Cultivation Of Plants Research Articles

High-Efficient Transient Gene Transfection for Transcriptional Activity Assay Using Rice Protoplasts on Large-Scale Platform.

Transient gene expression in protoplasts offers a straightforward and efficient approach for investigating gene function. Here, I introduce a method that utilizes a 96-well plate format to assess transcriptional activation capacity of transcription factors through transient expression system in rice protoplasts. This method includes plant cultivation, protoplast preparation, transfection, and transactivation assay and allows for the simultaneous measurement and validation of 23 samples with 4 replicates per sample at a time.

Survivability and life support in sealed mini-ecosystems with simulated planetary soils

Establishing a sustainable life-support system for space exploration is a formidable challenge due to the vast distances, high costs, and environmental differences from Earth. Building upon the lessons from the Biosphere 2 experiment, we introduce the novel “Ecosphere” and “Biosealed” systems, self-sustaining ecosystems within customizable, enclosed containers. These systems incorporate terrestrial ecosystems and groundwater layers, offering a potential model for transplanting Earth-like biomes to extraterrestrial environments. Over 4 years, we conducted rigorous experiments and analyses to understand the dynamics of these enclosed ecosystems. We successfully mitigated moisture deficiency, a major obstacle to plant growth, by incorporating groundwater layers. Additionally, we quantified microbial communities proliferating in specific soils, including simulated lunar and Ryugu asteroid regolith, enhance plant cultivation in space environments. Metagenomic analysis of these simulated space soils revealed diverse microbial populations and their crucial role in plant growth and ecosystem stability. Notably, we identified symbiotic relationships between plants and Cyanobacteria, enhancing oxygen production, and demonstrated the potential of LED lighting as an alternative light source for plant cultivation in sun-limited space missions. We also confirmed the survival of fruit flies within these systems, relying on plant-produced oxygen and photosynthetic bacteria. Our research provides a comprehensive framework for developing future space life-support systems. The novelty of our work lies in the unique design of our enclosed ecosystems, incorporating groundwater layers and simulated extraterrestrial soils, and the detailed analysis of microbial communities within these systems. These findings offer valuable insights into the challenges and potential solutions for establishing sustainable human habitats in space, including the importance of microbial management and potential health concerns related to microbial exposure.

Bio-Inspired Green Nanomaterials for Tomato Plant Cultivation: An Innovative Approach of Green Nanotechnology in Agriculture

Bio-Inspired Green Nanomaterials for Tomato Plant Cultivation: An Innovative Approach of Green Nanotechnology in Agriculture

Navigating diverging responsibilities for inclusion in a biobased value chain: the case of Solaris tobacco in South Africa

ABSTRACT Companies operating in international, cross-cultural settings encounter challenges in balancing their business roles with responsibilities towards inclusion. This delicate balance is particularly strained within the bioeconomy where uncertainties emerge. This study explores this novelty: how a company engaging in an emerging biobased value chain can fulfil its moral obligations (i.e. responsibility) towards inclusion, aligning with the principles of beneficence (doing good) and non-maleficence (doing no harm). A case study was conducted in the South African Royal Bafokeng Nation where a biobased project, involving tobacco plant cultivation for foremost oil production, was initiated. Our findings suggest that companies in emerging biobased value chains must incorporate local stakeholders' knowledge when establishing their value chains. However, when the implications of beneficence in a specific context are ambiguous, companies should exercise caution in asserting positive responsibilities. Companies should empower local agents to achieve their objectives while refraining from imposing external norms on local contexts.

Elephant Grass Cultivar BRS Capiaçu as Sustainable Biomass for Energy Generation in the Amazon Biome of the Mato Grosso State

Sustainable biomasses are vital to ensure preservation of the Amazon biome within the Mato Grosso State whilst enabling energy generation for the region and its population. Here, the potential of the elephant grass cultivar BRS Capiaçu as an alternative to replace native forest wood as biomass for energy generation is investigated, considering the whole process from plant cultivation to biomass characterisation in terms of productivity of green and dry mass per hectare; density, moisture, ash, volatile and fixed carbon content, as well as higher heating value (HHV). MANOVA indicates that the effects of plant parts and age on density and proximate analysis parameters are influenced by the plant parts and age interaction, whereas HHV can be considered similar between them. The cultivar BRS Capiaçu showed suitable energetic values (17,922 < HHV < 18,918 kJ.kg−1) compared to that of native Amazon wood. Energetic results combined with cultivation outputs of high productivity (dry mass production of 44.1 tonnes.ha−1 at 180 days) with a short cutting interval (3 months), adaptation to the region’s climate and soil, and the possibility of cultivation in areas currently consolidated for agriculture demonstrate the potential of BRS Capiaçu as biomass to reduce native wood usage and deforestation rates.

Efficient Semantic Segmentation for Large-Scale Agricultural Nursery Managements via Point Cloud-Based Neural Network

Remote sensing technology has found extensive application in agriculture, providing critical data for analysis. The advancement of semantic segmentation models significantly enhances the utilization of point cloud data, offering innovative technical support for modern horticulture in nursery environments, particularly in the area of plant cultivation. Semantic segmentation results aid in obtaining tree components, like canopies and trunks, and detailed data on tree growth environments. However, obtaining precise semantic segmentation results from large-scale areas can be challenging due to the vast number of points involved. Therefore, this paper introduces an improved model aimed at achieving superior performance for large-scale points. The model incorporates direction angles between points to improve local feature extraction and ensure rotational invariance. It also uses geometric and relative distance information for better adjustment of different neighboring point features. An external attention module extracts global spatial features, and an upsampling feature adjustment strategy integrates features from the encoder and decoder. A specialized dataset was created from real nursery environments for experiments. Results show that the improved model surpasses several point-based models, achieving a Mean Intersection over Union (mIoU) of 87.18%. This enhances the precision of nursery environment analysis and supports the advancement of autonomous nursery managements.

Optimal concentrations of plant growth regulators and cultivation conditions for plant regeneration from leaf explants of Aster maackii

Optimal concentrations of plant growth regulators and cultivation conditions for plant regeneration from leaf explants of <i>Aster maackii</i>

Strategi Mengembangkan Ekonomi Lokal melalui Pelatihan Pengolahan Jamu menjadi Usaha Kecil dan Menengah bagi Ranting Aisyiyah Wangkal

Jamu is a traditional concoction part of Indonesia's cultural heritage and traditions which has been passed down from generation to generation and is used as a treatment to treat minor illnesses, prevent disease, and maintain the body's resilience and health. Herbal medicine can be made from rhizomes, leaves, seeds, fruit, flowers, and the bark of herbal plants that can be found in the surrounding environment. Aisyiyah Wangkal Branch already has a medicinal plant cultivation program which will later be processed into herbal medicine for personal consumption, becoming a potential that can be developed. This training aims to empower existing potential by developing processed herbal medicine products which were originally only for personal consumption to become products that can be bought and sold and can add value to the economy, increase income and expand employment opportunities

Colour-Coding Aegean Elites: Status and Cultural Identities in Linear B Dyed Textiles and Late Bronze Age Socio-Political Changes

Abstract This paper analyses the dyed textiles that are recorded in Linear B tablets and explores their role within the changes that the Late Bronze Age Aegean socio-cultural and economic scenario underwent. Additionally, it addresses how Aegean elites visually conveyed cultural messages on power and identities through colours and coloured textiles. As such, this paper (i) hypothesises new associations between red-dyed textiles, the chronology of Linear B tablets from Knossos, and the socio-political and cultural development of the Late Bronze Age; (ii) contributes new insights into the cultivation of plants producing red dyes throughout the period of the Knossos tablets use; (iii) challenges the interpretation of terms referring to the red natural colour of the wool; (iv) critically reviews the interpretation of terms referring to the grey natural colour of the wool; (v) hypothesises a new interpretation of how green-dyed textiles were obtained.

Exploring the Diversity, Root Colonization, and Morphology of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Lamiaceae.

This study aimed to explore the diversity, root morphology, and colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) associated with eight medicinal plants of the Lamiaceae family. Rhizospheric soil and root samples were collected from eight species of Lamiaceae plants for AMF analysis. The results indicate that root colonization was not directly related to the number of AMF spores in the rhizosphere. However, a significant correlation was found between the percentage of root colonization and the number of AMF species present in the individual plants. The highest percentage of colonization (86.67 ± 1.92%) and the greatest number of AMF species were observed in Micromeria fructicosa, while the lowest colonization (27.67 ± 6.22%) was recorded in Mentha arvensis. The highest spore count was recorded in Thymus vulgaris (120 ± 27.01), whereas the lowest was found in Melissa officinalis (84 ± 17.20). Among the identified AMF species, Glomus was the most dominant, representing 35.7% of all AMF species across the eight medicinal plants. The maximum AMF spore density was observed in M. fructicosa and lowest in M. arvensis. The study suggests that AMF can significantly enhance medicinal plant growth by ensuring a consistent supply of nutrients and water, thereby supporting the sustainable cultivation of medicinal plants to meet the growing demand.

The productivity of selected soybean cultivars grown using various cultivation methods

Soybean is an important legume crop globally due to its rich protein, oil content, and functional components. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the yield of selected soybean cultivars depending on cultivation methods. The three-year field experiment, conducted from 2018 to 2020 at the Agricultural Experimental Station in Kępa-Puławy, Osiny farm (Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute in Puławy), investigated these variations. The first experimental factor was the soil cultivation method: A – conventional tillage, B – reduced tillage, and C – strip tillage. The second variable was soybean cultivar: ‘Aldana’ and ‘Merlin’. The soybean cultivars were selected for their differing maturity rates: ‘Aldana’ (000) is an early cultivar, while ‘Merlin’ (000++) semi-late cultivar. The field experiment utilised a split-plot design on Luvisol soil with sandy loam texture, belonging to a good rye complex, class IIIb–IVa, and was replicated four times. The study showed that the productivity (seed and protein yield) of the ‘Merlin’ cultivar grown in the central-eastern part of Poland was approximately 8% higher than that of the ‘Aldana’ cultivar. The cultivation method had a relatively minor influence on soybean yield, the content of selected nutrients, morphological features, and elements of the yield structure. The soil in strip-tillage method was more compact than the soil cultivated with a plough. After harvesting soybeans at a depth of 30, and 40 cm, the compactness of soil in strip-tillage or with reduced tillage was much lower than in spring, highlighting a positive effect of soybean cultivation on loosening the arable layer.

Coupled System of Dual-Axis Clinostat and Helmholtz Cage for Simulated Microgravity Experiments

The experimental investigation of plant growth under space conditions is a necessary prerequisite of long-term space missions. Besides experiments in space, many studies are performed under simulated microgravity, using a clinostat. However, the Earth magnetic field is usually not taken into account in such investigations. Here, a self-designed and constructed system of coupled devices—a clinostat and a Helmholtz cage—is presented. The clinostat can, on average, cancel the effective gravity field by using two independent rotations, enabling simulated zero-valued gravity experiments. Additionally, an appropriately symmetrically mounted Helmholtz cage can be used to cancel the natural Earth magnetic field in the volume where the clinostat is located. The combination of these two devices offers the opportunity, e.g., for bio-inspired experiments in which plant cultivation can be carried out in conditions that imitate a space environment. We provide information about the experimental setup and show first experimental results of growth tests.

Remote sensing and computer vision for marine aquaculture.

Aquaculture, the cultivation of aquatic plants and animals, has grown rapidly since the 1990s, but sparse, self-reported, and aggregated production data limit the effective understanding and monitoring of the industry's trends and potential risks. Building on a manual survey of aquaculture production from remote sensing imagery, we train a computer vision model to identify marine aquaculture cages from aerial and satellite imagery and generate a spatially explicit dataset of finfish production locations in the French Mediterranean from 2000 to 2021 including 4010 cages (average cage area, 69 square meters). We demonstrate the value of our method as an easily adaptable, cost-effective approach that can improve the speed and reliability of aquaculture surveys and enables downstream analyses relevant to researchers and regulators. We illustrate its use to compute independent estimates of production and develop a flexible framework to quantify uncertainty in these estimates. Overall, our study presents an efficient, scalable, and adaptable method for monitoring aquaculture production from remote sensing imagery.

Horticulture in education: A comprehensive insight into school gardening

AbstractSchool gardening (SG) is the practice of using school grounds to establish horticultural spaces that are collaboratively designed and managed by teachers, students, volunteers, and others. SG offers plant cultivation areas, locations for students to cook, socialize, and relax, and a stress‐relieving environment. Now SG has gained popularity worldwide. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the benefits of SG, current challenges faced in the realm of SG, countermeasures to these issues, and precautions that should be taken account into when implementing SG. This paper is intended to serve as a valuable reference for guiding the continued advancement of SG initiatives in the future.

An overview of soil and plant assessment for predicting site quality and recovery strategies of one the largest tailings dam failures worldwide.

Brazil's Fundão dam collapse is one of the world's largest disasters of tailing dam failures. Previous research has evaluated toxic metals and non-metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, As, Hg) in the same soil samples used in this study, and results have indicated that only Fe and Mn concentrations increased above the original baseline (Melo et al., 2023). Consequently, the present study's focus has shifted towards assessing and integrating changes in soil quality regarding chemical fertility and morphological, physical, and mineralogical attributes in the floodplains post-dam collapse. Soil samples from 0 to 0.2 and 0.2-0.4m depths, and samples of Urochloa sp. were collected along ten transects, spanning 100km perpendicular to the Doce River channel. This sampling strategy targeted specific landscape positions including areas affected by deposited iron tailings (DIT), soil tailing mixture (STM), and control soil (CS) devoid of iron tailing interference. Results showed no discernible alterations in Ca, Mg, K, and P concentrations in Urochloa sp., and the most severe negative impacts observed regarded the replacement of kaolinitic pre-disaster matrix for hematitic matrix, reduction in organic carbon, and the prevalence of sand and silt particles. These factors collectively contributed to triggering: (i) decrease in chemical fertility and cation exchange capacity and (ii) significant decline in physical quality, evidenced by increased density and reduced total porosity and macroporosity. Addressing these adverse effects would require the augment of organic matter levels and offset the dominance of the hematitic matrix in the DIT. Furthermore, it is imperative to decompact the DIT by mechanized or plant cultivation means.

Increasing Community Health Knowledge in Karangrejo Village, Wungu District, Madiun Regency through Socialization, Mentoring, Cultivation and Utilization of Sambiloto Medicinal Plants.

Health is still an important topic in Karangrejo Village, Wungu District, Madiun Regency. Quoted from the local health center, the level of infectious diseases such as flu and skin diseases is still high. This activity aims to increase knowledge about the cultivation and benefits of the bitter medicinal plant (Andrographis paniculata) for health in Karangrejo Village. The methods used include land surveys, education about the health benefits of these plants, land cleaning, fertilization, as well as planting and cultivation training. The results of the activity showed an increase in public knowledge about the cultivation of the bitter medicinal plant and its benefits for health. In conclusion, the socialization, mentoring, cultivation and use of Sambiloto activities are useful for increasing knowledge about the cultivation and health benefits of the bitter medicinal plant in Karangrejo Village, Wungu District, Madiun Regency.

Application of microorganisms in Panax ginseng: cultivation of plants, and biotransformation and bioactivity of key component ginsenosides.

Panax ginseng is a precious Chinese medicinal plant with a long growth cycle and high medicinal value. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore effective ways to increase its yield and main active substance content to reduce the cost of ginseng, which is widely used in food and clinical applications. Here, we review the key roles of microorganisms in the biological control of ginseng diseases, enhancement of ginseng yield, biotransformation of ginsenosides, and augmentation of ginsenoside bioactivity. The application of microorganisms in P. ginseng faces multiple challenges, including the need for further exploration of efficient microbial strain resources used in the cultivation of ginseng and biotransformation of ginsenosides, lack of microbial application in large-scale field cultivation of ginseng, and unclear mechanism of microbial transformation of ginsenosides. This review provides a deeper understanding of the applications of microorganisms in P. ginseng.

Intense Blue Emission Energy Transfer Analysis in Ce3+-Eu2+ Activated NaBa(PO3)3 Phosphors for Blue LEDs and Plant Growth Technologies.

Phosphites are being recognized as the new emerging candidates for luminescence in the modern era. In the proposed research article, Ce3+/Eu2+ co-activated NaBa(PO3)3 phosphite phosphors synthesized utilizing sol-gel technique. Through the use of XRD and Rietveld refinement, the phase identity and crystal structure of produced phosphor are examined. SEM is employed to analyze the morphology and elemental composition of the prepared sample. The sample shows blue emission enhancement in the phosphor on energy transfer with the Ce3+ ion by 6 times. This highly instance blue emitting phosphor has color purity of 98.49%. These all results confirm that the prepared phosphor is potential candidate for WLEDs, display applications and blue emitting phosphor for plant cultivation applications.

Profitability and Cost Estimates for Producing Tropical Hibiscus in South Florida

Tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is a bushy evergreen shrub or small tree native to the temperate regions of Asia and an economically significant crop in Florida. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, the market value of the ornamental industry in Miami-Dade County was $697 million, and approximately 25% of the production was in hibiscus. Demand for the cultivation of plants with minimal pesticides is rising due to concerns about potential adverse environmental and health effects. Integrated pest management, or IPM, is an alternative to conventional pesticide application. A broad-based approach, it integrates both chemical and non-chemical practices for sustainable control of pests. To help growers and other stakeholders determine the best approach to changing demands for pesticide management, this publication estimates the costs and returns of producing tropical hibiscus on an established nursery in south Florida using both traditional and IPM methods.

The Utilisation of Fucus vesiculosus Algae Extracts in the Production of Microgreens Hordeum vulgare L. with an Increased Content of Selected Bioactive Compounds.

Algae extracts may be a promising alternative to harmful chemicals and pesticides used commercially in the cultivation of plants with higher nutritional and health-promoting values. The cultivation of barley microgreens (Hordeum vulgare L.) was facilitated by the use of aqueous extracts from Fucus vesiculosus algae, which served as a biostimulant. Seeds for experiments were produced in accordance with EU standards, certified as organic and used to grow plants in a controlled pot experiment. A qualitative analysis of the extract, which was used to irrigate the plants, was also performed in this study, as well as stimulating properties by activating the system protecting against oxidative stress. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFV) and enzymes involved in their formation such as phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), as well as enzymes involved in the removal of reactive oxygen species such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were determined in the obtained microgreen samples. Antioxidant activity against DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) was also evaluated. A noticeable increase in SOD content and antioxidant activity against DPPH was observed in barley microgreen samples after extract treatment. These results suggest that the use of extracts of this beneficial alga can enhance the antioxidant activity of the barley microgreens.