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In the context of increasing interest in ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), there remains a paucity of discussion regarding the transition from perception to practice in aiding farmer households to adapt to climate change (CC) while maintaining the provision of essential ecosystem services. Thus, this study aims to explore policymakers' and local people's perceptions, from thinking about the implementation of EbA strategies to responding to CC in current and future agricultural production and forestry in upland Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam. This study has adopted the Model of Private Proactive Adaptation to CC to investigate the perceptions of EbA among various administrative and household levels through in-depth interviews and focus group discussion methods. Our findings indicate a significant relationship between the perceptions and understanding of EbA among policymakers and farmer households, and the adoption of EbA practices. Many EbA practices are already well-established and have demonstrated their ability to enhance ecosystem services provision, adaptation benefits, and livelihood and food security. These benefits are crucial for helping farmer households to adapt to CC. However, current financial, technical, and market constraints hinder the broader adoption of these practices. Therefore, to increase adaptive capacity to CC and upscale EbA practices, EbA interventions must consider technical, financial, and market aspects. Furthermore, it is essential to provide evidence from both scientific and practical perspectives and disseminate information on EbA practices to encourage broader adoption by local farmers. In addition, supportive policies from various departmental and agency levels are necessary for managers in the agricultural and forest sectors as well as households to recognize EbA as a vital strategy for developing agriculture and forestry in a manner that is sustainable and resilient to CC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat and barley yields in Japan are considerably lower than those in the UK, even where similar Climate Zones (CZs) of relatively cold and humid nature are shared. In order to understand this difference, it is first necessary to find out if any common climate–yield relationship exists between the two countries. The Climate Zonation Scheme (CZS) developed in the Global Yield Gap Atlas (GYGA) was used to analyse actual yield (Ya) with three climatic factors of the GYGA-CZS, i.e., growing degree days (GDD), aridity index (AI) and temperature seasonality (TS). A significant relationship was found between AI scores and Ya values across the two countries. Ya values decreased with an increase in AI scores; in other words, lower yields are associated with higher AI scores. In addition, the degree of yield reduction with the rise in AI scores was greater in Japan than in the UK. The present study also proposed a novel method to link CZs of the GYGA-CZS to regional classification units, especially for countries where statistical crop yield data are available only at a coarse scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: No tillage (No-till, NT), a form of conservation agricultural management, can improve food security and alleviate world climate change by influencing crop yield and soil organic carbon (SOC), but the effects of NT on crop yields and SOC and the major factors which influence these effects remain poorly understood. Methods: We conducted a global meta-analysis using 5230 paired observations from 446 studies to evaluate the effects of NT on upland crop yield and SOC and to explore the associated influencing factors. Results: Generally, NT decreased upland crop yields by 5% (P < 0.05) and increased SOC sequestration by 9.9% (P < 0.05). Specifically, wheat and maize yields decreased by 7.7% and 2.3%, respectively. Our analyses indicate that NT combined with crop residue return and crop rotation reduced the negative effect of NT on crop yield from 5% to 2.44% and increased SOC up to 12.77%. The effects of NT on yield and SOC varied depending on the regulating factors. No-till increased yields in relatively arid areas, but reduced yields in more humid areas, whereas SOC is more likely to increase in humid regions. Soil organic carbon sequestration increased with temperature, but yield losses also increased in warmer regions. Conclusions: Our study suggests that NT combined with crop residue return and crop rotation could enhance SOC sequestration under moist and warm conditions without compromising crop yield. It may also improve soil quality and help alleviate global food security and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

● Score index methods readily discriminate genotypes adapted to a target environment.● New quantitative method evaluated productivity and resilience of rice genotypes.● Method identified A genotypes (high productivity and resilience) of Fernandez (1992).● Method identified genotypes better adapted to reduced soil water conditions.● Method can enhance rice sustainability (high productivity, low water use).In Asia, the rice crop sustains millions of people. However, growing demand for this crop needs to be met while simultaneously reducing its water consumption to cope with the effects of climate change. Lowland cropping systems are the most common and productive but have particularly high water requirements. High-yielding rice genotypes adapted to drier environments (such as rainfed or aerobic rice ecosystems) are needed to increase the water use efficiency of cropping. Identifying these genotypes requires fast and more accurate selection methods. It is hypothesized that applying a new quantitative selection method (the score index selection method), can usefully compare rice yield responses over different years and stress intensities to select genotypes more rapidly and efficiently. Applying the score index to previously published rice yield data for 39 genotypes grown in no-stress and two stress environments, identified three genotypes (ARB 8, IR55419-04 and ARB 7) with higher and stable yield under moderate to severe stress conditions. These genotypes are postulated to be better adapted to stress environment such as upland and aerobic environments. Importantly, the score index selection method offers improved precision than the conventional breeding selection method in identifying genotypes that are well-suited to a range of stress levels within the target environment.

In Asia, the rice crop sustains millions of people. However, growing demand for this crop needs to be met while simultaneously reducing its water consumption to cope with the effects of climate change. Lowland cropping systems are the most common and productive but have particularly high water requirements. High-yielding rice genotypes adapted to drier environments (such as rainfed or aerobic rice ecosystems) are needed to increase the water use efficiency of cropping. Identifying these genotypes requires fast and more accurate selection methods. It is hypothesized that applying a new quantitative selection method (the score index selection method), can usefully compare rice yield responses over different years and stress intensities to select genotypes more rapidly and efficiently. Applying the score index to previously published rice yield data for 39 genotypes grown in no-stress and two stress environments, identified three genotypes (ARB 8, IR55419-04 and ARB 7) with higher and stable yield under moderate to severe stress conditions. These genotypes are postulated to be better adapted to stress environment such as upland and aerobic environments. Importantly, the score index selection method offers improved precision than the conventional breeding selection method in identifying genotypes that are well-suited to a range of stress levels within the target environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTInoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may enhance crop growth in upland fields, depending on the water regime. To quantify changes in AMF infection rate and subsequent effects on nutrient uptake and growth, we grew rice (wetland crop) and pearl millet (dryland crop) genotypes with or without the commercial inoculant Dr. Kinkon (Glomus sp. R10) in Andosol upland fields in 2020 and 2021. Root infection rates were measured in shallow (0–10 cm) and deep (20–30 cm) layers under three water regimes: well-irrigated, half-irrigated, and non-irrigated. Inoculation enhanced shoot dry weight (SDW), plant height, tiller number, phosphorus (P) uptake, leaf water potential, photosynthetic rate (measured only in 2021) and root transversal area. The increase in SDW with inoculation was higher under well-irrigated than under water-limited conditions. The increment in pearl millet SDW was related to higher P uptake associated with higher infection rates, whereas that in rice SDW was related to maintenance of leaf water potential, greater root transversal area and root length density, and higher P uptake but not to infection rate parameters. Inoculation increased mycorrhizal and vesicular infection rates with the similar tendency for arbuscular infection rate and qPCR. Infection rates were similar across water regimes in both years despite significant differences in plant growth parameters with higher rates in deep than shallow layers. AMF inoculation enhanced infection rates, mostly independent of water regime, but plant growth enhancement was greater under the well-irrigated treatment and was more directly linked with infection rates in pearl millet.

In large-scale upland cropping systems, understanding the magnitude of soil property variations and mapping the distribution are essential to improve soil nutrient management. The Tokachi district of Hokkaido has large-scale upland fields, and the soils are dominated by Andosols that inherently have characteristic clay minerals and high soil organic carbon content. In the region, microtopography is known to exist that can affect soil formation and within-field variation of the inherent soil properties. However, limited information exists about the relationship between microtopography and the spatial variation of inherent soil properties that are important for nutrient dynamics. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of microtopography on the within-field variation of inherent soil properties in Andosols of Tokachi district, Hokkaido. Within a 6.6-ha field with an elevation difference of 3.2 m, four soil profiles were surveyed at different topographical positions, and 530 surface soil samples were collected at 12-m intervals. Samples were analyzed for total carbon (TC), acid-oxalate extractable Al, Fe, and Si (Alo, Feo, and Sio), pyrophosphate extractable Al and Fe (Alp and Fep), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and phosphate absorption coefficient (PAC). Geostatistical analysis was applied to understand the spatial structure of the surface soil properties. All soil profiles were dominated by volcanic parent materials, and they were classified into different types of Andosols. An exceptional variation of inherent soil properties was found in the surface soil, with TC content ranging from 35.2 to 124 g kg−1 and CEC from 20.3 to 55.7 cmolc kg−1. Geostatistical analysis showed that TC content varied over a large distance (range: 226 m) while allophane content varied at a shorter distance (range: 118 m). Our findings revealed that microtopography affected the soil water dynamics and erosion of the surface soil particles which caused the variation of TC, CEC, and allophane. Further studies must be conducted to understand the effects of the variation of these inherent soil properties on soil nutrient availability and crop productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a Commentary on Jeffrey et al. (2024), 242: 49–60. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may enhance crop growth in upland fields, depending on the water regime. To quantify changes in AMF infection rate and subsequent effects on nutrient uptake and growth, we grew rice (wetland crop) and pearl millet (dryland crop) genotypes with or without the commercial inoculant Dr. Kinkon (Glomus sp. R10) in Andosol upland fields in 2020 and 2021. Root infection rates were measured in shallow (0–10 cm) and deep (20–30 cm) layers under three water regimes: well-irrigated, halfirrigated, and non-irrigated. Inoculation enhanced shoot dry weight (SDW), plant height, tiller number, phosphorus (P) uptake, leaf water potential, photosynthetic rate (measured only in 2021) and root transversal area. The increase in SDW with inoculation was higher under wellirrigated than under water-limited conditions. The increment in pearl millet SDW was related to higher P uptake associated with higher infection rates, whereas that in rice SDW was related to maintenance of leaf water potential, greater root transversal area and root length density, and higher P uptake but not to infection rate parameters. Inoculation increased mycorrhizal and vesicular infection rates with the similar tendency for arbuscular infection rate and qPCR. Infection rates were similar across water regimes in both years despite significant differences in plant growth parameters with higher rates in deep than shallow layers. AMF inoculation enhanced infection rates, mostly independent of water regime, but plant growth enhancement was greater under the well-irrigated treatment and was more directly linked with infection rates in pearl millet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Asian rice Oryza sativa, first domesticated in East Asia, has considerable success in African fields. When and where this introduction occurred is unclear. Rice varieties of Asian origin may have evolved locally during and after migration to Africa, resulting in unique adaptations, particularly in relation to upland cultivation as frequently practiced in Africa. Methods We investigated the genetic differentiation between Asian and African varieties using the 3000 Rice Genomes SNP dataset. African upland cultivars were first characterized using principal component analysis among 292 tropical Japonica accessions from Africa and Asia. The particularities of African accessions were then explored using two inference techniques, PCA-KDE for supervised classification and chromosome painting, and ELAI for individual allelic dosage monitoring. Key Results Ambiguities of local differentiation between Japonica and other groups pointed at genomic segments that potentially resulted from genetic exchange. Those specific to West African upland accessions were concentrated on chromosome 6 and featured several cAus introgression signals, including a large one between 17.9 and 21.7 Mb. We found iHS statistics in support of positive selection in this region and we provide a list of candidate genes enriched in GO terms that have regulatory functions involved in stress responses that could have facilitated adaptation to harsh upland growing conditions.

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Accurate estimates of distribution and population density are critical for the management of threatened species. This is particularly pertinent for mammalian predators, whose generally low population density, elusive nature, and large home range requirements make it difficult to detect declines. We aimed to refine population estimates of the northern spotted‐tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus gracilis) in the Wet Tropics bioregion, to estimate the total number of adults, the likely size of subpopulations across the known distribution of the subspecies, and its associated conservation status. We performed targeted upland camera‐trapping surveys from June 2017 to May 2019. To calculate population densities, we used a combination of the number of individuals identified from each survey and the mean maximum distance moved from three life history stages. We then extrapolated these estimates to modelled suitable habitat areas, refined by the camera‐trapping surveys. Population sizes for the six defined subpopulations were estimated, and ranged from approximately 5 to 105 individuals. The total population was estimated to be 221 individuals. This total population estimate, and the estimates for each of the subpopulations, are lower than previous published estimates and are cause for concern. Given the low population estimates presented here and unresolved threats driving declines in some subpopulations, we suggest elevation of this subspecies to Critically Endangered under the EPBC Act. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asian rice Oryza sativa, first domesticated in East Asia, has considerable success in African fields. When and where this introduction occurred is unclear. Rice varieties of Asian origin may have evolved locally during and after migration to Africa, resulting in unique adaptations, particularly in relation to upland cultivation as frequently practiced in Africa. Methods: We investigated the genetic differentiation between Asian and African varieties using the 3000 Rice Genomes SNP dataset. African upland cultivars were first characterized using principal component analysis among 292 tropical Japonica accessions from Africa and Asia. The particularities of African accessions were then explored using two inference techniques, PCA-KDE for supervised classification and chromosome painting, and ELAI for individual allelic dosage monitoring. Key Results: Ambiguities of local differentiation between Japonica and other groups pointed at genomic segments that potentially resulted from genetic exchange. Those specific to West African upland accessions were concentrated on chromosome 6 and featured several cAus introgression signals, including a large one between 17.9 and 21.7 Mb. We found iHS statistics in support of positive selection in this region and we provide a list of candidate genes enriched in GO terms that have regulatory functions involved in stress responses that could have facilitated adaptation to harsh upland growing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous attempts to quantify methane (CH4) fluxes from tree foliage have yielded ambiguous results, and very few studies have measured in situ foliar CH4 fluxes, particularly in upland sites. Here we quantify CH4 fluxes from tree foliage in upland and lowland temperate forests in central Ontario, Canada. Foliar CH4, carbon dioxide, and water vapor fluxes were measured in direct sunlight and imposed darkness using an off-axis-integrated cavity output spectroscopy system, and results were scaled to the stand level using estimates of sunlit and shaded leaf area index. We show that foliage in the upland site was consistently a CH4 sink during the day (− 0.54 nmol m−2 s−1 ± 0.06 SE in direct sunlight), representing about 38% of net daytime CH4 uptake by the ecosystem. Uptake was approximately two times higher in direct sunlight compared to imposed darkness and undetectable at night. The mechanism for uptake is hypothesized to be endophytic methanotrophic bacteria—relationships between CH4 and water vapor fluxes suggest CH4 uptake is regulated by transpiration and occurs within foliage tissues. In the lowland site foliage was a CH4 source (6.06 nmol m−2 s−1 ± 2.47 SE in direct sunlight) with an emission rate about 8% that of the soil, confirming previous findings suggesting xylem transport of soil-borne CH4 occurs in lowland forests with net soil methanogenesis. We conclude that tree foliage can act as both a substantial CH4 sink in upland forests and a CH4 source in lowland forests and thus is an important component in greenhouse gas budgets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to understand the content changes of different protected soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions in upland red soil that have been affected by long-term fertilization management, and to explore the equilibrium or saturation for SOC pools with varying protection methods. Surface (0~20 cm) samples of upland red soil that were subjected to six different treatments were collected from a longterm fertilization experiment. Treatments included no fertilizer application (CK); chemical nitrogen fertilizer alone (N); conventional usage amount of chemical N, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers (NPK), double usage amount of chemical NPK fertilizers (HNPK), chemical NPK fertilizers plus organic manure (NPKM), and organic manure alone (M) . The total organic carbon (TOC) of soil was then separated into six different functional pools by the recently developed physical-chemical fractionation method, which included unprotected SOC, physically protected SOC, physical-chemically protected SOC, physical-biochemically protected SOC, chemically protected SOC, and biochemically protected SOC pools. The responses of the contents of SOC fractions with varying protection mechanisms to long-term fertilization were assessed, and the relationships between the contents of different protected SOC fractions and TOC, as well as between storages of different protected SOC pools and accumulated C input were investigated. The results showed that there was no significant (P> 0.05) difference in the contents of all the separated SOC fractions between CK and N treatments. The TOC content, the contents of unprotected SOC and physically protected SOC fractions in NPK, HNPK, M, and NPKM, however, were significantly increased by 13.3%– 48.0%, 39.2%-221.5%, 41.9%-132.3% respectively, compared with CK treatment. The proportions of unprotected SOC and physically protected SOC in TOC were significantly (P<0.05) increased under all the fertilization treatments with an exception of N treatment by 1.9- 10.0 and 2.5-5.5 percentage points respectively as compared with CK treatment. Organic amendment treatments (such as M and NPKM treatments) caused the best increase of the content of TOC and its unprotected and physically protected fractions. The contents of all the SOC fractions have shown linear positive correlations with the TOC content, according to the slope of the fitted equation. With the increase of TOC content per unit, the increase rates of the content for the unprotected coarse particle SOC and physically protected particle SOC were up to 44.3% and 28.0% (P<0.001), respectively. With the exception of biochemically protected SOC, the storages of the other separated SOC pools showed significant (P<0.01) linear correlations with the accumulated C input. Therefore, the increased TOC in upland red soil due to fertilization is preferentially sequestered in the form of unprotected coarse particle and physically protected SOC. Application of chemical fertilizer, through either single or combined application, has less effect on improving TOC sequestration, SOC lability, and its physical protection than organic amendments. The results of this study also indicated that the biochemically protected SOC pool in upland red soil reached an equilibrium status under the current condition of accumulated C input level; however, further work is needed to assess SOC saturation characteristics, which rely on lengthier experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensification of upland sugarcane is one way to increase national sugar production. This research aimed to study the responses of growth and yield of two sugarcane varieties to residual filter cake and inorganic fertilizers in upland sugarcane. The research was conducted from August 2019 to July 2020 in the experimental field of PT Kebun Tebu Mas, Lamongan on the first ratoon cane with a split-split plot design. The treatment consisted of three factors, variety (PS 881 and PS 862 as main plots), residual filter cake (0, 5, and 10 tons ha-1) as subplots, and inorganic fertilizer residues (25, 50, 75, and 100% recommended doses about 600 kgs ha-1 ZA and 400 kgs ha-1 NPK 15-15-15) as sub-sub plots. The results showed that the growth and yield of PS 862 were better than PS 881 in the performance of plant height, internode length, diameter, stem length, and stem number. The residue of blotong compost had significantly better effect at the level of 10 tons ha-1 on internode length. Residual inorganic fertilizer level of 75% resulted higher leaf number, shoot number, stem number, and stem diameter. The PS 862 with 5 tons ha-1 residual blotong compost produced the highest stem weight of 0.48 kg m-1. PS 881 variety has an optimum value of 71.19% residual inorganic fertilizer to achieve a sugarcane yield of 60.31 tons ha-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice is a very moisture-loving crop, therefore it suffers greatly from drought. However, in the world in recent years, there is an increasing shortage of fresh water, which makes the use of upland rice relevant. Therefore, rice varieties with a reduced demand for water supply, developed as a result of breeding work, are more profitable for agricultural producers than agrotechnical or reclamation measures. It is much cheaper to produce such rice with periodic irrigation. The purpose of the current study was to analyze genetically the main quantitative traits of the rice hybrid ‘Kontro x Kuboyar’ with the selection of the best forms for subsequent breeding for drought resistance. The study was carried out in 2019–2020 on the rice plots of the special subdivision ‘Proletarskoye’ belonging to of the Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in the Rostov Region. In the course of the study there has been made a genetic analysis of a number of quantitative traits that determine rice productivity. The character of traits’ inheritance in the second and third generations was identical. The inheritance of the trait ‘panicle length’ was characterized by partial negative dominance and monogenic differences in parental varieties. The trait ‘number of spikelets per panicle’ was inherited according to the type of negative dominance of smaller values of the trait and was determined by the interaction of two pairs of genes. The trait ‘1000-kernel weight’ was identified by the partial dominance of large values of the trait and monogenic differences in the parental varieties. The traits ‘kernel length’ and ‘kernel width’ were split according to the monohybrid scheme 1:2:1, and there was no dominance. From the third generation, the best early-maturing forms with optimal values of the traits ‘plant height’, ‘panicle length’, ‘1000-kernel weight’ and ‘the best kernel percentage per panicle’ were selected for the subsequent breeding of drought-resistant rice varieties.

This dataset is comprised of metric and non-metric lithic assemblage data from terminal Pleistocene through late Holocene prehistoric lithic assemblages recovered at nineteen archaeological sites in the upper Susitna River basin, southern Alaska Range. The data is stored in The Digital Archaeological Record public repository. This dataset has the potential to be reused in meta-analyses of demography and land-use patterns over time, aggregate regional lithic research, studies assessing methodological approaches to lithic analysis, and for educational purposes.

Transgressive segregation in cotton (Gossypium spp.) provides an important approach to enhance resistance to the major pest root-knot nematode (RKN) Meloidogyne incognita. Our previous studies reported transgressive RKN resistance in an intraspecific Gossypium hirsutum resistant NemX × susceptible SJ-2 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population and early generations of interspecific cross Gossypium barbadense (susceptible Pima S-7) × G. hirsutum (NemX). However, the underlying functional mechanisms for this phenomenon are not known. In this study, the region of RKN resistance gene rkn1 on chromosome (Chr) 11 and its homoeologous Chr 21 was fine mapped with G. raimondii D5 genome reference sequence. Transgressive resistance was found in the later generation of a new RIL population F2:7 (Pima S-7 × NemX) and one interspecific F2 (susceptible Pima S-7 × susceptible SJ-2). QTL analysis revealed similar contributions to root-galling and egg-production resistance phenotypes associated with SSR marker CIR316 linked to resistance gene rkn1 in NemX on Chr 11 in all seven populations analyzed. In testcross NemX × F1 (Pima S-7 × SJ-2) marker allele CIR069-271 from Pima S-7 linked to CIR316 contributed 63% of resistance to galling phenotype in the presence of rkn1. Similarly, in RIL population F2:8 (NemX × SJ-2), SJ-2 markers closely linked to CIR316 contributed up to 82% of resistance to root-galling. These results were confirmed in BC1F1 SJ-2 × F1 (NemX × SJ-2), F2 (NemX × SJ-2), and F2 (Pima S-7 × SJ-2) populations in which up to 44, 36, and 15% contribution in resistance to galling was found, respectively. Transgressive segregation for resistance was universal in all intra- and inter-specific populations, although stronger transgressive resistance occurred in later than in early generations in the intraspecific cross compared with the interspecific cross. Transgressive effects on progeny from susceptible parents are possibly provided in the rkn1 resistance region of chromosome 11 by tandemly arrayed allele (TAA) or gene (TAG) interactions contributing to transgressive resistance. Complex TAA and TAG recombination and interactions in the rkn1 resistance region provide three genes and a model to study disease and transgressive resistance in polyploid plants, and novel genotypes for plant breeding.

Rice is an important agricultural crop. It can grow not only when the flooded soil, but in the conditions of periodic irrigation, both artificial and natural (rain). The production of such rice is much cheaper. In addition, there is a shortage of fresh water in the world, which makes the use of upland rice relevant. The purpose of the current work was to develop the productive drought-resistant rice lines based on the “Kontro x Kuboyar” hybrid. The main tasks were to hybridize the varieties, to analyze genetically a number of quantitative traits and to select the best plants that could form compact full-grained panicles for further breeding work and testing for drought resistance. There has been conducted a genetic analysis of varying quantitative traits affecting the rice productivity. The parental forms did not differ in plant height. Along the panicle length there was a partial negative dominance and monogenic differences between the hybridized varieties. According to the number of spikelets per panicle there has been identified a negative dominance of lower values and the interaction of two pairs of genes. According to 1000 grain weight, there was a partial dominance of large values of the trait and monogenic differences in the original parental forms. Splitting along the length and width of the caryopsis was in a ratio of 1 : 2 : 1, which indicated monogenic differences between the parental varieties. There have been selected the best recombinant rice forms, combining a compact panicle with a large number of grains, and there has been developed the initial material for practical breeding. The study was carried out in 2019 on the plots of the Separate Subdivision “Proletarskoye” of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” in the Rostov Region.

Rice yield reduction due to water limitation depends on its severity and duration and on the phenological stage of its occurrence. We exposed three contrasting rice genotypes, IR64, UPLRi7 and Apo (adapted to lowland, upland and aerobic conditions, respectively), to three water regimes (puddle, 100% and 60% field capacity) in pots during the vegetative (GSI), flowering (GSII) and grain filling (GSIII) stages. Stress at all the three stages significantly reduced yield especially in lowland genotype IR64. Effect of water limitation was more severe at GSII than at the other two stages. Stress at GSI stage reduced both source activity (leaf area and photosynthetic rate) and sink capacity (tiller number or panicle number per pot). When stress was imposed at GSII, spikelet fertility was most affected in all the three genotypes. In both GSII and GSIII, although leaf area was constant in all the three water regimes, estimated relative whole-plant photosynthesis was strongly associated with yield reduction. Reduced photosynthesis due to stress at any given stage was found to have direct impact on yield. Compared to the other genotypes, Apo had deeper roots and maintained a better water relation, thus, higher carbon gain and spikelet viability, and ultimately, higher biomass and productivity under water-limited conditions. Therefore, screening for these stage-dependent adaptive mechanisms is crucial in breeding for sustained rice production under water limitation.

Many countries are currently making efforts to obtain alternative energy to reduce dependence on fossil energy resources. “Uwi” plant is a carbohydrate source that has many types and is tolerant of being planted on the upland, so it has the potential to be used as a food crop and as bioenergy. This research aims to study the potential of varieties of “uwi” (Dioscorea sp.) as raw material for ethanol production. The eight varieties of “uwi” were studied to assess their ethanol potential. The selected raw materials are Dioscorea alata L. (white yam, purple yam, and yellow yam); Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burkill (“uwi gembili” and “uwi gembolo"); Dioscorea bulbifera L. ("uwi gandul"); Dioscorea pentaphylla L. ("uwi katak") and Dioscorea hispida Dennst. (“uwi gadung"). A field experiment with Randomized Block Design was used to obtain homogenous tuber raw material, followed by laboratory methods on the assessment of ethanol production potential through fermentation. The research showed that the variety, D. hispida had the highest ethanol content (4.94 %), followed by D. esculenta (4.16 %) and D. alata (white yam) (3.89 %). The lowest ethanol production was obtained from D. pentaphylla (0.36 %) and D. bulbifera (1.53 %). However, in terms of productivity, D. alata (white-yam) is the most prospective considering its high production, ease of cultivation and tolerance of forest stands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Soil characterization and classification is the foundation for sustainable land use and management. Upland soils are important in areas of high elevation and undulating terrain. This study characterized and classified Soils of an upland in southern guinea savannah of Nigeria. Methods: The prominent elevation points of the area were read with GPS device and four locations identified were labelled: UP1, UP2, UP3 and UP4. Profile pits were dug in each location, described for the morphological properties and sampled for laboratory analysis of soil physico-chemical properties. Result: The soils were slightly to strongly acidic with pH of 5.29 to 6.11, had low organic matter ranged of 1.52 to 1.79% and low soil nutrient reserve with the effective cation exchange capacity (CEC) of 5.9 to 9.26 mol kg-1. In-situ soil development, transportation and deposition of materials were the major soil formation processes in the area. The soils were classified as Alfisols and were marginally suitable (S3) for yam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluate the influences of elevation and climate on the spatio-temporal distribution of wetland and dryland biomes during the Pennsylvanian and early Permian in tropical Pangea. The longstanding "upland model" places drought-tolerant vegetation in elevated habitats, where slope and drainage created moisture-limited substrates under a humid climate that simultaneously promoted peat accumulation in contemporaneous lowlands. Upland plants were periodically transported to, and buried in, lowlands. Rare preservation of dryland vegetation thus reflects its general absence in basins, and taphonomic vagaries of long-distance transport. The alternative "climate model" proposes that drought-tolerant plants dominated tropical habitats when climate was seasonally dry, with wetland vegetation reduced to scattered refugia. Environmental changes attending glacial-interglacial cycles caused alternating wetter-drier conditions, and the relative abundance of wetland versus dryland biomes in basinal lowlands thus varied with climatic oscillations. The paucity of drought-tolerant plants reflects a preservational megabias against habitats with seasonal moisture deficits. The environmental signal of "mixed" plant-fossil assemblages, comprising taxa characteristic of both wetland and dryland biomes, may help resolve these debates. We review key Pennsylvanian and lower Permian mixed assemblages from tropical Euramerican Pangea, and interpret their original habitats and climatic contexts based on multidisciplinary lines of evidence, including sedimentology, taphonomy, physiology, and paleoecology. Evaluations also consider patterns of vegetational distribution and taphonomy in modern tropical environments. We suggest that even a cursory view of current tropical plant distribution exposes flaws in the upland model. Where tropical climate is sufficiently humid to support peat swamps, slopes and elevated habitats do not host drought-tolerant vegetation, but are occupied by plants similar to those in lowland settings. This occurs because equable, high precipitation strongly dampens water-table variation across entire landscapes. Furthermore, taphonomic studies indicate that most plant-fossil assemblages record vegetation living near the burial site. Fossil floras thus reflect environmental conditions near their growth site, excluding an upland origin for most occurrences of drought-tolerant taxa. Conversely, the climate model is consistent with modern tropical vegetational distribution and soundly explains late Paleozoic floristic patterns. When Pangean tropical lowlands experienced seasonally dry conditions, plants tolerant of moisture deficits dominated most habitats, whereas wetland vegetation was restricted to wetter sites with greater preservation potential. This occurred because topographic variations are magnified under seasonal precipitation regimes, creating a complex habitat mosaic with wetland patches in a landscape subject to seasonal drought. Accordingly, we propose that a macrofloral assemblage with even rare drought-tolerant taxa indicates seasonality in the broader landscape. At larger spatio-temporal scales, disagreement also persists about whether tectonic uplift or long-term climatic drying was the primary driver of changes in late Paleozoic floristic patterns and areal extent of tropical peat swamps. We argue that tectonic activity alone cannot explain the drastic reduction in peat swamps or coincident changes in dominance-diversity of wetland vegetation. Rates of plant dispersal and evolution far outpace that of mountain building, and peat-forming wetlands persisted in elevated habitats well into the Late Pennsylvanian. Therefore, progressive late Paleozoic aridification was the most probable driver of changing floral patterns and the distribution of wetland and dryland biomes in tropical Pangea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CH 4 serves as an important greenhouse gas, yet limited knowledge is available in global and regional CH 4 cycling, particularly in widely distributed karst terrain. In this study, we investigated an upland in Puding Karst Ecosystem Research Station, and explored CH 4 concentration and/or flux in atmosphere, soil and cave using a closed static chamber method and an eddy covariance system. Meanwhile, we monitored atmospheric temperature, precipitation, temperature and wind velocity in the cave entrance. The results demonstrated that atmospheric CH 4 and actual soil CH 4 fluxes in the source area of eddy covariance system were −0.19 ± 8.64 nmols−1m−2 and -0.16 nmols−1m−2 respectively. The CH 4 concentrations in Shawan Cave exhibited 10 ∼ 100-fold lower than that of the external atmosphere. CH 4 oxidation rate dominated by methane-oxidizing bacteria was 1.98 nmols−1m−2 in Shawan Cave when it combined with temperature difference between cave and external atmosphere. Therefore, CH 4 sink in global karst subterranean spaces was estimated at 106.2 Tg CH 4 yr−1. We supplemented an understanding of CH 4 cycling paths and fluxes in karst terrain, as well as CH 4 sinks in karst subterranean space. Further works require to establish a karst ecosystem observation network to conduct long-term integrated studies on CH 4 fluxes regarding atmosphere, soils, plants and caves. [Display omitted] • Ventilation rate driven by temperature difference is fundamental for cave CH 4 dynamics. • The atmospheric CH 4 flux derived from karst subterranean spaces is −0.198 nmols−1m−2. • CH 4 sink in global karst subterranean spaces could reach 106.2 Tg CH 4 yr−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Alethopteris grandinii represents remains of fronds of a medullosalean pteridosperm (probably a small tree) that rapidly migrated across the lowland wetland habitats of Variscan Euramerica in middle Asturian (late Moscovian) times. This was probably caused by changing drainage patterns within the lowland coal swamps, in response to climate and landscape changes. However, these medullosaleans had first appeared rather earlier, in early Bolsovian (early Moscovian) times, in upland wetland habitats. These upland habitats may have pre-adapted these plants to the changed condition in the lowland coal swamps.

Dogs play an important role as hosts and reservoirs for many zoonotic diseases. Ehrlichiosis, babesiosis and hepatozoonosis are a group of canine vector-borne diseases that can be transmitted via ectoparasites from dog to dog and also from dog to humans. This study focused on three main blood parasites of dog (i.e., Babesia spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Hepatozoon spp.) among two different landscape types of eight villages of Santhong Sub-district, Nan Province, Thailand. In this study, 149 dogs were surveyed and blood samples were collected. Blood parasite infections in dogs were assessed using molecular detection approach. Babesia canis vogeli, Babesia gibsoni, Ehrlichia canis and Hepatozoon canis were detected with prevalence of infection at 10.7%, 8.1%, 3.4% and 0.7%, respectively. In terms of landscape type, prevalence of overall blood parasites, particularly Babesia spp. infections were higher in dogs living in upland forested areas (28.3%) compared to dogs from lowland agricultural areas (12.3%). Data obtained from the questionnaires on perceptions of dog owners showed that dogs raised all the time outside owner's house, and those dogs whose owners have never bathed and cleaned were more likely to be exposed to blood parasites. As infected dogs could play an important role as reservoirs of the blood parasites, attitude of dog owners may affect public health in terms of zoonotic disease transmission. Effective control measures and surveillance program of arthropod vectors and blood parasite infection in dogs still need to be advocated to minimize zoonotic disease transmission., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests. Chuanphot Thinphovong and Serge Morand reports financial support, administrative support, and equipment, drugs, or supplies were provided by Thailand International Cooperation Agency., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Due to global population expansion and climate change impacts, the development of a stable yielding variety that adapts well to unfavorable conditions for rice cultivation, can contribute to sustainable and stable production in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Understanding genetic differentiations to ecotypes for rice cultivations, such as upland, rainfed lowland, and irrigated lowland, is very important to develop the breeding materials for adapting to each environmental condition. The upland landrace variety basically has low tiller/panicle numbers and a large panicle, and the plant architecture is different from that of the lowland variety. The tiller and panicle numbers have been considered as one of the most difficult traits for genetic changes artificially in rice breeding. A low tiller recessive gene ltn2 originated from a New Plant Type variety, IR 65600-87-2-23, harboring segments from an upland variety, Ketan Lumbu (Tropical Japonica Group), was found on chromosome 7, and the other QTLs for culm length, culm weight, panicle length, panicle weight, seed fertility, harvest index, and soil surface rooting were also detected in the same chromosome region. These low tiller genes and the other QTLs were estimated to play an important role in developing the architecture for upland rice. Some QTLs for root growth angle, DRO3 and qSFR7, were also found in the same chromosome region from upland varieties categorized into the Tropical Japonica Group, and the QTLs may also be relevant to upland adaptation together with other traits. Previous studies using high throughput re-sequencing (whole genome variation data) of a large batch of rice accessions could identify the ecotype differentiated genomic regions (EDRs) and Ecotype differentiated genes (EDGs) such as Os07g0449700, a type response regulator, which is critical in upland adaptation in the same region of chromosome 7. Two selective loci, E3735 and E4208, for upland and lowland differentiation, and their corresponding genes Os07g0260000 and Os07g0546500 were also detected on chromosome 7 by drought-responding EST-SSRs. These findings indicate that the region on chromosome 7 is highly possible to related to the plant shoot and root architecture in the upland rice variety that has an important role and differentiates between upland and lowland ecotypes.

The article deals with the review of the breeding work in the development of upland rice varieties in the Rostov region during the years of 2002-2015. Because of the deficit of water the problem is of great importance the last years. The staff of the laboratory of rice of I.G. Kalinenko ARRIGC has studied the collection of ARIR from which they have taken such varieties tolerant to water deficit as ‘Chan-Chun-Man’, ‘Din Syan’, ‘Sukhodolny’, ‘Bely SKOMS’, etc. They are of low height, with a thin stalk, a small panicle and average heads; they are resistant to fall and to lodging and they are early maturing varieties. The hybrids on 28 combinations and the lines of rice for growing under periodic irrigation have been obtained from the crossing of upland rice samples with such varieties of Don breeding as ‘Razdolny’, ‘Boyarin’ and ‘Komandor’. After multiple choices of recombinant forms the best lines have been assessed in the control farm. Their productivity, as a rule, was the same as of the standard varieties. The sample ‘9497’ (‘Chan-Chun-Man’x‘Boyarin’) produced 7.57 t/ha for six years, that exceeded the productivity of the standard variety ‘Boyarin’ on 0.57 t/ha. In 2015 the sample ‘5782’ (‘Komandor’x‘Chan-Chun-Man’) produced 8.52 t/ha (on 0.86t/ha more than the standard). We cooperate with ARRI of irrigated agriculture (Volgograd) and annually carry out the testing of the best lines. We also work in cooperation with the Institute of Rice (Ukraine, Skadovsk), with ARRIGM’s affiliate in Kalmykiya, where we carried out the agroecological testing of promising lines of rice under rain irrigation. In 2016 there was laid down an experimental plot with periodic irrigation for the testing of upland samples of rice developed in ARRIGC, ARRIOA and ARRIR and for selection of the most stable and productive forms.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), a tuberous plant well known as a highly nutritional diet and an economic crop s, is the world's fourth largest production after rice, wheat and corn. Recent experiments have shown some potential places and varieties for cultivation in Cambodia. Thus, the experiment aimed to understand the response of the potential potato varieties to different planting dates in Sen Monorom town, Mondulkiri province (a mountainous area), Cambodia. The trail was laid out in randomized complete block design with 4 replications and 3 different planting dates namely October, November and December of 2018. The Coronada, certified seed from the Europlant International company in Germany, was the ideal variety used in the experiment and lasted 115 days from planting to harvest. Only the number of tuber per plant, tuber weight, weight per plant, and marketable yield were recorded. Suggested that planting date significantly affected to all measured parameters. Plot planting in December produced the highest number of tubers with an average of 9.3 tubers per plant while a similarity was noticed for October and November planting. However, the November planting surprisingly produced the highest weight per plant, heavier tuber and the highest marketable yield with 19.15 ton ha-1. The two other planting dates obtained an average yield of 14.49 and 12.39 ton ha-1 for October and December consequently. This is understandable that November planting and harvest at end February, which is the long cold and windy season with less rainfall, was the most comprehend planting season in Mondulkiri province, Cambodia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Cambodia, potato is imported. Currently, potato has the fourth largest production in the world cultivated in many countries even in semi-arid and tropical countries. Numerous new and improved varieties were developed to sustain and maintain production systems. Thus, performance evaluation of these varieties in Cambodia condition is important to improve potato production in the country. The experiment was conducted from December 2016 to March 2017 by testing 8 different imported varieties (Tornado, Corodana, Georgina, Madeira, Jelly, Julkinka, Red fantasy and Sorentina) under upland climate of Cambodia. The result showed that all varieties showed similar performance in terms of growth, but different in yield components and yield. Tornado variety was most adapted and productive varieties with an average yield of 23ton ha-1 followed by Madeira (19 ton ha-1) while Red fantasy had the lowest production among the tested varieties under upland environment in Cambodia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breeding ground food availability is critical to the survival and productivity of adult birds. The common cuckoo Cuculus canorus is a brood‐parasitic Afro‐Palearctic migrant bird exhibiting long‐term (breeding) population declines in many European countries. Variation in population trend between regions and habitats suggests breeding ground drivers such as adult food supply. However, cuckoo diet has not been studied in detail since before the most significant population declines in Europe began in the mid‐1980s. 20th century studies of cuckoo diet largely comprised field observations likely to carry bias towards larger prey taxa. Here we demonstrate the potential value of 1) using high‐throughput DNA sequencing of invertebrate prey in faeces to determine cuckoo diet with minimal bias towards large prey taxa, and 2) using crowd‐sourced digital photographs from across Britain to identify lepidopteran cuckoo prey taxa during recent years post‐decline (2005–2016). DNA analysis found a high frequency of Lepidoptera, including moths of family Lasiocampidae, prominent within the past literature, but also grasshoppers (Orthoptera) and flies (Diptera) that may be overlooked by field observation methodologies. The range of larval lepidopteran prey identified from photographs largely agreed with those previously documented, with potential signs of reduced diversity, and identities of key adult prey taxa were supported by molecular results. Notably, many identified cuckoo prey taxa have shown severe declines due to agricultural intensification, suggesting this has driven spatial patterns of cuckoo loss. Landscape‐scale, lowland rewilding interventions provide opportunities to understand the scale of reversal of previous agricultural intensification that may be necessary to restore prey populations sufficiently to permit recolonization by cuckoos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for rice in Eastern and Southern Africa is rapidly increasing because of changes in consumer preferences and urbanization. However, local rice production lags behind consumption, mainly due to low yield levels. In order to set priorities for research and development aimed at improving rice productivity, there is a need to characterize the rice production environments, to quantify rice yield gaps—that is, the difference between average on‐farm yield and the best farmers' yield—and to identify causes of yield gaps. Such information will help identifying and targeting technologies to alleviate the main constraints, and consequently to reduce existing yield gaps. Yield gap surveys were conducted on 357 rice farms at eight sites (19–50 farmers per site) across five rice‐producing countries in Eastern and Southern Africa—that is Ethiopia, Madagascar, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda—for one or two years (2012–13) to collect both quantitative and qualitative data at field and farm level. Average farm yields measured at the eight sites ranged from 1.8 to 4.3 t/ha and the average yield gap ranged from 0.8 to 3.4 t/ha. Across rice‐growing environments, major causes for yield variability were straw management, weeding frequency, growth duration of the variety, weed cover, fertilizer (mineral and organic) application frequency, levelling and iron toxicity. Land levelling increased the yield by 0.74 t/ha, bird control increased the yield by 1.44 t/ha, and sub‐optimal management of weeds reduced the yield by 3.6 to 4.4 t/ha. There is great potential to reduce the current rice yield gap in ESA, by focusing on improvements of those crop management practices that address the main site‐specific causes for sub‐optimal yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to global population expansion and climate change impacts, the development of a stable yielding variety that adapts well to unfavorable conditions for rice cultivation, can contribute to sustainable and stable production in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Understanding genetic differentiations to ecotypes for rice cultivations, such as upland, rainfed lowland, and irrigated lowland, is very important to develop the breeding materials for adapting to each environmental condition. The upland landrace variety basically has low tiller/panicle numbers and a large panicle, and the plant architecture is different from that of the lowland variety. The tiller and panicle numbers have been considered as one of the most difficult traits for genetic changes artificially in rice breeding. A low tiller recessive gene ltn2 originated from a New Plant Type variety, IR 65600-87-2-23, harboring segments from an upland variety, Ketan Lumbu (Tropical Japonica Group), was found on chromosome 7, and the other QTLs for culm length, culm weight, panicle length, panicle weight, seed fertility, harvest index, and soil surface rooting were also detected in the same chromosome region. These low tiller genes and the other QTLs were estimated to play an important role in developing the architecture for upland rice. Some QTLs for root growth angle, DRO3 and qSFR7 , were also found in the same chromosome region from upland varieties categorized into the Tropical Japonica Group, and the QTLs may also be relevant to upland adaptation together with other traits. Previous studies using high throughput re-sequencing (whole genome variation data) of a large batch of rice accessions could identify the ecotype differentiated genomic regions (EDRs) and Ecotype differentiated genes (EDGs) such as Os07g0449700 , a type response regulator, which is critical in upland adaptation in the same region of chromosome 7. Two selective loci, E3735 and E4208 , for upland and lowland differentiation, and their corresponding genes Os07g0260000 and Os07g0546500 were also detected on chromosome 7 by drought-responding EST-SSRs. These findings indicate that the region on chromosome 7 is highly possible to related to the plant shoot and root architecture in the upland rice variety that has an important role and differentiates between upland and lowland ecotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]