bud rot (BR). Despite recent progress in understanding host resistance and virulence mechanisms, many aspects remain unknown in P. palmivora isolates from oil palm. Model pathosystems are useful for understanding the molecular interactions between pathogens and hosts. In this study, we utilized detached leaves and whole seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 to describe and evaluate the infection process of three P. palmivora isolates (CPPhZC-05, CPPhZC-04, CPPhZOC-01) that cause BR in oil palm. Two compatible isolates (CPPhZC-05 and CPPhZOC-01) induced aqueous lesions at 72 h post-inoculation (hpi), with microscopic visualization revealing zoospore encysting and appressorium penetration at 3 hpi, followed by sporangia generation at 72 hpi. In contrast, an incompatible isolate (CPPhZC-04) exhibited cysts that could not penetrate tissue, resulting in low leaf colonization. Gene expression of ten P. palmivora infection-related genes was quantified by RT-qPCR, revealing overexpression in compatible isolates, but not in the incompatible isolate. Additionally, key genes associated with salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and ethylene (ET) in Arabidopsis exhibited regulation during interaction with the three isolates. These findings demonstrate that P. palmivora can infect Arabidopsis Col-0, and variability is observed in the interaction between Arabidopsis-Col-0 and P. palmivora isolates. Establishing this pathosystem is expected to enhance our understanding of P. palmivora's pathology and physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) is a key element for energy transfer, and biosynthesis of nucleic acids and cell membranes. The objective of this study was to investigate and quantify P utilization by different grain—maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.)—and forage-cover crop brachiaria (Brachiaria ruziziensis) plant species in a low fertility highly weathered Oxisol. Two rates of P (25 and 50 mg kg−1) were applied by water-soluble P fertilizer (triple superphosphate) to each of 12 crop cycles, together with a control (no P added). Measurements included plant biomass production and P uptake for each cycle, and analysis of soil P fractions (including labile and non-labile) and enzymes activities (acid phosphatase and β-glucosidase) were done at the beginning of the experiment and after 3, 6, and 12 cycles. Total biomass production and P uptake/removal were significantly higher for brachiaria than maize and soybean, which was reflected in the P use efficiency (PUE), being higher for brachiaria (57%), compared with maize (26%) and soybean (21%). The higher PUE by brachiaria was partly attributed to higher levels of acid phosphatase and β-glucosidase activities which indicated enhanced biological activity and P cycling under brachiaria. Data from the control treatment clearly demonstrated that all three plant species mobilized stable/occluded fractions of P throughout the experiment, however, brachiaria could produce more using less P. The findings of this study indicated the inclusion of brachiaria in crop rotations as a forage or cover crop/green manure may enhance overall P use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanilla orchids are members of the Vanilloideae orchid subfamily, and they hold significant economic value as a spice crop in tropical regions. Despite the presence of 180 known species within this subfamily, commercial production focuses on only three species (Vanilla planifolia, V. odorata, and V. pompona) and one hybrid (V. × tahitensis), prized for their aromatic qualities and bioactive compounds. Limited modern breeding initiatives have been undertaken with vanilla orchids, although recent advancements in genomic research are shedding light on this crop's potential. The protracted breeding cycle of vanilla, coupled with increasing demand for germplasm, underscores the importance of research and breeding efforts in vanilla. This paper outlines a protocol for haploid production in V. planifolia using unfertilized ovaries in tissue culture conditions. Additionally, we present a methodology to confirm the haploid nature of putative haploid lines through stomatal size comparison, chromosome counting, and flow cytometry analysis, proving the successful development of haploid vanilla plants. These findings contribute to the advancement of breeding programs and genetic improvement strategies for the vanilla industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing food security, Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) emerged, combining various enterprises within a farm for marginal and small farmers. Typology is a significant tool in analysing the diversity among IFS. We interviewed 250 marginal and small farmers following IFS during 2022-2023 for typology assessment in the western zone of Tamil Nadu, India. Multivariate statistical analysis resulted in four distinct farm types i.e., type-1. Marginal farmers with diversified crops dominated by cereals, less owned area, a smaller number of livestock and lower income constitutes (38.4%), type-2. Marginal farmers with diversified crops dominated by fodder crops, medium number of livestock and high livestock income contributes (29.6%), type-3. Marginal farmers with various crops dominated by cash crops, medium number of livestock and medium income contributes (22.4%) and type-4. Small farmers with various crops dominated by plantation crops, higher owned area, medium number of livestock and higher income contributes (9.6%). Constraint analysis was done for various crops and livestock production systems in each farm type. To overcome these constraints, socially acceptable interventions were given to each farm type. The study advocated that the findings of typology and constraint analysis contribute to suitable interventions for specific locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon sequestration by photosynthetic organisms is the principal mechanism for the absorption of atmospheric CO2. Since the 1950s, however, the global carbon cycle has been distorted as increased anthropogenic CO2 emissions have greatly outstripped rates of carbon sequestration, with a 50% increase in atmospheric CO2 levels in less than a century, leading to perturbation of global climate systems and threatening food production and social stability. In order to address the current imbalance in CO2 flux, it is important to both reduce net emissions and promote sequestration. To address the latter issue, we need to better understand the roles of systems, such as natural forests, coastal wetlands, and tropical croplands, in carbon sequestration and devise strategies to facilitate net CO2 uptake. Carbon sequestration by tropical trees and crops already removes in excess of 1000 million tonnes of atmospheric CO2 annually but is threatened by anthropogenic activities such as deforestation and the drainage of carbon-rich peatland. Improvements in carbon sequestration can be achieved by policies such as growing tropical crops as part of agroforestry systems, enforcing limitations on deforestation and the use of peatland, and auditing the carbon impact of major cropping systems in order to focus on those crops that deliver both high yields and carbon efficiency. As an initial step in this process, a detailed case study is presented on the tropical tree crop, the African oil palm, Elaeis guineensis. This analysis includes a comparison of the carbon sequestration potential of oil palm with that of tropical forests and other oil crops, the biomass sequestration potential of oil palm and current and future strategies aimed at achieving net-zero carbon targets for oil palm and related crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson, 1885, often known as elephant foot yam, is a tropical tuber crop that originates from south-east Asia and belongs to the Araceae family. It is known for its high production potential and popularity as a medicinal plant. However, the phylogeny and genes for this species are still unavailable. In this study, the first complete chloroplast genome of A. paeoniifolius was reported and phylogenetic analysis was conducted with Araceae species. The chloroplast genome was 176,258 bp in length with 34.80% overall GC content and includes a large single-copy (LSC) region (93,951 bp), a small single-copy (SSC) region (15,013 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat (IRs) regions (33,647 bp). The chloroplast genome has 130 genes, which include 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. A maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis indicated that all Amorphophallus species formed a single monophyletic clade with a high bootstrap value and A. paeoniifolius was closely related to A. konjac, A. albus, A. krausei, and A. titanum. The chloroplast genome reported in this study will be useful for further taxonomic and evolutionary studies of Amorphophallus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Theobroma cacao, the cocoa tree, is a tropical crop grown for its highly valuable cocoa solids and fat which are the basis of a 200-billion-dollar annual chocolate industry. However, the long generation time and difficulties associated with breeding a tropical tree crop have limited the progress of breeders to develop high-yielding disease-resistant varieties. Development of marker-assisted breeding methods for cacao requires discovery of genomic regions and specific alleles of genes encoding important traits of interest. To accelerate gene discovery, we developed a gene atlas composed of a large dataset of replicated transcriptomes with the long-term goal of progressing breeding towards developing high-yielding elite varieties of cacao. Results: We describe the creation of the Cacao Transcriptome Atlas, its global characterization and define sets of genes co-regulated in highly organ- and temporally-specific manners. RNAs were extracted and transcriptomes sequenced from 123 different tissues and stages of development representing major organs and developmental stages of the cacao lifecycle. In addition, several experimental treatments and time courses were performed to measure gene expression in tissues responding to biotic and abiotic stressors. Samples were collected in replicates (3–5) to enable statistical analysis of gene expression levels for a total of 390 transcriptomes. To promote wide use of these data, all raw sequencing data, expression read mapping matrices, scripts, and other information used to create the resource are freely available online. We verified our atlas by analyzing the expression of genes with known functions and expression patterns in Arabidopsis (ACT7, LEA19, AGL16, TIP13, LHY, MYB2) and found their expression profiles to be generally similar between both species. We also successfully identified tissue-specific genes at two thresholds in many tissue types represented and a set of genes highly conserved across all tissues. Conclusion: The Cacao Gene Atlas consists of a gene expression browser with graphical user interface and open access to raw sequencing data files as well as the unnormalized and CPM normalized read count data mapped to several cacao genomes. The gene atlas is a publicly available resource to allow rapid mining of cacao gene expression profiles. We hope this resource will be used to help accelerate the discovery of important genes for key cacao traits such as disease resistance and contribute to the breeding of elite varieties to help farmers increase yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Cassava is one of the most important tropical crops, but it is seriously affected by cassava bacteria blight (CBB) caused by the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas phaseoli pv manihotis (Xam). So far, how pathogen Xam infects and how host cassava defends during pathogen–host interaction remains elusive, restricting the prevention and control of CBB.Here, the illustration of HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 90 kDa (MeHSP90.9) interacting proteins in both cassava and bacterial pathogen revealed the dual roles of MeHSP90.9 in cassava–Xam interaction.On the one hand, calmodulin‐domain protein kinase 1 (MeCPK1) directly interacted with MeHSP90.9 to promote its protein phosphorylation at serine 175 residue. The protein phosphorylation of MeHSP90.9 improved the transcriptional activation of MeHSP90.9 clients (SHI‐RELATED SEQUENCE 1 (MeSRS1) and MeWRKY20) to the downstream target genes (avrPphB Susceptible 3 (MePBS3) and N‐aceylserotonin O‐methyltransferase 2 (MeASMT2)) and immune responses. On the other hand, Xanthomonas outer protein C2 (XopC2) physically associated with MeHSP90.9 to inhibit its interaction with MeCPK1 and the corresponding protein phosphorylation by MeCPK1, so as to repress host immune responses and promote bacterial pathogen infection.In summary, these results provide new insights into genetic improvement of cassava disease resistance and extend our understanding of cassava–bacterial pathogen interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is the primary source of income for the majority of the Indian farming community. Plantation crops play a significant part in improving the farmers' economic condition. The proposed work aims to develop a system model for prognostic reasoning by analyzing the impact of fertilizer and irrigation on areca nut crop yield, as well as to predict diseases that may affect areca nut palms using data analytics and a formal statistical approach. The dataset is constructed by interacting with the farmers in the Mangaluru region of Karnataka, India. To find the optimal features, the formal statistical test chi-square is applied. The performance of various classifiers, such as Logistic Regression, Nave Bayes, Support Vector Machine, Decision Tree, and Random Forest, is examined during prognostic reasoning. For disease prediction and crop yield, the decision tree outperformed other classifiers with an accuracy of 96% and 95.86%, respectively. The most significant irrigation type and fertilizer for increasing areca nut crop yield are also identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated the decomposition and mineralization of pineapple and sorghum litter applied to the surface and subsurface of a Cambisol. The experiment was conducted in pot using pre-treatment (dry oven and fragmented), in a completely randomized design with four replications, following a 2 × 2 × 9 factorial consisting of two plant litters (pineapple and sorghum), two managements (surface and subsurface), and nine incubation times (0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98, and 112 days after application-DAA). The remaining dry mass, the t1/2 (half-life), and macronutrient mineralization were evaluated (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg). The pineapple litter showed the highest loss compared to sorghum litter. Ca and Mg showed the longest half-life and the lowest mineralization rate regardless of the management. The allocation of pineapple and sorghum litter to the soil subsurface favors nutrient mineralization, contributing to the potential release of 82 to 99 kg ha−1 of N, 9 to 17 kg ha−1 of P, and 286 to 401 kg ha−1 of K, respectively, after 112 days. At least 50% of these nutrients were mineralized between four and 35 days, highlighting the litter potential as a nutrient source for tropical crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Professor Rajeev K. Varshney's transformative impact on crop genomics, genetics, and agriculture is the result of his passion, dedication, and unyielding commitment to harnessing the potential of genomics to address the most pressing challenges faced by the global agricultural community. Starting from a small town in India and reaching the global stage, Professor Varshney's academic and professional trajectory has inspired many scientists active in research today. His ground‐breaking work, especially his effort to list orphan tropical crops to genomic resource‐rich entities, has been transformative. Beyond his scientific achievements, Professor Varshney is recognized by his colleagues as an exemplary mentor, fostering the growth of future researchers, building institutional capacity, and strengthening scientific capability. His focus on translational genomics and strengthening seed system in developing countries for the improvement of agriculture has made a tangible impact on farmers' lives. His skills have been best utilized in roles at leading research centres where he has applied his expertise to deliver a new vision for crop improvement. These efforts have now been recognized by the Royal Society with the award of the Fellowship (FRS). As we mark this significant milestone in his career, we not only celebrate Professor Varshney's accomplishments but also his wider contributions that continue to transform the agricultural landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing atmospheric temperature is the consequence of global warming, which is anticipated to impact crop growth and development and decrease the productivity of crops in tropical regions. The field experiments were conducted during the summer season of 2020 and 2021 at College farm, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, to study the response of different rice varieties to elevated temperatures (2-3°C above ambient condition) during the flowering stage with different N and K levels under aerobic conditions. The experiments were laid out in Randomized Block Design consisting of eight treatments viz. V1F0 - Vaishak + 60 kg N and 30 kg K2O (Control - ambient temperature); V1F1-Vaishak+60 kg N and 30 kg K2O; V1F2-Vaishak+90 kg N and 45 kg K2O; V1F3-Vaishak+120 kg N and 60 kg K2O (under stress); V2F0-Aiswarya+60 kg N and 30 kg K2O (Control - No stress);V2F1-Aiswarya+60 kg N and 30 kg K2O; V2F2-Aiswarya+90 kg N and 45 kg K2O; V2F3-Aiswarya+120 kg N and 60 kg K2O (under stress). The tallest plant, higher number of tillers per hill, leaf area index, grain protein, grain and straw yield were observed with higher N and K levels (120: 60 kg/ha). The study revealed that the application of 90 kg N and 45 kg K2O produced comparable grain yields of Vaishak (2365 kg/ha in 2020 and 2186 kg/ha in 2021) and Aiswarya (2395 kg/ha in 2020 and 2104 kg/ha in 2021) to that of 120 kg N and 60 kg K2O/ha in both Vaishak and Aiswarya. Under elevated temperatures, the variety Aiswarya and Vaishak gave better yields to the farmers when supplied with 90 kg N and 45 kg K2O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulse crops are crucial for human nutrition not only because of their rich source of proteins but also for their dietary fibres, complex carbohydrates, resistant starch, vitamin complex and minerals. Pulse crops include mungbean, urdbean, redgram, bengalgram, adzuki bean and cowpea which are agriculturally and economically important crops in tropical and subtropical regions. Bruchid beetles, [Callosobruchus chinensis (L.)] and [C. maculatus (F.)] are the most serious insect pests of Vigna crops especially during storage. Infestation starts in the field and carried to storage godowns, where sometimes it causes total destruction of the seeds within six months. The damage is caused by the grubs, which feed on the entire grain contents leaving only the shell behind. The seeds thus loss its viability and they are rendered unfit for human consumption. Use of resistant cultivars is the best way to manage the bruchids. Hence, the resistant accessions can be effectively used as promising donors for developing bruchid resistant varieties which would ensure food security by reducing postharvest losses under storage conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides a concise summary of the culinary properties of East African Highland Cooking Bananas (EAHCB) and their impact on hybrid selection efficiency. It discusses the challenges faced in banana production, such as drought and pests, and the strategies used in banana breeding to develop new varieties that are resistant to these challenges. The document emphasizes the importance of considering consumer preferences and sensory attributes in the breeding process. It also provides a list of references related to banana cultivation and improvement, making it a valuable resource for researchers and farmers. [Extracted from the article]

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), an important tropical crop, is affected by extreme climatic events, including rising CO2 levels. We evaluated the short-term effect of elevated CO2 concentration (ECO2) (600, 800 and 1000 ppm) on the photosynthetic efficiency of 14 cassava genotypes. ECO2 significantly altered gaseous exchange parameters (net photosynthetic rate (P n), stomatal conductance (g s), intercellular CO2 (C i) and transpiration (E)) in cassava leaves. There were significant but varying interactive effects between ECO2 and varieties on these physiological characteristics. ECO2 at 600 and 800 ppm increased the P n rate in the range of 13–24% in comparison to 400 ppm (ambient CO2), followed by acclimation at the highest concentration of 1000 ppm. A similar trend was observed in g s and E. Conversely, C i increased significantly and linearly across increasing CO2 concentration. Along with C i, a steady increase in water use efficiency [WUEintrinsic (P n/ g s) and WUEinstantaneous (P n/ E)] across various CO2 concentrations corresponded with the central role of restricted stomatal activity, a common response under ECO2. Furthermore, P n had a significant quadratic relationship with the ECO2 (R 2 = 0.489) and a significant and linear relationship with C i (R 2 = 0.227). Relative humidity and vapour pressure deficit during the time of measurements remained at 70–85% and ~0.9–1.31 kPa, respectively, at 26 ± 2°C leaf temperature. Notably, not a single variety exhibited constant performance for any of the parameters across CO2 concentrations. Our results indicate that the potential photosynthesis can be increased up to 800 ppm cassava varieties with high sink capacity can be cultivated under protected cultivation to attain higher productivity. Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) exhibited a positive response to elevated CO2 levels (ranging from 600 to 1000 ppm) compared to the ambient concentration of 400 ppm CO2. Most of the photosynthetic parameters showed steady improvement up to 800 ppm, followed by down-regulation at the highest concentration. The physiological water use efficiency of fourteen cassava varieties was enhanced at 1000 ppm due to restricted stomatal activity and reduced transpiration rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Litchi chinensis (lychee) is one of the most important tropical fruit crops in Asia. Despite the annual increase in research on lychee fungal pathogens, few studies have been conducted on saprobic lychee litter fungi, which may also be sources of pathogens. We collected samples from Guangdong Province, China during our biodiversity survey on leaf litter fungi. The collected species were isolated and identified using morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of combined internal transcribed spacer nrDNA (ITS), large subunit nrDNA (LSU), small subunit nrDNA (SSU), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α). Based on morphological and molecular data, we herein introduce a new genus, Pseudoneohendersonia, belonging to Neohendersoniaceae with the type species P. guangdongensis sp. nov. Additionally, we identified three new host records associated with L. chinensis viz. Crassiparies quadrisporus, Rhytidhysteron neorufulum, and Rhytidhysteron tectonae. We provide full descriptions, illustrations, and multigene phylogenetic trees for the novel genus and new records. This study expands the understanding of lychee associated saprobic fungal diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cassava tuber is an essential staple crop in tropical regions with versatile applications in the food, feed, and industrial sectors. However, its high moisture content and perishable nature necessitate efficient preservation methods to extend its shelf life and enhance its value. Pre-drying, drying, and post-drying processes play pivotal roles in maintaining the quality and usability of cassava products. This review comprehensively examines the current status and future directions in the pre-drying, drying, and post-drying processes of cassava tuber. Various pre-drying or pretreatment methods and drying techniques are evaluated for their impacts on drying kinetics and product quality. Additionally, challenges and limitations in achieving high-quality processing of cassava flour are identified. Future directions in cassava drying methods emphasize the integration of combined pre-drying and drying techniques to optimize resource utilization and processing efficiency. Furthermore, the adoption of advanced online measurement and control technologies in drying equipment is highlighted for real-time monitoring and optimization of drying parameters. The importance of optimizing existing processes to establish a comprehensive cassava industrial chain and foster the development of the cassava deep-processing industry is emphasized. This review provides valuable insights into the current trends and future prospects in cassava drying technologies, aiming to facilitate sustainable and efficient utilization of cassava resources for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane is an important economic crop in tropical and subtropical regions. Presawing planting is an important method for achieving automated and precise planting with sugarcane planting machines. The sawing process is a key stage in planting management, affecting not only the germination and survival rates of sugarcane, but also reflecting the mechanical performance of sawing. To reduce the peak sawing force and enhance the sawing surface quality of sugarcane seedlings, this study utilized a central composite experimental design method. Single-factor and multi-factor experiments were conducted with a specially designed sugarcane stalk sawing experimental rig to investigate the impact of factors such as the stalk diameter feeding speed, and sawing speed on the peak sawing force and sawing surface quality. Upon being developed and validated, multivariate mathematical regression models elucidated the relationships among these factors. The experimental results showed that the order of influence of each factor on the peak sawing force was the stalk diameter, feed speed, and sawing speed, while for the sawing surface quality, the sequence was the sawing speed, stalk diameter, and feed speed. Correspondingly, the determination coefficients for the peak sawing force and sawing surface quality prediction models were 0.9708 and 0.9675. With a maximum error of 7.6% for the peak sawing force and an average relative error of 7.1%, and a maximum error of 3.5% for the sawing surface quality and an average relative error of 2.83%, the calculated results from the regression models were in good agreement with the experimental findings. This indicates that the models are capable of quickly and accurately predicting the peak sawing force and sawing surface quality of sugarcane stalks under different conditions. The research findings provide valuable insights for the development and optimization of sugarcane stalk presawing equipment and related experimental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Mexico, manzano pepper (Capsicum pubescens) is a crop of economic importance. In 2022, in the municipality of Taxco de Alarcon, Guerrero, Mexico, leaf spots were observed in the mazano pepper crop. The fungus Alternaria spp., was consistently isolated from symptomatic leaf of manzano pepper. A molecular characterization was carried out by amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA, major allergen (Alt a 1), and anonymous gene region (OPA10-2). BLAST analysis indicated similarity that varied from 99.5 to 100% with Alternaria arborescens sequences in GenBank. A phylogenetic analysis was carried out using the Maximum Likelihood method of two isolates of Alternaria sp., obtained from manzano pepper, and indicated that they were clustered with A. arborescens sequences (CBS 115189 and CBS 112749). Using uninjured two month-old plants grown in greenhouse conditions, Koch's postulates were verified and fulfilled. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Alternaria arborescens as a caused leaf spot in manzano pepper in Mexico and in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coccinellidae is a diverse and species-rich family that includes predaceous, phytophagous and mycophagous insects, which are significant to agriculture. This study aimed to estimate the diversity of coccinellids and document their associated prey in agricultural fields of northern Kerala, India and to generate DNA barcodes for the species collected during the study. Twenty-seven species under seven tribes were reported in this study, which includes three phytophagous, two mycophagous and 22 predaceous beetles. The information on prey species and/or host plants of the beetles are given furnished. Diversity indices of coccinellids across different agroecological zones and crops of northern Kerala were estimated. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequences of 18 species were generated and phylogenetic analysis was carried out. Coccinellini was recorded as the predominant tribe of Coccinellidae in northern Kerala. High hills were found to be the most diverse agroecological zone for Coccinellidae, whereas plantation crops and vegetables were the most diverse crop ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landraces are important genetic resources that have a significant role in maintaining the long-term sustainability of traditional agro-ecosystems, food, nutrition, and livelihood security. In an effort to document landraces in the on-farm conservation context, Central Western Ghat region in India was surveyed. A total of 671 landraces belonging to 60 crops were recorded from 24 sites. The custodian farmers were found to conserve a variety of crops including vegetables, cereals and pulses, perennial fruits, spices, tuber and plantation crops. The survey indicated a difference in the prevalence of landraces across the sites. A significant difference with respect to the Shannon-diversity index, Gini-Simpson index, evenness, species richness, and abundance was observed among the different survey sites. Computation of a prevalence index indicated the need for immediate intervention in the form of collecting and ex situ conservation of landraces of some crops as a back-up to on-farm conservation. The study also identified the critical determinants of on-farm conservation, including (i) suitability to regional conditions, (ii) relevance in regional cuisine and local medicinal practices, (iii) cultural and traditional significance, and (iv) economic advantage. The information documented in this study is expected to promote the collection and conservation of landraces ex situ. The National Genebank housed at ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi conserves around 550 accessions of landraces collected from the Central Western Ghats region surveyed in this report. Information collected from custodian farmers on specific uses will be helpful to enhance the utilization of these accessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm plant (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is a plantation crop that has a high economic value for Indonesia, because the results of oil palm plantations can increase the country's foreign exchange. Oil palm plantations can create jobs for the people of Indonesia, thus reducing unemployment in Indonesia. Oil palm plantations in Indonesia have spread to various regions, besides being found on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan, now oil palm plantations are almost found in various regions in Indonesia both smallscale plantations and large-scale plantations. This research uses historical data in the form of monthly palm oil production to predict the price of strategic food commodities. The period of palm oil production used is from January 1997 to December 2023 obtained from the website of PT. X or documentation data at PT. X. In this study the data was divided into 4 data scenarios using the Time Series Cross Validation (TSCV) method. The results of palm oil production modeling with LSTM that have been carried out show that palm oil production data shows differences in forecasting values and accuracy in the number of neurons and epochs used. The conclusion of this study is that from data processing and analysis in the previous chapter, it can be concluded that forecasting the amount of palm oil production in PT X can be modeled with LTSM and SARIMA method using Time Series Cross Validation (TSCV) data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its high protein content, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walpers) is the most consumed legume crop in tropical and subtropical environments. Callosobruchus maculatus (F) is regarded as a global threat to stored pulses since it attacks several cowpea bean kinds and other stored legumes. Therefore, it is deemed important to develop a safe method to protect cowpea from any infestation. The insecticidal activity of gamma irradiated moringa leaves powder using gamma radiation against C. maculatus adults was examined to protect cowpea seeds from infestation. Also, the current study was carried out to investigate some histochemical aspects of cowpea beetles C. maculatus. Moringa seeds irradiated with 20, 40, 60 and 80Gy obtained results indicating that the adults' mortality was increased and accelerated by using irradiated leaves as compared to the unirradiated leaves. The most effective dose was 40Gy where the percent accumulative mortality was 100% with the lowest median lethal time (LT50) of 54.3 hrs. Moreover, the biochemical studies of adults (control, unirradiated M. oleifera and 40Gy irradiated M. oleifera) revealed a significant rise in both peroxidase and glutathione-s-transferase activities in adults from 40Gy irradiated M. oleifera leaves treatment as compared to the adults from unirradiated M. oleifera leaves treatment and control adults. It could be concluded that leaves powder of irradiated M. oleifera as seed with 40Gy was effective for the control of insect infestation of grains and other stored products; it's also a safer and cheaper control method among integrated pest management program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Turmeric cultivation primarily thrives in India, followed by Bangladesh, Cambodia, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. India leads globally in both area and production of turmeric. Despite this, there is a recognized gap in research regarding the impact of climate change on site suitability of turmeric. The primary objective of the present study was to evaluate both the present and future suitability of turmeric cultivation within the humid tropical region of Kerala, India, by employing advanced geospatial techniques. The research utilized meteorological data from the Indian Meteorological Department for the period of 1986–2020 as historical data and projected future data from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). Four climatic scenarios of shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change AR6 model of MIROC6 for the year 2050 (SSP 1–2.6, SSP 2–4.5, SSP 3–7.0 and SSP 5–8.5) were used. RESULTS: The results showed that suitable area for turmeric cultivation is declining in future scenario and this decline can be primarily attributed to fluctuations in temperature and an anticipated increase in rainfall in the year 2050. Notable changes in the spatial distribution of suitable areas over time were observed through the application of geographic information system (GIS) techniques. Importantly, as per the suitability criteria provided by ICAR‐National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (ICAR‐NBSS & LUP), all the districts in Kerala exhibited moderately suitable conditions for turmeric cultivation. With the GIS tools, the study identified highly suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable and not suitable areas of turmeric cultivation in Kerala. Presently 28% of area falls under highly suitable, 41% of area falls under moderately suitable and 11% falls under not suitable for turmeric cultivation. However, considering the projected scenarios for 2050 under the SSP framework, there will be a significant decrease in highly suitable area by 19% under SSP 5–8.5. This reduction in area will have an impact on the productivity of the crop as a result of changes in temperature and rainfall patterns. CONCLUSION: The outcome of the present research suggests that the state of Kerala needs to implement suitable climate change adaptation and management strategies for sustaining the turmeric cultivation. Additionally, the present study includes a discussion on potential management strategies to address the challenges posed by changing climatic conditions for optimizing turmeric production in the region. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm is the prima donna commodity of plantation crops in this area. Based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, in 2023, Riau Province was recorded as having an oil palm plantation area of 2.87 million hectares or 20.68 per cent of the total area of oil palm plantations spread across 26 provinces in Indonesia. Riau Province occupies the first position as the province in Indonesia which has the largest area of oil palm plantations in Indonesia. In the 11 year period (2011-2021), the area of oil palm plantations in Riau Province increased by 49.07%. This research discusses the impact of fluctuations in the selling price of palm fruit on the socio-economic conditions of palm oil farming communities in Rokan Hilir Regency, Riau Province. The research was conducted using primary data and secondary data, as well as descriptive analysis methods. The research results show that fluctuations in the selling price of palm fruit have a significant impact on income, employment and social conditions of the community. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the Government can provide offers and encourage the development of derivative products from palm oil to maintain the stability of farmers' selling prices for palm oil. This research provides important insights for government policy in improving the welfare of oil palm farming communities in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dioscorea alata, commonly known as "greater yam", is a vital crop in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, yet it faces significant threats from anthracnose disease, mainly caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. However, exploring disease resistance genes in this species has been challenging due to the difficulty of genetic mapping resulting from the loss of the flowering trait in many varieties. The receptor-like kinase (RLK) gene family represents essential immune receptors in plants. In this study, genomic analysis revealed 467 RLK genes in D. alata. The identified RLKs were distributed unevenly across chromosomes, likely due to tandem duplication events. However, a considerable number of ancient whole-genome or segmental duplications dating back over 100 million years contributed to the diversity of RLK genes. Phylogenetic analysis unveiled at least 356 ancient RLK lineages in the common ancestor of Dioscoreaceae, which differentially inherited and expanded to form the current RLK profiles of D. alata and its relatives. The analysis of cis-regulatory elements indicated the involvement of RLK genes in diverse stress responses. Transcriptome analysis identified RLKs that were up-regulated in response to C. gloeosporioides infection, suggesting their potential role in resisting anthracnose disease. These findings provide novel insights into the evolution of RLK genes in D. alata and their potential contribution to disease resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Water yam (Dioscorea alata), also known as winged yam, is one of the most economically significant yam species, serving as a staple food crop in tropical and subtropical regions. Its widespread cultivation is due to its favorable agronomic characteristics, including high yield, improved tuber storability, and significant nutritional and health benefits. Despite these advantages, water yam often remains underutilized due to consumer biases towards its traditional food product quality, particularly for pounded yam preparations. In this study, we evaluated fifty-eight improved genotypes of water yams grown across three locations to assess their potential to produce superior food qualities comparable to the widely consumed white yams (D. rotundata). Seven white yams, including popular landraces, were used to set thresholds for desirable food quality. Through standardized analysis, yam samples were assessed for their biochemical composition and culinary and sensory texture attributes. The results revealed varying ranges of dry matter (DM), starch, sugar, protein, crude fiber (CF), fat, and amylose, spanning from 20.35 to 35.95 g/100 g, 42.81 to 83.31 g/100 g, 4.76 to 6.95 g/100 g, 4.33 to 6.62 g/100 g, 1.55 to 3.89 g/100 g, 0.32 to 0.53 g/100 g, and 29.27 to 38.52 g/100 g, respectively. The mean values (±SD) were found to be 29.85 ± 4.0 g/100 g (DM), 67.90 ± 44g/100 g (starch), 5.82 ± 0.64 g/100 g (sugar), 6.31 ± 1.31 g/100 g (protein), 2.14 ± 0.57 g/100 g (crude fiber), 0.44 ± 0.08 (fat), and 33 ± 16.43 g/100 g (amylose). Significant effects (p < 0.001) of the planting environments and genotypes on the biochemical composition of the yam samples were observed, except for the sugar content. Furthermore, specific water yam genotypes, such as TDa 0900354, TDa 9801174, TDa 1401619, TDa 1400301, TDa 140091, TDa 0100029, TDa 1100793, TDa 1401249, TDa 1100242, and TDa 1401276, exhibited biochemical properties and culinary and sensory textural attributes akin to the improved white yam genotypes and their landrace counterparts. These findings underscore the potential for promoting selected water yam genotypes to diversify food options and reduce reliance on a limited array of crops, particularly in traditional food-insecure regions of tropical Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its high protein content, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walpers) is the most consumed legume crop in tropical and subtropical environments. Callosobruchus maculatus (F) is regarded as a global threat to stored pulses since it attacks several cowpea bean kinds and other stored legumes. Therefore, it is deemed important to develop a safe method to protect cowpea from any infestation. The insecticidal activity of gamma irradiated moringa leaves powder using gamma radiation against C. maculatus adults was examined to protect cowpea seeds from infestation. Also, the current study was carried out to investigate some histochemical aspects of cowpea beetles C. maculatus. Moringa seeds irradiated with 20, 40, 60 and 80Gy obtained results indicating that the adults' mortality was increased and accelerated by using irradiated leaves as compared to the unirradiated leaves. The most effective dose was 40Gy where the percent accumulative mortality was 100% with the lowest median lethal time (LT50) of 54.3 hrs. Moreover, the biochemical studies of adults (control, unirradiated M. oleifera and 40Gy irradiated M. oleifera) revealed a significant rise in both peroxidase and glutathione-s-transferase activities in adults from 40Gy irradiated M. oleifera leaves treatment as compared to the adults from unirradiated M. oleifera leaves treatment and control adults. It could be concluded that leaves powder of irradiated M. oleifera as seed with 40Gy was effective for the control of insect infestation of grains and other stored products; it's also a safer and cheaper control method among integrated pest management program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species in the Amorphophallus genus are important cash crops in many tropical and subtropical Asian countries. Although several molecular markers have been employed to determine relationships and assess genetic variation in the Amorphophallus genus, some conflicts remain in infrageneric classification and evolution. To aid in the phylogenetic research of the Amorphophallus genus, we collected one sample of Amorphophallus tonkinensis Engler and Gehrmann 1911 from southwestern China. We assembled the first chloroplast genome of this species using high-throughput sequencing. The assembled genome was 169,341 bp long with a typical quadripartite structure (GenBank accession number: PP234804). The lengths of the large single-copy region, small single-copy region, and two inverted repeats were 90,705 bp, 15,640 bp, 31,498 bp, and 31,498 bp, respectively. We annotated 129 genes across the chloroplast genome of A. tonkinensis. The phylogenetic trees suggested that the Amorphophallus species distributed in continental Asia split into two main clades. The chloroplast genome reported in our study provided valuable genomic resources for the future phylogenetic research of the Amorphophallus genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is a popular herbaceous annual seed spice crop. It is mainly grown for seed as well as green leaf, the leaf and seed yield is varied with the genetic background of genotypes. Therefore, the selection of genotypes with high leaf yield is highly desired, along with the magnitude of heritability and genetic advance for wider adaptation and cultivation. In this view, the accessions were collected and their genetic variables were assessed. Methods: The experimental material included 48 coriander accessions along with two check varieties CO4 and CO5. The plant materials were obtained from the coriander germplasm repository at the Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India. The experiment was laid out in randomised block design with two replications. Result: The results of the analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the accessions. High heritability coupled with high GAM was observed for the economical trait (87% and 48.93% for leaf yield) indicating that, the traits were highly heritable in nature, hence selection breeding is most effective. The PCV and GCV were moderate to high for all traits except the number of days for harvest and moisture content among all the accessions of coriander. The leaf yield was highly significant and positively correlated with all the traits except the number of days for harvest and leaf protein. The genotypic correlation was greater than the phenotypic correlation among the genotypes. Therefore, to increase the leaf yield of coriander accessions, either simple selection or mass selection of desirable traits and their associated traits would be effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A numerical simulation model of a natural ventilation greenhouse is helpful for improving the production and quality of greenhouse crops in tropical areas. Field experiments show that the mean coefficient of variation of indoor light intensity in four seasons was lower than 10.0%. The highest indoor temperature reached 39.3 °C during summer, while the average indoor temperature ranged from 24 °C to 26 °C in the other three seasons. The average relative humidity in the greenhouse ranged from 76% to 87% annually, which was higher and more stable than that in the external environment. A three-dimensional steady-state numerical model of the greenhouse was established based on computational fluid dynamics. Under natural ventilation conditions, the maximum error between the simulated value and the measured value of the temperature in each measuring point was 5.90%. And the average relative error between the simulated and measured values was 3.0% in the range of 0.7−1.5 m of crop cultivation height. Finally, a numerical simulation of adding side windows and expanding the vents was carried out. The results show that these methods can homogenize the airflow distribution in the greenhouse and improve the utilization efficiency of natural ventilation without more mechanical system operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary metabolites of Capsicum spp. have biological activity, which can be modified by external factors as the amount of incident light and soil water availability during crop growing, and by internal factors as fruit ripeness level. The study aim was to determine by HPLC method the phytochemical profile of C. annuum L. var. glabriusculum (Dunal) Heiser & Pickersgill (AMA and GAR genotypes) and C. frutescens L. (PIP genotype) grown under open sky and 70% shade during dry and rainy harvest season. Phytochemicals were affected by genotype, light level, harvest season, and fruit ripeness level. Phytochemicals number changed among genotypes: PIP > AMA> GAR. In immature fruits AMA (4.74 mg g-1) and GAR (3.83 mg g-1) had highest capsaicin content; and PIP (0.43 μg g-1), AMA (0.18 μg g-1) and GAR (0.14 μg g-1) in lutein content in all harvest seasons and light level conditions studied. In mature fruits, PIP had the highest capsaicin (5.77 mg g-1) and β-carotene (0.45 μg g-1) content. Gallic and syringic acids were major constituents of phenolics acids, and quercetin and rutin for flavonoids. Mature and immature fruits from 70% shade showed the quercetin highest content (108.4-160.02 μg g-1), increasing during dry season (180.9-1368.6 μg g-1). Gallic acid (789.3-1076.7 μg g-1) and rutin (114.0 μg g-1) increased in AMA immature fruits when grown under open sky. Ferulic acid was not detected in GAR under any of the conditions studied. In AMA, ferulic, protocatechuic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids were detected only in rainy season fruits in both light levels. The harvest season and shading level of these Capsicum spp. should be considered when evaluating the biological activity of chili peppers fruits extracts in tropical crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bronzing disease of Thai jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) has recently appeared in Vietnam, causing a significant loss for farmers, but its control method is still restricted. In this study, we identified pathogens based on morphological and molecular characterizations. A total of 25 bacterial isolates were isolated from diseased samples. The bacterium produces white or yellow pigment in culture, is gram-negative, slightly pleomorphic, non-motile, facultatively anaerobic, short-rod, and catalase-positive. It hydrolyzes gelatin and starch but not tween 80, and produces acid from glucose, sucrose, and lactose. The bacterium does not produce indole and does not produce hypersensitivity to tobacco. The results of sequencing of the encoded region of synthesis of capsular polysaccharide (cpsD) and pathogenicity-related genes HrpS confirmed that the causative agent is Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii. The pathogen's possible host range could be traditional jackfruit varieties, fruits, and crops such as durian, longan, mango, tomatoes, broccoli, pumpkin, cucumber, corn, rice, sweet potatoes, water spinach, peanuts, and green beans. The P. stewartii subsp. stewartii could enter the host plant cell through open wounds or natural openings such as stomata. The results confirmed the presence of P. stewartii subsp. stewartii in Vietnam and suggest that the jackfruit tree should not be planted in plantations with these crops to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cocoa is one of the main plantation crops in Malaysia. Significant efforts have been made to modernise the industry using mechanisation and automation technologies. Thus, determination of the physical properties of cocoa pods at different maturity stages is paramount for an appropriate design and development of a post-harvest machinery system for pod breaking, sorting and grading. This study investigated the effect of five different maturity stages (unripe, under-ripe, ripe, very-ripe and over-ripe) on the physical properties of cocoa pods. A total of 80 cocoa pods (Clone PBC140) were used as samples, where 16 pods represented each maturity stage. For the unripe stage, the largest mean dimensional values were 172.45, 89.3 and 111.18 mm for the pods' length, diameter and geometric mean diameter, respectively. The highest mean values of 0.66 and 0.54 for the over-ripe stage were recorded for sphericity and aspect ratio, respectively. The geometric mean diameter, weight and firmness were found to be inversely proportional to the maturity stages. The advanced maturity stages experience greater colour intensity, as reflected in the chroma (C*) and higher L*, a* and b* values. This study has found that the colour and texture of the cocoa pods change throughout their maturity. In conclusion, the results reported in this study can be used as a reference for designing and developing a machinery system for post-harvest fruit processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthurium is the second largest tropical flower crop in the world. The international market has urgent demand for anthurium varieties with different spathe colors, which mainly arises from the types and contents of anthocyanin. The flavonoid 3-O-glycosyltransferase (UF3GT) gene is the key enzyme involved in promoting anthocyanin accumulation through glycosylation downstream of the anthocyanin synthesis pathway (ASP). Abnormal functioning of UFGT usually results in a reduction in or loss of anthocyanins. The aim of this study was to reveal the role of one anthurium UFGT gene (AnUFGT1) in 'Xueyu' (X), an anthocyanin-deficient mutant of 'Alabama'. Metabolome analysis was used to analyze the metabolic products in the ASP to determine the possible key link of the anthocyanin deletion mutation. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Arabidopsis UFGT functionally deficient mutant(ufgt) and 'X' validated the function of AnUFGT1. The results of comparative metabolome analysis of 'X' and 'Alabama' showed that there was no significant difference in product levels upstream of ASP. The expression levels of AnUFGT1 were significantly greater in 'Alabama' than in 'X'. The overexpression of AnUFGT1 in ufgt significantly increased its anthocyanin contents. The overexpression of AnUFGT1 in 'X', mediated by a new injection method, can only promote the synthesis of trace anthocyanins. These results showed that AnUFGT1 could fully compensate the phenotype of ufgt, but only partially compensate the anthocyanidin-deficient phenotype of anthurium mutant X. This difference suggested that anthocyanin-deletion mutations in anthurium 'X' are associated with AnUFGT1, but AnUFGT1 is not the only factor. There should be other factors interacting with AnUFGT1 that cause anthocyanin deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, there have been no DNA-based metabarcoding studies into airborne fungi in tropical Sub-Saharan Africa. In this initial study, 10 air samples were collected onto Vaseline-coated acrylic rods mounted on drones flown at heights of 15–50 meters above ground for 10–15 min at three sites in Ghana. Purified DNA was extracted from air samples, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified using fungal-specific primers, and MinION third-generation amplicon sequencing was undertaken with downstream bioinformatics analyses utilizing GAIA cloud-based software (at genus taxonomic level). Principal coordinate analyses based on Bray–Curtis beta diversity dissimilarity values found no clear evidence for the structuring of fungal air communities, nor were there significant differences in alpha diversity, based on geographic location (east vs. central Ghana), underlying vegetation type (cocoa vs. non-cocoa), or height above ground level (15–23 m vs. 25–50 m), and despite the short flight times (10–15 min), ~90 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified in each sample. In Ghanaian air, fungal assemblages were skewed at the phylum taxonomic level towards the ascomycetes (53.7%) as opposed to basidiomycetes (24.6%); at the class level, the Dothideomycetes were predominant (29.8%) followed by the Agaricomycetes (21.8%). The most common fungal genus in Ghanaian air was cosmopolitan and globally ubiquitous Cladosporium (9.9% of reads). Interestingly, many fungal genera containing economically important phytopathogens of tropical crops were also identified in Ghanaian air, including Corynespora, Fusarium, and Lasiodiplodia. Consequently, a novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, based on translation elongation factor-1α sequences, was developed and tested for rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of the fungal phytopathogenic genus Lasiodiplodia. Potential applications for improved tropical disease management are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]