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In this 5-yr study, application frequency of fresh (FDS) and composted (CDS) paper sludges was evaluated on soil properties and silage corn (Zea mays L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) yields and N uptake by comparing one application (2000) with repeated applications (2000, 2001, 2002). Treatments consisted of a control with neither amendment nor N fertilizer, a recommended N rate for corn (160 kg N ha-1) and barley (90 kg N ha-1), and FDS and CDS at a rate of 40Mg ha-1 on wet basis with or without reduced N fertilizer (120 kg N ha-1) on corn. Compared to the control, the FDS or CDS applications significantly increased the proportions of soil larger macroaggregates (>2mm) and the mean-weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates, regardless their application frequency. Single or three yrs additions of FDS or CDS produced, on average, an increase of 25 to 31% of the soil C and N contents compared to the control and the recommended N fertilizer treatment (160 kg N ha-1). In the first year of their application, the FDS or CDS with or without supplemental N fertilizer (120 kg N ha-1) reduced silage corn and N uptake, compared to the control probably due to N immobilization. However, silage corn yields were increased in the following years with one application or with repeated application of FDS or CDS. Results show that benefits on soil properties and crop yields of single application of FDS and CDS were similar to those of the triple applications and were still noticeable a few years following the last application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the main grain-producing areas in the west of Jilin have gradually concentrated in the perennial irrigation areas and supplementary irrigation areas in the north, and the stress degree of grain irrigation water resources is gradually increasing. Therefore, this paper selects the arid and semiarid area in the west of Jilin Province as the research area and compares and analyzes the modeling process and simulation accuracy of the temporal and spatial distribution of food security production and total water resources. Based on the center of gravity model, this paper studies the temporal and spatial distribution of food security production and total water resources in Western Jilin. It can be seen that after 2018, rice and wheat show a fluctuating upward trend, and their values rise from 0.612 to 0.786 and 0.356 to 0.612, respectively; the rise of corn is small, showing an inverted "U" trend, which first increases from 0.693 in 2018 to 0.701 in 2019 and then decreases to 0.671 in 2021; By comparing the precipitation statistics in different years, the inverted "U" trend of corn irrigation water efficiency may be related to the sudden increase of precipitation. The center of gravity model is used to analyze the evolution trend of the center of gravity of grain production and water resources in Western Jilin from the national and regional levels, and the spatiotemporal coupling degree of the center of gravity of grain production and water resources is explored through the two-factor center of gravity coupling situation model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize yield prediction in the sub-Saharan region is imperative for mitigation of risks emanating from crop loss due to changes in climate. Temperature, rainfall amount, and reference evapotranspiration are major climatic factors affecting maize yield. They are not only interdependent but also have significantly changed due to climate change, which causes nonlinearity and nonstationarity in weather data. Hence, there exists a need for a stochastic process for predicting maize yield with higher precision. To solve the problem, this paper constructs a joint stochastic process that acquires joints effects of the three weather processes from joint a probability density function (pdf) constructed using copulas that maintain interdependence. Stochastic analyses are applied on the pdf and process to account for nonlinearity and nonstationarity, and also establish a corresponding stochastic differential equation (SDE) for maize yield. The trivariate stochastic process predicts maize yield with R 2 = 0.8389 and M A P E = 4.31 % under a deep learning framework. Its aggregated values predict maize yield with R 2 up to 0.9765 and M A P E = 1.94 % under common machine learning algorithms. Comparatively, the R 2 is 0.8829% and M A P E = 4.18 % , under the maize yield SDE. Thus, the joint stochastic process can be used to predict maize yield with higher precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five types of drying methods were demonstrated to dry corn silks and their effects on the constitution of phenolic and antioxidant capacities were analyzed, so as to identify the best method to preserve the quality factors of corn silk including phenolic, flavonoid, and antioxidant activity. According to the results, drying can improve the level of phenolic and flavonoid in corn silk by 2.5–3.2 folds and 1.6–3.6 folds, respectively. Drying in shade (MCS‐shade) had the highest content of total phenolics and flavonoids. Eight kinds of phenolic were detected by HPLC and ferulic acid was the main component. MCS‐shade also showed the highest PSC value and CAA value (no wash). Overall, MCS‐shade (silks treated by shade‐drying) showed the best performance and the quality of dry corn silks affected greatly by different drying methods. Novelty Impact Statement: This paper showed that drying methods can greatly improve the levels of phenolic and flavonoid. Shade‐drying had the best results with higher phenolic and antioxidant activity. Light may cause stress signals and increase the contents of bound flavonoid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn stalks are not easily degradable and thus have a low utilization rate. In this paper, a highly efficient corn stalk-degrading microbial consortium, designated as SDP, was established using the strains Z22 (Bacillus subtilis), Z15 (Bacillus megaterium), and Z08 (Aspergillus tubingensis). Moreover, the fermentation conditions for enzyme production by SDP were optimized through orthogonal experiments. The Van Soest method was used to determine the cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin contents in the degraded corn stalks using the SDP consortium to evaluate its degrading effect. Scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze the micromorphological structure changes of the stalks to evaluate the degradation effects of SDP on corn stalks. The carboxymethyl cellulase activity of SDP reached 6.37 U/mL. Moreover, the enzyme production effect was optimal when the culture conditions were as follows: temperature, 30°C; time, 5 d; nitrogen source, NH4NO3; and initial pH, 7.0. The SDP consortium showed an improved ability to degrade corn stalks. The cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin contents were reduced by 32.15%, 23.87%, and 7.98%, respectively, after culturing for 20 d. This study provides insights to guide further research and development of consortia for efficient corn stalk degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the practical problems of large water demand and shortage of water resources in traditional wheat/maize intercropping, a planting method of changing stubble retention method is proposed in this paper. This method was used to study the effects of three stubble retention methods of traditional wheat straw incineration, straw return, and straw stubble on grain yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and economic benefits of wheat/maize intercropping. The results showed that, compared with the grain yield of burning and returning, the single cropping of wheat increased by 7.2% and 5.1%, the intercropping of wheat increased by 6.2% and 5.1%, the single cropping of corn increased by 4.7% and 2.5%, and the intercropping of corn increased by 7.2% and 3.3%, respectively; compared with the burned and returned WUE, wheat monoculture increased by 20.4% and 16.2%, respectively, wheat intercropping increased by 17.9% and 14.6%, respectively, corn monoculture increased by 16.7% and 10.9%, respectively, and corn intercropping increased by 11.8% and 17.0%, respectively. In terms of the average value of monoculture wheat, monoculture corn, and wheat/corn, the net benefits of incineration, turning, and stubble treatment are 10946, 11471, and 13454 yuan • hm−2, respectively. Considering the grain yield, water use efficiency, and net income, the standing stubble planting mode is the best planting mode of wheat/maize in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problem of accuracy and speed of disease identification in real-time spraying operation in maize field, an improved ResNet50 maize disease identification model was proposed. Firstly, this paper uses the Adam algorithm to optimize the model, adjusts the learning strategy through the inclined triangle learning rate, increases L2 regularization to reduce over fitting, and adopts exit strategy and ReLU incentive function. Then, the first convolution kernel of the ResNet50 model is modified into three 3 x 3 small convolution kernels. Finally, the ratio of training set to verification set is 3 : 1. Through experimental comparison, the recognition accuracy of the maize disease recognition model proposed in this paper is higher than that of other models. The image recognition accuracy in the data set is 98.52%, the image recognition accuracy in the farmland is 97.826%, and the average recognition speed is 204 ms, which meets the accuracy and speed requirements of maize field spraying operation and provides technical support for the research of maize field spraying equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boosting crop productivity can be attained through the application of inorganic fertilizer; however, safeguarding the environment for future generations is overbearing especially for continuous increase in the world population. Sustainable crop productivity might be attained through the judicious use of both organic and inorganic fertilizers. The substitution of parts of inorganic fertilizers with organic fertilizer could maintain and sustain soil productivity and improve crop productivity. This paper has reviewed the past research work carried out by various scientists. A comprehensive literature review revealed that integrated nutrient management enhances maize yield, nutrient uptake, and economic return compared with the sole application of organic and inorganic fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite hybrids being grown on 30–40 percent of the maize area in Pakistan, the retail price of hybrid maize seed is high in Pakistan compared with its neighbors in South Asia and beyond. Hence, this paper analyzes the adoption and impact of hybrid maize on livelihoods using a cross-sectional dataset collected from 822 maize growers in Pakistan. The data were collected from two types of farmers: adopters and nonadopters of hybrid maize, from four major provinces of Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, KPK, and Balochistan). We use the bivariate probit to analyze the factors influencing the adoption of hybrid maize and the propensity score-matching (PSM) approach to analyze the impact of hybrid maize adoption on livelihood of maize growers, as PSM helps correct sample selection biasedness. The empirical result shows that farm size, farm and household assets, the level of education of farmers, access to market, and social networks positively influence the adoption of hybrid maize in Pakistan. The results from PSM revealed that hybrid maize adopters had higher grain yields in the range of 94–124 kgs per hectare as compared with nonadopters. Similarly household income levels were more in the range of Pakistani rupees 2,176–3,518, while the poverty levels were lower in the range of 2-3 percent for hybrid maize adopters. As hybrid maize adoption has had a positive impact on the livelihood of farmers, policies should aim to scale up the adoption of hybrid maize through enhancing the supply and lowering the seed cost through research and subsidy programs, thereby enabling poor farmers in remote areas to adopt hybrid maize varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil acidity, a major threat to food security in developing countries, can cause a staggering 71% decline in maize (Zea mays L.) production. Identifying the genetic basis of aluminum tolerance is crucial for developing improved varieties. This study investigated the heterosis and combining ability effects of selected maize inbred lines for aluminum tolerance to identify superior parents and families for further breeding advancements. Using a 7 × 7 half‐diallel mating design, seven inbred lines of maize were crossed, each with varying levels of aluminum tolerance. Under controlled conditions with and without aluminum stress, parents and F1 hybrids were evaluated for traits related to aluminum tolerance. Our analysis revealed the significant role of both additive and nonadditive gene action in aluminum tolerance, highlighting specific parental lines and hybrid combinations with exceptional performance. For every trait under study, parental genotypes VL144091 and VL153179 showed positive and significant GCA effects, while parents VL143984, VL143893, KL154667, and VL1110532 had negative and significant GCA effects. These findings demonstrate the potential of utilizing heterosis and combining ability for breeding high‐yielding, acid‐tolerant maize cultivars, contributing to enhanced food security in regions affected by soil acidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the productivity of a small-scale pilot biofarm of grey oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fr.) Sing.). The pilot was tested in Mekelle city (Ethiopia) in a brick-walled dark room. Growing structures were constructed by erecting three wood poles and fixing them with three wooden side bars at multiple locations to make a prism-shaped rack with multiple triangular open shelves, each capable of carrying one bag of spawned substrate. Mushroom substrates were prepared from maize stalk and wheat bran supplement. Pasteurized chopped maize stalk and wheat bran were mixed at the ratio of 10:0, 9:1, 8:2, and 7:3—yielding four treatments. Five kilograms of substrate was taken from each treatment and was mixed with one kilogram of gypsum to produce a growing mass. Each mass was spawned with 200 g of inoculum under aseptic conditions and put in polyethylene bags. The treatments were replicated thrice and the bags were put on the growth racks in completely randomized design. The growing room was maintained at optimum conditions. Maize stalk substrates supplemented with 10% and 20% of wheat bran have resulted in statistically comparable productivities but statistically significantly higher than those grown on nonsupplemented and highly supplemented maize stalk substrates (p ≤ 0.05). The ingenuity of the design and the convenience of the construction of the racks, the availability of the substrates, and the simplicity of the management and maintenance of the biofarm rendered the piloted design suitable for home-based and small- and medium-scale mushroom biofarm entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional biogeographical models are considered to be important tools for supporting decisions relating to sustainable agricultural planning for climate change. These models are useful for a better understanding of the impact of climate change on individual crop species due to their sensitivity to regional ecological conditions. This paper deals with the application of a regional biogeographical model in order to predict the impact of climate change on growing conditions for grain maize in Central Europe. The model is based on a detailed knowledge of the relationships between the climatic characteristics of vegetation zones in landscapes with ecological growing conditions suitable for grain maize in the region under study. The results gained from using the model indicate a substantial increase in the total area suitable for growing of grain maize in the study region. By 2070, this area is expected to be triple the size it is today. Special maps are used to visualize prediction scenarios in order to support decision-making in regional planning in the study region, where grain maize is an important agricultural crop. This biogeographical model can be used in other European regions, where basic data related to vegetation zones are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classic assay for a large population biomass is time-consuming, labor intensive, and chemically expensive. This paper would find out a rapid assay for predicting biomass digestibility from biomass structural features without hydrolysis. We examined the 62 representative corn stover accessions that displayed a diverse cell-wall composition and varied biomass digestibility. Correlation analysis was firstly to detect effects of cell-wall compositions and wall polymer features on corn stover digestibility. Based on the dependable relationship of structural features and digestibility, a neural networks model has been developed and successfully predicted the corn stover saccharification based on the features without enzymatic hydrolysis. The actual measured and net-simulated predicted corn stover saccharification had good results as mean square error of 1.80E-05, coefficient of determination of 0.942 and average relative deviation of 3.95. The trained networks satisfactorily predicted the saccharification results based on the features of corn stover. Predicting the corn stover saccharification without hydrolysis will reduce capital and operational costs for corn stover purchasing and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to assess the mineral content, bioactive compounds, α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity, and antioxidant of two‐maturity stages of corn silks, i.e., immature and mature with standard methods. Corn silks have been dried with sun and oven‐drying methods and extracted through methanol and water, two individual solvents. The results revealed that both corn silks were good sources of mineral content. The higher calcium (13.37 ± 0.06) and magnesium (890.00 ± 0.00) were found in the sun‐dried immature corn silk. The sun‐dried mature corn silk also exhibited a higher content of iron, zinc, and manganese. The results also revealed that all the extraction systems yielded significant amounts of TPC, TFC, β‐carotene, and anthocyanin content; ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activity; and α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity. Moreover, sun‐dried methanolic extracts exhibited the highest levels of TFC (127.58 ± 7.95 mg QE/100 g DM), β‐carotene (0.28 ± 0.00 mg/100 mL), TAC (42.53 ± 1.02 mg C3GE/kg DM), DPPH (75.65 ± 2.38%), and ABTS (94.22 ± 0.00%), showcasing their superior antioxidant potential. Conversely, oven‐dried methanolic extracts demonstrated a higher TPC of 20.82 ± 0.62 mg GAE/g DM, while water extracts showed maximum α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity of 76.19 ± 0.00%. Therefore, the obtained results demonstrated that sun‐dried methanolic extracts from corn silks might be a good source of therapeutic agents and natural ingredients for manufacturing food, feed, and pharmaceutical products. It could also encourage researchers to carry out more studies to commercialize corn silk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pasting properties of cassava starch solutions were prepared with different types of sugars (glucose, sucrose and fructose) at different levels as 10.71, 19.35, 32.43% and gums (gum acacia, guar gum and gum tragacanth) at 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4% levels, respectively, were analyzed using the Rapid Visco Analyzer. The pasting temperature increased with increase in the sugar concentration in cassava starch–water system and the maximum 78.27C at 32.43% sucrose solution. The peak viscosity (PV) and breakdown viscosity (BD) decreased with increase in the sugar concentration. Hot paste viscosity and cold paste viscosity decreased progressively with increase in sugar concentration in fructose and glucose solution. The PV and BD increased with increase in guar gum concentration and was maximum 5,704 and 3,773 mPa·s at 0.4% concentration, respectively. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Cassava starch performs most of the functions where maize, rice and wheat starch are currently used. In food industry, cassava starch is used in extruded snacks for improved expansion, as a thickener in foods, in processed baby foods as a filler material and bonding agent in biscuit and confectionary, textile, pharmaceutical, paper and cosmetic industries. Cassava starch can be converted to maltotriose, maltose, and glucose as well as to other modified sugars and organic acids. Starch from cassava can be used to make gelatin capsules. Starches and gums are often used together in food systems to provide texture, control moisture, water mobility, improve overall product quality and stability, reduce cost and facilitate processing. Cassava starch, due to its high swelling power, is reported to yield better quality instant noodles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to examine the combined effects of varying seed sowing and multinutrient fertilizer levels on maize yield in Shire area, Northern Ethiopia, in two consecutive cropping seasons (2018-2019). The experimental plots were designed in a split plot design with three replications. Sowing dates were determined based on the rainfall criteria of the AquaCrop model. Accordingly, the sowing date treatments were set as June 1, June 7, June 12, and June 16 for the 2018 cropping season, and the corresponding sowing dates for the 2019 cropping season were May 26, June 3, June 8, and June 12. The multinutrient fertilizer levels included 0, 100, 200, and 300 kg·ha−1. Agronomic related data were subjected to the analysis of variance, and partial budget analysis was applied for the economic performance evaluation. Maize yield was agronomically and economically influenced by sowing dates and multinutrient levels. Relative yield superiority that varies between 48.9 and 87.7% was found for each 100 kg·ha−1 multinutrient applied. On the other hand, with 4–6 days shifted towards earlier sowing resulted in an average yield increase by 4.9–66.9%. Application of 300 kg·ha−1 multinutrient for the early sown maize seems agronomically the superior treatment. However, from the economic analysis perspective, early maize sowing combined with the application of 200 kg·ha−1 multinutrient fertilizer was reported as the most profitable treatment. Late sowing of maize with the application of multinutrient fertilizer beyond 200 kg·ha−1 resulted in negative economic returns. The regression analysis results also indicated that maize grain yield tends to increase with the level of multinutrient fertilizer application ( R 2 = 0.841–0.864), whereas yield decreased with the delay in sowing dates ( R 2 = 0.927–0.995). Hence, this study concluded that the treatments with the best agronomic performance are not necessarily the best in terms of profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize flour fortification was introduced in Tanzania in 2011 to address the risk of micronutrient deficiency to children, adolescents, and women of childbearing age. Fortified maize flours are processed by small-scale processors who are exempted from mandatory fortification. The current study is aimed at assessing the compliance and stability of fortified processed maize flour with zinc, iron, and folic acid by small-scale processors in comparison to the recommended Tanzania national standards (TZS 328). A total of 69 samples of fortified maize flour were collected at the point of production and retail outlets in Dar es Salaam and Morogoro municipalities, Tanzania. Micronutrients (zinc and iron) were analysed using microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry (MP-AES), and folic acid was analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The mean concentrations of micronutrient were significantly (p < 0.05) higher at the production site compared to the retail outlet. The amount of iron, zinc, and folic acid in the samples at the production site was 27.17 ± 1.63 mg/kg, 30.56 ± 2.01 mg/kg, and 0.69 ± 0.02 mg/kg, respectively, while it was 19.34 ± 0.97 mg/kg, 21.71 ± 1.50 mg/kg, and 0.49 ± 0.02 mg/kg for iron, zinc, and folic acid, respectively, at the retail outlets. Only 31.6% of the assessed samples from production and 12.9% from retail outlets complied with the recommended national standard. The stability of iron, zinc, and folic acid for the fortified maize flour stored at room temperature (20-32°C) for six months was 95.8%, 96.9%, and 66.9%, respectively. Further investigation on the consistency performance of the dosifier and consistency training of working in the processing unit on the requirements of fortification standards should be done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose and analyze a stage-structured mathematical model for modelling the control of the impact of Fall Armyworm infestations on maize production. Preliminary analysis of the model in the vegetative and reproductive stages revealed that the two systems had a unique and positively bounded solution for all time t ≥ 0. Numerical analysis of the model in both stages under two different cases was also considered: Case 1: different number of the adult moths in the field assumed at t = 0 and Case 2: the existence of exogenous factors that lead to the immigration of adult moths in the field at time t > 0. The results indicate that the destruction of maize biomass which is accompanied by a decrease in maize plants to an average of 160 and 142 in the vegetative and reproductive stages, respectively, was observed to be higher in Case 2 than in Case 1 due to subsequent increase in egg production and density of the caterpillars in first few (10) days after immigration. This severe effect on maize plants caused by the unprecedented number of the pests influenced the extension of the model in both stages to include controls such as pesticides and harvesting. The results further show that the pest was significantly suppressed, resulting in an increase in maize plants to an average of 467 and 443 in vegetative and reproductive stages, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When harvesting corn, corn silk was discarded as waste, including the compounds isolated and identified from corn silk such as flavonoids, sterols, alkaloids, polysaccharides, organic acids, volatile oils, trace elements, and multivitamins. It not only pollutes the environment but also wastes resources. In this paper, extraction methods commonly used for extracting flavonoids from corn silk were reviewed, such as reagent method, enzymatic method, microwave, supercritical CO2 extraction, ultrasonic, and microwave-assisted ultrasonic. Flavonoids are natural antioxidants and have application value in scavenging free radicals, inhibiting bacteria, and regulating blood lipids. The in vitro biological activities of flavonoids from corn silk extracted by different extraction methods were also compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize is the second most important staple crop in Nepal. Its demand is rapidly increasing due to a growth in the poultry sector. The national maize yield is low, leading to insufficient domestic production and thereby increasing imports. Maize seed is considered as one of the crucial inputs in achieving the targeted yield growth, but usually is in short supply during the cropping season. Farmers are involved in maize seed production, which eases its supply. Thus, understanding the efficiency of maize seed production will have a direct impact on the efficiency of the country's maize production. This paper aimed to assess the technical efficiency (TE) of maize seed production and the major factors affecting TE. Semistructured questionnaire survey was administered in June 2016 to 182 maize seed farmers selected randomly from a total of 260 maize seed growers in Palpa District, a leading maize seed producing district in the mid-hills of Nepal. TE is estimated based on the stochastic frontier production model, and the factors affecting TE are assessed using the Tobit model. TE ranged from 0.25 to 0.92 with an average of 0.71. This revealed the scope of increasing TE by 29%. TE in the study area is largely affected by the age and schooling year of household heads. Similarly, the experience of maize seed production, livestock holding, the share of maize seed area, seed source, and access to extension services affect TE. Hence, a focus on motivating experienced educated maize seed growers to expand the maize seed production area supplemented by a better seed source and extension services would contribute to improving TE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water deficit is a key limiting factor for limiting yield in maize (Zea mays L.). It is crucial to elucidate the molecular regulatory networks of stress tolerance for genetic enhancement of drought tolerance. The mechanism of drought tolerance of maize was explored by comparing physiological and transcriptomic data under normal conditions and drought treatment at polyethylene glycol- (PEG-) induced drought stress (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) in the root during the seedling stage. The content of saccharide, SOD, CAT, and MDA showed an upward trend, proteins showed a downward trend, and the levels of POD first showed an upward trend and then decreased. Compared with the control group, a total of 597, 2748, 6588, and 5410 differentially expressed genes were found at 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% PEG, respectively, and 354 common DEGs were identified in these comparisons. Some differentially expressed genes were remarkably enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway and plant hormone signal transduction. The 50 transcription factors (TFs) divided into 15 categories were screened from the 354 common DEGs during drought stress. Auxin response factor 10 (ARF10), auxin-responsive protein IAA9 (IAA9), auxin response factor 14 (ARF14), auxin-responsive protein IAA1 (IAA1), auxin-responsive protein IAA27 (IAA27), and 1 ethylene response sensor 2 (ERS2) were upregulated. The two TFs, including bHLH 35 and bHLH 96, involved in the MAPK signal pathway and plant hormones pathway, are significantly upregulated in 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% PEG stress groups. The present study provides greater insight into the fundamental transcriptome reprogramming of grain crops under drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the inclusion of genetically modified (GM) plants in diets fed to fish is a contentious issue, there are few empirical data. The present study addressed nutritional value and potential risks of four maize types (two traditional and two GM maize varieties) and two soy types (one traditional and one Roundup Ready® soy) included at moderate levels in diets fed to Atlantic salmon parr (initial mean weight ± SD; 0.21 ± 0.02 g) during the first 8 months of feeding (March to October), which included the parr-smolt transformation. The GM-maize varieties [Dekalb 1 (D1) and Pioneer 1 (P1)] were hybrids of traditional maize variants [Dekalb 2 (D2) and Pioneer 2 (P2)] and the GM maize MON810®. Four maize diets, two soy diets and one Standard fishmeal-based diet were formulated and fed to fish in triplicate. The maize diets were formulated with 121 g kg−1 GM maize (P1 and D1) or 121 g kg−1 of the traditional untransformed line (nGM-maize, P2 and D2) and the soy diets were formulated with 125 g kg−1 GM soy or 125 g kg−1 of the traditional untransformed line (nGM-soy), all of equivalent nutrient composition. All diets supported good growth and showed no evidence of diet-related mortality. Based on samplings every 6th week, growth was within the normal range and at conclusion of the study body weight did not differ among any of the treatments (range 101–116 g). Besides minor differences on heptatosomatic index (HSI), plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) values and thermal growth coefficient (TGC), body composition, relative organ weights, plasma nutrient concentrations and enzyme activities did not vary among treatments at any sampling. The present findings indicate that the inclusion of GM plants at the given level in salmonid diets poses little, or no, adverse risk to the health of first feeding Atlantic salmon parr and promote normal growth. The paper presents the production related data of this feeding study. Results regarding structure and function of intestinal segments and intestinal organs are presented in Sanden et al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxin contamination of maize is a threat to food security and public health for households that depend on farming in developing countries. The objective of this study was to determine levels of total aflatoxins in maize from farms adopting different artisanal aflatoxin control methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 315 maize farmers who provided maize samples for aflatoxin analysis and additional data on artisanal aflatoxin control methods applied at farm level. Maize grains were ground, and levels of aflatoxins were determined using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed by computing descriptive statistical measures, and binary logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between levels of aflatoxin in maize and artisanal control methods applied in different farms. Aflatoxin was detected in 98% of maize samples with a mean total aflatoxin level of 12.86 μg/kg which was above the maximum tolerable limits. There was a significant difference in total aflatoxin levels in maize obtained from farms which practiced minimum tillage compared to those practicing deep tillage (p = 0.015). Drying maize on bare ground had a higher likelihood of aflatoxin contamination than drying maize on tarpaulin (p = 0.005). One-third of maize samples had aflatoxin levels exceeding the set maximum limit, with maize samples from lowland areas having high proportions of aflatoxin-positive cases as compared to uplands. Artisanal aflatoxin control technologies such as land tillage, types of platforms for drying maize, and sources of maize seed significantly influence the level of aflatoxins in maize samples. We recommend targeted active surveillance for aflatoxins, continuous public education, and adoption of farm-level mitigation measures to reduce the impact of aflatoxin contamination in farming communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize production in Ghana is limited by several factors including inadequate use of improved varieties and poor soil fertility management. To contribute to addressing these challenges in maize production, two on-farm experiments were conducted each in the semi deciduous forest and coastal savannah agroecological zones (AEZs) of Ghana during the major and minor cropping seasons of 2017. The study adopted a 3 × 4 factorial arranged in an RCBD with four replications in the major season. The factors were three maize varieties (Omankwa, Obatanpa, and Ahomatea) and four soil amendments (goat manure at 5 t·ha−1; inorganic fertilizer (N-P2O5-K2O at 95-37.5–37.5 kg·ha−1); 50% goat manure (2.5 t·ha−1) + 50% inorganic fertilizer (N-P2O5-K2O at 47.5–18.75–18.75 kg·ha−1); and the control (no soil amendment)).To evaluate the residual implications of these soil amendments in the minor season, each plot used in the major season was further divided into two except for the control plot, resulting in a split plot design with factorial of 3 maize varieties × 7 soil amendments. The results revealed a significant interaction between maize variety and soil amendment in both seasons with the use of sole inorganic fertilizer resulting in significantly higher (p < 0.05) grain yields for all varieties in both AEZs in the major cropping season. In the minor season, the combined treatment of 50% goat manure + 50% inorganic fertilizer resulted in higher grain yields for all the varieties in both AEZs with improved maize (Omankwa and Obatanpa) having significantly higher (p < 0.05) grain yields (33–40%) than the landrace (Ahomatea). The significantly lower (p < 0.05) performance of maize varieties on the residual plots in both AEZs suggests that there were minimal residual effects from the major season. Thus, in continuously cropped fields, the use of inorganic fertilizer + goat manure is required in addition to improved seeds for sustainable maize production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The experiment was undertaken at Nsapor, a suburb of Berekum municipality in the Bono Region of Ghana, from March 2019 to November 2019 to determine the suitable rate of fertilizer nitrogen application to optimize seed yield and yield attributes of Pannar 12 and Omankwa maize varieties in a semi deciduous agroecology of Ghana. Soil fertility is low in Ghana because of factors such as rampant annual bushfires, short fallow periods as a result of high human populations, continuous cropping, deforestation, and improper mining activities. There is also little information on crop variety and site-specific fertilizer recommendations in Ghana, resulting in inappropriate use of fertilizers by most Ghanaian farmers, culminating in low crop yields. Methods. Hybrid (Pannar 12) and open pollinated (Omankwa) maize varieties were treated with four rates of fertilizer nitrogen obtained from NPK 15-15-15 (0 kgN/ha, 90 kgN/ha, 120 kgN/ha and 150 kgN/ha) and laid out in a factorial combination in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Results. Application of 150 kg/ha of fertilizer N to Pannar 12 variety resulted in grain yields of 6146 kg/ha and 6095 kg/ha in the major and minor rainy seasons, respectively. The results also showed that application of 120 kg/ha of fertilizer N to Omankwa variety gave grain yields of 4635 kg/ha and 5286 kg/ha in the major and minor rainy seasons, respectively. To optimize the grain yield of maize, farmers could use NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer as a source of nitrogen and apply 120 kgN/ha to Omankwa variety and 150 kgN/ha to Pannar 12 variety in both major and minor rainy seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is evidence that freshwater resources available for agriculture are decreasing with an unprecedented record. New irrigation strategies are developed and tested on crops that feed the world, such as maize, to improve water productivity. Deficit irrigation is one of these strategies that can improve water productivity without a significant impact on crop production. Here, the authors review the factors that affect the response of maize yield and irrigation water productivity to water stress induced by deficit irrigation using a quantitative approach. Data were collected from peer-reviewed publications worldwide that respond to predefined criteria. The authors defined grain yield variation (GYv) and variation of irrigation water use efficiency (IWUEv) as response variables and used simple and multiple linear regression models for data analysis. Overall, maize response to deficit irrigation is significantly correlated to the water stress level (WD). Mild stress below 20% of optimal irrigation led to 0.5% to 17.45% of yield loss in the vegetative stage (VS) but resulted in 46% yield loss at the reproductive stage (RS). Water stress (20–40%) applied at both vegetative and reproductive stages (VRSs) can reduce yield by 44%. The maximum yield loss was 90% in the RS. The multiple linear regression revealed that 62% of the grain yield variability was explained by both WD and nitrogen rates in the VS, while 54% and 13% of this variability was explained in the RS and VRS, respectively. The authors also found that the WD and the climate explained the best the GYv and the IWUEv under deficit irrigation. These results suggest that regarding the climatic characteristics of site location and the complexity of maize production systems, site-specific levels of deficit irrigation should be recommended to limit yield loss and increase water productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an essential crop in Kenya and its production has a direct implication on food and economic security. However, in Kenya, there is a gap between what is being produced and what is being consumed. This gap is growing and, hence, remains a policy concern. Under this backdrop, this study aimed to estimate thecombined contribution of maize area harvested, expenditure on fertilizers,number of tractors used, and maize seed quantity to national maize productionin Kenya using the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) and Nerlove Model. The findings indicate that maize production in Kenya is negatively associated with maize area harvested, expenditure on fertilizers, and the number of tractors used. However, there is a positive relationship between maize production and maize seed quantity. The response of maize production depicted that the price of maize in the previous period determined the production levels in the current period positively; however, as we move further away, the price level in the fourth period depicted a negative relationship. This study recommended that the government provide an adequate quantity of maize seeds to boost maize production. It also recommended that farmers be educated on the proper use of fertilizers and the optimum use of tractors and land. Furthermore, the government needs to ensure a favorable and stable price for farmers to contribute to increased maize production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize has been cultivated and continues to be cultivated for its usability in calorie supply to humans and livestock. There has been great interest in pigmented landrace maize varieties (PLMVs) due to their importance in the pharmaceutical industry. Landraces are to a large extent a repository of the gene pool that enriches biodiversity and maintains but also stabilizes the ecosystem in a sustainable way. PLMVs are still being cultivated by smallholder farmers in smaller portions of their fields and home surroundings despite the high adoption of white hybrid maize. This study examined the ash, moisture, mineral, crude protein, fat, and carbohydrate content of three different PLMVs from central (Ntcheu and Dedza districts) and northern (Mzimba district) Malawi. The mineral content of soils from fields where PLMVs were grown was also analyzed. The study areas experience a warm temperate climate and higher rainfall in summer than in winter but they differ in that Ntcheu has the highest average annual temperature of 20.3°C while Dedza receives the highest annual precipitation of about 1010 mm. Mzimba's average annual temperature and precipitation are 20.1°C and 915 mm, respectively. The study showed that orange maize from Dedza had a significantly higher content of calcium (71.00 ± 0.58 mg·kg−1), magnesium (819.00 ± 0.58 mg·kg−1), and phosphorus (2720.35 ± 0.03 mg·kg−1). Significantly higher contents of zinc (54.61 ± 0.43 mg·kg−1) and potassium (808.58 ± 0.27 mg·kg−1) were observed in purple maize from Dedza and Ntcheu, respectively. Red maize from Dedza had a significantly higher content of iron (59.80 ± 0.26 mg·kg−1). Purple maize from Dedza has significantly higher carbohydrate content (65.52 ± 0.07%). The findings also revealed that red maize from Dedza provenance had a high content of crude protein (12.57 ± 0.07%) and fat (10.73 ± 0.14%). Moisture (17.30 ± 0.21%) and ash (2.28 ± 0.02%) were significantly higher in orange maize from Dedza. Dedza's provenance revealed a high content of the analyzed attributes in PLMVs. Mineral analysis showed different levels of mineral bioavailability in different PLMVs and in the soils where maize was grown. It can, therefore, be concluded that production location and maize variety have an influence on the attributes of PLMVs. Understanding the physicochemical attributes of PLMVs and its maximum utilization have the potential of improving food and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan African countries and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moniliformin (MON) is a polyketide mycotoxin with low molecular weight, which in nature generally occurs as a sodium or potassium salt. It is frequently detected in cereals, while the highest contamination was detected in maize. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an HPLC–DAD method for the detection of MON in maize. Extraction with the mixture of acetonitrile:water (84:16, vol/vol) without clean‐up protocols provided the best MON recoveries. The mobile phase was acetonitrile/water (12.5:87.5, vol/vol) or acetonitrile:water with ion‐pair reagent (12.5:87.5, vol/vol) using an isocratic method, while MON was evaluated by the HPLC column (C18, 4.6 x 250mm, 5 µm). The developed method was validated and provided satisfactory quantitative performance in terms of limit of detection (41 μg/kg), limit of quantification (125 μg/kg), linearity (125–2,000 μg/kg), repeatability (3%–7%), reproducibility (7%–15%), and recovery (83%–95%). Thus, the developed and validated method is suitable for the determination of MON in maize. Novelty impact statement: In this work, a new HPLC–DAD method was developed and validated for the determination of MON in maize samples. Since there are only a few developed HPLC–DAD methods for the determination of MON so far, the obtained results may contribute to the increase in knowledge in the field of analytical methods for its determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspergillus species produce numerous metabolites, including mycotoxins, which prevalence in maize is a significant health and economic issue worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Aspergillus metabolites in 458 maize samples collected during 2016 and 2017 in the Republic of Serbia. Samples were analyzed by the liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry method. Among the 32 investigated Aspergillus metabolites 9 and 20 were detected in maize samples collected from 2016 and 2017, respectively. The metabolites with the greatest prevalence in 2016 were kojic acid (12%) and 3‐nitropropionic acid (10%), while the most commonly detected metabolites in maize from 2017 were kojic acid (54%), 3‐nitropropionic acid (44%), aflatoxin B1 (31%), and averufin (29%). Maize growing season in 2017 was characterized by higher deviations of air temperature and a smaller amount of precipitation, which resulted in a greater prevalence of Aspergillus metabolites in maize from 2017 (65%) in comparison to 2016 (23%). Novelty impact statement: The main novelty of this study is achieved through the creation of unique database, based on the analysis of 32 Aspergillus metabolites in the great number of maize samples, collected in two different years in the Republic of Serbia. The created extensive database of Aspergillus metabolites is one of the few from this part of Europe, and it will contribute to significant improvement and upgrading of currently existing knowledge and information in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the distribution characteristics of deoxynivalenol (DON) in corn and wheat grains, a technology on the degradation of DON with low concentration of ozone has been explored. The results indicated that DON in both corn and wheat grains was mainly distributed in the episperm with a decreasing trend from the outside to the inside of the kernel. Meanwhile, the degradation rates of DON (per 100 g in sample), which was treated with 3 mg/L ozone for 8h in the lab and 96h in the barn, reached about 40% and 50%, respectively, when DON was mainly distributed on the outside of the episperm. The result was slightly lower than that reported in similar literature with 60–100 mg/L ozone treatment. In addition, the treatment of ozone (3 mg/L) hardly affected the original quality indexes of grains and effectively reduced the total fungal count in grains (at least 1 cycle log cfu/g). However, the low content of moisture in raw grains stored in the warehouse would limit the further penetration of ozone and the detoxification effect depending on the distribution of DON in the grains, especially in the episperm. In addition, the results of UPLC‐QTOF/MS and NMR analysis indicated that the final degradation product of DON was dimethyl adipate, which was a lower toxic substance. This work had a practical significance for the treatment of grain with over standard vomitoxin in real warehouse. Novelty impact statement: Overall, the purpose of this study was to explore a technology, which could be applied practically in barns, for the degradation of DON in grains with low concentration of ozone. Although the low content of moisture in grains stored in the barn would limit the further penetration of ozone, 3 mg/L ozone used in this study still obviously showed potential in inhibition of molds growth in grain pile, thereby reducing the content of DON in grains and its application in barns on the whole. This work had an practical significance for the treatment of grain with over standard vomitoxin in real warehouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzyme-coupled immunosorbent assays (ELISA) methods are usually validated only for homogenous matrixes like corn and wheat. More complex materials like fermented forages and mixed feed are not targeted for mycotoxin measurement. The low number of ELISA methods found in the literature neither contained the pH set for fermented forages nor dealt with the setting of the matrix:solvent ratio. The sample preparation of these matrixes needs to be optimized and validated for aflatoxin B1 analysis from fermented forages (corn silage and rye haylage) and mixed feed for Romer AgraQuant® Aflatoxin B1 ELISA (Romer Labs, Austria). Drying and pH adjustment of fermented forages had high importance before mycotoxin extraction. Because of the matrix swelling, the 1 : 5 ratio of the sample/extraction solute should have been increased to 1 : 8 to gain the highest aflatoxin B1 recovery. The accuracy and repeatability of the analysis were tested and found to be suitable for further application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat resilient maize hybrids are an important input in maize cultivated area coupled with high temperature during the flowering period, with a specific focus on the Terai region of Nepal. The research was conducted in the Dhangadhi district from April 2020 to August 2020 in an alpha-lattice design with 26 genotypes and two replications. Analysis of variance suggests that genotypes were significantly different for all traits except plant height and plant population. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all traits. High PCV and GCV values were found in the anthesis silking interval, ear aspect and grain yield and low values in the anthesis days and silking days. Highly heritable traits were days to 50% tasseling (0.74), days to 50% silking (0.74), ear aspect (0.69), number of rows per cob (0.84), number of grains per row (0.61), cob diameter (0.87), and cob length (0.86). Genetic advance ranged from the lowest in plant height to the highest in anthesis silking interval. Correlation studies revealed that grain yield showed a negative and significant correlation with reproductive traits, while a positive and significant correlation between ear height and number of ears per hectare was observed. Cluster analysis grouped 26 genotypes into 5 major clusters, and the intracluster distance ranged from 4034.3 to 34960.3. Thus, traits having high variation can be used as selection indices for indirect selection for the improvement of maize productivity and suggest genotype like ZH182079, ZH1767, and KH15486 with high yield for commercialization and distribution to farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technological parameters and quality indicators of corn silk were evaluated in this study: specific density, volumetric density, bulk density, porosity, spatial layer, free volume of the layer, the absorption coefficient, weight loss on drying, and extractives. The technology for obtaining a liquid extract of corn silk was developed. The most effective extractant was discovered to be 40% ethanol, with an extraction time of 120 minutes. The qualitative composition and quantitative content of the major groups of biologically active substances (BAS) in the obtained liquid extract were determined. The qualitative composition of the main groups of BAS was determined by conventional chemical reactions. This extract contained free reduced sugars, glycosides (bound reduced sugars), phenols, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, and hydroxycinnamic acids. The quantitative content of phenolic compounds was performed by UV-vis-spectrophotometry. Total phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and hydroxycinnamic acids had quantitative contents of 8.25 ± 0.33%, 1.4 ± 0.03%, 2.20 ± 0.06%, 3.30 ± 0.13%, respectively. The acute toxicity study was carried out with a single intragastric administration to outbred unanesthetized white rats of both sexes. Duration of observation of animals was 14 days. It was revealed that corn silk extract at doses of up to 5.0 ml/kg is safe. A single injection of a liquid extract has no effect on internal organs when compared to a control group. Corn silk liquid extract's hemostatic efficacy was assessed using blood clotting time, prothrombin time, and blood clot retraction index. The corn silk liquid extract reduces blood coagulation time, decreases prothrombin time, and increases the blood clot retraction index. According to these findings, corn silk liquid extract is rich in phytochemicals and possesses a potential therapeutic effect on bleeding disorders. Furthermore, it could be used in the pharmaceutical sciences industry to develop medicines for testing in the treatment of various diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn is one of the most important food crops globally providing at least 30% of the food calories in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the nutritional content and starch properties of nixtamalized Philippine quality protein maize (QPM) variety and its potential as a flour substitute in loaf bread production. The nixtamalized Philippine QPM flour had a significant increase in moisture and calcium contents. In vitro availability of calcium, iron, and zinc was relatively lower and associated with phytate content. The developed loaf bread utilizing the optimum nixtamalized corn–wheat flour blend had improved nutritional value and had no significant difference in sensory characteristics compared with the control loaf bread made from wheat flour. The use of nixtamalized IPB Var 6 flour as an ingredient in loaf bread making improved its crude fiber, calcium, and iron levels and can be a nutritious potential substitute ingredient for baked products. Novelty impact statement: The process of nixtamalization can improve the nutritional content of corn and has the potential to improve the quality of a food staple such as loaf bread. Incorporating nixtamalized QPM flour into loaf bread resulted in increased fiber, protein, and calcium contents, and it was also acceptable to the consumers in terms of sensory characteristics and general acceptability. Data on the nutritional content and availability of selected minerals of nixtamalized QPM flour can be used as basis for future researches to optimize the method to maximize its potential effects in the improvement of the nutritional value of QPM, thereby providing a healthier alternative staple for the consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize has a tremendous open door, immensely as a biofuel source. The objective reason for this examination is to break down the capacity of maize straw procured under fluctuating climatic circumstances to be used in biogas handling and the effect on different physicochemical components, for the most part, outstandingly the dry mass substance. This information indicates that corn stalks collected in China and Eastern Europe may exhibit extensive dry matter synthesis. This may be related to prewinter climate change. Regardless of temperature or consistency, corn straws can make incredible (for damp materials) or sublime (for more powdered straws) biogas substrates. With a new mass of methane value of 201207 m3/mg, this material is a much better substrate than the corn silage (about 105 m3/mg FM) which is definitely used in Europe. Corn straws were said to require longer consideration (3642 days) than corn silage (not exactly 30 days). In any case, this distinction is not important, and the biogas plant can remind the manager. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought and high temperature are among the major factors limiting maize productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa. An increase in temperature above 30°C reduces yield by 1% under optimal rain-fed conditions. Approaches that improve performance under drought and high temperatures are essential to sustain productivity. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of improved maize varieties released for lowland areas and to select better-performing varieties to address climate-crosscutting issues. Eight lowland maize varieties at two locations for two years were tested by using a randomized complete block design during the 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) between varieties for all the studied variables over years across locations. The interaction of locations with varieties was nonsignificant for grain yield, cob length, and cob number. The mean grain yield indicated that the variety Melkassa-6Q is a high yielder compared to others with 3284 kg grain yield per hectare. This variety had a 35% yield advantage over the check. The variety is, therefore, highly recommended in the study areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), is a worldwide pest of gramineous crops and a major pest of corn. Kenya has, in the recent years, reported massive outbreaks of this pest causing huge economic losses in maize fields. The indiscriminate use of insecticides has led to the evolution of insecticide resistance. This presents serious challenges to the control of pests including fall armyworm. The fall armyworm infestation has greatly threatened food security in Kenya. Consequently, this has heightened the need to evaluate the susceptibility of the fall armyworm to commonly used insecticides in Kenya. In this study, thirteen populations of the fall armyworm were sampled from thirteen counties of Kenya and determined its susceptibility to a range of insecticides using leaf-dip bioassay method. The current study illustrated the high toxicity of spinetoram, spinosad, lufenuron, and pyridaben to fall armyworm while indoxacarb, deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, imidacloprid, and abamectin exhibited relatively low toxicity to fall armyworm. Possible cross-resistance between abamectin, imidacloprid, deltamethrin, indoxacarb, spinosad, spinetoram, and lufenuron was determined through pair-wise correlational analyses. Results of this study revealed no cross-resistance between lambda-cyhalothrin with all other insecticides tested. Susceptibility monitoring of the fall armyworm can be a valuable strategy in the control of fall armyworm in the field populations. This can help inform the policy to design management strategies that promote the judicious use of these chemicals and prolong their efficacy in the management of the fall armyworm in Kenya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to verify the viability of lignocellulosic substrates to obtain renewable energy source, through characterization of the cellulolytic complex, which was obtained by solid state fermentation using Trichoderma viride. Enzymatic activity of the cellulosic complex was measured during saccharification of substrates filter paper, eucalyptus sawdust, and corncob, and compared with the activity of commercial cellulase. The characterization of the enzymes was performed by a 22 Full Factorial Design, where the pH and temperature were the variables of study. Enzymatic saccharification of different substrates appearedviable until 12 to be viable until 12 h; after this period the activity decreased for both enzymatic forms (cellulolytic complex and commercial cellulase). The enzymatic activity of the commercial cellulase was favored with the use of corncob as substrate, while the cellulolytic complex does not show any difference in its specificity by the substrates studied. The largest activities of both enzymes were obtained in the temperature and pH range between 40°C and 50°C and 4.8 and 5.2, respectively. The cellulolytic complex obtained appeared to be viable for the saccharification of lignocellulosic residues compared with the commercial cellulase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selection of high yielding and stable maize hybrid requires effective method of evaluation. Multienvironment evaluation is a critical step in plant breeding programs that is aimed at selecting the ideal genotype in a wide range of environments. A method of evaluation that combines a variety parameter of stability could provide more accurate information to select the ideal genotype. The aims of the study were (i) to identify the effect of genotype, environment, and genotype × environment interactions (GEIs) on maize hybrid yields and (ii) to select and to compare maize hybrids that have high and stable yields in diverse environments in Sumatra Island based on combined analysis, selection index, and GGE biplot. The study was conducted in five different environments in Sumatra Island, Indonesia, using a randomized complete block design repeated three times. Data were estimated using combined variance analysis, parametric and nonparametric stability, sustainability index, and GGE biplot. The results showed that the genotype had a significant effect on maize hybrid yields with a contribution of 41.797%. The environment contributed to 24.314%, and GEIs contributed 33.889% of the total variation. E1 (Karo, South Sumatra; dry season) and E3 (Tanjung Bintang, Lampung; dry season) were identified as the most ideal environments (representative) for testing the hybrids for wider adaptability. The maize hybrid with high and stable yields can be selected based on combined stability analysis and sustainability index as well as GGE biplot. These three methods are effectively selected high yielding and stable genotypes when they are used together. The three maize hybrids, namely, MH2, MH8, and MH9, are recommended as high yielding and stable genotype candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ustilago maydis (UM) is a fungus that grows naturally on Zea mays; it reduces the corn yields, and thus, it represents huge economic loss; however, it can be used as an exotic food, and in the present work, it is successfully used as a reducing and stabilizing agent for the preparation of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) due to its content of amino acids and biosurfactants. The effects of the concentration of UM aqueous extract, pH, and sunlight on the particle size, surface plasmon resonance, stability, and morphology of Ag NPs obtained by green synthesis were evaluated. A green reduction was observed only in presence of UM, and colloidal Ag NPs were obtained with or without the presence of sunlight; nevertheless, continuous sunlight exposure greatly increased the reaction rate. Ag NPs tend to increase in size from 153 nm to 1400 nm at a higher pH and a greater amount of UM, and also, UM tends to stabilize the Ag NPs preventing their agglomeration according to measurement of zeta potential (−10.75 ± 0.84 mV) and SEM observation; furthermore, surface plasmon resonances were more intense between 400 and 480 nm of wavelength adding greater amount of UM. This study concludes that UM not only reduces AgNO3 but also acts as stabilizer of Ag NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are an important bacterial resource as biofertilizers, which can promote plant growth and increase crop yields. In this study, isolation, characterization, and its effect on plant promotion were assessed by isolating PGPR using soil samples collected from Jimma, Ethiopia. Out of 10 isolates, three of them (JEC3, JEC4, and JEC7) exhibited PSB traits in Pikovskaya media by solubilizing phosphate and producing IAA. Of the three isolates, JEC4 recorded the maximum phosphate solubilization index (4.98), soluble phosphate (283 μg/ml), and IAA production (10.21 μg/ml). The findings of the isolates' morphological and biochemical tests showed that JEC3, JEC4, and JEC7 as Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Enterobacter sp., respectively. The optimization of phosphate solubilization was done using different incubation times and sources of carbon and nitrogen. Furthermore, the isolate (JEC4) was tested for plant growth-promoting (PGP) activities and indicated the production of ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and siderophore. JEC4 isolate showed a significant increase in sideways (%) seed germination, root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight of root, and shoot of maize in field experiments than the untreated ones. The results indicate that the JEC4 isolate can be developed as a biological fertilizer for promoting crop productivity and ecosystem dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bagasse is a byproduct generated during the process of making the traditional Andean drink named "chicha de jora" in Peru, which is a potential source for the extraction of ferulated arabinoxylan (FAX). The aim of this study was to extract and characterize the FAX from bagasse and determine its antioxidant and antihyperglycemic capacity in vitro. As a result, FAX of molecular weight ≥3.5 kDa presented moisture content, pH, total ash, proteins, and total phenolic content with values of 8.00%, 5.81, 2.68%, 3.78%, and 5.72 mg EAG/g, respectively. Thin-layer chromatography identified the monosaccharides L-arabinose and D-xylose. HPLC-MS/MS analysis of FAX confirmed the presence of methyl-pentofuranosides or methyl-pentopyranosides. The FT-IR spectrum presented characteristic bands of FAX. The FAX showed antioxidant capacity determined by the DPPH assay (IC50 = 6.59 mg/mL and TEAC = 7.7844 μmol/g sample), ABTS (IC50 = 6.50 mg/mL and TEAC 35.34 μmol/g sample), and FRAP (14.08 μmol AA/g and 36.63 μmol FeSO4/g). On the other hand, FAX showed glucose adsorption capacity, inhibition of glucose diffusion, and inhibition of the enzyme α-amylase (IC50 = 4.73 mg/mL). The results showed that the FAX extracted from the bagasse generated during the production of the "chicha de jora" has in vitro antioxidant and antihyperglycemic capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agriculture field is one of the most important fields where computational techniques play an imperative role for decision-making whether it is the automation of watering of plants, controlling of humidity levels, and detection of plant diseases and growth of plants. There are problems in the conventional methods where newer computational techniques and image processing methods are not used to keep track of growth of plants. The traditional image capturing and processing models have problems of large image segmentation error, excessive feature extraction time, and poor recognition output. In order to overcome the problems in the traditional plant growth methods based on image processing automations, computer image processing with computational method has been proposed to analyze the plant growth by utilizing state recognition method for corn and rice crops. An image acquisition platform is established on the basis of CMOS image sensor for crop image acquisition. The binary processing is performed, and then the images are segmented to reduce error of segmentation results in the traditional methods. To extract image features of corn and rice crops, convolution neural network (CNN) with newer architecture is used. According to contour information of images, the block wavelet transform method is used for feature adaptive matching. The binary tree structure is used to divide the growth period of corn and rice crops. The fuzzy mathematical model is also devised to identify the characteristics of crops in different growth periods and to complete the identification of growth state. Experimental results show that the proposed method effectively improves problems of traditional methods with better image recognition effect and reduces the time of feature recognition. The time to extract features by the proposed method is 1.4 seconds, whereas comparative methods such as random forest (RF) take 3.8 s and other traditional techniques take 4.9 s. Segmentation result error of the recognition method is also reduced significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A specific variable selection method was proposed based on a three-step hybrid strategy for near-infrared spectral analysis. By analyzing functions of each step and characteristics of various variable selection methods, synergy interval partial least squares, iterative variable subset optimization, and bootstrapping soft shrinkage were chosen for three steps. To test the effect of the three-step hybrid method, it was applied to corn and soil spectral data and compared to other common methods. Results for oil content in corn data showed that the three-step hybrid variable selection method selected 1% variables of full spectrum, calibration determination coefficient, and prediction determination coefficient reached 0.998 and 0.993 where the explained variance was increased by 27.30%. It could effectively extract variables related to the tested substance and provide a new variable selection method for near-infrared spectral analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celiac disease causes serious health problems for humans. Therefore, the consumption of gluten-free diets (GFDs) is the only therapy to prevent patients from developing the disease. The objective of the current study was to investigate the proximate analysis, mineral compositions, and antioxidant activities of the quinoa, germinated sweet lupin, fenugreek, and yellow maize, and they were used to develop gluten-free multigrain pan breads. A total of four different grain blend formulations were used to develop the pan bread. The textural properties, color, and sensory evaluation of the developed multigrain pan bread were also determined. The results of the present study showed a significantly higher fat content was found in germinated lupin (13.56%) and quinoa (12.76%), followed by germinated fenugreek and yellow maize (9.68% and 4.67%, respectively). The results indicated that the development of multigrain pan bread with fortification of quinoa, germinated lupin, germinated fenugreek, and yellow maize imparted significant improvement in the nutritional content. Therefore, it could be recommended that the addition of up to 15% of germinated lupin and fenugreek, 60% quinoa, and 10% yellow maize does not negatively affect the sensory characteristics and quality attributes of pan bread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the evaporation law of the soil between the corn trees of Daqing salt-alkali soil, the evaporation simulation value of different growth stages in the experimental period was compared with the measured value according to the Ritchie model theory, and the model fit was not well matched by using a homemade microsteaming seepage instrument to study the evaporation of the whole fertility period of corn in the green wind garden test area of Daqing High-tech Zone, as well as rainfall and soil moisture content. The accuracy of the two parameters in Ritchie's model directly determines the accuracy of the model's prediction of evaporation. The first U value and the second-stage α values were revised, respectively, and the model verification was based on the different growth-and-long-term values of corn, and the analysis showed that the average monthly rainfall was a function relationship with the average monthly evaporation. The modified Ritchie model has a maximum evaporation fit of 0.96 for maturity and a minimum fit of 0.91 for seedling. It provides an accurate evaporation prediction model for the accurate prediction of evaporation between saline soil corn classes in Daqing area and provides a theoretical basis for water quantity management and soil salinization prevention and control in the corn planting process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high moisture content of seeds during harvesting results in a large amount of grain that breaks during mechanical harvesting, which becomes a key problem that hampers the promotion of mechanical grain harvesting technology. Maize in southern Xinjiang physiologically matures from early September to early October. In this study, 52 varieties of maize at different maturity stages were studied in 2019-2020 and were categorized in the order of physiological maturity time: early September (PD1), mid-September (PD2), late September (PD3), and early October (PD4). The goal of this study was to analyze the differences in content of kernel moisture at physiological maturity and the rate of dehydration after physiological maturity of varieties at different stages of maturity, so as to determine the suitable period for mechanical grain harvesting of maize at different stages of maturity. The results showed that the content of seed moisture at different maturity stages varied in a two-stage linear model, with periods of fast and slow dehydration. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the content of seed moisture at different stages of physiological maturity did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen rate and time of application are among the major abiotic factors limiting the productivity of maize. The research was, therefore, carried out to examine the response of two maize varieties (Omankwa and Pioneer hybrid) to four different times of N : P : K 15 : 15 : 15 fertilizer application during the major growing season in Ghana. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with eight treatment combinations with three replications. Our findings showed that the two maize varieties responded to the time of fertilizer application differently. The interactive effect indicated that the application of fertilizer during planting produced the highest grain yield (4.7 tons ha−1) of the Omankwa (open-pollinated variety) while the application of fertilizers two/four weeks after planting increased the grain yield (6.5 tons ha−1) of the hybrid. The growth and yield parameters were not significantly affected by the treatment combinations. In order for farmers to obtain good yield, it is recommended that farmers should apply N : P : K 15 : 15 : 15 during planting for the Omankwa variety and 14/28 days after planting for the Pioneer hybrid variety in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated the fodder potential of 42 promising drought-tolerant (DT) three-way cross maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids, 11 commercial hybrid checks, and 1 local variety check under irrigation. Agronomic and laboratory trials were conducted to determine their morphological traits and fodder potential. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) to group cultivars into clusters is based on quantity, quality, and the combination of both variables. Selection of potential food-feed cultivars was based on the quantity traits (grain and biomass yield) and quality traits crude protein (CP), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), and metabolizable energy (ME). Variation was found for dry matter yield (DMY) at harvest as commercial hybrid recording the maximum DMY of 14.1 t ha−1 and the highest grain yield of 1.4 t ha−1 (P < 0.01), while local check produced a minimum grain yield of 0.54 t ha−1 (P < 0.01) with grain moisture content range between 8.4 and 11.6%. The maximum mean ash content was 5.8% for DT hybrids. Average CP was the highest in commercial hybrids with a value of 6.1%. The mean values for ME were similar (P > 0.01) in both commercial hybrids (7.2 MJ/kg DM) and DT hybrid (7.2 MJ/kg DM), while the highest ME (7.6 MJ/kg DM) was recorded for the local check. Ranking of the hybrids based on grain yield, DMY, CP, ME, and IVOMD showed that cluster subgroup A3 (M1124–24, M1527-7, 30F32, and M1427-6) and A4 (M1427-3, SC637, and M1627-11) exhibited the best potential traits and can therefore be recommended for commercial cultivation following adoption trials by farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]