Agronomic Parameters Research Articles

Field Assessment of Morphometric and Agronomic Characteristics of Fifteen Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Varieties Under Agroecological Conditions of INERA Gimbi station, Democratic Republic of Congo

Aim: To evaluate morphometric and agronomic traits of fifteen groundnut varieties from germplasm of the National Pulses Program of Institut National pour l’Etude et la Recherche Agronomiques.
 Study Design: This study was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with fifteen treatments repeated three times.
 Place and duration of the study: The trial was conducted at Gimbi research station from March 9 to June 13, 2022. 
 Methodology: This study was conducted using fifteen varieties (treatments) replicated three times. Data collected concerned the percentage of seedlings that emerged, morphometric and agronomic parameters. 
 Results: Seeds emerged varied from 80.6 to 93.5%. Collar diameter varied from 8.7 to 10.1mm, and stem height from 40.5 to 55.1cm. Groundnut varieties flowered on 30 to 35 DAS, and pod maturity is reached on 90 to 98 DAS. Number of pods per plant varied from 10.2 to 16.6, and number of seeds per pod from 2.0 to 2.3. The weight of fresh pods per plot varied from 1,002.3 to 1,043.2g, and the weight of dry pods per plot from 742.3 to 858.7g. The 100-seed weight varied from 49.4 to 53.4g. Dry pods yield varied from 1,546.5 to 1,816.1kg/ha, and seeds yield from 1,376.8 to 1,642.4kg/ha. The principal component analysis figure explains reality with 55.32% information. The first axis explained explains 33.54% of the information, and the second axis explained explains 21.78% of the information. Ascending hierarchical classification grouped groundnut varieties into five classes.
 Conclusion: This study shows high variability in the behaviour of groundnut varieties used. Collar diameter and plant height development are continuous from the second to the eighth WAS, then practically fade from the tenth WAS. Groundnut varieties flowered, and pods reached maturity at the same time. Yield is positively correlated with the weight of dry pods and the weight of seeds per plot. Hierarchical classification revealed five distinct classes of groundnut varieties.

Assessing emerging and priority micropollutants in sewage sludge: environmental insights and analytical approaches

The application of sewage sludge (SS) in agriculture, as an alternative to manufactured fertilizers, is current practice worldwide. However, as wastewater is collected from households, industries, and hospitals, the resulting sludge could contaminate land with creeping levels of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and microplastics, among others. Thus, the sustainable management of SS requires the development of selective methods for the identification and quantification of pollutants, preventing ecological and/or health risks. This study presents a thorough evaluation of emerging and priority micropollutants in SS, through the lens of environmental insights, by developing and implementing an integrated analytical approach. A quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction method, coupled with gas chromatography and liquid chromatography, was optimized for the determination of 42 organic compounds. These include organophosphorus pesticides, organochlorine pesticides, pyrethroid pesticides, organophosphate ester flame retardants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The optimization of the dispersive-solid phase for clean-up, combined with the optimization of chromatographic parameters, ensured improved sensitivity. Method validation included assessments for recovery, reproducibility, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ). Recoveries ranged from 59.5 to 117%, while LODs ranged from 0.00700 to 0.271 µg g-1. Application of the method to seven SS samples from Portuguese wastewater treatment plants revealed the presence of sixteen compounds, including persistent organic pollutants. The quantification of α-endosulfan, an organochlorine pesticide, was consistently observed in all samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.110 to 0.571 µg g-1. Furthermore, the study encompasses the analysis of agronomic parameters, as well as the mineral and metal content in SS samples. The study demonstrates that the levels of heavy metals comply with legal limits. By conducting a comprehensive investigation into the presence of micropollutants in SS, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the environmental and sustainable implications associated with SS management.Graphical

Maximizing wheat yield through soil quality enhancement: A combined approach with Azospirillum brasilense and bentonite

Maintaining soil fertility to obtain higher crop production is essential for food security and sustainability. Soil amendments not only improve soil fertility but also enhance plant growth. Azospirillum brasilense is an important plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria participating in the progression of wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield; however, how it works in bentonite soil for enhancing wheat production is not clear yet. To investigate the combined applications of Azospirillum brasilense and bentonite, a planned experiment was performed in the wirehouse. Through studying various agronomic, physiological, and soil-related parameters, it was found that the sole application of Azospirillum brasilense is more beneficial as compared to the sole application of ben-tonite. Bentonite application at 10 g kg−1 of soil is more beneficial for the wheat crop growth and soil fertility status as compared to the bentonite application at 5 g kg−1 of soil. Co-application of Azospirillum brasilense and bentonite at 10 g kg−1 of soil increases the grain yield by 42 %, LAI by 20.2 %, and Stomatal conductance by up to 13.88 %. The resulting increase was due to an increase in the soil organic matter contents, microbial activities, growth hormones production, and more availability of soil water for plant growth.

INOCULAÇÃO E APLICAÇÃO DE DIFERENTES DOSES DE Azospirillum brasilense E SUA INFLUÊNCIA NO DESENVOLVIMENTO DA CULTURA DO MILHO

Benefits in grain productivity, with low economic cost, ease of application, without causing toxic damage to the environment and with high potential for crop response, are target points in research involving the cultivation of corn. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of inoculation of Azospirillum brasilense on the vegetative structures of the corn crop, envisioning an increase in the development of the plant. The experimental design used was completely randomized, with six treatments and four replications, totaling 24 experiments. Seeds were inoculated with A. brasilense in different doses of the commercial product (0 - 1000 mL), where the plant height (AP), ear insertion height (AIE), stem diameter (DC), total number of leaves (NTF) and number of leaves below the first ear (NFAE), were evaluated. The inoculation of corn seeds based on A. brasilense strain Ab-V5 promoted influence on some biometric variables, with an increase in the total number of leaves (NTF), plant height (AP) and height of ear insertion (AIE) for the evaluated hybrid, resulting in increments in its vegetative development. The dosage of 549 mL per hectare was considered as favorable to result in greater amounts of total leaves (NTF) in the plant, according to the adjustment of the proposed model. The results emphasized that inoculation with this strain is a valid technique and is increasingly used by farmers, and its study is a contributing factor for improvements in agronomic parameters.

Response of different sowing densities on agronomic parameters in the cultivation of mejen corn in Tabasco, Mexico

Objective: To evaluate the response of sowing densities on agronomic parameters in the native mejen corn. Design/Methodology/Approach: A randomized complete block design with four repetitions was used for the treatments: T1 (0.25 m between plants and two seeds per hole (80,000 plants ha-1)), T2 (0.50 m between plants and three seeds per hole (60,000 plants ha-1)), T3 (0.75 m between plants and four seeds per hole (53,333 plants ha-1)), and T4 (1 m between plants and five seeds per hole (50,000 plants ha-1)). The following variables were determined: plant height without male flower (PHWMF, cm), ear size (ES, cm), plant, bracts, and rachis dry biomass (t ha-1); number of bracts, rows per ear, grain per row, grains per ear, and grain yield (GY, t ha-1). Results: Sowing densities influence the morphological response of plants, ears, and GY. The treatment with 80,000 plants ha-1 recorded a GY of 4.75 t ha-1 in traditional systems in Tabasco —greater than the regional average of 1.94 t ha-1. Study Limitations/Implications: The architecture of native corn allows an increase in productivity, as a result of the use of high densities. Findings/Conclusions: Although treatments with greater sowing distances obtained a lower number of grains per ear, this phenomenon is compensated by the greater number of plants per row that leads to higher grain yields.

Agronomic and Quality Parameters and Yield Interactions of Various Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) Cultivars at Different Sowing Dates

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is cultivated across numerous nations for its oilseed and flower, as well as its fabric and food coloring properties. In the plain circumstances of Mardin Province (Türkiye), this study was conducted to determine the best date to sow six different safflower cultivars in the vegetation years of 2018 and 2019. Six safflower cultivars (Asol, Balcı, Dinçer, Linas, Olas, and Remzibey-05) were planted in the main plots on four different sowing dates (February 06, February 16, February 26, and March 05), located in the sub-plots. Safflower characteristics, including plant height, first branch height, number of branches, number of heads, head diameter, seed yield, protein ratio, oil ratio, and oil yield, were examined in the study. The first sowing date of the Remzibey-05 cultivar yielded the most seeds (4118 kg ha-1), and the second sowing date of the Remzibey-05 yielded the most oil (1197 kg ha-1). The Asol cultivar exhibited the highest protein content, however, no discernible pattern of increase or decrease was observed with respect to sowing dates. Early sowing enhanced seed production, and as sowing time was delayed, yield significantly decreased (on average by 30%). Further comprehensive research is required to tackle the deficiencies in vegetable and oil materials, not only in this locality but also in areas expressing equivalent weather and ecological features.

Effects of chemical, organic and microbial fertilization on agronomical growth parameters, seed yield and chemical composition of chickpea

Effects of chemical, organic and microbial fertilization on agronomical growth parameters, seed yield and chemical composition of chickpea

Carrot productivity and its physiological response to irrigation methods and regimes in arid regions

Abstract The aim of this study is to optimize water irrigation management for improving carrot productivity and water-saving in arid regions of southern Tunisia. Field studies were conducted over two seasons (2017–2019) to evaluate the effects of drip irrigation (DI) and surface irrigation (SI) methods coupled with three irrigation regimes on agronomic parameters of carrot crops. Irrigation regimes consisted of water replacements of cumulated crop evapotranspiration (ETc) at levels of 100% (I100), 70% (I70), and 40% (I40) when the readily available water in I100 treatment was depleted. Results showed a reduction in carrot yield by 13–22% and 22–32% with I70 and I40 treatments compared to I100, respectively. Yield is affected by the irrigation method with a reduction of around 6–7% under the surface method for both years. The water productivity (WP) was found to significantly vary among regimes and methods, where the highest values were observed for the I40 regimes and drip method. Drip and I100 irrigation techniques seem to optimize carrot production. Under situations of water shortage, adopting deficit irrigation treatment (DI70) could be an alternative for managing carrot irrigation and improving water productivity.

Herbaceous Bee Forage Adaptation Trail in Lowlands of Borana Zone Southern Oromia

To mitigate the shortage of bee forage and help increase honey production, the use of cultivated perennial and annual nectar and pollen sources is highly important in beekeeping development. The study was conducted with the objective of evaluating and identifying adaptable honey bee forage species for beekeeping development. The planting materials were Aschynomene uniflorum, Miloletus alba, Fagopyrum esculentum, Sinaps alba, and Vicia sativa. The species were evaluated based on germination date, time to set flower, days to 50% flowering, number of flower heads per plant (at 50% flowering of the plant), flowering length (blooming duration), maturity date, and plant height at the flowering stage. Among the five evaluated herbaceous bee forage species, three of them, Aschynomene uniflorum, Fagopyrum esculentum, and Sinaps alba, are adapted and perform well in the most important agronomic parameters. Therefore, the selected bee forage species can be promoted, and beekeepers in the study areas and other areas with similar agroecology can utilise the forage species for beekeeping development. Moreover, evaluation of other agronomic parameters such as seeding rate, fertiliser rate, nectar and/or pollen yield, foraging intensity, and others over different locations of the Borana zone is recommended

The nitrogen fertilizer replacement values of incorporated legumes residue to wheat on vertisols of the Ethiopian highlands

Soil fertility depletion and continuous cereal cropping are reducing crop production in Ethiopia. Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) is a good approach for resource-poor farmers because ISFM can help reduce the need for inorganic fertilizer by increasing nitrogen (N) availability in the soil. The study aimed to investigate the effect of preceding crops, legume residue management practices, and N levels on wheat planted. The experiment was set up using a split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The N fertilizer replacement value method was used to estimate the N contribution of legumes to a succeeding wheat crop. The results showed that grain yield and N uptake of wheat crops varied in response to N fertilizer, legume residue management treatments, and tillage practices. Legume residue incorporation positively influenced the agronomic parameters of wheat compared to teff and fallow wheat rotations. The average N fertilizer replacement value from legume rotation was 18–46 kg ha−1. This study showed that a one-year legume-in-biannual wheat rotation is preferable to lying bare fallow during the cropping season. Nevertheless, drainage during legume and wheat cropping is a condition for providing full positive impacts.

Organo-mineral Fertilizer Containing Struvite from Liquid Digestate for Cucurbita pepo L. Seedling Production

The increasing demand for sustainable fertilizers has made phosphorus recovery from waste a win–win solution. The present study shows the effects of two different types of organo-mineral fertilizers, derived from liquid digestate, on Cucurbita pepo L. (zucchini) seed germination and seedling growth. Organo-mineral fertilizers (OMF) were obtained from two biogas plants—one in Cyprus and one in Sardinia. In Cyprus, it was extracted from the digestate of mixed agricultural by-products. In Sardinia, it was extracted from the digestate of bovine slurry. Different treatment levels, compared with the traditional fertilizers, were applied in a nursery: (i) business-as-usual (0.04 g of N, 0.03 g of P2O5, 0.07 of K2O per seedling), (ii) half business-as-usual level, (iii) double business-as-usual level. Agronomic, physiological, and quality parameters were assessed. At the germination level, comparable results were shown for traditional fertilizers and OMF treatments. A significant rate-response effect was observed for leaf number and area. Cyprus OMF and traditional fertilizer showed a comparable trend with the highest value at the double business-as-usual level or fertilizer. A similar trend was observed for other biometric parameters and for fresh and dry biomasses. The highest total polyphenol and anthocyanin values were recorded under Cyprus OMF and traditional fertilizer treatments at the business-as-usual level. Cyprus OMF at the highest level (2BAU, business-as-usual) presents a comparable effect on seedling growth and to traditional fertilizers probably due to the use of different agro-industrial by-products and suggesting its potential use as an alternative nutrient supply.

Adapting Almond Production to Climate Change through Deficit Irrigation and Foliar Kaolin Application in a Mediterranean Climate

Irrigation is the best strategy to reduce the adverse effects of water stress on almond trees [Prunus dulcis (Mill) D.A. Web] and improve their productivity. However, in the current context of climatic change, in which the amount of water available for irrigation is increasingly limited, deficit irrigation (DI) strategies have become essential in the almond orchards of southern Europe. Other practices, such as the foliar application of reflective compounds, are being implemented. A three-year experiment (2019–2021) was set in a factorial design in which the effect of regulated deficit irrigation and foliar kaolin spray was evaluated on physiological (predawn leaf water potential, relative water content, leaf area, leaf gas exchange, and chlorophyll fluorescence) and agronomic parameters (yield, yield components, and water use efficiency (WUE)). The treatments include full irrigation (FI), which received 100% of ETc (crop evapotranspiration) during all irrigation seasons; regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), which received 100% of ETc until the kernel-filling stage, reducing the application to 35% ETc during the kernel-filling stage until harvest; and both irrigation regimes combined with kaolin application and two cultivars, Constantí and Vairo. More negative water potential values were observed in the RDI treatments compared to the FI treatments. There were no significant differences in the stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate, or transpiration rate between treatments with RDI and FI, demonstrating the almond tree’s good adaptation to irrigation reduction in the kernel-filling stage. The two cultivars had different responses in cumulative yield throughout the three years of the trial. The cv. Constantí did not present significant differences between the FI and RDI treatments, translating into improved WUE. In contrast, the cv. Vairo suffered a reduction in accumulated performance in the RDI treatments with respect to the FI. The foliar application of kaolin did not present differences in yield and very few in the physiological activity of the almond trees. With the results obtained, we can suggest that under the conditions of our experiment, the combination of RDI and the kaolin foliar application can help save irrigation water and produce almonds more sustainably.

Integrated Nutrient Management Practices and their Effect on Soil Health in Relation of Enzyme Dynamics and Biota in a Long-Term Diverse Cropping System in Vertisols of Central India

Organic farming is gaining popularity as it maintains food yields and soil health without harming the environment. However, there is a dearth of global data on enzymes involved in the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur cycles; microbial elemental stoichiometry; and soil functional diversity. On the other hand, organic farming lacks the most sensitive biological components and enzyme activity based on soil quality indices. It all started in 2004 when four of India's largest soybean-based cropping systems participated in a trial to examine the viability of nutrient management in soybean-based cropping systems (soybean-wheat, soyabean-mustard, soybean-chickpea, and soybean-linseed). Herein, we report the findings of a soybean-wheat cropping system studied for Vertisol under six nutrient management practises. Chemical characteristics of the soil were studied before and after seeding. Enzyme activity, soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), and microbial count were studied in biological parameters. The chemical, biological and agronomic parameters of the soybean crop were statistically examined using the Randomized Block Design. The analysis of the various parameters from the surface soils (0–15 cm). The biological activity varied significantly between treatments. The agronomical indicators also exhibited significant values in the organically treated plot. Organic treatments improved agronomic conditions, stabilised soil, and improved its nutrient content, quality, and biological activity over time. The inorganically treated plot and the state recommended dose plot had the lowest nutritional content, as suggested by the lowest biological activity parameters. Soil fertility and nutrient availability were studied in this experiment in order to comprehend why switching from chemical to integrated nutrient application practises will be helpful towards the inception of a sustainable future.

Improving grain yield prediction through fusion of multi-temporal spectral features and agronomic trait parameters derived from UAV imagery.

Rapid and accurate prediction of crop yield is particularly important for ensuring national and regional food security and guiding the formulation of agricultural and rural development plans. Due to unmanned aerial vehicles' ultra-high spatial resolution, low cost, and flexibility, they are widely used in field-scale crop yield prediction. Most current studies used the spectral features of crops, especially vegetation or color indices, to predict crop yield. Agronomic trait parameters have gradually attracted the attention of researchers for use in the yield prediction in recent years. In this study, the advantages of multispectral and RGB images were comprehensively used and combined with crop spectral features and agronomic trait parameters (i.e., canopy height, coverage, and volume) to predict the crop yield, and the effects of agronomic trait parameters on yield prediction were investigated. The results showed that compared with the yield prediction using spectral features, the addition of agronomic trait parameters effectively improved the yield prediction accuracy. The best feature combination was the canopy height (CH), fractional vegetation cover (FVC), normalized difference red-edge index (NDVI_RE), and enhanced vegetation index (EVI). The yield prediction error was 8.34%, with an R2 of 0.95. The prediction accuracies were notably greater in the stages of jointing, booting, heading, and early grain-filling compared to later stages of growth, with the heading stage displaying the highest accuracy in yield prediction. The prediction results based on the features of multiple growth stages were better than those based on a single stage. The yield prediction across different cultivars was weaker than that of the same cultivar. Nevertheless, the combination of agronomic trait parameters and spectral indices improved the prediction among cultivars to some extent.

Genome-wide association analyses of agronomic traits and Striga hermonthica resistance in pearl millet

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) is a nutrient-dense, relatively drought-tolerant cereal crop cultivated in dry regions worldwide. The crop is under-researched, and its grain yield is low (< 0.8 tons ha−1) and stagnant in the major production regions, including Burkina Faso. The low productivity of pearl millet is mainly attributable to a lack of improved varieties, Striga hermonthica [Sh] infestation, downy mildew infection, and recurrent heat and drought stress. Developing high-yielding and Striga-resistant pearl millet varieties that satisfy the farmers’ and market needs requires the identification of yield-promoting genes linked to economic traits to facilitate marker-assisted selection and gene pyramiding. The objective of this study was to undertake genome-wide association analyses of agronomic traits and Sh resistance among 150 pearl millet genotypes to identify genetic markers for marker-assisted breeding and trait introgression. The pearl millet genotypes were phenotyped in Sh hotspot fields and screen house conditions. Twenty-nine million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) initially generated from 345 pearl millet genotypes were filtered, and 256 K SNPs were selected and used in the present study. Phenotypic data were collected on days to flowering, plant height, number of tillers, panicle length, panicle weight, thousand-grain weight, grain weight, number of emerged Striga and area under the Striga number progress curve (ASNPC). Agronomic and Sh parameters were subjected to combined analysis of variance, while genome-wide association analysis was performed on phenotypic and SNPs data. Significant differences (P < 0.001) were detected among the assessed pearl millet genotypes for Sh parameters and agronomic traits. Further, there were significant genotype by Sh interaction for the number of Sh and ASNPC. Twenty-eight SNPs were significantly associated with a low number of emerged Sh located on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7. Four SNPs were associated with days-to-50%-flowering on chromosomes 3, 5, 6, and 7, while five were associated with panicle length on chromosomes 2, 3, and 4. Seven SNPs were linked to thousand-grain weight on chromosomes 2, 3, and 6. The putative SNP markers associated with a low number of emerged Sh and agronomic traits in the assessed genotypes are valuable genomic resources for accelerated breeding and variety deployment of pearl millet with Sh resistance and farmer- and market-preferred agronomic traits.

Comparative assessment of biofertilizer potentials of fungal and rhizobacterial isolates

Pollution and degradation of soil due to continuous use of chemical fertilizers has led to the screening of microorganisms for use as bio-fertilizer by reason of their cost effectiveness and eco friendliness. This work investigated the ability of microorganisms to enhance crop growth using Zea mays as a case study. Pantoea eucaria, Bacillus wiadmanii and Aspergillus flavus isolated from rhizosphere of maize and identified molecularly were tested. Soil samples were obtained from Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Moor plantation, Ibadan. Ability of the isolates to produce growth promoting factors were assessed using pikovskaya, Alecksandrouv and glucose nitrogen free media before inoculated into the seed of the maize. Three pots in replicates, each contained 5 kg of soil were seeded. Isolates were applied separately and in combination with two controls. They were allowed to stand for six weeks under green house conditions, agronomic parameters were measured at interval. Result showed ability of the isolates to solubilized Phosphorus, potassium and fix nitrogen. Pantoea eucaria and Aspergillus flavus had P-solubilization index of 1.02 and 0.551 respectively. Indole acetic acid and gibberellic acid production was observed for Bacillus wiadmanii (2.6 mg/l) and Aspergillus flavus (F1) (0.56mg/l) respectively. Height (260 cm) was observed in seeds with NPK fertilizer, (206 cm) for seeds treated with the two bacteria, seeds with Bacillus wiadmannii had the least. The leaf area was not significantly different (P≤0.05) at different treatment. Plant biomass for NPK fertilizer seeds (118.91g) while the control was 35.32g. The isolates tested can be useful in the formulation of fertilizers, their utilization would help to reduce loss of soil fertility and pollution resulting from continuous use of chemical fertilizers.

Development of machine learning models for estimating wheat biophysical variables using satellite-based vegetation indices

Monitoring wheat biophysical variables during the growing season is essential for achieving precision agriculture's important goals. This study estimated plant height, leaf development stage, leaf area index, dry matter, and plant nitrogen content in wheat from Landsat-7 images in North Iran using machine learning algorithms. Forty points were selected from ten wheat fields (270 ha), and the agronomic parameters were recorded during the 2011–2012 growing season. The machine learning models applied in this study were Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Deep Neural Network (DNN). Results suggest that the DNN model was the best for predicting all the parameters, except for the nitrogen percentage, in which SVM and DNN have the same accuracy. The DNN model R2 was 0.82, 0.95, 0.95, and 0.90 RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) 9.61, 0.46, 0.47 and 1.2 and MAE (Mean Absolute Error) 26.4, 0.34, 0.28, and 0.84 for estimating plant height, leaf area index, leaf development stage and dry matter biomass, respectively. The DNN and SVM algorithms can effectively predict plant nitrogen percentage with identical R2, RMSE, and MAE values of 0.83–0.84, 0.44–0.46, and 0.33–0.36, respectively. These results show that machine learning models have great potential to provide timely and accurate data for better wheat management under field conditions from satellite imagery.

An atypical heterotrimeric Gα and its interactome suggest an extra-large role in overcoming abiotic and biotic stress.

Canonical heterotrimeric G-proteins (G-proteins) are comprised of Gα, Gβ, and Gγ subunits. G-proteins regulate multiple crucial plant growth and development processes, incorporating environmental responses. Besides Gα, Gβ and Gγ, the discovery of atypical Gα subunits termed as extra-large G-proteins or extra-large GTP-binding proteins (XLGs) makes G-protein signaling unique in plants. The C-terminus of XLG shares similarities with the canonical Gα subunits; the N-terminus harbors a nuclear localization signal (NLS) and is rich in cysteine. The earlier explorations suggest XLG's role in flowering, the development of embryos and seedlings, root morphogenesis, stamen development, cytokinin-induced development, stomatal opening and regulation of rice grain filling. The XLGs are also known to initiate signaling cascades that prime plants against a variety of abiotic and biotic stresses. They are also engaged in controlling several agronomic parameters such as rice panicle length, grain filling, grain size, and biomass, highlighting their potential contribution to crop improvement. The present review explores the remarkable properties of non-canonical Gα subunits (XLGs) and reflects on the various developmental, abiotic and biotic stress signaling pathways controlled by them. Moreover, the bottleneck dilemma of how a tiny handful of XLGs control a multiplicity of stress-responsive activities is partially resolved in this review by addressing the interaction of XLGs with different interacting proteins. XLG proteins presented in this review can be exploited to gain access to highly productive and stress-tolerant plants.

Impact of gamma radiation on the agronomic properties of naked barley genotypes

The usage of naked barley in the food industry is increasing day by day due to its health benefits. As a result, research on breeding naked barley have gained popularity. In these breeding studies, a wide variation in desired traits is needed to achieve higher success in selection. One of the best methods for obtaining genotypic variation, which is crucial for breeding studies on naked barley, is mutation. To obtain genotypic variation in certain agronomic parameters in naked barley genotypes, the impact of different gamma radiation doses on M1 and M2 plants of two naked barley genotypes was evaluated in this research. The seeds were treated with gamma irradiation using Cobalt 60 gamma source at six different doses, along with non-irradiated control samples. While the values at low doses were found to be comparable to the control in the majority of the traits, 250-300 Gy caused significant decreases in the majority of the traits in the M1 generation of both genotypes. Plant height, number of spikelets per spike, and number of grains per spike at the M2 generation were all negatively impacted by 250–300 Gy, although spike length, grain weight per spike, and thousand grain weight were positively impacted by the same doses. The mutant population generated by gamma irradiation of seeds of different naked barley genotypes was found to have suitable variation for the selection of desired traits. In addition, this material can be used to select individuals with outstanding agronomic characteristics.

Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria and Chabazite Zeolite in the growth stimulation and protection of Sedum palmeri and Sedum sieboldii from aphid and red spider mite attack

Research objective: The aim of this research was to evaluate the interaction that can develop between zeolite and microorganisms with beneficial effects on both the growth of Sedum palmeri and Sedum sieboldii and in the defence against Aphis sedii and Tetranychus urticae. Materials and Methods: The experiments, which started in January 2023, were conducted in the CREA-OF greenhouses in Pescia (Pt), Tuscany, Italy (43°54′N 10°41′E). The plants were placed in pots with a diameter of 12, 10 plants per 3 replications, for a total of 30 seedlings per experiment. The Sedum trial included the following theses (irrigated and fertilised): peat 70% + pumice 30% (CTRL); peat 70% + pumice 10% + chabazite natural zeolite 20%; peat 70% + pumice 30% + microorganisms (Azospirillum brasilense, Pseudomonas kilonensis and Bacillus aryabhattai), 1g/Kg of substrate at the time of substrate preparation; peat 70% + pumice 10% + chabazite natural zeolite 20% and micro-organisms (the same as those used in the thesis described above) in the same dosage. A second parallel experiment to control aphids and red spider mite involved: water treatment; treatment for aphids and red spider mite (soft potassium soap and azadirachtin 2.5 ml/l once a week; Kanemite 3 ml/l once a week); treatment for aphids and the alternative red spider mite (micronised zeolite 15g/l and microorganisms 1g/l, once a week). Plant height, leaves and flowers number, vegetative weight, root volume and length, microorganisms in the substrate, number of plants affected by aphids and red spider mite were determined on 15 September 2023. Results and Discussion: The experiment showed that the use of chabazite zeolite in combination with microorganisms can indeed significantly improve the vegetative and root growth of Sedum palmeri and Sedum sieboldii plants. Differences in growth between the use of zeolite and microorganisms and the untreated control are evident, with a significant improvement when the two theses are combined for all agronomic parameters analysed. In the substrate analysis, a greater presence of microbial biomass was found in the theses with zeolite, microorganisms and zeolite together with microorganisms than in the control theses, with a greater superiority of microorganisms in the substrate when zeolite and microorganisms are used in combination. The trial with micronised zeolite and microorganisms showed a significant result on the control of aphids and red spider mites, with data comparable to those of treatment with conventional chemical products. Zeolites are used successfully in the cultivation of many crops. Including cereals, vegetables, grapes and other fruits. By enhancing the absorption ability of soil, zeolite enhance the long-term quality of soil by retaining nutrients. Conclusions: For agricultural production, zeolites must have uniform properties and unique characteristics, such as cation exchange capacity and pH. Especially in agriculture and plant cultivation, zeolites improve their exchange capacity with the soil and plants through microbial activity. By lowering the pH of the substrate, microorganisms are able to solubilise the minerals retained by the zeolites, making them more available to the roots. Furthermore, zeolites, when micronised on the leaves, do a good job of protecting plants from insects and fungi, especially when used as a preventive measure. This can also ensure a significant reduction in synthetic chemicals and improve plant protection when these strategies are used in combination.