Crop Contents Research Articles

The impact of Klebsiella quasipneumoniae inoculation with nitrogen fertilization on baby corn yield and cob quality

In response to the escalating costs and diminishing efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers, the agricultural community is actively seeking sustainable alternatives that leverage natural nitrogen sources derived from biological N-fixation processes to enhance crop yield. This study investigates the combined effects of Klebsiella quasipneumoniae inoculation and varying nitrogen fertilizer doses on soil fertility, nutrient availability, and the yield and quality parameters of baby corn (Zea mays. L). The study involved the application of five nitrogen levels (0, 75, 150, 225, and 300 kg N ha-1) in conjunction with Klebsiella quasipneumoniae inoculum on HM-4 variety of baby corn, employing a comprehensive experimental design with five treatments and four replications. All treatments demonstrated increased ear count and weights of ear, silk, husk, edible cob, and biomass compared to the control. The study highlights the potential of Klebsiella quasipneumoniae inoculation in synergy with reduced nitrogen fertilizer to enhance total N contents in soil and positively impact baby corn yield and cob quality parameters. Optimal results were achieved with a 50% reduction in nitrogen fertilizer (150 kg N ha-1), emphasizing the importance of integrated nutrient management. The findings contribute valuable insights to sustainable agriculture, offering a promising strategy for increased baby corn production, improved nutritional quality, and environmental conservation. This integrated approach, involving microbial inoculation and nitrogen management, emerges as a key element in modern agricultural practices, promoting both productivity and nutritional content in baby corn crops.

Nitrogen Application Can Optimize Form of Selenium in Soil in Selenium-Rich Areas to Affect Selenium Absorption and Accumulation in Black Wheat.

The composition and form of selenium in the soil have significant effects on the selenium content of crops. In this study, we investigated the selenium absorption pathway in plants by studying the interaction between nitrogen fertilizer and soil selenium. Our results showed that the selenium concentration enrichment factors (CEF) varied within the same region due to nitrogen fertilizer application, where they ranged from 1.33 to 5.02. The soil selenium flow coefficient (mobility factor, MF) increased with higher nitrogen application rates. The sum of the MF values for each soil layer treated with nitrogen application rates of 192 kg hm-2 and 240 kg hm-2 was 0.70, which was 64% higher than that for the control group with no nitrogen application. In the 0-20 cm soil layer, the highest summed water-soluble and exchangeable selenium and relative percentage of total selenium (12.45%) was observed at a nitrogen application rate of 240 kg hm-2. In the 20-40 cm soil layer, the highest relative percentage content of water-soluble and exchangeable selenium and total selenium (12.66%) was observed at a nitrogen application rate of 192 kg hm-2. Experimental treatment of black wheat with various concentrations of sodium selenite showed that selenium treatment at 50 μmol L-1 significantly increased the reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in the leaves and roots of seedlings, where the GSH contents increased by 155.4% in the leaves and by 91.5% in the roots. Further analysis of the soil-black wheat system showed that nitrogen application in selenium-rich areas affected the soil selenium flow coefficient and morphological composition, thereby changing the enrichment coefficient for leaves (0.823), transport capacity from leaves to grains (-0.530), and enrichment coefficient for roots (0.38). These changes ultimately affected the selenium concentration in the grains of black wheat.

Hyperspectral Inversion of Heavy Metal Copper Content in Corn Leaves Based on DRS–XGBoost

This study proposes a method that is used for the nondestructive detection of copper content in corn leaves, which is achieved via visible–near infrared spectroscopy. In this paper, we collected the visible–near infrared spectral data of corn leaves that were planted in soils undergoing different gradients of heavy metal copper stress. Then, a preliminary pretreatment was carried out to obtain the original spectrum (OS), the continuous removal spectrum (CR), and the derivative of ratio spectroscopy (DRS). Singular value decomposition was used for spectral denoising. The characteristic bands corresponding to the OS, CR, and DRS were determined using correlation analysis, as well as mutual information. Based on training the extreme gradient boosting tree (XGBoost) predictive model using feature bands, the copper content in corn leaves was predicted, and a comparative analysis was conducted with the commonly used partial least squares regression (PLSR) model in regression analysis. The results showed that the accuracy of the PLSR and XGBoost models, which were established with CR and DRS, were higher than that of the OS, among which the DRS model had the highest accuracy. For the validation set in the PLSR model, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.72, the root mean square error (RMSE) was 1.21 mg/kg, and the residual predictive deviation (RPD) was 1.89. For the validation set in the XGBoost model, the R2 was 0.86, the RMSE was 0.86 mg/kg, and the RPD was 2.66. At the same time, the spectral data of the field-planted corn near a mining area were selected to test the robustness of the model. Among them, the DRS had a higher accuracy in the XGBoost model, where its R2 was 0.51, its RMSE was 0.86 mg/kg, and its RPD was 1.45, thus indicating that the model can better predict the copper content in corn leaves and that the model has a higher robustness, which could provide new ideas for the prediction of heavy metal content in crops.

Agronomic and Genetic Strategies to Enhance Selenium Accumulation in Crops and Their Influence on Quality.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element that plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of humans, animals, and certain plants. It is extensively present throughout the Earth's crust and is absorbed by crops in the form of selenates and selenite, eventually entering the food chain. Se biofortification is an agricultural process that employs agronomic and genetic strategies. Its goal is to enhance the mechanisms of crop uptake and the accumulation of exogenous Se, resulting in the production of crops enriched with Se. This process ultimately contributes to promoting human health. Agronomic strategies in Se biofortification aim to enhance the availability of exogenous Se in crops. Concurrently, genetic strategies focus on improving a crop's capacity to uptake, transport, and accumulate Se. Early research primarily concentrated on optimizing Se biofortification methods, improving Se fertilizer efficiency, and enhancing Se content in crops. In recent years, there has been a growing realization that Se can effectively enhance crop growth and increase crop yield, thereby contributing to alleviating food shortages. Additionally, Se has been found to promote the accumulation of macro-nutrients, antioxidants, and beneficial mineral elements in crops. The supplementation of Se biofortified foods is gradually emerging as an effective approach for promoting human dietary health and alleviating hidden hunger. Therefore, in this paper, we provide a comprehensive summary of the Se biofortification conducted over the past decade, mainly focusing on Se accumulation in crops and its impact on crop quality. We discuss various Se biofortification strategies, with an emphasis on the impact of Se fertilizer strategies on crop Se accumulation and their underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, we highlight Se's role in enhancing crop quality and offer perspective on Se biofortification in crop improvement, guiding future mechanistic explorations and applications of Se biofortification.

Inclusion of trans-cinnamaldehyde and caprylic acid in feed results in detectable concentrations in the chicken gut and reduces foodborne pathogen carriage

Poultry act as a major reservoir host for Salmonella and Campylobacter spp., the 2 leading causes of foodborne illnesses globally and in the United States. Preharvest stage interventions to reduce foodborne pathogen carriage in poultry are increasingly informed by consumer preference for antibiotic-free poultry production. The in-feed inclusion of plant-derived antimicrobial compounds is a promising antibiotic alternative strategy to reduce foodborne pathogen load in the broiler chicken gut. Yet, the fate of these phytochemicals through the broiler chicken gastrointestinal tract is unknown. Likewise, while in-feed phytochemicals have been widely demonstrated in challenge models to reduce foodborne pathogen carriage, little is known regarding efficacy to curb natural routes of infection. As such, the aim of the present study was 2-fold. We sought to determine the concentrations of 2 phytochemicals, trans-cinnamaldehyde and caprylic acid, in each region of the chicken gastrointestinal tract following their in-feed inclusion over a 6-wk production period. In addition, we investigated how the in-feed provision of these phytochemicals may protect against environmental acquisition of Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella spp. Trans-cinnamaldehyde and caprylic acid were detected in crop, gizzard, duodenal, jejunal, and ileal contents. Crop and gizzard concentrations were not significantly (P > 0.05) different. A significant (P < 0.05) decrease in phytochemical concentration was observed in intestinal regions compared to crop and gizzard. Trans-cinnamaldehyde was consistently identified in cecal and colon contents, while caprylic acid was not detectable in these regions. Trans-cinnamaldehyde and caprylic acid were found to reduce (P < 0.05) Salmonella load. Together, our data establish that the in-feed addition of trans-cinnamaldehyde and caprylic acid, 2 phytochemicals that have previously been shown to exert antimicrobial activity against poultry-associated foodborne pathogens, results in detectable concentrations in the broiler chicken gastrointestinal tract. By providing researchers with a gastrointestinal region-by-region map of phytochemical concentrations, the present study is expected to inform the choice of in-feed phytochemicals targeting foodborne pathogen carriage in the broiler chicken gastrointestinal tract.

The effect of increasing the proportion of the far red region in full-spectrum LED irradiation on the growth and development of sugar beet plants (&lt;i&gt;Beta vulgaris&lt;/i&gt; L. ssp. &lt;i&gt;vulgaris var. saccharifera&lt;/i&gt; Alef.) in closed agrobiotechnological systems

Relevance and methodology. In order to determine the effect of increasing the proportion of far red light (different ratio of red and far red light) in the total spectrum of polychrome irradiation on the growth rates of sugar beet plants of the Smena hybrid, they were grown for 82 days under LED lighting under controlled climate conditions in a Synergotron digital device of the ISR 2.01 model with a twofold increase in the proportion of far red light compared to control.Results. An increase in the proportion of far red light led to an increase in the specific weight of leaves with a smaller area of leaves in the initial period of plant growth, higher values of the quantum yield of photosynthesis, the rate of electron transport, and a decrease in energy losses mainly to heat. The biometric indicators of plants changed depending on the period of ontogeny. In the initial period, the biomass of the aerial part prevailed, in the subsequent period, the biomass of root crops. In the experimental variant, the accumulation of biomass in the aerial parts of plants in the initial period of the experiment turned out to be less than in the control, and only at the end of the experiment was an excess of the total biomass in the experimental variant by 12.2%. There was an increase in the accumulation of root biomass compared to the control by 38.7%. The predominant part of the aboveground biomass of sugar beet was made up of leaf blades, the proportion of petioles was much less and practically did not depend on the composition of the light. At the end of the growing period, the dry matter content in root crops increased by 2.44% compared to the control, sugar content – by 0.65%. The data obtained can be used in the development of technology for artificial lighting of sugar beets when grown in closed agrobiotechnosystems in order to increase the yield and sugar content of root crops.

New approach for predicting nitrogen and pigments in maize from hyperspectral data and machine learning models

Fast diagnostics from hyperspectral data and machine learning (ML) models to predict nitrogen (N) and pigment content in maize crops is challenging to optimize nitrogen fertilization. This research assessed the efficiency of the five ML algorithms, the best phenological stage, and the sensitivity of the 90 spectra to estimate N and pigment content. Therefore, this field research proposes as a novelty to test which of the five ML algorithms accurately estimates nitrogen, chlorophyll, and carotenoid content in maize leaves at different phenological stages using hyperspectral band data. The treatments were arranged in a factorial scheme with four N doses (0, 54, 108, and 216 kg ha−1) combined with five leaf collection seasons at phenological stages V6 to V14. The ML models tested were artificial neural networks – ANN, decision tree adapted for prediction problems – M5P, REPTree decision tree, random forest - RF, polynomial support vector machine – PSVM, and ZeroR - ZR (control). Spectral bands 530–560 nm and 690–750 nm are effective wavelengths because the visible region with lower reflectance (530–560 nm) affects N uptake and chlorophyll and carotenoid content, while the red-edge and near-infrared region affects N and chlorophyll content. The random forest (RF) model performed better with higher correlation (r) and mean absolute error (MAE) between predicted and observed values for all variables, with the correlation coefficient (r) value being around 0.6 and the MAE below 0.5 for the prediction of chlorophyll a+b. For the prediction of flavonoids, the r was around 0.6 and the error was 0.07. Support vector machine (SVM) and RF efficiently predicted nitrogen content, in predicting of NF, the r values for both algorithms were above 0.35 and the error was below 2.75.

Mitigation of the U.S. agrifood sector's contribution to human and planetary health: a case study.

The relationship of the United States (U.S.) agrifood sector to climate change is bidirectional; cattle production for beef consumption generates methane and nitrous oxide, both of which are potent greenhouse gases (GHGs). These gases contribute to global warming which in turn increase the frequency and strength of adverse catastrophic events, which compromise the food supply. Increased GHGs also affect crop yields and the micronutrient content of crops, which adversely affect the prevalence of food and nutrition insecurity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Because the U.S. is a major contributor to global warming, we have a special responsibility to reduce our contribution to the generation of GHGs. The dilemma is that beef is a highly nutritious and desirable food, with excess consumption in the U.S. and under consumption in other parts of the world, but a desirable source of nutrients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Reductions in fossil fuels have been a major focus of concern, and the agrifood system has been largely ignored. Policy changes to reduce beef consumption have been resisted at the highest levels of government. Furthermore, shifts to more plant-based diets have been contentious. Successful reductions in beef consumption will require individual, institutional, municipal, and state initiatives. Building the political will for change will require a compelling communication campaign that emphasizes the unsustainable contribution of beef consumption to climate change and land and water use.

Environmental pollution status and health risk assessment of selective heavy metal(oid)s in Iran's agricultural soils: A review

The assessment of heavy metal(oid) concentrations in agricultural soil holds significant importance due to its impact on crop safety and quality, as well as the potential risks it poses to human health. This review utilized secondary online published data to evaluate the contamination levels of seven HMs (As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in Iranian farmland soils. As a result, 31 research papers were collected to compile a dataset offering a comprehensive analysis of HM concentrations, distribution, sources, ecological risks, and potential health risks. The findings indicated that mean concentrations of Ni and Cd exceeded their corresponding permissible levels in farmland soils, while other HMs remained below this threshold. The mean Igeo (geoaccumulation index) values followed the sequence Ni > As > Cu > Cr > Zn > Pb > Cd, with Igeo values suggesting low to slight enrichment for the studied HMs. Pollution index (PI) results revealed notable contamination of As in various provinces, including Kurdistan, Hamedan, Tehran, Mazandaran, West Azerbaijan, Kermanshah, Hormozgan, Golestan, and the Kamfiruz region of Fars. Elevated contamination of Pb and Cd was observed in Fars (Shiraz region), and Cr and Ni in the Sabzevar area farmland soils. As, Cd, and Cu exhibited higher ecological risks (EI) compared to Zn, Cr, Ni, and Pb. The potential ecological risks (PER) ranged from 9.9 to 244.6, indicating low to moderate risk levels. Non-carcinogenic assessments indicated that ingestion was the primary exposure pathway to HMs in Iranian farmland soils, followed by inhalation and dermal contact. Total hazard index (HI) values for studied HMs did not exceed 1, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic risk for both population age groups. This study highlights the current lack of well-documented scientific reports on the status of HMs in agricultural farmland soils across 12 other provinces in Iran, emphasizing the need for further investigation. Moreover, the bioavailability of HMs in agricultural soils significantly influences HM content in crops, underscoring the need for future research to ascertain HM concentrations in different soil fractions.

Enhancing Wheat Nitrogen and Protein Content in Agroforestry Systems for Climate-Resilience and Food Security

This research was conducted at the Forestry Research Farm of Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, during the consecutive Rabi seasons of 2021-22. The study employed a double split plot design with three factors: land use systems (S1- open system and S2- agroforestry system), sowing dates (D1- 12 Nov, D2- 27 Nov, D3- 12 Dec), and wheat varieties (V1 - MP-3336 and V2 - GW-322). Each experimental treatment was meticulously replicated three times to ensure robust statistical analysis. Estimating nitrogen and protein content in wheat is crucial for nutrition, quality control, pricing and crop management. Therefore the objective of the study was to estimate nitrogen and protein content in grains of wheat under open and Pongamia Pinnata based agroforestry system. Nitrogen content in wheat grains was quantified using Modified Kjeldahl Method, and subsequently, protein content was calculated based on the determined nitrogen levels. The outcomes of this investigation consistently revealed that the open system consistently exhibited higher levels of nitrogen and protein content when compared to the agroforestry system. Furthermore, earlier sowing dates, particularly D1, contributed to increased nitrogen and protein content, although statistical significance was not achieved. Substantial varietal differences were observed, with MP-3336 consistently outperforming GW-322 in terms of nitrogen and protein content. These findings emphasize the critical role of land use strategies, sowing timing and wheat variety selection in augmenting the nitrogen and protein content of wheat crops, thereby making significant contributions to sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing food quality in regions reliant on wheat production.

Effect of Simulated Photovoltaic Roofs on the Yield and Nitrate Content of Pak Choi and Rape

Integrating solar modules into agricultural production constitutes a novel type of agricultural industry. We evaluated the effect of setting opaque plastic solar modules on greenhouse roofs on the crop growth inside greenhouse. The opaque plastic agricultural films simulating the material of solar modules and the greenhouse roofs covered with these films were used, and the yield and nitrate content of pak choi (Brassica chinensis ‘Bekamaru’) and rape (Brassica napus ‘Dragon’) under these films were measured. The results indicated that the yield of pak choi did not change considerably by a simulated photovoltaic (SPV) roof with a shading rate of 38% compared with an uncovered plastic (PL) roof. However, during the first and second planting periods, the yield of rape under the PL roof substantially exceeded that under the SPV roof by 31% and 34%, respectively, indicating that the effect of shading on the yield of rape was greater than that on the yield of pak choi. In addition, the appearance of pak choi and rape also changed under the SPV roof, such as fewer leaves, lower chlorophyll content, and larger specific leaf areas. Nevertheless, the nitrate content of crops grown under the SPV roof exceeded that of crops grown under the PL roof. In conclusion, based on the expression of yield and growth of crops, pak choi is suitable for cultivation in greenhouses that are equipped with photovoltaic systems. However, to prevent plants from accumulating excessive nitrate, attention must be focused on the amount and frequency of nitrogen fertilizers application.

Multi-omics analyses reveal the importance of chromoplast plastoglobules in carotenoid accumulation in citrus fruit.

Chromoplasts act as a metabolic sink for carotenoids, in which plastoglobules serve as versatile lipoprotein particles. PGs in chloroplasts have been characterized. However, the features of PGs from non-photosynthetic plastids are poorly understood. We found that the development of chromoplast plastoglobules (CPGs) in globular and crystalloid chromoplasts of citrus is associated with alterations in carotenoid storage. Using Nycodenz density gradient ultracentrifugation, an efficient protocol for isolating highly purified CPGs from sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) pulp was established. Forty-four proteins were defined as likely comprise the core proteome of CPGs using comparative proteomics analysis. Lipidome analysis of different chromoplast microcompartments revealed that the nonpolar microenvironment within CPGs was modified by 35 triacylglycerides, two sitosterol esters, and one stigmasterol ester. Manipulation of the CPG-localized gene CsELT1 (esterase/lipase/thioesterase) in citrus calli resulted in increased lipids and carotenoids, which is further evidence that the nonpolar microenvironment of CPGs contributes to carotenoid accumulation and storage in the chromoplasts. This multi-feature analysis of CPGs sheds new light on the role of chromoplasts in carotenoid metabolism, paving the way for manipulating carotenoid content in citrus fruit and other crops.

Influence of Weed Control Measures and Nutrient Management on Nutrient Content, Uptake and Nutrient use Efficiency of Fennel Crop (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

A research experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2021-22 at the College of Agriculture, SKRAU, Bikaner. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the influence of different nutrient management and weed control treatments on the nutrient content, uptake and nutrient use efficiency of fennel crop. The experiment consisted of sixteen treatment combinations, which included four nutrient management treatments and four weed control measures. The nutrient management treatments included control (no fertilizer applied), 75 % RDF, 100 % RDF and 125 % RDF and four weed control measures- weed free, pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg ha-1 (PE), oxyfluorfen @ 50g ha-1 (POE at 25 DAS) and weedy check. These treatments were replicated three times in a factorial randomized block design (FRBD), ensuring the reliability and accuracy of the results. The weed-free treatment was found to be significantly better in increasing the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content in both the seed and straw of the crop. Additionally, the weed-free treatment also resulted in higher nutrient uptake by the crop compared to the weedy check treatment. Among the nutrient management treatments, the application of 100% RDF showed the most promising results. It improved the nutrient content in both the seed and straw of the crop and recorded the highest nutrient use efficiency. This efficiency was found to be at par with the application of 125% RDF and significantly higher than the remaining treatments. Overall, the experiment demonstrated the importance of weed control and proper nutrient management in enhancing the nutrient content and uptake by the crop. The weed-free treatment and the application of 100% RDF were identified as the most effective strategies in achieving these goals. These findings can be valuable for farmers and agricultural practitioners in optimizing crop productivity and ensuring sustainable agricultural practices.

Effect of fertilisers, dolomite lime, and crop by-products on crop productivity, phosphorus balance and content in Western Polissia’s Retisol of Ukraine

Effect of fertilisers, dolomite lime, and crop by-products on crop productivity, phosphorus balance and content in Western Polissia’s Retisol of Ukraine

Nutritional Changes In Anchote [Coccinia Abyssinica (Lam.) Cogn.] Root Cultivar Under The Use Ofmixed NPSB And FYM Fertilizers Rates

Anchote (Coccinia abyssinica (Lam.) Cogn.) is a critically important root crop native to Ethiopia on the African continent. In terms of nutrition, economics, medical, and social welfare, it is a highly valued food source that is abundant throughout the Western part country. The nutrient makeup of the crop may be affected by the application of various organic and inorganic fertilizers. The effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the nutritional content of the Anchote food crop, on the other hand, are unknown. As a result, during the 2019-20 cropping season, a field experiment was conducted in the southwestern part of Ethiopia to see how the Anchote variety (Desta 01) responded to various levels of NPSB and farmyard manure in terms of yield and nutritional components. Six rates of mixed NPSB fertilizer (0, 58,116,175,233, and 291 kg ha-1) and three levels of Farmyard Manure (FYM) (0, 5, and 10 t ha-1) were treated within the experimental plot in the field to assess the yield and nutritional composition of the Anchote variety. In a randomized complete block design, the experiment was set up in 3 x 6 factorial patterns with three replications.For laboratory analysis, samples of its roots from all three replications were collected separately after the crop maturity and subjected to SAS (version 9.3) software, which was used to assess nutritional characteristics such as dry matter content of roots (DMC) (percent), crude fat (percent), moisture content (percent), total soluble solid (TSS), and total ash (percent). The results of the laboratory analysis revealed that the interaction effects of blended NPSB fertilizer and FYM levels significantly changed nutritional features such as dry matter and moisture content (P0.01). DMC, ash percent, TSS, moisture content, and crude fat were all significantly (P0.01) affected by FYM and NPSB application in the field, whereas the interaction effects of both NPSB and FYM treatment in the field had a significant (P0.01) impact on laboratory parameters like ash and crude fat content of Anchote cultivar. Finally, the results of the laboratory experiment showed that applying blended NPSB fertilizer and FYMtogether to the field had an effect on the quality and nutritional attributes of the Anchote cultivar gathered for laboratory testing in the research region.

The influence of different fertilization regimes on the yield and nutrient content of the sugar beet crop

The influence of different fertilization regimes on the yield and nutrient content of the sugar beet crop

Genome and Transcriptome Analyses of Genes Involved in Ascorbate Biosynthesis in Pepper Indicate Key Genes Related to Fruit Development, Stresses, and Phytohormone Exposures.

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a vegetable consumed worldwide, primarily used for vitamin C uptake and condiment purposes. Ascorbate (Asc) is a multifunctional metabolite, acting as an antioxidant and enzymatic cofactor involved in multiple cellular processes. Nevertheless, there is no evidence about the contribution of biosynthesis pathways and regulatory mechanisms responsible for Asc reserves in pepper plants. Here, we present a genome- and transcriptome-wide investigation of genes responsible for Asc biosynthesis in pepper during fruit development, stresses, and phytohormone exposures. A total of 21 genes, scattered in ten of twelve pepper chromosomes were annotated. Gene expression analyses of nine transcriptomic experiments supported the primary role of the L-galactose pathway in the Asc-biosynthesizing process, given its constitutive, ubiquitous, and high expression profile observed in all studied conditions. However, genes from alternative pathways generally exhibited low expression or were unexpressed and appeared to play some secondary role under specific stress conditions and phytohormone treatments. Taken together, our findings provide a deeper spatio-temporal understanding of expression levels of genes involved in Asc biosynthesis, and they highlight GGP2, GME1 and 2, and GalLDH members from L-galactose pathway as promising candidates for future wet experimentation, addressing the attainment of increase in ascorbate content of peppers and other crops.

Influence of Micronutrient Application on Nutrient Content, Uptake and Residual Soil Nutrient Status in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Western Uttar Pradesh Condition

A field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of different nutrient treatments on nutrient content, uptake and residual soil fertility in rice crop at Crop Research Centre, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut during kharif 2022 on clay loam soil, low in organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorous, zinc and iron, medium to high in available potassium and slightly alkaline in reaction. The treatments comprising of different combinations (10) of NPK, Zn and Fe with VAM {Control,100% NPK, 100% NPK + 25kg ZnSO4 ,100% NPK+ 25 kg FeSO4, 100% NPK + 25kg ZnSO4+25 kg FeSO4, 100% NPK + 12.5 kg ZnSO4+ 12.5 kg FeSO4+VAM, 100% NPK+ZnEDTA+FeEDTA, 100% NPK + 0.5% ZnSO4 at tillering and panicle initiation, 100% NPK + 0.5% FeSO4 at tillering and panicle initiation and 100% NPK + 0.5% ZnSO4 +0.5% FeSO4 at tillering and panicle initiation}were tested in RBD with 3 replications. Rice variety PB-1637 was transplanted on 23rd July and harvested on 10th November, 2022 with recommended package of practices except the treatments. Nutrient content, uptake and residual soil fertility were significantly affected by different nutrients treatments. Zn, Fe, Zn+Fe and Zn+Fe+VAM application favored nutrient content, uptake and residual soil fertility when compared to 100% NPK. Among the various treatments crop was applied with 100% NPK + 0.5% ZnSO4 + 0.5% FeSO4 registered highest nutrient content in grain (N- 1.33% ,P-0.43%, K-0.39%, Zn-36.5 mg kg-1 and Fe-127.31 mg kg-1), nutrient uptake in grain (N-57.5 kg ha-1,P- 18.6 kg ha-1 K-16.8 kg ha-1 ,Zn- 157.7 g ha-1 and Fe-550.0 g ha-1) and residual soil nutrient status (N-221.1 kg ha-1, P-17.6 kg ha-1, K-214.7 kg ha-1, Organic Carbon-0.47%, Zn-0.98 mg kg-1 and Fe-6.56 mg kg-1).

Bioavailability of Cd in Agricultural Soils Evaluated by DGT Measurements and the DIFS Model in Relation to Uptake by Rice and Tea Plants

The elevated accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and tea (Camellia sinensis L.) grown in agricultural soils may lead to a variety of adverse health effects. This study collected and analyzed crop samples along with paired rhizosphere soil samples from 61 sites in Cd-contaminated regions in Anhui Province, China. The findings revealed that both the diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) and soil solution were capable of effectively predicting Cd contents in crops. Conventional chemical extraction methods were inappropriate to evaluate the bioavailability of Cd. However, the effective concentrations (CE) corrected by the DGT-induced fluxes in soils (DIFS) model exhibited the strongest correlation with crop Cd contents. Except for CE, various measurement methods yielded better results for predicting Cd bioavailability in tea compared to rice. Pearson’s correlation analysis and the random forest (RF) model identified the key influencing factors controlling Cd uptake by rice and tea, including pH, soil texture, and contents of zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) in soils, which antagonize Cd. To reduce the potential health risk from rice and tea, the application of soil liming and/or Se-oxidizing bacteria was expected to be an effective management strategy.

Research of descendants of transgenic plants Triticum aestivum L. with partial suppression of the prolinde hydrogenase gene

Aim. To investigate the level of tolerance to water deficit of seed generations (T1 and T4) of genetically modified winter wheat with partially suppressed expression of the proline dehydrogenase gene (ProDH) based on the analysis of physiological and biochemical indicators and economic characteristics of plants. Methods. Determination of indicators of crop structure and content of free L-proline (Pro). Results. The level of Pro was studied and the main elements of productivity in the offspring of transgenic plants and their original forms under normal and insufficient water supply were analyzed. Conclusions. T1 and T4 biotechnological plants under normal/stress conditions accumulated more Pro than the original genotypes. The level of this amino acid in genetically modified seedlings under optimal cultivation conditions exceeded the initial forms by an average of 1.8 times. Under the influence of water deficit, its content increased by 2.2 and 2.3 times, in relation to normal water supply. In non-transgenic variants, the level of Pro, under similar growing conditions, was lower by 1.9 and 2.0 times, compared to T1 and T4 plants. Under the optimal water regime, the analyzed wheat variants did not differ significantly in terms of productivity. Drought led to their decrease, but the offspring of biotechnological plants were characterized by a less pronounced difference, as well as a higher yield.