Early-maturing Varieties Research Articles

SiNF-YC2 Regulates Early Maturity and Salt Tolerance in Setaria italica.

Early maturity is an important agronomic trait in most crops, because it can solve the problem of planting in stubble for multiple cropping as well as make full use of light and temperature resources in alpine regions, thereby avoiding damage from low temperatures in the early growth period and early frost damage in the late growth period to improve crop yield and quality. The expression of genes that determine flowering affects flowering time, which directly affects crop maturity and indirectly affects crop yield and quality. Therefore, it is important to analyze the regulatory network of flowering for the cultivation of early-maturing varieties. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) is a reserve crop for future extreme weather and is also a model crop for functional gene research in C4 crops. However, there are few reports on the molecular mechanism regulating flowering in foxtail millet. A putative candidate gene, SiNF-YC2, was isolated based on quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping analysis. Bioinformatics analysis showed that SiNF-YC2 has a conserved HAP5 domain, which indicates that it is a member of the NF-YC transcription factor family. The promoter of SiNF-YC2 contains light-response-, hormone-, and stress-resistance-related elements. The expression of SiNF-YC2 was sensitive to the photoperiod and was related to the regulation of biological rhythm. Expression also varied in different tissues and in response to drought and salt stress. In a yeast two-hybrid assay, SiNF-YC2 interacted with SiCO in the nucleus. Functional analysis suggested that SiNF-YC2 promotes flowering and improves resistance to salt stress.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BIOCHEMICAL INDICATORS AND PHENOTYPICAL FEATURES OF GARDEN SAVORY (Satureja hortensis L.)

Relevance. Garden savory (Satureja hortensis L.) is an annual medicinal plant of interest due to the content of essential oil and phenolic compounds, the content of which varies depending on the variety. Identification of the relationship between morphological and biochemical traits will make the se-lection of productive plants more effective and accelerated. The purpose of the study is to identify the phenotypic characteristics of garden savory plants, indicating a high content of certain pharmacologically significant compounds or their groups. Materials and methods. The 9 samples of garden savory served as the object of the study. The content of essential oil was determined in dry raw materials by hydrodistillation according to Clevenger, the component composition was determined by gas chromatography. The flavonoid content was determined in terms of rutin was carried out in terms of rutin, the amount of phenolic compounds and tannins in terms of gallic acid. Results: Early maturing varieties are characterized by a high content of essential oil (r = 0.685) with a low content of tannins (r = –0.69). There was a relationship between the leaf index and the content of tannins (r = 0.620), with the accumulation of flavonoids (r = –0.522), with the content of γ-terpinene in the essential oil (r = 0.77) and of carvacrol (r = –0.76). The presence of anthocyanin coloration is interconnected with the content of essential oil (r = –0.688) and content of carvacrol in it (r = –0.53), with the content of the sum of flavonoids (r = 0.598), gamma terpinene (r =0.541) and tannins (r = 0.7). Conclusion. The identified phenotypic features of garden savory plants indicate a high content of certain pharmacologically significant compounds or their groups. Thus, is shown the selecting possibility of prospective plants according to external features.

Evaluation and Screening of Rapeseed Varieties (Brassica napus L.) Suitable for Mechanized Harvesting with High Yield and Quality

Improving seed yield and quality and optimizing plant architecture to adapt to mechanized harvesting are essential strategies for rapeseed industry development in the Yangtze River basin. The present study selected 24 elite rapeseed varieties from the middle region of the Yangtze River basin as materials to investigate the growth period, plant architecture characteristics, lodging resistance, yield, and seed quality across 2 growing seasons. The results showed that plant biomass, silique number per plant, and seed yield showed a significant positive correlation with each other. A high plant growth rate was the prerequisite for early maturity varieties to achieve high yield. The path analysis illustrated that plant architecture can directly affect the seed yield (direct path efficiency = 0.17) or indirectly affect the yield through lodging (indirect path efficiency: −0.37 × 0.30 = −0.11). Therefore, modifying the plant architecture needs to balance the tradeoff between seed yield and lodging. The comprehensive performance of selected genotypes was evaluated by combining D-CRITIC (Distance-based inter-criteria correlation) and membership function methods. From the comprehensive performance across two cropping seasons, the varieties V24, V23, V22, V21, V12, V17, V19, and V20 had substantial potential for mechanized harvesting with high yield and good seed quality. These results provide a theoretical basis for farmers’ decisions and breeding of rapeseed suitable for mechanized harvesting in the Yangtze River basin.

Effects of Straw Strip Covering on Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Potato cultivars with Different Maturities in Rain-Fed Area of Northwest China

The strip mulch of corn straw planting technique is widely used in the Northwest rain-fed agricultural region of China due to the region’s good soil moisture-temperature properties. However, the hydrothermal properties and yield effects of this planting technique on different potato varieties are not clear. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted for two years (2015 and 2016) in the rain-fed area of Northwest China, to study the effects of different mulching treatments on the yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of potato with different maturation characteristics (potato varieties Longshu 7 and LK99). A split-plot experimental design was used. The experiment included corn straw strip flat cover planting (SMF), plastic film mulching (PMF), corn straw strip ditch mulching and ridge planting (SMFR), straw flat fully covered (SMWF), and uncovered and flat planting (CK). The results showed that straw mulch and plastic film mulch had significant effects on yield and WUE (p < 0.05). Compared with CK, SMF significantly increased the yield by 3.75–63.17% in the late-maturing varieties, and increased the yield by 24.96–79.02% in the early-maturing varieties. Among the mulching treatments, compared with SMF, PMF made no significant difference in the yield and WUE between the late-maturing varieties in the normal year and the early-maturing varieties in the dry year, but the yield and WUE of the early-maturing varieties in the normal year significantly decreased by 17.25% and 18.44%, respectively, and the yield and WUE of the late-maturing varieties in the dry year significantly increased by 27.57% and 29.26% respectively. Compared with SMF, SMFR reduced yield by 1.44–13.62%; SMWF decreased the yield of late-maturing varieties by 25.94% (p < 0.05), and WUE decreased by 7.65–23.44% (p < 0.05). It can be seen that under this experimental condition, SMF is more suitable for early-maturing varieties and PMF is more suitable for late-maturing varieties.

Climate conditions in the near-term, mid-term and distant future for growing soybeans in Canada

The soybean industry in Canada aimed to extensively expand soybean production to benefit from new early-maturing varieties and the warming climate. However, setbacks in the soybean industry since 2017 demonstrated the impacts of climate risk and global market uncertainty. Therefore, a better understanding of future climate conditions that will impact soybean growth in Canada is needed for decision-making in the sector, such as prioritizing regions for expansion and developing climate change adaptation strategies through either agronomic management practices or breeding new cultivars. Based on climate projections from a set of global climate models, we analyzed climate conditions for growing soybeans, including growing season start, crop heat units, precipitation, precipitation deficits and climate extremes, in the near-term (2030s), the mid-term (2050s) and the distant future (2070s). We found that a future warmer climate with an increase of 1.6, 2.8 and 4.1 °C in the growing season (May–September) mean temperature averaged over Canada’s land area in the near-term, mid-term and distant future under SSP3-7.0 would favour the expansion of soybean production further north and west. However, an increase of approximately 200 mm in precipitation deficits on the semiarid Canadian Prairies in the mid-term would constrain soybean production unless irrigation could be introduced. Heat- and drought-tolerant cultivars should be developed to adapt soybean production to a changing climate, in addition to the adoption of late-maturing cultivars that would benefit from the lengthened growing season and increased crop heat units.

Genetic Analysis for Phenological Characters in Desi x Desi Crosses of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under Timely and Late Sown Conditions

Aims: To study of gene effects for phenological characters in chickpea crosses under different environmental conditions.
 Study Design: Compact family block design (CFBD was followed.
 Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at research farm, Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura (SKNAU, Jobner, Jaipur, Rajasathan) during rabi 2020-2022.
 Methodology: The experimental material consisted of parents (P1, P2), F1’s, F2’s, and back crosses with both the parents (B1 and B2) of three chickpea crosses. The six basic generations viz., P1, P2, F1, F2, B1 and B2 of the three crosses viz., RSG-807 × RSG-895, RSG-895 × HC-5 and RSG-974 × Avrodhi were raised in compact family block design (CFBD) with three replications with two environments viz., timely sown (E1) condition and late sown (E2) conditions which were created by different date of sowing, first- November and first-December, 2021, respectively.
 Results: Pooled analysis of variance (ANOVA) over environments and simple ANOVA for difference among generations within cross in each environment were observed significant in all three crosses for both the characters. Means values of all six generations were lower in late sown condition as compare to timely sown condition in all cases. Simple additive-dominance model was found inadequate for both of the characters studied in all the crosses under both the conditions. The result of the generation mean analysis showed that non-additive gene effects were more contributed for the inheritance of traits in most of the cases, then additive gene effects.
 Conclusion: Among the all crosses, the mean performance of f1 generation of cross RSG-807 × RSG-895 was found low for days to 50 % flowering as well as maturity under both the conditions and durations of flowering and maturity were hastened under late sown conditions; therefore, early maturity varieties may be developed. However, due to presence of non-fixable gene effects selection for short durations for flowering and maturity will not effective in early segregating generations. In such situations, simple pedigree method of selection alone is ineffective. Instead, biparental mating followed by selection of desired recombinants from the segregating population is desirable. Since considerable amount of dominance effect was also present for most of the traits, selection of superior segregants has to be delayed to later generations until homozygosity is achieved.

An Overview on Colour Cotton Research – A Review

In the current review of literature study we aimed to describe and delineate on current and future perspectives on colour cotton research. In India, about 40 coloured genotypes of upland cotton (G. hirsutum), mostly of various shades of brown and green colour have been developed. Brown cotton lines are at the forefront and expects that one of its varieties, DDCC-1, was proposed for release in 2021. Furthermore, DMB-225, a medium brown variety was developed in 2013, along with three other varieties. However, DMB-225 was not released commercially on the grounds that it would contaminate white cotton, though its fiber quality was found highly suitable. By not using chemical dyes, as well as reducing the use of pesticides, the naturally colored cottons have become popular for being ecological and environmentally safe. However, The limitations which impede commercial cultivation of coloured cotton itself signalize future thrust area of research viz. (i) development of wide range of colors with different shades, uniformity and stability, (ii) improvement of fiber properties such as length, strength and maturity, (iii) development of high yielding, early maturing varieties and hybrids, (iv) development of coloured cotton varieties and hybrids amenable to mechanical picking, (v) development of male sterility based hybrids in desi and upland coloured cottons, and (vi) development of coloured transgenic cottons..

Методы создания позднеспелых и раннеспелых сортов клевера лугового на диплоидной и тетраплоидной основе

To increase the volume of production of vegetable protein feeds, meadow clover plays an important role. In the conditions of Western Siberia, a late-ripening variety based on the diploid SibNIIK 10 was created by the polycross method. Together with the Federal Research Center "VIK named after V.R. Williams", as a result of a combination of mutagenesis, polyploidy, hybridization and selection methods, for the first time in Siberia, the Meteor — winter-hardy, early-ripening type variety on a tetraploid basis was created, and as a result of a combination of hybridization and selection methods, a Prima — early-ripening type variety on a diploid basis with high seed yield was created. The early-maturing varieties Prima (2x) and Meteor (4x) exceeded the late-maturing variety SibNIIK 10 by 36 and 46%, respectively, in terms of dry matter yield for two mowing. In terms of seed yield and plant seeding in the first year of use, the early-maturing diploid variety Prima was at the level of the late-maturing diploid variety SibNIIK 10, and in unfavorable years it exceeded by 17%. New varieties of the early-maturing type on a diploid (Prima) and tetraploid basis (Meteor) are characterized by high plasticity and have a significant advantage over the late-maturing SibNIIK 10 variety in terms of basic biological and economically valuable characteristics.

The automated cell counter for the analysis of morphological characteristics and the quantitative estimation of starch granules in different potato varieties

Relevance. Potato starch is widely used in the food, textile, perfume and pharmaceutical industries. The starch content and the size of starch granules in potato tubers are varietal characteristics (Solanum tuberosum L.). The knowledge of morphological properties of starch plays a key role in the technologies for the production of consumer and industrial goods.Materials and methods. The studies were carried out in 2020-2021 at the experimental base of Federal State Budget Scientific Institution “Federal Scientific Center of Agricultural Bio-technology of the Far East named after A.K. Chaiki” (Primorsky Krai). The object of the research were 11 varieties of different maturity dates. Morphological structure of starch granules was evaluated by image analysis on Countess II FL automated cell counter.Results. The varieties studied had predominantly rounded and oval pellets regardless of maturity and genetic origin. Differences in starch granule size depending on tuber size and ripeness group were noted. Early maturing varieties had granule size less than 20 microns regardless of tuber fraction. The exception is the variety Queen Anne, in small tubers of this variety starch granules larger than 20 microns is 67.86%. It was noted that the proportion of medium and large grains increased in varieties with a longer growing season. For example, the variety Augustin medium-ripening had a proportion of medium and large grains in the large and small tuber of 47.72 and 41.48%, respectively. The maximum number of grains larger than 20 microns was observed in the mid-late varieties Kazachok (63.77%) and Smak (92.22%).Conclusion. The method using a cell counter and subsequent processing of microphotographs of starch granules is an accessible, economical, simple and effective approach to phenotyping potato varieties and hybrids of Solanum tuberosum L. by physical and chemical parameters of starch. This method can be used for accelerated analysis of a large number of samples on a limited amount of natural material, including in field and farm laboratories.

Studies of the impact of environmental conditions and varietal features of sweet cherry on the accumulation of vitamin C in fruits by using the regression analysis method

The accumulation of vitamin C in sweet cherry fruits depends on the variety and environmental conditions. The aim of our research was to substantiate the rate of impact of weather factors as well as of varietal features on vitamin C accumulation in sweet cherry fruits. The varieties ʹKazkaʹ and ʹZabutaʹ, ʹKordiaʹ and ʹMirazhʹ were chosen as the best ones from among 33 varieties of early, medium and late term of ripening (7.31–10.67 mg 100 g-1) according to the average content of vitamin C in sweet cherry fruits. The studies found that the environmental conditions of the research years had the largest impact on the vitamin C content in the fruits of late and early ripening varieties, and in the fruits of medium ripening variety the vitamin C amount depended on the varietal features. The practicability of forecasting of vitamin C content in sweet cherry fruits on the average indices for a group of early and late maturity varieties, but not separately for every pomological variety, has been proven. For the medium ripening variety this index can be forecasted within each pomological variety. The models of dependence of vitamins C accumulation on the impact of meteorological parameters were evaluated on the basis of the principle components analysis and the least square method.

Performance of Different Peach Varieties at Lower Altitude (4000 ft) of Murree Hills

Peach is unique stone fruit belongs to subtropical zones. It is getting high in demand due to its immense nutritional importance and dessert quality. High quality peach produce is dependent of various factors such as variety, rootstock, climate and soil etc. In pursuit of that the performance of eight different cherry varieties namely Florida King, Peach 8, Mario Delicizia, Peach 3, Early Grand, A-669, Nectarine and Spring Crest were evaluated in the climatic conditions of Tret (4000 ft). The experiment laid out according to randomized complete block design (RCBD), with four replications and one plant per treatment for the consecutive three years. Data regarding Flowering time , Fruit setting, Color break stage, Date of maturity, Ripening Stage , Fruit Weight (g), Fruit Length (cm), Fruit Width (cm), Yield per plant (kg), TSS % and Firmness. Peach 8 is the early maturity variety followed by Florida king. The Highest TSS value was shown by Florida King (13 oBrix) followed by Peach 8 (12 oBrix). Regarding the firmness (15) Florida king surpasses all other varieties. Regarding yield per plant Early Grand exhibited better results (15 kg/plant). In the long run, it will be an effective protocol for production of peach on commercial scale and development of market as well as storage on sound basis

Genetic Mapping and Analysis of a Compact Plant Architecture and Precocious Mutant in Upland Cotton.

With the promotion and popularization of machine cotton-picking, more and more attention has been paid to the selection of early-maturity varieties with compact plant architecture. The type of fruit branch is one of the most important factors affecting plant architecture and early maturity of cotton. Heredity analysis of the cotton fruit branch is beneficial to the breeding of machine-picked cotton. Phenotype analysis showed that the types of fruit branches in cotton are controlled by a single recessive gene. Using an F2 population crossed with Huaxin102 (normal branch) and 04N-11 (nulliplex branch), BSA (Bulked Segregant Analysis) resequencing analysis and GhNB gene cloning in 04N-11, and allelic testing, showed that fruit branch type was controlled by the GhNB gene, located on chromosome D07. Ghnb5, a new recessive genotype of GhNB, was found in 04N-11. Through candidate gene association analysis, SNP 20_15811516_SNV was found to be associated with plant architecture and early maturity in the Xinjiang natural population. The GhNB gene, which is related to early maturity and the plant architecture of cotton, is a branch-type gene of cotton. The 20_15811516_SNV marker, obtained from the Xinjiang natural population, was used for the assisted breeding of machine-picked cotton varieties.

The ideal harvest time for seed production in maize (Zea mays L.) varieties of different maturity groups.

The correct time for harvesting is a key factor contributing to the production of high-quality maize seeds. We conducted field experiments to harvest seeds at 11 developmental stages for 3 years, to investigate seed vigor traits in three early maturity maize varieties and two late maturity varieties in one location. Significant correlations (r=0.72 ~ 0.89) were found among six seed-related traits: standard germination (SG), accelerated aging germination (AAG), cold test germination (CTG), hundred-seed weight (HSW), seed moisture content (SMC), and ≥ 10°C accumulated temperature from pollination to harvest (AT10). Analysis of variance showed that harvest stage, year, and variety had significant effects on all traits, and harvest stage displayed the greatest effect. The responses of SG, AAG, CTG, HSW and SMC to harvest stage fitted quadratic models, and AT10 fitted a linear model. From the quadratic models, an ideal harvest time (IHT, the final date to reach maximum SG, AAG, and CTG) could be calculated for each variety. The three early maturity varieties reached their IHT at 54.94-58.44 days after pollination (DAP); the two later maturity varieties reached IHT several days later (at 59.87-59.90 DAP). The early maturity varieties consistently required less AT10 to reach the IHT than the later maturity varieties. However, all of the varieties reached the IHT at similar SMC levels of about 35%. The later maturity varieties reached the IHT at later DAPs when they acquired more AT10 than the early maturity varieties but both reached it at similar SMC levels. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

GhSOC1s Evolve to Respond Differently to the Environmental Cues and Promote Flowering in Partially Independent Ways.

Gossypium hirsutum is most broadly cultivated in the world due to its broader adaptation to the environment and successful breeding of early maturity varieties. However, how cotton responds to environmental cues to adjust flowering time to achieve reproductive success is largely unknown. SOC1 functions as an essential integrator for the endogenous and exogenous signals to maximize reproduction. Thus we identified six SOC1-like genes in Gossypium that clustered into two groups. GhSOC1-1 contained a large intron and clustered with monocot SOC1s, while GhSOC1-2/3 were close to dicot SOC1s. GhSOC1s expression gradually increased during seedling development suggesting their conserved function in promoting flowering, which was supported by the early flowering phenotype of 35S:GhSOC1-1 Arabidopsis lines and the delayed flowering of cotton silencing lines. Furthermore, GhSOC1-1 responded to short-day and high temperature conditions, while GhSOC1-2 responded to long-day conditions. GhSOC1-3 might function to promote flowering in response to low temperature and cold. Taken together, our results demonstrate that GhSOC1s respond differently to light and temperature and act cooperatively to activate GhLFY expression to promote floral transition and enlighten us in cotton adaptation to environment that is helpful in improvement of cotton maturity.

Optimum Stand Density of Tropical Maize Varieties: An On-farm Evaluation of Grain Yield Responses in the Nigerian Savanna

Selection of appropriate sowing density is an important yield enhancing management decision in maize (Zea mays L.) production particularly in rainfed conditions. This study aimed at evaluating the optimum stand densities (OSDs) of 10 recently released maize varieties under different crop management decisions and environments. Ten maize varieties of varying characteristics were planted in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria across 30 farmer's fields in the rainy seasons of 2016 and 2017 under three stand densities: 2.6, 5.3, and 6.6 plants m−2. Grain yield and yield components were greatest under the high density in both years across all locations. The intermediate maturing varieties produced higher grain yields compared to the early and late maturing varieties in both years and locations. The environmental indices from the Factor Analytic Model showed 20% of the fields were optimal, 28.3% moderate, 31.7% poor, and 20% were very poor environments. Increasing planting density did not significantly affect the grain yield of the varieties in very poor environments. A linear increase in grain yield was observed in moderate and optimum environments with every increase in stand density for all varieties except Sammaz 32, however, optimum planting densities could not be reached for all the varieties. Therefore, tropical maize varieties should be planted under specific densities that account for environmental and management conditions to maximize yield.

Manifestation of Heterosis and Degree of Phenotypic Dominance by the Number of Grains from the Main Ear in the Hybridisation of Different Early-Maturing Varieties of Soft Winter Wheat

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the main food crop on a global scale, in the growth and stabilisation of yields, of which varietal resources are a significant factor. In practical breeding work, an essential role is played by a variety of thoroughly investigated source material. The purpose of this study was to determine hypothetical and true heterosis and establish the nature of inheritance of the number of grains from the main ear in hybrids of soft winter wheat. In 2018-2020, 45 combinations of cross-breeding of soft winter wheat varieties obtained from hybridisation of different growing season periods were investigated in the experimental field of the Research and Production Centre of the Belotserkovskyi National Agrarian University. Generally accepted methods were used to determine the hypothetical and true heterosis and the degree of phenotypic dominance by the number of grains in the main ear. Studies indicate that the number of grains in the ear of the main stem of the parent components of hybridisation is determined by genotype and considerably depends on the hydrothermal conditions of the year. The author of this paper established the influence of maternal cytoplasm on the manifestation of the trait under study. Thus, when used in hybridisation of early-maturing varieties with the mother form, the largest average number of grains in the main ear for hybrids (63.3 pcs.) was formed in 2019. At the same time, for the use of medium-early, medium maturing, and medium-late varieties in hybridisation, the maximum number of grains (64.8 pcs.) was marked in 2018. Therewith, all hybrids formed the minimum number of grains in 2020. The obtained experimental data indicate the influence of parental genotypes and year conditions on heterosis indicators and the degree of phenotypic dominance in first-generation hybrids. It is determined that the most common type of inheritance (85.6%) of the number of grains from the main ear is positive overdomination. Practical value for the selection of soft winter wheat are the selected cross-breeding combinations: Myronivska early / Zolotokolosa, Myronivska early / Cherniava, Bilotserkivska semi-dwarf / Cherniava, Bilotserkivska semi-dwarf / Antonivka, Kolchuha / Antonivka, Zolotokolosa / Charniava, Zolotokolosa / Yednist, Cherniava / Vidrada, Cherniava / Stolychna, Shchedra Nyva / Dobirna, Antonivka / Stolychna, Dobirna / Pyvna, which significantly exceeded the average number of grains from the main ear for F1 in the changing fields under hydrothermal conditions the years of research

Atmospheric CO2 concentration affects the life cycle, yield, and fruit quality of early maturing edible legume cultivars.

Elevated CO2 usually reduces levels of proteins and essential micronutrients in crops. The adoption of early maturing varieties may minimize the deleterious effect of climate change on farming activities. Legumes stand out for their high nutritional quality, so the objective was to study whether the atmospheric CO2 concentration affected the growth, yield, and food quality of early maturing cultivars of peas, snap beans, and faba beans. Plants grew in greenhouses either at ambient (ACO2 , 392 μmol mol-1 ) or under elevated (ECO2 , 700 μmol mol-1 ) CO2 levels. Minerals, proteins, sugars, and phenolic compounds were measured in grains of peas and faba beans, and in pods of snap beans. The effect of ECO2 depended on legume species, being more evident for food quality than for vegetative growth and yield. The ECO2 increased Fe and P in faba bean grains, and Ca in snap bean pods. Under ECO2 , grains of pea and faba bean increased levels of proteins and phenolics, respectively, and the sugars-to-protein ratio decreased in pods of snap beans. Early maturing varieties of legumes appear to be an interesting tool to cope with the negative effects that a long exposure to rising CO2 can exert on food quality. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

CRITICAL PERIOD OF WEED INTERFERENCE ON SOYBEAN (GLYCINE MAX (L) MERRILL)

Weeds are one of the important factors affecting agriculture production, weeds and inadequate weed control and management pose a detrimental factor affecting crop production. The experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Federal University Technology, Minna, Nigeria, to determine the effectiveness of different weeding regime and critical period of weed interference in the growth and yield of soyabean. The treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. There are ten treatments consisting of weed infested and weed-free as follows T1= soybean + weeding for 2 weeks, T2= soybean + weeding for 4 weeks, T3= soybean + weeding for 6 weeks, T4= soybean + weeding for 8 weeks, T5= soybean + weedy for 2 weeks, T6= soybean + weedy for 4 weeks ,T7= soybean + weedy for 6 weeks, T8= soybean + weedy for 8 weeks, T9= soybean + weed-free plot till end and T10= soybean + no weeding till end. Data were collected on weed cover score, weed dry weight, plant height, pod weight and grain yield. The Data were subjected to analysis of variance using SAS, software version 9, 2002. The results showed that soyabean with weed-free plot for 4, 6 8 and weed-free throughout significantly P<0.05 suppressed weed and increases yield by 70 % compared to other treatments The use of early maturing variety of soybean in addition to weed-free plot throughout the growth stage and weed-free for 8 weeks could be recommended in controlling weed interference in soybean for better soybean growth and yield.

Dynamics of maize grain drying in the high latitude region of Northeast China

A high grain moisture content at harvest has been an important problem in the high latitude region of Northeast China, and it is closely related to the genotypes of varieties, local meteorological factors and planting management. However, delayed harvest at a low temperature could not effectively reduce the grain moisture content. In this study, we continuously observed the grain drying during the late stage of different maturing types of maize varieties in Daqing, Heilongjiang Province, China in 2016 and 2017. A two-segment linear model was used to analyze the different stages of the drying processes: 1) Two-segment linear model fitting can divide the grain drying process of all varieties into two separate linear drying processes with different slopes. 2) During the rapid drying stage, the drying was faster at a higher temperature. The rate of slow drying was influenced by air vapor pressure. 3) The moisture content and meteorological factors when the drying rate turns from one stage into the other were not consistent between varieties and years. After entering the frost period, temperatures below 0°C will significantly reduce the rate of grain drying. 4) Due to the short growth period of early-maturing varieties, the drying time was prolonged, and the grain moisture content was lower than that of the mid-late maturing varieties. Local meteorological conditions do not allow the drying of mid-late maturing varieties to achieve a lower moisture content. When the temperature falls below 0°C, the drying rate of grain decreases markedly. Therefore, one feasible way to solve the problem of high moisture content is to replace the early-maturing varieties and implement the corresponding cultivation techniques.

Effect of Rice Harvest Time on Growth Characteristics and Forage Productivity of Paddy Field Sown Italian Ryegrass Very Early Maturing Variety Early Maturing Variety ‘Greenfarm’ in Middle Region of Korea

Effect of Rice Harvest Time on Growth Characteristics and Forage Productivity of Paddy Field Sown Italian Ryegrass Very Early Maturing Variety Early Maturing Variety ‘Greenfarm’ in Middle Region of Korea