Plant Height Research Articles

Morphological and nutritional characterization of the cladodes of seven varieties of forage cactus of the genus Opuntia cultivated in Brazil

The plant species of the genus Opuntia are widely cultivated in the Semiarid region of Brazil and are considered as a sustainable technological alternative for coexistence with drought. The objective of this work was to characterize, by order of the cladodes, seven varieties of forage cactus of the genus Opuntia, cultivated under a rainfed regime, through morphological and nutritional parameters. The study was conducted at the IPA Experimental Station in the city of Caruaru-PE. The experimental design used was in randomized blocks, with three replicates. The varieties studied were: Gigante, Redonda, Clone IPA-20, F-08, Orelha de Elefante Mexicana, V-19 and Orelha de Elefante Africana. The number of total cladodes of the plant (NC), cladode length (CL), cladode width (CW), cladode area (CA), cladode thickness (CT), cladode volume (CV), cladode perimeter (CP), total fresh weight (FW), total dry weight (DW), total photosynthetic area (TPA), cladode area index (CAI), plant height (PH), plant width (PW), total fresh matter yield (TFMY), total dry matter yield (TDMY), total water accumulation (H2O), survival (SV), dry matter (DM), mineral matter (MM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), protein (P), hemicellulose (HEM), nitrogen (N), potassium (K) sodium (Na) and calcium (Ca) were determined at two years of age of the plants. Variability was observed in some of the morphological and/or nutritional characteristics among the order and/or phenological stage of the cladodes within the varieties. The varieties were divergent among themselves in the characteristics, NC, CL, CW, CA, CT, CV, CP, PH, PW, SV, P, N and Ca; and are related to genetic variation among the materials. The knowledge of the variability existing within and among botanical materials of forage cactus serves for the development of technologies aimed at each genetic material.

Produção de alface crespa utilizando água residuária da mandioca como fonte de potássio

ABSTRACT Cassava wastewater (CWW) is a natural biofertilizer successfully tested as a source of K in long-cycle crops; however, it still needs to be better evaluated in short-cycle crops. This study aimed to evaluate the use of CWW as a source of K in the growth, yield, and physicochemical quality of curly lettuce. The study was conducted in a greenhouse, in a randomized block design arranged in a 5 × 2 + 1 factorial scheme, with four replicates. Five CWW doses were evaluated as an exclusive source of K: 0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg ha-1 of K2O; two forms of application: 1-total dose at planting: 2-application of 50% of the dose at planting + 50% of the dose in topdressing, and an additional treatment: 100% mineral fertilization at 120 kg ha-1 of K2O dose, using KCl as the source. The number of leaves (NL), plant height (PH), fresh mass (FM), dry mass (DM), moisture (MO), ashes (ASH), fibers (FB), lipids (LIP), proteins (PTN), and carbohydrates (CHO) contents were evaluated. All agronomic attributes of lettuce showed lower values when fertilized only with CWW than mineral fertilization. Lettuce fertilized only with CWW, depending on total or split application and dose, showed higher ASH, FB, LIP, PTN, and CHO contents reaching 4.05, 3.97, 1.75, 7.11, and 3.63%, respectively, compared to mineral fertilization. The CWW can potentially be used as a complementary K source in lettuce cultivation, as its exclusive use does not replace traditional mineral fertilization.

Determining Eastern Red Cedar Biochar Soilless Media Supplementation Rates for Potted Ornamental Kale and Chrysanthemum Production

The increasing demand for soilless media, sustainability issues with peatmoss, and increasing cost of peatmoss have prompted studies of more environmentally friendly and less expensive substitutes. Biochar, a lightweight black carbon material produced by the pyrolysis of biomass, has gained popularity as a soilless media supplement. The objective of this study was to evaluate Eastern red cedar (ERC) biochar as a supplement to soilless media for the production of chrysanthemum and ornamental kale. Treatments included ERC biochar produced at three different temperature ranges of 300 to 350 °C, 400 to 450 °C, and 500 to 550 °C that were applied at 25%, 50%, and 75% v/v plus a control (100% v/v of standard commercial mix). Additionally, ERC bark was applied at the same rate as biochar. The 300 to 350 °C and 400 to 450 °C temperature ranges increased the bulk density of the media, whereas total porosity was greatest with just bark. Regarding the physical properties of the media, in general, the 75% v/v supplementation rate of ERC bark or biochar at any temperature increased air porosity but decreased the water holding capacity, except for the water holding capacity at 500 to 550 °C. As the biochar production temperature increased, so did the pH and electrical conductivity (EC), whereas volatile matter decreased. Plant height, width, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, number of flowers (chrysanthemum only), flower diameter, and water use efficiency were greatest with the 100% v/v soilless media for both species. In general, chrysanthemum plants grown with 25% v/v biochar supplementation or bark had similar height, width, and shoot dry weight at any temperature compared with those grown with the 100% v/v soilless media. For ornamental kale, the 25% v/v 400 to 450 °C biochar supplementation showed plant height and water use efficiency similar to those of the 100% v/v soilless media. In general, 25% ERC bark performed similar to 25% v/v and 50% v/v biochar at any temperature for plant width, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, water use efficiency, and root-to-shoot ratio. The media nutrient content and EC were greater with 100% v/v soilless media and a lower rate (25% v/v) of ERC bark and biochar than with higher rates. The higher levels of biochar were harmful and reduced the ornamental kale growth and quality. These results suggest that supplemented soilless media with lower rates (25% v/v) of ERC biochar could be recommended for chrysanthemum, but that less than 25% v/v may be necessary for ornamental kale.

Response of Zinc in Kharif Rice cv MTU-1010

A filed experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2016 and 2017 at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Farm, Ashokenagar, West Bengal on a sandy loam soil to assess the effect of zinc on growth, yield attributing characters and yield of rice, cv MTU- 1010. The experiment was carried out in a Randomized Block Design with three treatments i.e. recommended NPK dose (60:30:30 kg/ha NPK), recommended NPK + 25 kg/ha of ZnSO4 as soil application, and recommended NPK + 20 kg/ha of ZnSO4 as soil application + 2.5 kg/ha as foliar application at 30 and 45 DAT with seven replications. The study revealed that most of the yield and yield attributing characters except a few were significantly influenced by the soil and foliar application of zinc. Application of zinc recorded 17.73% higher grain yield than soil application of sole NPK fertilizers. The maximum no. of effective tillers/hill (23.57), plant height (81.28 cm), no. of spikelet per panicle (89.57), yield (5.91 t/ha), starch content (75.28 %) and B:C ratio (1.87) were recorded in 20 kg/ha of ZnSO4 as soil application followed by 2.5 kg/ha as foliar application at 30 and 45 DAT, along with soil application of NPK.

Dynamics of industrial hemp vegetative growth and metabolite accumulation in response to light intensity

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a high-yielding cash crop with strong stress resistance, and its fibrous and metabolic profile holds significant development potential. In this study, we measured various agronomic traits, amino acids, saccharides, and their derivatives under four different light intensities (30 μmol·m−2·s−1, 80 μmol·m−2·s−1, 130 μmol·m−2·s−1, 180 μmol·m−2·s−1). Results showed that plant height decreased with increasing light intensity and reached a minimum at 180 μmol·m−2·s−1, which was 27 % less than the control treatment. Further, stem diameter increased by 52 %, leaf fresh weight by 130 %, stem fresh weight by 116 %, and root fresh weight by 264 % were at their maximum at 130 μmol·m−2·s−1. Plant dry weight of leaf (113 %), stem (214 %), and root (427 %) were also found to be maximum at 130 μmol·m−2·s−1. Metabolic results revealed that the free amino acid content was 10 %, 61 %, and 60 % higher under 30 μmol·m−2·s−1 compared to 80, 130, and 180 μmol·m−2·s−1. Additionally, soluble protein contents were 42 %, 81 %, and 77 % higher under 30 μmol·m−2·s−1 compared to 80, 130, and 180 μmol·m−2·s−1. In contrast, the soluble sugar contents were 42 %, 61 %, and 75 % higher than in the other three treatments. In conclusion, industrial hemp morphological characteristics and metabolite profiles exhibit distinct responses to different light intensities. To achieve desired outcomes, it is imperative to carefully choose an optimized light intensity specifically tailored to align with the defined objectives. These findings provide a foundation for a deeper understanding of the characteristics of industrial hemp, optimizing cultivation techniques, and investigating the impact of light intensity on industrial hemp vegetative period growth, amino acids, and saccharides.

Nanoinert diatomaceous and emamectin benzoate: Enhancing wheat protection against fall armyworms for sustainable management

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, poses a significant global threat to agriculture due to its wide geographic range, high reproductive rate, and ability to thrive in diverse climates and habitats. A field study was conducted to evaluate the potential of nano-inert dust particles, specifically nano-diatomaceous earth (N-DE) and nano-potassium silicate (N-K2SiO3), individually and in combination with emamectin benzoate, to manage FAW larvae infesting wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.). The field experiments occurred during the winter seasons of 2021 and 2022 in Qaha, Qalubya Governorate, Egypt. Results revealed that the combined application of N-DE and N-K2SiO3 with emamectin benzoate outperformed other treatments, achieving larval reduction rates of 93.33 % and 86.66 % in 2021 and 89.31 % and 86.90 % in 2022 after a 10-day interval from the second spray. Moreover, supplementation with N-DE and N-K2SiO3 enhanced plant height, tiller count, leaf number, foaming, suspensibility, surface tension, and pH compared to using emamectin benzoate alone. Additionally, foliar application of N-K2SiO3 and N-DE increased total flavonoids (4.23 and 3.24 mg CE/g) and total phenolic compounds (1.35 and 1.12 mg/g F. Wt.), as well as plant silicate content, indicating improved plant health and pest resistance. This study underscores the efficacy of N-DE and N-K2SiO3 in reducing FAW infestations and enhancing plant growth and defense mechanisms.

Optimizing Sowing Density for Parsley, Cilantro, and Sage in Controlled Environment Production: Balancing Productivity and Plant Quality

Sowing density is a key management practice influencing productivity and quality of leafy greens and culinary herbs grown in controlled environments. However, research-based information on optimal density is limited for many culinary herbs. This greenhouse study aimed to quantify sowing density impacts on biomass output, individual plant growth, and morphological traits in hydroponically produced ‘Giant of Italy’ parsley (Petroselinum crispum), ‘Santo’ cilantro (Coriandrum sativum), and sage (Salvia officinalis). Seedlings were grown in phenolic foam cubes with 1, 5, 10, 15, or 20 seeds per cell, transplanted into an ebb-and-flow hydroponic system in a glass-glazed greenhouse with 23 °C target average daily temperature, 16-hour photoperiod, a target daily light integral of 13 mol·m−2·d−1, and harvested at 16 to 28 d after transplanting depending on species. ‘Giant of Italy’ parsley and ‘Santo’ cilantro fresh weight per cell increased quadratically by 274% (57.3 g) and 305% (19 g), respectively, as sowing density increased from 1 to 15 seeds per cell, then plateaued as density further increased. Sage fresh weight plateaued at 10 seeds per cell with an increase of 225% (29.2 g) compared with 1 seed per cell. Cilantro and sage dry weight per cell plateaued at 14 and 8 seeds per cell, respectively, and parsley dry weight quadratically increased as sowing density rose up to 20 seeds per cell. Although fresh and dry weight increased, individual plant height, stem diameter, and individual plant dry weight exhibited linear or quadratic declines as sowing density increased, indicating higher sowing densities restricted individual plant growth. In summary, as sowing density increased, fresh and dry weight per cell generally increased but individual plant quality decreased. For the greatest fresh and dry weight, 20, 18, and 10 seeds per cell should be sown for parsley, cilantro, and sage, respectively. However, to balance fresh weight and crop quality, our results suggest sowing density (seeds per cell) targets of 16 seeds for parsley, 18 seeds for cilantro, and 10 seeds for sage.

Genetic Variability and Cause-Effect Relationship in Aromatic Rice

Twenty diverse rice genotypes, mostly aromatic landraces, were grown during warm wet season of 2022 to analyse the genetic variability, correlation and path coefficients for sixteen agro-morphological characters. The results of genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variability, heritability, and genetic advance indicated that improvement through selection for flag leaf angle, panicle exertion, secondary branches per panicle, test weight, spikelet number, and number of filled grains would be effective. Correlation coefficients of grain yield with flag leaf area, spikelet fertility percentage, test weight and harvest index were positive and significant, while with flag leaf angle it was negative and significant indicating the importance of these characters on grain yield. Path analysis revealed that selection for larger flag leaf area, greater test weight and narrow flag leaf angle, reduced plant height and early flowering would increase grain yield. However, restrictions are required to be imposed on panicle number, panicle length and filled grain, so that a balance between morphological architecture and physiological rhythm is maintained to optimize source-sink relationship.

Innovative fertilizers with added plant extracts in the cultivation of Valeriana officinalis and Raphanus sativus and in the control of Botrytis and powdery mildew

Research objective: The main objective of this article is to report the results obtained from the use of innovative fertilisers with added plant extracts in agriculture. In particular, this article will deal with two important topics: i) study of the effect of innovative fertilisers on the biomass of vegetable plants; ii) possible control on mortality due to diseases such as Botrytis and powdery mildew. The information reported in this research work can support the design of cultivation systems in which agricultural sustainability is fundamental due to the presence of plant extracts as an alternative to synthetic plant protection products. Materials and Methods: The plants were grown in pots under controlled conditions; 30 seedlings per thesis, divided into 3 replications of 10 plants each, were planted in early January 2024. The plants used in the trial were Valeriana officinalis L. and Raphanus sativus. The five experimental groups in cultivation were: i) group control, irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate; ii) group with Aktigen, irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (3 ml per plant once a week); iii) group with Lifegen, irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (3 ml per plant once a week); iv) group with QI-gen, irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (3 ml per plant once a week); v) Group with Ecklonia maxima (EK): (peat 70% + pumice 20%), irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (3 ml per plant once a week). On 5 May 2024, plant height, number of leaves, primary root length (mm), biomass of the aerial and root system, and number of dead plants (Botrytis and powdery mildew) were recorded. Results and Discussion: The experiment showed that the use of innovative fertilisers enriched with plant extracts can indeed significantly improve the vegetative and root growth of Valeriana officinalis L. and Raphanus sativus. All treatments showed a significant improvement over the untreated control and the commercial Ecklonia maxima treatment for the agronomic parameters analysed, but the Qi-gen treatment was significantly the best for increasing vegetative and root biomass. Improvements were also found in plant height, leaf number and root length. The trial also revealed the significant effect on Botrytis control of the product Aktigen and on powdery mildew of the product Lifegen, in fact they reduced the mortality of Valeriana officinalis and Raphanus sativus seedlings. Conclusions: A number of scientific studies have shown that the application of biofertilizers can improve plant growth, productivity, quality, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Because of their multiple properties, they have become increasingly important as advanced agricultural techniques in global agriculture. This type of product, which includes natural substances, will contribute significantly to ecologically and economically sustainable agricultural production systems in the coming years, as well as serving as the foundation for large-scale sustainable agriculture in the future.

Effect of Biochar on Dwarf Green Coconut Orchard Yield and Irrigation Water Productivity

ABSTRACT The high irrigation water demand of coconut trees in semiarid regions makes rational use crucial for crop sustainability. Additionally, it produces residues that could improve the soil water holding capacity. This research aimed to evaluate the application of coconut shell biochar to an irrigated dwarf green coconut palm orchard. The study was carried out from January 2019 to December 2021 at Campo Experimental do Curu, Paraipaba, Brazil, belonging to Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical. The experiment consisted of a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replications and included the application of 0, 5, 10, 20, or 40 g of biochar per kg of soil, equivalent to 0.0 kg, 0.5 kg, 1.0 kg, 2.0 kg or 4.0 kg of biochar per plant, respectively. The following biometric variables were evaluated: number of leaves per plant (NL), plant height (PH), number of leaflets per leaf (LFT), canopy diameter (CD) and fruit production: number of bunches per plant (NB), number of fruits per plant (NF), volume of coconut water per fruit (CWF) and total soluble solids (TSS) (°Brix), as well as the daily soil moisture average. The results showed beneficial effects on the number of leaves per plant, fruits per plant, soil moisture and irrigation water productivity in terms of liters per fruit, liters per coconut water and fruits per cubic meter (m3) applied with ideal biochar doses estimated to be 1.40 kg, 1.72 kg, 1.79 kg, 1.56 kg, 1.48 and 1.68 kg of biochar per plant, respectively.

Multi-view 3D reconstruction of seedling using 2D image contour

3D reconstruction of seedling can provide comprehensive and quantitative spatial structure information, offering an effective digital tool for breeding research. However, accurate and efficient reconstruction of seedling is still a challenging work due to limited performance of depth sensor for seedling with small-size stem and unavoidable error for multi-view point cloud registration. Therefore, in this paper, we propose an accurate multi-view 3D reconstruction method for seedling using 2D image contour to constrain 3D point cloud. The rotation axis is calibrated and optimised by minimising point-to-contour distance between 2D image contour and projected exterior points from 3D point cloud. Then, to remove outliers and noise, we introduce the seedling mask of 2D image to constrained and delete projected outlier points of 3D model from corresponding view. Furthermore, we propose a residual-guided method to recognise missing region for 3D model and complete 3D model of small-size stem. Finally, we can obtain an accurate 3D model of seedling. The reconstruction accuracy is evaluated by average distance between projected contour of 3D model and 2D image contour of all views (0.3185 mm). Then, the phenotypic parameters were calculated from 3D model and the results are close to manual measurements (Plant height: R2 = 0.98, RMSE = 2.3 mm, rRMSE = 1.52%; Petioles inclination angle: R2 = 0.99, RMSE = 0.73°, rRMSE = 1.41%; Leaf area: R2 = 0.66, RMSE = 1.05 cm2, rRMSE = 7.63%; Leaf inclination angle: R2 = 0.99, RMSE = 1.01°, rRMSE = 1.72%; Stem diameter: R2 = 0.95, RMSE = 0.12 mm, rRMSE = 5.43%). Breeders can improve the selection of more resilient varieties and cultivars to different growing conditions starting from the dynamic analysis of their phenotype.

Seaweed extracts elicitation improves leaf and essential oil production on Pelargonium graveolens L. Herit

ABSTRACT Little is known about the role of seaweed extracts in modulating the growth and the essential oil production in geranium [Pelargonium graveolens (L.) Herit]. Hence, this work aimed to evaluate the effects of Ascophylum nodosum (AN) and Solieria chordalis (SC) extracts on biometric, biochemical and phytochemical parameters in geranium plants. The experiment was conducted at greenhouse conditions, and seaweed extracts were applied by foliar pulverization. The obtained results revealed that seaweed extracts enhanced vegetative growth, directing it towards the production of a greater number of leaves at the expense of plant height and ramifications. Additionally, chlorophyll b, total soluble sugars and essential oil yield were increased due to seaweed extracts. The main constituents of volatile oil such as Linalool, Citronellol and iso-Menthone were not changed by seaweed extract treatments, with exception of Geraniol content which were slight reduced in SC treated plants. These results suggested that seaweed extracts may be used as an eco-friendly alternative to modulate growth and productivity of geranium.

Valuation of different organic and inorganic fertilizer combinations on the growth and yield of cabbage

abbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is the most important winter leafy vegetable in the world and belongs to the Cruciferae family. An experiment was conducted at the Horticultural farm of Gauradaha Agriculture Campus, Tribhuwan University, Jhapa, Nepal from 26th December 2022 to 2nd April 2023 to evaluate the different organic and inorganic fertilizer combinations on the growth and yield of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. cv. Green coronet). The experiment was conducted as a randomized block design with 7 treatments replicated 3 times and the treatments are T1: 25-ton FYM/ha, T2: 25-ton PM/ha, T3: 25-ton FYM/ha + NPK (RDF), T4: 25-ton PM/ha + NPK (RDF), T5: 20-ton FYM/ha + 10-ton PM/ha + NPK (RDF), T6: 10-ton FYM/ha + 20-ton PM/ha + NPK (RDF) and T7: control. Significant variation was found among the treatments. The result showed treatment had a significant role in different parameters. T3- The highest number of leaves, T5- the highest (leaf area, weight with roots, net head yield, horizontal head diameter), T4-highest (plant height, gross yield), T6- highest (stem girth, vertical head diameter) was obtained. On the result basis T5 (20-ton FYM/ha + 10-ton PM/ha + NPK (RDF) can be adopted as sustainable crop production. This study not only provides valuable insights into optimizing cabbage production but also underscores the importance of tailored fertilizer combinations for sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, the findings contribute to the broader discourse on enhancing crop yield while minimizing environmental impact. By elucidating the efficacy of specific fertilizer blends, this research paves the way for more efficient and eco-friendly farming practices, thereby promoting food security and environmental sustainability on a global scale.

Effects of Different Qualities of Light and Phytohormones on Seed Germination, Seedling Growth and Establishment of Papaya (Carica papaya) cv. Pusa Nanha

The present study was undertaken to study the effects of different qualities of light and phytohormones (GA3 @ 200ppm) on papaya seed germination, seedling growth, and establishment. The experiment was laid in Randomized Block Design. The experiment comprises of eight treatments viz. T0 {Natural Light (95000 lux)}, T1{Shade Net/Green House (Light 21500 lux)}, T2 {Polyhouse (light 7750 lux)}, T3 {Partially shaded area (light 2800 lux)}, T4 {Fully shaded area (light 880 lux)}, T5 {Incandescent Light (290 lux)}, T6 {Fluorescent Light (3000 lux)}, T7 {Growth Chamber Light (light 2500 lux)}. Among different treatments T6 performed best in terms of Seed germination, Seedling growth and Establishment of Papaya. The findings revealed that treatment T6 {Fluorescent Light (3000 lux)} + GA3 (200 ppm) performed best in term of Days to Germination (8 Days), Germination percentage (94.44%), Number of leaves (9.6), Plant height (16.23 cm), stem vigour index (1444.93), Leaf area (394.4 cm2), Chlorophyll content (41.47 SPAD value) and stem girth (0.37 cm), Establishment Percentage (93.33%). The highest B:C ratio was found in the same Treatment, T6 {Fluorescent Light (3000 lux)} + GA3 (200 ppm), with 3.5.

Phenotype, Biomass, Carbon and Nitrogen Assimilation, and Antioxidant Response of Rapeseed under Salt Stress

Salt stress is one of the major adverse factors affecting plant growth and crop production. Rapeseed is an important oil crop, providing high-quality edible oil for human consumption. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of salt stress on the phenotypic traits and physiological processes of rapeseed. The soil salinity was manipulated by setting three different levels: 0 g NaCl kg−1 soil (referred to as S0), 1.5 g NaCl kg−1 soil (referred to as S1), and 3.0 g NaCl kg−1 soil (referred to as S2). In general, the results indicated that the plant height, leaf area, and root neck diameter decreased with an increase in soil salinity. In addition, the biomass of various organs at all growth stages decreased as soil salinity increased from S0 to S2. The increasing soil salinity improved the distribution of biomass in the root and leaf at the seedling and flowering stages, indicating that rapeseed plants subjected to salt stress during the vegetative stage are capable of adapting their growth pattern to sustain their capacity for nutrient and water uptake, as well as leaf photosynthesis. However, as the soil salinity increased, there was a decrease in the distribution of biomass in the pod and seed at the maturity stage, while an increase was observed in the root and stem, suggesting that salt stress inhibited carbohydrate transport into reproductive organs. Moreover, the C and N accumulation at the flowering and maturity stages exhibited a reduction in direct correlation with the increase in soil salinity. High soil salinity resulted in a reduction in the C/N, indicating that salt stress exerted a greater adverse effect on C assimilation compared to N assimilation, leading to an increase in seed protein content and a decrease in oil content. Furthermore, as soil salinity increased from S0 to S2, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and the content of soluble protein and sugar increased by 58.39%, 33.38%, 15.57%, and 13.88% at the seedling stage, and 38.69%, 22.85%, 12.04%, and 8.26% at the flowering stage, respectively. In summary, this study revealed that salt stress inhibited C and N assimilation, leading to a suppressed phenotype and biomass accumulation. The imbalanced C and N assimilation under salt stress contributed to the alterations in the seed oil and protein content. Rapeseed had a certain degree of salt tolerance by improving antioxidants and osmolytes.

Melatonin Affects Leymus chinensis Aboveground Growth and Photosynthesis by Regulating Rhizome Growth

Leymus chinensis is a perennial rhizomatous clone plant. It exhibits strong rhizomatous tillering and clonal growth through asexual reproduction. The root system is interdependent with aboveground growth and root growth can regulate aboveground growth and photosynthesis. Melatonin has been shown to regulate root growth and promote photosynthesis. However, it remains unclear whether melatonin affects aboveground growth and photosynthesis by regulating rhizome growth. To address this gap, we studied nine Leymus chinensis from different geographical locations, all grown under the same conditions. We selected two materials with strong (LC19) and weak (LC2) rhizome growth abilities from nine materials and treated them with exogenous melatonin. We found there were significant positive correlations between stem length, plant height, leaf number and rhizome traits. Additionally, rhizome traits showed significant positive correlations with photosynthetic indices and chlorophyll content. Specifically, for LC2, treatment with 200 μmol/L melatonin significantly increased root length, the number of extravaginal ramets and rhizome clonal growth rate by 88.72%, 43.75% and 43.70%, respectively, resulting in significant increases in aboveground traits. Similarly, for LC19, 200 μmol/L melatonin treatment led to significant increases of 74.66%, 23.02%, 62.71% and 62.72% in four traits, respectively, along with aboveground trait improvements. Furthermore, around 300 μmol/L melatonin treatment promoted photosynthetic efficiency in LC2, while around 100 μmol/L melatonin treatment had the same effect in LC19. In conclusion, our study highlights the relationship between rhizome growth ability, aboveground growth and photosynthesis in Leymus chinensis. Additionally, it suggests that exogenous melatonin can enhance aboveground growth and photosynthesis by regulating rhizome growth.

MeGT2.6 increases cellulose synthesis and active gibberellin content to promote cell enlargement in cassava.

Cassava, a pivotal tropical crop, exhibits rapid growth and possesses a substantial biomass. Its stem is rich in cellulose and serves as a crucial carbohydrate storage organ. The height and strength of stems restrict the mechanised operation and propagation of cassava. In this study, the triple helix transcription factor MeGT2.6 was identified through yeast one-hybrid assay using MeCesA1pro as bait, which is critical for cellulose synthesis. Over-expression and loss-of-function lines were generated, and results revealed that MeGT2.6 could promote a significant increase in the plant height, stem diameter, cell size and thickness of SCW of cassava plant. Specifically, MeGT2.6 upregulated the transcription activity of MeGA20ox1 and downregulated the expression level of MeGA2ox1, thereby enhancing the content of active GA3, resulting in a large cell size, high plant height and long stem diameter in cassava. Moreover, MeGT2.6 upregulated the transcription activity of MeCesA1, which promoted the synthesis of cellulose and hemicellulose and produced a thick secondary cell wall. Finally, MeGT2.6 could help supply additional substrates for the synthesis of cellulose and hemicellulose by upregulating the invertase genes (MeNINV1/6). Thus, MeGT2.6 was found to be a multiple regulator; it was involved in GA metabolism and sucrose decomposition and the synthesis of cellulose and hemicellulose.

Comprehensive assessment of salt-alkali tolerance of different soybean varieties at the maturation stage

Soil salinization is a significant global challenge impacting food security and arable land safety. Biological amelioration for the development and utilization of salt-alkali land has gained attention in recent years but the breeding and selection of salt-alkali-tolerant crop varieties remain a challenge. Cultivated soybeans are moderately salt-tolerant crops; however, a precise threshold for salt-alkali conditions has not been determined and varies by genotype. Therefore, this study evaluated the salt-alkali tolerance of 15 different soybean varieties using correlation, principal component, membership function, and cluster analyses. The average soybean indices decreased with increasing salt-alkali stress concentrations. Under severe salt-alkali stress, the coefficients of variation for grain yield and biomass were significantly higher than those under mild salt-alkali stress. Plant height and node number were significantly positively correlated, whereas bottom pod height was significantly negatively correlated with branch number, effective pod number, and grain number per plant. Node and grain numbers per plant were significantly positively correlated. Branch number, effective pod number, grain number per plant, and hundred-grain weight were significantly and positively correlated. Effective pod number was significantly positively correlated with grain number per plant, biomass, and yield. Grain number per plant exhibited a significant negative correlation with hundred-grain weight. Biomass and yield were significantly positively correlated. The salt-alkali tolerance of 15 soybean varieties ranged from strong weak as follows: Cangdou 1438, 0734, 1426, 1418, 1453, 1327, 1846, 1412, 1817, 1301, 1821, 1819, 1815, 1814, and 1850. Salt-alkali-sensitive and salt-alkali-tolerant varieties were successfully identified.

Thiourea improves yield and quality traits of Brassica napus L. by upregulating the antioxidant defense system under high temperature stress

High temperature stress influences plant growth, seed yield, and fatty acid contents by causing oxidative damage. This study investigated the potential of thiourea (TU) to mitigate oxidative stress and restoring seed oil content and quality in canola. The study thoroughly examined three main factors: (i) growth conditions—control and high temperature stress (35 °C); (ii) TU supplementation (1000 mg/L)—including variations like having no TU, water application at the seedling stage, TU application at seedling stage (BBCH Scale-39), water spray at anthesis stage, and TU application at anthesis stage (BBCH Scale-60); (iii) and two canola genotypes, 45S42 and Hiola-401, were studied separately. High temperature stress reduced growth and tissue water content, as plant height and relative water contents were decreased by 26 and 36% in 45S42 and 27 and 42% Hiola-401, respectively, resulting in a substantial decrease in seed yield per plant by 36 and 38% in 45S42 and Hiola-401. Seed oil content and quality parameters were also negatively affected by high temperature stress as seed oil content was reduced by 32 and 35% in 45S42 and Hiola-401. High-temperature stress increased the plant stress indicators like malondialdehyde, H2O2 content, and electrolyte leakage; these indicators were increased in both canola genotypes as compared to control. Interestingly, TU supplementation restored plant performance, enhancing height, relative water content, foliar chlorophyll (SPAD value), and seed yield per plant by 21, 15, 30, and 28% in 45S42; 19, 13, 26, and 21% in Hiola-401, respectively, under high temperature stress as compared to control. In addition, seed quality, seed oil content, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid were improved by 16, 14, and 22% in 45S42, and 16, 11, and 23% in Hiola-401, as compared to control. The most significant improvements in canola seed yield per plant were observed when TU was applied at the anthesis stage. Additionally, the research highlighted that canola genotype 45S42 responded better to TU applications and exhibited greater resilience against high temperature stress compared to genotype Hiola-401. This interesting study revealed that TU supplementation, particularly at the anthesis stage, improved high temperature stress tolerance, seed oil content, and fatty acid profile in two canola genotypes.

Potential of Foliar Applied Nano Fertilizer in Improving the Growth, Yield and Quality of Gobhi Sarson (Brassica napus)

A field experiment was conducted in the Research farm of the School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University, Punjab to find out the potential of foliar-applied nano fertilizer in improving the growth, yield and quality of Gobhi sarson (Brassica napus). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four replications. The experiment consisted of five treatments viz. T1: Control, T2: 50% RDF + Nano NPK (19:19:19) @ 0.2% as foliar spray at 30 DAS, T3: 75% RDF + Nano NPK (19:19:19) @ 0.2% as foliar spray at 30 DAS, T4: 100% RDF + Nano NPK (19:19:19) @ 0.2% as foliar spray at 30 DAS and T5: 125% RDF + Nano NPK (19:19:19) @ 0.2% as foliar spray at 30 DAS. The application of 100% RDF + Nano NPK (19:19:19) @ 0.2% as a foliar spray at 30 DAS (T4) recorded the highest plant height (184.75 cm), seed yield (22.80 q ha-1) and stover yield (49 q ha-1). More oil (43.32%) and protein (31.73%) content were also recorded in T4 as compared to other treatments. The overall results showed that foliar application of nano fertilizer in combination with conventional fertilizer significantly improved the growth, yield and quality of Gobhi sarson (Brassica napus).