Global Agricultural Production Research Articles

Evidence of population expansion and insecticide resistance mechanism in invasive fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

BackgroundThe invasive and calamitous polyphagous pest Spodoptera frugiperda or commonly known as fall armyworm (FAW) poses serious menace to the global agricultural production. Owing to the revamped invasion of FAW in 2018 in India, present study was undertaken for precise assessment of its genetic identity and pesticide resistance to aid in pest-management strategies.ResultsTo evaluate the diversity in FAW population across Eastern India, mitochondrial COI sequences were used which revealed a low nucleotide diversity. Analysis of molecular variance indicated significant genetic variation between four global geographical FAW populations with lowest differentiation between India and Africa suggesting a present-day and shared origin of FAW. The study demonstrated existence of two different strains (‘R’ strain and ‘C’ strain) based on COI gene marker. However, discrepancies between COI marker and host plant association of FAW was observed. Characterization of Tpi gene revealed abundance of TpiCa1a followed by TpiCa2b and TpiR1a strains respectively. The FAW population showed higher susceptibility towards chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram than cypermethrin. Insecticide resistance genes depicted marked upregulation although with lot of variance. Chlorantraniliprole resistance ratio (RR) exhibited significant correlation with 1950 (Glutathione S-transferase, GST), 9131 (Cytochrome P450, CYP) and 9360 (CYP) genes, while spinetoram and cypermethrin RR was found to correlate with 1950 (GST) and 9360 (CYP) genes.ConclusionThis study manifests Indian subcontinent as the potential new hotspot for the growth and distribution of FAW population that can be effectively controlled using chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram. This study also adds novel significant information on FAW population across Eastern India for developing a comprehensive pest management approach for S. frugiperda.

Unravelling the Genetic Enigma: Exploring the Molecular Basis of Heterosis

Heterosis, the phenomenon where hybrid offspring exhibit superior traits compared to their inbred parents, has captivated scientists for decades due to its immense potential for crop improvement. Unravelling the molecular basis of heterosis has remained a challenge, but recent advancements in genomic and molecular techniques have shed new light on this intriguing phenomenon. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying heterosis. We delve into the intricate interplay of genetic factors and regulatory networks that contribute to the manifestation of heterosis. Genomic studies have revealed structural variations, such as rearrangements and copy number variations, which may play a crucial role in hybrid vigour. Furthermore, we explore the dynamic nature of gene expression patterns during hybridization, highlighting the activation of novel gene networks and the modulation of epigenetic mechanisms. Transcriptomic analyses have identified key genes and pathways associated with heterosis, shedding light on the intricate molecular interactions that drive the superior performance of hybrids. Additionally, we discuss the emerging role of small RNAs, transcription factors, and regulatory elements in orchestrating heterosis. These molecular players act as conductors in the genetic symphony of hybrid vigour, fine-tuning gene expression and facilitating the coordinated functioning of diverse biological processes. Understanding the molecular basis of heterosis holds immense promise for crop improvement and sustainable agriculture. By leveraging this knowledge, breeders can harness the full potential of hybrid breeding to develop high-yielding and resilient crop varieties. This review aims to inspire further research and collaboration in unravelling the mysteries of heterosis, paving the way for innovative strategies to enhance global food security and agricultural productivity.

The major agricultural products can be broadly grouped into foods, fibers, fuels, and raw materials (such as rubber). Food classes include cereals (grains), vegetables, fruits, cooking oils, meat, milk, eggs, and fungi. Global agricultural production amounts to approximately 11 billion tonnes of food,[3] 32 million tonnes of natural fibres[4] and 4 billion m3 of wood.[5] However, around 14 percent of

The major agricultural products can be broadly grouped into foods, fibers, fuels, and raw materials (such as rubber). Food classes include cereals (grains), vegetables, fruits, cooking oils, meat, milk, eggs, and fungi. Global agricultural production amounts to approximately 11 billion tonnes of food,[3] 32 million tonnes of natural fibres[4] and 4 billion m3 of wood.[5] However, around 14 percent of

The Role of Glycoconjugates as Receptors for Insecticidal Proteins.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins are an environmentally safe and effective alternative to chemical pesticides and have been used as biopesticides, with great commercial success, for over 50 years. Global agricultural production is predicted to require a 70% increase until 2050 to provide for an increasing population. In addition to agriculture, Bt proteins are utilised to control human vectors of disease - namely mosquitoes - which account for >700,000 deaths annually. The evolution of resistance to Bt pesticial toxins threatens the progression of sustainable agriculture. Whilst Bt protein toxins are heavily utilised, the exact mechanisms behind receptor binding and toxicity are unknown. It is critical to gain a better understanding of these mechanisms in order to engineer novel toxin variants and to predict, and prevent, future resistance evolution. This review focuses on the role of carbohydrate binding in the toxicity of the most utilised group of Bt pesticidal proteins - three domain Cry (3D-Cry) toxins.

The Contribution of PGPR in Salt Stress Tolerance in Crops: Unravelling the Molecular Mechanisms of Cross-Talk between Plant and Bacteria.

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress in global agricultural productivity with an estimated 50% of arable land predicted to become salinized by 2050. Since most domesticated crops are glycophytes, they cannot be cultivated on salt soils. The use of beneficial microorganisms inhabiting the rhizosphere (PGPR) is a promising tool to alleviate salt stress in various crops and represents a strategy to increase agricultural productivity in salt soils. Increasing evidence underlines that PGPR affect plant physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses to salt stress. The mechanisms behind these phenomena include osmotic adjustment, modulation of the plant antioxidant system, ion homeostasis, modulation of the phytohormonal balance, increase in nutrient uptake, and the formation of biofilms. This review focuses on the recent literature regarding the molecular mechanisms that PGPR use to improve plant growth under salinity. In addition, very recent -OMICs approaches were reported, dissecting the role of PGPR in modulating plant genomes and epigenomes, opening up the possibility of combining the high genetic variations of plants with the action of PGPR for the selection of useful plant traits to cope with salt stress conditions.

Efficacy of Nanofertilizers Over Chemical Fertilizers in Boosting Agronomic Production

Global agricultural production cannot catch the increasing population’s exigency. At different times, the world has faced food crises of varying intensity. Many steps have been taken after that to encounter the rising concerns. Nowadays, nanofertilizers are being experimented with as an alternative to conventional fertilizers. Nanofertilizers can be classified as macronutrients and micronutrients nanofertilizers. Synthesis of macronutrient nanofertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, etc.) and micronutrient nanofertilizers (iron, boron, zinc, copper, silicon, etc.) can be done using chemical and green synthesis methods, which involves reducing agents, capping agents, dendrimers, microbial synthesis, solvents, and others. Composition of the nanofertilizers can be done using top-down and bottom-up approaches incorporating hydrocarbon polymer, dendrimers, microbes, etc., which decides their usage in various crops depending upon the requirement of the plant. Engineered nanofertilizers can improve crop yield by mitigating environmental pollution, environmental stress, and plant diseases. However, the unsystematic use of nanofertilizers can be a hurdle in its utilization. This article discusses various types of nanofertilizers with their unique properties and applications. Each category of nanofertilizers is explained considering their composition, particle size, concentrations applied, benefited plant species, and plant-growth enhancement aspects.

Plant-Derived Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots as an Effective Fertilizer for Enhanced Strawberry Growth and Yield

Plant-derived carbon dots have superior light absorption and intrinsic fluorescence properties. In this work, we have prepared nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) from Piper betle leaves using a simple hydrothermal method. The synthesized N-CDs were characterized by various techniques such as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and photoluminescence. The N-CDs further proved to have systemic effects on the growth of strawberries compared with irrigating the strawberry plants with water and regular nutrients. The strawberry plants treated with N-CDs exhibited an increase in chlorophyll content of about 24.7%, which was reflected in increased carbohydrate content of approximately 48.61% compared to control plants. Also, N-CD-treated strawberry plants showed increased secondary metabolites (phenolics) compared to control plants. Moreover, at the end of harvesting, the comparison was reflected in significant amounts of strawberries and in an increase in the leaf area of strawberry plants obtained by the N-CD growth. The results demonstrate that biomass-based betel leave-derived N-CDs can be an effective fertilizer for global agricultural production applications.

Inoculation with Actinobacteria spp. Isolated from a Hyper-Arid Environment Enhances Tolerance to Salinity in Lettuce Plants (Lactuca sativa L.).

Irrigated agriculture is responsible for a third of global agricultural production, but the overuse of water resources and intensification of farming practices threaten its sustainability. The use of saline water in irrigation has become an alternative in areas subjected to frequent drought, but this practice affects plant growth due to osmotic impact and excess of ions. Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can mitigate the negative impacts of salinity and other abiotic factors on crop yields. Actinobacteria from the hyper-arid Atacama Desert could increase the plant tolerance to salinity, allowing their use as biofertilizers for lettuce crops using waters with high salt contents. In this work, rhizosphere samples of halophytic Metharme lanata were obtained from Atacama Desert, and actinobacteria were isolated and identified by 16S gene sequencing. The PGPR activities of phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, and the production of siderophore and auxin were assessed at increasing concentrations of NaCl, as well as the enhancement of salt tolerance in lettuce plants irrigated with 100 mM of NaCl. Photosynthesis activity and chlorophyll content, proline content, lipid peroxidation, cation and P concentration, and the identification and quantification of phenolic compounds were assessed. The strains S. niveoruber ATMLC132021 and S. lienomycini ATMLC122021 were positive for nitrogen fixation and P solubilization activities and produced auxin up to 200 mM NaCl. In lettuce plants, both strains were able to improve salt stress tolerance by increasing proline contents, carotenoids, chlorophyll, water use efficiency (WUE), stomatal conductance (gs), and net photosynthesis (A), concomitantly with the overproduction of the phenolic compound dicaffeoylquinic acid. All these traits were positively correlated with the biomass production under saltwater irrigation, suggesting its possible use as bioinoculants for the agriculture in areas where the water resources are scarce and usually with high salt concentrations.

Innovative Organic and Regenerative Agricultural Production

Over the last 50 years, global agricultural food production has become increasingly dependent on the use of non-renewable and/or scarce resources, and, in particular, fossil fuel (e [...]

Modeling plant diseases under climate change: evolutionary perspectives.

Infectious plant diseases are a major threat to global agricultural productivity, economic development, and ecological integrity. There is widespread concern that these social and natural disasters caused by infectious plant diseases may escalate with climate change and computer modeling offers a unique opportunity to address this concern. Here, we analyze the intrinsic problems associated with current modeling strategies and highlight the need to integrate evolutionary principles into polytrophic, eco-evolutionary frameworks to improve predictions. We particularly discuss how evolutionary shifts in functional trade-offs, relative adaptability between plants and pathogens, ecosystems, and climate preferences induced by climate change may feedback to future plant disease epidemics and how technological advances can facilitate the generation and integration of this relevant knowledge for better modeling predictions.

Comparative studies of ovipositional preference, larval feeding selectivity, and nutritional indices of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on 6 crops.

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a significant invasive pest identified as a serious threat to global agricultural production and food security. However, its ovipositional preference, larval feeding selectivity, and nutritional indices are less studied. Here, we investigated these traits of FAW when fed on maize, wheat, soybean, tomato, cotton, and Chinese cabbage, and analyzed the correlation between its nutritional indices and the nutritional contents of crops. The results showed that the highest number of eggs were laid on maize and the lowest number were laid on tomato. The highest feeding choice rate of third instar larvae was on maize, and the lowest was on Chinese cabbage. The fifth instar larvae showed the highest feeding choice rate on maize, but no significant differences were found among other crop species. The food consumption (FC), the relative growth rate (RGR), and the approximate digestibility (AD) were significantly higher on maize and wheat, while the efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) and the efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) were significantly higher when fed on cotton and Chinese cabbage. The FC, the relative consumption rate (RCR), RGR, and AD were significantly and positively correlated with soluble sugar and protein contents of host plants, while the ECI and ECD were significantly and negatively correlated with the soluble sugar content. The present study indicates that FAW may cause potential economic losses to these crops besides maize, and these findings are valuable in managing and controlling this pest.

Chitosan-Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles Improve Salinity Tolerance in Rice (Oryza sativa L.).

High-salinity (HS) stress is a global element restricting agricultural productivity. Rice is a significant food crop, but soil salinity has a detrimental impact on its yield and product quality. Nanoparticles (NPs) have been found as a mitigation method against different abiotic stresses, even HS stress. In this study, chitosan-magnesium oxide NPs (CMgO NPs) were used as a new method for rice plants to alleviate salt stress (200 mM NaCl). The results showed that 100 mg/L CMgO NPs greatly ameliorated salt stress by enhancing the root length by 37.47%, dry biomass by 32.86%, plant height by 35.20%, and tetrapyrrole biosynthesis in hydroponically cultured rice seedlings. The application of 100 mg/L CMgO NPs greatly alleviated salt-generated oxidative stress with induced activities of antioxidative enzymes, catalase by 67.21%, peroxidase by 88.01%, and superoxide dismutase by 81.19%, and decreased contents of malondialdehyde by 47.36% and H2O2 by 39.07% in rice leaves. The investigation of ion content in rice leaves revealed that rice treated with 100 mg/L CMgO NPs maintained a noticeably higher K+ level by 91.41% and a lower Na+ level by 64.49% and consequently a higher ratio of K+/Na+ than the control under HS stress. Moreover, the CMgO NPs supplement greatly enhanced the contents of free amino acids under salt stress in rice leaves. Therefore, our findings propose that CMgO NPs supplementation could mitigate the salt stress in rice seedlings.

Application of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing for abiotic stress management in crop plants.

Abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, cold, heat, and heavy metals, extensively reducing global agricultural production. Traditional breeding approaches and transgenic technology have been widely used to mitigate the risks of these environmental stresses. The discovery of engineered nucleases as genetic scissors to carry out precise manipulation in crop stress-responsive genes and associated molecular network has paved the way for sustainable management of abiotic stress conditions. In this context, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-Cas (CRISPR/Cas)-based gene-editing tool has revolutionized due to its simplicity, accessibility, adaptability, flexibility, and wide applicability. This system has great potential to build up crop varieties with enhanced tolerance against abiotic stresses. In this review, we summarize the latest findings on understanding the mechanism of abiotic stress response in plants and the application of CRISPR/Cas-mediated gene-editing system towards enhanced tolerance to a multitude of stresses including drought, salinity, cold, heat, and heavy metals. We provide mechanistic insights on the CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing technology. We also discuss applications of evolving genome editing techniques such as prime editing and base editing, mutant library production, transgene free and multiplexing to rapidly deliver modern crop cultivars adapted to abiotic stress conditions.

Exogenous 24-epibrassinolide promoted growth and nitrogen absorption and assimilation efficiency of apple seedlings under salt stress.

High salinity significantly hampers global agricultural productivity. Plants typically undergo lower nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) under salt stress. As an active byproduct from brassinolide biosynthesis, 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) is involved in regulating the stress-treated plant N absorption and assimilation. However, the exogenous EBR application effects' on N absorption and assimilation in apple exposed to the salt-stressed condition remains unclear. We sprayed exogenous EBR (0.2 mg L-1) on apple dwarf rootstock (M9T337) seedlings (growing hydroponically) under salt (NaCl) stress in a growth chamber. We analyzed the seedling development, photosynthesis and its-mediated C fixation, N ( ) absorption and assimilation in reponse to exogenous EBR application under salt stress. The findings demonstrated that NaCl stress greatly hampered seedlings' root growth and that exogenous EBR application obviously alleviated this growth suppression. Exogenous EBR-treated plants under NaCl stress displayed the more ideal root morphology and root activity, stronger salt stress tolerance and photosynthetic capacity as well as higher C- and N-assimilation enzyme activities, ion flow rate and nitrate transporter gene expression level than did untreated plants. Furthermore, the results of isotope labeling noted that exogenous EBR application also enhanced 13C-photoassimilate transport from leaves to roots and 15 transport from roots to leaves under NaCl stress. Our findings imply that exogenous EBR application, through strengthening photosynthesis, C- and N-assimilation enzyme activities, nitrate absorption and transport as well as synchronized optimizing the distribution of seedlings' C and N, has a fundamental role in improving NUE in apple rootstock seedlings under salt stress.

Climate change unequally affects nitrogen use and losses in global croplands.

Maintaining food production while reducing agricultural nitrogen pollution is a grand challenge under global climate change. Yet, the response of global agricultural nitrogen uses and losses to climate change on the temporal and spatial scales has not been fully characterized. Here, using historical data for 1961-2018 from over 150 countries, we show that global warming leads to small temporal but substantial spatial impacts on cropland nitrogen use and losses. Yield and nitrogen use efficiency increase in 29% and 56% of countries, respectively, whereas they reduce in the remaining countries compared with the situation without global warming in 2018. Precipitation and farm size changes would further intensify the spatial variations of nitrogen use and losses globally, but managing farm size could increase the global cropland nitrogen use efficiency to over 70% by 2100. Our results reveal the importance of reducing global inequalities of agricultural nitrogen use and losses to sustain global agriculture production and reduce agricultural pollution.

Characteristics of two Panicum maximum grass cultivars fertilized with ash from wood grown in tropical soils

It is estimated that the livestock sector accounts for about 40% of the value of global agricultural production. Livestock plays an essential role in maintaining food security as the sector contributes around 13% of calories and 28% of protein demands required by humans worldwide. Fertilization of tropical pastures with wood ash emerges as a sustainable practice that can contribute to better nutrient cycling, increased production, and reduced dependence on mineral resources. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the production characteristics of two Panicum maximum grass cultivars fertilized with ash from wood grown in tropical soils of the Brazilian Cerrado. The experimental design was in randomized blocks in a factorial arrangement 5x2 with five doses of wood ash (0, 8, 16, 24, and 32 g kg-1) and two cultivars of Panicum maximum (cv. BRS Zuri and cv. Mombasa), with six replications. The experiment was carried out in 5 dm3 pots for 120 days. The wood ash used in the experiment comes from the combustion of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp.) logs in a boiler. The application of wood ash in acidic tropical soils increased leaf area, tillering, leaf dry mass, stem dry mass, and root volume in Mombasa and BRS Zuri cultivars of Panicum maximum grass, with maximum production at a dose of 32 g kg-1. The application of wood ash in acidic tropical soils offers potential as a sustainable strategy to increase production in forage production area for animal consumption in grazing, given the growing demand for beef. In addition, it properly and safely disposes of waste and recycles nutrients extracted by the crops.

MdbZIP74 negatively regulates osmotic tolerance and adaptability to moderate drought conditions of apple plants

Drought is the most prominent threat to global agricultural production. The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) family is related to the response to a series of abiotic stress. In this case, apple calli and the seedlings of MdbZIP74-RNAi transgenic lines were obtained. Under osmotic stress and moderate drought conditions, the content of malondialdehyde, relative water content and other stress-related assays were measured. MdbZIP74 was found to negatively regulate the osmotic tolerance of apple callus. The growth of MdbZIP74-RNAi calli enhanced resistance without significant production loss. The silencing of MdbZIP74 contributes to redox balance and the adaptability of apple seedlings to moderate drought conditions. Four related differentially expressed genes in the biosynthesis of cytokinin and catabolic pathway were identified through a transcriptome analysis of MdbZIP74-RNAi seedlings under moderate drought conditions. MdLOG8 was further identified as the target of MdbZIP74 involved in the drought adaptability of apple plants using a dual experiment. Further confirmation showed MdLOG8 was maintained in the MdbZIP74-RNAi seedlings presumably acting as the growth regulator to enhance drought adaptability. It was concluded that the correct regulation of cytokinin level under moderate drought conditions maintains the redox balance and avoids the situation of plants surviving with the minimal resources.

Global distribution of pesticides in freshwater resources and their remediation approaches

The role of pesticides in enhancing global agricultural production is magnificent. However, their unmanaged use threatens water resources and individual health. A significant pesticide concentration leaches to groundwater or reaches surface waters through runoff. Water contaminated with pesticides may cause acute or chronic toxicity to impacted populations and exert adverse environmental effects. It necessitates the monitoring and removing pesticides from water resources as prime global concerns. This work reviewed the global occurrences of pesticides in potable water and discussed the conventional and advanced technologies for the removal of pesticides. The concentration of pesticides highly varies in freshwater resources across the globe. The highest concentration of α-HCH (6.538 μg/L, at Yucatan, Mexico), lindane (6.08 μg/L at Chilka lake, Odisha, India), 2,4, DDT (0.90 μg/L, at Akkar, Lebanon), chlorpyrifos (9.1 μg/L, at Kota, Rajasthan, India), malathion (5.3 μg/L, at Kota, Rajasthan, India), atrazine (28.0 μg/L, at Venado Tuerto City, Argentina), endosulfan (0.78 μg/L, at Yavtmal, Maharashtra, India), parathion (4.17 μg/L, at Akkar, Lebanon), endrin (3.48 μg/L, at KwaZuln-Natl Province, South Africa) and imidacloprid (1.53 μg/L, at Son-La province, Vietnam) are reported. Pesticides can be significantly removed through physical, chemical, and biological treatment. Mycoremediation technology has the potential for up to 90% pesticide removal from water resources. Complete removal of the pesticides through a single biological treatment approach such as mycoremediation, phytoremediation, bioremediation, and microbial fuel cells is still a challenging task, however, the integration of two or more biological treatment approaches can attain complete removal of pesticides from water resources. Physical methods along with oxidation methods can be employed for complete removal of pesticides from drinking water.

Al-ʿUcha

<i>Al-ʿUcha</i>

First report of aeroponically grown Bambara groundnut, an African indigenous hypogeal legume: Implications for climate adaptation

Global agricultural production is currently limited by negative climate-related hazards such as drought, uneven rainfall and rising temperatures. Many efforts have been put in place by government and non-government agencies to mitigate the challenges of climate change in the sector. However, the approaches do not seem feasible due to the growing demand for food. With these challenges, climate-smart agricultural technologies such as aeroponics and underutilised crops have been projected as the future of agriculture in developing African countries to reduce the risk of food insecurity. In this paper, we present the cultivation of an underutilised indigenous African legume crop, Bambara groundnut, in an aeroponics system. Seventy Bambara groundnut landraces were cultivated in a low-cost climate-smart aeroponics system and in sawdust media. The results showed that Bambara groundnut landraces cultivated in aeroponics performed better than those cultivated in a traditional hydroponics (sawdust/drip irrigation) technique in terms of plant height and chlorophyll content, where the landraces cultivated in sawdust had a higher number of leaves than those cultivated in aeroponics. This study also demonstrated the feasibility of introducing a generic Internet of Things platform for climate-smart agriculture in developing countries. The proof-of-concept and the successful cultivation of a hypogeal crop in aeroponics can be useful for cost-effective adaptation and mitigation plans for climate change, particularly for food security in rural African agricultural sectors.