Culture Seedlings Research Articles

One New Host Records of Apiospora arundinis From Lactarius vividus

In this investigation, morphological traits and phylogenetic analyses of multiple genes, including ITS, 28S, tub2, and tef1, were employed to classify a companion fungus extracted from the fresh fruiting bodies of Lactarius vividus in China. The fungus was identified as Apiospora arundinis, marking the first instance of its isolation from a mushroom. Subsequent research into its biological characteristics revealed that the mycelium was the optimal condition of 30 oC, pH7 and grew well in medium containing soluble starch and peptidic sugars. It was also observed that this fungus was resent in the fruiting bodies of Lactarius vividus, and its hyphal growth was influenced by temperature, pH, and media composition. These findings lay a foundation for additional research and practical applications of Apiospora arundinis, which are of great significance for the storage and preservation of Lactarius vividus, guiding the cultivation of mycorrhizal seedlings, and exploring the mechanism and mechanism, but the specific principles need to be further explored.

Effect of Different Basal Media and Organic Supplements on In Vitro Seedling Development of the Endangered Orchid Species Dendrobium moniliforme (L.) Swartz

The orchid Dendrobium moniliforme faces endangerment due to habitat loss and illegal harvesting, necessitating the development of an optimized artificial propagation system to aid conservation and reintroduction efforts. This study evaluated the effects of three plant growth media, namely Murashige and Skoog (MS), Hyponex, and Orchid Maintenance Medium (OMM) (P668), and various organic additives (apple homogenate, banana homogenate, and coconut water) on the in vitro seedling growth of D. moniliforme. The results reveal that, in early postgermination stages, seedlings achieve maximum growth in the Hyponex medium, with a fresh weight (92 mg) and root length (2.7 cm) approximately 20-fold greater than those in the MS medium and OMM. After 6 months, for seedlings grown in MS medium and OMM with banana (50 g·L−1), the mean fresh weights were 29 and 107 mg, respectively; however, the highest biomass was observed in seedlings grown in the Hyponex medium with coconut water (50 mL·L−1), exhibiting a mean fresh weight of 201 mg. This study highlights Hyponex medium with coconut water as the most effective combination for promoting D. moniliforme growth and identifies suitable organic supplements for the in vitro cultivation of seedlings from asymbiotic seed culture. This propagation system offers valuable technical support for the mass production and conservation of this epiphytic orchid.

Refinement and Enhancement of Agrobacterium-Mediated Transient Transformation for Functional Gene Examination in Mulberry (Morus L.)

Background: Mulberry (Morus L.), a vital perennial woody plant with significant economic importance, is utilized for silkworm rearing, human consumption and medicinal use. The availability of mulberry’s whole-genome sequencing data has underscored the demand for an effective, user-friendly, and high-throughput protocol to facilitate the elucidation of gene functions. Methods and Results: In this investigation, we established a transient transformation approach using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated sonication followed by vacuum infiltration in mulberry tissue culture seedlings. Simultaneously, we optimized the transformation conditions, including mulberry genotypes, A. tumefaciens strain, acetosyringone concentration, bacterial density, sonication time, and days after agroinfiltration. These optimizations aimed to achieve heightened transformation efficiency, employing GFP as a reporter gene to monitor transformation events. The optimized method included the use of an infiltration medium (10 mM MgCl2, 10 mM MES (2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid sodium salt), 150 μM acetosyringone, and OD600 0.5 of A. tumefaciens LBA4404) supplemented with the surfactant 0.02% Silwet L-77, with 20 s sonication followed by 20 min vacuum infiltration (0.07 MPa). Among the four mulberry genotypes, ‘Taiguo’ was the most responsive genotype and produced the highest levels of GFP expression at 7 d after infiltration. Furthermore, the optimized transient transformation approach has been proven to be successfully applicable for transiently overexpressing MaANS and MaDFR in mulberry fruits of ‘Taiguo’, in vitro, which distinctly enhanced fruit coloring and significantly increased anthocyanin accumulation, respectively. Conclusions: In summary, we devised a dependable, stable and highly efficient transient transformation approach suitable for rapid gene function examination in mulberry leaves and fruits, in vitro.

In vitro photoautotrophic cultivation of Melocactus zehntneri: insights from allometric characteristics from germination to acclimatization

Melocactus zehntneri is a species of ornamental relevance suffering anthropogenic pressures, putting its preservation at risk. Thus, alternatives for propagating and conserving this species are needed. This study evaluated the effect of photoautotrophic cultivation of M. zehntneri to produce plants well acclimated to natural conditions. The seeds underwent different imbibition times before in vitro germination. Besides the growth room, a greenhouse hosted the photoautotrophic cultivation of seedlings. Vermiculite replaced agar in the culture medium. The imbibition pre-treatment in distilled water and the growth environments affected some parameters linked to germination. The greenhouse provided better characteristics for plants grown in vitro and for acclimatization than those kept in the growth room. Plants cultivated and acclimated ex vitro in a greenhouse photoautotrophic environment showed improved characteristics regarding ornamental significance.

Research of salt tolerance of genetically modified wheat plants with an additional copy of the ornithine-Δ-aminotransferase gene

Aim. To investigate the level of resistance to salt stress of T3 and T4 seed generation plants of genetically modified wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with an additional copy of the ornithine-δ-aminotransferase (oat) gene and their original genotypes. Methods. Determination of the content of free L-proline (Pro) and physiological and morphometric parameters. Results. The level of Pro was studied and the morphometric and growth parameters of the offspring of transgenic plants and their original forms under normal / stress conditions were analyzed. Conclusions. T3 and T4 wheat plants under salinity conditions had a higher percentage and higher rate of seed germination compared to the original genotypes. During in vitro cultivation of seedlings, a stress state was observed at doses of 250 and 300 mM NaCl, at which the percentage of survival of transgenic variants was 83.3, non-transgenic only 33.3. Under conditions of in vivo salt stress, T3 and T4 plants had taller shoots and longer roots compared to the original forms. The survival rate of genetically modified plants was ~ 90 %, non-transgenic plants about 60 %. There was no significant difference in the accumulation of free L-proline between the investigated plant variants. It increased in transgenic seedlings on the 21st day of stress under conditions of artificially simulated salinity.

1. The seaweed seedling culture technique utilizing feeding behavior of herbivorous fish

1. The seaweed seedling culture technique utilizing feeding behavior of herbivorous fish

Livestock and poultry waste compost as an amendment in medium for pumpkin seedlings

This research evaluated cow dung compost (CDC), goose dung compost (GDC), and duck dung compost (DDC) as peat addition in growing media used for the production of pumpkin seedlings. Commercial substrate (peat: vermiculite: perlite=3:1:1, v/v) was used as the control (CK). The partial addition in peat of each waste compost in the mixtures were 10%, 20%, and 30% (v/v). The results showed that all compost in mixtures increased bulk density, total porosity, electrical conductivity, and mineral content, but negatively affected the pH and organic matter of the growing media compared to CK. CDC in mixture increased ventilation porosity and gas-water ratio and decreased water-holding porosity compared to CK, which was the opposite of the effect of GDC and DDC. The mixtures elaborated with GDC showed better growth, biomass, gas exchange parameters, and physiological indicators of seedling plants than other treatments in varying degrees, which depended on the additional amount of GDC. DDC inhibited plant growth and gas exchange parameters, especially in high addition rate; however, it had a slight promotion effect on chlorophyll content and quality because DDC was rich in minerals. GDC was better than CDC and DDC as a partial addition for peat in the cultivation of pumpkin seedlings.

Observation on embryonic development of Gymnodiptychus dybowskii (Kessler, 1874) in Manas River, Xinjiang, China

To protect the germplasm resources of Gymnodiptychus dybowskii (Kessler, 1874), a species endemic to Xinjiang, the key stages of embryonic development of G. dybowskii were studied. From May to July 2021, the artificial breeding of G. dybowskii was carried out at the fish breeding station of the Kenswart Water Conservancy Project. The embryos and early larvae were obtained using temperature promotion, water stimulation, hormone induction, and dry insemination techniques. their development process was observed, and morphological characteristics of each developmental stage were recorded. The results showed that the mature oocyte was round, heavy, and light yellow, with an egg diameter of (2.32 ± 0.21) mm. The fertilized egg was slightly viscous, and the viscosity disappeared after water absorption. Under the temperature of 15.6-17.7 ℃ (16.23 ± 0.52) ℃, the embryonic development of G. dybowskii lasted for 142 h and 33 min and went through 7 stages of fertilization, cleavage, blastula, gastrula, neurula embryo, organ formation, and membrane hatching, with a total of 26 periods. The membrane broke after 2376.724 ℃·h. The embryonic development of G. dybowskii follows the rule of freshwater bony fish, but it differs from other Schizothorax species in the muscular effect period and membrane emergence mode. In addition, differences in hatching water temperature among different geographic populations lead to differences in embryo development duration and accumulated temperature, which further proves that G. dybowskii is highly adaptive to the ecological environment of its habitat water, and these characteristics together constitute its survival and reproduction strategy in the natural environment. In this study, through the artificial breeding experiment of G. dybowskii, the characteristics of its embryonic development were explored, which laid the foundation for the cultivation of unique fish seedlings, enriched the early life history data of G. dybowskii, and further provided basic data for its resource protection.

Bed, ridge and planting configurations influence crop performance in field-transplanted hybrid potato crops

Current cultivation practices for field transplanted potato crops grown from nursery-raised hybrid potato seedlings are mostly borrowed from the tuber-based conventional system. Most studies on field performance of field transplanted seedling crops have largely reported the use of ridged rows and in exceptional cases, the use of beds. It is therefore critical to assess the feasibility of the use of alternative ridge or bed systems for cultivation of field-transplanted nursery-raised potato seedlings considering the differences in physiological behaviour of crops grown from different starting materials. This study assessed the effects of six systems which included bed and ridge systems of different dimensions and planting configurations for field transplanted seedling crops. Field crop establishment, canopy growth and development as well as yield and yield components were assessed. In general, systems that boasted high plant densities resulted in faster canopy development and higher number of tubers and tuber yield. Bed systems (raised and flat beds; 8.0 plants m−2) therefore gave the highest numbers of tubers and tuber yield across all treatments. These systems also produced the most tubers in all tuber size classes resulting in the highest yields in all classes. Standard ridge systems (full- and half ridges; 0.75 m row distance), had the lowest plant populations (5.3 plants m−2) which resulted almost always in fewer tubers and lower yield. Other ridge systems (0.9-m and 0.5-m ridge systems), although having higher plant densities than the standard ridge systems (8.9 and 8.0 plants m−2, respectively) still performed poorer than the bed systems. The small and compact ridges in the 0.5-m ridge system and the compact arrangement of plants in the 0.9-m ridge system caused these effects. Conclusively, based on this study, productivity in field transplanting systems is highly influenced by plant density. Further, cultivation systems boasting higher planting densities should be recommended when the goal for production is to produce large quantities of seed tubers (> 35; ≤ 50 mm).

In vitro propagation of triploid Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Stokes) F. A. Barkl

AbstractTriploid lacquer trees have a higher yield of raw lacquer and greater stress resistance; however, it is challenging to develop efficient and rapid seedling culture techniques because of the influence of metabolites with raw lacquer. In this study, the stem segments of a triploid lacquer tree were used to investigate the effects of explant sterilization treatment, different combinations of exogenous hormone concentrations on the induction of axillary buds, seedling development, and rooting, as well as transplanting substrate ratios. The results showed that the optimal combination of disinfection treatment for triploid Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Stokes) F. A. Barkl explants involves 75% alcohol immersion for 10 s, followed by 2.0% benzalkonium chloride treatment for 1 min and 0.1% HgCl2 treatment for 4 min. The suitable medium for axillary bud induction was Murashige and Skoog (MS) containing 0.1 mg•L−1 zeatin (ZT) and 0.1 mg•L−1 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA), resulting in a high induction rate of 95.0%. Use of 1/2 MS supplemented with 0.5 mg•L−1 6-BA and 0.3 mg•L−1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was the most effective for axillary bud proliferation. The combination of 1/2 MS containing 0.1 mg•L−1 6-BA, 0.5 mg•L−1 2,4-D, 0.5 mg•L−1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and 0.2% activated carbon (AC) was an optimum for hardening-off. With woody plant medium (WPM) supplemented with 0.5 mg•L−1 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0.5 mg•L−1 2,4-D and 0.5 g•L−1 AC as a rooting medium, the rooting rate was 67.8%. Also, the appropriate transplanting substrate ratio for triploid Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Stokes) F. A. Barkl was grass charcoal:laterite:humus = 1:1:1. Collectively, the results provided the technical assurance for seedling scale multiplication and propagation, facilitating its application in production.

Развитие финансового и управленческого учета для повышения эффективности отрасли садоводства

Abstract. The purpose of the study is to develop approaches to the construction of accounting and information support for the production management system of planting material for horticulture. Methodology and methods. The methodological basis was a systematic and integrated approach to the study of the problems of accounting in horticultural organizations. Both general theoretical, universal, and specific research methods were used (monographic method; analysis and synthesis; statistical-economic, computational-constructive and accounting modeling method). Results. The article shows that in order to reduce import dependence, horticulture on an innovative basis has been intensively developing in recent years. The drastic changes taking place in the development of the horticulture industry necessitate a revision of the approach to managing this industry. At the same time, the construction of an adequate management system for the sustainable development of fruit and berry production is impossible without relevant accounting and information support for all management functions. The current state and development trends of the horticulture industry in Russia as a whole and in the Voronezh region are considered. The analysis of the dynamics of the laying of gardens and nurseries in the region is presented. It is proved that one of the key factors in the development of horticulture is the production of high-quality domestic planting material. The assessment of state support for the planting and cultivation of seedlings and young gardens was carried out. The conclusion is made about the inconsistency of the existing accounting and management accounting system for the cost of nursery products with the tasks of the management system. The scientific novelty lies in the adaptation of financial accounting methods to the requirements of federal accounting standards, among which accounting models are proposed for reflecting the facts of economic life on accounting accounts in the context of using various methods of evaluating seedlings; the development of methods and systems of managerial accounting of nursery costs in relation to options for the organization and technology of production of seedlings and modern conditions of functioning of agribusiness in horticulture; justification approaches to budgeting the cost of seedlings.

Phytoremediation of diclofenac and sulfamethoxazole in Arabidopsis thaliana cells and seedlings

Diclofenac (DLF), a widely recognized non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX), a broad-spectrum sulfonamide antibiotic, are commonly prescribed medications that have raised concerns as significant contributors to pharmaceutical pollution in natural ecosystems despite their clinical effectiveness. This study investigates the potential phytoremediation pathways for these two drugs in plant systems by tracking and quantifying the fate of the parent compounds and their metabolites in Arabidopsis thaliana using cell and seedling cultures. Results indicated significant differences in the dissipation of DLF according to the treatment and time interaction within the cell cultures. Viable plant cells showed complete dissipation of DLF from an initial concentration of 2758 ng/mL in 96 h, whereas non-viable cells and blank solutions remained stable. The dissipation of SMX was comparable across viable, non-viable, and blanks, showing a minor decrease from 842 to 799 ng/mL over 120 h following the treatment of viable cells. DLF metabolites including 4′-hydroxy-diclofenac, 5-hydroxy-diclofenac, acyl-glutamatyl-diclofenac, 1-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-5-hydroxy-2-indolinone, 5-sulfooxy-diclofenac, 5-glucopyranosyloxy-diclofenac, 1-(2,6-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-indolinone, and 4′-glucopyranosyloxy-diclofenac were recognized, likely formed through acylation, glutamyl conjugation, hydroxylation, dehydration, cyclization, sulfonation, and glucosidation. While for SMX, metabolites including sulfamethoxazole-glucuronide, nitroso-sulfamethoxazole, N4-acetylsulfamethoxazole, and N4-acetyl-5-OH-sulfamethoxazole were identified, potentially produced through glucuronidation, nitrosation, acetylation, and hydroxylation. Phase I metabolite concentrations of DLF and SMX peaked earlier than those of phase II metabolites. Hydroponic A. thaliana demonstrated comparable efficiencies in the phytoremediation of DLF and SMX, with concentrations varying from 1 mg/L to 10 mg/L. Detectable levels of both parent compounds and their metabolites confirmed successful absorption and metabolism within the plant system. This study provides valuable insights into the potential of phytoremediation as a sustainable approach for reducing the environmental toxicity of DLF and SMX and suggests comparable metabolic efficiency. These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on phytoremediation and its application in addressing pollution from pharmaceuticals and personal care products.

Research on the rapid tissue breeding technology of the endangered plant Cibotium barometz (L.) J. Sm.

Cibotium barometz (L.) J. Sm., a fern, holds significant value in traditional Chinese medicine. This research aimed to establish a rapid tissue breeding technology for Cibotium barometz (L.) and provide a theoretical basis for its artificial breeding and industrial planting. The optimum conditions for spores germination were selected, including both the best sterilization time and the ideal spore germination medium. Subsequently, the optimal medium for proliferation and differentiation were chosen, and the optimal concentration of plant hormones was screened to determine the optimal medium. The rooting experiment was performed in two single-factor experiments by using differentiated sporophytes as materials. These experiments showed that the optimal sterilization time was 11 min and the best medium for germination was 1/8MS + 0.02 mg/L IAA. MS medium was suitable for proliferation, while WPM medium was suitable for sporophyte differentiation. The best medium for growth was MS + 1.0 mg/L IAA + 0.5 mg/L 6-BA. In the absence of sucrose, the seedlings barely grew and failed to differentiate into sporophytes. They showed optimal growth and differentiation at a sucrose concentration of 20 g/L. The plant growth regulators plant growth regulators used, including IAA, NAA, 6-BA, and GA3, showed more effective differentiation, wherease KT had a slightly weaker effect. The rooting rate reached the maximum when the concentrations of ABT and IBA were at 1.5 mg•L− 1 and IAA was at 1.0 mg•L− 1. The IBA had a significant effect on the average and the longest root length, while the three PGRs had no obvious effect on the average or maximum diameter. Plant tissue culture seedlings still have good genetic stability after subsequent generation. In this study, the optimal cultivation conditions for rapid breeding technology in tissue culture, covering stages from germination and growth to differentiation and rooting, were obtained. Moreover, sporophytes were successfully transplanted to the external environment. This study provided a theoretical reference for the industrial planting of C. barometz.

Оздоровление растений винограда сорта Красностоп АЗОС от вируса скручивания листьев -1, -2 и -3 (grapevine leafroll-associated viruses -1, -2 and -3) методом термотерапии

Abstract. The grapevine leafroll-associated virus is one of the most harmful and economically significant. It is known from scientific literature sources that in the vineyards of the Krasnodar region this virus is spread over an area of 50 %. The problem of increasing the phytosanitary stability of grape plantations necessitates the constant improvement of protection systems, in which methods of improving planting material are of great importance. To date, there are several methods for inactivating viral particles and freeing individual plant organs from viral infection – in vitro, thermo- and chemotherapy. Thermotherapy is one of the widely used methods that involves growing and disinfecting vines at temperatures that can delete or inactivate viruses. This method focuses on inactivating viruses rather than completely removing them. Thermotherapy has been tested in the process of obtaining initial healthy grape plants from the grapevine leafroll-associated virus GLRaV-1, GLRaV-2 и GLRaV-3. The objectives of the research are the selection of thermotherapy regimens for the release of grape cuttings from the grapevine leafroll-associated virus (GLRaV-1, GLRaV2 и GLRaV-3). As a result of the research, it was found that the use of thermotherapy of 35 ℃ and 40 ℃ for 20, 30, 40, 50 minutes did not affect the elimination of the grapevine leafroll-associated virus, the yield of diseased plants after treatment was 100 %. A positive result in the healing of plants from the grapevine leafroll-associated virus is achieved at a temperature of 45 ℃ and 50 ℃ (exposure time is 20, 30, 40, 50 minutes). The number of virus-free plants ranges from 45.4 % to 59.8 %. The inclusion of thermotherapy in the process of phytosanitary breeding, as well as in the cultivation of seedlings for mother grape plantations, will significantly increase the guarantee of laying industrial grape plantations with planting material free from phytoplasmic, viral, bacterial and fungal infections. Keywords: grapes, cuttings, grapevine leafroll-associated virus GLRaV-1, GLRaV-2 and GLRaV-3, thermotherapy, thermal stability, elimination, healthy planting material Financing source: The research was carried out within the framework of the Federal project "Development of large-scale scientific and scientific-technological projects in priority research areas" of the national project "Science and Universities"

Growth stimulant influence on biometric indicators of oak seedlings in the Bukovyna Sub-Carpathian region

The use of growth stimulants for the cultivation of oak seedlings in the Bukovyna Sub-Carpathian region allows to accelerate their development and increase their sustainability in an environment where there is no natural forest regeneration. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of growth stimulants at different multiplicity of treatments during the growing season on the biometric parameters of Quercus robur L. Seedlings were grown in Ecotherm containers in the glasshouse of the base nursery. The composition of the substrate for filling the containers is a mix of peat, sand and black soil in equal proportions with mycorrhiza from under the forest canopy of oak stands. The results of the effect of growth stimulants on the biometric parameters of one-year-old seedlings of common oak with a closed root system are presented. Plant growth stimulants were used for spraying and irrigation seedlings during their cultivation. The results of the research indicate a positive effect of the use of growth stimulants on the seedlings of common oak. All experimental variants showed a positive effect on the biometric parameters of one-year-old oak seedlings at three, six and nine times of feeding with growth stimulants during the growing season. The difference in the variants with the use of plant growth stimulants compared to the control in height is up to 27%, in the length of the root system – up to 43%, and in the total length – up to 29%, accordingly, depending on the dose of the stimulants and the frequency of treatment during the growing season. Refined data on the biometric parameters of one-year-old seedlings of common oak with a closed root system grown in closed ground conditions were obtained. The data obtained are useful for forest restoration in regions with damaged or degraded ecosystems where natural regeneration is limited

A novel nitrogenous coumarin: The promising antiviral therapy against white spot syndrome virus in the culture of shrimp seedlings

White spot disease (WSD), attributed to the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), represents a substantial danger to the international shrimp sector, resulting in considerable losses in both production and economic terms. Nevertheless, there are currently no approved therapeutic measures to control the outbreak. This study involved the synthesis of 15 new compounds for the assessment of their anti-WSSV efficacy in Litopenaeus vannamei post-larvae. Among these compounds, N-(4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl)acetamide (P13) exhibited a maximum antiviral response of > 90 %, with a median effective concentration (EC50) < 12 mg/L, making P13 the most promising antiviral compound. In the cases where the larvae were simultaneously incubated with WSSV and P13, as well as where the larvae were first infected with WSSV and then treated with P13, the replication of WSSV was significantly inhibited. However, pre-treatment with P13 had minimal impact on WSSV multiplication, suggesting a potential therapeutic effect. Simultaneously, the cumulative mortality rate of WSSV-infected post-larvae decreased in the presence of P13. After the shrimp larvae were infected with WSSV, continuously changing the aquacultural water containing DMSO resulted in a mortality rate of 80 % at 120 hours post-infection (hpi); whereas continuously changing the aquaculture water containing P13 resulted in a mortality rate of 45 %. Given that P13 remains stable in farmed water for up to two days, it is recommended to regularly replace the medication to eliminate the virus threat. In conclusion, P13 demonstrates a positive anti-WSSV activity and holds potential for further development as an antiviral therapy against WSSV infection.

Development of artificial lighting system for light supplementation in smart greenhouses with agrivoltaic systems

This work developed two smart greenhouses for the protected cultivation of banana and orchid seedlings. The greenhouses feature control and automation systems, bioclimatic architecture and strategies, and energy systems. A sensor network monitors indoor environmental variables, and a weather station monitors outdoor environmental variables. A computational system based on artificial intelligence is responsible for the autonomous control of the greenhouses. This article presents the development of an artificial lighting system for light supplementation in smart greenhouses. The artificial lighting system was defined from modeling and simulation in a computational tool. The proposed system was installed in two smart greenhouses in southern Brazil. The article also presents the development of methods for estimating electricity consumption based on assumptions and operational profiles of the system and the experimental measurement of the artificial lighting system performed according to the procedure described in technical standards. The article presents the energy performance of the agrivoltaic system applied to smart greenhouses. From August 2022 to July 2023, the final yield of the agrivoltaic systems of the smart greenhouses was 1418.91 kW h/kWP and 1490.68 kW h/kWP. The annual electricity consumption of the artificial lighting systems of the smart greenhouses ranges between 3290 kW h and 3825 kW h.

Maize insensitivity to culture filtrates from Exserohilum turcicum is related to quantitative resistance

AbstractTurcicum leaf blight (TLB) of maize is caused by Exserohilum turcicum. The TLB resistance is mainly associated with qualitative race‐specific resistance that is linked to several Ht genes namely Ht1, Ht2, Ht3, HtM, HtN, HtNB and HtP. However, quantitative TLB resistance also occurs, but its mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, tolerance or insensitivity to chlorosis and necrosis of E. turcicum culture filtrate was associated with quantitative TLB resistance. A novel detached maize seedling assay was developed for E. turcicum culture filtrate using methanol‐treated modified Fries medium. Screening of E. turcicum isolates of races 2, 3, 23, 3 N, 23 N and 123 N against 61 maize inbred lines with diverse levels of resistance to TLB was conducted in the greenhouse by fungal inoculation and the detached seedling culture filtrate assay. Using an isolate of race 123 N, which can overcome all the qualitative resistance genes, a simple linear regression model (R2 = 0.68, p = .90) for the 61 inbred lines was established between disease severity from foliar inoculations and culture filtrate symptom rating of the detached seedling assay. Two maize lines CML474 and CML483 had relatively high culture filtrate symptom ratings but very low disease severity with foliar inoculation indicating that these sources of quantitative TLB resistance may be unrelated to tolerance to E. turcicum culture filtrates, whose effect on seedlings could be due to the toxin known as HT‐toxin or monocerin.

Morpho-physiochemical traits and metabolic analysis reveal the rapeseed responses under large clod sized soil conditions

Soil clod size is an important factor affecting seedling growth; besides, cultivation of strong seedlings is important to improve yield and benefit of direct-seeding rapeseed. To simulate the open field conditions, two rapeseed cultivars were grown in different clod sized soil to study morpho-physiochemical responses at five leaf stage, beside applying metabolite profiling. Moreover, foliar application via alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) was applied to improve the adaptability of rapeseed to large clod sized soil. Our results showed that soil water content was decreased in large clod sized soil (K2) versus small clod sized soil (K1), which decreased seedling weight, shoot length and root vitality, while increasing root length. Furthermore, osmolyte contents and peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activity were decreased with increasing malondialdehyde content in studied rapeseed cultivars under K2 conditions. Moreover, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) of phospholipid metabolism and its related enzymes were decreased, while its content and gene expression were increased. Besides, ALA metabolism was up-regulated, while lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, content and its gene expression were elevated under K2 conditions. Metabolic profiling showed that lipid metabolism was significantly changed than other identified components, which is synthetic precursors of various secondary metabolites. Compared with K1, the metabolic pathways of ALA and pyrimidine were up-regulated, while the metabolic pathways of glycerophospholipids and purines were down-regulated in both studied cultivars under K2 conditions. Moreover, ALA application enhanced seedling growth by improving root length, shoot and root dry weight, root vitality, ALA and proline contents, while reducing the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of two rapeseed cultivars under K2 conditions. Taken together, our study provided a theoretical basis and technical support for the soil tillage and cultivation of direct-seeding rapeseed.

Combined effects of cadmium and simulated acid rain on soil microbial communities in the early cultivation of Populus beijingensis seedlings

The combined cadmium (Cd) and acid rain pollution poses a significant threat to the global ecological environment. Previous studies on the combined adverse effects have predominantly focused on the aboveground plant physiological responses, with limited reports on the microbial response in the rhizosphere soil. This study employed Populus beijingensis seedlings and potting experiments to simulate the impacts of combined mild acid rain (pH=4.5, MA) or highly strong acid rain (pH=3.0, HA), and soil Cd pollution on the composition and diversity of microbial communities, as well as the physiochemical properties in the rhizosphere soil. The results showed that Cd decreased the content of inorganic nitrogen, resulting in an overall decrease of 49.10 % and 46.67 % in ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen, respectively. Conversely, acid rain was found to elevate the content of total potassium and soil organic carbon by 4.68 %-6.18 % and 8.64–19.16 %, respectively. Additionally, simulated acid rain was observed to decrease the pH level by 0.29–0.35, while Cd increased the pH level by 0.11. Moreover, Cd alone reduced the rhizosphere bacterial diversity, however, when combined with acid rain, regardless of its intensity, Cd was observed to increase the diversity. Fungal diversity was not influenced by the acid rain, but Cd increased fungal diversity to some extend under HA as observed in bacterial diversity. In addition, composition of the rhizosphere bacterial community was primarily influenced by the inorganic nitrogen components, while the fungal community was driven mainly by soil pH. Furthermore, “Metabolism” was emerged as the most significant bacterial function, which was markedly affected by the combined pollution, while Cd pollution led to a shift from symbiotroph to other trophic types for fungi. These findings suggest that simulated acid rain has a mitigating effect on the diversity of rhizosphere bacteria affected by Cd pollution, and also alters the trophic type of these microorganisms. This can be attributed to the acid rain-induced direct acidic environment, as well as the indirect changes in the availability or sources of carbon, nitrogen, or potassium.