bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Composition of the Organic Matter Fractions of Loamy Sand after Long-Term FYM Application without Liming
Authors: Pikuła Dorota , Ciotucha Olga
Published: October 2022

The key to soil organic matter management is understanding the transformation processes of fresh organic matter to permanent humus that control soil organic carbon dynamics. This paper presents the results of the effect of long-term soil fertilization with increasing doses of (manure) FYM and ammonium nitrate on the composition of humus compounds not limed of loamy sand. The study showed that both crop rotation and manure fertilization significantly affected organic matter fractions and humus humification index. The soil in crop rotation B (with enriching effect) accumulated significantly larger amounts of soil organic carbon in 0–30 cm layer despite a lower soil pH, but had lower soil organic quality compared to the soil in crop rotation A (with depleting effect). In both rotations, FYM was applied once per 4-year rotation at a dose of 40 t·ha−1 which improved the soil organic carbon content. Depleting crop rotation (A) showed no increase in soil accumulation of humins fractions (H), while the “enriching” crop rotation (B) had such a tendency. Mineral nitrogen fertilization significantly affected the composition of the humic acids fraction. The soil in crop rotation B was characterized by a significantly higher content of fulvic acid (FA) and lower of humins (H) carbon fraction. The large input of organic matter into the soil under lower content pH conditions may hinder its transformation into permanent humus. Changes in the humification index were the consequence of changes in the carbon content of humic and fulvic acids, under the influence of plant selection in crop rotation and manure fertilization. According to the criterion of this parameter, soil in crop rotation A and soil fertilized with manure had lower loss of the more labile FA fraction (lower value of humification index—1.48).
The Fate and Balance of Nitrogen on a Sloped Peanut Field on Red Soil
Authors: Zhao Liwen , Zheng Haijin , Wang Lingyun , Nie Xiaofei , Zuo Jichao , Liu Shiyu , Cheng Jinhua
Published: October 2022

To comprehensively evaluate the fate of nitrogen (N) through erosion and leakage, and to reveal the constitution of the whereabouts for fertilizer N on a sloping red soil cultivated with peanut, two treatments with three repetitions of conventional fertilization and no fertilization were set up according to the N-balance method. Lysimetric devices were adopted to observe the output of N in terms of loss, plant use, and residual N under natural rainfall in 2017 and 2018 in De’an, Poyang Lake Basin, China. The results showed that (1) leaching water was the main pathway of N output from runoff (including erosion and leakage), and the TN (total N) concentration of each surface runoff exceeded surface water Class V standard value of 2.0 mg L−1. (2) The fertilizer N use rate, the residual rate, and the apparent loss rate were 25.19–27.87%, 9.92–14.79%, and 60.02–62.21%, respectively. The apparent fertilizer N loss rate caused by soil erosion and leakage was 0.11–5.90% and 4.27–16.27%, respectively. (3) N losses from surface runoff and leakage were higher in the wet year (2017), whereas the amount of residual N in the soil profile was higher in the dry year (2018). This study provides a scientific basis for the adjustment of crop N fertilization in the study area.
The Effects of Different Tillage Techniques and N Fertilizer Rates on Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Dry Land Agriculture
Authors: Vilakazi Bonginkosi S. , Zengeni Rebecca , Mafongoya Paramu
Published: October 2022

Processes governing soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition and mineralization are important for soil fertility and ecosystem sustainability. However, in the sub-Saharan region, limited work has been conducted on SOM dynamics; therefore, there was an imperative need for this study. The objective of this study was to determine the phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) dynamics in soil under different tillage and fertilizer management practices. The field trial was arranged as a randomized split plot design, with tillage forming the whole plot and the fertilizer application rate being the sub-plot. The tillage techniques were no-till (NT), annual tillage (CT-ANNUAL) and conventional tillage every fifth season (CT-Y5), whereby NT was practiced for four consecutive seasons, and in the fifth season, conventional tillage was employed. For all these tillage techniques, urea fertilizer was applied in amounts of 60, 120 and 240 kg N ha−1 with a control for each tillage treatment. Ammonium and nitrate levels were determined calorimetrically. Sulfuric acid, at 1 M, along with 0.057 M ascorbic acid and molybdate reagent were used to extract the organic P from the soil and extractable P. The total N, ammonium, total P, organic P and extractable P in the surface soil under NT were higher (p < 0.05) compared to the values of both CT-Y5 and CT-ANNUAL. The high levels of total N, N mineralization, total P, organic P and extractable P under NT, compared to CT-Y5 and CT-ANNUAL, at the depth of 0–10 cm may be attributed to the accumulation of crop residues on the surface and less soil disturbance. Furthermore, nitrate was found in higher (p < 0.05) concentrations under CT-ANNUAL compared to CT-Y5 at all the application rates and depths. The ploughing of soil under CT-ANNUAL improves the aeration, which accelerates the decomposition of organic material and mineralization of organic N and P into soluble forms. No-till, at 60 kg N ha−1 and a 0–10 cm soil depth, had optimum total N, nitrate, ammonium, total P and organic P values, thus showing its salient impact on the maintenance of soil fertility. However, the conclusion drawn from this study is that CT-Y5, due to its average N and P pools, can be recommended to under-resourced farmers in sub-Saharan preferentially over both NT and CT-ANNUAL, because it does not require advanced technology and equipment and it sustains an average soil fertility.
Improving Nutrients Uptake and Productivity of Stressed Olive Trees with Mono-Ammonium Phosphate and Urea Phosphate Application
Authors: Hussein Hamdy A. Z. , Awad Ahmed A. M. , Beheiry Hamada R.
Published: October 2022

Nutritional status improvement is a surrogate approach to overcoming undesirable soil conditions. This study was performed in sandy clay loam soil that was characterized by certain undesirable parameters (ECe = 6.4 vs. 7.2 dS m−1, CaCO3 = 8.8 vs. 9.2%, and pH = 7.78 vs. 7.89) on olive (Olea europaea, Arbequina cv.) in the 2020 and 2021 seasons to investigate the influence of two highly soluble phosphorus fertilizers, mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) and urea phosphate (UP). The treatments included 0.336, 0.445, and 0.555 kg tree−1 for MAP1, MAP2, and MAP3 and 0.465, 0.616, and 0.770 kg tree−1 for UP1, UP2, and UP3, respectively, in comparison to granular calcium super-phosphate (GCSP) at the recommended rate (0.272 kg P2O5 equal 1.75 kg tree−1). This experiment was established according to a randomized complete block design. Generally, our results indicated that both MAP and UP applications surpassed GCSP for all studied parameters except leaf copper uptake in the 2021 season. Moreover, among the HSPFs applied, it was found that applying the maximum levels gave the best results. However, MAP3 gave the maximum values for shoot length, SPAD reading, and dry fruit matter. Moreover, UP3 produced the best results for the leaf area, olive tree yield, total olive yield, total fresh weight, flesh weight (FlW), fruit length (FrL), and leaf Fe content in both seasons.
Transcriptomic Analysis of the Differences in Leaf Color Formation during Stage Transitions in Populus × euramericana ‘Zhonghuahongye’
Authors: Chen Mengjiao , Li Hui , Zhang Wan , Huang Lin , Zhu Jingle
Published: October 2022

To explore the mechanism underlying the leaf color variation of Populus × euramericana ‘Zhonghuahongye’ (‘Zhonghong’ poplar) leaves at different maturation stages, we used ‘Zhonghong’ poplar leaves and analyzed the L* (lightness), a* (redness), and b* (yellowness) color difference values and the pigment contents in the three maturation stages. The Illumina HiSeqTM 2000 high−throughput sequencing platform was used for transcriptome sequencing analysis, and leaf color changes during stage transitions were preliminarily explored. Overall, with the increase in L* and b* during leaf development, the a*, C* (colour saturation), and chromatic values decreased, the total anthocyanin content decreased, and the chlorophyll and carotenoid content increased. A total of 11,868 differentially expressed genes were identified by transcriptome sequencing. Comparing the expression differences of structural genes involved in anthocyanin synthesis in the leaves at different stages, we identified 5612 genes in the R1 vs. R2 comparison, 10,083 in the R1 vs. R3 comparison, and 6068 in the R2 vs. R3 comparison (R1, R2, R3 refer to samples obtained on 1 April, 6 April, and 11 April, respectively). Key genes such as DFR (Dihydroflavanol 4−reductase), ANS (anthocyanidin synthase), FLS(flavonol synthase) , CHS(chalcone synthase), BZ1(Bronze 1), bHLH35, and bHLH63 were identified. These structural genes and those that encode transcription factors may be related to the regulation of anthocyanin synthesis. Here, the key genes related to leaf color change in ‘Zhonghong’ poplar were discovered, providing an important genetic basis for the subsequent genetic improvement of ‘Zhonghong’ poplar.
Agronomic Response of 13 Spanish Red Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) Cultivars under Drought Conditions in a Semi-Arid Mediterranean Climate
Authors: Serrano A. Sergio , Martínez-Gascueña Jesús , Alonso Gonzalo L. , Cebrián-Tarancón Cristina , Carmona M. Dolores , Mena Adela , Chacón-Vozmediano Juan L.
Published: October 2022

Drought is perhaps the most important abiotic stressor affecting plants. Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is a drought-tolerant species, and this feature makes it a traditional crop in semi-arid climate areas. However, not all cultivars respond to drought in the same way. Many studies on grapevine drought response have focused on physiological traits. This study mainly used agronomic indicators to assess the drought response of 13 red cultivars. Our results revealed high variability in must isotope ratios (δ13C and δ18O), yield components, and grape must quality. Bobal, Garnacha Peluda, Garnacha Tinta, Mazuela, and Moribel cultivars responded well to drought conditions, simultaneously maintaining high yields and must quality. By contrast, Garnacha Tintorera, Forcallat Tinta, and Tempranillo cultivars showed high water use efficiency but had low yield and must quality. Therefore, these cultivars can be considered poorly adapted to drought conditions. By knowing which cultivars perform well under drought conditions, viticulturists can reduce their reliance on water irrigation and continue to maintain vineyard sustainability in current and future semi-arid climatic conditions. This research also contributes novel information about the Castilla-La Mancha region, where there have been no previous similar assays.
Longevity and Parasitism Capacity of Psyttalia concolor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Fed on Sugar Solutions and Insect Honeydew
Authors: Pinheiro Lara A. , Pereira José Alberto , Medina Pilar , Santos Sónia A. P.
Published: October 2022

Sugars are important food sources required by adult parasitoid species to enhance their survival, fecundity and fitness. The beneficial capacity of Psyttalia concolor Szépligeti, as a biological control agent of different fruit fly pest species, is expected to increase when different sugar food sources are supplied. The objective of this study was to test the effect of seven sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose, trehalose, melibiose, melezitose and sorbitol) on the longevity and parasitism capacity of P. concolor. Moreover, we evaluated the effect of two types of honeydew excreted by hemipteran pests present in olive trees, Saissetia oleae Olivier (Coccidae) and Euphyllura olivina (Costa) (Psyllidae) on the longevity of the parasitoid. Our results show a positive effect of carbohydrate (single sugars and honeydew) consumption on parasitoid survival. Female longevity increased when fed on sorbitol and melibiose, while males benefited from feeding on glucose and fructose, suggesting that hexose-nectars would benefit males. Sucrose increased the percentage of non-emerged hosts and parasitism rate while melezitose significantly decreased these percentages, compared to the other sugars offered. P.concolor benefited more from feeding on honeydew than on sugars, and this food item can represent an important source of energy for the parasitoid. This result indicates the importance of specific nutrients for promoting the action of P. concolor against pests.
Effect of Short-Term Phosphorus Supply on Rhizosphere Microbial Community of Tea Plants
Authors: Yang Haoyu , Ji Lingfei , Long Lizhi , Ni Kang , Yang Xiangde , Ma Lifeng , Guo Shiwei , Ruan Jianyun
Published: October 2022

Microbes play an important role in rhizosphere phosphorus (P) activation and root P absorption in low P-available soils. However, the responses of the rhizosphere microbial community to P input and its effects on P uptake by tea plants have not been widely reported. In this study, the high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and the ITS2 region was employed to examine the responses of tea rhizosphere microbiomes to different P input rates (low-P, P0: 0 mg·kg−1 P; moderate-P, P1: 87.3 mg·kg−1 P; high-P, P2: 436.5 mg·kg−1 P). The results showed that the P input treatments significantly reduced the soil C: N ratio and C: P ratio compared to the P0 treatment (p < 0.05). Moreover, the P2 treatment significantly increased the soil available P, plant biomass and P content of the tea plant compared to the P0 and P1 treatments (p < 0.05). Both bacterial and fungal communities revealed the highest values of alpha diversity indices in the P1 treatment and the lowest in the P2 treatment. The dominant phyla of the bacterial community were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria, while in the fungal community they were Ascomycota and Mortierellomycota. In addition, P input enriched the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria but decreased the relative abundance of Acidobacteria. The Mantel correlation analysis showed that the fungal community was influenced by P input, whereas bacterial community was affected by the soil TC and C: N ratio. Furthermore, the P input treatments enhanced the TCA cycle, amino and nucleotide glucose metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, and phosphotransferase system expression, which could promote C and N cycling. On the contrary, the P input treatments negatively affected the growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The PLS-PM model revealed that the rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities, respectively, negatively and positively affected the P content by affecting the biomass. Meanwhile, rhizosphere microbial function profiles affected the P content of tea plants directly and positively. In summary, moderate P input favors the rhizosphere microbial diversity and functions in the short-term pot experiment. Therefore, we suggest that moderate P input should be recommended in practical tea production, and a further field test is required.
Co-Compost Application of Magnesium Salts and Orthophosphate Adjusted Biochar and Cyanobacteria for Fixing Nitrogen, Improving Maize Quality, and Reducing Field Nutrient Loss
Authors: Su Boya , Yan Zhongli , Li Yonghui , Tang Shangzhu , Pan Xiaoxue , Zhang Xuesheng , Li Wei , Li Yucheng
Published: October 2022

To solve the problem of nitrogen loss and harmful gas emissions in the co-composting of cyanobacteria with other wastes and agricultural non-point source pollution in the Chaohu Lake Basin (CHLB), this study selected cyanobacteria as the main material, spent mushroom and rice hulls as excipients, and biochar (B) and Mg2+/PO43− salt as an additive. The nitrogen fixation rate, maturity, toxicity, and fertilizer efficiency indexes were analyzed to explore the best rate of biochar application. Additionally, three different fertilization treatments (C0: No fertilization, CF: Chemical fertilizer, OF: Organic fertilizer) were applied to agricultural field experiments in the CHLB. The results showed that the cyanobacteria composting experiment with 10% B as additives had the lowest cumulative NH3 emission (603.00 g) and the highest nitrogen fixation rate (61.54%). We used this compost product for maize cultivation in field experiments. The results show that OF treatment can reduce field nutrient loss, and the increase in the rate of soil TN fixation was as follows: OF (18.62%) > CF (10.34%) > C0 (−9.66%). Moreover, the TN and TK losses in runoff were 33.33% and 22.74% lower than CF in farmland runoff. The OF treatment increased the content of crude fat, crude protein, and crude starch by 4.40%, 8.34%, and 2.66% compared with the CF treatment, respectively. Overall, the N, P, and K source agronomic coefficients of cyanobacteria organic fertilizer were 1.424, 1.001, and 1.16, respectively. These results indicated that cyanobacterial organic fertilizer could replace chemical fertilizer to reduce agricultural non-point source pollution and improve maize quality. Meanwhile, the amendment of B and Mg/P salt additives could reduce air pollution and improve the quality of compost products. This study provides a theoretical basis and reference for nitrogen fixation and extension of multiple wastes co-composting field experiments.
Callus Irradiation Is an Effective Tool for Creating New Seashore Paspalum Germplasm for Stress Tolerance
Authors: Bai Zhuyi , Yu Qing , Zheng Yuying , Wang Zhiyong , Liu Yu , Liu Jun , Yang Zhimin , Chen Yu
Published: October 2022

Seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz) is a perennial warm-season turfgrass which is known for its superb salinity tolerance. Compared to bermudagrass, seashore paspalum exhibited the adverse character of faster vertical growth, wider leaf, weak cold-, drought- and disease-resistance. In this study, we aimed to improve these unfavorable traits of seashore paspalum through the strategy of callus irradiation. The results showed that 2108 regenerated plants were obtained following the method of the seashore paspalum calluses irradiated by 60Co-γ rays (dose: 60 Gy, dose rate: 1 Gy/min). Morphological traits were measured combining with cluster analysis on the regenerated plants to select mutant lines with short leaves (A24 and A82) and thin leaves (A24, A83, and A120) as well as dwarfism (B73, B28, B3, A29, and B74). In addition, we found various mutant characters such as greenish leaf sheath (A69 and A71), soft leaf (B77, B17, and B110), and strong erectness (B5 and B9) under continuous observation. Through the comprehensive tolerance analysis following the index of survive rate, relative water content, leaf electrolyte leakage, MDA content; photochemical efficiency and leaf wilting coefficient, three drought-tolerant lines (A55, B72, and B44) and one cold-tolerant line (B59) were screened. This research proved that callus irradiation is an effective way to create new seashore paspalum germplasm, which provides valuable materials for accelerating the breeding process of seashore paspalum and further excavating the molecular regulatory mechanisms of these traits in turfgrass.
Variation in Leaf Type, Canopy Architecture, and Light and Nitrogen Distribution Characteristics of Two Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties with High Nitrogen-Use Efficiency
Authors: Zhang Zhiyong , Xu Saijun , Wei Qiongru , Yang Yuxiu , Pan Huqiang , Fu Xinlu , Fan Zehua , Qin Butan , Wang Xiaochun , Ma Xinming , Xiong Shuping
Published: October 2022

Studies of traits related to nitrogen (N)-use efficiency (NUE) in wheat cultivars are important for breeding N-efficient cultivars. Canopy structure has a major effect on NUE, as it determines the distribution of light and N. However, the mechanism by which canopy structure affects the distribution of light and N within the canopy remains unclear. The N-efficient winter wheat varieties YM49 and ZM27 and N-inefficient winter wheat varieties XN509 and AK58 were grown in the field under two N levels. Light transmittance was enhanced, and the leaf area index and photosynthetically active radiation were lower in the N-efficient cultivar population, which was characterized by moderately sized flag leaves, a low frequency of canopy leaf curling, a low light attenuation coefficient (KL), and high plant compactness. Reductions in the amount of shade increased the distribution of light and N resources to the middle and lower layers. The photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, instant water-use efficiency, and canopy photosynthetic NUE were higher, N remobilization of the upper and middle canopy leaves was reduced, and the leaf N content was high in the N-efficient cultivars. A higher ratio of the N extinction coefficient (KN) to KL reflects the assimilation ability of the N-efficient winter wheat cultivars, resulting in improved canopy structure and distribution of light and N, higher 1000-grain weight and grain yield, and significantly increased light and NUE. An improved match between gradients of light and N in the leaf canopy promotes balanced C and N metabolism and reduces energy and nutrient losses. This should be a goal when breeding N-efficient wheat cultivars and implementing tillage regimes.
Combined Application of Inorganic and Organic Phosphorous with Inoculation of Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria Improved Productivity, Grain Quality and Net Economic Returns of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.)
Authors: Majeed Abdul , Farooq Muhammad , Naveed Muhammad , Hussain Mubshar
Published: October 2022

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) is a climate-smart cereal crop for environments prone to drought and heat stresses. Pearl millet is cultivated in Pakistan on marginal soils with phosphorus (P) deficiency, which significantly decreases its productivity. Moreover, P fixation in the country’s calcareous soils is another major constraint which requires attention. P solubilizing bacteria (PSB) have the potential to improve P availability in the soil. However, the potential of PSB in improving P availability in soil and pearl millet yield has been rarely tested in Pakistan. Therefore, this 2-year field study explored the role of combined application of organic and inorganic P sources along with PSB (i.e., Bacillus sp. MN54) inoculation to improve yield-related traits, P use efficiency (PUE), net economic returns and grain quality of pearl millet grown under semi-arid climatic conditions. Phosphorus was applied through inorganic sources, organic sources (farmyard manure) and 50% inorganic sources + 50% organic sources with or without PSB inoculation. In control treatment, pearl millet was grown without P application. The individual and combined application of P from different sources and PSB inoculation significantly improved yield-related traits and PUE of pearl millet. The highest grain yield was observed with combined (50% inorganic + 50% organic) application of P with PSB inoculation. The same treatments resulted in higher iron, zinc, protein and P contents in the grains during both years. Likewise, P application through organic and inorganic sources combined with PSB inoculation improved soil bulk density, fertility and microbial population during both years. The highest economic returns and benefit–cost ratio was recorded for combined P application (50% inorganic + 50% organic) and PSB inoculation. In crux, the combined application of organic and inorganic P fertilizers along with PSB (Bacillus sp. MN54) inoculation seemed a feasible approach to enhance productivity, grain quality and net economic returns of pearl millet. Therefore, it is recommended that P should be applied through both organic and inorganic sources combined with PSB inoculation to improve P availability and productivity of pearl millet in Pakistan. The current study has explored the potential of combined P application through organic and inorganic sources along with PSB inoculation. Future studies should focus on the determination of mobilized P with the application of PSB.
A Genome-Wide Alternative Splicing Landscape Specifically Associated with Durable Rice Blast Resistance
Authors: Liang Dong , Yu Junjie , Song Tianqiao , Zhang Rongsheng , Du Yan , Yu Mina , Cao Huijuan , Pan Xiayan , Qiao Junqing , Liu Youzhou , Qi Zhongqiang , Liu Yongfeng
Published: October 2022

The rice blast, caused by the hemibiotrophic plant pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, is a devastating disease that threatens rice crop production worldwide. The molecular interactions that underlie the rice-M. oryzae interaction have received much attention. However, genome-wide research focusing on alternative splicing (AS) has not been well-studied in rice—M. oryzae interactions. AS in plants leads to diverse proteomes without an expansion in gene numbers to regulate cellular processes during abiotic or biotic stress. The Pi21 gene negatively regulates rice resistance to M. oryzae infection, and thus the Pi21-RNAi silenced transgenic line (#241) exhibits partial but durable resistance. We compared the AS landscape in #241 and “Nipponbare” (Nip) during interacting with M. oryzae Guy11, and the alternative 3′ splice-site (A3SS) is the most common AS type. GO enrichment analysis of #241-specific differentially alternatively spliced genes (DASGs) revealed that WRKY transcription factors (TFs), bHLH TFs, F-box protein with leucine rich repeats, AAA-type ATPase, and protein kinase were enriched in the GO terms “response to jasmonate acid (JA)” and “ethylene (ET)” at 24 h post-inoculation (hpi). At 48 hpi, one #241-specific DASG, ubiquitin gene (Os08g0295000), was predicted to be involved in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In silico analysis combined with PCR amplification confirmed that multiple isoforms are produced by Os08g0295000 and a skipped exon (SE) event results in isoform switching during interaction with M. oryzae. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis predicted that Os08g0295000-encoding proteins may interact with SNARE protein Q9LGF8 (Uniprot ID) to cooperatively regulate rice’s response to M. oryzae. This study uncovered the AS profile of rice in response to M. oryzae, which will help to explore the linkage between AS and durable rice resistance.
Antinutritional Nitrogen Compounds Content in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Tubers Depending on the Genotype and Production System
Authors: Wszelaczyńska Elżbieta , Pobereżny Jarosław , Keutgen Anna , Keutgen Norbert , Gościnna Katarzyna , Milczarek Dorota , Tatarowska Beata , Flis Bogdan
Published: October 2022

This experiment analyzed the effect of genetic determinants, the production technology, and the location on the nitrate and nitrites content in potato tubers directly after harvest. Nitrates and nitrites are anti-nutritional compounds, which limit or prevent the use of nutrients from consumed products and have a detrimental effect on the human body. The study was conducted on seven tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) clones (‘13-VIII-10’, ‘13-VIII-27’, ‘13-VIII-45’, ‘13-VIII-49’, ‘13-VIII-50’, ‘13-VIII-60’, ‘TG-97–403’), and three cultivars (‘Jelly’, ‘Satina’, and ‘Tajfun’) at four locations in Poland under either an integrated (Młochów, Boguchwała) or organic (Radzików, Chwałowice) production system. The results showed that the production system, location, and year significantly affected the nitrate and nitrites content in potatoes. Potato tubers originating from organic farming exhibited a lower content of the tested compounds (NO3−—124.1 mg kg−1 FW; NO2−—2.4 mg kg−1 FW) than that in the tubers obtained from an integrated production system (NO3−—203.7 mg kg−1 FW, NO2−—4.0 mg kg−1 FW). Under conditions of moderate stress as usual in the case of organic farming, the production of nitrates and nitrites are significantly lower than in the integrated production system. In our research potatoes from an integrated production system were characterised by a nitrate content at the limit of the established standard, i.e., 200 mg kg−1 FW. Tubers from the locality Chwałowice were characterised by the lowest nitrates and nitrites content, due to adequate environmental conditions, in addition to the best agricultural practice. The nitrates content depended to a greater extent on the environmental conditions than the potato on the genetic conditions. A higher content of nitrates and nitrites was found in the following potato clone 13-VIII-10 in Boguchwała from an integrated production system (NO3−—269.2 mg kg−1 F; NO2−—6.0 mg kg−1 FW), and in the ‘Tajfun’ cultivar (235.8; 5.8 mg kg−1 FW, respectively). Such a relationship was not found in integrated production in Młochów, which indicates the influence of the environment.
MISSR: A Mentoring Interactive System for Stripe Rust
Authors: Omara Reda Ibrahim , Mazrou Yasser S. A. , Elsayed Abdelrahman , Moawad Nevien , Nehela Yasser , Shahin Atef A.
Published: October 2022

Wheat is one of the most important crops in the world and was considered the major grain crop grown in Egypt. Nowadays, Egypt is the largest wheat importer in the world and consumes an extensive amount of it. To decrease the gap between production and consumption and increase the yield, we need to control wheat diseases, especially stripe rust, due to its major damage to wheat. Further, we need to advise farmers as early as we can to control and treat them. The paper proposed an interactive intelligent system to monitor, predict and give the correct advice at the right time to farmers. This system is called MISSR (Mentoring Interactive System for Stripe Rust). The system is considered an important means to effectively prevent risks in agricultural production. It also plays an important role in guiding farmers and decision-makers to plan and implement suitable practices to increase yield and mitigate stripe-rust disease. On the other hand, it can acquire relevant and timely information in the areas where this information or data is unavailable. To build this model for the wheat crop in Egypt, we used wheat experts’ knowledge and climate data API. MISSR is available as a mobile application to provide access for more farmers and increase its availability.
Isolation and Functional Characterization of Culture-Dependent Endophytes Associated with Vicia villosa Roth
Authors: Taheri Parisa , Kaida Rumi , Dastogeer Khondoker M. G. , Appiah Kwame Sarpong , Yasuda Michiko , Tanaka Keisuke , Mardani Korrani Hossein , Azizi Majid , Okazaki Shin , Fujii Yoshiharu
Published: October 2022

In a natural ecosystem, endophytic fungi in the internal tissues of plants help to improve the growth of the host plants and to decrease the negative effects of biotic and abiotic stresses without having adverse effects. In Japan, Vicia villosa (hairy vetch), a legume plant with a high capacity to fix nitrogen, is usually used as a cover crop before soybeans to enhance the fertility and structure of the soil. This study aimed to isolate endophytic fungi associated with different tissues of hairy vetch and to evaluate their potential for growth-promoting and biocontrol effects in plants. Thirty-three fungal endophytes belonging to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were isolated from the leaf, stem, and root tissues of hairy vetch grown under both greenhouse and field conditions. The highest colonization frequency in both the greenhouse and field-grown hairy vetch plants was obtained from the root tissues. All isolates were checked for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and siderophore production. The maximum IAA content in the culture filtrate (4.21 μg mL−1) was produced by the isolate hvef7 (Cladosporium cladosporioides), followed by hvef18 (Penicillium simplicissimum) (3.02 μg mL−1) and hvef1 (Cladosporium pseudocladosporioides) (2.32 μg mL−1). Nineteen isolates among a total of thirty-three isolates produced siderophores. Moreover, some of the isolated strains could solubilize phosphate and potassium. Most of the isolates showed antagonistic potential against Calonectria ilicicola. The results of this study show that endophytic fungi isolated from hairy vetch have the potential for application as plant growth promotion fungi (PGPF) to promote plant growth and control disease in sustainable agriculture.
Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Seed Coating on Grain Protein and Mineral Composition of Old and Modern Bread Wheat Genotypes
Authors: De Santis Michele Andrea , Giuliani Marcella Michela , Flagella Zina , Pellegrino Elisa , Ercoli Laura
Published: October 2022

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on yield and quality was investigated on a set of seven bread wheat genotypes with varying years of release, including five old genotypes and two modern varieties. A two-year field trial was conducted in central Italy under rainfed conditions. The effect of AM fungal seed coating was proved by assessing the AM fungal root colonization and studied on agronomic and quality traits, and in particular on gluten-forming proteins and grain mineral composition. AMF seed coating led to a general yield improvement in old genotypes (+24%). Concerning the effects on grain quality, while modern genotypes showed an increase in protein content (+16%), in the old ones an improvement of gluten quality was observed, with an increased proportion of HMW-GS from +17% to +92%. The gluten index results were mostly influenced by HMW-GS allelic configuration and amount, showing a significant correlation with gliadin-to-glutenin ratio and HMW-GS to LMW-GS. Concerning mineral uptake, AM fungal treatment determined a general increase in P content, which was more marked in the modern group (+44%). Furthermore, AMF significantly increased mean Fe concentration in Verna (+53%) and Bologna (+45%). Finally, phytate content did not increase with AMF, without affecting mineral bioavailability.
The Streptomyces chromofuscus Strain RFS-23 Induces Systemic Resistance and Activates Plant Defense Responses against Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus Infection
Authors: Chen Delai , Ali Mian Noor Hussain Asghar , Kamran Muhammad , Magsi Manzoor Ali , Mora-Poblete Freddy , Maldonado Carlos , Waris Muhammad , Aljowaie Reem M. , Zehri Mohammad Yakoob , Elshikh Mohamed S.
Published: October 2022

Insect-vectored plant viruses pose a serious threat to sustainable production of economically important crops worldwide. This demands a continuous search for environmentally-friendly, sustainable and efficient approaches based on biological agents to address the mounting challenges of viral disease management. To date, the efficacy of actinomycetes bacteria against DNA plant viruses remains unknown. Here, through comparative analyses, we demonstrate that the RFS-23 strain of Streptomyces cellulase possesses protective activity as it positively regulated the plant growth and development. and diminished the severity, of disease symptoms, together with reduced accumulation of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) DNA. The RFS-23 strain maintained relative chlorophyll contents by promoting the expression of genes (CLH1, HEMA1 and PORA) associated with chlorophyll biogenesis. As compared to another strain, CTF-20, the RSF-23 induced a significantly higher expression of plant defense-related genes (NbCIS and NbNCED) associated with biogenesis and accumulation of salicylic acid and abscisic acid. Additionally, the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, POD and MDA) was significantly enhanced by RSF-23 treatment, despite the presence of viral infection. These findings suggest that RSF-23 is a novel biocontrol agent with protective activity, and it could be a potential candidate for the management of plant viral infections.
Cover Crops as Reservoirs for Young Vine Decline Pathogens
Authors: Rosa Daniel , Sharifi Mehdi , Hart Miranda M.
Published: October 2022

Young vine decline (YVD) is a grapevine trunk disease (GTD) which results in stunted and delayed growth, reduced yield, root necrosis and eventually death of young vines. Given losses associated with root trunk disease, and increasing limits on chemical fungicides, there is a need for sustainable approaches to combat disease; (1) Cover cropping is a commonly used practice in agricultural systems and has potential to reduce disease in vineyards but there is a risk that cover crop species may act as a host for grapevine pathogens, increasing the risk of infection; (2) We tested 25 plant species commonly used in cover crops to assess their potential to act as a host for a Ilyonectria liriodendri, which is a causal agent of young vine decline. We inoculated greenhouse pots with a pathogeninc strain of Ilyonectria and assayed the roots for the presence of the pathogen; (3) Of the 25 cover crops tested, many of the species showed increased root abundance of Ilyonectria, compared to background levels. In particular phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) showed very high levels of root colonization. (4) This is the first study to our knowledge that highlights the potential of cover crops to soil borne fungal pathogens.
Diversity of Polish Oat Cultivars with a Glance at Breeding History and Perspectives
Authors: Koroluk Aneta , Paczos-Grzęda Edyta , Sowa Sylwia , Boczkowska Maja , Toporowska Joanna
Published: October 2022

During 120 years of Polish breeding of oats (Avena sativa L.), dozens of new varieties have been developed. This study was undertaken to investigate the diversity and population structure of 72 Polish oat cultivars released since 1893. The analysis was based on pedigree data as well as ISSR and REMAP marker polymorphisms. The ancestry of common oat cultivars was traced back to 124 cultivars, breeding lines, and landraces. The five most common progenitors were ‘Markische Landsorte’, ‘selection from Ligowo oat’, ‘Fransk Svarthavre’, ‘Blanche de Siberie’, and ‘selection from Schleswig-Holstein landrace’. We found that at least one of them was present in 78% of analysed objects. The studied cultivars were assigned to four groups according to the period of their breeding (before 1945, 1945–1969, 1970–2000, and after 2000) and six groups according to the breeding company (Strzelce Plant Breeding Company, DANKO Plant Breeding, Station of Plant Breeding in Rogaczewo, Małopolska Plant Breeding Company, Station of Plant Breeding in Borów, and other). A decrease in observed heterozygosity within the groups was observed only in the postwar period (1945–1969). As a result of breeders’ efforts and extensive crosses with foreign materials initiated in 1970 and 1980, new alleles were provided to the oat gene pool. The highest number of new varieties came from the Strzelce and DANKO breeding companies. There were no significant differences between modern cultivars derived from different breeding companies. However, very early breeding centres functioning before 1945 had significantly different materials from the modern ones. The population genetic structure of the studied group of cultivars appeared to be quite simple. It was shown that their genetic makeup consisted of two or three distinct gene pools, depending on the method of polymorphism assessment. The performed research proved that Polish oat breeding using traditional breeding methods—such as selection or intraspecific and interspecific crosses—although focused on improving yield and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress, did not significantly narrow the oat gene pool and has been releasing cultivars that are competitive in the European market.
Analysing Airflow Velocity in the Canopy to Improve Droplet Deposition for Air-Assisted Spraying: A Case Study on Pears
Authors: Shi Rongkai , Sun Hao , Qiu Wei , Lv Xiaolan , Ahmad Fiaz , Gu Jiabing , Yu Hongfeng , Zhang Zhengwei
Published: October 2022

The suitability of airflow velocity in airborne spraying operations in orchards is mostly evaluated on the basis of inlet and outlet based on the airflow velocity at the canopy. However, the airflow velocity required to penetrate into the inner layer of the canopy, which is prone to pests and diseases, is still unclear due to variation in the geometry of the plant canopies. In this study, pear trees were selected as an example to explore the variations in the law of airflow attenuation in the inner canopy. Furthermore, we examine mist droplet formation in the inner canopy to determine a suitable inner canopy airflow end velocity (ICAEV) for air-assisted application. We also conducted a field validation test. The results showed that the majority of airflow velocity loss occurred in the middle and outer part of the canopy; rapid decline of airflow occurred in the 0–0.3 m section, whereas the slow decline of airflow occurred in the 0.3–0.8 m section. When the ICAEV is in the range of 2.70–3.18 m/s, the spraying effect is better. The droplet deposition variation coefficient was 42.25% compared with 51.25% in the conventional airflow delivery mode. Additionally, the droplet drift was reduced by 12.59 μg/cm2. The results of this study can identify a suitable ICAEV for air-assisted spraying in orchards.
Mixture of Alfalfa, Orchardgrass, and Tall Fescue Produces Greater Biomass Yield in Southwest China
Authors: Liu Xianjun , Tahir Muhammad , Li Changhua , Chen Chen , Xin Yafen , Zhang Guijie , Cheng Mingjun , Yan Yanhong
Published: October 2022

The current study investigated the influence of mixture composition on the biomass yield and early establishment of legume–grass mixtures. The legume species alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. (A)), white clover (Trifolium repens L. (WC)), and red clover (Trifolium pratense L. (RC)) and grass species orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L. (O)), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. (TF)), and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. (PR)) were grown in monocultures and in different legume–grass mixtures. Legume–grass mixtures (M1: WC + O + TF; M2: A + O + TF; M3: A + WC + O + TF; M4: RC + WC + O + TF; M5: A + WC + O + TF + PR; M6: RC + WC + O + TF + PR; and M7: A + RC + WC + O + TF + PR) were sown in a legume–grass seeding ratio of 3:7. The results showed that M2 had the greatest two-year average biomass yield (12.92 t ha−1), which was significantly (p < 0.05), 4.7%, 5.4%, 15.8%, and 29.1% greater than that of WC monoculture, M7, M4, and M1, respectively. The grass biomass yield proportions of all mixtures significantly decreased, while legume biomass yield proportions significantly increased in the second year compared to the first year of establishment. The land-equivalent ratio values of M2 and M4 were greater than 1 in each cutting period. The competition rate of grasses gradually decreased with prolonged establishment time. Overall, the biomass yield, legume and grass biomass yield proportions, land equivalent ratio, and competition rate data highlighted that M2 is the best choice to achieve greater productivity and early establishment in southwest China.
Tree Trunk and Obstacle Detection in Apple Orchard Based on Improved YOLOv5s Model
Authors: Su Fei , Zhao Yanping , Shi Yanxia , Zhao Dong , Wang Guanghui , Yan Yinfa , Zu Linlu , Chang Siyuan
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we propose a tree trunk and obstacle detection method in a semistructured apple orchard environment based on improved YOLOv5s, with an aim to improve the real-time detection performance. The improvement includes using the K-means clustering algorithm to calculate anchor frame and adding the Squeeze-and-Excitation module and 10% pruning operation to ensure both detection accuracy and speed. Images of apple orchards in different seasons and under different light conditions are collected to better simulate the actual operating environment. The Gradient-weighted Class Activation Map technology is used to visualize the performance of YOLOv5s network with and without improvement to increase interpretability of improved network on detection accuracy. The detected tree trunk can then be used to calculate the traveling route of an orchard carrier platform, where the centroid coordinates of the identified trunk anchor are fitted by the least square method to obtain the endpoint of the next time traveling rout. The mean average precision values of the proposed model in spring, summer, autumn, and winter were 95.61%, 98.37%, 96.53%, and 89.61%, respectively. The model size of the improved model is reduced by 13.6 MB, and the accuracy and average accuracy on the test set are increased by 5.60% and 1.30%, respectively. The average detection time is 33 ms, which meets the requirements of real-time detection of an orchard carrier platform.
Advances in Cell Wall Research of Crop Plants
Authors: Acebes José-Luis
Published: October 2022

Much research has been conduct since cell walls were first depicted, when they were considered to be a mere inert material, such as the cement between cells, which only contributed to mechanical support [...]
Identification of SNP Markers Associated with Grain Quality Traits in a Barley Collection (Hordeum vulgare L.) Harvested in Kazakhstan
Authors: Genievskaya Yuliya , Almerekova Shyryn , Abugalieva Saule , Chudinov Vladimir , Blake Thomas , Abugalieva Aigul , Turuspekov Yerlan
Published: October 2022

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a cereal crop traditionally used in animal feed, malting, and food production. In this study, a collection of barley was analyzed according to key grain quality traits, including protein content (GPC), starch content (GSC), extractivity (EX), and grain test weight per liter (TWL). A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with GPC, GSC, EX, and TWL using a collection of 658 barley accessions from the USA and Kazakhstan. The collection was grown at three breeding organizations in Kazakhstan in 2010 and 2011 and genotyped using the 9K SNP Illumina chip. As a result, 18 marker-trait associations (MTAs) for GPC, 19 MTAs for GSC, 12 MTAs for EX, and 27 MTAs for TWL were detected, resulting in 30 identified QTLs. It was shown that the genetic locations of 25 of these 30 QTLs were in similar positions to the QTLs and genes previously reported in the scientific literature, suggesting that the 5 remaining QTLs are novel putative genetic factors for the studied grain quality traits. Five of the most significant SNP markers (p < 2.6 × 10−5) for the studied quality traits identified in the GWAS were used for the development of reliable and informative competitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) genotyping assays. The effectiveness of two assays (ipbb_hv_6 and ipbb_hv_128) was confirmed via validation in a separate collection of barley breeding lines grown in large field plots in northern Kazakhstan. Therefore, these KASP assays can be efficiently used in a marker-assisted selection of grain quality traits in barley breeding.