Quantity Of Crops Research Articles

Potential Biomass Energy Generation from Agricultural Production in South Sudan

The aim of this study is to assess the capacity of agricultural residues in South Sudan in terms of their types and quantities. The country had limited access to modern energy sources, and most of the population relied on traditional biomass for cooking and heating. However, efforts were being made to explore and develop alternative and sustainable energy sources, including biomass energy. Biomass energy involves the use of organic materials, such as wood, crop residues, and animal waste, to generate heat or electricity. In the context of South Sudan, biomass energy could play a crucial role in meeting the energy needs of the population, especially in rural areas. The quantities of crops cultivated in South Sudan, measured in tons of dry matter per year, were determined through calculations based on production data from the Food and Agriculture Organization Statistical Databases of the United Nations (FAOSTAT) for the 2021 seasonal year. The annual gross potential of agricultural residues was calculated by employing a residue to product ratio. The energy potential of crop residues was computed by multiplying the calorific values of agricultural residues with the available amount of residue. The total energy potential of agricultural residues during the 2021 production period in South Sudan amounted to approximately 112.7 TJ. The total amount of unused agricultural crop residues was estimated to be approximately 8.6 kilo tons (Kt). The proportion of overall residue quantity comprises major crops such as sorghum (78.71%), maize (11.06%), rice (5.66%), and millet (4.36%).

Unlocking Potential: The Role of Zinc Fortification Combating Hidden Hunger and Enhancing Nutritional Security

Micronutrient shortage is rapidly becoming apparent have drawn more attention in the cultivation of crops. The main causes of this deficit are the introduction of high-yielding varieties, an intensified cropping strategy, and advanced irrigation systems etc. A further aspect contributing to this issue is the increased use of high analysis chemical fertilizers instead of organic plant nutrition (composts, farmyard manure, etc.). Most countries have acute shortages of micronutrients due to the significant depletion of soil reserves caused by current agricultural production technologies. In order to increase both the quantity and quality of crops, micronutrients are crucial. Through the integration of agronomic, breeding and transgenic techniques, researchers seek to strengthen the zinc concentration in field crops, so improving their nutritional value and mitigating the risk of zinc deficiency in human diets. The availability and absorption of micronutrients in crops are improved by agronomic techniques such as foliar spraying, and soil fertilizer treatment including organic amendments. Meanwhile, biofortification of vegetable and fruit crops has also been achieved by transgenic and breeding strategies. In other hand, Rhizobacteria-based biofortification, Chelated Zn biofortification, nutri-priming are also important techniques in Zinc fortification programs to ensure food security and nutritional quality, bio-fortification of micronutrients in crops is vital. In addition, bio-fortification improved quality and crop output, reducing hidden hunger and demonstrating that it was a viable and economical approach. The present review addresses several aspects of zinc insufficiency in human populations, including public health and socioeconomic issues, bio-fortification and ferti-fortification studies, and future efforts to mitigate zinc deficiency in soil and the population at large.

Microbiomes-Plant Interactions and K-Humate Application for Salinity Stress Mitigation and Yield Enhancement in Wheat and Faba Bean in Egypt’s Northeastern Delta

Salinity, resulting from climate change and excessive mineral fertilization, burdens farmers and negatively impacts soil and water ecosystems in the Northeastern Nile Delta. Organic and biological approaches are crucial for addressing these issues. This study examined the effects of individual and combined inoculations with cyanobacteria, yeast, and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), with or without K-Humate and reducing Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) mineral fertilizers application rates to crop quality of wheat and faba bean. In preliminary laboratory experiments, the interactive effects of these microbiomes on plant antioxidant and soil enzyme production were examined under salinity stress. Results showed that co-inoculation, especially with K-Humate, yielded superior outcomes compared to individual inoculations. These findings were validated by a field trial conducted in saline-alkaline soil in the Northeastern Nile Delta region. All biological treatments 25% of recommended doses, and enhancing salinity tolerance, increasing yield, and improving enhanced rhizosphere microbial activity, including soil enzyme activity, AMF colonization, spore density, and the total numbers of bacteria, cyanobacteria, and yeast. These effects were further amplified by K-Humate and were more pronounced with combined inoculations than with individual ones, leading to improved soil fertility and significant increases in both crop quantity and quality compared to control treatments. The triple treatment, combining cyanobacteria, yeast, and mycorrhizae in the presence of K-Humate while reducing the mineral NPK rate by 75%, achieved superior increases in the productivity of wheat grains and faba bean seeds, reaching 54.72% and 128.92%, respectively, compared to the 100% NPK mineral control. This treatment also significantly improved crop quality, with notable increases in nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and protein percentages in wheat grains and faba bean seeds. Microbiomes-interaction increased potassium uptake over sodium, enhancing the plant’s potassium/sodium ratio and improving salt stress tolerance. This approach reduces reliance on costly mineral fertilizers, enabling bio-organic farming in marginal lands, optimizing resource utilization, and preserving natural resources.

Sistem Pakar Diagnosa Penyakit Pada Tanaman Padi (Oryza) Menggunakan Metode Naïve Bayes

Rice (Oryza) is an important commodity, but in the process of cultivation, farmers still lack understanding about the diseases that attack rice plants. Therefore, an artificial intelligence-based expert system is implemented to identify diseases in rice plants according to the reasoning of an expert. In this research, the expert system method used is naive bayes to represent 18 symptoms and 5 diseases in rice plants. Naive Bayes is used because it can provide a statement that a symptom that appears in a condition is not interdependent between one another, so it can be used separately to assess the possibility of a condition based on the symptoms that appear. The application designed in this research is web-based and built based on PHP programming language and Codeigniter framework. This research aims to identify rice diseases that can be accessed by farmers by only accessing the rice plant expert system website using the internet so that they can carry out early control and increase the productivity of rice plants and increase the quantity of crops. The accuracy results obtained from this expert system amounted to 93.3% of the 30 sample data tested with 28 appropriate or valid data and 2 inappropriate data. This level of accuracy can allow farmers to immediately identify rice plant diseases and take control measures.

Significance of honeybee pollination in increasing seed yield of Trifolium alexandrinum (Fabales: Fabaceae)and its impact on economic sustainability of smallholder farmers.

A major limitation to producing high seed yields in berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) is failure to set seed, predominantly due to lack of pollination. Despite the importance of berseem clover as a leading forage legume, the contribution of pollinators to seed set is scarce. In Pakistan, the honeybee population is declining mainly because of the extensive use of neonicotinoid pesticides and habitat fragmentation. This, combined with the region's harsh environment and the use of inferior, locally bred genotypes, has resulted in low seed yields. Insufficient seed availability leads to limited forage supply, resulting in poor livestock nutrition, which subsequently impacts livestock health and productivity, and reduces farmers' income. The present study estimated the seed production of 3 berseem clover genotypes resulting from honeybees [Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)] pollination in 2 growing seasons (2012-2014) in the central Punjab region of Pakistan. Experiments had 2 pollination treatments (open pollination and honeybee inclusion) and 3 seed genotypes, viz. farmer own-saved, market, and the improved variety cultivars. For both growing seasons, honeybee pollination resulted in significant increases in seed yields ranging from 35% to 67%, regardless of seed genotype. With the exception of the number of seed heads/m2, all seed yield parameters also increased significantly in response to honeybee inclusion. The combination of improved variety and honeybee inclusion resulted in the production of a maximum number of seeds per head (45.3), 1,000-seed weight (3.7g), and estimated seed yield (375.5kg/ha). In addition, the increase in estimated net income of seed ranged from PKR 82,485 Rs/ha (US$844/ha) to PKR 168,975 Rs/ha (US$1728/ha) with the use of honeybees as an insect pollinator across all the seed genotypes. Honeybee pollination has broader implications for mixed farming systems by playing a key role in preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable agriculture. It also enhances the quality and quantity of berseem crops by increasing the production of high-quality seeds and forage leading to improved livestock productivity and family food security which strengthens the economic resilience of rural communities.

Economic Feasibility Study For The Setting Up And Utilization Of A Multipurpose Food Irradiation Facility In Jigawa State, North-West Nigeria

One proven and efficient method for processing and preserving food is food irradiation. Irradiation is a productive and economical technique that has several advantages over other technologies used in food processing. The technique helps prevent food loss and ensure food safety by getting rid of parasites and bacteria that can make people sick or even kill them. Produce from agriculture and animal food products can benefit from radiation treatment to increase shelf life while maintaining microbiological safety and quality. Based on more than 50 years of research and testing data, a number of national and international food and health organizations have acknowledged and supported the safety of food and products treated to ionizing radiation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the economic feasibility for the establishment and utilization of a multipurpose food irradiation facility in Jigawa state and its environ as a post-harvest treatment for major arable crops cultivated in the state and its environ which include millet, sorghum, groundnut, sesame, rice, maize, tomatoes, pepper, onions, wheat, and dried fish. The study explored ways in which irradiation may be employed for each crops and vegetable with the approved dose rate. The cost of irradiation was also calculated for different sources of colbalt-60. The study results indicate one or more technically economically feasible application points for irradiation in the processing of each commodity considered. The most promising points are the potential for disinfestation of large quantity of crops and vegetables which will ensure food availability all year round and at a cheap rate for citizens as well as the potential for export thereby helping to grow the revenue and GDP of the state.

DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE MILLING CHISEL PLOUGHWITH SIMULTANEOUS LOCAL APPLICATION OF HYDROGEL

The given article is related to agricultural engineering and the design of milling chisel ploughwith special working bodies for cutting water-absorbing slots with simultaneous introduction of hydrogel mixture into them was developed to increase moisture accumulation in soil in the article. Improved technologies and techniques are needed to improve the quality and quantity of crops, in particular cereals, in order to improve their production. Most of the territory of Kazakhstan belongs to the zone of risky agriculture. Every year there are droughts that significantly reduce cereal yields. Many farmers are making large amounts of fertilizer in order to increase yields. However, there is the problem of unsustainable use of fertilizers. Thus, most of fertilizers introduced into soil is washed into its lower layers and becomes inaccessible to plant roots. Therefore, we propose to use local application of hydrogel retention mixture to accumulate nutrients and soil moisture. Its granules are able to absorb liquid, in volume many times larger than their own, and hold it for a long time. For better nutrition of plants, we offer to enrich hydrogel with fertilizers. Possible machines for application of hydrogel mixture are considered in «Analysis of possible methods of application of hydrogel with fertilizers in soil». It is noted that there are no units capable of carrying out local application of granules with fertilizers together with milling chisel ploughinto seeding area in the modern system of machines. Existing machines allow the application of hydrogel in dispersed or subsoil way, and local application of granules together with fertilizers is used for the first time and allows place hydrogel with saturated fertilizers. The choice of optimal method of application of hydrogel mixture pellet was produced and the machine design for its implementation was developed on the basis of common and private methods. Keywords:milling chisel plough, working body, design, hydrogel, moisture, soil, technology.

Cow Urine as Emerging Biopesticides : A Mini-Review

In the current scenario, biopesticides are a topic of significant importance due to their potential to address human health and environmental issues. Loss in quality and quantity of crops due to pests is a major delinquent. To overcome this cause, farmers significantly relied on chemical pesticides, which unknowingly endured the loss of soil fertility, the presence of residue in food products and the development of resistance to pests. Consequently, the use of biopesticides was more welcomed compared to synthetic pesticides due to their substantial pest control ability and impressive versatility in controlling the development of resistance in the pests. Among the several biopesticides, botanical biopesticides demonstrate immense efficacy in controlling pests. A notable method to prepare botanical biopesticides is the combination of cow urine with medicinal plant leaf extract. This unique combination provides a better alternative to synthetic chemicals, which are expensive and cause toxic effects to the farmer, consumer, marketers, and environment. This review focuses on the various preparative methods of cow urine containing biopesticides and its potential to revolutionize agricultural pest control.

Remote sensing of cover crop legacies on main crop N‐uptake dynamics

AbstractGrowing cover crops promotes soil health as they retain nutrients during autumn/winter and provide organic matter to the soil biota, which in turn supplies nutrients to the main crop upon mineralisation in spring. Different cover crops have varying impacts on soil biology and nutrient dynamics due to the quantity and quality of plant material returned to the soil. To understand these effects, high‐resolution data on crop responses is required. In this study, remote sensing was used to provide such data. The temporal dynamics of soil nitrogen (N) availability and N uptake in barley were studied in response to different cover crop monocultures and mixtures. This was achieved using high‐resolution multispectral images of the main crop acquired from an unmanned aerial vehicle. Alongside this, in‐situ collected plant and soil parameters were used in this 5‐year cover crop field experiment. The results showed that cover crop legacies significantly affected barley N uptake, biomass, and canopy N content. In early June, at peak canopy N, the highest values were observed in barley grown after vetch‐radish or oat‐radish mixtures (84 kg N/ha) and the lowest in barley grown after fallow (63 kg N) or oat (53 kg N/ha on 23rd of June). At the start of the barley growing season, soil microbial biomass was not significantly affected by the cover crop legacies. However, differential N mineralisation between cover crop legacies can be attributed to differences in microbial activity associated with cover crop quantity and quality. This research demonstrates the potential of remote sensing to monitor and understand temporal and spatial variation of crop canopy N in response to cover crop N mineralisation by the soil biota which is an important component of soil health. This approach can contribute to more efficient N use by enabling fine‐tuning of the type, quantity, timing, and location of fertilisation.

Genetic improvement approaches of indigenous cattle breeds for adaptation, conservation and sustainable utilization to changing climate in Ethiopia

This paper attempts to review the cattle genetic improvement approaches for sustainable utilization, adaptation, and conservation in the face of changing climatic conditions. Livestock production is affected by climate change, which poses a greater threat to populations that rely on them for their overall food security. Climate change negatively affects cattle production directly through its impact on animal physiology, behavior, and health and indirectly through its effect on feed and water availability, quality and quantity of pasture, forage crops, and rangeland due to increased temperature droughts. Improvement of cattle genetic resources that are efficient and well adapted to extreme temperatures, low-quality diets, and disease challenges is critical to effectively cope with climate change. Designing suitable breeding strategies will facilitate improving the performance of cattle breeds and enhance their tolerance to the dynamics of climate change. Replacement of local cattle breeds with exotic ones and unplanned crossbreeding with them without enough consideration of environmental conditions are among the major factors contributing to the loss of locally adapted breeds that possess certain adaptive traits. Maintenance of indigenous cattle’s genetic diversity, which underpins resistance to environmental stresses is a viable strategy to mitigate the possible effects of future climatic challenges. In contrast to the traditional selection, genomic selection increases the accuracy of selection with the largest genetic gain, for the low heritability traits such as adaptability and longevity. In conclusion, any breeding strategies should be relevant in terms of breed suitability, performance, and adaptability in the given production environment to sustain cattle production.

Enhancing Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Fruit Trees Using Microbial Biostimulants

Global climate change has significantly reduced the yield of many crops due to various abiotic stressors. These stressors include water-related issues such as drought and flooding, thermal changes like extremely low and high temperatures, salinity, and adverse soil pH conditions including alkalinity and acidity. Biostimulants have emerged as promising and effective tools for mitigating the damage caused by these abiotic stressors in plants, ultimately enhancing both the quantity and quality of crops. Biostimulants are naturally derived substances that include humic acid, protein hydrolysates, nitrogenous compounds, seaweed extracts, beneficial bacteria, and molds. Even at low concentrations, biostimulants play a critical role in activating important plant enzymes, inducing antioxidant defenses, improving water relations and photosynthetic activity, stimulating hormone-like activities (particularly auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins), and modulating root system development. This review discusses the physiological effects of microbial biostimulants on the quality and productivity of fruit crops, as well as their experimental applications.

CLIMATE CHANGES AND AGRICULTURE SECTOR IN INDIA: ISSUE AND CHALLENGES

Global climate change refers to the long-term shifts in weather patterns that affect different regions of the world. In contrast, "weather" describes the short-term variations in wind, temperature, and precipitation in a specific area. Agriculture is the sector most vulnerable to climate change within the Indian economy. Long-term climate shifts can impact agricultural productivity, growth rates, photosynthesis, transpiration, moisture availability, and both the quantity and quality of crops. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), India's temperatures are expected to rise by 3-5°C by the end of the twenty-first century, which could lead to a reduction of 3-26% in net agricultural revenues. This poses a significant threat to global food security as it alters seasonal temperature patterns. A decline in agricultural output could result in increased prices and make food unaffordable for many. Without effective mitigation and adaptation strategies, agricultural revenues may drop by 12-40% in the coming years. This situation is particularly critical for an agrarian country like India, affecting livelihoods, economic development, and food and employment security. It is essential to identify and address the factors contributing to the rise in greenhouse gases and the degradation of soil and water resources. Urgent mitigation and adaptation measures are necessary to tackle the challenges posed by global climate change. Stakeholders must focus on how quickly Indian farmers can adjust their practices to cope with these changes and what policies or technological innovations could facilitate this adaptation. However, in a developing country like India, where many farmers lack financial resources and expertise, rapid adaptation may be challenging.

Mutation Strategy of Gamma Ray Irradiation for Increasing the Growth of Rose Tomato Plants (Solanum lycopersicum var. Rose)

Rose tomatoes, scientifically known as Solanum lycopersicum var. Roses are a type of tomato characterized by its small, vibrant red fruits. Gamma rays, a form of electromagnetic radiation with a very short wavelength and high energy, can cause plant mutations, leading to genetic variations that could potentially enhance the quality and quantity of crops. This study aimed to investigate the impact of gamma-ray irradiation on the growth of rose tomatoes. The research was conducted at the Irradiation and Instrumentation Laboratory on Jalan Lebak Bulus Raya, Jakarta, and the Green House of Labuhanbatu University, Rantauprapat City, Labuhanbatu Regency, North Sumatra Province. The experiment took place from December 2023 to March 2024. utilizing a single factor Completely Randomized Design with 4 levels and 5 replications, precisely gamma-ray radiation doses of 0 Gy, 100 Gy, 200 Gy, and 300 Gy. The findings revealed that the highest germination parameters were observed at a dose of 300 Gy, while the control treatment exhibited the lowest germination. However, the gamma irradiation treatment did not significantly impact plant height and the number of leaves.

The IDENTIFICATION OF INSECT PESTS ON RICE CROPS (ORYZA SATIVA) IN GUNUNG SARIK RICE FIELD

Indonesia is an agrarian country with agriculture as the highest livelihood for its population. The agricultural sector that is the main pillar in Indonesia's food supply is in terms of rice agriculture (Oryza sativa), especially as the global population continues to grow. However, a challenge that often lurks in efforts to increase rice production is the attack of insect pests. Insect pests result in significant crop losses and threaten food security. It is necessary to identify rice pest insects as an effort to extract information on the types of insects that harm agriculture. This study using qualitative descriptive methods aims to determine the types of insect pest species on agricultural land in Gunung Sarik Village as a consideration in proper pest control management, so as to improve the quality and quantity of rice crops in the agricultural land of Gunung Sarik Village. Based on the results of the observations, it was found that types of insect pests come from two different orders, namely hemiptera, which include leafhoppers, walang sangit, and black ants, and the order orthoptera or grasshoppers.

Does the use of chlorantraniliprole during queen development adversely impact health and viability?

The queen is the sole reproductive individual and the maturing brood replenishes the shorter-lived worker bees. Production of many crops relies on both pesticides and bee pollination to improve crop quantity and quality. Despite the certain knowledge on chemical pesticides caused damage to worker bee physiology and behavior, our understanding of the relationship between honeybee queen development and chemical pesticides remains weak. Here, we comprehensive investigate the effects of the widely used insecticide chlorantraniliprole on the growth, hormone levels, and detoxifying enzyme activity of queen larvae. It has been determined that chlorantraniliprole present a chronic toxic effect on queen larvae and also reduced the fitness of queen, and that these effects are positively correlated with pesticide levels. It has been found that queen larvae began to show reduced capping and emergence rates when exposed to 2 ng/larva of chlorantraniliprole. At 20 ng/larva, queen capping and emergence rates were the lowest, and there were significant reductions in larval hormone level. Chlorantraniliprole have an effect on detoxification enzyme activity and hormone levels in queen larvae. In conclusion, chlorantraniliprole can adversely affect the growth and development of queen larvae. Our findings may guide the scientifically sound use of chemical pesticides to reduce potential risks to queen larvae.

The Smart Agriculture System Using IOT and ML

Numerous countries have abundant resources, including land, rivers, groundwater, the environment, with agriculture serving as the primary source of income for many people in country. Nonetheless, resource shortage has grown in recent decades, particularly for groundwater and river water, so remote control smart irrigation system is developed to avoid access use and loss of water in the agriculture. A lack of information about the best use of available resources leads to increased resource consumption and worse crop yields. Choosing crops that are unsuited for the soil or climate reduces both quality and quantity of crop. As a result, system that recommends appropriate crops and fertilizers based on soil NPK values, soil colour, Season, PH, Rainfall, temperature etc has been developed. Fires are one of the most destructive global disasters, thus early detection is necessary to avoid the damages in agriculture. To reduce losses, an automated system capable of early fire detection through alarm systems and prompt extinguishing procedures through the roof structure pipeline in the farm is developed. Another use of that same pipeline is for spraying the pesticides and fertilizers. A potential resolution to address all these challenges involves the development and implementation of an intelligent agricultural system integrating Internet of Things (IOT) and Machine Learning technologies.

Analysis of the Impact of Temperature Changes on the Productivity of Arabica Coffee Plants (Coffea arabica) Based on Coffee Farmer Adaptation Response

The productivity of coffee plants is highly dependent on changes in environmental temperature. This change caused several problems with its productivity, including: crop failure, decreased coffee bean quality, and decreased crop quantity. In addition, coffee farmers do not understand the impact it causes so that farmers are unable to make appropriate adaptation responses to the threat of changes in environmental temperature. This study aims to determine the impact caused by changes in environmental temperature on Arabica coffee plants based on the response of coffee farmers in Cipaganti village, Garut regency, Indonesia. The research method used is descriptive qualitative. Data collection was carried out using interviews, observation and documentation studies. Sampling using purposive sampling technique with the criteria of respondents who have their own land and have been farming for at least 5 years. The results showed that all farmers knew and felt changes in environmental temperature at the study site with an indicator of temperature rise. Changes in temperature have caused a decrease in productivity, a decrease in fruit quality, an increase in pest and disease attacks such as fruit borer, stem borer and leaf rust.

Understanding Farmers Perception of Climate Change to Prepare Adaptation of Farmers

The impact of climate change has resulted in a decline in agricultural productivity. This study estimated farmers’ perceptions of climate change by comparing Imogiri Sub-district represent highland area and Pundong Sub-district deputize lowland area farmers in Bantul Regency. This study collected data using questionnaires to 79 respondents then analysis by likerts scale and descriptive statistical. The results showed that there six indicators of climate change became farmers’ perceptions. The farmers perception on highland regarding climate change is that 54% of farmers feel a decrease in rainfall, 54% feel drought, 55.2% feel a longer dry season, 60.8% feel reduced water sources, 74.4% feel a decrease in crop quality and 73.2% feel a decrease in crop quantity. At the same time, the perception of farmers in the lowland area regarding climate change is 66.9% of farmers feel a decrease in rainfall, 68.28% feel drought, 71.03% feel a longer dry season, 68.28% feel reduced water sources, 77.93% feel a decrease in crop quality and 77.93% feel a decrease in crop quantity. The importance of farmers’ perceptions of climate change may be used to adaptation from climate change. Understanding farmers’ perceptions can aid the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity.

Application of Fuzzy Logic to Predict Rice Production Quantity in Bogor Regency

This study aims to understand prediction methods using fuzzy Mamdani logic to conclude the quantity of rice production in the Bogor Regency area. Then in this study, we used quantitative methods and involved interviews with resource persons, namely rice mill workers and farmers. The data obtained from the interview is then fuzzyfication to be used in calculations. The main finding of this study is the elaboration of crop quantity from small, normal, and many, with the range of yields produced ranging from 0 to 3000 KG for little, 3000 to 6000 KG for normal, and 6000 to 10000 KG for many. Weather and humidity observations were found to significantly affect rice yields. The implications of these findings are improved accuracy in yield estimation, and the ability to address uncertainty and complexity in factors affecting crop growth. Despite the limitations of this study, such as limited data and remote study locations, the use of fuzzy logic can make a crucial contribution to determining the quantity of water needed for plant growth based on rainfall and weather conditions. This research is crucial because it can be a reference for future research that uses fuzzy logic to determine the quantity of rice production.

Investigating antiviral activities of iodine-conjugated organic agents against major viruses infecting pepper in Korea

BackgroundPlant viruses cause economic losses by reducing the quantity and quality of major crops. This issue is a growing concern due to the expansion of global trade and climate change. In addition, the emergence of new pathogen strains increases the difficulty of controlling viral diseases. Effective management strategies are therefore needed. The control strategy for viral diseases relies primarily on non-chemical and cultural practices, as no commercial viricides are currently available. Some compounds have been identified as effective against certain viruses, but their use in the field is limited due to issues such as concentration, toxicity, and efficacy. Therefore, it is imperative to discover novel antiviral agents that address the existing challenges associated with the identified antiviral candidate compounds.ResultsIn this study, we evaluated iodine-conjugated organic compounds mixed with sialic acid, whey, and blood meal for virus disease management against seven viruses that cause significant yield losses and economic damage to plants. The candidate compounds reduced virus accumulation and symptom development. Treatment with candidate compounds, A4 and A5, reduced viral RNA accumulation to about half that of those in the control group and showed reduced symptoms along with healthier growth. In addition, we performed transcriptome analysis of treatment with two viruses, which suggested that the mechanism of viral RNA replication inhibition might relate to plant defense systems based on phytohormone pathways.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that treatments with naturally derived materials, such as iodine, nitrogen, and sialic acid-conjugated organic substances, may directly or indirectly impact the host plant's resistance to various virus infections. Moreover, our findings suggest that these natural candidate materials could be utilized for managing virus diseases in the field.Graphical