Non-food Research Articles

Transcriptome analysis and transcription factors response to transplanting and topping time of upper leaf in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Tobacco, as an annual industrial crop, is significantly affected by agronomic practices such as transplanting and topping, which can influence the yield and quality of the upper leaves. However, the processes by which transcription factors integrate both agronomic practices remain unclear. In this study, eight treatments were designed based on varying transplanting and topping periods. RNA-seq was employed to analyze the transcriptional expression and identify key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and transcription factors (TFs). Subsequently, a rigorous quality inspection and data cleaning process yielded 1,302,152,358 high-quality reads. The comparative analysis of 8 treatments identified a total of 4265 DEGs. Utilizing K-means analysis, these DEGs demonstrated 9 distinct expression patterns. GO and KEGG annotation revealed a significant association of these DEGs with photosynthesis and secondary metabolism. 10 hub genes including AFC2, SIGB, PGSIP8, BIG5, OSP1, RL13, PDC1, NtORF and EBG were identified through WGCNA analysis. 41 differentially expressed TFs were identified through transcription factor analysis. Among them, 10 TFs namely ABR1, ERF26, HAT5, HSF24, LUH, AGL8, TIFY5A, TIFY10A, WRKY4, and WRKY40 are directly associated with plant stress resistance. 5 TFs such as ERF110, IDD7, ATB40, NAC81, and NAC83 have been identified as positive regulators of growth and development, while 3 TFs such as BH130, TCP4, and WRKY53 have been found to negatively impact growth and development. Furthermore, 4 TFs have been implicated in hormone and light signaling pathways, namely CIGR1, BLH1, WRKY42, and EIN4. The identified hub genes and TFs suggest that early transplanting and topping (B1D1C) contribute to enhanced stress resistance in tobacco. This may result in more developed stomata on tobacco leaves, as well as an increase in leaf thickness and a reduction in leaf size.

Crop Diversification in India (1990–2016): Implications for the Eastern and Northeastern States

This study utilises data from the Agriculture Census for 1990–1991, 2005–2006 and 2015–2016, employing the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) to assess crop diversification in Indian states. The overall HHI declined from 1990–1991 to 2015–2016, indicating increased crop diversification nationally. However, the proportion of states exceeding the overall average HHI significantly decreased, indicating a shift towards specialisation or monoculture in some states. The analysis notes a decrease in the gross cropped area (GCA) under total food crops (TFC) and an increase in total non-food crops (TNFC). Despite the overall decline in TFC, high-value crops like horticultural produce, sugar crops, spices, and condiments have seen improvement. Focusing on the Eastern region (ER) and the Northeastern region (NER), the study reveals diversification in NER due to higher allocation of land to high-value crops, while economically disadvantaged states in the ER, such as Bihar and Odisha, show a trend towards crop specialisation, potentially affecting overall food security in the region. The study emphasises the need for government support to address persistent vulnerabilities in poverty, unemployment, and low yields in cereals, pulses, and oilseeds in these regions, recommending inputs, infrastructure development, insurance, and market linkages for perishable items to enhance food security.

A Lightweight Cotton Field Weed Detection Model Enhanced with EfficientNet and Attention Mechanisms

Cotton is a crucial crop in the global textile industry, with major production regions including China, India, and the United States. While smart agricultural mechanization technologies, such as automated irrigation and precision pesticide systems, have improved crop management, weeds remain a significant challenge. These weeds not only compete with cotton for nutrients but can also serve as hosts for diseases, affecting both cotton yield and quality. Existing weed detection models perform poorly in the complex environment of cotton fields, where the visual features of weeds and crops are similar and often overlap, resulting in low detection accuracy. Furthermore, real-time deployment on edge devices is difficult. To address these issues, this study proposes an improved lightweight weed detection model, YOLO-WL, based on the YOLOv8 architecture. The model leverages EfficientNet to reconstruct the backbone, reducing model complexity and enhancing detection speed. To compensate for any performance loss due to backbone simplification, CA (cross-attention) is introduced into the backbone, improving feature sensitivity. Finally, AFPN (Adaptive Feature Pyramid Network) and EMA (efficient multi-scale attention) mechanisms are integrated into the neck to further strengthen feature extraction and improve weed detection accuracy. At the same time, the model maintains a lightweight design suitable for deployment on edge devices. Experiments on the CottonWeedDet12 dataset show that the YOLO-WL model achieved an mAP of 92.30%, reduced the detection time per image by 75% to 1.9 ms, and decreased the number of parameters by 30.3%. After TensorRT optimization, the video inference time was reduced from 23.134 ms to 2.443 ms per frame, enabling real-time detection in practical agricultural environments.

Foliar Application of Methyl Jasmonate and Chitosan Improve Growth, Yield, and Quality of Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) Under Water-Deficit Stress.

Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.), a summer legume, is becoming increasingly important as an industrial crop due to its high gum and viscosity content. This study investigated the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA), chitosan (CH), and their combination on the growth, yield, and quality of guar under irrigation regimes. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using a factorial design to evaluate the effect of foliar spraying with MeJA (5, 25, and 50 µM), CH (100, 150, and 200 mg/L), their combination (25 µM MeJA + 150 mg/L CH), and control on two commercial guar varieties (RGC-986 and BR-2017) under different irrigation regimes (100%, 70%, and 40% field capacity). The results showed that the exogenous application of MeJA and CH, individually and in combination, significantly enhanced various morphological traits and yield components in guar, including plant height, pod characteristics, seed yield, and root development. Additionally, the combination treatments improved seed quality parameters, such as gum percentage and viscosity content. Leaf analysis revealed increased levels of total phenolic content, total flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents. The BR-2017 variety showed superior performance in most morphological and qualitative traits, demonstrating greater resistance to irrigation regimes. It maintained yield and quality characteristics under water-deficit conditions, particularly when treated with 25 µM MeJA and 150 mg/L CH. The highest gum percentage (33.67%) and viscosity (4768.5 cP) were observed in the RGC-986 variety, along with enhanced levels of secondary metabolites. This study provides new insights into how MeJA, CH, and their combination can improve the yield and quality of guar under water deficit stress conditions. The results suggest that the use of these elicitors, especially in combination, represents an innovative strategy for improving guar production and quality, with potential variety-specific responses to water-deficit stress.

Characterization of xanthan gum–metal complexes biosynthesized using a medium containing produced water and cassava processing residues

The use of residues from petroleum and crop industries is a feasible and sustainable alternative approach for the production of xanthan gum (XG). This study aimed to evaluate the biosynthesis of XG and the resulting final product obtained using Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis 1182 in a medium containing produced water (PW) and cassava processing residues. The combined use of PW and cassava crop residues was beneficial for XG production, achieving a product yield of 6.80 g L−1. The micrographs of recovered XG revealed the presence of elongated fiber-like microstructures rather than large agglomerates. The X-ray diffraction profiles of recovered xanthan comprised well-defined peaks rather than an amorphous halo. The thermogravimetry profiles revealed the presence of approximately 60 % of remaining solids in recovered xanthan, in contrast to 30 % in the commercial sample. All the samples demonstrated a pseudoplastic behavior; however, the consistency indices of the recovered samples were approximately 50-times lower than those of commercial XG. The emulsification indices of the recovered XG were > 50 % and comparable to those of commercial xanthan. In this study, for the first time, we obtained a complex XG–metal structure possessing a high emulsification capacity and low viscosity.

Carbon isotope composition of biomass and water use efficiency in young plants of Jatropha curcas L. under irrigated or water deficit conditions

Jatropha curcas L. is a non-food crop quoted as a promising natural feedstock for biodiesel production in tropical and subtropical regions. Although an efficient mechanism of drought avoidance through stomatal control of transpiration has been demonstrated in this species, low carbon assimilation and growth rates preclude any advantage of such strategy under water limitation. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted with the objective of investigating varietal differences in water use as the trade-off between carbon isotope composition (δ13C) in different tissues and water use efficiency, in young plants of J. curcas. The first experiment was a survey with seven provenances of J. curcas under non-limiting water availability. There were no significant differences among provenances for leaf gas exchange rates, growth and whole-plant transpiration (T). However, significant effects of provenance and tissue (stem bark or leaf) in δ13C were demonstrated. The provenances CNPAE183 and CNPAE222 were selected for the second experiment, as variations in water use traits and δ13C between the two provenances were observed. Soil water deficit, imposed for 18 days, led to significant physiological, biochemical, and morphological changes. An early and sharp response to water deficit in CNPAE183 as compared to CNPAE222 was observed, as indicated by a 44% higher rate of decrease of T in the former. In addition, water deficit led to increase of δ13C, which was more pronounced in CNPAE222 (13% in young leaves) when compared to CNPAE183 (11% in young leaves). In both provenances, δ13C was less negative in young as compared to mature tissues. Significant and direct correlations between stem bark and leaf δ13C and leaf-level intrinsic water use efficiency were observed. Contrasting results, particularly on T and δ13C, suggest the existence of genetic diversity for water relations and metabolic traits linked to drought tolerance in J. curcas. Using stem bark or leaf δ13C measurements as the basis for large-scale screening of water-use efficient genotypes should be considered.

The insights into the activity of the extracts from Polygonum aviculare L. and Pseudomonas fluorescens for enhancing and modeling seed germination and seedling growth of Melilotus officinalis L. Lam

The empirical evidence indicated that chemicals in plants and selected microorganisms can promote the germination process and determine the growth, viability, survival and yield potential of industrial crop plants. The main objective of this study was exploring the phytochemical and microbiological synergistic activity between plant extracts from Polygonum aviculare L. and beneficial bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens to enhance germination of Melilotus officinalis seeds and improve morphological characteristics of seedlings. The derived plant preparations were analyzed qualitatively, which showed that the aqueous extracts of P. aviculare were characterized by a higher content of phenolic compounds, micro- and macroelements and carbohydrates compared to the macerates, and that no phytohormones were detected in both the infusions and macerates. Pure macerates (MAC), infusions (IF), bacterial cultures (PF) and their mixtures (MAC+PF; INF+PF) were used for seed treatment of test plants. In the control group, lower values of M. officinalis seed germination and seedling growth rates were observed in relation to the applied treatments. The most effective germination rates were obtained after the application of pure infusions (IF) and their mixture with P. fluorescens (IF+PF), while the highest growth rates (including an almost twofold increase in the length of the nostril shoots compared to the control) were obtained after the application of P. fluorescens inoculum (PF) and the mixture of the infusion and these bacteria (IF+PF).The use of modeling, as a tool for predicting germination efficiency, has been shown to provide screening opportunities for identifying the effectiveness of biostimulant treatments. Thereby, this indicates the need to develop such an approach under field conditions.

Growth Increase of Gelam (Melaleuca Leucadendron) Burnt Peatland Through the Provision of Soil Conditioner (Study in Londerang Peat Protection Forest)

The protected forest of Londerang Jambi is an area of hydrological unity with a surface area of 12.484 ha that is located in the district of Tanjung Timur and Muaro Jambi, which is surrounded by palm plantations and forest of industrial crops and 10 villages in the Districts of Tanjung Jabung Timur and Jambi. Based on the results of the Landsat 8 OLI image analysis and the SPOT 7 image interpretation by WWF Indonesia in 2015 that the Londerang Forest Protection Area (HLG) has an area of 12.848 Ha, currently the steep vegetation cover that canopies closely on the HLG Londerang remains only less than 10% of the area of HLG londerang due to forest fires in 2015. An attempt to overcome the situation has been made, one of them in the HLG Londerang being made an of the Hydrological Union of Mendahara-Sungai Batanghari which has been intervened by the Badan Restorasi Gambut (BRG). This effort was also carried out by the KIFC (Korea Indonesia Forest Center) by revegetating the blocks of land that had been burned in HLG Londerang. The planting has been carried out from the beginning of 2022 to December 2022. The species of plants planted among them are Pulai Rawa (Alstonia scholaris), Balangeran (Shorea balangeran), Gelam (Melaleuca leucadendron). In order to support the success of the revegetation, intensive maintenance is required, including the provision of soil fertilizers such as dolomite and NPK fertilizer. The research was conducted for seven months from May to December 2023 at HLG Londerang. Measuring fields are made with group random designs (RAK). The clustering is based on the difference in the height of the groundwater surface

Unravelling alternative splicing patterns in susceptible and resistant Brassica napus lines in response to Xanthomonas campestris infection

BackgroundRapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is an important oil and industrial crop worldwide. Black rot caused by the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) is an infectious vascular disease that leads to considerable yield losses in rapeseed. Resistance improvement through genetic breeding is an effective and sustainable approach to control black rot disease in B. napus. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Brassica-Xcc interactions are not yet fully understood, especially regarding the impact of post-transcriptional gene regulation via alternative splicing (AS).ResultsIn this study, we compared the AS landscapes of a susceptible parental line and two mutagenized B. napus lines with contrasting levels of black rot resistance. Different types of AS events were identified in these B. napus lines at three time points upon Xcc infection, among which intron retention was the most common AS type. A total of 1,932 genes was found to show differential AS patterns between different B. napus lines. Multiple defense-related differential alternative splicing (DAS) hub candidates were pinpointed through an isoform-based co-expression network analysis, including genes involved in pathogen recognition, defense signalling, transcriptional regulation, and oxidation reduction.ConclusionThis study provides new insights into the potential effects of post-transcriptional regulation on immune responses in B. napus towards Xcc attack. These findings could be beneficial for the genetic improvement of B. napus to achieve durable black rot resistance in the future.

The effect of spermidine supplementation on polyamine metabolism and Fusarium infection in Linum usitatissimum

Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is a valuable industrial crop in temperate climate zones. However, the prevalence of fungal diseases, particularly those caused by Fusarium oxysporum sp. linii, poses a substantial threat, leading to significant crop losses and diminished interest in flax cultivation. In this study, flax plants were treated with spermidine and subsequently infected with Fusarium oxysporum to investigate multiple aspects: (1) the uptake of exogenous spermidine by the plants, (2) the impact of this uptake on the levels of other polyamines and the expression of polyamine biosynthesis genes, and (3) the effects of fungal infection on these parameters. The results demonstrated that flax plants effectively absorb spermidine, leading to substantial changes in the levels of polyamines and the expression of related genes in both roots and shoots. Notably, spermidine treatment resulted in significant alterations in the levels of putrescine and spermine, as well as in the transcript levels of key genes involved in polyamine biosynthesis. Moreover, Fusarium oxysporum infection itself induced changes in polyamine content and gene expression, which varied between root and shoot tissues. When spermidine-treated plants were infected with Fusarium oxysporum, a more complex response was observed, characterized by modifications in polyamine levels and gene expression that suggest an enhanced defense mechanism against the pathogen. These findings indicate that polyamine treatment not only affects the infection process but also modulates the plant's internal polyamine metabolism and gene expression, contributing to an improved resistance to fungal attack. This study highlights the potential of spermidine as a protective agent in flax and provides a foundation for further exploration of polyamine-related defense mechanisms.

Preparation of Lyocell Fibers from Solutions of Miscanthus Cellulose.

Both annual (cotton, flax, hemp, etc.) and perennial (trees and grasses) plants can serve as a source of cellulose for fiber production. In recent years, the perennial herbaceous plant miscanthus has attracted particular interest as a popular industrial plant with enormous potential. This industrial crop, which contains up to 57% cellulose, serves as a raw material in the chemical and biotechnology sectors. This study proposes for the first time the utilization of miscanthus, namely Miscanthus Giganteus "KAMIS", to generate spinning solutions in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide. Miscanthus cellulose's properties were identified using standard methods for determining the constituent composition, including also IR and atomic emission spectroscopy. The dry-jet wet method was used to make fibers from cellulose solutions with an appropriate viscosity/elasticity ratio. The structural characteristics of the fibers were studied using IR and scanning electron microscopy, as well as via X-ray structural analysis. The mechanical and thermal properties of the novel type of hydrated cellulose fibers demonstrated the possibility of producing high-quality fibers from miscanthus.

First report of Botryosphaeria dothidea causing root rot of sugar beet in Serbia.

Botryosphaeria dothidea (Moug.:Fr.) Ces. & De Not. is predominantly recognized as a pathogen of various woody plants, inducing symptoms of stem canker, dieback, and fruit rot worldwide. However, sporadic reports suggest its impact on field crops, including B. dothidea associated with stem canker in soybean and tobacco (Bian et al. 2015; Chen et al. 2021), as well as B. quercuum on sugar beet (Alfieri et al. 1984). In September 2023, during a survey of root rot pathogens of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in Rimski Šančevi, Serbia (N 45°19´57″; E 19°49'58″), 3% of collected samples exhibited root rot symptoms. Externally, the lesions exhibited a dark brown coloration. On cross-section, the tissue displayed a gradient of discoloration ranging from light to dark brown throughout the roots. The roots were completely rotted. From these samples, two fungal isolates (SR28/II and SR4/III) were obtained from rotted internal root fragments, after washing, surface disinfection (70% ethanol), and plating on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Colonies on PDA were fluffy with abundant aerial mycelium, surface light to dark grey-brown, reverse black in the centre and grey-brown towards the irregular margin, after 7 days at 25°C in the dark. To induce sporulation, isolates were cultivated on 2% water agar with pine needles and incubated under continuous near ultraviolet (NUV) light at room temperature for 30 days. Conidia were hyaline, aseptate, fusiform, subtruncate at the base, subobtuse at the apex, and measured (19.56-) 24.12 - 26.31 (-28.99) x (5.13-) 5.94 - 6.54 (-7.44) µm (mean 25.06 x 6.26 µm, n=100), consistent with description of B. dothidea (Phillips et al. 2013). For molecular identification, DNA was extracted from mycelium of 7-day-old cultures, and internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (TEF) and partial β-tubulin gene (TUB) were amplified using the primer pairs ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), EF1-728F/EF1-986R (Carbone and Kohn 1999), and Bt2a/Bt2b (Glass and Donaldson 1995), respectively. Multiple sequence alignment and BLAST analyses showed that our isolates had 100% sequence similarity with reference isolates of B. dothidea, including ex-type isolate CBS 115476 (= CMW 8000) in ITS (AY236949), TEF (AY236898), and TUB (AY236927). Maximum likelihood phylogeny of concatenated sequences confirmed the identity of the isolates as B. dothidea. Sequences of ITS, TEF and TUB of isolate SR4/III were submitted to GenBank under accession numbers PP908658, PP911334, PP911333, respectively. The pathogenicity of obtained isolates was assessed on 3-month-old sugar beet plants grown in sterile substrate in the greenhouse. For inoculation, the upper parts of the roots were wounded (10x3 mm) 1 cm above the substrate, using a sterilized nail, and 2x2 mm mycelial plugs of 7-day-old culture grown on PDA were inserted and sealed with parafilm. Control plants were inoculated with sterile PDA plugs. Six plants were used per isolate and for control. After 3 weeks of incubation, the inoculated plants were removed from the substrate and brown rot symptoms were observed upon cross-sectional examination, whereas control roots remained asymptomatic. The pathogen was successfully reisolated and morphologically identified as B. dothidea, fulfilling Koch's postulates. The production of sugar beet, an important industrial crop in Serbia valued for its sugar content, is imperiled by various pathogens. To our knowledge, this is the first report of B. dothidea causing root rot of sugar beet in Serbia and the world. Given its widespread distribution on other hosts and potential aggressiveness, the presence of B. dothidea in sugar beet should not be neglected.

Influence of Artemisia dubia Wall and Pig Manual Digestate on Winter Wheat Productivity and Grain Quality

Sustainable agriculture aims to use biological resources to improve crop quality and productivity. This approach promotes alternatives, such as replacing synthetic pesticides with biological ones and substituting mineral fertilizers with organic fertilizers. Field trials were conducted using two different factors: fertilizer treatments (ammonium nitrate and pig manure digestate) and plant protection treatments (pesticides, Artemisia dubia Wall biomass mulch, and strips). After harvesting the winter wheat, the productivity and quality (weight of 1000 grains, protein, gluten, starch, sedimentation of grains) were evaluated. The two-year studies showed that pig manure digestate positively affected winter wheat grain quality. Mugwort biomass outperformed other plant protection options in three key grain quality indicators (protein, gluten, and sedimentation). Furthermore, in 2023, the highest grain yield of 5798 ± 125 kg ha−1 was observed in the pesticides and pig manure digestate treatment. The quick impact and mode of action of vegetation pesticides were more easily felt over the two years of study, leading to the highest yield of wheat grains compared to other plant management measures. This study shows that mugwort biomass can positively influence wheat grain quality, a significant milestone in utilizing nonfood crops as alternatives for agricultural productivity.

Exploring the Potential of Bacterial Endophytes in Plant Disease Management.

Endophytic bacteria live in the internal tissues of plants, forming symbiotic, mutualistic, commensalistic and trophobiotic relationships. Some are spread via seeds after sprouting from the rhizosphere or phyllosphere. These bacteria capable of promoting plant growth and impart biotic stress by synthesing plant growth hormones, ACC deaminase, organic acids and siderophore. Endophytes aid in phytoremediation by removing soil contaminants and boosting soil fertility via phosphate solubilization and nitrogen fixation. The endophytic microbes are becoming increasingly popular in biotechnological applications which supports sustainable growth of non-food crops for biomass and biofuel. They offer valuable natural materials which is used in medicine, agriculture and industry. Bacterial endophytes are endowed with the enormous potential in the biological treatment of plant pathogens and considered as the superior alternative to synthetic fungicides. The review emphasizes benefits of bacterial endophytes in promoting plant growth and prospects of agricultural applications viz., increasing crop yield under biotic stress condition and their mode of action towards plant diseases. It also summarises the diverse and vital role of endophytes in agroecosystems as well as insights for sustainable agriculture and crop resilience.

Optimizing germination dynamics in seven key industrial and medicinal hemp varieties through seed priming techniques: An initial study for hemp cultivation in Pakistan

Seed germination is crucial for studying factors influencing production conditions since it represents the initial physiological stage of the plant's life cycle. Hemp seeds are grown to obtain cannabinoids; however, these varieties, hybrids, and feminized seeds are costly in the market with low germination rates. Therefore, optimizing the germination of hemp seeds can play an important role in maintaining plant populations and crop establishment and can reduce seed costs. This study was aimed at evaluating the germination potential of seven hemp varieties/cultivars (Cannabis sativa L.) in response to priming with Indole Butyric Acid (IBA), moringa leaf crude extract, hydro-priming, and a control. Results showed that IBA at 1000 ppm significantly improved germination rates; while the hydro-priming exhibited the fastest germination across all varieties/cultivars. Two cultivars viz., Santhica-70 and Fedora-17 exhibited the highest germination percentages of 83% and 77%, respectively with IBA treatment; while CBD Pink Kush exhibited a germination rate of 63%. This study represents the first comprehensive investigation into seed germination and seedling growth of hemp varieties, offering insights into optimized priming agent selection for industrial and medicinal hemp crop cultivation in Pakistan, highlighting the importance of variety-specific traits and priming techniques for maximizing crop yield.

Identification of guar [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] genotypes with wider adaptability to rainfed environments through stability analysis

The stability and yield of guar genotypes are important factors for the long-term development of this gum-producing industrial crop. A study was undertaken to assess the impact of the G × E interaction on yield stability in guar genotypes at seven distinct sites. Yield and its component traits such as the total number of pods per plant, pod length and seeds per pod were evaluated in the kharif season of 2020-21 and 2021-22 resulting in 14 environments. Stability tests for multivariate stability parameters were performed based on analyses of variance. For all the traits, the pooled analysis of variance revealed highly significant (p < 0.01) variations which provided sound evidence for the validity of the experiments. Genotypes KGG 6 and KGG 5 had desirable stability parameters for the number of pods per plant and pod length respectively. KGG 12 and KGG 3 were stable under all environments for number of seeds per pod. In the case of yield per hectare , the genotype KGG 6 recorded highest yield followed by KGG 4 and KGG 1. Among the tested genotypes, KGG 1 and KGG 2 were highly stable with average yield performance. AMMI biplots identified genotypes KGG 11 and KGG 12 as stable ones but these genotypes exhibited low-yield. The high-yielding stable genotypes identified in the present study could be recommended for commercial production in guar-growing areas of arid and semi-arid regions. Aside from these, the genotypes KGG 6 and KGG 4 were suited for exploiting better environmental conditions and genotype KGG 7 recorded more pod yield per plant and bi value less than one, explaining its suitability in poor environments. However, these genotypes could be incorporated into breeding strategy for yield enhancement in targeted environments. Keywords: Guar, Genotypes, Environments, G×E interaction, Stability.

Enhancing horticultural harvest efficiency: The role of moisture content in ultrasonic cutting of tomato stems

Ultrasonic vibration has notable benefits in the harvesting and processing of tomato stems, particularly in reducing cutting force and minimizing moisture loss. Given the anisotropic nature of biological materials, the moisture content of tomato stems significantly impacts their physical properties. This study investigates the influence of varying moisture content on temperature and cutting force during the ultrasonic cutting of tomato stems. Initially, the moisture content of tomato stems at different maturity stages was measured using a water activity meter. Mechanical properties were characterized using a universal testing machine, and thermal properties were analyzed with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Regression models were established to correlate moisture content with these material properties. Additionally, a three-dimensional microscopic model of stem skeletons, interfaces, and fiber bundles was created to simulate the fracture mechanisms during ultrasonic cutting under different moisture levels. Single-factor and response surface optimization experiments were conducted using a custom experimental setup under varying maturity stages, excitation frequencies, and voltage variations. Results showed that after 24 h, the peak temperatures for tomato stems at different maturity stages were 97.84 °C, 80.59 °C, and 74.15 °C, with corresponding cutting forces of 0.492 N, 0.544 N, and 0.998 N, respectively. The discrepancy between experimental results and simulation data was within 10 %. Higher moisture content was found to enhance the thermal conductivity of fiber materials, aiding in the fracture of fiber bundles, thus reducing cutting time and force. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the application of ultrasonic technology in the efficient harvesting and processing of industrial crops, with significant implications for horticultural crop treatment and processing.

Identification of weeds in cotton fields at various growth stages using color feature techniques

Weeds affect the growth and yield of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), which is the most prevalent commercially viable non-food crop. Accurate differentiation between weeds and cotton plants is crucial for implementing precise weed-control strategies, optimizing crop yields, and minimizing herbicide usage. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of using color feature techniques combined with Otsu's method (OTSU) to distinguish weeds from cotton plants at various growth stages. The results revealed that the image segmentation approach achieved a recognition rate of 74.17% during the second growth stage. In the third growth stage, the weed identification process primarily targeted lambsquarters (Chenopodium album). The standard deviation (SD) difference between the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) components of the plant images revealed that the difference between the SD values of R and B was <5, which could serve as an effective threshold for identifying lambsquarters. Additionally, the recognition rates for cotton and lambsquarters were 71.40% and 92.90%, respectively, and the overall recognition rate reached 82.10% during the identification process. The results of this study have practical implications for weed management practices, such as targeted herbicide application, mitigation of environmental impacts, and contribution to higher crop yields. Future research will focus on refining these methods by exploring advanced image processing techniques that integrate deep learning for automatic feature extraction, which will be evaluated for handling complex agronomic scenarios, such as leaf occlusion, varying growth stages, and image noise.

Biofuels: Bridging the Gap to a Greener Energy Future

Biofuels, derived from renewable organic materials, present a critical opportunity to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate the environmental consequences of greenhouse gas emissions. As global energy demands grow and climate change intensifies, the need for sustainable energy alternatives has become urgent. This paper examines the potential of biofuels to bridge the gap to a greener energy future, exploring their role as substitutes for fossil fuels and their ability to significantly reduce carbon emissions. While biofuels offer substantial environmental benefits, their production faces challenges, including high costs, competition for land and water, and lifecycle emissions. The review analyzes both traditional and advanced biofuels, such as those derived from agricultural waste, and other non-food biomass sources, which could provide more sustainable and scalable solutions. By investigating innovations in biofuel production technologies and alternative sources, this study highlights how biofuels can contribute to global energy security and environmental sustainability. The review also addresses how improved policies and research investments could enhance biofuels' efficiency and economic viability, promoting their adoption as a critical element in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

State and prospects for the development of hemp cultivation in the Russian Federation

Abstract The article discusses the prerequisites for the revival of the hemp industry. The reasons for the reduction in hemp sown areas and the state of hemp production in different years are shown. The characteristics of this crop as a raw material for the processing industry are given. Numerous types of products obtained from hemp during processing are given. The prospects for the further development of hemp through the federal target program “Development of breeding and seed production of industrial crops in the Russian Federation” are considered. Data are presented on the sown areas on the territory of the Russian Federation from 2010 to 2023, on the territory of the Republic of Bashkortostan from 2021 to 2023.