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Agriculture plays a pivotal role in Africa, contributing significantly to sustainable farming practices and the establishment of resilient food systems. Within this context, the use of various types of biostimulants, including microbial biostimulants such as Plant Growth-Promoting microorganisms (PGPM) and non-microbial products like Algal extract, humic acid, and protein hydrolysates, as well as biopesticides, emerges as a promising strategy to bolster sustainable agriculture, particularly in the realm of organic berry production. These substances have the potential to enhance crop growth, fortify stress tolerance, and optimize nutrient absorption, benefiting both human health and the environment. This paper aims to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with incorporating plant biostimulants into organic berry production within the African agricultural sector. To achieve this objective, an extensive and comprehensive review encompassing scientific literature, policy documents, and global data was conducted. The primary focus of this review was to investigate the current state of biostimulant adoption in organic berry farming within the African agricultural sector, with a specific emphasis on identifying potential opportunities and discussing the benefits derived from their application. Additionally, we addressed the challenges encountered and proposed practical approaches to achieving sustainable agriculture. The findings and conclusions of our review reveal the transformative potential of biostimulants in organic berry production. The evidence points to remarkable advancements in plant growth, plant health, overall yield, and fruit nutritional quality. By implementing these substances, we can also minimize the ecological footprint of agricultural practices. However, several challenges remain, including limited accessibility, insufficient awareness and knowledge regarding biostimulant usage, and a shortage of research specific to African agriculture. To overcome these challenges and achieve sustainable agriculture, this paper recommends practical approaches such as raising awareness, investing in research and development, and promoting the use of biostimulants through policy interventions and capacity-building programs. We underscore the importance of stakeholder participation and local adaptations for effectively integrating biostimulants in African agriculture. The significance of integrating plant biostimulants in organic berry production lies in advancing sustainable agriculture. This paper aims to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with incorporating plant biostimulants into organic berry production within Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants from genus Plumeria belong to the Apocynaceae family and are considered native to the New World. These plants are commonly found in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. Plumerias are well known for their ornamental value and especially as medicinal agents. Species from this genus have played a crucial role in the popular herbal medicine as well as in alternative and complementary system of medicine. This review collects and updates information about Plumeria species. The article highlights findings and explores the medicinal status of these plants with their biological properties and phytochemical components suggested by describing several studies with in vitro and in vivo evaluations. Our review emphasizes the potential beneficial effects of Plumerias for human and provides evidence that this genus can be used as source for drug development in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the postdispersal functions of diaspore (fruit and its appendages) have been reported, little is known about their protective/defensive functions. In this context, diaspores with appendages (persistent inner tepals and/or fruit wings) that experienced predispersal herbivory by insects in natural populations of Rheum nanum were investigated, and the seed abortion percentage, seed and embryo masses, and germination of seeds from diaspores with different categories of insect herbivory were measured and compared. Predispersal insect herbivory of R. nanum diaspores was prevalent in the four investigated populations, but the percentage of diaspores with appendages (persistent inner tepals and and/or fruit wings) damaged by insects was significantly higher than that of diaspores with the pericarp damaged by insects. Seeds from diaspores with gnawed appendages experienced significantly less damage than those with gnawed pericarps. Importantly, we conclude that fruit appendages of R. nanum help to mechanically protect developing seeds from predispersal insect herbivory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet corn breeding programs, like field corn, focus on the development of elite inbred lines to produce commercial hybrids. For this reason, genomic selection models can help the in silico prediction of hybrid crosses from the elite lines, which is hypothesized to improve the test cross scheme, leading to higher genetic gain in a breeding program. This study aimed to explore the potential of implementing genomic selection in a sweet corn breeding program through hybrid prediction in a within-site across-year and across-site framework. A total of 506 hybrids were evaluated in six environments (California, Florida, and Wisconsin, in the years 2020 and 2021). A total of 20 traits from three different groups were measured (plant-, ear-, and flavor-related traits) across the six environments. Eight statistical models were considered for prediction, as the combination of two genomic prediction models (GBLUP and RKHS) with two different kernels (additive and additive + dominance), and in a single- and multitrait framework. Also, three different cross-validation schemes were tested (CV1, CV0, and CV00). The different models were then compared based on the correlation between the estimated breeding values/total genetic values and phenotypic measurements. Overall, heritabilities and correlations varied among the traits. The models implemented showed good accuracies for trait prediction. The GBLUP implementation outperformed RKHS in all cross-validation schemes and models. Models with additive plus dominance kernels presented a slight improvement over the models with only additive kernels for some of the models examined. In addition, models for within-site across-year and across-site performed better in the CV0 than the CV00 scheme, on average. Hence, GBLUP should be considered as a standard model for sweet corn hybrid prediction. In addition, we found that the implementation of genomic prediction in a sweet corn breeding program presented reliable results, which can improve the testcross stage by identifying the top candidates that will reach advanced field-testing stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In seed research, germination percentage data is the result of counting and has a binomial distribution. Therefore, seed researchers use data transformation, especially square root transformation, to stabilize the variance and normalize the data before performing analysis of variance and comparison of treatments. Despite the use of data transformation, this method has fundamental issues in the structure that misleads the test results. Therefore, it is important to introduce and replace a method that preserves the research assumptions and provides acceptable results for researchers without using data transformation. The use of generalized linear model is an alternative method for analyzing germination data with binomial distribution. In this research, the generalized linear model will be introduced first. Then, the efficiency of this method will be illustrated using simulated and actual germination data. Materials and Methods: In this research, first the simulated data was generated by the Monte Carlo method. Based on the simulated data, the significance level and the power of test of generalized linear model were computed. Then the actual data related to three experiments including the effect of acidity on germination of wheat varieties, the effect of water stress and salinity on germination of yellow sweet clover seeds, and the effect of alternating temperatures on germination of three lavender populations were used and the results of the generalized linear model were compared with the square root transformation method based on the data of three experiments. Results: The simulation results showed that the generalized linear model has a high efficiency to preserve the predetermined significance level and a high power in detecting significant differences in germination of the treatments. Moreover, the results of the comparison of the generalized linear model with the square root transformation method illustrated that the generalized linear model had a higher capability to detect significant differences between various treatments, especially in the treatments with unequal seeds in the Petri dish, and in the treatments in which the square root transformation method resulted in no significant difference among treatments, the generalized linear method showed a significant difference. Conclusions: Generally, the results of this research demonstrated that the generalized linear model can be used as an alternative method to square root transformation in studies on the germination percentage of seeds with binomial distribution, without having the problems of the square root transformation method. Moreover, this model outperforms the square root transformation in detecting significant differences in germination of treatments with fixed and different seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fruit wings serve various ecological functions, including facilitating wind dispersal, providing physical protection to seeds, and regulating seed germination. While many studies have reported the role of fruit wings in plants, little is known about their protective function during fruit development. Methods: In this study, winged fruits damaged by insects in natural populations of three Zygophyllum species (Z. potaninii, Z. lehmannianum and Z. macropterum) were investigated. We measured and compared the percentage of damaged winged fruits, seed set, seed mass, seed germination, and seedling growth of different insect herbivory categories. Results: The results revealed that the percentage of winged fruits with damaged wings only (low predation) was significantly higher than that of with damaged both fruit wings and fruit bodies (high predation). Furthermore, winged fruits with low predation had significant higher seed set, seed mass, seed germination, and dry mass and relative growth rate (RGR) in the seedlings which grown from the seeds, than that from winged fruits with high predation. Discussion: These results demonstrate that the presence of the fruit wings may provide protection for the seeds to alleviate harm from insect predation before dispersal. These findings provide new insights into the function of fruit wings and the reproductive strategies of desert plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban vertical agriculture with lighting system can be an alternative green infrastructure to increase local food production irrespective of environmental and soil conditions. In this system, light quality control can improve the plant physiological performance, well as induce metabolic pathways that contribute to producing phenolic compounds important to human health. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of RBW (red, blue and white) and monochromatic (red and blue; R and B, respectively) light associated or not with UV-B on photosynthetic performance and phenolic compound production in microtomato fruits cultivated via vertical agriculture. The experimental design adopted was completely randomized, with six replicates illuminated with 300 µmol⋅m-2⋅s-1 light intensities (RBW, RBW + UV, B, B + UV, R, and R + UV), 12 h photoperiod, and 3.7 W⋅m-2 UV-B irradiation for 1 h daily for the physiological evaluations. Twenty-six days after the installation, gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence and nocturnal breathing were evaluated. Fruits in different ripening stages (green, orange, and red) were collected from microtomato plants grown under with different light qualities, to evaluate the physiological performance. The identification and quantification of the phenolic compound rutin was also performed to investigate their metabolic response. This study identified that plants grown under B + UV had high photosynthetic rates (A=11.57 µmol #8901;m-2⋅s-1) and the fruits at all maturation stages from plants grown under B and B + UV had high rutin content. Meanwhile, the activation of suppressive mechanisms was necessary in plants grown under R because of the high nocturnal respiration and unregulated quantum yield of the non-photochemical dissipation of the photosystem II. These results highlight the importance of selecting light wavelength for vegetable cultivation to produce fruits with a high content of specialized metabolites that influence color, flavor, and health promotion, which is of special interest to farmers using sustainable cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of African Journal of Biological Sciences is the property of African Journal of Biological Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Population aging in Brazil increases on a large scale due to declining fertility and mortality. This phenomenon can be influenced by several factors (demographic, biological and social), making them determinants for the health conditions of the elderly populations residing in different geographic areas. The present study aims to identify the functional limitation in elderly residents of urban and rural areas of Brazil. This is a descriptive epidemiological study with a quantitative approach. It was evidenced that the functional limitation for activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living are concentrated in the northeast region, mainly in the urban area. The following states presented the highest proportions of daily life activity limitation in urban areas: Alagoas (11.60%), Rio Grande do Norte (10.95%), Pernambuco (10.36%) and Paraíba (9.62%). For activities of daily living in the rural area were found in the states of Paraíba (12.19%), Maranhão (8.93%), Piauí (8.85%) and then Pernambuco (7.24%). Data from the functional limitation for instrumental activities of daily living again highlighted the Northeast region, with the states of Rio Grande do Norte (26.01%), Paraíba (25.96%), Maranhão (25.72%) and Alagoas (24.57%). Lastly, it was verified that the elderly woman exhibits greater proportions of functional limitation in relation to the elderly of the masculine sex, standing out again the northeastern region of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the leaf application of silicon (Si) and titanium (Ti) in three doses (0, 75, and 150 mg L-1), independently, on tomato plants cv. Río Supremo, subjected to saline stress (0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl), on the percentage of juice and color attributes of the fruit. Design/methodology/approach: Two independent essays were carried out under a completely randomized experimental design in a 3² factorial arrangement, where the first study factor was the NaCl concentration in the nutrient solution and the second factor was the leaf application of Si or Ti. The percentage of juice and color attributes in fruits were determined. An analysis of variance and the comparison of means by Tukey (p≤0.05) with the SAS software were performed. Results: Salinity was found to reduce the percentage of juice, the color index, and the ratio of "a/b" indexes. Regarding the interactive effects, NaCl with both Ti and Si increases the "b" index. Leaf applications of Si increased the "b" index and reduced the percentage of juice, the color index, and the ratio of "a/b" indexes. Also, Ti improved the color index and the "b" index. Limitations of the study/implications: The results were obtained in the Río Supremo tomato variety under greenhouse conditions. Other varieties should be tested too. Findings/conclusions: Si and Ti applied to the leaves have positive effects on the color of the fruits of tomato plants under saline stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hygeia: Revista Brasileira de Geografia Médica e da Saúde is the property of Hygeia: Revista Brasileira de Geografia Medica e da Saude and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Obesidade, Nutrição e Emagrecimento is the property of Instituto Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Ensino em Fisiologia do Exercicio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Anagallis arvensis (A. arvensis) belonging to the family Primulaceae is traditionally used for liver and kidney diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the uroprotective and hepatoprotective potentials of A. arvensis in cyclophosphamide-induced interstitial cystitis and paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity rat model, respectively. Nociception, bladder weight, vesical vascular permeability, Gray's criteria for edema and hemorrhage, and levels of nitric oxide, catalase, and glutathione were estimated and studied in the cystitis model. Liver function test, lipid profile, and histopathological evaluation were carried out in the hepatoprotective activity. Oral administration of methanol extract of A. arvensis significantly reduced bladder weight, vesical vascular permeability, edema, hemorrhage, nitric oxide, IL-6, and TNF-α, while the level of catalase and glutathione peroxide was increased. In hepatoprotective activity, pretreatment with A. arvensis significantly decreased the level of liver markers (Bilirubin, ALT, AST, and ALP) and lipid profile (cholesterol, TG, LDL, and VLDL). Histopathological studies confirmed the biochemical findings of both studies. GC-MS analysis presented the presence of antioxidant phytoconstituents. Thus, it was concluded that A. arvensis might act as uroprotective and hepatoprotective due to the presence of antioxidant phytochemicals in the rodent model. Isolation and identification of phytochemicals present in the methanol extract of A. arvensis and evaluation of their exact mechanism of action become mandatory in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis is a polyphagous thrips species that has been reported as a potential pest in strawberry cultivation in Brazil. Since it has only recently emerged as a pest species in production areas, understanding seasonal trends in the species' activity is particularly important for designing management strategies. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the influence of climate factors (temperature and relative humidity) and six strawberry cultivars ('Albion', 'Aromas', 'Camino Real', 'Monterey', 'Portola', and 'San Andreas') on the population dynamics of H. haemorrhoidalis during the 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 growing seasons in southern Brazil. The greatest peak in thrips populations in the cultivars assessed occurred between January and March (summer) in both growing seasons. The relationship between the incidence of H. haemorrhoidalis and temperature was observed to be negative during the autumn, spring, and summer months but positive during winter. Relative humidity levels above 70% had a negative influence on the abundance of insects. Populations of H. haemorrhoidalis varied between the cultivars as follows: 'Aromas' > 'Monterey' > 'San Andreas' > 'Albion' > 'Camino Real' > 'Portola'. Cross-sections of strawberry leaves showed that 'Monterey' had the highest density of nonglandular trichomes/mm2 (7.26), while 'Portola' cultivar, the greatest predominance of glandular trichomes/mm2 (12.67), which may have contributed to the incidence of H. haemorrhoidalis. The demographic information presented on H. haemorrhoidalis in strawberry cultivars provides a starting point to better understand the insect's population dynamics. These results also indicate that climatic conditions are a limiting factor for the development of H. haemorrhoidalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calotropis procera (C. procera) is a wild shrub that is a medicinal plant found in abundance throughout Saudi Arabia. In this study, we investigated the phytochemical composition and antigenotoxic properties of the ethanolic extract of C. procera, in addition to the antimicrobial activity of the plant and its rhizospheric actinobacteria effects against pathogenic microorganisms. Soil-extract medium supplemented with glycerol as a carbon source and starch–casein agar medium was used for isolation of actinobacteria from rhizosphere. From the plant, a total of 31 compounds were identified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The main components were α-amyrin (39.36%), lupeol acetate (17.94%), phytol (13.32%), hexadecanoic acid (5.55%), stigmasterol (3.16%), linolenic acid (3.04%), and gombasterol A (2.14%). C. procera plant extract's antimicrobial activity was investigated using an agar well-diffusion assay and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against six pathogenic microbial strains. The plant extract of C. procera was considered significantly active against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Escherichia coli, with inhibition zones of 18.66 mm, 21.26 mm, and 21.93 mm, respectively. The plant extract was considered to be a moderate inhibitor against Bacillus subtilis, with MIC ranging from 0.60–1.50 mg/mL. On the other hand, the isolated actinobacteria were considered to be a moderate inhibitor against S. aureus (MIC of 86 µg/mL), and a potent inhibitor, strain CALT_2, against Candida albicans (MIC of 35 µg/mL). The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the potential strains belonged to the genus Streptomyces. The effect of C. procera extract against cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced genotoxicity was examined by evaluating chromosome abnormalities in mouse somatic cells and DNA fragmentation assays. The current study revealed that oral pretreatment of C. procera (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg b.w.) for 1, 7, and 14 days to cyclophosphamide-treated animals significantly reduced chromosomal abnormalities as well as DNA fragmentation in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, C. procera extract had antimicrobial and antigenotoxic effects against CP-induced genotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pecky rice incidence caused by rice stink bugs greatly decreases the quality of rice grain and has come a big problem not only in Japan but also many other rice producing countries recently. In this study, antixenosis and tolerance were examined as the factors of resistance to rice stink bugs attack of rice line CRR-99-95 W. Two experiments were conducted to determine a possibility of antixenosis involvement as a factor of the resistance in CRR-99-95 W. The results showed no correlation between the number of Leptocorisa chinensis parasites and pecky rice incidence. Furthermore, no significant difference was found between the sucking frequency of Nezara viridula on mature husks of CRR-99-95 W and that on the check genotypes. These results suggest that CRR-99-95 W does not exhibit antixenosis effect against rice stink bugs. Then, to examine the tolerance factor involved in the resistance mechanism, the husks structures were analyzed. The results showed that the packing ratio of cell wall of the sclerenchyma fibers in the palea tended to be higher in CRR-99-95-W compared to the check genotype. In addition, the width of the hook openness of the palea of CRR-99-95 W was narrower than that of the check genotype. Such morphological characteristic of CRR-99-95 W may play an important role in its resistance against stink bug attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have shown that latex proteins from Plumeria pudica (LPPp) have anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant activity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects in rats of LPPp on ligature‐induced periodontitis, an inflammatory disease. Methods: The animals were divided into groups: saline (animals without induction of periodontitis), periodontitis (induced periodontitis and untreated) and LPPp (induced periodontitis and treated with 40 mg/kg). The following parameters were evaluated after 20 consecutive days of treatment: gingival bleeding index (GBI), probing pocket depth (PPD), alveolar bone height (ABH) and gingival myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. In the hepatic tissue, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and histopathological alterations were evaluated. Blood levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured. Results: Significant reduction in GBI, PPD and gingival MPO activity and ABH was seen in animals treated with LPPp compared with periodontitis. Values of GSH, MDA, ALT and histopathological evaluation were preserved in animals treated with LPPp. Conclusions: Treatment with LPPp improved clinical aspects of periodontitis, reduced the blood and hepatic alterations and prevented alveolar bone loss. Data suggest that LPPp have potential for treatment of periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivating resistant genotypes can be an efficient method for keeping mite populations below levels that cause economic damage in crop plants because it is inexpensive and can be integrated with other pest control tactics. The present work evaluated the resistance of nine experimental strawberry genotypes (MCA89, MFA444, MCA93–01, MFA443–01, MFA451, MCA111, MOGSC468, MFA443, and MDA22) to the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch compared to two commercial cultivars (Camarosa and Dover). Laboratory oviposition assays were performed using excised leaf discs. Although significant differences were observed in mite's oviposition, none of the strawberry genotypes stood out for high resistance levels. The lowest oviposition averages were found in the genotype MDA22 (abaxial 17.13 ± 4.20 and adaxial 30.63 ± 6.80), resulting from a cross between cv. Dover and cv. Aromas, genotypes considered to have intermediate resistance to T. urticae. In addition, MDA22, provided neutral stimulus for mite's oviposition on the abaxial and adaxial surfaces. Given the results, MDA22 genotype should be used as a parent for new crossings in breeding programs that aim to increase the genetic basis of genotypes adapted to Brazilian edaphoclimatic conditions and resistant to T. urticae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nutritional state of cultivated plants can be influenced, due to the poultry litter doses and basalt powder, thus affecting its proper growth. This work aimed to evaluate the nutritional efficiency of pear, cultivated in different poultry litter doses and basalt powder. The experiment was conducted in the orchard of the fruit growing in south of Brazil, in 2010, spaced 2.5 x 0.5 m, with the following treatments in the planting hole and reapplied in August of 2012: T1) without fertilization; T2) 2 kg of poultry litter; T3) 2 kg of poultry litter + 2 kg of basalt powder; T4) 4 kg of poultry litter; T5) 4 kg of poultry litter + 2 kg of basalt powder. Samples of the root system, and the shoot segmented in side branches and trunk were collected in January / 2014 (1,190 days) for chemical analysis of nutrient content and dry matter. With these results were calculated the indexes: absorption efficiency; transport efficiency and nutrient utilization efficiency. The treatment 4 kg of poultry litter, result in a higher absorption efficiency ratio for N, and higher utilization efficiency index for S. The transport efficiency suffered a little variation due to the used doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population aging in Brazil increases on a large scale due to declining fertility and mortality. This phenomenon can be influenced by several factors (demographic, biological and social), making them determinants for the health conditions of the elderly populations residing in different geographic areas. The present study aims to identify the functional limitation in elderly residents of urban and rural areas of Brazil. This is a descriptive epidemiological study with a quantitative approach. It was evidenced that the functional limitation for activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living are concentrated in the northeast region, mainly in the urban area. The following states presented the highest proportions of daily life activity limitation in urban areas: Alagoas (11.60%), Rio Grande do Norte (10.95%), Pernambuco (10.36%) and Paraíba (9.62%). For activities of daily living in the rural area were found in the states of Paraíba (12.19%), Maranhão (8.93%), Piauí (8.85%) and then Pernambuco (7.24%). Data from the functional limitation for instrumental activities of daily living again highlighted the Northeast region, with the states of Rio Grande do Norte (26.01%), Paraíba (25.96%), Maranhão (25.72%) and Alagoas (24.57%). Lastly, it was verified that the elderly woman exhibits greater proportions of functional limitation in relation to the elderly of the masculine sex, standing out again the northeastern region of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, water extracted polysaccharides from Passiflora edulis peel (WPEP) was degraded by ascorbic acid‐hydrogen peroxide (Vc‐H2O2). The degradation conditions were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). The 1, 1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging rate of degraded WPEP (DWPEP) was 45.38% under optimal conditions (Vc‐H2O2 concentration 9.3 mM, temperature 52°C, time 1.4 hr). And the molecular weight (Mw) of DWPEP (38 kDa) was 32.20% (WPEP was 118 kDa). WPEP and DWPEP were mainly composed of galacturonic acid. Their backbone structures, functional groups and β‐glycoside linkage patterns are similar, however, still with some differences. Antioxidant tests showed that WPEP and DWPEP had strong DPPH radical scavenging ability (93.03% and 81.70%), moderate hydroxyl radical scavenging ability (53.99% and 26.59%), and low reducing power (0.698 and 0.52). In conclusion, these differences in structures and properties may be an important factor affecting the antioxidant activity of polysaccharides. Novelty impact statement: In this paper, the Vc‐H2O2 system was used to degrade the polysaccharides extracted from Passiflora edulis peel. The molecular weight, intrinsic viscosity, and rigid conformation changed obviously. The degraded polysaccharides are valuable to expand their application and to improve the practical efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Acari:Tetranychidae), is a key pest of strawberries and many other crops worldwide. Cover cropping, selecting tolerant or resistant cultivars, and biological control are important strategies of an organic management plan. In this study, we examined the effect of summer cover crops and strawberry cultivars on populations of T. urticae and a commercially available predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus McGregor (Acari: Phytoseiidae), commonly used for T. urticae management in Florida. In the 2013–2014 season, four cover crops and eight strawberry cultivars were screened at the research station and on a commercial organic strawberry farm. The following season, the most promising cover crops (sunn hemp and hairy indigo) and cultivars, 'Sensation', 'Strawberry Festival', and 'Winterstar' were tested at the research station and on two small organic farms. In the 2016–2017, 2017–2018, and 2018–2019 seasons, a 4-way mix of cover crops was compared to sunn hemp and hairy indigo. In 2016–2017, 'Florida Radiance' was added to the three previously selected cultivars. 'Florida Beauty' replaced 'Strawberry Festival' in 2017–2018 and 2018–2019, and 'Florida Brilliance' replaced 'Winterstar' in 2018–2019. The effects of summer cover crops on both T. urticae and N. californicus were minimal. 'Florida Brilliance', 'Florida Radiance', 'Sensation', 'Strawberry Festival', and 'Winterstar' had lower T. urticae populations and higher yields in most seasons at most locations. The establishment and abundance of N. californicus was similar on these cultivars and was generally higher where T. urticae populations were higher. Implications for organic strawberry production in Florida are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multilocational studies were conducted to evaluate 21 hybrids of tomato in Pratapgarh (Uttar Pradesh), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) and Burdwan (West Bengal), India during August-February of 2015-16 and 2016-17. Data on four quality traits viz., total soluble solids, titrable acidity, carotene content and lycopene content were estimated. Combined analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant effects of locations, genotypes, genotype-location interaction and parents vs hybrids-location interaction for all the traits. The significance of combining ability effects (general combining ability and specific combining ability) and their interaction with location revealed environmental influences on combining ability effects for all the traits. The Present study indicated higher estimates of to, lower estimates of heritability and GCA/SCA ratio for quality traitsandthereby implied preponderance of non-additive gene action in determination of quality traits studied. Desirable parental lines were identified for different traits like EC 620438 and BS 24-2 for TSS, BS 24-2 and Superbug for titrable acidity, Columbia, EC 620438 and Superbug for carotene content, and H 86 and EC 620541 for lycopene content. Similarly, desirable specific combiners for different traits were identified. The hybrid combination EC 620438×BS 24-2 appeared good specific combiner for TSS, carotene and lycopene content. The parental lines/hybrids identified in present study will be useful in identifying hybrids adapted to a range of environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought currently affects several regions worldwide and tends to be more frequent due to climate change. It might compromise food security and the economic structure related to agribusiness. Popcorn has a crucial role in the Brazilian economy, but the cultivars that adapt to water stress, the most prejudicial abiotic stress for crop productivity, are unknown to date. This deficit of popcorn varieties adapted to heat and drought stresses will become more limiting with climate change. Given this scenario, knowing the genetic basis of agronomic traits under stress conditions is essential in promoting crop productivity and plant adaptation to abiotic stresses. Under two contrasting water conditions (WC) and different crop seasons (CS), we aimed to generate information about the combining ability of 10 popcorn progenitors and 15 hybrids through a partial diallel-mating design. The water stress was initiated at the male pre-anthesis stage. Significant genotype*crop seasons (G*CS), genotype*water condition (G*WC), and genotype*crop seasons*water condition (G*CS*WC) interactions were present. Regardless of CS and WC, non-additive effects controlled grain yield (GY), grain number per row (GN), ear length and diameter (ED), and 100-grain weight, while additive effects were present for popping expansion (PE). For each CS, regardless of WC, the cause-effect of GN (2018) and ED (2020) on GY seems to be an opportunity for indirect selection. Utilizing genetically broad-based hybrids is also a good opportunity for obtaining superior genotypes for GY and PE as it is possible to select inbred lines for both of these traits. We recommend the L76 × L61 hybrid for the Brazilian agribusiness context due to its greater productivity and dominance deviations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tecno-Lógica is the property of Tecno-Logica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand. (commonly known as the apple of sodom, calotrope, and giant milkweed) is an evergreen, perennial shrub of the family Apocynaceae, mainly found in arid and semi-arid regions. It is a multipurpose plant, which can be utilized for medicine, fodder, and fuel purposes, timber and fiber production, phytoremediation, and synthesis of nanoparticles. It has been widely used in traditional medicinal systems across North Africa, Middle East Asia, and South-East Asia. At present, it is being extensively explored for its potential pharmacological applications. Several reports also suggest its prospects in the food, textile, and paper industries. Besides, C. procera has also been acknowledged as an ornamental species. High pharmacological potential and socio-economic value have led to the pantropical introduction of the plant. Morphophysiological adaptations and the ability to tolerate various abiotic stresses enabled its naturalization beyond the introduced areas. Now, it is recognized as an obnoxious environmental weed in several parts of the world. Its unnatural expansion has been witnessed in the regions of South America, the Caribbean Islands, Australia, the Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, Seychelles, and several Pacific Islands. In Australia, nearly 3.7 million hectares of drier areas, including rangelands and Savannahs, have been invaded by the plant. In this review, multiple aspects of C. procera have been discussed including its general characteristics, current and potential uses, and invasive tendencies. The objectives of this review are a) to compile the information available in the literature on C. procera, to make it accessible for future research, b) to enlist together its potential applications being investigated in different fields, and c) to acknowledge C. procera as an emerging invasive species of arid and semi-arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) Tetranychus urticae is a polyphagous pest which infests several wild and cultivated species of plants worldwide. To date, this mite is the most deleterious pest attacking the strawberry plant under a protected environment. Exogenously applied salicylic acid (SA) has been found to induce resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Morpho-anatomical changes in strawberry leaflets and TSSM preference tests were investigated in response to SA treatment. Plants grown in a greenhouse were foliar sprayed with different concentrations of SA (0 mg · L−1, 25 mg · L−1, 50 mg · L−1, 75 mg · L−1 and 100 mg · L−1). After the third application, certain parameters including the number of glandular and non-glandular trichomes, thickness of leaflet, abaxial cell wall, adaxial cell wall, palisade and lacunous parenchyma and mesophyll were measured using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Two-choice and non-choice assays were employed to verify the TSSM preference. Exogenous treatment with SA promoted morpho-anatomical changes in the following parameters, namely: thickness of the leaflets, mesophyll, lacunous and palisade parenchyma, cell wall (abaxial and adaxial) and the number of glandular and non-glandular trichomes in strawberry leaflets. In general, TSSM preferred less leaflets treated with SA compared with the control in a two-choice assay. A lesser number of TSSM eggs and live females were also recorded in leaflets treated with SA compared with the control plants in no-choice assays. The values of the number of eggs and live females correlated negatively with those obtained for the morpho-anatomical traits induced by exogenous SA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With more than 200 host plant species, the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is one of the most common and destructive pests of agricultural crops including vegetables, fruits, field crops and ornamentals in both open-field and greenhouse cultivations in Turkey. Control of this pest generally depends on the use of synthetic pesticides. The use of resistant plant varieties in conjunction with other control tactics generates more effective and sustainable results in management of many pests. In the present study, a total of 16 eggplant genotypes, including eight wild sources and eight standard commercial cultivars, were evaluated for the first time using free-choice and bridge test methods for their resistance against this mite under controlled conditions. Resistance was evaluated by counting mites settled on plants of each genotype. Resistance data were calculated by taking mean number (no.) of mites that prefer the plants of susceptible or resistant genotypes at each time interval (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 days after releasing mites in free-choice tests; 30 min, 1, 2 or 3 h in bridge tests). The results from free-choice tests showed that wild genotype, Solanum sisymbriifolium (from INRA, France) was the most resistant genotype to T. urticae with no settlement of mites per plant both at 7 and 9 days after releasing mites, and followed by two commercial S. melongena genotypes (Topan 374 and Kemer) that had 2.25 and 2.50, 4.25 and 3.50 mites per plant, respectively, on the 7th and 9th days of mite introduction. S. sisymbriifolium was also found to be the most resistant genotype in bridge tests with a mean no. of 13.0 mites per plant. These results can be used for breeding and management purposes for control of two-spotted spider mite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality Protein Popcorn (QPP) BC2F5 inbred lines were produced through an interpopulation breeding system between Quality Protein Maize dent (QPM) and elite popcorn germplasm. In 2019, five QPP F1 hybrids were selected for further evaluation due to superior agronomics, endosperm protein quality, and popping quality traits. Though these BC2F5 QPP hybrids were phenotypically similar to their popcorn parents, the QPP cultivars conveyed slightly inferior popping characteristics when compared to the original popcorn germplasm. The objective of this study was twofold. First, BC2F5 inbred lines were crossed to their popcorn parents and BC3F4 inbred lines were produced for hybridization to test the agronomic, protein, and popping trait effects from an additional QPP by popcorn backcross. Second, BC2- and BC3-hybrids were simultaneously evaluated alongside ConAgra Brands® elite cultivars and ranked for potential commercialization in the spring of 2020. These 10 QPP hybrids were grown alongside five ConAgra Brands® elite popcorn cultivars in three locations and agronomic, protein quality, and popping quality traits were evaluated. Significant improvements in popcorn quality traits were observed in the QPP BC3 cultivars compared to their BC2 counterparts, and yield averages were significantly lower in BC3-derived QPP hybrids compared to the BC2 population. Protein quality traits were not significantly different between QPP backcrossing populations and significantly superior to ConAgra elite popcorn varieties. Utilizing a previously published ranking system, six QPP hybrids, three from the BC2F5 population and three from the BC3F4 population, were evaluated as candidates for final selection. The successful evaluation and ranking system methodology employed is transferable to other hybrid production and testing programs. Incorporating this analysis with concurrent sensory studies, two QPP hybrids were chosen as premier cultivars for potential commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The possibility of selecting the best genotypes to develop good hybrid varieties of tomatoes, as well as heterosis, potence ratio and correlation of vegetative characteristics, yield and quality in tomato genotypes and their performance under arid region. Methods: Four commercial tomato cultivars (Money Maker, Pakmore VF, Strain-B and Tanshet Star) and two breeding lines (L05960 and TL01899) and their 15 F1 hybrids, using a half-diallel cross, under arid conditions were used to estimate heterosis, potence ratio and correlation coefficients among all possible pairs of important tomato traits. Result: various degrees of dominance effects for some traits were detected in the general performances of the F1 hybrids, while, other traits illustrated the presence of partial- to under-recessiveness. Heterosis percentages reflected positive desirable effects in ten F1 hybrids for some traits. Most F1 hybrids outperformed their respective parents for fruit set, fruit length, fruit diameter, total soluble solids, fruit dry weight, number of fruits per plant and total fruit yield per plant. Some of the genotypes (i.e., parents and/ or hybrids) offer opportunities as a genetic source of heat tolerant breeding genetic material adapted to high temperature under the arid conditions reported in this study. Significant positive and desirable correlations were found between 41 possible pairs of traits, whereas significant negative and undesirable correlations were found between 13 possible pairs of the traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize forage is commonly used as silage in milk and beef cattle livestock production systems. Despite the wide variety of maize hybrids with high potential for grain production, few available hybrids have been developed exclusively for forage aptitude. The present study aimed to select S3 maize progenies derived from the single hybrid AS1572 based on the combining ability of forage traits in topcrosses with testers AG8025, 70.H26.1, and MLP102. The 135 resulting topcross hybrids were assessed in partial diallel in Guarapuava and Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, Paraná State, Brazil. Were evaluated the contents of neutral detergent fiber (NDF, %DM) and acid detergent fiber (ADF, %DM), forage dry matter yield (DMY, t ha-1), and in situ digestibility of forage dry matter (DIG, %DM). For all evaluated traits, the variability allowed us to select superior progenies. Progenies 3.1, 22.1, and 39.1stood out in terms of NDF, ADF, and DIG, whereas progenies 47.1, 73.1, 79.1, and 90.2 were efficient in increasing the forage dry matter yield. The testers AG8025 and 70.H26.1, of narrow genetic base, are the best to explore genetic variability among progenies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Journal of Agricultural Sciences (YYU J Agr Sci) is the property of Yuzuncu Yil University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of HOLOS is the property of Instituto Federal do Rio Grande do norte - IFRN and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Agricultural Sciences / Revista Brasileira de Ciências Agrárias is the property of Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Verde de Agroecologia e Desenvolvimento Sustentável is the property of Revista Verde de Agroecologia e Desenvolvimento Sustentavel and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background. In clinical research, the ability to properly analyze data is a necessary skill that cannot be learned simply by listening to lectures. Interactive classes, such as Peer Instruction (PI), are required to help medical students understand the concept of epidemiology for future valid research. In PI lectures, ConcepTests are conducted to confirm and deepen students' understanding of the lecture material. Although it is important to evaluate PI lectures, there have been no studies conducted on PI lectures in epidemiology. This study employed the ConcepTest to evaluate PI lectures in a medical school epidemiology class to measure the efficiency of active learning techniques and the usefulness of ConcepTests in determining effective active learning approaches. Methods. The PI lecture was conducted as part of an existing epidemiology class for fourth-year medical students at Okayama University on October 17, 2019. The lecture was conducted as follows. The lecturer taught the fundamental concepts of epidemiology and presented the ConcepTest to students. After answering the test, students were provided with the answer distribution, followed by peer discussion. After the discussion, students answered the ConcepTest again, and a new answer distribution was presented. Subsequently, the lecturer announced the correct answers and delivered a commentary. The ConcepTest comprised five questions, each related to fundamental concepts of epidemiology. Students' responses to five ConcepTests were collected and analyzed by calculating the proportion of correct answers before and after the discussion, as well as PI efficiency to evaluate the PI lecture. Results. Overall, 121 students attended the epidemiology lecture. The proportion of correct answers before the discussion ranged from 0.217 to 0.458, and after the peer discussion they ranged from 0.178 to 0.767. The PI efficiency ranged from 0.051 to 0.657, and was higher than the theoretical value in three ConcepTests. The efficiency was about the same as the theoretical value in one ConcepTest, and lower than the theoretical value in another. Conclusion. In this study, the efficiency of a PI lecture was determined by calculating the PI efficiency of each ConcepTest. The results showed that the educational efficiency of a ConcepTest in epidemiology lectures can be widely distributed, ranging from efficient to inefficient. Particularly in three ConcepTests, the proportion of correct answers after the discussion and the PI efficiency were higher than the theoretical value. This suggests that PI lectures can be useful in epidemiology education with the efficient use of ConcepTests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of health care in Mesoamerica is influenced by its rich cultural diversity and characterized by social inequalities. Especially indigenous and rural communities confront diverse barriers to accessing formal health services, leading to often conflicting plurimedical systems. Fostering integrative medicine is a fundamental pillar for achieving universal health coverage (UHC) for marginalized populations. Recent developments toward health sovereignty in the region are concerned with assessing the role of traditional medicines, and particularly herbal medicines, to foster accessible and culturally pertinent healthcare provision models. In Mesoamerica, as in most regions of the world, a wealth of information on traditional and complementary medicine has been recorded. Yet these data are often scattered, making it difficult for policy makers to regulate and integrate traditionally used botanical products into primary health care. This critical review is based on a quantitative analysis of 28 survey papers focusing on the traditional use of botanical drugs in Mesoamerica used for the compilation of the "Mesoamerican Medicinal Plant Database" (MAMPDB), which includes a total of 12,537 use-records for 2188 plant taxa. Our approach presents a fundamental step toward UHC by presenting a pharmacological and toxicological review of the cross-culturally salient plant taxa and associated botanical drugs used in traditional medicine in Mesoamerica. Especially for native herbal drugs, data about safety and effectiveness are limited. Commonly used cross-culturally salient botanical drugs, which are considered safe but for which data on effectiveness is lacking constitute ideal candidates for treatment outcome studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientia Agraria Paranaensis is the property of Revista Scientia Agraria Paranaensis and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Popcorn varieties are agronomically sub-optimal and genetically limited compared to other maize subspecies. To increase genetic diversity and improve popcorn agronomics, dent germplasm has been introduced to popcorn with limited success and generally, major loss of popping. Between 2013 and 2018, 12 Quality Protein Popcorn (QPP) inbreds containing Quality Protein Maize (QPM) and popcorn germplasm were produced that maintained popping while carrying the opaque-2 allele conferring elevated kernel lysine. This is an opportune trait in the growing market for healthier snacks and a model for mining QPM traits into popcorn. We crossed QPP inbreds to explore the effects of heterosis on popcorn protein, popping quality, and plant agronomics and selected hybrids for further production. To rank and intermediately prescreen hybrids, we utilized a novel hybrid-ranking model adapted from a rank summation index while examining the inbred general combining ability and hybrid specific combining ability estimates for all traits. We observed a biological manifestation of heterosis by categorizing hybrids by pedigree that resulted in a stepwise progression of trait improvement. These results corroborated our hybrid selection and offered insight in basic heterosis research. Estimates for popcorn quality and agronomic trait covariances also suggest the synergistic introgression of highly vitreous dent maize (QPM) into popcorn, providing a likely explanation for the successfully maintained vitreous endosperm, protein quality and popping traits in line with a remodeled proteome. QPP hybrids maintained improved amino acid profiles although different popping methods variably affected popcorn's protein bound and free amino acid levels. This preliminary screening of QPP hybrids is enabling further quantitative selection for large-scale, complex trait comparison to currently marketed elite popcorn varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Agronómica is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Engenharia na Agricultura is the property of Engenharia na Agricultura and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)