Weight Branching Research Articles

Seasonal changes in radiocesium and potassium concentrations in current-year shoots of saplings of three tree species in Fukushima, Japan

We studied seasonal changes in radiocesium (137Cs) activity and potassium concentrations in current-year leaves and branches of Pinus densiflora (naturally regenerated saplings), Cryptomeria japonica (planted saplings) and Quercus serrata (planted saplings and coppice shoots) in Fukushima, Japan. We collected current-year shoots from 10 individuals of each species over two growing seasons at intervals of 1–4 months, between June 2016 and December 2017. For the deciduous species Q. serrata, we also collected dead leaves that remained attached to branches in December to investigate reabsorption of 137Cs. All collected shoots were divided into leaves and branches, oven-dried, and ground; dry weights of each sample were recorded. 137Cs activity concentrations were measured using a germanium semiconductor detector. Potassium concentrations were quantified using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Increases in dry weight were observed in both leaves and branches between May/June and August; growth then slowed considerably and virtually ceased after October. Clear seasonal changes in 137Cs activity concentrations were observed in both 2016 and 2017, regardless of tree species. Concentrations were higher in young leaves and branches during May and June, then decreased and changed relatively little from August to winter. Reduced 137Cs activity concentrations in dead leaves of Q. serrata were observed only in December 2017 (approximately 15% lower than in October). This reduction may indicate reabsorption of 137Cs in leaves prior to shedding. The changes in potassium concentrations were similar to those in 137Cs in both years. Potassium concentrations were higher in young leaves than in mature leaf and branch samples collected later in the year. A reduction of about 50% in the potassium concentrations in dead leaves of Q. serrata was also observed in December. A positive relationship between 137Cs and potassium concentrations in leaves and branches was observed in all species, except for planted Q. serrata. This relationship may indicate that 137Cs moves in tree shoots with potassium. Leaf and branch weight correlated negatively with 137Cs and potassium concentrations. Reduced concentrations may indicate dilution of these elements as a result of biomass increases over the growing season. Our results imply that irrespective of species, 137Cs exhibits seasonal variations resulting from dilution; these variations correspond with trends in potassium, with higher levels in young organs and decreased levels in older organs.

Study on inter traits relationship among the parents and hybrids for seed yield and its contributing traits in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum- graecum L.)

The present investigation was carried out at Main Experiment Station, Department of Vegetable Science, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.). The characters studied were Days to 50% flowering, Days to maturity, Plant height (cm), Number of branches per plantv, Pod length, Number of pod per plant, Number of seed per pod, Test weight (g), Biological yield (g), Harvest index (%) and Harvest index (%). At phenotypic level seed yield per plant exhibited positively significant correlation with harvest index (0.825), Number of pods per plant (0.921), days to maturity (0.374), Number of branches per plant (0.281), plant height (0.338) and pod length (0.287). Harvest index exhibited positively significant correlation with test weight (0.483), number of pod per plant (0.750), plant height (0.412) and days to maturity (0.339). Harvest index was also showed negatively significant correlation with biological yield per plant (-0.618). Biological yield per plant exhibited positively significant correlation with number of branches per plant (0.403), number of seed per pod (0.341) and showed negatively significant correlation with test weight (-0.501) and plant height (-0.271). Test weight showed negatively significant correlation with days to 50% flowering (0.629) and days to maturity (0.406). Number of seeds per pod (0.698).Number of pod per plant was exhibited positively significant correlation with number of branches per plant (0.295), plant height (0.289) and days to maturity (0.304). exhibited positively significant correlation with days to 50% flowering (0.560). At the genotypic level in general the correlation coefficient were similar in nature but higher in magnitude to that of observed value at phenotypic level. Here also seed yield per plant showed highly significant and positive correlation with harvest index, days to maturity, test weight, plant height, pods length and number of branches per plants. Other combinations of different pair of characters showed association as at phenotypic level during E1, E2 and pooled. However as seed yield per plant showed highly significant and negative correlation with biological yield.

Microalgal liquid biofertilizer and biostimulant effect on green gram (Vigna radiata L) an experimental cultivation

Microalgae-based biofertilizers have been proven to be very successful and an alternate source for agricultural sectors in reducing the usage of harmful chemical fertilizers. Focusing on this, liquid biofertilizer extracts of Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis are used to improve the growth of green gram Vigna radiata (L.). The microalgal extracts of Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis showed maximum chemical composition and elemental contents. Growth parameters of shoot, root length, and weight of green gram (Vigna radiata) at flowering stage were found to be at a higher level with treatments I and II. Similarly, maximum number of fresh weights of root nodules, plant heights, plant branches, plant leaves, and leaf area index were recorded as 100% with treatment I of Chlorella vulgaris and treatment II of Spirulina platensis in treated plants. The leaf chemical composition such as N, P, and K, total carbohydrates, Indole, and phenol evidenced with good results in plants treated with Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis. The soil characterisstics such as pH, EC (ds/m), Ca++, Na+, Mg++, K+, CO−3, Cl−, HCO−3, and So4 and physical characteristics of green gram including water absorption index, water solubility index, water absorption, and oil absorption were observed in superior level in microalgae-treated plants. The proximate composition and mineral composition of green gram seed flour were also recorded to be higher with Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis treatments. The antinutritional factors and phytohaemagglutinating activities of green gram were also found to be higher in microalgal-treated plants. Thus, the implications of Chlorella vulgaris as well as Spirulina platensis were proven to be pros of liquid biofertilizers in the production of green gram.

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) production of a subpolar rhodolith bed: Methods of estimation, effect of bioturbators, and global comparisons

Rhodolith beds are major biogenic calcium carbonate producers, with production rates that can be similar to those of coral reefs. Production rates vary latitudinally because of differences in abiotic and biotic drivers, but the different methods used to estimate CaCO3 production rate may also explain some of the wide variation among estimates. We used a 378-day manipulative experiment in a subpolar Newfoundland rhodolith bed to: (1) quantify and compare gross and net rhodolith CaCO3 production rates; (2) compare production estimates derived from branch extension and weight change methods; and (3) test the hypothesis that bioturbators increase rhodolith branch extension [growth] and CaCO3 production. We also reviewed published estimates of CaCO3 production rates in rhodolith-forming, coralline red algae from polar to tropical realms to place our findings within a global context. Gross (806.1 g CaCO3 m−2 y-1) and net (196.2 g CaCO3 m−2 y−1) rhodolith CaCO3 production rates estimated from rhodolith weight change and rhodolith density (individuals m−2) in the bed were similar to those in European beds and lower than in subtropical and tropical beds. The latter net production rate was lower than carbonate production estimated from rhodolith biomass (g m−2) in the bed divided by calculated rhodolith age (based on branch extension rate and physical dimensions, 325.7 g CaCO3 m−2 y−1). Rhodolith minimum age estimates ranged from 35.8 y (based on use of the branch extension method), to 37.9 y (gross weight change) to 115.1 y (net weight change), indicating that different methods can under- or over-estimate age by up to three times. Bioturbators, known to affect sediment load, did not affect branch extension rate (0.541 mm y−1) or weight change (1.64 g y−1) of live, stained, or unstained rhodoliths. Our results imply that gross CaCO3 production by living rhodoliths is far greater than net estimates, in which dry weight loss by dead rhodoliths may account for as much as 75% of gross production. CaCO3 production rates reported in the present study are similar to other rhodolith beds in the polar and subpolar carbonate realms, but there is a marked discrepancy among studies because of the variety of methods of estimation used.

Estimates of genetic parameters and path analysis of crambe: An important oil plant for biofuel production

Crambe is an oilseed plant producing oil that can be used for various industrial purposes, including the production of biofuel. It is a short-cycle, non-food plant that can be grown as a second crop following soybean or corn crops and using the same agricultural machinery. This work aimed to estimate genetic parameters and correlations between traits of genotypes grown for two years in seven locations in two Brazilian states. The cultivar FMS Brilhante and the lines CR 1101, CR 1102, CR 1105, CR 1202, CR 1303, and CR 1304 were used. The traits evaluated were grain yield (YD), plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), first fruiting branch height (BH), 1,000-seed weight (SW), and number of branches (NB). The correlations between traits were identified from the phenotypic covariance matrix through path analysis. Based on the joint analysis, the interaction of genotypes x years x locations was observed. Expressive genetic variability was verified for all evaluated traits, which allows gains to be made with the selection of genotypes. High broad-sense heritabilities based on plot means were verified for YD, BH, and SW (82, 84 and 77%, respectively), which indicates the possibility of directly selecting them. SW and SD showed the greatest direct effects and strongest correlations with YD.

A multi-constrained binary ILP method for optimal allocation of PMUs in network

This paper proposes multi-constrained binary integer linear programming (MBILP) method for optimal installation of phasor measurement units in IEEE networks considering Fast Load Voltage Stability Index (FLVSI), branch weight and redundancy constraints to minimize the cost of installation and to accomplish complete network observability. The weak buses of IEEE network are sorted based on their severity through the proposed strategy. A new FLVSI is programmed along with branch weight and redundancy constraints in MBILP to place PMUs in network. As installation cost of PMU for different buses varies with the number of branches or number of channels connected, PMUs should be allotted at bus with minimum cost. Redundancy of bus is computed to measure redundancy of bus network. Priority of PMU placement is considered at weak bus with proposed FLVSI in such a way that the cost is minimized and redundancy is adequate considering both branch weight and redundancy constraints. Ranking is proposed for PMU placement to find weak load bus in network along with the consideration of branch weight and redundancy. Zero injection (ZI) constraint modeling is recommended to minimize allocations further in system without losing observability. Contingency constraints for single-line or PMU loss are considered for allocation of PMUs. The proposed method is compared with ZI and without ZI modeling under general and line-outage or PMU loss cases to show efficacy of method. To estimate observability performance of complete network, a Complete Network Bus Observability Index is suggested. IEEE 14-, 24-, 30- and 57-bus networks are programmed with MATLAB software and compared with standard approaches to validate their efficacy.

EFFECT OF IRRIGATION WATER QUANTITY AND SOME ANTIOXIDANTS ON YIELD AND SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS OF SNAP BEAN GROWN UNDER SANDY SOIL CONDITIONS

A field experiment was carried out during the two successive summer seasons of 2017 and 2018 under sandy soil conditions at EL-Khattara Experimental Farm, Fac. Agric., Zagazig University, to study the effect of irrigation water quantity (1000, 1500 and 2000 m3/fed.) and foliar spray with some antioxidants (salicylic cid at 200 ppm, ascorbic acid at 300 ppm beside control treatments ( sprayed with tap water ) on growth, plant water relationship, yield and pod quality of snap bean cv, Bronco. The most important findings could be summarized as follows: The interactions between irrigation of snap bean plants at 2000 m3/fed. and spraying with SA at 200 ppm recorded the highest values of dry weight of branches, leaves and total dry weight/ plant, increasing chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll (a+b) in leaf tissues, average pod weight , yield / plant and total pods yield/fed., and TSS in green pods. However, the interaction between irrigation water quantity at 2000 m3/fed. and spraying with ascorbic acid at 300 ppm recorded the highest values of total and free water (%) in leaf tissues and total carbohydrates and Vit. C in green pods in both seasons, whereas interaction treatment between 1000 m3 water/fed., without antioxidants resulted in the highest values represented bound water and proline amino acid in leaf tissues and total fiber contents in green pods. On the other hand, the interactions between irrigation water quantity at 1000 m3 water/ fed., and spraying with SA at 200 ppm recorded the highest values of water use efficiency (2.692 and 2.731 kg green pods/m3 water) in the 1st and 2nd seasons, respectively.

Individual reproductive strategy of Stipa breviflora under different grazing pressures

AbstractAnalyzing the ecological strategies of reproductive individuals under grazing stress is a key factor in understanding the adaptation and maintenance mechanisms of populations in grassland ecosystems. In this study, a Stipa breviflora population with reproductive individuals of different ages and individual traits in the desert steppe of the Mongolian Plateau was systematically analyzed in response to heavy grazing, moderate grazing and non‐grazing treatments. The results showed that grazing reduced the density and biomass of the population and reproductive individuals but did not reduce the proportion of reproductive branch biomass. Grazing reduced the proportion of individuals in the young stage and increased the proportion in the adult stage. In addition, grazing reduced the width, length and weight of the foliage branches at each growth stage. The largest numbers of seeds in the heavy grazing, moderate grazing and non‐grazing treatments were in the adult stage, the pre‐aging stage and the aging stage, respectively. Grazing weakened the potential relationships between foliage branch traits and reproductive branch traits and between growth stage and reproductive branch traits, especially under heavy grazing. Our study suggested that under long‐term grazing stress, S. breviflora completed its life cycle by sacrificing some of the growth stage individuals, changing phenotypes and reducing the age of individuals with high‐yielding seeds to maintain resource allocation to reproductive branches in reproductive individuals.

High-Level Semantic Networks for Multi-Scale Object Detection

To better solve scale variance problem, deep multi-scale methods usually detect objects of different scales by different in-network layers. However, the semantic levels of features from different layers are usually inconsistent. In this paper, we propose a multi-branch and high-level semantic network by gradually splitting a base network into multiple different branches. As a result, the different branches have same depth and the output features of different branches have similarly high-level semantics. Due to the difference of receptive fields, the different branches are suitable to detect objects of different scales. Meanwhile, the multi-branch network does not introduce additional parameters by sharing the convolutional weights of different branches. To further improve detection performance, skip-layer connections are used to add context to the branch of relatively small receptive field, and dilated convolution is incorporated to enlarge the resolutions of output feature maps. When they are embedded into Faster RCNN architecture, the weighted scores of proposal generation network and proposal classification network are further proposed. Experiments on three pedestrian datasets (i.e., the KITTI dataset, the Caltech dataset, and the Citypersons dataset), one face dataset (i.e., the WIDER FACE dataset), and two general object datasets (i.e., the COCO benchmark and the PASCAL VOC dataset) demonstrate the effectiveness and generality of proposed method. On these datasets, our method achieves state-of-the-art performance.

Everettian theory as pure wave mechanics plus a no-collapse probability postulate

Proposed derivations of the Born rule for Everettian theory are controversial. I argue that they are unnecessary but may provide justification for a simplified version of the Principal Principle. It’s also unnecessary to replace Everett’s idea that a subject splits in measurement contexts with the idea that subjects have linear histories which partition (Deutsch in Int J Theor Phys 24:1–41, 1985; The Beginning of Infinity. Allen Lane, London, 2011; Saunders and Wallace in Br J Philos Sci 59:293–305, 2008; Saunders, in: Saunders, Barrett, Kent, Wallace (eds) Many worlds? Everett, quantum theory, and reality, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 181–205, 2010; Wallace in The emergent multiverse, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2012, Chapter 7; Wilson in Br J Philos Sci 64:709–737, 2013; The nature of contingency: quantum physics as modal realism, Oxford University Press, Oxford, forthcoming). Linear histories were introduced to provide a concept of pre-measurement uncertainty and I explain why pre-measurement uncertainty for splitting subjects is after all coherent, though not necessary because Everett’s original fission interpretation of branching can arguably be rendered coherent without it, via reference to Vaidman (Int Stud Philos Sci 12:245–66, 1998), Tappenden (Br J Philos Sci 62:99–123, 2011), Sebens and Carroll (Br J Philos Sci 69:25–74, 2018) and McQueen and Vaidman (Stud Hist Philos Mod Phys 66:14–23, 2019). A deterministic and probabilistic quantum mechanics can be made intelligible by replacing the standard collapse postulate with a no-collapse postulate which identifies objective probability with relative branch weight, supplemented by the simplified Principal Principle and some revisionary metaphysics.

Morphoagronomic characterization of sweet potato accessions from the germplasm bank of Embrapa hortaliças

Studies on the determination of genetic divergence among genotypes are important tools in breeding programs, contributing to the identification of parents with considerable productive potential. However, little is known about the combinatorial capacity of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) accessions and its adaptation to the different regions of Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morpho-agronomic traits from 102 sweet potato accessions from the Germplasm Bank of Embrapa Hortaliças. The experiment was laid out as an augmented block design comprised of 102 treatments. Nineteen above ground traits were measured using descriptors for the respective parts. Estimated values of broad sense heritability were high for the traits mean branch length (95.75%), immature leaf color (85.06%), and predominant branch color (90.57%). Coefficients of environmental variation were below 30.00% for all variables, except for branch weight (51.62%). The 102 clones analyzed presented broad genetic variability for the different traits evaluated, especially for branch weight, and branch length, and mature leaf color.

Variability of the structure of correlations between the morphological and commercial traits of soybeans with different growth habit and branching characters

High yields of seeds, green pods and green biomass is the main goal of soybean breeding in many countries. An assessment of relationships between the productivity traits and their effect on the yield may be useful in developing effective crop cultivation programs. In soybean, the stem growth habit and the branching character are interrelated with plant productivity and in most cases determine it. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to study the variability of the level (strength) and the structure of correlations between 92 morphological, phenological, biochemical, agronomic traits of soybean accessions with different growth habits, and branching characters in different weather conditions. 270 soybean accessions of different ecological and geographical origin from the VIR collection have been grown in the Krasnodar region within 3 years. Field studies of the traits and biochemical analysis were carried out according to VIR guidelines. The variability of correlation matrices as regards the strength and structure of relationships was analyzed using the correlation and factor analysis (the principal component method), as well as the method developed by N.S. Rostova. A comparison of the level (R2, coefficient of determination) and structure of correlations in different years has shown that the deterioration of external conditions is followed by an increase in the strength of relationships (R2) between the traits and in the difference between correlation matrices’ structure. Soybean adaptation to the changing conditions occurs due to the rearrangements of relationship systems, whereas the degree and direction of these changes are determined by the growing conditions and specificity of the accessions response. Under favorable conditions, the structure of correlations in soybeans with different growth habits, and branching characters has more similarity than in the conditions critical for development. The highest level of relationships (R2) between the traits was observed in the year that was unfavorable for the growth of the semi-cultivated accessions (with the indeterminate growth habit and a large number of branches of the 1st and 2nd order). The green biomass productivity of accessions with the determinate growth habit and more than two branches is most strongly associated with the branch weight, while in accessions with the indeterminate growth habit and with (or without) 1–2 branches it depends on the growing season duration, one leaf weight and the number of leaves per plant. In the semi-cultivated accessions (with the indeterminate growth habit and numerous branches of the 1st and 2nd order), it correlates, besides the listed traits, with the number of nodes, the internode length, the main stem diameter, the weight of leaves, seed morphometric parameters and their quality.

Growth and yield response of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) to waterlogging at different vegetative stages

ABSTRACTThis study identified timing (1st, 3rd, or 5th leaf stage) and duration (1, 3, 6, or 10 days) of waterlogging treatment during the vegetative stage that had the most severe effect on yield and elucidated yield determining process. Yield was reduced the most by the waterlogging treatments at the 3rd leaf stage. Among stages, yield was significantly depressed, when the treatment duration was longer than 6 days. Seed weight of the 1st branches declined more under waterlogging treatments than did that of main stem and 2nd branches, accounting for approximately 55% of total seed weight in all treatments. On the other hand, the decline in node and branch numbers was more pronounced for 2nd branches than 1st branches at the ripening stage. The development of the 2nd branches during ripening did not contribute much to increase sink capacity. Development of the main stem and the 1st branches was almost complete until the full flowering stage and shoot dry weight did not increase from the full flowering stage to the ripening stage. Shoot dry weight at the full flowering stage was determined by both leaf number and net assimilation rate (NAR). Flower cluster number at that stage was significantly correlated with total seed weight. These results showed that the critical timing was at the 3rd leaf stage and the critical duration was longer than 6 days and indicated that maintenance of leaf number and NAR and development of flowers on the 1st branches until the full flowering stage would ensure the yield.Abbreviations: NAR - net assimilation rate, SLA - specific leaf area, gs - stomatal conductance.

Effect of growth regulators on in vitro micropropagation of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.)

The experiment was carried out in the Tissue Culture Laboratory of the College of Agriculture, University of Karbala to investigate the effect of growth regulators in micropropagation of the blue honeysuckle in vitro. The branches were cultivated by shoot tips in MS medium with five concentrations of each BA and Kin @ 0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 mg/l and each concentration was mixed with IAA @ 0.2 mg/l at multiplication stage. At rooting stage, independent experiments were conducted using four concentrations of each IBA and NAA @ 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg/l and each concentration was mixed with steady concentration of 0.2 mg/l of BA. The results indicated that marked differences were observed in plant growth characters under different concentrations of cytokines used. The cytokine concentration of 2.5 mg/l produced significantly higher number of branches, length of branch, and wet and dry weight of vegetative parts compared to control. As for the effect of cytokines type, the BA showed its ’superiority over other cytokines in terms of production of higher number of branches, length of branch, and wet and dry weight of vegetative parts. It was also observed that the auxin types and their concentrations significantly affected the number and length of roots and their wet and dry weights. The IBA concentration of 1.5 mg/l achieved significantly higher number of branches, length of branch, and wet and dry weight of vegetative parts of blue honeysuckle compared to control where no auxin was applied.

EFFECT OF THE GROWTH REGULATOR IBA AND AGRICULTURAL MEDIA IN PROPAGATE OF HIBISCUS ROSA - SINENSIS L. BY STEM CUTTINGS

This experiment was carried out in the green house of Department of Horticulture and Landscape Gardening, College of Agriculture, University of Anbar for the period from 1/3/2018 to 1/11/2018 to study the effect of growth regulator (IBA) at the concentrations 0, 1500, 3000 and 4500 mg. L-1 and the agricultural media of sand, sand + peatmoss 2:1 and sand + poultry litter 3% propagate cuttings of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. by using hard wood stem cuttings, the experiment was laid cut in Complete randomized design (4x3). It included 12 experimental units with three replicates of 20 cuttings in each experimental unit, means were compared using L.S.D test at 5% probability. The results showed that immersion cuttings in IBA achieved a significant increase in rooting ratios and a superior concentration of 4500 mg. L-1, giving the highest rooting rate of 90.00%, while control treatment recorded the lowest rate of 36.67%. Furthermore 4500 mg. L-1 recorded significant increases for all characteristics including: length of the longest root, and root dry weight, number and diameter of branches, vegetative dry weight parts, total chlorophyll in leaves, and content of branches of carbohydrates and nitrogen, and ratio C/N Reached, 43.89 cm. root-1, 38.98 g.root-1, 2.96 branch. Transplant-1, 5.99 mm.branch-1, 45.07 g.plant-1, 100.99 mg.100g-1 fresh weight, 12.41%, 1.88%, 6.61%, respectively. While, the control treatment gave the lowest value of 27.67 cm.root-1, 9.44 g.root-1, 1.81 branch. Transplant-1, 4.01 mm.branch-1, 60.19 cm. Transplant-1, 10.05 g.plant-1, 69.13 mg.100g-1 fresh weight, 11.83%, 1.85%, and 6.41%, respectively. The treatment of the agricultural media (sand + poultry litter 3%) have a significant effect in all the characters compared to the other media (46.17 cm.root-1, 44.26 g.root-1, 3.47 branch. plant-1, 8.36 mm. branch-1, 51.59 g.plant-1, 143.40 mg.100 g-1 fresh weight, 12.79%, 1.89%, and 6.76%) respectively. But, the control treatment gave lowest values of, 26.17 cm.root-1, 11.34 g.root-1, 1.56 branch. Transplant-1, 3.41 mm.branch-1, 12.61 g.plant-1, 53.89 mg.100 g-1 fresh weight, 11.61%, 1.83% and 6.34%, respectively. The interaction showed significantly affected the root and vegetative characters of plants after six months of cultivation. The interaction between of IBA concentration (4500 mg-1) and media (sand + poultry litter 3%) significantly exceeded the other treatments by giving the highest rates of the previous studied characters.

English

The present study was conducted to estimate the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance and association among selected agronomic traits of common bean landraces from South western Kenya. The field experiment was conducted using 52 common bean landraces at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Kisii Research Center during 2015 and 2016 main cropping seasons. The experimental design was randomized complete block (RCBD) with three replications. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences indicating the existence of genetic variability among the 52 landraces for 14 quantitative traits studied. The genotypic coefficient of variation ranged from 1.00% for biological yield to 84.69% for pod width, while the phenotypic coefficient of variation ranged from 2.34% for biological yield to 84.40% for number of branches. The estimated broad sense heritability ranged from 60.20% for seeds per plant to 87.57% for days to emergence. Estimates of genetic advance as percent of mean ranged from 10.15% for biological yield to 97.45% for number of branches. Positive and highly significant association of plant height, days from planting to 50% flowering, number of pods per plant and biological yield was observed with seed yield per plant, hence these traits may be directly attributed for the improvement of seed yield. High hereditability and genetic advance was obtained for plant height, 100 seed weight, pod width and number of branches, indicating additive gene effects in controlling the traits and these traits could be used as suitable criteria for selection and improvement of common bean in breeding programs. Key words: Phaseolus vulgaris, phenotypic variability, genotypic variability, quantitative traits, heritability, genetic advance, breeding. &nbsp

Advanced Aboveground Spatial Analysis as Proxy for the Competitive Environment Affecting Sapling Development.

Tree saplings are exposed to a competitive growth environment in which resources are limited and the ability to adapt determines general vitality and specific growth performance. In this study we analyzed the aboveground spatial neighborhood of oak [Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.] and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) saplings growing in Germany, by using hemispherical photography and terrestrial laser scanning as proxy for the competitive pressure saplings were exposed to. The hemispherical images were used to analyze the light availability and the three-dimensional (3D) point clouds from the laser scanning were used to assess the space and forest structure around the saplings. The aim was to increase the precision with which the biomass allocation, growth, and morphology of the saplings could be predicted by including more detailed information of their environment. The predictive strength of the models was especially increased through direct neighborhood variables (e.g., relative space filling), next to the light availability being the most important predictor variable. The biomass allocation patterns within the more light demanding oak were strongly driven by the space availability around the saplings. Diameter and height growth variables of both species reacted significantly to changes in light availability, and partly also to the neighborhood variables. The leaf morphology [as leaf-area ratio (LAR)] was also driven by light availability and decreased with increasing light availability. However, the branch morphology (as mean branch weight) could not be explained for oak and the model outcome for beech was hard to interpret. The results could show that individuals of the same species perform differently under constant light conditions but differing neighborhoods. Assessing the neighborhood of trees with highly precise measurement devices, like terrestrial laser scanners, proved to be useful. However, the primary response to a dense neighborhood seemed to be coping with a reduction of the lateral light availability aboveground, rather than responding to an increase of competition belowground. The results suggest continuing efforts to increase the precision with which plant environments can be described through innovative and efficient methods, like terrestrial laser scanning.

Using Plant Growth-promoting Fungi (PGPF), as a Biofertilizer and Biocontrol Agents against Tetranychus cucurbitacearum on Nubian Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.)

Plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) have attracted considerable interest as biofertilizers and biocontrol due to their multiple beneficial effects on plant quantity and quality as well as their positive relationship with the ecological environment. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of different concentrations 25, 50, 75 and 100% from cultural filtrate of Trichoderma viride and T. harzianum to induce the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus cucurbitacearum (In vitro), and their ability to improve the growth dynamics of Nubian watermelon plants in field experiment during two growing summer seasons of 2017 and 2018.
 In general the effect of tested concentrations of T. viride were non effective on egg deposition by adult females after five days from treatment, while in T. harzianum, the concentration 75% was the most effect than the other concentrations. Also, egg hatchability % decreased with increased of two egg age (1 – 2 day old) at treatment by concentrations 25 and 50% of both fungal. In field experiment, the test compound (vertimec) was the more effective against egg stage of spider mite T. cucurbitacearum than motile stages of both T. viride and T. harzianum treatments. Also, plants inoculated with T. harzianum showed increases in vegetative growth parameters included numbers of leaves, Leaf dry weight, stem length and numbers of branches and biochemical analysis of leaves included chlorophyll content and percentages of NPK at 30 and 60 days from sowing during both seasons compared to uninoculated control plants. Also, enzymes activities, treatment T2 (inoculated with T. viride) recorded the highest values at all growth stages, which recorded 155.77, 257.29 and 114.62 mg TPF g-1 soil day-1 for dehydrogenase and 113.79, 201.03 and 115.24 mg NH4+- N g-1 soil d-1 for urease at 30, 60 and harvest during 2017 growing season, respectively. The same trend was observed in total count of fungi during both seasons.
 For fruit yield, T. viride (T2) had significantly the highest number of fruits per plant, number of seeds per fruit, fruit weight (g) and dry weight of 100 seeds (g) which recorded 1.92, 273.07, 1126 g and 16.29 g as compared to untreated control treatment, which attained 1.21, 185.08, 526.66 g and 14.41 g at 2017 season, respectively. Therefore, these results reflected to increase fruit yield (Kg/m2), seed yield (g/m2) and weight of yield (ton fed.-1) during both seasons.

Morphological characterization of Grass pea (<em>Lathyrus sativus L.</em>) Varieties

Purpose: The maintenance of grass pea varieties and a comparative assessment of their biological characteristics, which will serve as a basis for future breeding work is required. The purpose of the study is to assess the biological potential of grass pea varieties in productivity and productivity components.Research Method: Both, above ground and root biomass of plants was analyzed at the beginning of flowering stage and at the technical maturity of seeds. The coefficient of earliness was determined. The statistical methods viz hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to group the genotypes by similarity. Relationships between the characteristics tested and their variability were established by correlation analysis.Findings: According to the coefficient of earliness the varieties studied were grouped as follows: LA5108- early variety; LAT4362 and BGE027129 - middle-early varieties, and LAT5038 and GE015741 - late varieties. Variety BGE027129 showed a high level of biological abilities on most of the characteristics. BGE025277 is distinguished with high productivity of seed weight (4.26 g/plant). BGE015741 was characterized by high both, number of nodules (25.27 nodules per plant) and weight of nodules (0.59 g per plant), the best specific nodulating ability (0.62) as well the highest seed weight productivity (5.52g/plant). The nodule weight was positive correlated with the plant weight (r = 0.517). High coefficient of inheritance in a broad sense was found for the root weight (99.24%) and root length (92.65%) at the technical maturity stage, for the seed weight (77.94%) and number of branches per plant (72.32%), root weight (59.67%) and root length (48.09%) in the flowering stage.Original Value: Grass pea varieties of breeding interest in regard to the both nodulating ability andseed productivity were shown.

Effects of different light conditions to the structure and biomass of Emmenopterys henryi seedlings

Emmenopterys henryi is a unique genus of Rubiaceae in China. It belongs to the national precious tree species announced by the Ministry of Forestry. Shading net was used to set 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% shading and natural light (full light) respectively to measure the structure and biomass changes of E. henryi seedlings under different shading conditions. The results showed that the length, dry weight, wet weight and diameter of trunk decreased linearly with the increase of shading degree, and the difference was significant under different light conditions (p < 0.05). With the increase of shading degree, the length, dry weight and wet weight of the first branch of the main trunk of E. henryi seedlings increased first and then decreased. The diameter of the first branch of the main trunk of E. henryi seedlings decreased linearly, and the difference was significant under different light conditions (p < 0.05). With the increase of shading degree, the length and diameter of the main roots of E. henryi showed a linear downward trend, while the dry weight and wet weight showed a wavy trend of first decreasing, then rising and then decreasing, with significant differences under different light environments (p < 0.05). In general, with the decrease of light intensity, the biomass increment of E. henryi seedlings decreased significantly. The result implies that light affects the morphological composition and biomass synthesis of E. henryi seedlings.