Harvest Stage Research Articles

Influence of Sowing Media and Variety on Physiological Performance and Yield of Early Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) and Correlation Study with Yield

An experiment was conducted during 2018 and 2019 at the Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat and at Farmer’s field to assess the physiological performance of early cauliflower varieties in different sowing media and to evaluate their performance in the field as well as to study the correlation of different physiological parameters with curd yield. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with eight treatments comprising of four sowing media [M1-cocopeat (60): vermiculite (20): perlite (20), M2-cocopeat (50): vermicompost (50),M3-cocopeat (50): vermicompost (50): microbial consortium @1:100 and M4-Conventional nursery]and two varieties [V1 (White Diamond) and V2 (CFL1522)] replicated thrice. The results revealed that growing medium had significant influence on different physiological parameters of early cauliflower seedling. Maximum chlorophyll content was recorded in M3 (0.98 mg g-1fw), maximum number of stomata in upper and lower surface (83.47and 150.97), relative water content (90.06 %) and dry matter accumulation (11.41 %) were recorded in M2. Between the two varieties, V1 recorded higher stomata number (145.06) in the lower surface. In the main field, the plants grown from M3 showcased superior performance with highest relative water content (93.62%), chlorophyll content at 30 days after transplanting (1.40 mg g-1fw) and at harvest (2.16 mg g-1fw), membrane stability index (65.32%), minimum lipid peroxidation (0.85 n mol g-1fw) at harvest and maximum curd yield (200.22 q/ha). Between the two varieties White Diamond(V1) recorded the higher relative water content (89.48 %) while V2 (CFL 1522) recorded the maximum membrane stability index (55.10%) and non-significant influence of variety was noticed on yield. Correlation coefficient analysis indicated chlorophyll content at seedling stage, crop growth and at harvest stage, relative leaf water content and membrane stability index at harvest have positive and significant correlation with curd yield of cauliflower. The study indicates sowing media had significant influence on physiological parameters of seedlings of early cauliflower which is again reflected in the field condition influencing yield as well and can be concluded that sowing media cocopeat (50): vermicompost (50): microbial consortium @1:100 can be used for nursery raising of early cauliflower seedling in Assam condition.

The Synergistic Impact of a Novel Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacterial Consortium and Ascophyllum nodosum Seaweed Extract on Rhizosphere Microbiome Dynamics and Growth Enhancement in Oryza sativa L. RD79

This study investigated the combined effects of novel plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)—Agrobacterium pusense NC2, Kosakonia oryzae WN104, and Phytobacter sp. WL65—and Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract (ANE) as biostimulants (PGPR-ANE) on rice growth, yield, and rhizosphere bacterial communities using the RD79 cultivar. The biostimulants significantly enhanced plant growth, shoot and root length, and seedling vigour; however, seed germination was not affected. In pot experiments, biostimulant application significantly increased the richness and evenness of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere, resulting in improvements in rice growth and yield, with increases in plant height (9.6–17.7%), panicle length (14.3–17.9%), and seeds per panicle (48.0–53.0%). Notably, biostimulant treatments also increased post-harvest soil nutrient levels, with nitrogen increasing by 7.7–19.2%, phosphorus by 43.4–161.4%, and potassium by 16.9–70.4% compared to the control. Principal coordinate analysis revealed distinct differences in bacterial composition between the tillering and harvesting stages, as well as between biostimulant treatments and the control. Beneficial bacterial families, including Xanthobacteraceae, Beijerinckiaceae, Acetobacteraceae, Acidobacteriaceae, and Hyphomicrobiaceae, increased in number from the tillering to harvesting stages, likely contributing to soil health improvements. Conversely, methanogenic bacterial families, such as Methanobacteriaceae and Methanosarcinaceae, decreased in number compared to the control. These findings highlight the dynamic responses of the rhizosphere microbiome to biostimulant treatments and underscore their potential benefits for promoting sustainable and productive agriculture.

Waste, the real villain: a comprehensive analysis and prospective perspective on food loss and waste in China

IntroductionOne of the best ways to ensure food security is to reduce Food Loss and Waste (FLW). However, China still confronts numerous obstacles in food loss and waste study because of the intricate industrial chain, the wide range of accounting standards, and a lack of data, among other reasons.MethodsUsing the literature analysis method, 119 literatures were collected and analyzed to examine the current status of FLW in China at various stages after food production and throughout the life cycle from the perspectives of time series and research areas.ResultsThe study indicates that the rates of FLW in China have been higher than 20% in recent years and are still increasing. Among them, the highest FLW rates were found in the harvesting stage (3–6%), storage stage (8–10%) and consumption stage (10–17%). In addition, FLW results in a huge waste of resource endowments.DiscussionThe environment and resources are profoundly affected by these substantial food losses and wastes, leading to unnecessary depletion of resources. As China’s focus on food loss and waste intensifies, an increasing number of academics are expected to delve into this area, exploring dimensions such as ecological footprint assessment, innovative uses for food waste, and gathering primary data.

Prevalence and abundance of plant-parasitic nematodes in New Zealand maize fields: effects of territory, soil orders, crop stage, and sampling time

ABSTRACT Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are significant agricultural pests that can reduce maize yields. This study examines the prevalence, abundance, and diversity of PPNs in New Zealand maize fields, focusing on the effects of territory, soil orders, crop stages, and sampling times. Seven PPN genera were identified: Pratylenchus spp. (root-lesion), Helicotylenchus spp. (spiral), Meloidogyne spp. (root-knot), Heterodera spp. (cyst), Paratylenchus spp. (pin), Criconemella spp. (ring), and Tylenchus spp. PPNs were present in 98% of the samples, with Pratylenchus spp. being the most prevalent (91%), followed by Helicotylenchus spp. (38%). Compared to Waikato and Manawatu-Whanganui, Canterbury had the highest nematode populations, particularly of Pratylenchus spp. and Helicotylenchus spp. Brown and pallic soils supported higher PPN abundances. Sampling during the maize harvesting stage and late autumn resulted in the highest nematode populations and diversity indices. Pratylenchus spp. populations often exceeded the economic threshold of 500 Pratylenchus kg−1 of soil, suggesting a significant threat to maize yield in New Zealand. The findings highlight the need for further research to assess the impact of Pratylenchus spp. on maize yield and to develop effective management practices for maize cultivation in the country.

Demonstrating almost half of cotton fiber quality variation is attributed to climate change using a hybrid machine learning-enabled approach

Understanding the effects of climate change on cotton fiber quality will reduce the risks to production caused by global warming. Machine learning algorithms are effective for forecasting climate impacts on crops. However, the impact of climate change on cotton fiber quality is unclear. Hence, a hybrid machine learning-enabled approach, the Bayesian model average (BMA) method with multiple machine learning algorithms (linear regressor, SVR, RFR, GBDT, LightGBM, and XGBoost) and bootstrap resampling, was developed to explore the impact and screen the important climatic factors affecting various traits of fiber quality. On the basis of fiber quality data from 1033 test stations across Xinjiang, China, from 2016 to 2022, the explained variance for climate change in the hybrid machine learning model was as follows: 44.72 %–50.55 % for white cotton grade, 44.06 %–53.95 % for length, 51.72 %–56.81 % for micronaire, 32.70 %–49.50 % for length uniformity, and 45.66 %–53.09 % for strength in the 1000 bootstrapping samples. In addition, recursive feature elimination with cross-validation (RFECV) was used to select the optimal feature set and calculate the contribution of each feature. The variability in micronaire in the hybrid model was affected primarily by climate factors, such as the daily minimum temperature, rainfall, and wind speed, whereas the other quality traits were affected mainly by radiation-related climatic indicators. The climate during the harvest stage in October had a significant effect on cotton quality, explaining 33.0 % of the variance in white cotton grade, 32.1 % in length, and 48.3 % in fiber strength. Conversely, the climate during the boll opening and early harvest stages in September had a greater influence on micronaire and length uniformity, accounting for 21.4 % and 37.2 % of the variance, respectively. This study highlights that climate change explains nearly 50 % of the variation in fiber quality, with the influence being notably more considerable during the later stages of the cotton growth period. These findings clarify the uncertainty in the impact of climate change on cotton fiber quality considering the uncertainty of the single machine model and model errors. Equally important, this information can be valuable for farmers and growers seeking to improve fiber quality under climate change.

Role of Chitosan in the Coloring of Berries and Phytochemical Changes in Physalis angulata L. During Harvest Maturity

Physalis angulata L. berries are green in the initial stage of maturity and turn yellow when fully mature due to an increase in carotenoids. However, the coloration of the epidermis of the berry should not be the reference for harvesting maturity, since the calyx is fully closed. The use of an edible chitosan coating delays the color changes in the berry by reducing the respiration rate. This work studies the effect of harvest maturity and chitosan on the shelf life and berry coloring in Physalis angulata L. Three factors were considered, being harvest maturity stage (green mature (GM), yellowish-green (YG) and yellow (Y)), chitosan coating (0, 0.5, and 1%), and storage time (10, 20, 30 days). The fruits were stored at 20 °C and 85% Rh. The results showed that on the harvesting stage, chitosan coating had a significant effect on the quality and shelf life of berries during storage time. The value of carotenoid and phenol contents, flavor index, chroma, and hue significantly increased with berry maturity. Chitosan delayed the decrease in chlorophyll, phenol contents, antioxidant capacity, berry maturity, and color change. The results show that in the berries coated with 1% chitosan during storage, changes in color were less in comparison with the control condition (no chitosan). The highest decrease of hue angle and color index (17.92°) was observed in the control. The highest total antioxidant (78.42%) was observed after 30 days of storage in MG berries treated with a 0.5% chitosan coating.

Innovative Tillage Practices to Establish Productive and Sustainable Forage Production Systems in Degraded Alfalfa Pastures in Semiarid Regions

ABSTRACTTillage management practices play a critical role in maintaining sustainable forage production systems in degraded alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) pastures. However, climate change leads to the precipitation exhibits greater variability, the impacts of tillage practices on alfalfa productivity and forage quality as well as the relationships between water consumption and soil properties remain poorly understood. The field trial conducted from 2018 to 2020 aimed to investigate the impacts of different tillage treatments (i.e., no tillage [CK], strip subsoiling tillage [ST], strip rotary tillage [RT], and strip rotary tillage after strip subsoiling [SRT]) on soil properties, water use efficiency (WUE), and forage productivity. Compared with CK, tillage practices significantly increased forage biomass and crude protein yield (CPY), particularly in the case of the SRT treatment, in which the increase was 20.8% and 25.3% higher, respectively (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the net income in the SRT treatment exhibited the greatest value (US $1922.0 ha−1), showing a 17.0% increase compared with that in the CK treatment. The relationship of soil structure and crop water consumption became evident when tillage practices were applied in the degraded alfalfa pasture. The soil bulk density under the ST, RT, and SRT treatments decreased by 6.9%, 5.4%, and 8.6%, whereas the soil porosity increased by 8.6%, 6.7%, and 10.7% in the 0–60 cm soil layer, respectively (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the soil water content at a depth of 0–60 cm increased by 12.1% in the SRT treatment compared with the CK treatment at the harvesting stage, and the SRT treatment obtained the highest WUE of dry matter (16.9 kg ha−1 mm−1) and precipitation use efficiency of dry matter (15.8 kg ha−1 mm−1). In addition, total nitrogen in the ST, RT, and SRT treatments increased significantly by 21.4%, 11.1%, and 27.0%, respectively, and soil organic carbon in the ST, RT, and SRT treatments also increased significantly by 5.5%, 3.3%, and 10.4%, respectively, compared with those in the CK treatment (p < 0.05). Our study has demonstrated that tillage practices can optimize soil structure, improve water utilization, and increase soil fertilizer for enhancing forage productivity. The SRT practice could be a preferable approach for sustainable agricultural production of degraded alfalfa grassland in the semiarid region of China.

Both the Positioned Supplemental or Night-Interruptional Blue Light and the Age of Leaves (or Tissues) Are Important for Flowering and Vegetative Growth in Chrysanthemum.

In this study, the effects of supplemental or night interruptional blue light (S-BL or NI-BL) positioning on morphological growth, photoperiodic flowering, and expression of floral genes in Chrysanthemum morifolium were investigated. Blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at an intensity of 30 μmol·m-2·s-1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) were used for 4 h either (1) to supplement the white LEDs at the end of the 10 h short-day (SD10 + S-BL4) and 13 h long-day conditions (LD13 + S-BL4), or (2) to provide night interruption in the SD10 (SD10 + NI-BL4) and LD13 (LD13 + NI-BL4). The S-BL4 or NI-BL4 was positioned to illuminate either the shoot tip, the youngest leaf (vigorously growing the third leaf from the shoot tip), or the old leaf (the third leaf from the stem base). In the text, they will be denoted as follows: SD10 + S-BL4-S, -Y, or -O; SD10 + NI-BL4-S, -Y, or -O; LD13 + S-BL4-S, -Y, or -O; LD13 + NI-BL4-S, -Y, or -O. Normally, the LD13 conditions enhanced more vegetative growth than the SD10 periods. The growth of leaves, stems, and branches strongly responded to the S-BL4 or NI-BL4 when it was targeted onto the shoot tip, followed by the youngest leaf. The SD10 + S-BL4 or +NI-BL4 on the old leaf obviously suppressed plant extension growth, resulting in the smallest plant height. Under LD13 conditions, the flowering-related traits were significantly affected when the S-BL4 or NI-BL4 was shed onto the youngest leaf. However, these differences do not exist in the SD10 environments. At the harvest stage, other than the non-flowered LD13 treatment, the LD13 + S-BL4 irradiating the youngest leaf induced the most flowers, followed by the shoot tip and old leaf. Moreover, LD13 + NI-BL4 resulted in the latest flowering, especially when applied to the shoot tip and old leaf. However, the SD10 + S-BL4 or + NI-BL4 irradiated the shoot tip, youngest leaf, or old leaf all significantly earlier and increased flowering compared to the SD10 treatment. Overall: (1) Generally, vegetative growth was more sensitive to photoperiod rather than lighting position, while, during the same photoperiod, the promotion of growth was stronger when the light position of S-BL4 or NI-BL4 was applied to the shoot tip or the youngest leaf. (2) The photoperiodic flowering of these short-day plants (SDPs) comprehensively responded to the photoperiod combined with blue light positioning. Peculiarly, when they were exposed to the LD13 flowering-inhibited environments, the S-BL4 or NI-BL4 shed onto the leaves, especially the youngest leaves, significantly affecting flowering.

Prevalence and abundance of plant-parasitic nematodes associated with corn (Zea mays L.) in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka  

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) are important pests of corn (Zea mays L.) Globally, while corn production has recently expanded in Sri Lanka. The population abundance, distribution, and pathological effects of nematodes that adversely affect corn production in Sri Lanka are poorly understood. This study was conducted to identify the prevalence of major PPN genera, population abundance, and their reproduction associated with corn fields in the Anuradhapura district. Over 92% of the corn fields were positive for PPN from the fields sampled in February 2021. Major PPN genera identified were Pratylenchus (71.4%) Helicotylenchus (28.6%), Meloidogyne (21.4%), Criconemella (21.4%), and Hoplolaimus (35.7%). The mean population of the Pratylenchus was 2020 kg-1 of soil, which was above the threshold level (1000 Pratylenchus kg-1 of soil), while other genera were lower than the threshold. All genera, except Meloidogyne, were observed from the intensive sampling from the selected fields during the next cropping season from November 2021 (seedling stage) to February 2022 (harvesting stage). Pratylenchus abundance in all the fields was lower than the threshold at the seedling stage and it was 2 to 10 times higher during the harvesting stage, except in Kelenikawewa where the initial Pratylenchus population (1865 kg-1 of soil) was also above the threshold. According to our results, Pratylenchus have the potential to impact corn yield in Anuradhapura. Future field experiments will determine the impact of PPN on corn production in Sri Lanka.

Assessing the Synergistic Effects of Deficit Irrigation and Growth Retardants on Insitu Sprouting and Quality Parameters of Groundnut VRI 8

Background: Groundnut is a crucial oilseed crop cultivated year-round, with seed dormancy controlled by genetic and environmental factors. Preventing pre-harvest sprouting is essential, as it is a common issue. To study the effect of deficit irrigation management and foliar application of growth retardant chemicals on pre-harvest sprouting control efficiency to achieve higher yield of groundnut. Methodology: In a field experiment conducted during early summer 2024 at the Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, the effectiveness of different growth retardant chemicals and deficit irrigation management on reducing in-situ sprouting of groundnut kernels was investigated. The experiment included three irrigation management strategies: conventional irrigation and two deficit irrigation treatments where irrigation was withheld from 90 to 105 DAS (Days After Sowing) and 85 to 100 DAS. Additionally, foliar sprays of growth retardant chemicals were applied at 75 and 90 DAS. The chemicals tested were maleic hydrazide (MH) @ 1250 ppm, cycocel (CCC) @ 1000 ppm, abscisic acid (ABA) @ 750 ppm, and salicylic acid (SA) @ 750 ppm. Proper agronomic practices were followed throughout the crop growth cycle. Results: Among the growth retardant chemicals tested, MH @ 1250 ppm proved effective in inducing dormancy. Withdrawal of irrigation from 90 to 105 DAS also significantly contributed to dormancy induction, extending dormancy by more than 5 days post-harvest as well as reduced the pod loss which significantly increased pod yield. It was because of the reduction in soil moisture content during harvest stage and alteration in the hormonal activities. Specifically, the combined treatment of foliar application of MH @ 1250 ppm and no irrigation from 90 to 105 DAS reduced germination percentage by 12.6%, 36.8% and 60.5% immediately 5, 10 and 15 days after harvest respectively. Conclusion: The reduction in soil moisture content during the harvest stage, coupled with changes in hormonal activities, significantly impacts seed sprouting. These factors can lead to stress conditions that hinder germination, ultimately affecting crop yields. Addressing these issues is crucial for ensuring optimal seed development and enhancing agricultural productivity.

Effects of subsurface drip fertigation on potato growth, yield, and soil moisture dynamics

AimsThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of subsurface drip fertigation (SDF) on soil moisture content, potato growth, and tuber yield in loam soils, and compare these results with conventional surface drip fertigation (CF). The focus was on determining whether SDF could improve water use efficiency and yield quality, particularly in water-scarce regions.MethodsThe experiment was conducted during the 2022 spring growing season in Xunyang, Ankang, Shaanxi Province, China. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with three treatments: subsurface drip fertigation (SDF), conventional surface drip fertigation (CF), and a no-fertilization control (NF), with four replications per treatment. Soil moisture content at a 20 cm depth was monitored, and plant growth parameters such as plant height, stem diameter, leaf color index, and chlorophyll fluorescence index were measured during the flowering and harvest stages. Tuber yield characteristics, including tuber diameter, number of tubers per plant, total yield, and marketable yield, were also assessed.Important findingsThe results indicated that subsurface drip fertigation significantly improved soil moisture content, with up to 45.5% higher moisture retention compared to conventional fertigation, particularly in the early stages of fertilization. This improved moisture availability led to enhanced plant growth and tuber development. Tuber diameter increased by 6.9 mm, and the number of tubers per plant increased by 18.1% under SDF. Marketable tuber yield was approximately 10% higher in the SDF treatment compared to CF. However, the study found that soil texture plays a critical role in the effectiveness of SDF, and further research is needed to explore its application in other soil types.

The Interaction Effect of Nitrogen Levels on Growth Characteristic of Wheat Crop (Triticum aestivum L.)

The present research work was carried at the Agronomy Farm, Department of Agronomy, Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Narendra Nagar (Kumarganj) Faizabad (U.P.), during Rabi season of 2014-2015. This farm is located at a distance of 42 Km. from Faizabad district headquarters at Faizabad – Raibareilly road. The ANOVA of the research trail used a design: randomized block design (factorial) to evaluate growth traits, comprising of initial plant population, plant height (cm), number of shoots (m-2). The data indeed suggested that initial plant population was not significantly influenced by either variety levels or nitrogen levels. Contrastingly, the data showed that variety levels and nitrogen levels significantly affected plant height at 30, 60, 90 days after sowing (DAS) and at harvest. The number of shoots at 30 DAS was not affected significantly by variety levels and nitrogen levels in the data. In addition, Variety levels showed a significant effect on the shoot number at 60 and 90 DAS and also at harvest stage, while nitrogen levels did not show significant effects in growth attributes of wheat under study.

Do moderate salinity and harvest stages interfere with gas exchange and quality of yellow melon fruits?

Do moderate salinity and harvest stages interfere with gas exchange and quality of yellow melon fruits?

Unraveling cell wall polysaccharides during blueberry ripening: insights into the roles of rhamnogalacturonan-I and arabinogalactan proteins in fruit firmness.

Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) undergo significant texture changes during development and ripening, notably a consistent decrease in firmness, which affects fruit quality, consumer preference, transportability, and shelf life. This study examined the composition and structural modifications of the cell wall in five commercially available blueberry varieties with differing firmness levels at harvest. Our approach integrated various biochemical techniques for a comprehensive analysis of cell wall components to elucidate firmness differences at the harvest stage. One of the conclusions was the relationship between a low degree of pectin methylesterification and the presence of increased egg-box structures, which correlated with increased firmness. The data suggest that low-abundance pectins in blueberry cell walls, such as rhamnogalacturonan-I participate in firmness modulation through their side branches or by linking to arabinogalactan proteins. Additionally, the xyloglucan structure can be one of the determinants of fruit firmness. Although, this work provides a broad insight into the relationship between cell wall composition and firmness in blueberry, a more detailed analysis, specifically focusing on pectin and hemicelluloses, would be of significant value.

Enhancing growth and yield attributes through bio priming approach in direct seeded rice

Sowing pregerminated and primed rice seeds was found to be advantageous in shortening the numbers of emergence, heading, and maturity days. Reduction in the maturity period of rice by 14.1 days is a significant phonological achievement. Therefore, to ensure the benefits of seed enhancing techniques on seed yield and yield components of rice (Oryza sativa L.),field experiment was conducted in Split Plot Design with four replications using PMK(R)4 with fourteen different seed biopriming liquid microbial cultures and its combinations. The results showed that the seeds soaked in equal volume of liquid microbial cultures Azospirillum+ Phosphobacteria 20% for 18hrs recorded maximum plant height at 45(29.2cm), 90DAS(105.2 cm) and harvest stages (113.3 cm). The leaf area index(10), number of productive tillers, panicle length(36.3 cm), number of spikelets per panicle (106) and panicle weight were maximum in co-inoculated priming treatment Azospirillum + Phosphobacteria and Azospirillum+ Phosphobacteria+ Silicate Solublizing Bacteria followed by Azosprillium 20% for 18hrs and minimum with non-primed seeds. Combined application of Azospirillum + Phosphobacteria was found to be most effective treatment in improving seed yield per plot(6.6g), seed yield per hectare and 1000 seed weight (24.72 g) over non-primed seeds.

Processes of assembly of endophytic prokaryotic and rhizosphere fungal communities in table grape are preponderantly deterministic

Understanding the assemblage of microbial communities is important for the health maintenance and post-harvest quality of fruit crops. However, systematic studies on the core microbiomes of table grapes and microbial community assembly of soil-plant continuum are still rare. To address this, samples were collected and analyzed from key microbiome compartments (bulk soil, rhizosphere of new roots and old roots, endosphere of new and old roots, and endosphere of leaves and fruits) of five table grape cultivars (Balado Black, Jingya, Fujimino, Victoria and Kyoho) at the swelling stage and harvest stage in the field plots. Prokaryotic and fungal communities were analyzed using 16S rRNA and ITS rRNA high-throughput sequencing, respectively. The compartment was the major factor attributable to the variations in both prokaryotic (52.5 %) and fungal communities (23.2 %), respectively. The richness and phylogenetic diversity of both prokaryotic and fungal communities decreased significantly along the compartment continuum from soil to fruit endosphere, but did not differ between the five cultivars across all samples. Occupancy-abundance distribution was used to define 97 core bacteria, 29 core fungi for rhizosphere soil and five core bacteria, 172 core fungi for endosphere. Functional annotations of the rhizosphere core bacteria were mostly associated with ureolysis and chemoheterotrophy, while endophytic core bacteria were mostly fermentative and symbiotic. Rhizosphere core fungi were saprophytic and the endophytic fungi were putatively pathogens. From rhizosphere soil to aboveground organs, the relative importance of deterministic processes for prokaryotic community assembly gradually increased but the contribution of stochastic processes increased for fungal community assembly. These findings highlight niche-specific microbial communities and shared core microbiomes in different grapevine cultivars. The deterministic processes contribute more to the assembly of prokaryotic communities in the aboveground than in the belowground while the assembly of fungal communities exhibits opposite trends. Management practices aiming at niche-specific microbiome should be developed for sustainable grape production.

Aflatoxin B1 in senna pods from field to storage in Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT Senna, a medicinal herb, is highly susceptible to aflatoxin contamination, which often limits the export value of the final products due to the regulatory limits of importing countries. Presence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was investigated in 229 senna pod samples at various stages from field to storage over three years. Higher incidence of AFB1 was revealed during the late harvest stage with a mean level of 52.4 µg/kg and a range of LOD-206 µg/kg. Out of 48 late harvest samples, 37 exceeded the AFFB1 limit of 2 µg/kg. In contrast, the majority of preharvest samples showed lower levels of AFB1 (1.0 µg/kg). During drying, increase in the mean AFB1 level to 4 µg/kg was observed and it could further increase to 18.1 μg/kg in storage. These results highlight the status of aflatoxin contamination in senna pods and emphasise the importance of implementing good agricultural practices in senna cultivation to mitigate AFB1 contamination.

Photoperiod and temperature as dominant environmental drivers triggering chemical compositions of garlic bulb during growth

Photoperiod and temperature are crucial for plant growth and development, but the accumulation patterns and regulatory mechanisms of garlic in response to these factors remain unclear. Compared to normal conditions (12/12 h light/dark; 22/15 °C day/night), increasing the photoperiod by 1 h each month with normal temperature (13/11, 14/10, 15/9, 16/8 h; light/dark; 22/15 °C day/night) or increasing photoperiod by 1 h with a 1.5 °C increase in temperature (13/11, 14/10, 15/9, 16/8 h light/dark; 23.5/16, 25/17, 26.5/18, 28/19 °C day/night) at monthly intervals substantially affects garlic growth in early G204, mid-G666, and late G390 harvest cultivars. For both increased photoperiod and temperature, the environment most favorable for bulb growth is characterized by the maximum accumulation of hormones (IAA, JA, and ZT) during bulb formation, while higher levels of ACC, phenolic acids, and organosulfur compounds are observed during the harvesting stage. Furthermore, the accumulation patterns of alliin and allicin in garlic bulbs for G204, G666, and G390 cultivars significantly increased, with fold changes of (2.0, 1.8, and 1.9) and (1.8, 1.7, and 1.5), respectively, in response to increased photoperiod and temperature conditions. Additionally, the accumulation pattern in G204, and G666 was similar but notably distinct from late harvest G390 during growth. In this study, metabolomics models were constructed to assess chemical composition variations and predict the differences among three garlic varieties during the growth stages. These models revealed functional component variations and provided reliable predictions, offering valuable insights for estimating garlic chemical compositions and identifying optimal environmental conditions for growth.

Effects of LDPE and PBAT plastics on soil organic carbon and carbon-enzymes: A mesocosm experiment under field conditions

Although the effects of plastic residues on soil organic carbon (SOC) have been studied, variations in SOC and soil carbon-enzyme activities at different plant growth stages have been largely overlooked. There remains a knowledge gap on how various varieties of plastics affect SOC and carbon-enzyme activity dynamics during the different growing stages of plants. In this study, we conducted a mesocosm experiment under field conditions using low-density polyethylene and poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) debris (LDPE-D and PBAT-D, 500–2000 μm (pieces), 0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%), and low-density polyethylene microplastics (LDPE-M, 500–1000 μm (powder), 0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%) to investigate SOC and C-enzyme activities (β-xylosidase, cellobiohydrolase, β-glucosidase) at the sowing, seedling, flowering and harvesting stages of soybean (Glycine Max). The results showed that SOC in the LDPE-D treatments significantly increased from the flowering to harvesting stage, by 12.69%–13.26% (p < 0.05), but significantly decreased in the 0.05% and 0.1% LDPE-M treatments from the sowing to seedling stage (p < 0.05). However, PBAT-D had no significant effect on SOC during the whole growing period. For C-enzyme activities, only LDPE-D treatments inhibited GH (17.22–38.56%), BG (46.7–66.53%) and CBH (13.19–23.16%), compared to treatment without plastic addition, from the flowering stage to harvesting stage. Meanwhile, C-enzyme activities and SOC responded nonmonotonically to plastic abundance and the impacts significantly varied among the growing stages, especially in treatments with PBAT-D (p < 0.05). These risks to soil organic carbon cycling are likely mediated by the effects of plastic contamination and degradation soil microbe. These effects are sensitive to plastic characteristics such as type, size, and shape, which, in turn, affect the biogeochemical and mechanical interactions involving plastic particles. Therefore, further research on the interactions between plastic degradation processes and the soil microbial community may provide better mechanistic understanding the effect of plastic contamination on soil organic carbon cycling.

Regulation of crop load and quality in sweet cherry cv. ‘Sweet Heart’ using blossom thinning

ABSTRACT Self-fertile cultivars of sweet cherry (Prunus avium) produce heavy crop load that is often associated with small and poor-quality fruits. Therefore, a crop load-management strategy is required to improve the quality of the fruit. In this study, the effect of blossom thinners on fruit set, yield and quality of the fruits was evaluated. Three types of blossom thinners were used at three different concentrations viz., ammonium thiosulphate (ATS) (1, 1.5 and 2%), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (20, 40 and 60 ppm) and corn oil emulsion (1, 2 and 3%). These were sprayed at 80% of the bloom stage. The vegetative, flowering, fruit set and yield parameters were observed and recorded. Fruit quality was evaluated by measuring the physical and chemical characteristics of the fruits at the harvest stage. Negative correlation was found between fruit set and quality of fruit. The reduction in the crop load was associated with enhanced vegetative growth, including higher leaf:fruit ratio, higher supply and availability of photosynthates to the remaining fruitlets and reduced fruit firmness and titratable acidity. Fruit size, weight, volume, hue value, chroma value, soluble solid content (SSC), total sugars, SSC/acid ratio, anthocyanin and ascorbic acid content were enhanced as a result of thinning. The foliar spray of ATS at 2% and NAA at 60 ppm, at 80% bloom proved to be the most effective in reducing crop load and enhancing the fruit quality.