Plant Yield Components Research Articles

The Growth and Yield of Shallots and Melons Based on the Interseasonal Windbreaks Cropping System in Anticipation of Climate Change

Melon is one of the fruits favored by Indonesian people, as well as shallots which are often used as a spice for Indonesian cuisine. The demand for these two commodities are increased continuously, but the land for agriculture purpose is limited. Utilization marginal land of coastal sand is a solution to deal with increasingly limited agricultural land. Marginal land of coastal sand has limiting factors such as high wind speed that carrying salt which can cause salinity stress for plants. In addition, it is necessary to add soil amendments such as manure and clay to improve soil structure. The purpose of this study was to distinguish the effect of season types, windbreak types, and types of plants used on the growth and yield of melon and shallot plants on coastal land, and to determine the interaction between season types, windbreak types, and plant types on growth and yields of melon and shallot. This study used a Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) of Split-Split Plots with three factors and three replications. The first factor is the type of season (dry and rain). The second factor is the type of windbreaker (without windbreaker, 1.5 m plastic windbreaker, 3 rows corn windbreaker, alley corn windbreaker). The third factor is the type of plant [salinity sensitive plants (melon) and salinity resistant plants (shallots)]. The result of the observation data were observed by means of variance and the Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) 5% test was performed. The variables observed in the plant growth component were plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, fresh weight of root, fresh weight of plants, and dry weight of plants. The variables observed in the plant yield components were fresh weight of tubers, fresh weight of fruits, and crop yield. There is an interaction between the seasonal factor and the type of plant on the variables of fresh weight of tubers. There is an interaction between the types of windbreakers and the types of plants on the variables of fresh weight of root, fresh weight of tubers, dry weight of plants. There is an interaction between the type of season and the type of wind break in melon and shallot plants in almost all the observed variables. The 1.5 m plastic windbreaker is more effective in the rainy season on melon and shallot plants. This is because during the dry season the level of salinity is higher (0,74 mS/cm) than the rainy season (0,61 mS/cm). Plastic windbreakers are the highest windbreakers and can reduce wind speed which carries salt particles on salinity-sensitive melon plants and salinity-resistant shallot plants.

Pemanfaatan Urin Kelinci Sebagai Pupuk Organik Cair untuk Meningkatkan Pertumbuhan dan Hasil Tanaman Cabai Keriting (Capsicum Annuum L.)

The purpose of the study is to determine the optimal concentration of rabbit urine administration (POC Rabbit Urine) to increase the growth and yield of curly chili plants (Capsicum annum L.). This type of research is experimental research. This research was carried out in the Experimental Garden of the Faculty of Agriculture, Unidar Ambon, at an altitude of 150 m above sea level, the average daily temperature is around 27-290C. The experiment will be carried out from February to May 2024. Variables observed on growth components and plant yield components include, plant height, number of leaves, the number of branches, when flowers appear, the number of harvested fruits, the total weight of the fruit of the plant. Observations are made after the plants are 1 week old after planting. The data obtained was analyzed using a variety fingerprint (F test) at the level of 5%. If the real influence is continued, the Smallest Real Difference Test (BNT) is continued. The results showed that the POC treatment of rabbit urine had a real effect on the control of all observed variables. Rabbit urine concentration of 300 ml/L of water resulted in the highest number of harvested fruits and fruit weight compared to other treatments.

RESPON TANAMAN PAKCOY (Brassica rapa L.) TERHADAP PEMBERIAN POC DAN PUPUK KOTORAN AYAM PADA TANAH GAMBUT PEDALAMAN

This research was to discover the effect of giving Nasa POC and chicken manure fertilizer on the growth and yield of pakcoy in inland peat. The research used a Completely Randomized Factorial Design. Factor I: Nasa POC (0, 6, 12, and 18 ml POC L-1 water) and Factor II: Chicken Manure Fertilizer (0, 10, 20, and 30 t.ha-1). The research result revealed that there was an interaction between giving Nasa POC and chicken manure fertilizer on the variable of plant height growth aged 3 and 4 WAP, number of leaves aged 3 WAP, leaf area, and pakcoy yield components, such as total fresh weight of the plant and dry weight of the plant. The interaction between Nasa POC 12-18 ml L-1 water with chicken manure on dose 20-30 t.ha-1 revealed the highest growth and yield of pakcoy. The Nasa POC treatment genuinely affected the plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, and pakcoy plant yield components, such as the plant's total fresh and dry weight. Chicken manure had a very real effect on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area as well as total fresh weight of the plant and dry weight of the plant.

Inoculant arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi compatibility test using sweet corn plants on peatlands

Corn is a food ingredient that is widely consumed by Indonesian people. The purpose of this study is to determine the compatibility of AMF isolates from several host plants with the yield components of sweet corn on peatlands. The field experiments were carried out with a randomized block design (RCBD) with 5 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments referred to are m0 (without AMF inoculation), m1 (AMF inoculum from the host Pueraria Javanica), m2 (AMF inoculum from the soybean plant host), m3 (AMF inoculum from the corn plant host) and m4 (AMF inoculum from the sorghum plant host). Observations were made on mycorrhizal infections, absorption of N, P, K nutrients, and plant yield components including weight per ear with weight, weight per ear without husk, ear length, ear diameter, and ear weight per plot. The data acquired from the observation were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (F test), while further tests were done with Duncan's multiple distance test (DMRT). The results showed that AMF inoculant derived from maize rhizosphere is most compatible with corn plants compared to AMF inoculant from rhizosphere sorghum, P.javanica, soybeans, and without inoculation. AMF inoculant from maize rhizosphere can increase root infection, absorption.

Phosphogypsum and poultry manure enhance diversity of soil fauna, soil fertility, and barley (Hordeum aestivum L.) grown in calcareous soils

Enrichment of calcareous soils with phosphogypsum and poultry manure amendments could increase nutrient availability, improve calcareous chemical characteristics, and enhance barley plant growth. In the current study, phosphogypsum (PG) and poultry manure (PM) were used to determine the effects of PG and PM application on soil fauna diversity, soil fertility, and barley yield. The pot experiment treatments were: C: control; PG1: 4.20 g kg−1 soil; PG2: 6.30 g kg−1 soil; PM1: 4.20 g kg−1 soil; PM: 6.30 g kg−1 soil, and their combinations. The results indicated that the application of PM alone or combined with PG had significant effects on the microbial biomass carbon (MBC), organic matter (OM), soil NPK availability, and yield of barley. Collembola and Prostigmata accounted for 50.0 and 43.3%, respectively, of the total number of soil fauna. Shannon and evenness indices increased significantly in the soil amended with PM alone or combined with PG. Amended soil with PG and/or PM significantly increased the yield and yield components of plants compared to the control. The PM1PG2 treatment increased the yield by 76.2% above the control.

A tale of two metals: Biofortification of rice grains with iron and zinc.

Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) are essential micronutrients needed by virtually all living organisms, including plants and humans, for proper growth and development. Due to its capacity to easily exchange electrons, Fe is important for electron transport in mitochondria and chloroplasts. Fe is also necessary for chlorophyll synthesis. Zn is a cofactor for several proteins, including Zn-finger transcription factors and redox metabolism enzymes such as copper/Zn superoxide dismutases. In humans, Fe participates in oxygen transport, electron transport, and cell division whereas Zn is involved in nucleic acid metabolism, apoptosis, immunity, and reproduction. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the major staple food crops, feeding over half of the world's population. However, Fe and Zn concentrations are low in rice grains, especially in the endosperm, which is consumed as white rice. Populations relying heavily on rice and other cereals are prone to Fe and Zn deficiency. One of the most cost-effective solutions to this problem is biofortification, which increases the nutritional value of crops, mainly in their edible organs, without yield reductions. In recent years, several approaches were applied to enhance the accumulation of Fe and Zn in rice seeds, especially in the endosperm. Here, we summarize these attempts involving transgenics and mutant lines, which resulted in Fe and/or Zn biofortification in rice grains. We review rice plant manipulations using ferritin genes, metal transporters, changes in the nicotianamine/phytosiderophore pathway (including biosynthetic genes and transporters), regulators of Fe deficiency responses, and other mutants/overexpressing lines used in gene characterization that resulted in Fe/Zn concentration changes in seeds. This review also discusses research gaps and proposes possible future directions that could be important to increase the concentration and bioavailability of Fe and Zn in rice seeds without the accumulation of deleterious elements. We also emphasize the need for a better understanding of metal homeostasis in rice, the importance of evaluating yield components of plants containing transgenes/mutations under field conditions, and the potential of identifying genes that can be manipulated by gene editing and other nontransgenic approaches.

Effect of soil drought on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids grown under compacted soil

AbstractIn this study, we examined responses of maize hybrids differing in susceptibility to soil compaction and drought in the case of their separate or combined action. We ran field and greenhouse experiments and determined effects on grain yield, biomass, weight of 1000 grains, shoot and roots dry matter (DM), shoot‐to‐roots ratio, harvest index, plant height, emergence index, leaf area and greening and root number and length. Individual and combined effects of both stresses were observed in the field and greenhouse. Compared with plants growing in loose soil and optimal irrigation (LI), the resistant hybrids in treatments HI, LD and HD showed a smaller reduction in GY, BY, S, R, RN and RL than the sensitive. In both groups, stress influence on HA, W‐1000, LA and SPAD was smaller and the differences were insignificant. Compared with LI treatment, the roots of LD, HI and HD increased their DM, number and length in the upper level of the soil profile and the number of roots developed at 0–30° and 30–60° in relation to the root main axis. Analysis of those traits in the hybrids resistant and sensitive to both stress factors enabled to explain a defence response. Our study demonstrated that soil compaction and soil drought, which usually occurs simultaneously, caused significant changes in components of plant yield and showed plant plasticity in response to environmental factors under natural conditions.

COMPATIBILITY TEST OF VARIOUS SOURCES OF INOCULANT ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI WITH SWEET CORN PLANTS IN PEAT MEDIA

The purpose of this study is to determine the compatibility of AMF isolates from several host plants to the yield components of sweet corn on peatlands. The field experiments were carried out with a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 5 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments referred to are m0 (without AMF inoculation), m1 (AMF inoculum from the host Pueraria javanica), m2 (AMF inoculum from the soybean plant host), m3 (AMF inoculum from the corn plant host), and m4 (AMF inoculum from the sorghum plant host). Observations weremade on mycorrhizal infections, absorption of N, P, K nutrients, and plant yield components, including weight per ear with weight, weight per ear without husk, ear length, ear diameter, and ear weight per plot. The data acquired from the observation were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (F test), while further tests were done with Duncan’s multiple distance test (DMRT). The results showed that AMF inoculant derived from maize rhizosphere is more compatible with corn plants than AMF inoculant from rhizosphere sorghum, P. javanica, and soybeans without inoculation. AMF inoculant from maize rhizosphere can increase root infection, absorption of N, P, K nutrients, and the best yield components of sweet corn on peatlands

Cutting management of dual purpose wheat and implications on seed quality

The nutritive value of a dual purpose forage, its structural and morphological composition, seed production capacity are determining characteristics in the selection of a genotype. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of cutting management on yield components, physiological quality of the seeds in the subsequent generation. Experiment I: the field cutting management was performed, and the yield components and the physiological quality of the seeds were evaluated. Experiment II: where the components of plant yield and physiological quality of the seeds were evaluated. The cutting managements affect the components of yield, such as thousand seed weight and seed mass per cob, as well as germination, first germination count and seedling dry mass of dual purpose wheat. In the generation that evaluates the quality of the seeds produced, the cuts do not influence the physiological quality of the seeds, however, they affect the yield components, number of cobs per plant, one thousand seed weight and seed mass per cob.

Biofertilizer gel contains Phosphate Solubilizing Microbes (PSMs) plus and its effect on phosphate dynamics in Inceptisols Jatinangor-Indonesia

Dependence on inorganic fertilizers is a major risk in today's food supply efforts, along with the increasing population. One of the efforts to reduce this risk is to apply biological fertilizers that are specially formulated on the suitable carrier material so that they are able to work effectively and efficiently in substituting the need for inorganic fertilizer inputs and increasing plant yield components. Inceptisol series Jatinangor has characteristic soil texture is dominated by clay fraction, neutral pH 7.01. Under neutral conditions, in general, nutrients in the soil tend to be more readily available, but the availability of P is actually very low at only 2.82 mg.kg-1 of soil. In this neutral to alkaline pH, the solubility of metal cations Ca and Mg increased, indicated by a high Ca2+ content of 12.60 cmol.kg-1 and Mg2+ which was also high at 4.91 cmol.kg-1. The nutrient imbalance is also due to the low C-organic content of the soil, namely 1.83%, so that the soil's support capacity is low. Low organic C causes the presence of indigenous microbes which is quite high, especially PSMs, namely 1 x 104 cfu.g-1, which is not able to increase the availability of soil nutrients, especially P due to lack of carbon sources. The experiment aimed to determine the compatibility and characteristics of inoculants in the biofertilizer gel contains PSMs plus (BG) and its effect on the dynamics of phosphate in Inceptisols Jatinangor. BG contains a consortium of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and phosphate solubilizing fungi (PSF) which are packaged in hydrogel carriers and additives. The PSB used were Bacillus subtillis, Pseudomonas maleii, and Bulkholderia cepacea, while the PSF used was Trichoderma asperellum. The experiment were carried out in vitro at the Soil Biology Laboratory of Universitas Padjadjaran in collaboration with PT Agritek Tani Indonesia and at the Experimental Land of the Department of Soil Science of Universitas Padjadjaran. The experimental design used in this study was a single randomized block design (RBD) with 9 treatments and 3 replications, consisting of treatments (control: 0 BG + 0 P); (1 P); (1 BG); (1 BG + ½ P); (1 BG + ¾ P); (1 BG + 1 P); (½ BG + ¾ P); (¾ BG + ¾ P); and (1 ½ BG + ¾ P). The dose of fertilizer used was BG 50 kg. ha-1, SP-36 100 kg.ha-1, Urea 350 kg.ha-1, KCl 50 kg.ha-1, and sheep manure as basic fertilizer 2 t.ha-1.The results showed that each isolate had the ability to dissolved phosphate, produced IAA, and one of them was antagonistic against the fungal pathogen Fusarium sp.. The combination of fertilizers had an effect on regulate soil pH, and increasing phosphatase activity, soil available P, soil potential P, and PSMs population in the soil. The formulation of 1 BG + ¾ P consistently showed the best effect on soil phosphate dynamics in Inceptisols Jatinangor.

Impact of Sowing Time on Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Biomass Accumulation and Yield

Chickpea growth, development and grain yield are affected by a range of climatic and environmental factors. Experiments were conducted across four sowing dates from mid-April to the end of May, over two years at Trangie in central western New South Wales (NSW), and Leeton, Wagga Wagga and Yanco (one year) in southern NSW, to examine the influence of sowing time on biomass accumulation, grain yield and plant yield components. Climatic and experimental location data were recorded during the growing seasons. Early sowing (mid-April) resulted in taller plants, higher bottom and top pod heights, fewer pods, more unfilled pods and greater biomass accumulation, but low harvest index due to reduced grain yield compared with late sowing (end of May). Grain number was positively correlated with grain yield and was the main yield component accounting for most of the variation in yield. There was largely a positive correlation between biomass and yield, especially with delayed sowing except for Leeton experiments. This study concludes that sowing around the end of April in central western NSW and mid-May in southern NSW is conducive to higher grain yield as it minimises exposure to abiotic stresses at critical growth periods and allows efficient conversion of biomass to grain yield.

Quantitative and population genomics suggest a broad role of stay-green loci in the drought adaptation of sorghum.

Drought is a major constraint on plant productivity globally. Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] landraces have evolved in drought-prone regions, but the genetics of their adaptation is poorly understood. Here we sought to identify novel drought-tolerance loci and test hypotheses on the role of known loci including those underlying stay-green (Stg) postflowering drought tolerance. We phenotyped 590 diverse sorghum accessions from West Africa in 10 environments, under field-based managed drought stress [preflowering water stress (WS1), postflowering water stress (WS2), and well-watered (WW)] and rainfed (RF) conditions over 4 yr. Days to 50% flowering (DFLo), aboveground dry biomass (DBM), plant height (PH), and plant grain yield components (including grain weight [GrW], panicle weight [PW] and grain number [GrN] per plant, and 1000-grain weight [TGrW]) were measured, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) was conducted. Broad-sense heritability for biomass and plant grain yield was high (33-92%) across environments. There was a significant correlation between stress tolerance index (STI) for GrW per plant across WS1 and WS2. Genome-wide association studies revealed that SbZfl1 and SbCN12, orthologs of maize (Zea mays L.) flowering genes, likely underlie flowering time variation under these conditions. Genome-wide association studies further identified associations (n = 134; common between two GWAS models) for STI and drought effects on plant yield components including 16 putative pleiotropic associations. Thirty of the associations colocalized with Stg1, Stg2, Stg3, and Stg4 loci and had large effects. Seven lead associations, including some within Stg1, overlapped with positive selection outliers. Our findings reveal previously undescribed natural genetic variation for drought-tolerance-related traits and suggest a broad role of Stg loci in drought adaptation of sorghum.

Effect of Irrigation with Industrial Wastewater and Gypsum Amendments on Heavy Metal in Soil and Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.) Seed

ABSTRACT Irrigation with wastewater is possible in many arid and semi-arid countries that suffering from water shortage. Furthermore, addition of gypsum (CaSO4. 2H2O) to soil may be reduce effluent problems. This research targeted the consequences of gypsum and wastewater on soil properties, yield components, and element content in soils and Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) seeds. Factorial and completely randomized designs were conducted at the research station of Avicenna herb garden. The results showed that gypsum (0, 3.48, 4.34, and 5.21 g kg–1) and treated wastewater (0, 25, 50, 75, 100%), significantly affected soil heavy metal content. The highest concentrations of heavy metals found in the soil were iron (Fe), and the lowest copper (Cu) but, their values were below the critical level. The highest concentration of heavy metal in black cumin was iron found in the roots and stems, and the lowest was copper in the same plant parts. Generally, gypsum at the rate of 5.21 gkg−1 and the irrigation with 75% concentration of effluent, increased significantly the plant yield components and heavy metals concentration in different black cumin organs. Still, the concentrations of all heavy metals studied were found within the standard limits.

Response of Zucchini Plants to Nano and Organic Fertilizers Application Grown in Sandy Soil

Nanotechnology and organic fertilization are represented the most important tools for agriculture and anticipated to become a driving economic force in the near future. Two field experiments were carried out on sandy soil at El Ismailia Research Station, Agriculture Research Center Egypt, to study the effects of application of nitrogen fertilizer, as black urea, Nano black urea and organic fertilizer FMY, nutrients and productivity of Cucurbita pepo L. Two rates of FMY at 50 and 100 m3 ha-1 was applied to the soil with soil application of black urea and Nano black urea) with applied both as foliar application on plants. A split-plot design with four replications for each treatment was used, during the two summer seasons of 2019 and 2020. Results obtained showed that yield components of plants increased with applied Nano black urea and black urea accompanied with application both rates of FMY. The Nano black urea accompanied with FMY applied at a rate of 100 m3 ha-1 give the highest yield values. However, effective treatment was foliar Nano black urea application with a rate of 0.5 ppm with organic fertilizer FMY at rate of 100 m3 ha-1 and gave the highest significant values of fruits yield (300, 327, 342, 356 and 373 g plant-1 for five times picked, respectively. On the other hands, in foliar application, fruits weight yield was higher than the first cut. Nutrients contents showed almost a trend as all parameters under study the superior treatment was at Nano black urea foliar application a rate of 0.5 ppm with 100 m3 ha-1 of FMY with high availability of nutrients at the studied soil.

Improving the productivity and quality of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) by using soil fertility management practices

One of the most important plants containing volatile and fixed oil is black cumin family Ranunculaceae is an herbaceous indigenous plant in the Mediterranean region. Seeds of this plant have been used for centuries as a spice and food preservative, as well as a traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. A split-plot experiment using a randomized complete block design with three replications was performed in the crop years 2017–18 to analyze the effects of soil fertility management practices on essential oil and seed oil properties of medicinal plant black cumin (Nigella sativa L.). The two crop years were the first factor (the main plots) and the various soil fertility management practices were the second factor (the subplots). The fertility management treatments were various application rates of the chemical fertilizers, manure, combination of chemical–manure and chemical–manure–Azorhizobium. The results showed that combination of chemical–manure–Azorhizobium increased the plant yield components in the first year and second year. In the second year, some physiological characteristics were increased. Dry weight, seed yield, biological yield, percentages of seed oil and essential oil increased with the application of the chemical–manure–Azorhizobium. The combined application of manure at 30 t/ha together with Azorhizobium had the greatest positive effects on the improvement of vegetative and reproductive characteristics of black cumin. Low application of chemical fertilizers had a little effect on the plant characteristics. These results show that the integrated plant nutrition management (IPNM) reduced chemical fertilizer (NPK) application rates; thus, it was a step to sustainable agriculture and reduction of environmental impacts.

Farklı Bakteri Uygulamalarının Domates (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Bitki Gelişimi Üzerine Etkileri

Bu çalışma, 2015 yılında Iğdır ili volkanik, kumlu ve tuzlu topraklarından elde edilen 25 PGPR straininin domates (Solanum lycopersicum L.) bitkisinin gelişimine etkisini değerlendirmek amacıyla yürütülmüştür. İzole edilen bakterilerin tanısı Mikrobiyal Tanılama Sistemi (MIS) kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Azot fikse etme ve fosfat çözme özellikleri belirlenen strainlerin domates gelişimine etkisi gübre ve kontrol uygulamaları ile kıyaslanmış, ortalama ana kök uzunluğu, ortalama yan kök uzunluğu, bitki yüksekliği, gövde çapı ve dal sayısı parametreleri incelenmiştir. Çalışmanın sonucunda; Bacillus atrophaeus, Bacillus gordonae, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thuringiensis kurstakii, Bacillus viscosus, Brevibacillus centrosporus, Brevibacillus choshinensis, Chryseomonas luteola, Microbacterium lacticum, Micrococcus luteus, Micrococcus lylaei, Pseudomonas balearica, Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes, Pseudomonas putida, Sphingobacterium faecium, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Staphylococcus cohnii cohnii, Staphylococcus gallinarum ve Virgibacillus pantothenticus olmak üzere 14 tür tanılanmıştır. Bakteri uygulamalarının ele alınan parametreleri gübre ve hiç uygulama yapılmayan kontrol bitkilere kıyasla önemli düzeyde arttırdığı ve en yüksek etkinin Bacillus spp. türlerinde olduğu tespit edilmiştir.

English

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the most important and widely cultivated pulse crops in most developing countries. However, its cultivation is globally constrained mainly by low soil fertility and lack of improved agronomic practices. A field experiment was conducted at Hawassa University College of Agriculture, Hawassa Southern Ethiopia to determine the effect of N fertilization and Rhizobium phaseoli strain HB-429 inoculation on growth, nodulation, yield and yield components of common bean variety Hawassa Dume. The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed significant increase in growth, nodulation, yield and yield components in plants inoculated with Rhizobium strain HB-429 over the control. Thus, from the results of this study, it can be concluded that Rhizobium inoculation with strain HB-429 is the best performing treatment to be recommended for profitable grain yield of common bean at the Hawassa and other similar areas. Key words: Common bean, grain yield, nitrogen, nodulation, Rhizobium inoculation

Nitrogen Fertilization Effects on Biomass Production and Yield Components of Miscanthus ×giganteus.

Grasses such as Miscanthus ×giganteus and Panicum virgatum (switchgrass) can potentially be used to produce bioenergy on a large scale in the Midwestern USA. The biomass productivity of these warm-season perennial grasses, particularly M. × giganteus, can be substantial, even when grown with limited inputs. The literature, however, varies regarding the nitrogen requirements for M. ×giganteus biomass production. In addition, there is a lack of information that identifies the yield-component(s) (including total tiller number, tiller weight, total tiller diameter, total tiller height, phytomer number, reproductive tiller number, vegetative tiller number, reproductive tiller height, vegetative tiller height, reproductive tiller diameter, vegetative tiller diameter, and reproductive tiller phytomer number) that contributes to M. ×giganteus biomass yields. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of fertilization on biomass yield and individual M. × giganteus plant-yield components. Plots of M. ×giganteus were planted in 2008 in Urbana, IL, USA, and received annual applications of 0, 60, or 120 kg N ha-1. M. ×giganteus productivity increased when nitrogen was applied; between 2011 and 2014, nitrogen applications of 60 or 120 kg N ha-1 produced average annual yields of 22.0 dry Mg ha-1 compared to 11.8 dry Mg ha-1 for unfertilized M. ×giganteus. Both the total number of tillers per m2 and the tiller weight also increased as N-application rates increased. Our results indicate that increased reproductive tiller density and tiller weight with increased N fertilization increased M. ×giganteus biomass yield.

Nodulation, Growth and Soybean Yield in Response to Seed Coating and Split Application of Phosphorus

Abstract: Phosphorus is one of the most important nutrients for soybeans, but it presents a complex dynamic in the soil and can become unavailable. The split and localized application of this nutrient can be an effective approach to increase its availability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a split phosphorus dose applied to the soil and the seed coating with monobasic sodium phosphate on nodulation, growth and yield components of soybean cultivar BRS Valiosa RR. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design in a 2x5x3 factorial arrangement, i.e., coating or not the seeds; five doses of phosphorus applied to the soil; and three times of splitting phosphate fertilizer. Phosphorus content in the index leaf (IL), dry matter of shoots, roots and nodules, yield components, and plant height were evaluated. There was an increase in nodulation and growth of plants with increased levels of phosphorus applied to the soil. In smaller doses, the seed coating and the splitting of phosphorus fertilizer increased nodulation, growth and yield components of plants. Thus, the splitting of the phosphorus dose, combined with seed coating, is indicated for increasing the yield components of soybean plants.

Expression of an osmotin-like protein from Solanum nigrum confers drought tolerance in transgenic soybean.

BackgroundDrought is by far the most important environmental factor contributing to yield losses in crops, including soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. To address this problem, a gene that encodes an osmotin-like protein isolated from Solanum nigrum var. americanum (SnOLP) driven by the UBQ3 promoter from Arabidopsis thaliana was transferred into the soybean genome by particle bombardment.ResultsTwo independently transformed soybean lines expressing SnOLP were produced. Segregation analyses indicated single-locus insertions for both lines. qPCR analysis suggested a single insertion of SnOLP in the genomes of both transgenic lines, but one copy of the hpt gene was inserted in the first line and two in the second line. Transgenic plants exhibited no remarkable phenotypic alterations in the seven analyzed generations. When subjected to water deficit, transgenic plants performed better than the control ones. Leaf physiological measurements revealed that transgenic soybean plants maintained higher leaf water potential at predawn, higher net CO2 assimilation rate, higher stomatal conductance and higher transpiration rate than non-transgenic plants. Grain production and 100-grain weight were affected by water supply. Decrease in grain productivity and 100-grain weight were observed for both transgenic and non-transgenic plants under water deficit; however, it was more pronounced for non-transgenic plants. Moreover, transgenic lines showed significantly higher 100-grain weight than non-transgenic plants under water shortage.ConclusionsThis is the first report showing that expression of SnOLP in transgenic soybeans improved physiological responses and yield components of plants when subjected to water deficit, highlighting the potential of this gene for biotechnological applications.