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BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Agronomic uses of biochar have been intensely explored in the last 15 years. Recently, a new generation of biochar‐based fertilizers has been developed. Raw biochar (BCH), nitrogen‐enriched biochar (N + BCH) or urea were added to a coir fiber‐based substrate for tomato cultivation, to assess seed germination, growth and fruiting of two cultivars (Cuarenteno and Moneymaker).BCH stimulated seed germination and early radicle growth, possibly because of the presence of karrikins detected in both BCH and N‐BCH (0.039 and 0.044 mg kg−1, respectively). However, BCH reduced growth in adult plants in both cultivars, probably because of ammonium retention, causing low‐N‐stress‐related symptoms such as accumulation of flavonoids in the leaf. Urea was toxic for seed germination because of the fast release of ammonium, but caused a positive effect on adult plant growth and yield, increasing chlorophyll in both cultivars, quantum yield and ascorbic acid in cv. Cuarenteno, and decreasing flavonoids and peroxide in leaves of both cultivars. Unlike urea, N + BCH showed a positive impact on plant growth and yield, but without releasing high amounts of ammonium or negatively affecting seed germination. Nitrogen‐rich amendments reduced phosphorus and increased iron leaf content in both cultivars.BCH can be effectively used as a growth medium constituent in nurseries for seedling production, whereas N + BCH offers a promising alternative to urea or other nitrogen mineral fertilizers for crop cultivation. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking 4-year-old Rosa roxburghii seedlings as the research object, the effects of glyphosate in orchards on the nutritional growth, leaf structure, photosynthetic characteristics, fluorescence characteristics and fruits were studied by soil application of glyphosate. The results show that new leaf morphology was deformed and yellowed, stomatal density and stomatal index were significantly decreased, MDA content was increased, and SOD, CAT and LOX activities were significantly increased after 15 days of glyphosate treatment. PN, GS, Fv/Fm, ABS/RC, TRo/RC, ETo/RC and DIo/RC of new leaves were significantly reduced with increasing glyphosate concentrations. New leaf photosynthetic organ development and photosynthetic pigment accumulation were affected under glyphosate, resulting in inhibition of photosynthesis, leading to a decrease in photosynthetic rate and ultimately affecting fruit development. The protective enzyme activity of new leaves was activated after glyphosate spraying, thereby enhancing its adaptability to adversity, while damage to PSII was reduced by increasing the energy dissipated through heat dissipation and reducing excess excitation energy under low dose glyphosate treatment. The adaptability of new leaf cell membranes could be improved, and thus the damage caused by glyphosate was mitigated in Rosa roxburghii orchards when glyphosate was applied at concentrations of less than 1.84 kg.ha-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of supplemental or night interruptional blue light (S-BL or NI-BL) positioning on morphological growth, photoperiodic flowering, and expression of floral genes in Chrysanthemum morifolium were investigated. Blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at an intensity of 30 μmol·m−2·s−1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) were used for 4 h either (1) to supplement the white LEDs at the end of the 10 h short-day (SD10 + S-BL4) and 13 h long-day conditions (LD13 + S-BL4), or (2) to provide night interruption in the SD10 (SD10 + NI-BL4) and LD13 (LD13 + NI-BL4). The S-BL4 or NI-BL4 was positioned to illuminate either the shoot tip, the youngest leaf (vigorously growing the third leaf from the shoot tip), or the old leaf (the third leaf from the stem base). In the text, they will be denoted as follows: SD10 + S-BL4-S, -Y, or -O; SD10 + NI-BL4-S, -Y, or -O; LD13 + S-BL4-S, -Y, or -O; LD13 + NI-BL4-S, -Y, or -O. Normally, the LD13 conditions enhanced more vegetative growth than the SD10 periods. The growth of leaves, stems, and branches strongly responded to the S-BL4 or NI-BL4 when it was targeted onto the shoot tip, followed by the youngest leaf. The SD10 + S-BL4 or +NI-BL4 on the old leaf obviously suppressed plant extension growth, resulting in the smallest plant height. Under LD13 conditions, the flowering-related traits were significantly affected when the S-BL4 or NI-BL4 was shed onto the youngest leaf. However, these differences do not exist in the SD10 environments. At the harvest stage, other than the non-flowered LD13 treatment, the LD13 + S-BL4 irradiating the youngest leaf induced the most flowers, followed by the shoot tip and old leaf. Moreover, LD13 + NI-BL4 resulted in the latest flowering, especially when applied to the shoot tip and old leaf. However, the SD10 + S-BL4 or + NI-BL4 irradiated the shoot tip, youngest leaf, or old leaf all significantly earlier and increased flowering compared to the SD10 treatment. Overall: (1) Generally, vegetative growth was more sensitive to photoperiod rather than lighting position, while, during the same photoperiod, the promotion of growth was stronger when the light position of S-BL4 or NI-BL4 was applied to the shoot tip or the youngest leaf. (2) The photoperiodic flowering of these short-day plants (SDPs) comprehensively responded to the photoperiod combined with blue light positioning. Peculiarly, when they were exposed to the LD13 flowering-inhibited environments, the S-BL4 or NI-BL4 shed onto the leaves, especially the youngest leaves, significantly affecting flowering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth in hydroponic systems is affected by the nutrient solution concentration. The present study evaluated the effects of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) on the concentration of some nutrients, chemical fruit qualities, and yield in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum, cv. Hirad). The experiment was arranged as a completely randomized design with four treatments (T1: N160 + K350 ppm at the vegetative stage and N130 + K250 ppm at the reproductive stage, T2: N170 + K360 ppm at the vegetative stage and N140 + K260 ppm at the reproductive stage, T3: N180 + K370 ppm at the vegetative stage and N150 + K270 ppm at the reproductive stage and T4: N190 + K380 ppm at the vegetative stage and N160 + K280 ppm at the reproductive stage). Results indicated that higher N and K supplies in the nutrient solution decreased Ca, Na, Mn, and Zn concentrations in leaf samples. In contrast, the concentration of various elements in fruits was unaffected by the increase in N and K (except for Cu). The second treatment (T2) had the most beneficial effect on the Cu concentration in tomato leaves and fruits. The increase in total soluble solids, chlorophyll, lycopene, and total acids could improve fruit quality in tomato fruits. The best treatment in the present study was N170 + K360 ppm at the vegetative stage and N140 + K260 ppm at the reproductive stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyperus esculentus seeds are often considered irrelevant for C. esculentus spread as their fragile seedlings would not establish or survive in agricultural soils. However, the ever-increasing spread and upsurge of genetically different clonal populations in NW-Europe raises questions about the establishment of C. esculentus seeds and the reproductive performance of seedlings. Indeed, little is known about the potential of C. esculentus seedlings to grow and propagate under outdoor conditions relative to plants grown from tubers. Seeds from different clonal populations were sown outdoors in various soil types and under different irrigation levels (rainfed, irrigated) to assess seed germination and seedling establishment. Additionally, two pot experiments were conducted with three different plant types (plants originating from mother tubers and from seeds harvested on open- or self-pollinated plants) obtained from eight clonal populations. Plant performance was investigated by measuring vegetative and generative parameters. Germination under outdoor conditions was significantly affected by clonal population and was highest in irrigated sand (5.3%). Germination in sand was 4.1 times higher in irrigated plots than in rainfed plots. In irrigated plots, germination was 3.8 and 4.7 times higher in sand than in sandy loam and clay, respectively. Depending on the year, three out of five to five out of six clonal populations produced more tubers when grown from mother tubers than from seeds. Maximal tuber reproduction factors of 1:965, 1:752, and 1:618 were achieved for plants from mother tubers and seeds from open- and self-pollinated flowers, respectively. Plants originating from open-pollinated seedlings have the potential to equal or exceed the vegetative reproductive capacity of plants originating from mother tubers. As a result of their ability to establish in situ and their substantial vegetative reproductive capacity, C. esculentus seedlings are highly relevant for agriculture and merit appropriate attention in any integrated weed management system targeting C. esculentus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Türkiye has many local pear cultivars; some of them do not have much production and propagation potential due to their low quality and undesirable vegetative and generative characteristics. However, those that are superior in terms of fruit quality and yield characteristics have found a place for themselves in both local and national markets. In this respect, the 'Samsun Güzeli' genotype, which is an important local cultivar, is an ideal cultivar with many features and has a high potential to spread its cultivation all over Türkiye and other countries. 'Samsun Güzeli' is an autumn genotype, can easily meet the high demand in local and international markets due to its attractive color, smooth fruit shape and high quality. Despite all these valuable features, this cultivar is still not well known in Türkiye. There is a great need to disseminate cultivation and research on this subject. This study mainly aimed to reveal the phenological, morphological and pomological characteristics of the 'Samsun Güzeli' local pear genotype grafted on BA29, a commercially traded rootstock in 2021-2022. The results showed that the 'Samsun Güzeli' pear genotype completed its phenological cycle in 255 days in 2021 and 228 days in 2022 in Samsun climatic conditions. Fruit set rate of the genotype was 12.05% and the average yield was 17306.23 kg ha-1. It was also determined that the morphological characteristics averages were as the following; rootstock diameter 76.71 mm, trunk diameter 61.97 mm, trunk cross-sectional area 34.06 cm², tree height 253.12 cm, canopy volume 0.96 m³, annual shoot length 37.19 cm and leaf area 11.74 cm². Averages values of pomological and chemical properties recorded as the following; fruit weight 114.60 g, fruit volume 109.90 ml, soluble solid content (SSC) 13.16%, acidity 0.33%, and pH 4.37. In the sensory evaluations, the highest scores were obtained by juiciness (6.32) in the year 2022 while scores of overall visual quality were lowest in both years. In conclusion, it can be said that the 'Samsun Güzeli' genotype performs adequately in terms of fruit yield and quality on the standard dwarf rootstock and conducting new studies might be beneficial to disseminate the genotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pumice is an abundant natural resource in New Zealand and its application in horticulture could save significant costs. To investigate the effect of pumice substrates on raspberry growth and fruit quality, two dwarfing selections (sel.8 and sel.110) were grown hydroponically in (1) coconut coir (control); (2) pumice; (3) pumice/coir (50/50 v/v); (4) pumice/flax (50/50 v/v). Results showed that the addition of pumice to coir significantly increased bulk density, which provided better root anchor support for plants, and also increased the water holding capacity (WHC). Pure pumice had a higher bulk density and lower porosity compared to the other tested substrates, which enhanced fruit quality and yield, although the vegetative growth was slightly lower compared to the control. Mixed pumice/flax substrate had the lowest porosity and poorer WHC, resulting in inferior raspberry growth vigour and productivity. Our results furthermore suggested different substrates could affect the one-year-old cane height, crop yield and fruit characteristics. Pumice was more suitable for sel.8, while the pumice/coir mixture promoted a higher yield for sel.110. In conclusion, pumice and pumice-based mix substrates can be successfully used for hydroponic dwarfing raspberry production without compromising yield and fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the performance of biodegradable materials and endow them with antimicrobial properties, herein, pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid was introduced as a third monomer into the molecular chain of polybutylene succinate (PBS) via copolymerization, followed by introduction of pyridine quaternary ammonium into the PBS branched chain through nucleophilic substitution to afford antimicrobial PBS-BD, which was then comingled with polylactic acid (PLA) to prepare PBS-BD/PLA composites. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the introduction of pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid caused a small shift in the diffraction peaks of PBS and a decrease in crystallinity, which was further decreased upon blending with PLA. PBS-BD and PLA were bound together by intermolecular forces. When the PBS-BD/PLA ratio was 8:2, the melting points of the two phases were the closest, the compatibility was the best, and the thermal and antimicrobial properties were optimal. The antimicrobial properties of the composites were gradually enhanced with increasing PBS-BD content, reaching optimal values for application as antimicrobial materials. The composites were degraded in soil supernatant for 6 months at a rate of 31.52%. After 42 d of enzymatic degradation, the degradation rate reached 23.24%. The PBS-BD/PLA composites promoted the growth of green vegetables to a certain extent and enhanced their nutritional value, reaching the highest chlorophyll content and vitamin C content after 45 d of growth in the presence of the composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Extreme rainfall can severely affect all vegetation types, significantly impacting crop yield and quality. This study aimed to assess the response and recovery of vegetation phenology to an extreme rainfall event (with total weekly rainfall exceeding 500 mm in several cities) in Henan Province, China, in 2021. The analysis utilized multi-sourced data, including remote sensing reflectance, meteorological, and crop yield data. First, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time series was calculated from reflectance data on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. Next, the 'phenofit' R language package was used to extract the phenology parameters—the start of the growing season (SOS) and the end of the growing season (EOS). Finally, the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, v.26.0.0.0) software was used for Duncan's analysis, and Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB, v.R2022b) software was used to analyze the effects of rainfall on land surface phenology (LSP) and crop yield. The results showed the following. (1) The extreme rainfall event's impact on phenology manifested directly as a delay in EOS in the year of the event. In 2021, the EOS of the second growing season was delayed by 4.97 days for cropland, 15.54 days for forest, 13.06 days for grassland, and 12.49 days for shrubland. (2) Resistance was weak in 2021, but recovery reached in most areas by 2022 and slowed in 2023. (3) In each year, SOS was predominantly negatively correlated with total rainfall in July (64% of cropland area in the first growing season, 53% of grassland area, and 71% of shrubland area). In contrast, the EOS was predominantly positively correlated with rainfall (51% and 54% area of cropland in the first and second growing season, respectively, and 76% of shrubland area); however, crop yields were mainly negatively correlated with rainfall (71% for corn, 60% for beans) and decreased during the year of the event, with negative correlation coefficients between rainfall and yield (−0.02 for corn, −0.25 for beans). This work highlights the sensitivity of crops to extreme rainfall and underscores the need for further research on their long-term recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of recurrent water deficit on drought tolerance traits in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) ʻBragantinaʼ. Plants were subjected to three cycles of water deficit followed by recovery periods. Water deficit reduced stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, transpiration, and water potential while increasing water-use efficiency. In addition, intercellular CO2 concentration, leaf temperature, root starch, and adaptive morphological characteristics in leaves and roots increased. Despite these adaptations, plants did not recover vegetative growth after rehydration. The primary tolerance mechanisms observed included increased abaxial epidermis thickness, stomatal density, fine roots, periderm thickness, and starch accumulation in roots. Although gas exchange and leaf water potential were restored, vegetative growth did not fully recover. This study highlights the response of black pepper to recurrent water stress and the underlying mechanisms of its drought tolerance.

Leaves are the main organ for photosynthesis and organic synthesis in cotton. Leaf shape has important effects on photosynthetic efficiency and canopy formation, thereby affecting cotton yield. Previous studies have shown that LMI1 (LATE MERISTEM IDENTITY1) is the main gene regulating leaf shape. In this study, the LMI1 gene was inserted into the 35S promoter expression vector, and cotton plants overexpressing LMI1 (OE) were obtained through genetic transformation. Statistical analysis of the biological traits of the T1 and T2 populations showed that compared to the wild type (WT), OE plants had significantly larger leaves, thicker stems and significantly greater dry weight. Furthermore, plant sections of the main vein and petiole showed that the numbers of cells in those tissues of OE plants were significantly greater. In addition, RNA-seq analysis revealed the differential expression of genes related to gibberellin synthesis and NAC gene family (genes containing the NAC domain) between the OE and WT plants, suggesting that LMI1 is involved in secondary wall formation and cell proliferation, which promotes stem thickening. Moreover, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed enrichment in the terms of calcium ion binding, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed enrichment in the terms of fatty acid degradation, phosphatidylinositol signal transduction system, and cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) signal pathway. These results suggested that LMI1 OE plants are responsive to gibberellin hormone signals, and have altered messenger signals (cAMP, Ca2+) which amplify this function, to promote stronger aboveground vegetative growth. This study found the LMI1 greatly increased the vegetative growth in cotton, which is the basic requirement for higher yield.

Self-fertile cultivars of sweet cherry (Prunus avium) produce heavy crop load that is often associated with small and poor-quality fruits. Therefore, a crop load-management strategy is required to improve the quality of the fruit. In this study, the effect of blossom thinners on fruit set, yield and quality of the fruits was evaluated. Three types of blossom thinners were used at three different concentrations viz., ammonium thiosulphate (ATS) (1, 1.5 and 2%), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (20, 40 and 60 ppm) and corn oil emulsion (1, 2 and 3%). These were sprayed at 80% of the bloom stage. The vegetative, flowering, fruit set and yield parameters were observed and recorded. Fruit quality was evaluated by measuring the physical and chemical characteristics of the fruits at the harvest stage. Negative correlation was found between fruit set and quality of fruit. The reduction in the crop load was associated with enhanced vegetative growth, including higher leaf:fruit ratio, higher supply and availability of photosynthates to the remaining fruitlets and reduced fruit firmness and titratable acidity. Fruit size, weight, volume, hue value, chroma value, soluble solid content (SSC), total sugars, SSC/acid ratio, anthocyanin and ascorbic acid content were enhanced as a result of thinning. The foliar spray of ATS at 2% and NAA at 60 ppm, at 80% bloom proved to be the most effective in reducing crop load and enhancing the fruit quality.

Purpose: It is believed that wood vinegar (WV) can improve soil nutrient availability and uptake, thereby improving plant growth and development. In this study we investigate the effect of WV on the availability of macro- and micro elements in the soil and the uptake, translocation and efficiency of these elements in seedlings of sour orange (SO) and Mexican lime (ML) as well as on plant growth. Research method: The applied WV (1 and 2%) (v/v) was added to the irrigation water at intervals of 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks after planting. Findings: The results showed that the use of WV at both concentrations reduced the phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) concentration in the leaves of ML, reduced the percentage of calcium (Ca) uptake and efficiency of copper (Cu) in SO and increased the iron (Fe) in ML root (1150 to 1320 mg kg-1 DW). Although 1% WV increased soil availability of Ca, sodium (Na), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) and thus decreased root K/Na and Ca/Na, WV 2% improved Mn and K availability but decreased Ca in the soil solution. Application of 1 and 2% WV reduced root dry weight by 16.1 and 12.9% in SO seedling, respectively and in ML seedlings 2% WV reduced total chlorophyll and leaf greenness. Research limitations: No limitations were found. Originality/Value: The results showed that although the addition of WV to the soil can reduce the pH and thereby increase the availability of some elements such as K and Mn, the increase in EC prevents the effective absorption and translocation of elements and thus plant growth such as root dry weight and greenness.

Purpose: It is believed that wood vinegar (WV) can improve soil nutrient availability and uptake, thereby improving plant growth and development. In this study we investigate the effect of WV on the availability of macro- and micro elements in the soil and the uptake, translocation and efficiency of these elements in seedlings of sour orange (SO) and Mexican lime (ML) as well as on plant growth. Research method: The applied WV (1 and 2%) (v/v) was added to the irrigation water at intervals of 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks after planting. Findings: The results showed that the use of WV at both concentrations reduced the phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) concentration in the leaves of ML, reduced the percentage of calcium (Ca) uptake and efficiency of copper (Cu) in SO and increased the iron (Fe) in ML root (1150 to 1320 mg kg-1 DW). Although 1% WV increased soil availability of Ca, sodium (Na), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) and thus decreased root K/Na and Ca/Na, WV 2% improved Mn and K availability but decreased Ca in the soil solution. Application of 1 and 2% WV reduced root dry weight by 16.1 and 12.9% in SO seedling, respectively and in ML seedlings 2% WV reduced total chlorophyll and leaf greenness. Research limitations: No limitations were found. Originality/Value: The results showed that although the addition of WV to the soil can reduce the pH and thereby increase the availability of some elements such as K and Mn, the increase in EC prevents the effective absorption and translocation of elements and thus plant growth such as root dry weight and greenness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Potato is the most widely grown non-grain crop and ranks as the third most significant global food crop following rice and wheat. Despite its long history of cultivation over vast areas, slow breeding progress and environmental stress have led to a scarcity of high-yielding potato varieties. Enhancing the quality and yield of potato tubers remains the ultimate objective of potato breeding. However, conventional breeding has faced challenges due to tetrasomic inheritance, high genomic heterozygosity, and inbreeding depression. Recent advancements in molecular biology and functional genomic studies of potato have provided valuable insights into the regulatory network of physiological processes and facilitated trait improvement. In this review, we present a summary of identified factors and genes governing potato growth and development, along with progress in potato genomics and the adoption of new breeding technologies for improvement. Additionally, we explore the opportunities and challenges in potato improvement, offering insights into future avenues for potato research.

Receptor protein kinases (RPKs) critically provide the basic infrastructure to sense, perceive, and conduct the signalling events at the cell surface of organisms. The importance of LRR-RLKs has been well studied in plants, but much less information has been reported in oomycetes. In this work, we have silenced the PcLRR-RK3 and characterised its functional importance in Phytophthora capsici. PcLRR-RK3 was predicted to encode signal peptides, leucine-rich repeats, transmembrane, and kinase domains. PcLRR-RK3-silenced transformants showed impaired colony growth, decreased deformed sporangia, and reduced zoospores count. The mycelium of silenced transformants did not penetrate within the host tissues and showed defects in the pathogenicity of P. capsici. Interestingly, gene silencing also weakens the ability of zoospores germination and penetration into host tissues and fails to produce necrotic lesions. Furthermore, PcLRR-RK3 localisation was found to be the plasma membrane of the cell. Altogether, our results revealed that PcLRR-RK3 was required for the regulation of vegetative growth, zoospores penetration, and establishment into host leaf tissues.

The experiment was conducted in a private nursery (Mohammed Nursery) located on Erbil Road in Kirkuk, situated at 44.38°E longitude and 35.58°N latitude. The experiment lasted five months from 01/04/2022 to 01/10/2022 to study the effects of shading with two levels: 0% (under direct sunlight) and 75% (under saran cover), as well as the effect of organic fertilizer (vermicompost) at two levels: 0% and 25%, where the fertilizer was added and mixed with loamy soil. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized block design. The plants were randomly arranged on the experimental units with three replicates. Duncan's multiple range test was used to compare the means at a probability level of 0.05%.The results indicated that the 75% shading had a significant effect on some characteristics, such as plant height, dry leaf weight, and leaf area, which reached (82.27 cm), (12.14 g), and (3086.10 cm²) respectively. On the other hand, plants grown under direct sunlight showed a significant increase only in stem diameter (10.69 mm).Regarding the effect of organic fertilization, a significant increase was observed with the use of 25% vermicompost on the following characteristics: plant height (73.55 cm), dry weight (12.63 g), and chlorophyll content in leaves (29.24 CCI).It was also found that the use of chelated iron had a significant effect on most characteristics, where the concentration of 0.2 g.L⁻¹ resulted in the highest significant increase in plant height (75.00 cm), main stem diameter (10.37 mm), dry weight (15.35 g), and chlorophyll content in leaves (29.10 CCI).

Pistachio is one of the economic nut fruits in Iran. Water limitation is the most restrictive factor for its production. To overcome the water scarcity crisis, introducing drought-tolerant rootstocks is among the crucial breeding strategies. To investigate the drought tolerance of five Qazvin native pistachio genotypes, an experiment was carried out as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with four replications in the greenhouse conditions. The factors were pistachio genotypes (Madari, KalKhandan, Kalehbozi, Sefid, and Ghermez) and irrigation regime (normal conditions and drought stress). The highest relative water content under drought irrigation conditions belonged to the Sefid (59.99%), and Ghermez (59.09%) genotypes. The lowest value (54.68%) belonged to the Madari genotype. The highest electrolyte leakage under drought irrigation conditions belonged to the Madari genotype (55.75%). The lowest electrolyte leakage (42.44%) belonged to the Sefid genotype. Under drought stress, the highest amount of chlorophyll a (2.12 mg g-1 fresh weight), total chlorophyll (3.051 mg g-1 fresh weight), and carotenoid (2.38 mg g-1 fresh weight) was observed in Ghermez genotype. In contrast, the highest amount of chlorophyll b (1.34 mg g-1 fresh weight) was observed in the Sefid genotype. The lowest amounts of chlorophyll and carotenoid in the drought stress belonged to the Madari genotype. According to the results, the Ghermez and Sefid genotypes with lower electrolyte leakage and higher relative water content, chlorophyll, carotenoid, and biomass under water stress, were the more drought-tolerant genotypes. Madari and KalKhandan genotypes with higher electrolyte leakage and lower relative leaf water content, chlorophyll, and biomass were the most drought-sensitive genotypes.

Potato is the most widely grown non-grain crop and ranks as the third most significant global food crop following rice and wheat. Despite its long history of cultivation over vast areas, slow breeding progress and environmental stress have led to a scarcity of high-yielding potato varieties. Enhancing the quality and yield of potato tubers remains the ultimate objective of potato breeding. However, conventional breeding has faced challenges due to tetrasomic inheritance, high genomic heterozygosity, and inbreeding depression. Recent advancements in molecular biology and functional genomic studies of potato have provided valuable insights into the regulatory network of physiological processes and facilitated trait improvement. In this review, we present a summary of identified factors and genes governing potato growth and development, along with progress in potato genomics and the adoption of new breeding technologies for improvement. Additionally, we explore the opportunities and challenges in potato improvement, offering insights into future avenues for potato research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Honduras, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an economically important crop for farmers because of its high domestic consumption, year-round production, and high export potential. However, tomato production faces challenges such as diseases and pests and is confounded by climate change, all of which reduce productivity and quality. Evaluating the adaptation of tomato cultivars is critical to ensuring the long-term sustainability and resilience of the horticulture sector in the region. The objective of this study was to identify tomato lines with adaptability, high yield, pest, and disease resistance under greenhouse and open field production conditions for the Honduran market. Ten tomato lines and two commercial hybrids were evaluated between Feb and Jul 2022 in San Antonio de Oriente, Francisco Morazan, Honduras. Desirable traits related to vegetative growth, productivity, fruit quality, and resistance to insect pests and diseases were measured. Seven lines were highly adapted and had high vegetative growth. The tomato lines were not significantly different in terms of tomato yellow leaf curl disease and late blight disease index; however, the fruit borer susceptibility varied, with AVTO1908 being the most susceptible. The highest performing line was AVTO1903, which had the greatest total marketable yield in both the open field (101.3 t·ha-1) and greenhouse (62.1 t·ha-1). Additionally, AVTO1903 and AVTO1915 had good quality traits (roundness index, total soluble solids, and dry matter), thus demonstrating their potential for sustainable and high-yielding cultivation in Honduras. The growth and productivity of the tomato lines were highly influenced by the environment. This work highlights the advantages of introducing exotic cultivars to combat the effects of climate change and ensure sustained production; however, further research is needed to ensure that local farmer and consumer demands are met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to explore the effect of vermicompost on the growth and physiological parameters of the tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The experiment was carried out in a complete random block design. In the initial nursery phase, different percentages (20, 30, and 40%) of vermicompost/compost were used, and the mixture containing 15% of each was evaluated in the cell plug trays. In the transplanting phase, seedlings randomly selected based on their superior growth performance from treatments involving 20% compost/vermicompost, as well as the mixture were subsequently transplanted into pots filled with organic soil. Plants were monitored until the flowering stage, and measurements were taken at different growth stages of the plant, such as shoot length, stem diameter, number of leaves, root length, fresh and dry weight of the plant. Moreover, some physiological parameters, such as chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, were assessed. An ANOVA using SPSS was used to process the data collected from the experiment. The results showed that vermicompost treatments induced a significant increase in shoot length, stem diameter, leaves number, root length, contents of chlorophyll a and carotenoid of tomato plants compared to the control, with an improvement of 54, 38, 38, 70, 44, and 69.5%, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of vermicompost as a potential nutrient source for crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acceptance of strawberries in international trade has increased due to their organoleptic qualities, high nutritional value, and richness in antioxidants. This research evaluated the effect of foliar spray with chitosan, brassinosteroids, and thidiazuron as metabolic enhancers on growth, productivity, quality parameters, and bioactive compounds in ‘Portola’ strawberry cultivar in the first year of production. This experiment included six treatments and control with doses of CTS of 100, 300, and 400 mg L-1, of Brassinosteroids (Vitazyme™) 0.5, 1-, and 5-mL L-1 and 0.15 mL L-1 of TDZ (Charger plex™) in applications of these biostimulants alone and combination CTS and BRs. The findings indicated that CTS treatments increased plant length, leaf count, leaf area, and fruit firmness. The joint application of CTS and BRs significantly promotes crown diameter, photosynthetic pigments, carotenoids, fresh and dry weight of roots and aerial parts, and ripening. Applications of CTS 300 mg L-1 and 1 mL L-1 of Vitazyme have shown the highest fruit length, diameter, and weight values. Regarding TDZ, this work showed an increase in crown diameter and in the fresh and dry weight of both the root and the aerial part without significant differences in the content of the chlorophyll and titratable acidity compared to the control. Therefore, it could be safely recommended that foliar application with CTS, BRs, and TDZ can be used as biostimulants to improve the growth, quality and bioactive compounds of strawberry cv ‘Portola’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural soils that are contaminated with heavy metals poses significant environmental challenges, impacting plant productivity and the safety of plant-based food and feed products. Cadmium (Cd) that is considered one of heavy metals enters the ecosystem by two sources natural and anthropogenic. Rising Cd level in edible plants has impact on human health. The primary objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of different levels of cadmium contamination in soil on the growth and chemical composition of two different mint cultivars, namely peppermint and curly mint as well as accumulation of Cd in mint leaves. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) using three replications. Uniform rhizomes in weight were planted with a size of 17 cm in pots. After the rhizomes had developed to produce leaves, the plants were irrigated with different concentrations of cadmium in distilled water as solution (0, 15, 30, and 45 mg/kg), for control only distilled water was used. The results indicated that peppermint plants performed better than curly mint plants in terms of various vegetative and chemical parameters. On the other hand, the increased concentrations of cadmium from Zero to 45 mg/kg resulted in significant decrease in most morphological and chemical characters in both mint cultivars. The affected parameters were plant height decreased to (29.05 cm), fresh and dry vegetative weight (29.52-11.83 g), leaf area (190.1 cm²), number of leaves (31.17 leaf plant-1), total chlorophyll content (14.01 mg g-1 F.W), and carbohydrate content in the leaves (7.41 %) compared to the control. Nevertheless, it has been noticed that the percentage of volatile oil and the amount of volatile oil per plant increased when the soil was treated with 15 mg/kg of cadmium in both cultivars (1.537%) for peppermint and (1.340%) for curly mint. Additionally, the accumulation of cadmium in the leaves also increased to (0.165 mg/kg) after the soil was treated by 30mg/kg of cadmium comparing to the control. This means that when the mint plants obtained from areas contaminated with Cd have high concentration of Cd in there structure and have impact on health when they have been eaten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was conducted within a greenhouse setting to explore the impact of various compost tea application rates on the growth of 'Hazera 395' tomatoes. Additionally, the study aimed to compare the efficacy of soil-applied compost tea versus foliar application methods, all conducted under greenhouse conditions. Utilizing a split-plot design with three replications, soil and foliar applications were designated as main plots, while six compost tea concentration treatments (v/v) were allocated to sub-main plots. These concentrations included: zero treatment (control), as well as extracts of 1:1, 1:25, 1:50, 1:75, and 1:100 compost to water ratios. Notably, soil-applied compost tea significantly enhanced nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) availability compared to foliar application. Moreover, the 1:25 compost tea extract, whether applied to soil or foliage, notably improved vegetative growth parameters such as stem internode count, plant height, and leaf count per plant. Both soil and foliar application of compost tea resulted in significant increases in yield and average fruit weight. In summary, this research advances scientific knowledge by elucidating the effects of compost tea application rates and methods on tomato growth under controlled greenhouse conditions, offering valuable insights for agricultural practices aimed at improving crop productivity and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Harran Journal of Agricultural & Food Science is the property of Harran University, Faculty of Agriculture 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: Ambrosia grayi is a perennial weed native to northern Mexico, which can also be found in the Great Plains of the US. Outside the Americas, A. grayi has only been documented in Israel, where it is currently categorized as a casual species at advanced eradication stages. Here, we studied the plant biology and chemical weed management options of A. grayi. RESULTS: Only large achenes of A. grayi (~5% of all achenes) contain seeds; moreover, the viability of seeds extracted from large achenes was ~25%. Examination of plant anatomy revealed that underground vegetative segments show an anatomical structure of stems (rhizomes) with anomalous secondary growth. The optimal (night/day) temperature for the emergence of A. grayi rhizomes was 20/30 °C, and the emergence rate increased under elevated temperatures. Emergence may occur at different soil moisture content (25–60%); rhizomes were able to emerge even after 1 month of drought conditions (20%, 25% and 30%). Herbicide combinations, such as fluroxypyr + glufosinate, fluroxypyr + glyphosate, and glyphosate + saflufenacil + surfactant, were tested under quarantine conditions and showed high efficacy for the control of A. grayi. However, the efficiency of these treatments was highly correlated with plant growth stage. CONCLUSION: In Israel, the spread of A. grayi occurs mainly via rhizomes that can emerge under a wide range of temperatures and soil moisture conditions. Data regarding herbicide efficacy will aid in improving the eradication efforts taken by Israel's Plant Protection and Inspection Services. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apple replant disease (ARD) may cause significant losses both in commercial orchards and in fruit tree nurseries. The negative effects of ARD may be limited by using biofumigation. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of this treatment on the biological properties of replanted soil in a tree nursery. In two-year experiment, apple trees of the 'Golden Delicious' cultivar were used. The trees were planted into soil from two sites. The soil from one site had not been used in a nursery before (crop rotation soil). The other soil had been used for the production of apple trees (replanted soil). Three species of plants were used in the replanted soil as a forecrop: French marigold (Tagetes patula), white mustard (Sinapis alba), and oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus var. oleifera). The following parameters were assessed in the experiment: the enzyme and respiratory activity of the soil, the total count of bacteria, fungi, oomycetes and actinobacteria in the soil, as well as the count and species composition of soil nematodes. The vegetative growth parameters of the apple trees were also assessed. The biological properties of the replanted soil were worse than those of the crop rotation soil. In the replanted soil, the organic matter content, enzyme and respiratory activity as well as the count of soil microorganisms were lower. The biofumigants, used as a forecrop on the replanted soil, significantly increased its enzyme activity and respiratory activity. Dehydrogenase activity increased more than twofold. Growth parameters of the trees were significantly improved. The height of the trees increased by more than 50%, and the leaf area, weight and total length of side shoots were higher as well. The density of nematodes in the replanted soil after biofumigation was significantly reduced, with a larger reduction in the marigold fumigated soil. Eight of the eleven nematode species were completely reduced in the first year after biofumigation treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was conducted during 2022 and 2023 seasons on plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) cv. Kelsy was planted in sandy soil under a drip irrigation system in a private Farm located at Salah Al-Abd Village, Bostan Region, Nubaria, Behaira Governorate, Egypt to study the effect of foliar application of molybdenum 0.5 g/L, boron at 0.5 g/L, seaweed extract at 2000 ppm, moringa leaf extract at 4000 ppm, molybdenum 0.5g/L + boron 0.5g/L, molybdenum 0.5g/L + seaweed extract 2000ppm, molybedem0.5g/L + moringa extract 4000ppm, boron 0.5g/L + seaweed extract 2000ppm, boron 0.5 g/L + moringa extract 4000 ppm, seaweed extract 2000 ppm + moringa extract 4000 ppm and molybdenum 0.5g/L + boron 0.5g/L + moringa extract4000ppm + seaweed extract 2000 ppm as compared to the control treatments on vegetative growth and yield characteristics. The trees were planted at 3 x 3.5 m in sandy soil under a drip irrigation system. Sixty uniform trees of the same age, growth and size were randomly chosen. The foliar application of the twelve treatments was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in five replicates during the two seasons. The trees were sprayed three times; before flowering, after fruit set and after one month after the second spraying. The obtained results showed that the application of the seaweed extract, moringa extract, boron and molybdenum individually or in combination effectively increased the vegetative growth attributes and fruit yield. The best results were obtained by the application of 0.5 g/L boron + 0.5 g/L molybdenum + seaweed extract + moringa extract in both seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is one of the most important abiotic stresses that significantly decreases the productivity of agricultural crops. Melatonin (MT) acts as an antioxidant and plays a vital role in overcoming oxidative damage. However, previous literature has not provided a clear understanding of the impact of MT on lettuce plants under salinity stress. So, we investigated the effect of exogenous MT at 0 μM, 50 μM, 100 μM and 150 μM on lettuce plants grown under salinity stress (0 mM NaCl, 50 mM NaCl and 100 mM NaCl) with respect to vegetative growth, photosynthetic pigments, relative water content (RWC), electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2, O2•- and antioxidants enzymes. Results showed that NaCl stress significantly decreased vegetative growth, RWC and photosynthetic pigments and in contrast enhanced dry matter, EL, MDA, H2O2, O2•-, Na+, Cl-, peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR) of lettuce plants compared to non-salinized control. The results demonstrated that under salinity conditions, foliar applications of MT significantly alleviated the harmful effects of salinity and increased number of leaves, leaf area, fresh weight, chlorophyll (a), chlorophyll (b), total chlorophyll, carotenoids and RWC in comparison to untreated plants (control). Meanwhile, dry matter, MDA, H2O2, O2•-, Na+, Cl-, POD, SOD and GR were significantly decreased compared to untreated lettuce plants. In this respect, spraying MT at 150 μM ranked the first, then 100 μM, compared to the lower concentration (50 μM). In conclusion, MT application can be used to alleviate harmful effects of salinity stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a green synthesis method of producing blue fluorescence emitting carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) through a simple and cost-effective single-step hydrothermal reaction. The synthesis utilized bract extracts and pollen grains from three Bougainvillea species: B. spectabilis, B. alba, and B. buttiana. The CNPs exhibited photoluminescence, with the highest emission observed in the ultraviolet region. Atomic force microscopy analysis revealed that the size of synthesized CNPs ranged from 23 to 83 nm. Fourier transform infrared analysis provided a comprehensive understanding of the CNP's surface functional groups, with carbon being the predominant group. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the amorphous nature of the synthesized CNPs. Zeta potential measurements indicated that the particles carried a negative charge, suggesting their colloidal stability. In experiments conducted with Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings, CNPs derived from B. alba pollen grains (Ba-POL) were found to promote leaf area expansion while simultaneously inhibiting primary root growth. In presence of 10 nM IAA, Ba-POL CNP treated seedlings displayed a significant reduction in primary root growth. RT-PCR analysis revealed substantial changes in the expression of auxin response genes in presence of Ba-POL CNP. Cytokinin levels were enhanced in the seedlings in the presence of Ba-POL CNP, as revealed increased expression of cytokinin reporter TCS::GFP. Our findings underscore the potential application of these novel CNPs in modulation of plant growth through its effects on auxin–cytokinin signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Variation in lateral organ morphology identifies the timing of annual transitions between bud scale and needle identity in conifer buds. Vegetative tissue is generated from the shoot apical meristem (SAM) at branch tips. Temperate and boreal conifers have determinate growth, in which a year's complement of needles all begin to form in the summer of Year 1 (Y1), overwinter in a protective bud, then emerge and mature in spring and summer of Year 2 (Y2). Buds are protected by bud scales (bss), which are initiated in spring Y1 prior to needle initiation. Through the annual cycle of needle and bud formation, the SAM alternately produces needle or bs lateral organs. Detailed classification of vegetative lateral organ morphologies in Picea abies (Norway spruce) showed that while the majority of lateral organs are clearly either of needle or bs type, a number of organs in any given bud are intermediate, having both needle and bs characteristics. These transitional organs form the basal outer protective layers of the bud. This work documents the variety of bs morphologies involved in forming the overall bud. Needle and bs counts show a clear distinction in initiation times for each type. bs initiation coincides with spring bud elongation, while needle initiation lags this by 2–3 months. This suggests distinct, temporally separated signals for bs and needle tissue differentiation. The transitional forms suggest some primordia form at times when they are susceptible to both needle and bs differentiation signals. Measurements of shoot apex dimensions show that, in addition to an increasing number of needle primordia on the shoot apex over the summer, the needle primordia themselves undergo an expansion in the fall prior to dormancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Kirkuk University for Agricultural Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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 Scientific Journal of Agricultural Sciences (SJAS) is the property of Beni Suef 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.)

Reaumuria trigyna, a wild and endangered salt-secreting small shrub, is distributed in arid and semi-arid areas of Inner Mongolia, China. An H+-pyrophosphatase gene (RtVP1) was isolated from R. trigyna according to transcriptomic data, which encoded a plasma membrane and tonoplast-localized protein. RtVP1 was quickly upregulated by NaCl and exogenous abscisic acid treatment and rescued the sucrose deficiency sensitive phenotype of the AtVP1 mutant (avp1). Transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing RtVP1 exhibited a higher leaf area, plant height, fresh weight, root length, and soluble carbohydrate accumulation compared to the wild type (WT) under normal conditions. RtVP1 overexpression increased the seed germination rate and decreased the reduction rate of fresh weight, root length, and chlorophyll content in transgenic plants under salt stress. Catalase enzyme activity, proline content, relative water content, and soluble sugar content were significantly increased in transgenic Arabidopsis under salt stresses, but the malondialdehyde content was dramatically decreased. More K+ and less Na+ were accumulated in transgenic Arabidopsis leaves, resulting in a relatively lower Na+/K+ ratio. In transgenic Arabidopsis roots, K+ was unchanged, but Na+ and the Na+/K+ ratios were reduced compared to those in WT. More Na+ and K+ were accumulated in the intracellular of transgenic yeast, and the Na+/K+ ratio was significantly reduced compared to the control. These results showed that R. trigyna RtVP1 promotes the vegetative growth of plants, mainly by regulating carbohydrate metabolism, and confers salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis by maintaining Na+/K+ homeostasis and enhancing the antioxidant and osmotic regulatory capacity. These results indicated that RtVP1 can serve as an important candidate gene for genetic improvement of crop yield and salt tolerance.

ABSTRACT Aspergillus fumigatus is the predominant pathogen responsible for aspergillosis infections, with emerging drug-resistant strains complicating treatment strategies. The role of mitochondrial functionality in fungal resistance to antifungal agents is well-documented yet not fully understood. In this study, the mitochondrial protein Bcs1A, a homolog of yeast Bcs1, was found to regulate colony growth, ion homeostasis, and the response to antifungal drugs in A. fumigatus. Microscopic observations revealed substantial colocalization of Bcs1A-GFP fusion protein fluorescence with mitochondria. Bcs1A deletion compromised colony growth and the utilization of non-fermentable carbon sources, alongside causing abnormal mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced reactive oxygen species production. These findings underscore Bcs1A’s vital role in maintaining mitochondrial integrity. Phenotypic analysis and determinations of minimum inhibitory concentrations indicated that the Δbcs1A mutant was more resistant to various antifungal agents, such as azoles, terbinafine, and simvastatin, compared to wild-type strain. RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR analysis highlighted an upregulation of multiple efflux pumps in the Δbcs1A mutant. Furthermore, loss of the principal drug efflux pump, mdr1, decreased azole tolerance in the Δbcs1A mutant, suggesting that Bcs1A’s modulated of azoles response via efflux pump expression. Collectively, these results establish Bcs1A as essential for growth and antifungal drug responsiveness in A. fumigatus mediated through mitochondrial regulation.IMPORTANCEDrug resistance presents a formidable obstacle in the clinical management of aspergillosis. Mitochondria are integral to various biochemical pathways, including those involved in fungi drug response, making mitochondrial proteins promising therapeutic targets for drug therapy. This study confirms that Bcs1A, a mitochondrial respiratory chain protein, is indispensable for mitochondrial functionality and multidrug tolerance in Aspergillus fumigatus. Mutation of Bcs1A not only leads to a series of drug efflux pumps upregulated but also shows that loss of the primary efflux pump, mdr1, partial reduction in drug tolerance in the Bcs1A mutant, highlighting that Bcs1A’s significant influence on mitochondria-mediated drug resistance.

The acceptance of strawberries in international trade has increased due to their organoleptic qualities, high nutritional value, and richness in antioxidants. This research evaluated the effect of foliar spray with chitosan, brassinosteroids, and thidiazuron as metabolic enhancers on growth, productivity, quality parameters, and bioactive compounds in ‘Portola’ strawberry cultivar in the first year of production. This experiment included six treatments and control with doses of CTS of 100, 300, and 400 mg L-1, of Brassinosteroids (Vitazyme™) 0.5, 1-, and 5-mL L-1 and 0.15 mL L-1 of TDZ (Charger plex™) in applications of these biostimulants alone and combination CTS and BRs. The findings indicated that CTS treatments increased plant length, leaf count, leaf area, and fruit firmness. The joint application of CTS and BRs significantly promotes crown diameter, photosynthetic pigments, carotenoids, fresh and dry weight of roots and aerial parts, and ripening. Applications of CTS 300 mg L-1 and 1 mL L-1 of Vitazyme have shown the highest fruit length, diameter, and weight values. Regarding TDZ, this work showed an increase in crown diameter and in the fresh and dry weight of both the root and the aerial part without significant differences in the content of the chlorophyll and titratable acidity compared to the control. Therefore, it could be safely recommended that foliar application with CTS, BRs, and TDZ can be used as biostimulants to improve the growth, quality and bioactive compounds of strawberry cv ‘Portola’.

Fertilizers are important for plant growth, yield enhancement, and achieving food security, but overdose can have negative effects. This study sought to determine the impact of different fertilizer doses on soil properties, vegetative growth, fruit quality, and biochemical compounds of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch) cv. ‘Camarosa’. During the years 2022-2023, strawberry seedlings were grown in pots in a greenhouse. Four increasing dosages of fertilizers were applied. The results showed that following treatment, electrical conductivity and soil organic matter rose to maximum values of 176.26 µS. cm-1 and 2.63%, respectively, with d2 treatment. However, the pH was initially high before dropping considerably to 7.34 with d4 dosage. Treatment d1 was highly suggested for enhanced fruit number (5.8) and total yield (729 g. plant-1). The treatment d2 produced the highest fruit weight (24.3 g), volume (27.71 cm3), length (5.55 cm), and width (5.15 cm). The medium dose d3 drastically increased leaf area (2652.76 cm2), total soluble solids (7.4 °Brix), total phenols (1,332.54 mg GAE· L-1) and antioxidant activity (89.53%), but not significantly. The maximum petiole length (12.66 cm), petiole number (29.4), chlorophyll content, runners number (6), roots length (22.33 cm), fresh root and shoot weight (73.11 and 96.41 g), root and shoot dry weight (10.84 and 30.64 g), were recorded at d4 treatment. In control plants, all of these measures were lower, despite having higher fruit pH (3.72), titratable acidity (0.87%), and flowers number (4.40). In conclusion, increasing fertilizer doses may affect soil and strawberry plant qualities, and farmers must use them appropriately.

Evaluating citrus rootstocks is of paramount importance in determining their suitability for a certain region and promoting resilience in orchards by increasing the genetic pool, thereby potentially contributing to a more strategic establishment of new plantings. This long-term field study (2000–2013) aimed to evaluate different rootstocks for ‘Swatow’ mandarin grown at two locations (Paranavaí and Londrina) in the Brazilian subtropics. Nine rootstocks were evaluated, including ‘Rangpur’ lime, ‘Swingle’ citrumelo, ‘Volkamer’ lemon, ‘Caipira DAC’ sweet orange, ‘Cleopatra’ and ‘Sunki’ mandarins, ‘Trifoliate’ orange, ‘Carrizo’, and ‘Fepagro C-13’ citranges. Trees were assessed for vegetative growth, yield, fruit quality, density, and yield estimates. The experimental design was a randomized block arranged in a 9 × 2 setting (rootstock × location) with 6 replicates and 4 trees per plot. ‘Swatow’ trees grew more vigorously in Londrina than Paranavaí, particularly for ‘Cleopatra’ and ‘Sunki’ pairings. Tree vigor was reduced with ‘Trifoliate’, resulting in higher tree density estimates and yield efficiency. This rootstock, along with ‘Rangpur’, ‘Swingle’, and ‘Carrizo’ provided superior yield to the scion. All tested rootstocks conferred good fruit quality. Fruits were larger and heavier in ‘Sunki’ pairings, showing higher soluble solids (SS) content, along with ‘Caipira DAC’, ‘Trifoliate’, ‘Swingle’, and ‘Carrizo’ at both locations. Our findings confirm the suitability of ‘Trifoliate’ orange, ‘Carrizo’ citrange, or ‘Caipira DAC’ orange rootstocks as promising candidates for ‘Swatow’ mandarin cultivation in humid subtropical and analogous regions. Further investigations are invoked to improve the horticultural performance of ‘Swatow’ mandarin trees grafted onto these rootstocks.

Evaporative cooling in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the most important cooling systems used inside greenhouses to obtain an acceptable temperature change in hot, dry climates. It is considered insufficient during very hot summer periods, when temperatures outside the greenhouse reach approximately 48 °C, which affects the efficiency of cooling, and thus, creates stress on the plants, leading to wilting and a decrease in the production rate. The cooling system is developed by making an insulated rectangular tunnel. The air comes out through vertical openings directly to the plants. The results of evaluating plant heat stress in the developed cooling system (DCS) showed an increase in the values of the photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, carbon dioxide exchange, and stomatal conductance. The plants also appeared well in terms of the shape of the leaves, their freshness, the abundance of flowers, and the large size of the fruits, while in the traditional cooling system (TCS) the plants exhibited some wilting and some brown spots. The hectare yield reached 42.49 ton/ha for the DCS system, while it reached 37.53 ton/ha for the TCS with an increasing rate of 13.22 %. The total weight of fruits harvested within 60 days of cultivation was 4.25 kg/m2 for the DCS and 3.75 kg/m2 for the TCS. The dry and fresh weight of fruit, stem, and leaves, total dissolved solids, vitamin C, chlorophyll percentage in leaves, and total plant acidity, were higher in DCS compared to the TCS.

Copyright of Argentinian Horticulture / Horticultura Argentina is the property of Revista Horticultura Argentina 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.)

Introduction: The aim of this research is to introduce the superior characteristics of P.betulifolia pear rootstock in comparison to the commercial Pyrodwarf (control) in terms of leaf parameters {leaf-N, -K, - Mg, Ca, -Fe, -Zn and leaf-B content; leaf area; chlorophyll (SPAD-Value); Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (F0:minimum fluorescence; FM: maximum; fluorescence and value of photochemical capacity of photosystem 2 (FV/FM)}, growth traits (shoot length, diameter of shoot) under active lime tolerance in heavy-textured to clayey soils. Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted in a factorial design within the construction of a completely randomized blocks design, using pots. The factors included: 1- Soils with lime in the range of 15% (texture: clay-loam), 20% (texture: clay), 25% (texture: loam), and 45% (texture: sandy loam). 2- Rootstocks P.betulifolia, Pirrodwarf (as a control). In total, the experiment was carried out on 120 units (5 different levels of soil lime * 2 non-grafted rootstocks * 3 replications * 4 trunk of each studied rootstock). Data analysis was performed using SPSS and SAS software, involving mean comparisons using Duncan‟s method and determining regression relationships. The preparation of pots was carried out as follows: initially, drainage holes were created at the bottom of plastic pots and covered with gravel. Then, a layer of sand and gravel was added to the depth of the pots, followed by the application of animal manure. At this stage, the soils under study, representing different combinations of texture and lime treatments, were added to the 3-kilogram pots. Each pot‟s soil composition consisted of 1/3 sand and gravel, 1/3 animal manure, and the remaining being the specified soil samples. Prior to commencing the experiment, the soil samples underwent chemical analysis to determine their general characteristics, including total neutralizing value (TNV), saturation pH, electrical conductivity, soil texture, and organic matter content. In this research, the "Chlorosis Power Index" (CPI) was employed using the formula: CPI = 10000 * (active lime) / (Fe, ppm) ² to estimate the intensity of chlorosis resulting from soil liming for the studied rootstocks. The iron content, extracted as active iron (Fe, ppm) ² using ammonium oxalate, was reported in milligrams per liter, while CPI was reported in milligrams per kilogram. Results: P.betulifolia rootstock, compared to the control rootstock Pyrodwarf, showed lower sensitivity to the soil‟s "Chlorosis Power Index." Negative and significant regression relationships between the increase in the soil‟s "Chlorosis Power Index" and the investigated traits were not observed in the P.betulifolia rootstock. Conclusion: Notably, P.betulifolia demonstrated superior features, including active lime soil tolerance up to 45% lime (sandy loam texture and alkaline pH), in terms of leaf uptake of nutrients such as potassium, boron, total iron, and active iron, chlorophyll content, and growth traits like leaf length, leaf width, height, and trunk diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted at the experimental farm of Department of Soil Science and Water Management, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) to study the effect of different irrigation and fertigation schedules on growth and productivity of Red Velox apple in Northwestern Himalayan region. A factorial experiment comprised of sixteen treatment combination of four drip irrigation levels viz. drip irrigation at 100% ETc (I1), drip irrigation at 80% ETc (I2), drip irrigation at 60% ETc (I3), conventional irrigation (I4) and four levels of fertigation viz. absolute control; no application of fertilizer (F0), 100% of adhoc dose of NPK (F1), 75% of adhoc dose of NPK (F2) and 50% of adhoc dose of NPK (F3) were replicated thrice with three plants in each replication. With an increase in the volume of water and an increasing dose of NPK, vegetative growth parameters (tree height, tree spread, trunk girth, tree volume and annual extension growth), leaf nutrient content and yield were noted to be significantly increased. Drip irrigation at 100% ETc (I1) and fertigation at 100% of adhoc dose of NPK (F1) significantly increased the growth, foliage nutrient content and productivity of apple. Interaction I1F1 recorded highest growth parameters, leaf NPK content as well as yield. The results of two years experiment indicated a positive impact of drip irrigation and fertigation schedules on enhanced fertilization effectiveness and improved vegetative growth, leaf nutrient content and yield of apple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil semi-arid regions, excess of soluble salts is a limiting factor for the success of agricultural crops. An adequate supply of nutrients can cause positive responses in plant species under salt stress. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of nitrogen and potassium on the morphophysiology of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) seedlings subjected to saline stress. The design was a randomized blocks design, with treatments generated by the Box Central Composite Design matrix. Five electrical conductivities of irrigation water (ECw = 0.5, 0.98, 2.15, 3.32, and 3.80 dS m-1), five doses of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) (0.0, 29.08, 100.0, 170.92, and 200.0%), in four replications. The combination of 200% NK stimulated the synthesis of chlorophyll a, and total chlorophyll under low salinity conditions (0.5 dS m-1). The chlorophyll a/b ratio was higher at ECw of 3.8 dS m-1 and under a concentration of 20.23% NK. The increase in water salinity from of 0.5 dS m-1 caused deleterious effects on the growth of passion fruit seedlings. The doses of NK between 100% and 120% improved the absolute growth rates of plant height and stem diameter, chlorophyll b, aerial dry matter, and total dry matter. The 200% dose of NK improved the leaf mass ratio. The combination of N and K applied foliar proved to be efficient in reducing the effects of salinity on the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments, providing better growth conditions for yellow passion fruit seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Climate change accelerated the negative effects on plant production; Therefore, agricultural researchers are focused on identifying strategies that minimize the effects of climate change on crop production. Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) is an annual herbal plant belonging to the Ranunculaceae family. It has been used in traditional medicine in the past. Black cumin has a lot of industrial and medicinal uses. Nowadays, regarding the importance of medicinal and aromatic plants, such as black cumin, different strategies should be applied to improve their traits in different conditions. Drought stress is an effective climatic factor. Biochar as an ecological input is introduced in recent years. It was hypothesized that biochar may alleviate drought effects. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of biochar on morphological characteristics, physiological parameters activity, and yield of black cumin affected by drought stress. Materials and methods: To evaluate the effect of biochar and different irrigation levels on the morpho-physiological traits of black cumin an experiment was carried out in the greenhouse of the University of Kurdistan in 2018. The experimental factors included three irrigation levels (100%, 70%, and 40% of the field capacity of the soil) and two biochar consumption levels (0, and 15 t ha-1). The experimental design was a factorial based on a completely randomized with three replications. The amounts of field capacity and permanent wilting point were separately calculated for two different levels of biochar. Fourteen seeds of black cumin were sown in each pot. All of the pots were irrigated after sowing. The morpho-physiological traits included relative water content, total chlorophyll, photosystem II efficiency, plant height, flowering and secondary branches number per plant, capsule and seed number per plant, and biological and grain yield were measured. The statistical SAS software (version 9.3; SAS Institute; USA) was used for ANOVA. The mean of treatments was compared with the LSD test. Results and discussion: The results showed that irrigation and biochar interaction had a significant effect on the morphophysiological characteristics and yield of black cumin. Biochar application decreased the negative effects of drought stress. The greatest RWC (86.13) belonged to 100% irrigation and biochar application. Given the increased weights of pots containing biochar and increasing the leaf water potential, it can be concluded that biochar application ultimately increased RWC due to increasing water holding capacity. At the 40, 70, and 100% irrigation levels, biochar increased total chlorophyll by 1.43, 13.64, and 5.31% compared with non-application of biochar, respectively. The maximum (83.2%) and minimum (70.72%) photosystem II efficiency were observed in 100% irrigation with biochar and 40% irrigation and nonapplication of biochar, respectively. Biochar application enhances chlorophyll content consequently increasing photosynthesis compared with no biochar application under drought stress. The highest number of flowering and secondary branches per plant was obtained from 100% irrigation and biochar application and the lowest number of mentioned traits belonged to 40% irrigation and non-application of biochar. Drought stress reduced capsule number per plant. The minimum number of capsules was obtained from 40% irrigation level. Biochar increased capsule number per plant and seed number per plant at 70% and 100% of irrigation levels and 40% and 70% of irrigation levels, respectively. The greatest biological yield belonged to 100% irrigation and biochar application. This treatment increased biological yield due to enhancing morphological traits and yield components. At the 40, 70, and 100% irrigation levels, biochar increased grain yield by 33.51, 34.12, and 10.72% compared with nonapplication of biochar, respectively. Conclusion: The usage of biochar improved the relative leaf water content, total chlorophyll content, photosystem II efficiency, morphological traits, biological and grain yield of black cumin under drought stress. Overall it can be said that biochar not only can reduce the negative impacts of drought stress but only improve the growth of black cumin. Therefore, biochar can be used as a useful input in sustainable agricultural systems under drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural farming, a recent agricultural innovation emphasizing minimal inputs, helps boost crop production. While strawberries are conventionally cultivated, their natural farming potential remains untapped. In this regard, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of Subhash Palekar natural farming (SPNF) and conventional farming (CF) systems on the vegetative growth and yield performances of five different strawberry cultivars viz. Capri, Winter Star, Winter Dawn, Camarosa, and Nabila under field trials in the Doaba region of Punjab conditions. The experiment included ten treatments and was laid out in the factorial randomized block design employing five distinct strawberry cultivars (Capri, Winter Star, Winter Dawn, Camarosa, and Nabila) as factor I, and farming techniques - SPNF and CF - as factor II. The results confirmed the supremacy of CF for vegetative growth and SPNF system for yield and yield attributing characters. Under the CF, cultivar Capri greatly outgrew other cultivars in terms of increased plant height (5.60 and 12.10 cm) and plant spread (14.87 and 23.63 cm EW; 13.00 and 24.59 cm NS) at 45 and 90 DAP, respectively. Contrarily, under the same farming method, the cultivar Camarosa displayed larger numbers of trifoliate leaves (4.80 and 14.50 at 45 and 90 DAP, respectively), chlorophyll index (56.90 SPAD), leaf area (45.84 cm2), and stem girth (2.45 cm). However, cultivar Capri produced the maximum fruits per plant (26.14) and yield per plant (328.53 g), while cultivar Camarosa resulted in the maximum average berry weight (16.53 g) and the greater yield efficiency (0.77 kg/cm2) under the SPNF technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zephyranthes irwiniana (Ravenna) Nic. García is an endemic, red list threatened species from the Brazilian savanna (Cerrado) with pharmacological potential to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). This work analyzed the vegetative growth and phytochemistry of its potential compounds, in response to variations in sucrose concentration and activated carbon (AC). Seeds were germinated in vitro and in the greenhouse. The in vitro bulbs were separated in six treatments with different sucrose concentrations (30, 45 and 60 gL−1) and/or AC (1 gL−1). Biomass increases in individuals grown in the greenhouse were higher than those cultivated in vitro. Sucrose concentration significantly increased biomass and root number. AC had a positive influence on leaf and root size, and a negative influence on root number. GC–MS analyses indicated great variation in the abundance of α-terpenyl-acetate, ethyl linoleate, clionasterol and lycorine between treatments, with maximum concentrations of 53.06%, 38.68, 14.34% and 2.57%, respectively. Histolocalization tests indicated the presence of alkaloids in the leaf chlorenchyma and bulb cataphylls. Finally, the present study provided new evidence that the constitution of the culture medium directly influences the vegetative growth and phytochemistry of this species, providing a good medium condition for propagating the species under threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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