Crop Contents Research Articles

Saga of Soggy Sauerkraut

The creation of undesirable (soggy) sauerkraut resulted in the loss of $1,000,000 worth of organic sauerkraut in 2022, which prompted a multistep investigation of the cause and potential solution. The cause of this condition has been previously reported as unique fermentation conditions and the lack of key trace nutrients essential for cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) cell wall integrity. Because the condition was limited to organic sauerkraut in 2022, this investigation initially focused on differences in fermentation conditions between organic and conventional sauerkraut. No differences in fermentation conditions accounted for the condition; therefore, attention was focused on analyzing the mineral content of cabbage grown for sauerkraut production that pinpointed a deficiency in critical micronutrients such as iron, copper, manganese, boron, and zinc. This deficiency was traced to the use of poultry manure that was contaminated with glyphosate residue from conventionally fed turkeys and chickens that consumed genetically engineered (GE) feed and used as the fertilizer for organic cabbage production. The presence of glyphosate, a potent mineral chelator and antibiotic, was identified as a significant factor that impairs the absorption and physiological function of essential minerals in the shikimate metabolic pathway whereby cell walls and lignin are produced, thus compromising the structural quality of the sauerkraut. After this discovery, the study progressed to evaluate various remediation strategies aimed at eliminating glyphosate from the soil and restoring nutrient uptake. Corn grain and silage were selected as the test crops for this phase. Among the tested remediation solutions were raw sauerkraut juice containing Lactobacillus plantarum, which is reported to degrade glyphosate in the rumen of dairy cows and two patented proprietary microbial mixtures, PB027 and PB027SK, that degrade glyphosate by all three of the known metabolic pathways. These treatments were specifically formulated to degrade residual glyphosate in the soil. The results showed that these interventions could reduce soil glyphosate levels by 80% to 90% within 6 to 7 months to significantly enhance both the yield and quality of corn grain and silage. The increase in corn grain yield from glyphosate degradation on the Shiocton silt loam soil was 907.89 kg·ha−1 (13.5 bushels/acre). The increase in yield on the irrigated Kidder sandy loam soil was quantified at 726.31 kg·ha−1 (10.8 bushels/acre) for corn grain and 6.62 t·ha−1 (2.68 t/acre) for silage, with an additional improvement in silage feed quality beneficial for milk production. The findings underscore the importance of addressing both micronutrient sufficiency and glyphosate residue in soil to ensure the optimal growth of cabbage and the quality of sauerkraut produced. By successfully identifying manure as a subtle source of nutrient immobilization and implementing effective soil remediation techniques, this research highlights a clear path forward for improving crop yield and quality to ultimately enhance the structural integrity and consumer acceptance of sauerkraut. This study has broader applications for the nutritional content and crop yields of many organic crops that use conventional poultry and animal manures that may contain glyphosate in desiccated plant tissues or GE feeding operations.

Utilizing VSWIR spectroscopy for macronutrient and micronutrient profiling in winter wheat

This study explores the use of leaf-level visible-to-shortwave infrared (VSWIR) reflectance observations and partial least squares regression (PLSR) to predict foliar concentrations of macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur), micronutrients (boron, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, molybdenum, aluminum, and sodium), and moisture content in winter wheat. A total of 360 fresh wheat leaf samples were collected from a wheat breeding population over two growing seasons. These leaf samples were used to collect VSWIR reflectance observations across a spectral range spanning 350 to 2,500 nm. These samples were then processed for nutrient composition to allow for the examination of the ability of reflectance to accurately model diverse chemical components in wheat foliage. Models for each nutrient were developed using a rigorous cross-validation methodology in conjunction with three distinct component selection methods to explore the trade-offs between model complexity and performance in the final models. We examined absolute minimum predicted residual error sum of squares (PRESS), backward iteration over PRESS, and Van der Voet’s randomized t-test as component selection methods. In addition to contrasting component selection methods for each leaf trait, the importance of spectral regions through variable importance in projection scores was also examined. In general, the backward iteration method provided strong model performance while reducing model complexity relative to the other selection methods, yielding R2 [relative percent difference (RPD), root mean squared error (RMSE)] values in the validation dataset of 0.84 (2.45, 6.91), 0.75 (1.97, 18.67), 0.78 (2.13, 16.49), 0.66 (1.71, 17.13), 0.68 (1.75, 14.51), 0.66 (1.72, 12.29), and 0.84 (2.46, 2.20) for nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, zinc, and moisture content on a wet basis, respectively. These model results demonstrate that VSWIR reflectance in combination with modern statistical modeling techniques provides a powerful high throughput method for the quantification of a wide range of foliar nutrient contents in wheat crops. This work has the potential to advance rapid, precise, and nondestructive field assessments of nutrient contents and deficiencies for precision agricultural management and to advance breeding program assessments.

Hydroponic Cultivation of Spices and Aromatics: Techniques, Benefits and Challenges

The global shift towards urbanization, with 55% of the population residing in urban areas and an anticipated rise to 68% by 2050, presents challenges to traditional farming. The increasing world population, further intensifies the strain on available agricultural land due to urban expansion. Climate change combines with these issues, make conventional cultivation more challenging. Alternative agricultural practices, such as hydroponics, gain significance in addressing these concerns. Aromatic and spices have been used for centuries for their medicinal and culinary properties. They contain various essential oils, flavonoids, and other phytochemicals responsible for their distinctive flavour and aroma, as well as their health benefits. The rising global demand for natural products from herbs and spices has led to its market growth. Hydroponics, a technology for cultivating plants in nutrient solutions with or without an artificial medium such as sand, gravel, vermiculite, rockwool, peat moss, coir or sawdust, offers a promising solution. This paper explores the potential of hydroponic cultivation for planting material production, enhancing the yield, nutritional composition, essential oil content and medicinal properties of various spice and aromatic crops, including black pepper, saffron, ginger, garlic, coriander, mint, celery, fenugreek, parsley, thyme, rosemary, green mustard, basil and others. The main challenges in hydroponic production of these crops include high initial investment, precise monitoring and lack of technical knowledge. Hence by reviewing recent literature, this paper aims to provide insights into the classification of hydroponics and its different techniques, benefits and challenges of hydroponic cultivation, various growing media and nutrient solutions used, types of hydroponics utilized and their purposes in the production of diverse herbs and spices. Embracing hydroponic techniques could contribute to sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in urbanized environments where traditional farming faces constraints.

Metabolic engineering of the serine/glycine network as a means to improve the nitrogen content of crops.

In plants, L-serine (Ser) biosynthesis occurs through various pathways and is highly dependent on the atmospheric CO2 concentration, especially in C3 species, due to the association of the Glycolate Pathway of Ser Biosynthesis (GPSB) with photorespiration. Characterization of a second plant Ser pathway, the Phosphorylated Pathway of Ser Biosynthesis (PPSB), revealed that it is at the crossroads of carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur metabolism. The PPSB comprises three sequential reactions catalysed by 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PGDH), 3-phosphoSer aminotransferase (PSAT) and 3-phosphoSer phosphatase (PSP). PPSB was overexpressed in plants exhibiting two different modes of photosynthesis: Arabidopsis (C3 metabolism), and maize (C4 metabolism), under ambient (aCO2) and elevated (eCO2) CO2 growth conditions. Overexpression in Arabidopsis of the PGDH1 gene alone or PGDH1, PSAT1 and PSP1 in combination increased the Ser levels but also the essential amino acids threonine (aCO2), isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, threonine and methionine (eCO2) compared to the wild-type. These increases translated into higher protein levels. Likewise, starch levels were also increased in the PPSB-overexpressing lines. In maize, PPSB-deficient lines were obtained by targeting PSP1 using Cas9 endonuclease. We concluded that the expression of PPSB in maize male gametophyte is required for viable pollen development. Maize lines overexpressing the AtPGDH1 gene only displayed higher protein levels but not starch at both aCO2 and eCO2 conditions, this translated into a significant rise in the nitrogen/carbon ratio. These results suggest that metabolic engineering of PPSB in crops could enhance nitrogen content, particularly under upcoming eCO2 conditions where the activity of GPSB is limited.

Studies of genetic diversity and genome-wide association for vitamin C content in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) using high-throughput SNP arrays.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a source of beneficial compounds though they are generally present in low quantities. We used 40K Axiom and 9K Infinium SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) arrays to (i) explore the genetic variability in 21 varieties and (ii) carry out genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of vitamin C content in21 varieties and a population of 205 plants from the richest variety in vitamin C ('Lechuga del Pirineo'). Structure and phylogenetic analyses showed that the group formed mainly by traditional varieties was the most diverse, whereas the red commercial varieties clustered together and very distinguishably apart from the rest. GWAS consistently detected, in a region of chromosome 2, several SNPs related to dehydroascorbic acid (a form of vitamin C) content using three different methods to assess population structure, subpopulation membership coefficients, multidimensional scaling, and principal component analysis. The latter detected the highest number of SNPs (17) and the most significantly associated, 12 of them showing a high linkage disequilibrium with the lead SNP. Among the 84 genes in the region, some have been reported to be related to vitamin C content or antioxidant status in other crops either directly, like those encoding long non-coding RNA, several F-box proteins, and a pectinesterase/pectinesterase inhibitor, or indirectly, like extensin-1-like protein and endoglucanase 2 genes. The involvement of other genes identified within the region in vitamin C levels needs to be further studied. Understanding the genetic control of such an important quality trait in lettuce becomes very relevant from a breeding perspective.

Nutrient Composition of Arugula Leafy Greens Following Application of Ascorbic Acid Foliar Sprays

Agronomic biofortification of vitamin C is a promising strategy to address vitamin C deficiencies in populations that lack access to diverse and nutritious diets. Different application methods can improve the vitamin C content in various crops; however, foliar application of ascorbic acid (AA) solutions has been under-explored. To determine if spray concentration, number of applications, and day of harvest would affect vitamin C in arugula leafy greens, foliar sprays consisting of 100 ppm and 200 ppm of AA and deionized (DI) water control were applied. Treatment application was initiated during the baby-leaf stage and subjected to a total of three sprays over the course of the experiment, followed by harvest at two days and four days after spraying (DAS). The harvested plants were measured for fresh and dry biomass and analyzed for vitamin C content, mineral composition, chlorophyll levels, and carotenoid content. The results of this study demonstrated a notably elevated total vitamin C concentration (p = 0.0002) and AA content (p = 0.02) in arugula leaves treated with a 200 ppm AA spray following the third application and harvested at 4 DAS. Additionally, the AA application improved the fresh and dry weight of leafy greens but did not exhibit any significant variances regarding the mineral composition of P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Zn, Mn, and Fe. Alternatively, AA foliar sprays reduced Cu content in leaves suggesting that AA reduced Cu accumulation in arugula leafy greens. In summary, the findings of this study establish that the foliar application of 200 ppm AA is an effective approach for increasing the vitamin C content in arugula leafy greens while improving the plant’s biomass, mineral composition, and stress responses. These biofortified arugula leafy greens exhibit the potential to offer plant protection against environmental stresses and a more consistent supply of vitamin C to humans upon consumption.

Improved Agronomic Practices on Enhancement of Quality Forage Production for Livestock Farming

The lack of nutrient-rich fodder and forage is one of the problems of livestock farming. Adequate tillage operations, timely and suitable water management, weed management, insect pests and disease management, fertilizer management, seeding at the proper time and seed rate, timely harvesting, and other agronomic techniques can all help to increase the nutritional content and yield of fodder and forage crops. A number of research and review papers have been systematically reviewed in this study. The use of tillage practices such as primary, secondary, conventional, and deep tillage enhances dry matter and yield of green fodder as compared to zero tillage. The organic matter (OM) content and dry matter (DM) of fodder crops are increased by regular and appropriate irrigation. The DMD (dry matter digestibility) and CP (crude protein) contents of early harvested forages are higher than those of late harvested forages. The application of nitrogen promotes crop development and growth, increasing the production of green fodder and improving its quality. Intercropping is essential for increasing the yield of fodder crops. Compared to sole cropping of maize and cowpea, the yield is found higher in intercropping of maize + cowpea. The production and quality of fodder are decreased by late seeding. The management of insect pests and diseases enhances the production and quality of fodder and forage. Thus, we draw the conclusion that fodder and forage crops production and their quality parameters are greatly influenced by agronomic practices.

Implications of soil waterlogging for crop quality: A meta-analysis

Soil waterlogging in many arable regions of the world challenge the quantum and quality of crop production. While previous studies have assessed the impact of waterlogging on crop yields, understanding of how waterlogging implicates with crop quality remains in its infancy. Here, we conduct a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to assess how waterlogging influences grain quality. We also explore the role of engineering and agronomic strategies for alleviating adverse effects of waterlogging. We reveal that soil waterlogging has less impacts on grain quality than on yield; the latter decreasing by an average of 23 %, while average grain protein and starch content of waterlogged crops reduced by 6.7 % and 7.3 %, respectively. We attribute these differences to underlying mechanics of yield and grain quality formation, as well as biological processes conferring adaptation, plasticity and recovery. Reduced grain quality under waterlogging is associated with decreased activity of enzymes involved in leaf nitrogen and carbon metabolism. Unlike yields however, grain quality suffers less deterioration with prolonged waterlogging, with ultimate effects realized being a function of species-specific tolerance, timing and duration of waterlogging relative to crop stage, soil type and growing season weather. We underscore the potential in engineering and/or agronomic interventions for alleviating detrimental effects of waterlogging.

Numerical investigation of future potato yields in Bangladesh using Machine learning and IoT

The changing environment has significantly affected Bangladesh for the past several decades, and a number of minerals and nutrients are in short supply in the human population. However, not only are we being affected by the effects of climate change, but also the crops cultivated on our farms are feeling its impact. The nutrient content and growth of food crops are affected by many components of climate change, such as rising temperatures, increased precipitation, rising CO2 levels, etc. It is commonly regarded that potatoes are one of the healthiest and most popular foods in Bangladesh, with an abundance of nutrients and electrolytes that are beneficial to the body. However, in the not-too-distant future, the production of potatoes will be affected by the high temperature and decreased precipitation resulting from climate change. As potatoes are one of the most essential staple foods in Bangladesh, a viable solution must be found for continuous potato production in the country. A comprehensive examination of the evolution, production, and important nutrients of potatoes will be performed in this study. A range of sensors, networks, drones, cameras, and applications will be collected for the purpose of monitoring the potato field and ensuring that the crops are cultivated in an acceptable environment. This idea can aid our country economically and agriculturally by increasing potato production. Potatoes are affordable for consumers from all socioeconomic classes. Through this idea, Producers will achieve a successful harvest of nutrient-rich potatoes for public consumption.

Carotenoid-carbohydrate crosstalk: evidence for genetic and physiological interactions in storage tissues across crop species.

Carotenoids play essential roles in photosynthesis, photoprotection, and human health. Efforts to increase carotenoid content in several staple crops have been successful through both conventional selection and genetic engineering methods. Interestingly, in some cases, altering carotenoid content has had unexpected effects on other aspects of plant metabolism, impacting traits like sugar content, dry matter percentage, fatty acid content, stress tolerance, and phytohormone concentrations. Studies across several diverse crop species have identified negative correlations between carotenoid and starch contents, as well as positive correlations between carotenoids and soluble sugars. Collectively, these reports suggest a metabolic interaction between carotenoids and carbohydrates. We synthesize evidence pointing to four hypothesized mechanisms: (1) direct competition for precursors; (2) physical interactions in plastids; (3) influences of sugar or apocarotenoid signaling networks; and (4) nonmechanistic population or statistical sources of correlations. Though the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway is well understood, the regulation and interactions of carotenoids, especially in nonphotosynthetic tissues, remain unclear. This topic represents an underexplored interplay between primary and secondary metabolism where further research is needed.

Integrated Analysis of Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, and Column-Average CO2 Concentration in South-Central Brazilian Sugarcane Regions

Remote sensing has proven to be a vital tool for monitoring and forecasting the quality and yield of crops. The utilization of innovative technologies such as Solar-Induced Fluorescence (SIF) and satellite measurements of column-averaged CO2 (xCO2) can enhance these estimations. SIF is a signal emitted by crops during photosynthesis, thus indicating photosynthetic activities. The concentration of atmospheric CO2 is a critical factor in determining the efficiency of photosynthesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between satellite-derived Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF), column-averaged CO2 (xCO2), and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and their association with sugarcane yield and sugar content in the field. This study was carried out in south-central Brazil. We used four localities to represent the region: Pradópolis, Araraquara, Iracemápolis, and Quirinópolis. Data were collected from orbital systems during the period spanning from 2015 to 2016. Concurrently, monthly data regarding tons of sugarcane per hectare (TCH) and total recoverable sugars (TRS) were gathered from 24 harvest locations within the studied plots. It was observed that TRS decreased when SIF values ranged between 0.4 W m−2 sr−1 μm−1 and 0.8 W m−2 sr−1 μm−1, particularly in conjunction with NDVI values below 0.5. TRS values peaked at 15 kg t−1 with low NDVI and xCO2 values, alongside SIF values lower than 0.4 W m−2 sr−1 μm−1 and greater than 1 W m−2 sr−1 μm−1. These findings underscore the potential of integrating SIF, xCO2, and NDVI measurements in the monitoring and forecasting of yield and sugar content in sugarcane crops.

Toward Cross-Species Crop Se Content Prediction Using Random Forest Modeling

Selenium is an indispensable trace element in the human body that plays an important role in maintaining life activities. The consumption of Se-rich crops provides a practical and effective way for the body to supplement Se. However, the Se content in crops is affected by the soil Se content and the interactions between other elements in the soil. In this study, the Tibetan Plateau of China was chosen as the study area. The random forest algorithm was applied to select four key indicators—selenium (Se), bioavailable phosphorus (P), cadmium (Cd), and bioavailable copper (Cu)—from 29 soil variables to predict the Se content in rapeseed, wheat, potato, pasture, and chrysanthemum crops. The results showed that, despite the rich soil Se resources in the Tibetan Plateau, only 20% of the crop samples met the national Se enrichment standard (>0.07 mg kg−1). Compared with the traditional multiple linear regression method, the random forest model is more accurate, efficient, and reliable in predicting the Se content of crops. In cross-species crop prediction, which refers to the simultaneous cultivation and analysis of multiple distinct crop species within the same agricultural setting, the random forest model demonstrated superior performance, marking a significant breakthrough in cross-species crop research. This approach effectively eliminates the tedious process of conducting repetitive individual evaluations for different crop types in the same region, highlighting its innovative significance. Meanwhile, the Tibetan Plateau, known as the “Roof of the World”, is also of great research value. These results provide valuable references for the planning and management of Se-enriched farmlands, which will help improve the yield and quality of Se-enriched crops and promote the growth of farmers’ interests.

Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Soil and Crops Selenium Content in Eastern Sanjiang Plain

Too identify seleniut（Se） content characteristics and influencing factors in soil and crops of Shengli Farm in eastern Sanjiang Plain, statistical analysis and correlation analysis were comprehensively used to analyze the test results of 83 groups of surface soil samples and 34 groups of crop seed samples. The results showed that the Se content in the study area ranged from 0.12 to 0.95 mg·kg-1, with an average value of 0.37 mg·kg-1, and the enrichment degree was stronger with an enrichment coefficient of 3.18. Oxidizable Se was the main Se fraction, accounting for 81%, 79%, 79%, and 80% of T-Se in marsh soil, white soil, dry land, and paddy field, respectively. The content of reducible Se was the lowest, accounting for less than 5%. The effects of soil physicochemical indexes on Se content differences mainly showed that Se was negatively correlated with pH and total potassium （TK） and significantly positively correlated with cation exchange capacity （CEC）, soil organic matter （SOM）, humus （HS）, total nitrogen （TN）, and total phosphorus （TP）. The average content of Se in different land use types was as follows： dryland > irrigated land > grassland > forest land, as the dryland soil with low pH and high SOM was more likely to enrich Se. Among different soil types, the average Se content in gleysols was the highest at 0.45 mg·kg-1, which was higher than the average value in the study area. The average content of Se in the quaternary alluvial layer was the highest at 0.43 mg·kg-1, and its parent material mainly consisted of lacustrine sediments rich in organic matter, which was one of the important factors in forming Se rich soil. The Se content in crops and root soil showed a negative correlation. Se in low pH or high SOM soil was not easily absorbed by crops, and its Se content was also controlled by the form of soil Se, which was positively correlated with available Se content and negatively correlated with oxidizable Se content. Therefore, it is suggested to reduce the amount of artificial fertilizer used in cultivated land as a means of increasing Se bioavailability to change the current situation of crop Se levels in this area.

Biofortification: Future Challenges for a Newly Emerging Technology to Improve Nutrition Security Sustainably

Biofortification was coined as a term to define a plant breeding strategy to increase the micronutrient content of staple food crops to reduce the burden of micronutrient deficiencies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In 2003, the HarvestPlus program, based in the centers comprising the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), was initiated to implement the biofortification strategy. This paper discusses what has been achieved, what has been learned, and the key challenges to embed biofortification in food systems and to expand its impact.Cost-effectiveness is key to the biofortification strategy. Biofortification piggybacks on the agronomically-superior varieties being developed at agricultural research centers. Central plant breeding research discoveries can be spread globally. Farmers have every motivation to adopt the latest high-yielding, high profit crops. High productivity leads to lower food prices. As a consequence, consumers can increase their mineral and vitamin intakes at no additional cost by substituting biofortified staple foods one-for-one for non-biofortified staple foods. After twenty years of investment, biofortified staple food crops are being produced by farmers in over 40 countries and are eaten by hundreds of millions of people. Published nutrition trials have shown nutrient-rich crops to be efficacious. The biofortification strategy is now recognized by the international nutrition community as one effective approach among several interventions needed to reduce micronutrient deficiencies. This is a promising beginning. However, biofortification is still a newly emerging technology. A limitation of biofortification as implemented to date is that densities of single nutrients have been increased in given staple food crops. To reach a higher trajectory, the impacts of biofortification can be multiplied several-fold using genetic engineering and other advanced crop development techniques to combine multiple-nutrient densities with climate-smart traits.

Dynamics of cyanogenic glycosides in apple and plum fruits, products, and byproducts: A concise review.

Apples (Malus domestica) and plums (Prunus domestica) are important fruit crops belonging to the Rosaceae family. The edible parts of fruits and seeds contain phytochemicals; however, the seeds are rich in cyanogenic glycosides (CNGs), which release toxic hydrogen cyanide (HCN) upon the loss of plant cell integrity. This review aims to explore the quantitative and qualitative CNG profiles in apples and plums, focusing on their distribution in different parts of the fruit, changes during fruit development, and environmental impacts on their biosynthesis. It also discusses the intricate dynamics of CNGs in processed fruits and waste-derived products and the effects of the processing methods on CNG content. There is considerable variation in the CNG content of fruit crops, as well as in its distribution in fruit parts other than seeds and shifts during fruit maturation. Although several studies have attempted to explain this variability by the influence of cultivars and exogenous factors, there is insufficient evidence to draw reliable conclusions. Furthermore, due to the lack of studies, the dynamics of CNGs during the storage of fresh or preserved fruit remains unaddressed. In the context of reusing plum stones from waste to produce distillates, it is recommended to monitor the HCN content in the products during storage, as it can increase significantly over time. Processing methods influence CNG levels, with strategies like seed separation, soaking, and microwave heating showing promise in reducing cyanide (CN-) presence. The insights from this review will provide direction for future detailed research.

A high-altitude population of Hyperboreomyzon polaris (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) in Altai Mountains, South Siberia, Russia.

Hyperboreomyzon polaris Bolotov, Eliseeva, Klass & Kondakov, 2022 (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) is an enigmatic freshwater leech that was recently described based on three specimens from two remote regions of the Eurasian Arctic, that is, the Kolguev Island and Putorana Plateau, Russia. Later on, misidentified historical samples of this species were discovered in the Hirudinea collection of Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg, Russia). These samples were collected by Pavel G. Ignatov, a prominent Russian geographer and traveler, from a remote high-altitude area of the Altai Mountains (South Siberia) in 1901. To collect new samples from this population, we organized a field expedition to the same area (Lake Dzhulukul) in 2023. Molecular genetic data (COI and 18S rRNA) obtained from newly collected specimens revealed that they belong to H. polaris. Hence, this leech could be considered an Arctic-alpine species, the disjunctive range of which covers Arctic areas of Eurasia and Central Asian (South Siberian) mountains. We describe and illustrate living individuals of H. polaris for the first time, update its morphological diagnosis, present a life cycle reconstruction based on the frequency of four size classes in available samples. It is shown that this species prefers small lentic water bodies such as small lakes and lakelets. The crop content of a well-fed specimen from Altai contains DNA of the northern pintail Anas acuta Linnaeus (Aves: Anatidae), indicating that H. polaris feeds on blood of waterfowl. Our results indicate that Hyperboreomyzon may be considered a species adapted to cold high-latitude areas and mountain refugia.

Effect of fertility levels and stress mitigating chemicals on nutrient content, uptake, intercropping advantage and competition effect in cowpea-baby corn intercropping

The primary goal of this study was to analyze how various row ratios of intercrops, in conjunction with different fertilizer levels with spray of two stress mitigating chemical, affect nutrient content, land productivity, and economic viability during Summer season. Furthermore, we aimed to explore the competitive dynamics within legume/cereal intercropping systems. Hence, A field experiment at Agriculture University, Kota, during the summers of 2019 and 2020, investigated different cowpea + baby corn intercropping system's intercropping indices, nutrient dynamics, uptake, and post-harvest soil nutrient balance under varying recommended fertilizer levels and foliar spray of stress mitigating chemicals. Using a split-split plot design replicated four times, the experiment involved thirty treatment combinations, including five intercropping techniques viz. Sole cowpea, sole baby corn, cowpea + baby corn 2:1, cowpea + baby corn 3:1, cowpea + baby corn 4:1 in the main plot, three fertility levels viz. 100 %, 125 % and 150 % recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) in subplots, and two stress mitigation chemicals; CaCl2 0.5 % and KNO3 1% in sub-subplots. The findings revealed notable trends, including nitrogen (N) and (P) content in cowpea seeds and straw, baby corn cobs and fodder, as well as enhanced land-equivalent ratio (LER) and monetary advantage index (MAI) within the cowpea + baby corn 2:1 row ratio. However, despite these advantages, total N and P uptake were markedly higher in sole crops. Notably, sole cowpea demonstrated the highest actual N and P balance and lowest was under sole baby corn. Among the fertility levels, the 150 % RDF level exhibited the most favorable outcomes across various parameters, including LER, MAI, NP content, and uptake in both crops. Additionally, higher fertility levels correlated with increased apparent and actual soil nutrient balances. While, among stress mitigation chemicals, CaCl2 0.5 % resulted in significantly heightened N and P uptake. Hence, to optimize intercropping dynamics and maintain soil nutrient balance, it is advisable to intensify cowpea cultivation along with baby corn in a 2:1 row ratio, utilizing 150 % RDF is beneficial. Additionally, alleviating higher temperature stress during the summer season can be achieved by applying a 0.5 % solution CaCl2 through spraying at the flowering and pod development stages of cowpea.

Effect of Ni and Fe Co-Application on the Soybean Crop Grown in Nickel and Iron Deficient Soils of Mirzapur District

ABSTRACT Considering the importance of nickel and iron nutrition for the soybean crop, their deficiency inhibits the yield drastically specially in the area where soybean crop is dominant. To encounter this problem, a pot experiment was conducted in glass house on low nickel and iron soil in Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, during 2019–20 and 2021–22. The study was carried out to investigate the effect of Ni (nickel) and Fe (iron) on the post-harvest soil parameters, growth, yield, nutrient uptake and nutrient content of soybean crop. There were 10 treatments with two levels of Ni (5 and 10 mg kg −1) and Fe (10 and 20 mg kg−1) with recommended dosage of fertilizers nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (8.93, 35.71, and 17.86 mg kg−1) applied to all treatments except control. The result of the experiment revealed that the co-application of nickel and iron@10 mg kg−1 and 20 mg kg−1 (RDF + Ni10Fe20), resulted in the increase in plant height, greeness index, no of seed per pod, no of pod per plant, seed yield, and stover yield. Similar, findings for the post- harvest soil parameter indicated that there was increase in pH, electrical conductivity, and organic carbon content of soil. DTPA (Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) extractable Ni, Fe, Zn, and Cu, also found highest in treatment where nickel and iron@10 mg kg−1 and 20 mg kg−1 (RDF + Ni10Fe20) were applied in soil, but in case of DTPA extractable Mn, the highest amount was found in treatment where nickel and iron@10 mg kg−1 and 10 mg kg−1 (RDF + Ni10Fe10) was applied in soil. The soil microbial biomass carbon and urease activity was also found highest in the treatment where nickel and iron@10 and 20 mg kg−1 was applied in soil. The minimum plant height, greeness index, no of seed per pod, no of pod per plant, seed, and stover yield was recorded in treatment where only RDF(T1) was applied. Similar, result recorded for the post-harvest soil parameters. So, overall findings of the pot experiment revealed that the conjoint application of nickel and iron has resulted in better yield of soybean crop.

The genome of Lupinus mutabilis: Evolution and genetics of an emerging bio-based crop.

Lupinus mutabilis is an under-domesticated legume species from the Andean region of South America. It belongs to the New World lupins clade, which groups several lupin species displaying large genetic variation and adaptability to highly different environments. L. mutabilis is attracting interest as a potential multipurpose crop to diversify the European supply of plant proteins, increase agricultural biodiversity, and fulfill bio-based applications. This study reports the first high-quality L. mutabilis genome assembly, which is also the first sequenced assembly of a New World lupin species. Through comparative genomics and phylogenetics, the evolution of L. mutabilis within legumes and lupins is described, highlighting both genomic similarities and patterns specific to L. mutabilis, potentially linked to environmental adaptations. Furthermore, the assembly was used to study the genetics underlying important traits for the establishment of L.mutabilis as a novel crop, including protein and quinolizidine alkaloids contents in seeds, genomic patterns of classic resistance genes, and genomic properties of L. mutabilis mycorrhiza-related genes. These analyses pointed out copy number variation, differential genomic gene contexts, and gene family expansion through tandem duplications as likely important drivers of the genomic diversity observed for these traits between L. mutabilis and other lupins and legumes. Overall, the L. mutabilis genome assembly will be a valuable resource to conduct genetic research and enable genomic-based breeding approaches to turn L.mutabilis into a multipurpose legume crop.

Prediction of the fluoride contents of different crop species via the random forest algorithm.

Fluoride (F) is a trace element that is essential to the human body and occurs naturally in the environment. However, a deficiency or excess of F in the environment can potentially lead to human health issues. The pseudototal amount of F in soil often does not correlate directly with the F content in plants. Instead, the F content within plants tends to have a greater correlation with the bioavailable F in soils. In large-scale soil surveys, only the pseudototal elemental content of soils is typically measured, which may not be highly reliable for developing agricultural zoning plans. There are significant variations in the ability of different plants to accumulate F from soil. Additionally, due to variations in soil elemental absorption mechanisms among different plant species, when multiple crops are grown in an area, it is typically necessary to study the elemental absorption mechanisms of each crop. To address these issues, in this study, we examined the factors influencing F bioaccumulation coefficients in different crops based on 1:50,000 soil geochemical survey data. Using the random forest algorithm, four indicators-bioavailable P, bioavailable Zn, leachable Pb, and Sr-were selected from among 29 parameters to predict the F content within crops to replace bioavailable F in the soil. Compared with the multivariate linear regression (MLR) model, the random forest (RF) model provided more accurate and reliable predictions of the fluoride content in crops, with the RF model's prediction accuracy improving by approximately 95.23%. Additionally, while the partial least squares regression (PLSR) model also offered improved accuracy over MLR, the RF model still outperformed PLSR in terms of prediction accuracy and robustness. Additionally, it maximized the utilization of existing geochemical survey data, enabling cross-species studies for the first time and avoiding redundant evaluations of different types of agricultural products in the same region. In this investigation, we selected the Xining-Ledu region of Qinghai Province, China, as the study area and employed a random forest model to predict the crop F content in soils, providing a new methodological framework for crop production that effectively enhances agricultural quality and efficiency.