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Agro-physiology, C-assimilation & its contribution in sink development; and crop yield can be augmented through N regimes for higher productivity of scented rice (aromatic and basmati). Being scented rice sink limited crop; we loomed to enhance sink capacity by augmenting leaf area index (LAI) though nitrogen (N) regimes in new environment. In order to establish N-relationship with sink capacity (SC) & filling efficiency (SFE) and to determine N-related agro-physiological behavior a field experiment for two years conducted in middle IGP. Four N levels (control, low, moderate and high) tested for two aromatic and two basmati rice varieties under split plot design. The basmati rice varieties reported 37.81-52.13% higher grain yield (GY) with lesser N over short grained aromatic varieties. Dry matter, its translocation and pre-anthesis contribution, tiller number and physiological traits at growth stages were also comparatively higher in HUBR 10–9 over short grained HUR 917 and comprehended parity level with HUR 4–3. The SFE was negatively correlated with SC and LAI across nitrogen dose and varieties. Higher LAI at moderate N produced larger sink; higher SFE was at low N. On contrary to short grained HUR 917; BS varieties (HUBR 10–9 & HUBR 2–1) produced larger sink. Economic N was lower for BSV's (126.48–131.52 kg N ha−1) with GY potential of 5.11–6.01 Mg ha−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil contamination and degradation have prompted extensive research into remediation techniques. A promising approach involves the use of nanoparticles, which can mitigate heavy metal contamination, such as cadmium (Cd), without adversely affecting crop development. This study evaluated the effects of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HANPs) on the growth of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. in soils contaminated with varying Cd contents (0, 5, 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg). The results indicated that HANPs enhanced early shoot development, particularly in soils with Cd concentrations ≥10 mg/kg, while significantly reducing Cd accumulation in plant tissues. HANPs also decreased Cd mobility in soil, retaining it in fractions less available for plant uptake. Germination rates differed between pot experiments and phytotoxicity assays, although the first demonstrated greater Cd immobilization in HANP-treated soils, resulting in reduced Cd translocation to quinoa shoots. These findings highlight the potential of HANPs as an effective tool for remediating Cd-contaminated soils, thereby improving soil pollution, crop safety, and quality for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Sugar beet is a crucial raw material for sugar production, but pest infestations severely impact both its yield and quality. Therefore, rapid and accurate pest detection is essential for ensuring its production. Traditional manual detection methods heavily rely on the expertise of specialists, making them time-consuming and labor-intensive. With the advancement of computer vision technology, deep convolutional neural networks have been widely applied in pest detection. This paper presents a multi-scale, real-time pest detection model designed to enhance detection accuracy while reducing the model's parameter size and computational load. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms existing approaches on the beet pest dataset, achieving higher detection accuracy and faster processing speed. This approach provides an effective technical solution and theoretical foundation for intelligent pest management. Beet crops are highly vulnerable to pest infestations throughout their growth cycle, which significantly affects crop development and yield. Timely and accurate pest identification is crucial for implementing effective control measures. Current pest detection tasks face two primary challenges: first, pests frequently blend into their environment due to similar colors, making it difficult to capture distinguishing features in the field; second, pest images exhibit scale variations under different viewing angles, lighting conditions, and distances, which complicates the detection process. This study constructed the BeetPest dataset, a multi-scale pest dataset for beets in complex backgrounds, and proposed the SP-YOLO model, which is an improved real-time detection model based on YOLO11. The model integrates a CNN and transformer (CAT) into the backbone network to capture global features. The lightweight depthwise separable convolution block (DSCB) module is designed to extract multi-scale features and enlarge the receptive field. The neck utilizes the cross-layer path aggregation network (CLPAN) module, further merging low-level and high-level features. SP-YOLO effectively differentiates between the background and target, excelling in handling scale variations in pest images. In comparison with the original YOLO11 model, SP-YOLO shows a 4.9% improvement in mean average precision (mAP@50), a 9.9% increase in precision, and a 1.3% rise in average recall. Furthermore, SP-YOLO achieves a detection speed of 136 frames per second (FPS), meeting real-time pest detection requirements. The model demonstrates remarkable robustness on other pest datasets while maintaining a manageable parameter size and computational complexity suitable for edge devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photosynthesis, which is the foundation of crop growth and development, is accompanied by complex transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. Research has established that brassinosteroids (BRs) play a role in regulating plant photosynthesis, with the majority of research focusing on the physiological level and regulation of rate-limiting enzymes in the dark reactions of photosynthesis. However, studies on their effects on maize photosynthesis, specifically on light-harvesting antenna proteins, have yet to be conducted. The peripheral light-harvesting antenna protein Lhcb5 is crucial for capturing and dissipating light energy. Herein, by analyzing the transcriptomic data of maize seedling leaves treated with 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) and verifying them using qPCR experiments, we found that the MYBR17 transcription factor may regulate the expression of the photosynthetic light-harvesting antenna protein gene. Further experiments using protoplast transient expression and yeast one-hybrid tests showed that the maize transcription factor MYBR17 responds to EBR signals and binds to the promoter of the light-harvesting antenna protein Lhcb5, thereby upregulating its expression. These results were validated using an Arabidopsis mybr17 mutant. Our results offer a theoretical foundation for the application of BRs to enhance the photosynthetic efficiency of maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Journal of Vegetable Science is a peer-reviewed platform dedicated to advancing knowledge on various aspects of vegetable production, including growth regulation, pest management, and consumption patterns. The journal has seen significant growth in submissions and CiteScore, and has been accepted into the Web of Science. It focuses on research related to vegetable crops, cultivation, and interdisciplinary studies, while excluding topics such as arable crops, ornamental plants, and medicinal plants not intended for fresh use. The journal emphasizes rigorous scientific standards and encourages clear and concise communication in submissions. [Extracted from the article]

Light is a vital environmental cue that profoundly influences the development of plants. LED lighting offers significant advantages in controlled growth environments over fluorescent lighting. Under monochromatic blue LED light, wheat plants exhibited reduced stature, accelerated spike development, and a shortened flowering period with increased blue light intensity promoting an earlier heading date. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive transcriptome analysis to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying wheat plants' response to varying light conditions. We identified 34 types of transcription factors (TFs) and highlighted the dynamic changes of key families such as WRKY, AP2/ERF, MYB, bHLH, and NAC, which play crucial roles in light-induced gene regulation. Additionally, this study revealed differential effects of blue and red light on the expression levels of genes related to hormones such as cytokinin (CK) and salicylic acid (SA) synthesis as well as significant changes in pathways such as flavonoid biosynthesis, circadian rhythms, chlorophyll synthesis, and flowering. Particularly, blue light upregulated genes involved in chlorophyll synthesis, contrasting with the downregulation observed under red light. Furthermore, blue light enhanced the expression of anthocyanin synthesis-related genes, such as CHS, underscoring its role in promoting anthocyanin accumulation. These findings provide valuable insights into how light quality impacts crop growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In agricultural production, droughts occurring during the crucial growth periods of crops hinder crop development, while the daily-scale standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) can be applied to accurately identify the drought characteristics. In this study, we used the statistical downscaling method to obtain the daily precipitation (Pr), maximum air temperature (Tmax) and minimum air temperature (Tmin) during the rice growing season in Heilongjiang Province from 2015 to 2100 under the SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 in CMIP6, to study the spatial and temporal characteristics of drought during the rice growing season in cold region and the effect of climate change on drought characteristics. The potential evapotranspiration (PET0) was calculated using the regression correction method of the Hargreaves formula recommended by the FAO, and the daily SPEI was calculated to quantitatively identify the drought classification. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between the meteorological factors (Pr, Tmax, Tmin), PET0 and SPEI. The results showed that: (1) Under 3 SSP scenarios, Pr showed an increasing trend from the northwest to the southeast, Tmax showed an increasing trend from the northeast to the southwest, and higher Tmin was mainly distributed in the east and west regions. (2) PET0 indicated an overall interannual rise in the three future SSP scenarios, with higher values mainly distributed in the central and western regions. The mean daily PET0 values ranged from 4.8 to 6.0 mm/d. (3) Under SSP1-2.6, rice mainly experienced mild drought and moderate drought (−0.5 ≥ SPEI > −1.5). The predominant drought classifications experienced were mild, moderate, and severe drought under SSP2-4.5 and SSP8.5 (−0.5 ≥ SPEI > −2.0). (4) The tillering stage experienced the highest drought frequency and drought intensity, with the longest drought lasting 24 days. However, the heading flower stage had the lowest drought frequency and drought intensity. The drought barycenter was mainly in Tieli and Suihua. (5) The PET0 was most affected by the Tmax, while the SPEI was most affected by the Pr. This study offers a scientific and rational foundation for understanding the drought sensitivity of rice in Northeast China, as well as a rationale for the optimal scheduling of water resources in agriculture in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substantial body of empirical evidence exists to suggest that elevated O3 levels are causing significant impacts on wheat yields at sites representative of highly productive arable regions around the world. Here we extend the DO3SE model (designed to estimate total and stomatal O3 deposition for risk assessment) to incorporate a coupled Anet – gsto model to estimate O3 uptake; an O3 damage module (that impacts instantaneous Anet and the timing and rate of senescence); and a crop phenology, carbon allocation, and growth model based on the JULES-crop model. The model structure allows scaling from the leaf to the canopy to allow for multiple leaf populations and canopy layers. The DO3SE-Crop model is calibrated and parameterised using O3 fumigation data from Xiaoji, China, for the year 2008 and for an O3-tolerant and sensitive cultivar. The calibrated model was tested on data for different years (2007 and 2009) and for two additional cultivars and was found to simulate key physiological variables, crop development, and yield with a good level of accuracy. The DO3SE-Crop model simulated the phenological stages of crop development under ambient and elevated O3 treatments for the test datasets with an R2 of 0.95 and an RMSE of 2.5 d. The DO3SE-Crop model was also able to simulate O3-induced yield losses of ∼11% –19 % compared to observed yield losses of 12 %–34 %, with an R2 of 0.68 (n=20) and an RMSE of 76 g m−2. Additionally, our results indicate that the variance in yield reduction is primarily attributed to the premature decrease in carbon assimilation to the grains caused by accelerated leaf senescence, which is brought forward by 3–5 d under elevated O3 treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing carbon emissions is crucial for environmental protection and the survival of humankind, particularly in agricultural growth, as it ensures the sustainability of the food supply. This study examines the import of the crop production agglomeration on carbon emissions across several areas of China. It employs panel data spanning from 2012 to 2022. The crop production agglomeration was assessed using the average industrial agglomeration rate, whereas the carbon emissions were evaluated using the IPCC carbon emission factors. Empirical analyses were conducted using the panel fixed effects model and the Spatial Durbin Model. The results indicate that crop production agglomeration directly reduces carbon emissions. Moreover, the concentration of crop production has a geographical demonstration effect on carbon emissions, where greater levels of crop production agglomeration result in a more efficient decrease of carbon emissions in nearby regions. An analysis of heterogeneity indicates that the impact of crop production agglomeration on carbon emissions is more pronounced in the eastern and northeastern regions of China compared to the central and western areas. The study advocates for the formulation of tailored carbon reduction methods that align with the distinct attributes of crops in various locations. It promotes variety and low-carbon development in crop production to drive industrial advancement. The study advocates for enhancing cooperation among crop production enterprises across various areas to provide platforms for information exchange and technical innovation. Furthermore, it advocates for governments to design efficient methods and regulations to reduce carbon emissions in crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prediction of seasonal onset is crucial to agriculture in southern and eastern Africa. Here, we applied two definitions of onset, namely meteorological and agricultural (crop‐germination), to evaluate CMIP6 models through the lens of rainfall onset over representative maize agricultural regions of South Africa, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia. We use the ERA5 reanalysis as a proxy for observations, and robust regression to calculate a statistical comparison of the onset definitions for the period 1979–2021. Evaluation of ERA5 reanalysis shows similar magnitude and pattern as gauge based MSWEP. Our results show that, for meteorological onset, Johannesburg, with a subtropical highland climate, experienced earliest onset after 23 December; and an increasing trend (later onset) but not statistically significant (p = 0.2). Over Bethlehem, which has continental climate, the earliest onset date was after October 9 and an increasing interannual variability since 2000 is noted. The standard deviation of onset dates across the regions shows an East‐Central‐South gradient. We also found that the crop‐germination onset definition shows earlier onset of seasonal rains, it differs considerably across regions, and has higher interannual variability, in comparison with the meteorological definition. Over Lilongwe, Mbeya and Lusaka, late meteorological onset with a weak positive and insignificant trend is observed. The CMIP6 model's representation of onset trend differs from reanalysis data, with inter‐model differences. Late meteorological onset is underestimated by GFDL‐CM4 and MPI while INM5, MPI and NorESM overestimate the observed earliest onset. The largest bias is shown by INM and MPI which simulate earliest and latest onset as 190 (07 January) and 206 (23 January) respectively. In addition, models often fail to simulate sufficient precipitation to produce onset for seed germination and crop development. The ACCESS model showed an insignificant trend (p value = 2) and later onset over Lilongwe, an insignificant trend (p value = 0.9) over Lusaka, and an earlier onset over Mbeya. Using the agricultural onset definition, over Bethlehem, all the models and the ERA5 reanalysis did not produce enough precipitation to meet onset conditions. We suggest that rainfall onset studies use several definitions or metrics of onset and that the choice of metric be informed by the research question. Using such an ensemble of onset metrics contributes to a better understanding of variability and uncertainties in agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effectiveness of high-throughput phenotyping (HTP) using RGB images from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to assess vegetation indices (VIs) in different soybean pure lines. The VIs were accessed at various stages of crop development and correlated with agronomic performance traits. The field research was conducted in the experimental area of the Mato Grosso do Sul Foundation, Brazil, with 60 soybean pure lines. RGB images were captured at multiple stages of development (28, 37, 49, 70, 86, 105, 115, and 120 days after sowing). We used a linear mixed effects model, with restricted maximum likelihood (REML)/best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) methods, to estimate variance components and genetic correlations, and to predict genotypic values. Significant genetic differences were identified among genotypes for all agronomic traits evaluated (p< 0.001), with high accuracy and heritability for plant height, maturity at R8, and 100-seed weight. There was a significant genotype flight data interaction impact on VI expression, emphasizing the importance of timing data collection to enhance HTP with VIs in agronomic performance evaluation. In the early stages, the indices varied depending on the environment. On the other hand, the indices showed higher correlations with the traits of plant height and maturity at the R8 stage, at 105, 115, and 120 days after sowing. HTP with VIs based on RGB images from UAVs has proven to be more effective in the early and final stages of soybean development, providing essential information for the selection of superior genotypes. This study highlights the importance of the temporal approach in HTP, optimizing the selection of soybean genotypes and refining agricultural management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces increasing water scarcity, food and nutrition insecurity, poverty and inequality under climate change. Under these circumstances, promoting locally adapted and nutrient-dense crops is touted as a plausible climate adaptation strategy. We reviewed the utility of neglected and underutilized crop species (NUS) as a climate change adaptation strategy to diversify local food systems and diets and improve nutritional health and environmental outcomes in SSA. We conducted a systematic literature review using Web of Science and Scopus research databases. Of the 1,545 studies retrieved, 75 were included following a multi-level screening process on Covidence guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The review consolidates fragmented knowledge on the application of NUS in different contexts. Despite growing interest, NUS remain gendered and stigmatized crops, marginalized and fragmented in research, development, and marketing efforts and lack explicit support from policy and decision-makers. Despite rhetoric purporting to support them, there is a worrying rise in policies and regulations that inadvertently hinder the development of these crops and reinforce dependence on a narrow basket of crops for food and nutrition security, undermining food sovereignty. Some NUS have received increasing recognition for their potential in the past decade. However, this is neither universal nor systematic, which makes scaling up necessary but challenging. Consequently, progress in mainstreaming NUS in local food systems continues to lag. Despite these challenges, NUS remain sub-Saharan Africa's better-bet option for diversifying food systems and transitioning them to be equitable, inclusive, resilient and healthy; hence, NUS provide positive outcomes for people and the planet under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to evaluate the overall leaf count of Abelmoschus esculentus by applying two distinct fertilizers: a newly developed neem cake and fish waste. The data collection was place on a 1900 square foot experimental area, where Group 1 used neem cake and Group 2 utilised fish waste. Every group included 20 samples, culminating in a total of 40 samples. G-power calculations identified a sample size that would provide 80% statistical power and a 95% confidence interval. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS. A statistically significant p-value of 0.003 indicated that neem cake produced a considerably greater leaf count (14.85 per plant) than fish waste (13.05 per plant). The findings indicate that neem cake has a greater enhancing impact on plant growth compared to fish waste, whereas both fertilizers contribute favourably to nutrient absorption and crop development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical products, such as seed dressings, are often used to regulate crop growth and development and improve yields. In this study, we investigated a seed dressing containing 0.136% gibberellic acid (GA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-, and brassinolide (BL) as a wettable powder (WP), hereafter referred to as GA-IAA-BL WP. This product is a new plant growth regulator of plant origin that can improve crop stress resistance and yield. However, its effect on maize seed germination and seedling growth under low-temperature stress is unclear. In this study, GA-IAA-BL WP was applied to maize 'Liukexing 99' seeds at 50, 100, 150, or 200 mg mL−1, and seeds were germinated in an artificial climatic chamber at 10, 15, or 25 °C for 14 d. Application at 100 mg mL−1 significantly increased the germination rate as well as seedling shoot and root length and dry and fresh weight at all three temperatures. This application rate also increased the contents of proline, malondialdehyde, soluble sugars, and soluble proteins; the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase; and root vigor. Our results demonstrate that GA-IAA-BL WP can reduce the negative impacts of low-temperature stress on seed germination and seedling growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome editing (GE) technology holds significant promise for advancements in crop development and medical applications. However, public acceptance of GE in Japan remains uncertain. This study aimed to examine how knowledge impacts public acceptance of GE technology, focusing on differences across diffusion stages and application purposes. Using ordinary least squares regression on repeated survey data collected from 2018 to 2023 in Japan (n = 6,234), we investigated the influence of knowledge on support for GE in consumer benefits, producer benefits, and medical technology. Our findings revealed that the effect of knowledge on technology acceptance has strengthened over time. Consumers with greater knowledge of GE are increasingly supportive of its advancement, emphasizing the growing importance of information as the technology becomes more widespread. This research highlights the role of transparent policy discussions in fostering public trust and support, thereby promoting the successful integration of new technologies into society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide guidance on how to incorporate best practices around gender integration in the development of genetically improved crops by adapting a gender integration framework for conventional crop breeding to the GM product development pipeline, which places greater emphasis on the discovery and launch phases because the technical nature of the development process means fewer opportunities for farmer engagement or pivoting possibilities between these two ends of the product development spectrum. For crop innovation to be relevant to both women and men producers, during the discovery phase, developers can conduct baseline gender analysis consisting of gender-disaggregated value chain analysis, systematic learning about gender-specific crop trait preferences, and identification of varietal preferences by women and men along the value chain. The latter opportunity in the GM product development pathway for intentional gender integration is deployment, including pre-launch activities such as field demonstrations and consumer testing. We also describe ex ante and ex post gender impact assessment methods. We conclude with a number of gender integration recommendations for GM product developers: improving gender data collection and analysis to inform crop innovation efforts, investing in staffing and training of scientific teams to enhance gender expertise, and increasing accountability of product development teams with gender-intentional monitoring and evaluation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale crop phenology monitoring is essential for agro-ecosystem policy. Remote sensing helps track crop development but requires high-temporal and spatial resolutions. While datasets with both attributes are now available, their large-scale applications require significant resources. Medium-resolution data offer daily observations but lack detail for smaller plots. This study generated crop-specific phenomaps for mainland France (2016–2020) using PROBA-V data. A spatial disaggregation method reconstructed NDVI time series for individual crops within mixed pixels. Then, phenometrics were extracted from disaggregated PROBA-V and Sentinel-2 separately and compared to observed phenological stages. Results showed that PROBA-V-based phenomaps closely matched observations at regional level, with moderate accuracy at municipal level. PROBA-V demonstrated a higher detection rate than Sentinel-2, especially in cloudy periods, and successfully generated phenomaps before Sentinel-2B's launch. The study highlights PROBA-V's potential for operational crop monitoring, i.e., wheat heading and oilseed rape flowering, with performance comparable to Sentinel-2. PROBA-V outputs complement Sentinel-2: phenometrics cannot be generated at plot level but are efficiently produced at regional or national scales to study phenological gradients more easily than with Sentinel-2 and with similar accuracy. This approach could be extended to MODIS or SPOT-VGT, to generate historical phenological data, providing that a crop map is available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aimed at determining the effects of topping and various concentrations of ethephon on production traits of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), the latest research proceeded during the winter of 2022-2023 at the University of Basrah, Iraq (30° 57' N latitude, 47° 80' longitude). The experiment layout was in a randomized complete block design, with two factors and three replications according to split plot arrangement. The topping and ethephon occupied the main plots, with symbols as T = topping, E0 = zero ethephon concentration, E1 = 1 ml L-1 ethephon, and E2 = 2 ml L-1 ethephon. The subplots comprised crop development and growth stages (elongation, flowering, and branching) represented by the symbols S1, S2, and S3. The evaluated traits consisted of plant height (cm), number of branches (branches m-2), leaf area (cm2), pods per plant (pods plant-1), seeds per pod (seeds pod-1), 1000-seed weight (g), seed yield per plant (g plant-1), and harvest index (%). The findings indicated ethephon concentrations and topping significantly differed for most traits. The ethephon with concentration of 2 ml L-1 showed the highest seed yield (21.38 g plant-1); however, it has a nonsignificant difference from the topping treatment (20.75 g plant-1). The study showed that spraying at various growth stages had relevant effects on most studied features, and the S1 stage gave remarkable results, with the maximum seed yield (19.26 g plant-1). The combination of spraying ethephon (E2, 2 ml L-1) at the S1 stage had the best results, exhibiting the premier grain yield (24.03 g plant-1). However, the said treatment was at par with the topping treatment at the same growth stage (23.44 g plant-1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies the self-perception of the socioeconomic reality of the productive process of small rural producers in a metropolitan region of Brazil. Small food production accounts for a significant proportion of the country's total food output. The objective of this study is to investigate the opportunities for advances in small production and the institutional, environmental, and economic obstacles that hinder this process. The hypothesis is that the producers' failure is related to regulatory complexity and the difficulty of adapting to legal regulations. The adopted methodology was documentary and qualitative analysis through online research. The results confirm the hypothesis, since in the view of small producers, regulatory complexity impairs the performance of their enterprises. The work also identified an unexpected complaint: difficulties in selling produce in the most developed region of the country. It is concluded that the productive activity of small producers faces difficulties because of both entangling and overlapping divergent laws and production flow infrastructure, which producers identified as inadequate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the application of biostimulants in agriculture aims to increase production and improve the efficient use of physical space and agricultural inputs, thus contributing to the sustainability of production systems. One of the new challenges is to verify the effects of joint application of these products to identify possible interactions during crop development. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the biostimulant potential of the isolated and combined use of nicotinamide and Azospirillum brasilense in developing cantaloupe melon plants and fruits. The treatments consisted of foliar application (combined and isolated) of nicotinamide (300 mg L−1) and A. brasilense (2 mL L−1). The results revealed that applying biostimulants positively influences gas exchange and vegetative growth of plants, especially in the root system. However, although the isolated application of each biostimulant resulted in greater effectiveness in terms of transpiration, stomatal conductance, and net CO2 assimilation, which provided an increase in the soluble solids content, the combined application of the two biostimulants resulted in significant gains in the growth of vegetative organs and fruits. Furthermore, combined applications of nicotinamide plus A. brasilense favored the development of biometric characteristics and fruit fresh weight, while isolated applications increased soluble solids content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnolia officinalis Rehder & E.H. Wilson is a deciduous tree in the Magnoliaceae family with extensive medicinal uses in China and Japan, being used to treat symptoms such as indigestion, insomnia, and anxiety. In this study, we used the MaxEnt model to (1) simulate the suitable spatial distribution areas of M. officinalis in China in the current and future periods (2050s and 2090s) and, (2) identify the key environmental variables affecting its spatial distributions by comparing the changes in the center of mass of the suitable areas under the current and projected future climate. The research results show that the current distribution range of M. officinalis is mainly between east longitude 102.2° to 122.2° and north latitude 23.7° to 33.9°, and it is located in the subtropical region of China. In the future, only the high-suitability area under scenario SSP1-2.6 and the low-suitability area under scenario SSP5-8.5 decreased in the 2050s, while the area increased under all other conditions. In the 2050s, the high- and medium-suitability areas under the SSP5-8.5 scenario increased the most, by 54.76% and 20.90%, respectively. Most of the key bio-climatic variables affecting the spatial distributions of M. officinalis are related to temperature and precipitation, and soil, terrain, chemical, and human variables that are also key environmental variables affecting the spatial distributions of M. officinalis. Currently, the suitable spatial distribution centroid of M. officinalis is at (111.71° E, 28.52° N), but it will change in the future climate; although, it will still be located in Hunan Province. This study predicts the spatial distribution areas that are favorable for the cultivation of M. officinalis with the intention of offering an objectively informed identification of suitable areas for the current and future development of this tree crop's industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is the first attempt to assess rice cultivation under alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and continuous flooding (CF) using the latest scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), utilizing AquaCrop Model. Field experiments were conducted during the dry season 2023 to get the model calibration and validation input. We used two shared socioeconomic pathways scenarios (SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5) developed within Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) and projected the rice growth during 2040–2070. The simulation results demonstrated the effectiveness of AquaCrop in capturing crop development across treatments and varieties. This model's accuracy in simulating canopy cover (nRMSE = 14–32.5%), time series biomass (nRMSE = 22–42.5%), grain yield (Pd = 4.36–24.38%), and total biomass (nRMSE = 0.39–18.98%) was generally acceptable. The analysis of future climate shows an increasing trend in the monthly average temperature by 0.8 °C (Tmin) and 1.3 °C (Tmax) in both scenarios. While ETo values were not anticipated, rainfall was expected to increase with average values of 5.62 mm to 11.25 mm. In addition, the study found that varieties with growing periods longer than 93 days after transplanting (DAT), such as CAR15 and Sen Kra Ob, were most impacted by heat stress conditions, leading to reduced yield, harvest index (HI), and water use efficiency (WUE). In our case, CAR15 and Sen Kra Ob grain yields were reduced by 53% and 8%, respectively. AWD maintains superior WUE compared with CF regardless of the type of varieties, suggesting this technique is a drought-adaptive strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), widely utilized nanomaterials, can negatively affect crop growth and development. However, it remains unclear whether crops exhibit similar responses to AgNPs stress at seed germination and seedling stages. In this study, rice seeds and seedlings were exposed to AgNPs, and their growth, photosynthetic efficiency, and antioxidant systems were recorded. demonstrated significant AgNPs accumulation in rice tissues, with notable higher accumulation in seedlings exposed to AgNPs after germination compared to AgNPs exposure during germination. The roots exhibited greater AgNPs accumulation than shoots across both stages. Exposure to AgNPs during the seed germination stage, even at concentrations up to 2 mg/L, did not significantly affect growth, physiological indices, or oxidative stress. In contrast, seedlings exposed to 1 and 2 mg/L AgNPs showed significant reductions in shoot length, biomass, nutrient content, and photosynthetic efficiency. At low AgNPs concentrations, the maximum relative electron transport rate (rETRmax) was significantly reduced, while the higher concentrations caused pronounced declines in the chlorophyll a fluorescence transient curves (OJIP) compared to the control group. Antioxidant enzyme activities increased in both leaves and roots in a dose-dependent manner, with roots exhibiting significantly higher activity, suggesting that roots are the primary site of AgNPs stress responses. In conclusion, rice responds differently to AgNPs exposure at distinct developmental stages, with the seedling stage being more susceptible to AgNPs-induced stress than the seed germination stage. These findings underscore the importance of considering growth stages when assessing the food safety and environmental risks associated with AgNPs exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional propagation experiences problems due to long period for seed production, disease contamination, low reproductive rate and season dependent. In vitro propagation offers several advantages. This research aims to assess the impact of different media types and the concentrations of BAP and IBA on the in vitro growth and development of A. muelleri shoots. Bulbil explants were cultivated using MS media with different media types (solid media, agitated liquid media, and static liquid media) with various BAP and IBA concentration treatments (1 mg/l, 2 mg/l, and 3 mg/l). The results demonstrated that the media type and combinations of BAP and IBA treatments significantly influenced period of callus formation and the number of shoots. The development of explant on both solid and static liquid media involves initial explant swelling, formation of nodular callus, greenish buds, and ultimately shoots. Anatomical observation showed that explants experienced indirect organogenesis, characterized by the presence of pre meristem nodular callus, meristematic tissue, apical meristem and leaf primordia. The agitated liquid media didn’t promote growth and development of the explants. The most effective combination was found to be the static liquid media supplemented with 3 mg/l BAP and 1 mg/l IBA.

Accurately estimating leaf chlorophyll concentrations in a three-dimensional (3D) manner is crucial for precisely monitoring crop growth and development. To reduce destructive detection and achieve real-time estimation, researchers often utilize crop leaves' SPAD (Soil and Plant Analyzer Development) to represent relative chlorophyll content. However, SPAD measurement is time-consuming and laborious work. Many inversion methods have been proposed to estimate SPAD based on one-dimensional reflectance or two-dimensional spectral images, which rely on external light sources and also cannot obtain 3D distribution. Hyperspectral LiDAR (HSL), as an active remote sensing technology, can acquire target spatial and spectral data simultaneously, making 3D SPAD inversion and reconstruction possible. This research aims to invert SPAD values with HSL spectral information aided by the PROSPECT model and reconstruct 3D SPAD distribution with HSL spatial information. Firstly, we constructed new ratio chlorophyll indices (RCI) based on the multi-feature analysis method with the PROSPECT model and HSL spectral data. Next, we employed RCIs to modify the Look-Up Table (LUT) cost function (SPAD-LUT) of the PROSPECT model, which was validated with the ANGERS dataset. Then, we conducted SPAD inversion with HSL spectral information from vegetable crop samples and integrated the inverted SPAD values into their corresponding 3D coordinates, achieving 3D SPAD distribution reconstruction. The predicted values of the model inversion with the HSL dataset are consistent with the measured SPAD (R2 = 0.421, RMSE = 10.615). The results indicate that our method can invert sample SPAD values and reconstruct their distribution with HSL point cloud despite their complex spatial structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress affects crop growth and development, significantly reducing crop yield and quality. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), the most widely cultivated forage crop, is particularly susceptible to drought. The general regulatory factor (GRF) protein 14-3-3, a highly conserved family in plants, specifically recognizes and binds to phosphoserine residues in target proteins, regulating both plant development and responses to environmental stressors. In this study, 66 alfalfa 14-3-3 proteins were identified, and the full-length MsGRF2 gene was cloned and functionally analyzed. The expression of MsGRF2 was highest in alfalfa inflorescences and lowest in roots. Transgenic tobacco overexpressing MsGRF2 exhibited increased tolerance to low temperature and drought stress, evidenced by physiological indicators including low levels of active oxygen species and increased activity of antioxidant enzymes and osmoregulatory substances. Under drought stress conditions, compared to wild-type plants, MsGRF2-overexpressing tobacco plants exhibited significantly increased expression of drought stress-related genes ERD10B and TIP, while the expression of BRI1, Cu/Zn-SOD, ERF2, and KC1 was significantly reduced. Together, these results provide new insights into the roles of the 14-3-3 protein MsGRF2 in plant drought response mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Wheat is a key cereal crop that is substantial to global food security. Fertilizers are crucial in wheat production and significantly impact the yield. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of inorganic, organic, and integrated fertilizers in terms of sustainable wheat production and economic and environmental benefits. For this review, we thoroughly examined 133 previous research findings. The results indicate that inorganic fertilizers play a vital role in improving wheat yield. However, continuous use of inorganic fertilizers pollutes the environment, affects beneficial microorganisms in the soil, and increases the emissions of greenhouse gases, consequently decreasing crop yield. Organic fertilizers enhance soil quality, which is critical for crop growth and development. However, a high concentration of methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2) are emitted from organic fertilizers, but the CO2 emission rate is less than the sequestration rate. Integrated fertilizers trade off the drawbacks of both inorganic and organic fertilizers. Integrated fertilizers decrease nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia (NH3) emissions and carbon loss by 11%–24%, 13%–27%, and 18%, respectively, compared to the sole use of fertilizers. From the review analysis, the highest grain yield (4855 kg ha−1) and net benefit ($2836.66) are achieved by using a combination of 75% organic and 25% inorganic fertilizers at a rate of 120 kg N ha−1. Therefore, this combination is recommended for the users. Furthermore, a site‐specific approach research is needed on integrated fertilizers that simultaneously focus on economic and environmental profits. Also, there must be a policy that supports the farmers in teaching, training, and subsidizing them to adopt integrated fertilizers for sustainable wheat production and improving food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perennial crop intermediate wheatgrass [IWG, Thinopyrum intermedium (Host Barkworth & D.R. Dewey] has been under development as a grain crop since 2011 at the University of Minnesota (UMN). Breeding efforts have targeted larger seed size, reduced shattering, and improved threshability, among other traits. Calculating the rate of genetic gain provides insights into breeding progress and informs adjustments in future breeding practices. In this study, materials from multiple breeding cycles of the UMN IWG breeding program were grown in 4 environments to estimate realized genetic gain of domestication and agronomic traits. A set of 242 parents from breeding cycles 2–5 were planted in an augmented experimental design and evaluated over 2 years in 2 locations. Improvement in the mean values for selected traits from cycles 2 to 5 was observed for most traits. Regression analysis used to estimate the rate of genetic gain was significant for both floret and average shattering, spikelet density, seed area and width, and 10‐spike seed weight and spike weight. With this information, we make recommendations for future IWG breeding practices. For example, we recommend phenotyping the two types of shattering independently and selecting earlier anthesis genotypes to improve yield component traits. We conclude that progress for several traits may take decades to achieve desired population means, and could be improved with better phenotyping methods, genomic selection applications, and decreased time per breeding cycle. These findings are applicable to other IWG breeding programs and perennial grain domestication programs. Core Ideas: With current rate of genetic gain, 86 cycles of selection would be required to match the seed area of annual wheat.Floret and average shattering decreased by ∼5% each cycle, average shattering will reach zero by cycle 23.Phenotyping brittle rachis and floret shattering separately will decrease cycles to reach population mean zero.Selecting earlier‐anthesis genets could enhance seed size and spike weights (yield components).Better phenotyping, genomic selection models, and decreased cycle time will improve genetic gain across all traits. Plain Language Summary: Since 2011, the University of Minnesota has been developing intermediate wheatgrass as a perennial grain crop focusing on traits such as larger seed size, reduced shattering, and improved threshability. This study evaluated genetic progress across multiple breeding cycles by analyzing parent plants from 4 breeding cycles over 2 years and 2 locations. Significant improvements were observed in key traits, including shattering, seed size, and spikelet density. The study found that while progress has been made, achieving desired trait levels may take decades. Recommendations for future breeding efforts include separately phenotyping two types of shattering, selecting for earlier anthesis to improve yield components, and incorporating better phenotyping and genomic selection methods to accelerate progress. These findings not only guide the ongoing breeding program at the University of Minnesota but also offer valuable insights for other perennial grain domestication efforts worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highbush blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) are cultivated crop plants worldwide and they are still gaining importance. However, a common uniform description of the phenological development was missing so far. In this work, a specific code is presented, based on the decimal BBCH scale. The BBCH scale comprises the macrostages 0–9, with macrostage 4 being omitted here, because it has no relevance for blueberry crops grown in the field. Each macrostage is subdivided in several microstages, each describing a notable developmental stage. The BBCH code takes special reference to the fruit development, fruit ripening, and several fruit pickings, which are typical for blueberries. For each macrostage the main development as well as cultivation characteristics are explained in more detail. The new BBCH code is compared with other descriptions of phenotypical development of highbush blueberries and transformations are suggested. The BBCH code is developed for cultivated highbush blueberries and is therefore applicable to northern, southern, and rabbiteye blueberries as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing maize yield is critical, as it is directly influenced by the crop's growth conditions. Therefore, real-time monitoring of maize growth is necessary. Regular monitoring of maize growth indicators is essential for optimizing irrigation management and evaluating agricultural yield. However, quantifying the physical aspects of regional crop development using time-series data is a challenging task. This research was conducted at the Dengkou Experimental Station in the Hetao irrigation area, Northwest China, to develop a monitoring tool for regional maize growth parameters. The tool aimed to establish a correlation between satellite-based physical data and actual crop growth on the ground. This study utilized dual-polarization Sentinel-1A GRD SAR data, accessible via the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform. Three polarization descriptors were introduced: θc (pseudo-scattering type parameter), Hc (pseudo-scattering entropy parameter), and mc (co-polar purity parameter). Using an unsupervised clustering framework, the maize-growing area was classified into several scattering mechanism groups, and the growth characteristics of the maize crop were analyzed. The results showed that throughout the maize development cycle, the parameters θc, Hc, and mc varied within the ranges of 26.82° to 42.13°, 0.48 to 0.89, and 0.32 to 0.85, respectively. During the leaf development stage, approximately 80% of the maize sampling points were concentrated in the low-to-moderate entropy scattering zone. As the plants reached the big trumpet stage, the entire cluster shifted to the high-entropy vegetation scattering zone. Finally, at maturity, over 60% of the sampling points were located in the high-entropy distribution scattering zone. This study presents an advanced analytical tool for crop management and yield estimation by utilizing precise and high-resolution spatial and temporal data on crop growth dynamics. The tool enhances the accuracy of crop growth management across different spatial and temporal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abiotic stresses, such as heat, drought and salinity, affect the development of wheat crop and hinder its expansion to the central region of Brazil. The identification of genotypes tolerant to these conditions is important for improving yield performance. The present research evaluated the impact of different abiotic stresses on germination and seedling development and selected wheat genotypes tolerant to these stresses, using multi-trait analysis. Heat, drought and salinity stresses were induced in seeds of 23 wheat genotypes. Seed germination, seedling length and dry mass were evaluated. An adaptability and stability model and a multi-trait selection index were applied to the data. Drought and salinity negatively affected the development of seedlings of the 23 evaluated genotypes. However, the VI 14055, ORS Madre Pérola and BRS 404 genotypes conferred the best adaptability and stability results and were selected by the MGIDI, which revealed that great performance can be achieved in regions with potential for abiotic stress, in the early stages of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has invested substantial financial subsidies to promote the development of crop insurance; however, the insurance demand among farmers remains notably low, resulting in significant welfare loss. Based on a field survey conducted in 2021 in seven major grain-producing counties in Jiangsu Province, this study analyses the relationship between premium subsidy rates and the welfare effects of subsidies through theoretical model derivation and explores the impact of farmer heterogeneity on the results. This study innovatively introduces a power law distribution model to elucidate the distributional characteristics of farmers' crop insurance demand, demonstrates the significant limitations of the linear demand model in welfare research, and effectively analyzes the welfare effects of China's current crop insurance premium subsidy policy. The results indicate that: (1) the actual crop insurance demand of farmers aligns more closely with a power law distribution, and its long-tailed characteristics refute the assumption of linear distribution; (2) there exists an inverted "U"-shaped relationship between the subsidy ratio and the welfare effect, and an excessively high subsidy ratio produces substantial unnecessary losses; (3) variations in welfare effects exist among farmers in different regions, risk attitudes, and cultivation scales, but the range of differences between groups is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is an urgent need to save water and decrease fertilizer application rates in agricultural areas of the North China Plain (NCP) and similar regions. Methods: Field experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 in the NCP to investigate the effects of border and furrow irrigation under different fertilizer application rates on the growth, yield, and water and fertilizer use efficiencies of silage corn. The experiment applied two irrigation methods, i.e., border and furrow irrigation, each with four compound fertilizer application rates: 750, 600, 450, and 300 kg/ha. Results: While the two experiment years were normal hydrological years, variation in precipitation resulted in no irrigation being applied in 2017 and 70 mm of irrigation being applied after sowing in 2018. Plants appeared to grow slightly taller and thicker with larger leaf areas, but with a 9.7% lower fresh weight yield in 2017 relative to 2018. The actual evapotranspiration (ETa) in 2017 was 37.22 mm more than that in 2018, and the higher fresh weight yield and lower ETa caused higher water use efficiency (WUE) in 2018, which was 32% higher than that in 2017. Furrow irrigation promoted growth compared with border irrigation under the same irrigation amount, but without significant effects on fresh weight yield, ETa, or WUE of silage corn. The fertilizer application amount had a significant effect on fresh weight yield and the partial fertilizer productivity of N, P and K of silage corn, but did not affect ETa or WUE of silage corn. Additionally, the fertilizer rate of 600 kg/ha induced slightly higher growth indexes and fresh weight yields compared with the fertilizer rates of 750, 450, and 300 kg/ha. Discussion: In the NCP, lower irrigation amounts at the crop development period of silage corn appeared to promote higher yield, WUE, and fertilizer use efficiency, under the condition that there was sufficient water to ensure the emergence of seedlings. The current fertilizer application model, compound fertilizer applied with a seeder at planting, does not match the fertilizer needs of silage corn, and more efficient water and fertilizer application techniques should thus be adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agronomic biofortification with iron (Fe) in tomatoes has emerged as a promising strategy to combat global iron deficiency. Iron is essential for human health and plays a critical role in the growth and development of crops. This study aimed to determine the optimal dose of Fe for tomato biofortification and assess its impact on its growth, yield and quality attributes, particularly the fruit’s Fe content. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using tomato hybrids Sandal and Sahel, applying Fe foliar treatments at concentrations of 0, 1, 3, 6 and 9 mM Fe per plant. The results demonstrated that foliar application of 6 mM Fe significantly enhanced the tomato’s growth, yield and quality, while markedly increasing the fruit’s Fe content to 30.07 and 34.1 mg kg−1 in Sandal and Sahel hybrids, respectively. These values were substantially higher than those of the control treatment with Fe contents of 14.77 and 15.0 mg kg−1, respectively. However, higher doses of Fe (> 6 mM Fe per plant) showed adverse effects on growth, yield, and quality. Foliar application of iron proved an effective and economical solution, readily integrated into commercial tomato production, offering farmers a practical method to produce Fe-biofortified tomatoes and combat iron deficiency-linked malnutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The growing demand for food throughout the world is a serious problem that requires creative agricultural solutions to guarantee food security and sustainable farming methods. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High-Throughput Phenotyping (HTP) are two new technologies that allow for the quick and accurate measurement and analysis of agricultural characteristics, allowing for the discovery of critical elements influencing quality and growth. HTP uses cutting-edge sensors, imaging, and other technologies to gather enormous databases on plant characteristics. Materials and methods Finding underlying patterns and correlations between phenotypic features and genetic data has become easier because to the combination of HTP with AI and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms. These large datasets may be processed effectively by AI-driven algorithms, which speeds up the process of identifying desired crop features for breeding initiatives. Results Predictive technologies that support data-driven decision-making in crop breeding have been made possible by the combination of HTP, AI, and ML. By increasing accuracy and speeding up the breeding process, these instruments help raise agricultural production and sustainability. However, issues including data complexity, established procedures, and ongoing advancements in computational models still stand in the way of completely integrating these technologies throughout agricultural systems. For AI and HTP technologies to be successfully implemented on a broader scale, cooperation between researchers, industry, and farmers is also required. Conclusions The benefits of these technologies, such as improved efficiency and accuracy in selecting ideal breeding characteristics, are examined in this study as it investigates the safe and efficient integration of HTP and AI to improve crop growth and quality. It shows the latest progress and real-world uses of HTP and AI in farming, showing how these new technologies have already started to change the way crops are cultivated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato is the most important short-season annual herbaceous crop. Small nucleus tuber seeds are difficult to germinate and emerge in the field. This research evaluated how potato nucleus tuber size impacts seed production and plant development. We used the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in the first week of June to seed six potato nucleus tuber sizes: T1 (0.47 g), T2 (0.84 g), T3 (2.0 g), T4 (5.0 g), T5 (10 g), and T6 (25.0 g). Plants were 30 cm apart, and rows were 76 cm apart. All treatments significantly differed in terms of days to first germination, germination percentage, flowering, physiological maturity, number of main stems per plant, tuber weight, marketable tuber yield, size of large tuber, tuber starch content, and total starch yield. However, the interaction between treatment and environment had no effect on marketable tuber yield. This research found that treatment T1 had substantial outcomes in germination (22.5), blooming (67.5), and physiological maturity (107.1). Larger tubers T6 (25.0 g) contain more buds, which increases germination percentage (%), number of main stems, plant height, yield, and physiological parameters, outperforming other treatments. This research found that seed tuber size affects crop development. Plants from bigger seed tubers performed better than those from smaller seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several soil minerals have not been considered in the expansion of chayote cultivation with and without biotic and abiotic stress, despite being an essential and necessary element in plant growth and development. The objective of this study was to describe the changes that occur in the growth of Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. under the influence of agroclimatic conditions different from those of its center of origin, such as temperature, light, and soil types. The study was carried out in three production localities in Veracruz, Mexico in one year equivalent to two productive seasons. Physiological variables were recorded under field and cultivated conditions in three different agroclimatic conditions in the Mesophilic Cloud Forest (MNF), Medium Subevergreen Forest (MBS) and Seasonal Dry Forest (SSE). It was found that the calcium (Ca2+) concentration and pH value of the soils of the three regions. X-ray analysis showed the formation of crystals in leaf, petiole and stem tissue, consisting mainly of phosphorus, calcium and silicon. Leaf area showed burns and leaf necrosis in soils with high Ca2+ content. Chlorophyll content and CO2 assimilation rate were lower in plants grown under MSF and SDF conditions compared to CMF. Environmental temperature, altitude, precipitation, pH, chlorophylls, as well as Ca2+, Mg, organic matter, N, Fe, Zn and Mn, were variables that help to explain the limitations of S. edule development in the crop expansion sites. The results can be considered as a reference and avoid failures due to displacement of S. edule to limiting agroclimatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on planting dates is crucial for modeling crop development, analyzing crop yield, and evaluating the effectiveness of policy-driven planting windows. Despite their high importance, field-level planting date datasets are scarce. Satellite remote sensing provides accurate and cost-effective solutions for detecting crop phenology from moderate to high resolutions, but remote sensing-based crop planting date detection is rare. Here, we aimed to generate field-level crop planting date maps by taking advantage of satellite remote sensing-derived phenological metrics and proposed a two-step framework to predict crop planting dates from these metrics using required growing degree dates (RGDD) as a bridge. Specifically, we modeled RGDD from the planting date to the spring inflection date (derived from phenological metrics) and then predicted the crop planting dates based on phenological metrics, RGDD, and environmental variables. The ∼3-day and 30-m Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) products were used to derive crop phenological metrics for corn and soybean fields in the U.S. Midwest from 2016 to 2021, and the ground truth of field-level planting dates from USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) reports were used for the development and validation of our proposed two-step framework. The results indicated that our framework could accurately predict field-level planting dates from HLS-derived phenological metrics, capturing 77 % field-level variations for corn (mean absolute error, MAE=4.6 days) and 71 % for soybean (MAE=5.4 days). We also evaluated the predicted planting dates with USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) state-level crop progress reports, achieving strong consistency with median planting dates for corn (R2=0.90, MAE=2.7 days) and soybeans (R2=0.87, MAE=2.5 days). The model's performance degraded slightly when predicting planting dates for fields with irrigation (MAE=5.4 days for corn, MAE=6.1 days for soybean) and cover cropping (MAE=5.4 days for corn, MAE=5.6 days for soybean). The USDA RMA Common Crop Insurance Policy (CCIP) provides county- or sub-county-level crop planting windows, which drive producers' decisions on when to plant. Within the CCIP-driven planting windows, higher prediction accuracies were achieved (MAE for corn: 4.5 days, soybean: 5.2 days). Our proposed two-step framework (phenological metrics-RGDD-planting dates) also outperformed the traditional one-step model (phenological metrics-planting dates). The proposed framework can be beneficial for deriving planting dates from current and future phenological products and contribute to studies related to planting dates such as the analysis of yield gaps, management practices, and government policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is harmful for crop development and productivity. The adoption of intercropping practice and microbial auxiliaries can combat the harmful actions of salt stress. The present study aimed to investigate the role of intercropping and co-application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to protect barley and alfalfa against salt stress (120 mM NaCl). Results revealed that, under saline conditions, the applied intercropping system and AMF + PGPR co-inoculation enhanced shoot and root dry weight by 133% and 354% for barley and 410% and 471% for alfalfa, respectively, over their respective non-inoculated monocultures. Meanwhile, as compared to non-inoculated monocultures, the association of intercropping and AMF + PGPR co-application boosted antioxidant enzymes activity, namely superoxide dismutase and catalase, by 161% and 63% for barley and 316% and 113% for alfalfa, respectively. Additionally, the thousand-seed weight was increased by 77% in barley intercropped and inoculated with AMF + PGPR. This study highlights the potential of intercropping and AMF + PGPR as a promising solution to improve salt tolerance and crop productivity by increasing physiological capacity, boosting nutrient acquisition, and enhancing redox potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Essential mineral elements such as zinc and iron play a crucial role in maintaining crop growth and development, as well as ensuring human health. Foxtail millet is an ancient food crop rich in mineral elements and constitutes an important dietary supplement for nutrient-deficient populations. The ZIP (ZRT, IRT-like protein) transporters are primarily responsible for the absorption, transportation and accumulation of Zn, Fe and other metal ions in plants. Here, we identified 14 ZIP transporters in foxtail millet (SiZIP) and systematically characterized their phylogenetic relationships, expression characteristics, sequence variations, and responses to various abiotic stresses. As a result, SiZIPs display rich spatiotemporal expression characteristics in foxtail millet. Multiple SiZIPs demonstrated significant responses to Fe, Cd, Na, and K metal ions, as well as drought and cold stresses. Based on homologous comparisons, expression characteristics and previous studies, the functions of SiZIPs were predicted as being classified into several categories: absorption/efflux, transport/distribution and accumulation of metal ions. Simultaneously, a schematic diagram of SiZIP was drawn. In general, SiZIPs have diverse functions and extensively involve in the transport of metal ions and osmotic regulation under abiotic stresses. This work provides a fundamental framework for the transport and accumulation of mineral elements and will facilitate the quality improvement of foxtail millet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecuadorian cocoa possesses important organoleptic characteristics such as aroma and flavor, called fine and aromatic cocoa. The objective of this study was to evaluate the initial growth responses of young cocoa seedlings to glyphosate in a dose progression in 45 cocoa plants (5 months old), which were transplanted into pots with substrate adjusted to pH 6.0–6.5. Glyphosate doses (0 to 904 g e.e. ha−1) were applied every two weeks, evaluating the impact at 30 and 60 days post-application. Data on shikimate accumulation parameters, chlorophyll content and PSII quantum efficiency were subjected to multivariate analysis using a three-dimensional scatter plot. The results indicated that high concentrations of glyphosate contributed to higher shikimate concentration and lower PSII quantum efficiency. The findings for the variables crop damage, stem height and stem diameter were evaluated by ANOVA. Similarities were reported between the results of the variables height and diameter, and significant differences (p < 0.05) in the variable crop damage for all treatments were also reported. In terms of phytotoxic reaction and growth parameters, the most efficient treatment was DO4, since the seedlings with this dosage showed a low percentage of damage (10%) and the best indices in terms of height and diameter. The least efficient treatment was D15. The control plants (DO1) showed a crop damage of >50% because the absence of control favored weed proliferation. These indications highlight the need to adjust glyphosate doses according to the specific needs of each crop and the development stage of the plant in order to reduce negative effects and maximize potential benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micronutrient application rate and tillage practices are considered important factors in triggering the productivity of oilseed crops, especially canola (Brassica napus L.). The soil in the area is deficient in available zinc (Zn) and sulfur (S), which necessitates the supplementary application of these nutrients for sustainable crop development. The following study was conducted to evaluate the interactive effect of tillage and micronutrient on the growth, quality, and yield of canola and weed density. The present study was executed consisting of two tillage systems along with four treatments of micronutrients application including control, soil application of recommended doses of zinc (10 kg ha−1), soil application of a recommended dose of sulfur (45 kg ha−1), and combined application of a recommended dose of Zn + S (10 kg + 45 kg ha−1) during the crop growing seasons of 2019–2020 and 2020–2021. The results showed that the combined use of Zn and S under different tillage systems significantly affected crop growth, yield, and quality parameters. An increase of 0.99% in plant height, 6.33% in number of branches, 33% in silique length, 6.25% number of siliques per plant, 10% in number of seeds per silique, 4.64% in thousand seed weight, 0.74% in grain yield, and 0.42% in biological yield was recoded under conventional tillage practices as compared to zero tillage. In crux, the combined application of Zn and S at 10 and 45 kg ha−1 respectively, to canola crops under conventional tillage practices could be a sustainable option to improve canola crop growth, yield, and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO 2 NPs) enhance Mentha arvensis productivity. • SiO 2 NPs increase plants' growth and enzymatic activities. • SiO 2 NPs improve essential oil production and its active constituents in plants. • SiO 2 NPs are secure, cost-effective, and revolutionize farming techniques. Menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.) is an aromatic herb cultivated for its essential oil (EO), which has great economic importance in the medicines, cosmetics and food industries. The present study aims to explore the foliage efficacy of silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO 2 NPs) to achieve the agronomic outcomes of menthol mint. The foliar application of three distinct forms of SiO 2 NPs [Aerosil R812 (AR812), Aerosil 200F (A200F) and Aerosil 300 (A300)] revealed that effects were more accentuated by the A200F than AR812 and A300 SiO 2 NPs. Out of various applied doses (40, 80, 120, and 160 mg L−1), 120 mg L−1 of Aerosil 200F proved the optimized concentration of SiO 2 NPs for the extraordinary performance (in terms of physiological, biochemical, and yield and quality analyses) of menthol mint plants. The optimized concentration of A200F accelerated the photosynthetic efficiency (maximum photosystem Ⅱ efficiency and photosystem Ⅱ operating efficiency by 8.43 % and by 19.6 %, respectively) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes viz. catalase (81.3 %), peroxidase (71.9 %), and superoxide dismutase (32 %) over the control plants. Moreover, supplementation of SiO 2 NPs provides better strength to the plants in controlling the excess levels of lipid peroxidation in terms of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBRAS) by 27.3 % and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) concentration by 86.8 %. Additionally, foliar application of A200F (120 mg L−1) enhanced EO content and the main bio-active constituents i.e., menthol and menthyl acetate by 62.5 %, 13.9 %, and 35.1 %, respectively. Overall, this study suggests that distinct forms of SiO 2 NPs have advantageous effects on crop development by eliciting physiological, and biochemical reactions and EO production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their known mechanisms for biological control and plant growth promotion, Paenibacillus spp. are widely used in agriculture. However, the use of this microbial inoculant in Paenibacillus-based products and its potential benefits have received little attention. We describe the efficacy of Paenibacillus spp. in relation to crop development, biological control and bioremediation based on a study of researchers from around the world. In addition, this article addresses how Paenibacillus spp. produces beneficial metabolites. Agriculture will benefit from the implementation of these unexpected results if ecologically sound cultivation methods are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary agriculture in many parts of the world consists of annual plant species grown in monoculture, but recently interest has focused on developing perennial, herbaceous species for use in perennial polycultures that offer greater ecosystem services relative to annual monocultures. Because few perennial, herbaceous species were domesticated by early farmers, one of the initial steps in identifying wild, perennial, herbaceous species for potential crop development is understanding patterns of variation and covariation among reproductive traits that underpin yield and vegetative traits. Herbaria can serve as a valuable resource for taxonomically broad surveys of phenotypic variation and covariation for pre-breeding. In this study, we used herbarium specimens to investigate trait variation and covariation in five genera of the legume family (Fabaceae). We addressed two questions: (1) do vegetative and reproductive traits vary as a function of life span (annual vs. perennial species), and are these differences consistent across genera?; and (2) how do vegetative and reproductive traits correlate with one another across lifespan and/or within genera? Reproductive traits and vegetative traits were measured on 535 herbarium specimens representing annual and perennial species of Astragalus, Lupinus, Phaseolus, Strophostyles, and Vigna. While species exhibited intra- and interspecific variation, few morphological differences were observed among annual and perennial species. Correlations among vegetative traits and among reproductive traits were mostly positive when significant, and perennial species generally exhibited more positive correlations between vegetative and reproductive traits than annual species. These data have potential relevance for perennial crop development, and provide further support that herbaria represent a rich, relatively untapped resource of information about plant trait variation and covariation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional propagation experiences problems due to long period for seed production, disease contamination, low reproductive rate and season dependent. In vitro propagation offers several advantages. This research aims to assess the impact of different media types and the concentrations of BAP and IBA on the in vitro growth and development of A. muelleri shoots. Bulbil explants were cultivated using MS media with different media types (solid media, agitated liquid media, and static liquid media) with various BAP and IBA concentration treatments (1 mg/l, 2 mg/l, and 3 mg/l). The results demonstrated that the media type and combinations of BAP and IBA treatments significantly influenced period of callus formation and the number of shoots. The development of explant on both solid and static liquid media involves initial explant swelling, formation of nodular callus, greenish buds, and ultimately shoots. Anatomical observation showed that explants experienced indirect organogenesis, characterized by the presence of pre meristem nodular callus, meristematic tissue, apical meristem and leaf primordia. The agitated liquid media didn't promote growth and development of the explants. The most effective combination was found to be the static liquid media supplemented with 3 mg/l BAP and 1 mg/l IBA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Croplands have been the focus of substantial investigation due to their considerable potential for sequestering carbon. Understanding the potential for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and necessary management strategies will be enabled with accurate process-based models. Accurately representing crop growth and agricultural practices will be critical for realistic SOC modeling. The MEMS 2 model incorporates a current understanding of SOC formation and stabilization, measurable SOC pools, and deep SOC dynamics and is seen as a highly promising tool to inform management intervention for SOC sequestration. Thus far, MEMS 2 has been developed to represent grasslands. In this study, we further developed MEMS 2 to model annual grain crops and common agricultural practices, such as irrigation, fertilization, harvesting, and tillage. Using four Ameriflux sites, we demonstrated an accurate simulation of crop growth and development. Model performance was strong for simulating aboveground biomass (index of agreement [d] range of 0.89–0.98) and green leaf area index (d from 0.90 to 0.96) across corn, soybean, and winter wheat. Good agreement with observations was also achieved for net ecosystem CO2 exchange (d from 0.90 to 0.96), evapotranspiration (d from 0.91 to 0.94), and soil temperature (d of 0.96), while discrepancy with the available soil water content data remain (d from 0.14 to 0.81 at four depths to 100 cm). While we will continue model testing and improvement, MEMS 2 (version 2.14) has now demonstrated its ability to effectively simulate the growth of common grain crops and practices [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CDC Esme, a high-yielding, late-maturing oilseed flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) cultivar, was registered in 2023 by the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. CDC Esme had a superior yield (106%) compared to the check variety, CDC Glas, in all soil zones of the Northern Prairies. The yield of CDC Esme was 106%, 105%, and 105% of CDC Glas, in the long-season Black, Brown, and short-season Black and Grey soil zones of Western Canada, respectively. CDC Esme has larger seeds (thousand seed weight) than that of check cultivar, CDC Glas, with improved quality based on the iodine value of 192 and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) content of 57.1%. This cultivar is immune to the North American rust (race 371) caused by Melampsora lini and moderately resistant to wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lini. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]