Greenhouse Conditions Research Articles

Host-status of sixteen crops used in potato-based crop rotation systems against Meloidogyne javanica in South Africa

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne species) are the most important group of plant nematodes in potato-producing regions of South Africa. Prior to the withdrawal of synthetic chemical fumigant nematicides from the agrochemical markets, Meloidogyne species were viewed as a minor pest in potato-producing regions. Currently, it has been established that all potato cultivars are host to Meloidogyne species, with the preferred management option of the genus being the use of resistant crops. However, the host status of most crops used in potato-based crop rotations intended to manage nematode population densities of the genus had not been established. Globally, M. incognita is viewed as being more aggressive than M. javanica, whereas in South Africa the opposite is true. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine whether the reproduction potential (RP) values of M. javanica on 16 crops used in potato crop rotation systems would be below unity. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions at the University of Limpopo during autumn (February-April) 2022 and validated in spring (September-November) of the same year in South Africa. Treatments (16 crops) were laid out in a randomized complete block design, with six replications. The crops were inoculated with 250 eggs + second-stage juveniles (J2). At 56 days after inoculation, nematodes variables were collected and expressed as RP, which demonstrated that there were similarities and differences in RP of the 16 crops to infection by M. javanica, but with the values being below one in white maluti oats, tillage radish, forage sorghum, and jap radish. In conclusion, the four crops with RP values below one could be used in a potato-crop rotation system intended to manage the population densities of M. javanica.

Responses of different growing media ratios growth performance of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) under greenhouse conditions

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) vegetables are an important constituent of the diet of rural communities worldwide. It is a suitable substitute for several indigenous leafy vegetables, as it has more or less the same texture after cooking. Consequently, growers tend to grow spinach in any soil type or mixture available to them without modifying it, leading to reduced growth performance and yields. The use of animal manure is common in South Africa and helps to improve soil fertility when used in the correct ratio mixture. Therefore, the study’s objective was to investigate which of the growing media mixture (GMM) ratios of sand, Hutton soil, and goat manure would improve the growth and yield of S. oleracea under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with 10 replicates (n=60). Six treatments comprised of different types of GMM namely, sand, Hutton soil, and goat manure at T1 (1:3:0 -control), T2 (1:2:1), T3 (1:1:1), T4 (1:1:2), T5 (2:1:2) and T6 (2:3:2), respectively. Growing media mixture had significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect on plant height (PH), number of leaves (NL), chlorophyll content (CC) and root length (RL) of S. oleracea, contributing 78, 62, 76 and 54% of the total treatment variation (TTV) in the respective variables. Relative to the control (T1), treatment T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 increased PH by 22.75 cm, 24.03 cm, 27.92 cm, 22.84 cm and 24.35 cm, respectively. Similarly, the NL in all the treatments T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 was increased by 10.90, 11.70, 11.90, 11.70 and 11.60, respectively, compared to T1. A related trend was observed in the CC, treatments T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, increased the CC by 14.99, 15.08, 26.45, 21.38 and 15.83, respectively when compared to T1. The GMM treatment T4 obtained the highest 27.92, 11.9, 26.45 and 42.38 in PH, NL, CC and RL. In conclusion, GMM T4 had a positive effect on the growth and yield of S. oleraceae, and it is recommended for use to grow the vegetable crop.

Reaction of Gidami Coffee Collections against the Major Diseases

Ethiopia's largest export commodity is coffee arabica, one of the most significant goods that significantly contribute to the national economy. However, diseases including coffee berry, coffee leaf rust, and coffee wilt have been significantly reducing its yield. In order to assess Gidami coffee arabica accessions’ reaction to serious fungal infections, this study was started. The total of 100 genotypes was evaluated under Gera and Haru field situations for these major diseases. Whereas, 92 accessions with two checks were tested under greenhouse condition for coffee wilt. The results showed a highly significant variation (p<0.001) among genotypes in both conditions with 0–51%, 4–36%, and 0–100% disease severity ranges respectively. Except the four accessions namely G67/13, G71/13, G54/13, and G66/13, most of them showed susceptible reactions to CBD under Gera conditions. As well, 36 and 12 coffee accessions revealed <10% CLR reactivity at Haru and Gera conditions respectively. But none of the accessions had resistance levels higher than the two checks (Challa and 8136) at either of the locations. In other word, Gera had much greater levels of CBD and CLR pressure than Haru. On the other hand, only two accessions, G57 and G20, showed 100% CWD survival rate in greenhouse environments. This study showed how plant genetics and environmental variables affect diseases development and demonstrated that the response of Gidami coffee accessions to the major coffee diseases highly influenced by geographical and genetic variables. Therefore, continual and massive genotype screening across the locations must be taken into account in order to get resistance genotypes as the best disease mitigation to overcome the coffee diseases problem.

Effect of Different Organic Regulator Application to Problematic Areas on Soil Erodibility Parameters (Serpentine Soil Sample)

In the study, the changes in the structural stability and erodibility properties of the organic regulators (TG, TAGG and SG) applications to serpentine soils were investigated. In line with the study's objective, organic amendments based on oven dry weight were applied to the soils in different dose combinations. The study, designed according to a completely randomized design (CRD) was conducted in plastic pots maintained under greenhouse conditions. Six months after the experiment was established, the pots deteriorate pots were and the necessary measurements were made. WAS, DO, EO, SSI, OM values were measured to evaluate the change in the erosive and structural stability of the soils. As a result of the study, the OM values of the soils increased with the organic regulator applications (TAGG, TG, SG). The highest increase was observed in pots where TG and TAGG were applied. The erodibility parameters of the soils, DO and EO, showed a decrease with increasing dosage applications. WAS and SSI parameters, which are soil erosive variables, increased with increasing application dose. These increases (WAS, OM, SSI) and decreases (DO and EO) depending on the applications were statistically significant (P

Organogenesis of Plant Tissues in Colchicine Allows Selecting in Field Trial Blueberry (Vaccinium spp. cv Duke) Clones with Commercial Potential

Plants’ genetic improvement continues to be crucial for modern agriculture, while biotechnology can offer efficient tools that enhance the selection and recommendation processes of elite clones. This work established a suitable methodology for the regeneration of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbsum) plants in cultures with colchicine. This could be considered a basis for producing populations for the selection of clones following a genetic improvement program assisted by biotechnology. The factors studied were: (a) explant type (leaf discs; nodal segments); (b) colchicine concentration (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/L); and (c) time of exposure to colchicine (1, 2, 3, 5, and 30 days). The basal medium McCown’s Woody Plant (WP) supplemented with 2 mg/L 2iP and 1 mg/L BAP was used with the commercial genotype Duke as a model. A total of 1957 blueberry clones were produced in a medium with 1 mg/L colchicine, distributed at different exposure times. Flow cytometry analyses revealed the following patterns: single patterns for random samples of control plants (Duke donor) and some clones regenerated on colchicine; double patterns for chlorotic plants regenerated on colchicine. Triple and quadruple patterns were observed in callus tissues that did not regenerate plants on colchicine. Populations of plants regenerated in colchicine (6787) and control plants regenerated in in vitro culture without colchicine were adapted under greenhouse conditions. The variables evaluated at this stage were adaptability, height, diameter, number of leaves, incidence of diseases, flowering capacity, and agrobotanical traits. Selected clones demonstrating phenotypic variability (157 clones) were transplanted to field conditions. From the clonal field trial conducted under minimum tillage conditions, 38 clones were selected for improved traits related to the agricultural yield and nutritional quality of the fruits. Of these, six clones showed the highest agronomic performance and adaptability to adverse environmental conditions compared to the Duke donor genotype. It is recommended that these clones continue genotype × environment interaction trials at different locations.

Genetic variability of two Mexican Tomato brown rugose fruit virus isolates and expression of symptoms in tomato and pepper

Objective/Background. The objective was to analyze the variability of two Mexican isolates of ToBRFV after a process of inoculation and multiplication in different commercial and Mexican landraces of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) (15 materials) and pepper (Capsicum annuum) (20 materials), and to evaluate the expression of symptoms under greenhouse conditions. Materials and Methods. In greenhouses, the post-infection variability of two isolates was analyzed: EM-JI2021 (State of Mexico) and C-JI2021 (Colima) in 15 genotypes of tomato and 20 of pepper. Each isolate was mechanically inoculated on five plants per genotype with a total of 150 plants (56 days old) of tomato and 200 of pepper. Three plants per genotype were used as controls. Sixty-one days after inoculation, one leaf per plant was collected for RT-PCR. Incidence and symptom expression were recorded. RNA extraction was by 2% CTAB. ToBRFV-F/ ToBRFV-R primers amplifying 475 bpb of the RpRd gene were used (SENASICA-CNRF). 24 RT-PCR products were sequenced, cleaned and aligned with NCBI Genbank records using MEGAv11.0.13. Based on epidemiological criteria, 34 sequences were selected from GenBank for variability analysis. Results. Ten days after inoculation, tomato genotypes exhibited severe mosaic, mild mosaic, and reduced leaf area. In pepper, symptoms differentiated by genotype were observed, including hypersensitivity reaction, leaf deformation, stem necrosis, mosaic, yellowing, necrotic lesions, and asymptomatic condition. Between position 2,124 to 2,500 bp there was 99.74 % homology with the first report of ToBRFV in Jordan (KT383474.1). Homology >99.74 % was found with isolates from USA (MT002973.1) and Canada (OQ674195.1). C-JI2021 exhibited no variability, while EM-JI2021 generated three haplotypes: One nucleotide change (c.2,355T>C) was detected in Mulato (pepper) and Don R (tomato), while two substitutions (c.2,278A>T; c.2,355T>C) were detected in Santawest, Altius, Sahariana and Nebula (tomato). Conclusion. The pathogenic intensity of ToBRFV varied from asymptomatic to severe depending on the combination of host, genotype, and haplotype. In short periods of infection, three haplotypes were detected, suggesting host-dependent mutagenic capacity of the virus.

Determination of the Effects of Different EMS Doses Applied to Seeds of Chickpea and Lentil Varieties on Some Seedling Characteristics

In this study, it was aimed to determine the effects of 11 different doses of Ethyl Methane Sulphonate (EMS) applied to the seed to create variation in the M1 generation of chickpea (Gökçe) and lentil (Şakar) genotypes during germination and seedling development periods and to determine the lethal dose that caused a 50% reduction in plant emergence rate. The research was conducted under the greenhouse and laboratory conditions of the Faculty of Agriculture of Dicle University in 2019/2020. The study was conducted according to a randomized block design with three replicates. For the M1 generation, seeds of each genotype in the elite stage were treated with EMS solution at 0 (control), 10, 20, 30, 40, 40, 50, 60, 60, 70, 70, 80, 90, and 100 mM (1000 seeds for each dose) and then sown in the greenhouse. A total of 132 tubes were sown with 30 seeds for each dose, and the effective EMS dose was determined for each genotype based on the traits examined in the developing seedlings. In the study, it was concluded that 11 different EMS doses applied to the seeds of chickpea and lentil varieties had negative effects on seedling development in the M1 generation, and increasing EMS doses from the control caused a decrease in all traits examined. With increasing EMS doses, plant emergence was observed in both chickpea and lentil up to 60 mM dose, while no germination was observed at 60 mM dose, and the dose rate varied according to species and varieties. The dose that caused a 50% decrease in the plant emergence rate in Gökçe chickpea and Şakar lentil varieties was determined as the LD50 dose. Accordingly, it was determined that the LD50 dose was 30 mM for Gökçe chickpea variety and 60 mM for Şakar lentil variety.

The Use of Rhizobacteria on White Rot Disease and Growth of Lettuce

White rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum [(Lib.) de Bary] is one of the most important diseases negatively affecting lettuce production. In this study, the effects of rhizobacteria containing different species on S. sclerotiorum were investigated. Also effect of rhizobacteria were determined on the growth of lettuce. Eight rhizobacteria strains (Enterobacter cloacae, E. aerogenes, Bacillus cereus, Microbacterium testaceum, Pseudomonas putida, P. chlororaphis, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and Burkholderia cepacia) were used in the study. Firstly, the in vitro effects of rhizobacteria strains were investigated on the mycelial growth and sclerotia viability of S. sclerotiorum. Then, pot experiments were carried out under controlled greenhouse conditions to determine the effect of selected strains on white rot disease and the growth of lettuce. The effect of tested bacteria on the mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum ranged between 38.09-79.84%, and the P. putida strain had the highest impact. The bacterial strains were also effective on the sclerotia viability of S. sclerotiorum. The efficiency in the pot experiment was between 50-90% on white rot, and the highest effect was recorded in A. calcoaceticus strain. In the pot experiment rhizobacteria also increased plant growth. In particular, E. aerogenes was the most successful strain in plant growth. The results revealed that bacterial strains have different inhibitory effects in in vitro and in vivo experiments, while having the potential in the biological control of white rot disease and positive results on lettuce growth.

Annual Weeds Suppression and Oat Forage Yield Responses to Crop Density Management in an Oat-Cultivated Grassland: A Case Study in Eastern China

Although weeds can be inhibited by high planting densities, canopy shading, elemental balance and soil microbial recruitment are not yet adequately considered when measuring competitive effects on weed control. The effects of oat (Avena sativa) planting density (60 to 600 plants m−2) on the biomass and shoot element balance of oat and weeds were evaluated in a field experiment. The shift in the microbial community of the dominant weed species was examined in a pot experiment by growing the weed alone and in competition with 360 oat plants m−2 (recommended planting density) under greenhouse conditions. Increasing oat planting density beyond 360 plants m−2 did not improve oat forage yield or weed suppression. Compared to 60 plants m−2, the biomass of broadleaf and grass weeds decreased by 1122% and 111%, respectively, at a density of 360 plants m−2, while oat forage biomass increased by 60% and leaf area index by 24%. The improved canopy properties suppressed competing weeds through increased shading. Typically, the C:N and C:P ratios of shoots of Echinochloa crus-galli and Digitaria sanguinalis were higher than those of Portulaca oleracea and Chenopodium album. At high planting densities, E. crus-galli and D. sanguinalis exhibited high P contents and low N:P ratios, suggesting a limited supply of N nutrients for growth. Soil bacterial community assay showed that the composition of microbial communities of the two grass weeds were shaped by the presence of oat competition, which also considerably depleted several important functional microbes associated with nutrient cycling in the weeds’ rhizosphere. These results highlight that increased crop density significantly improves the crop competitive advantage over weeds through increased shading, reduced elemental balance, and beneficial microorganisms of weeds, thereby reducing the need for herbicides or physical weed control in oat cropping system.

Efficacy of pesticides against Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae), an emerging threat in the cultivation of tomato in Northwest Europe

As non-chemical methods are not always effective to manage pests, the search for chemical solutions that efficiently combat pest species, while safeguarding the environment and beneficial organisms, is essential for advancing effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. Here, we investigated the efficacy of commercially available pesticides in managing Nesidiocoris tenuis, an emerging threat in the cultivation of tomato in Northwest Europe, while preserving the biocontrol agent Macrolophus pygmaeus. Fourteen pesticides were assessed for their residual toxicity on adults and nymphs in laboratory experiments, after which the most promising candidate was evaluated in cages and semi-commercial greenhouse conditions. Among the pesticides tested, chlorantraniliprole, hexythiazox, tebufenozide and azadirachtin had minimal impact on both insect species, with less than 37.5% corrected mortality. Pirimicarb, sulfoxaflor, acetamiprid, flupyradifurone, thiacloprid, tebufenpyrad, spinosad, indoxacarb, and a mixture of pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide were harmful to N. tenuis, but also affected M. pygmaeus (up to 100% mortality). Emamectin benzoate was moderately effective to N. tenuis adults (87%) and nymphs (80%), but had limited effects on M. pygmaeus. Application of emamectin benzoate at the maximum recommended concentration resulted in a significantly higher mortality of N. tenuis adults (85%) compared to M. pygmaeus (53%) in cage experiments, while it significantly reduced N. tenuis nymphs and the number of necrotic rings in a greenhouse experiment. Emamectin benzoate emerges as a promising candidate for inclusion in IPM programs. However, further research is necessary to determine its compatibility with other management strategies for controlling N. tenuis and other tomato pests.

Identification of Rhizosphere Endophytes and Evaluation of Their Impact on Growth of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.)

Endophytic microorganisms promote root growth, improve nutrient uptake efficiency and produce more yields. By collaborating with endophytic microorganisms, plants experience enhanced growth. This study was focused on endophytes from Chia plants in Bhukkapatna, Tumakur with the objective of molecular characterization of efficient endophytic microorganisms and its impact on growth of Chia. Twelve bacterial isolates were identified, with eight displaying nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilisation, potassium fixation, production of IAA, GA, siderophore and exopolysaccharide production. Molecular characterization using 16S rRNA revealed their identities as Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus cereus, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Enterobacter cloacae. Among these, Enterobacter cloacae (CEPB8) exhibited highest positive impact on Chia plant growth. In greenhouse conditions, treatments involving combinations of all four demonstrated the highest plant height (35.467cm) and biomass (158.37 grams) at harvest, surpassing the control group. Combined treatments outperformed individual strains, highlighting synergy. The study affirms that endophytic microorganisms significantly enhanced growth in Chia plant.

The effect of ectomycorrhizal fungal exposure on nursery-raised Pinus sylvestris seedlings: plant transpiration under short-term drought, root morphology and plant biomass.

Drought is a major environmental stressor that limits seedling growth. Several studies have found that some ectomycorrhizal fungi may increase the drought tolerance of nursery-raised seedlings. However, the precise role that different ectomycorrhizal fungi species play in drought tolerance remains unclear. We evaluated the transpiration rate of Pinus sylvestris seedlings under drought stress in greenhouse conditions by exposing seedlings to 10 ectomycorrhizal fungi species, with different functional traits (exploration type and hydrophobicity), and to 3 natural soil inoculums. We measured the transpiration and water potential of the seedlings during a 10-day drought period and a 14-day recovery period. We then analyzed their root morphology, stem, needle, root biomass and needle chlorophyll fluorescence. We showed that exposing seedlings to ectomycorrhizal fungi or soil inoculum had a positive effect on their transpiration rate during the driest period and through the recovery phase, leading to 2- to 3-fold higher transpiration rates compared with the nonexposed control seedlings. Seedlings exposed to medium-distance ectomycorrhizal fungi performed better than other exploration types under drought conditions, but ectomycorrhizal fungi hydrophobicity did not seem to affect the seedlings response to drought. No significant differences were observed in biomass accumulation and root morphology between the seedlings exposed to different ectomycorrhizal fungi species and the control. Our results highlight the positive and species-specific effect of ectomycorrhizal fungi exposure on drought tolerance in nursery-raised Scots pine seedlings. The studied ectomycorrhizal fungi functional traits may not be sufficient to predict the seedling response to drought stress, thus physiological studies across multiple species are needed to draw the correct conclusion. Our findings have potential practical implications for enhancing seedling drought tolerance in nursery plant production.

Effect of biological sewage sludge and its derived biochar on accumulation of potentially toxic elements by corn (Zea mays L.)

The land application of sewage sludge can cause different environmental problems due to the high content of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The objective of this study was to compare the effect of urban biological sewage sludge (i.e. the waste of activated sludge process) and its derived biochar as the soil amendments on the bioavailability of PTEs and their bioaccumulation by corn (Zea mays L.) under two months of greenhouse conditions. The soil was treated by adding biochar samples at 0 (control), 1, 3, 5% w/w. The diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable concentrations of PTEs including Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Fe, and Cu in soil and their accumulation by plant shoot and root were measured. Conversion of the biological sewage sludge into the biochar led to decrease the PTEs bioavailability and consequently decreased their contents in plant tissues. The DTPA extractable metal concentrations of produced biochar in comparison to the biological sewage sludge reduced 75% (Cd), 65% (Cr), 79% (Ni and Pb), 76% (Zn), 91% (Cu) and 88% (Fe). Therefore, the content of Ni, Fe, Zn and Cd in corn shoot was decreased 61, 32, 18 and 17% respectively in application of 5% biochar than of raw sewage sludge. Furthermore, the application of 5% biochar enhanced the physiological parameters of the plants including shoot dry weight (twice) and wet weight (2.25 times), stem diameter (1.70 times), chlorophyll content (1.03 times) in comparison to using 5% raw sewage sludge. The results of the study highlight that application of the biochar derived from urban biological sewage sludge in soil could decrease the risk of PTEs to the plant.

Integrated Management of Pathogens and Microbes in Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabis) under Greenhouse Conditions

The increased cultivation of high THC-containing Cannabis sativa L. (cannabis), particularly in greenhouses, has resulted in a greater incidence of diseases and molds that can negatively affect the growth and quality of the crop. Among them, the most important diseases are root rots (Fusarium and Pythium spp.), bud rot (Botrytis cinerea), powdery mildew (Golovinomyces ambrosiae), cannabis stunt disease (caused by hop latent viroid), and a range of microbes that reduce post-harvest quality. An integrated management approach to reduce the impact of these diseases/microbes requires combining different approaches that target the reproduction, spread, and survival of the associated pathogens, many of which can occur on the same plant simultaneously. These approaches will be discussed in the context of developing an integrated plan to manage the important pathogens of greenhouse-grown cannabis at different stages of plant development. These stages include the maintenance of stock plants, propagation through cuttings, vegetative growth of plants, and flowering. The cultivation of cannabis genotypes with tolerance or resistance to various pathogens is a very important approach, as well as the maintenance of pathogen-free stock plants. When combined with cultural approaches (sanitation, management of irrigation, and monitoring for diseases) and environmental approaches (greenhouse climate modification), a significant reduction in pathogen development and spread can be achieved. The use of preventive applications of microbial biological control agents and reduced-risk biorational products can also reduce disease development at all stages of production in jurisdictions where they are registered for use. The combined use of promising strategies for integrated disease management in cannabis plants during greenhouse production will be reviewed. Future areas for research are identified.

A Comprehensive Assessment of the Morphological Development of Inflorescence, Yield Potential, and Growth Attributes of Summer-Grown, Greenhouse Cherry Tomatoes

Understanding how cherry tomatoes respond to variations in greenhouse microclimate is crucial for optimizing tomato production in a controlled environment. The present study delves into the intricate relationship between summer-grown cherry tomatoes (Cheramy F1) and greenhouse conditions, exploring the influence of these conditions on growth attributes, inflorescence development, and yield potential. The aim of the study was to characterize the chronology of reproductive events, specifically flowering and fruit stages, in correlation with the prevailing greenhouse climate during the development of the first ten inflorescences on the plant. The performance of each inflorescence has been ranked based on available data, which involve a comparative analysis of both the time duration (number of days) and the frequency of yield-contributing traits, specifically the total number of flowers at the anthesis stage. The duration of each stage required for completion was recorded and presented as a productivity rate factor. Greenhouse conditions exhibited variations during the vegetative and reproductive stages, respectively, as follows: temperature - 25.1 °C and 21.33 °C, CO2 levels - 484.85 ppm and 458.85 ppm, light intensity - 367.94 W/m2 and 349.52 W/m2, and humidity - 73.23% and 89.73%. The collected data conclusively demonstrated a substantial impact of greenhouse microclimate on plant growth, productivity, and inflorescence development. The development of flowers and fruit has been categorized into five stages: the fruit bud stage (FB), the anthesis stage (AS), the fruit setting stage (FS), the fruit maturation stage (FM), and the fruit ripening stage (FR). An irregular productivity and development response was noted across the first (close to roots) to the tenth inflorescence. Inflorescence 5 demonstrated the highest overall performance, followed by inflorescence numbers 4 and 6. The study findings provide valuable insights for enhancing greenhouse operations, emphasizing the improvement of both the yield and growth of cherry tomatoes while promoting environmental sustainability. A statistical analysis of variance was used to rigorously examine the presented results, conducted at a confidence level of p < 0.05.

Design of Intelligent Polyhouse with IOT

A polyhouse, often known as a greenhouse, is a building constructed for the controlled growing of plants. It is often built of translucent materials such as glass or plastic and is intended to offer a regulated temperature for plants, shielding them from harsh weather but allowing sunlight to pass through. The study considers various factors such as affordability and feasibility, combines IoT and fuzzy control techniques, uses GPRS for remote control, and creates a smart greenhouse monitoring system that is user-friendly, simple to operate, and performs well. Moreover, there are automated control mechanisms, such as greenhouse doors and windows that roll on and off in response to soil moisture levels. By using IoT to maintain precise parameters like CO2, soil moisture, temperature, and light in the greenhouse, the technology will help farmers increase productivity while reducing the need for physical field visits. An internet connection and an IoT kit are used for the task. The bell pepper plant's greenhouse conditions include CO2, soil moisture, temperature, and light

Utilization of a Novel Soil-Isolated Strain Devosia insulae FS10-7 for Deoxynivalenol Degradation and Biocontrol of Fusarium Crown Rot in Wheat.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most widespread mycotoxin contaminant hazardous to human and animal health globally. It acts as a crucial virulence factor to stimulate the spread of pathogenic Fusarium within wheat plants. Control of DON and Fusarium disease contributes enormously to food safety, which relies on chemical fungicides. Here, we report the biodegradation of DON using a novel soil bacterium, Devosia insulae FS10-7, and its biocontrol effect against Fusarium crown rot. We demonstrated that strain FS10-7 degraded DON to 3-epi-DON by forming a 3-keto-DON intermediate. Such degradation activity can be maintained at a wide range of pH (4 to 10) and temperature (16 to 42°C) values under aerobic conditions. Notably, strain FS10-7 exhibited practical inhibitory effects on Fusarium crown rot disease caused by F. graminearum and F. pseudograminearum in the in vitro Petri dish test under laboratory conditions and the pot experiment under greenhouse conditions. The mechanisms underlying the biocontrol ability of strain FS10-7 were preliminarily investigated to be associated with its high DON-degrading activity rather than direct antagonism. These results establish the foundation to develop further bioagents capable of biodegrading mycotoxins in cereals and derived products and, accordingly, biocontrol plant diseases caused by DON-producing pathogens.

Assessing Interactions between Nitrogen Supply and Leaf Blast in Rice by Hyperspectral Imaging

Mineral nitrogen (N) supply reportedly increases rice susceptibility to the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae causing blast disease. These biotic and abiotic factors cause changes in spectral reflectance of leaves; however, the effects of N × pathogen interactions on spectral characteristics of rice have not been studied. In this study, hyperspectral imaging was used to assess the effect of N supply on symptoms of rice leaf blast under greenhouse conditions. Three rice genotypes differing in blast susceptibility grown at low, medium, and high N supply were inoculated at the four-leaf stage with three M. oryzae isolates differing in virulence. The reflectance spectra (400 to 1000 nm) of healthy and symptomatic leaves were analyzed using the spectral angle mapper algorithm for supervised classification. Mineral N supply increased the contents of chlorophyll and total N. The number and area of lesions and total blast severity varied depending on rice genotype—M. oryzae isolate interactions and the amount of mineral N applied. The reflectance spectra of healthy tissue and of blast symptom subareas differed with N supply; rice genotypes differed in the response to N supply. Infected plants at high mineral N supply could be distinguished from those at low N supply due to higher differences in the spectra of symptom subareas. Results reveal the potential (and limitations) of hyperspectral imaging for quantifying N effects on rice leaves, disease severity, and symptom expression. The impact of these findings on plant phenotyping and remote sensing under field conditions is discussed.

CARACTERIZACIÓN FENOTÍPICA DE CHILES NATIVOS DE LA REGIÓN MONTAÑA, GUERRERO, MÉXICO

<p><strong>Background.</strong> In Mexico, there are variants of chili peppers (<em>Capsicum</em> spp.) in terms of shape, flavor, size and pungency, where the greatest diversity of native chili peppers is found in rural communities of the Mexican tropics. <strong>Objective</strong>. To characterize the phenotypic parameters of eight genotypes of native chili peppers from Olinalá, located in the mountain region of the state of Guerrero. <strong>Methodology.</strong> Eight materials collected from chili peppers were planted under greenhouse conditions, in a completely randomized design, with six replicates, three plants per experimental unit and a distance between plants and rows of 40 cm. The plants were established in a greenhouse, in a black polyethylene bag, with mountain soil as a substrate. <strong>Results</strong>. The genotypes Cascabel (CAS), Gallo gallina mediano (GGM), Gallo gallina grande (GGG) and Larguillo grande (LG) presented erect growth, Chilaca (CHI) of intermediate type, and Larguillo chico (LCH), Serrano (S) and Mochiteco (M) were compact. All genotypes have a green cylindrical stem and dense branching, lanceolate leaves (except M, which had oval leaves), with one flower per axil in an erect position and white, except CAS, which has light yellow flowers. The shape of the fruit varied between triangular (GGM, GGG and M), elongated (LGH, LG and S), round (CAS) and bell-shaped (CHI), and red when ripe. The genotypes that registered the largest plant and leaf size were LG, S, GGG and LCH. On the other hand, the largest fruit size was recorded in CHI with a fruit length of 8.53 cm; fruit width of 5.96 cm, and LG with fruit length of 8.67 cm; fruit width of 5.92 cm; while the fresh weight was higher in CHI (33.55 g), GGG (23.50 g) and GGM (22.60 g). <strong>Implications.</strong> The study provides information on the behavior of qualitative and quantitative morphological aspects of chili peppers grown in Teticic, Olinalá, in the state of Guerrero. In the same way, it allows to assess the possibility of selecting outstanding materials. <strong>Conclusions.</strong> The chili genotypes showed variability in different qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the plant, leaf, flower and fruit, so they are an alternative to select outstanding materials to design a program for the improvement and conservation of these genetic resources.</p>

The Growth and Tuber Yield of Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) under Varying LED Light Spectrums in Controlled Greenhouse Conditions

Plant growing using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in a controlled environment is a revolutionary and innovative idea, regardless of the external environmental disturbances. Studying the growth and tuber yield of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) in an LED-based plant factory system is a relatively innovative concept. The current study was conducted in a plant factory to evaluate the effects of different LED spectral compositions on potato tuberization. Potato tuberization was analyzed under six different LED light spectral combinations with irradiances of 300 mol m−2 s−1, with natural light considered the control treatment. The findings stated that the L2 treatment (red70 + blue20 + white10) increased the plant height, branch number, and biomass accumulation, while photosynthetic pigments and photosynthetic activity increased significantly in L5 (red60 + blue20 + green10 + white10). Higher gibberellic acid (GA3) content was recorded in L1 (red70 + blue30), whereas the tuber number and tuber fresh weight were recorded in L3 (red70 + blue20 + green10) and L7 (natural light), respectively. On the other hand, a higher number of smaller-sized tubers were observed in L5, while L2 and L4 (red70 + blue20 + far-red10) resulted in a higher number of medium-sized tubers. In conclusion, a high proportion of red and blue light, along with white and far-red light, increased the plant height, branch number, plant biomass, and production of small- and medium-sized tubers. On the other hand, the inclusion of green light with red and blue enhanced the chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, and leaf expansion, and promoted the production of smaller-sized tubers. Finally, with regard to tuberization, the treatment using L4 followed by L2 outperformed the other treatments.