Larger Leaf Area Research Articles

Strain-Dependent Damping of Paulownia Wood at Room Temperature and Constant Moisture Content

"Against the backdrop of global warming and the necessary reduction of CO2, the material wood is experiencing a renaissance as a result of increasing social acceptance. However, questions of harmless reforestation also come to the forefront. Ultimately, plantation cultivation of wood is unavoidable in order to meet the increasing demand for wood in the coming years. Agroforestry is the focus of economic and technical interest in this regard. Paulownia or Kiri tree belongs to the Paulowniaceae family and is the tree with the highest growth rate in the world. It has a large leaf area that can absorb correspondingly high amounts of CO2. Originally from China, it is now planted worldwide and is considered a climate tree. However, it must face the accusation of invasiveness. Therefore, less invasive varieties of Paulownia are of interest. However, these should also have appropriate mechanical properties. One of these material properties is damping, which significantly affects the acoustic behaviour. In this study, the strain-dependent damping was investigated by measuring the logarithmic decrement of free decaying bending oscillations. The measurements were carried out on a common Paulownia species (obtained from plantations in Georgia, Italy and Spain) and a new species of Paulownia obtained from a plantation in Germany. It is worth mentioning that the new wood variety was harvested for the first time in Germany. Since damping is strongly influenced by microstructure, which is in turn influenced by site-specific nutrient supply, this study examined how damping behaviour develops with strain and the extent of its variation. It was found that the damping curves exhibited a strain-independent and a strain-dependent area. The bending modulus was calculated from the oscillation frequency and showed that the values range from about 1024 N/mm2 to 5873 N/mm2 . This large variation appears to stem from the fiber orientation of the tested samples, which also affects the damping values. "

Influence of Training and Tomato Hybrids on Growth, and Quality of Tomato under Shade Net House

This study examines the influence of different training systems and tomato hybrids on the growth, yield, and quality of tomatoes (Solanum Lycopersicon L.) under shade net house conditions. It was conducted at the Hi-Tech Horticulture Unit, Centre of Excellence for Vegetables, Karnal, during the 2016-17 growing season. The experiment followed a Factorial arrangement of treatments in Randomized Complete Block Design (FRBD) with two training systems (one-stem and two-stem) and four hybrids (STH-39, STH-901, STH-801, and STH-701). Growth results indicated that the one-stem system significantly enhanced plant height (270.08 cm), leaf area (77.06 cm²), and stem girth (1.75 cm), while the two-stem system increased the number of leaves (82.80 per plant). Hybrid STH-801 exhibited superior vegetative performance, with the highest plant height (309.03 cm), maximum number of branches (8.17), and largest leaf area (79.22 cm²). In terms of quality parameters, the training systems had no significant effect on traits such as total soluble solids (TSS), pH, pericarp thickness, or shelf life. However, hybrid STH-801 recorded the highest TSS (5.47 °Brix) and longest shelf life (23 days). STH-39 produced the thickest pericarp (1.10 cm) and largest fruit volume (157 cc), contributing to better fruit quality. These findings highlight the importance of hybrid selection and training systems in improving both the growth and quality of tomatoes under protected cultivation.

Improvement in photosynthesis under different light intensities is highly linked to domestication stages in cotton.

Domestication has dramatically increased crop size and biomass, reflecting the enhanced accumulation of photosynthates. However, we still lack solid empirical data on the impacts of domestication on photosynthetic rates at different light intensities and on leaf anatomy, and of the relationships of photosynthesis with aboveground biomass. In this study, we measured the photosynthetic rate at three photosynthetic photon flux densities of 2000 (high), 1000 (moderate) and 400 μmol m-2 sec-1 (low light intensity), dark respiration, relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), leaf morphology, and aboveground biomass in 40 wild, 91 semiwild, and 42 domesticated cotton genotypes. The study was replicated for two years (growing years 2018 and 2019). During the first domestication stage (transition from wild to semiwild genotypes), domestication led to higher photosynthetic rates measured under high light intensity, higher SPAD, larger leaf area (LA), and lower leaf mass per unit area (LMA), contributing to greater aboveground biomass accumulation in both study years. During the second domestication stage (transition from semiwild to domesticated genotypes), domestication significantly enhanced photosynthesis under low light intensity and reduced LMA, which were associated with increased aboveground biomass in both study years. In conclusion, photosynthesis improvement at different light intensities has been a gradual domestication phase specific process with the rate of photosynthesis enhanced under high light during the first domestication stage, and under low light during the second domestication stage. We argue that these differences reflect a higher proportion of LA photosynthesizing under low light due to enhanced canopy expansion at the second domestication stage.

ЭНДОФИТНЫЕ ШТАММЫ БАКТЕРИЙ В ТЕХНОЛОГИИ ВОЗДЕЛЫВАНИЯ КУКУРУЗЫ НА ЗЕРНО

The study of the effect of endophytic bacterial strains on the formation of the general habitus of the corn plant during the growing season, as well as the effect on grain yield, was carried out in the conditions of the Ancestral region of the Republic of Tatarstan in 2022-2023. The soil of the experimental site was represented by a subtype of gray forest, the variety was heavy loamy. Endophytic bacterial strains were used in corn crops in the form of leaf dressing with a rate of 1.0 l/ha during the growing season in the 7-8 leaf phase. The technology of cultivation of corn for grain was generally accepted for the Republic of Tatarstan. A two-factor experiment was laid: hybrids (factor A) - early maturing Nur and ROSS-195, mid-early ‒ Krasnodarskiy-230; preparations of endophytic bacterial strains (factor B) - without application (control), KS-25, KS-31, KS-38, KS-54, Consortium and PS-17 (standard). The years of research were characterized as moderately arid in terms of climatic conditions. The preparations had a positive effect on the height of plants, above-ground mass and leaf area, which were determined in the phases of paniculation, cob formation and milk ripeness. The Nur hybrid responded positively to the treatment of crops with preparations KS-25, KS-38 and KS-54, the ROSS-195 hybrid - Consortium, KS-31 and KS-38, Krasnodarskiy-230 - KS-31 and KS-54. The highest aboveground mass in the experiment in the milk ripeness phase of the Nur hybrid was noted in the variant with KS-38 (48.25 t/ha), in the ROSS-195 and Krasnodarskiy-230 hybrids ‒ with KS-54 (67.38 and 58.25 t/ha, respectively). The largest leaf area was observed in the cob formation phase of the Nur hybrid when used in the KS-31 variants, in the ROSS-195 and Krasnodarskiy-230 hybrids when treated with the Consortium preparation. The grain yield of the Nur hybrid in variants with the PS-17, KS-38 and KS-25 preparations increased by 9.6…27.6%, the ROSS-195 hybrid when sprayed with KS-38 and KS ‒ by 15.3…19.7%, the Krasnodarskiy-230 hybrid when using KS-25, KS-54 and PS-17 ‒ by 9.0…28.1%. Preparations with endophytic bacterial strains increased the protein content in the hybrid grain by 0.15…0.73%.

Cannabis sativa genotypes with larger leaf areas have higher potential to adjust stomatal size and density in response to water deficit: The effect on stomatal conductance and physiological stomatal behaviour

Effective stomatal control is fundamental to successful plant responses to water deficit stress. Control of stomatal conductance (Gs) can be exerted through modification of stomatal morphology (size and density) in newly developing leaves, or physiological adjustment of stomatal pore aperture. We investigated the potential coordination of stomatal morphological and physiological responses to water deficit in three varieties of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) grown under field conditions. The three hemp varieties had contrasting leaf areas under well-watered irrigation (control): Earlina 8FC < Fedora 17 < Fibror 79. Stomatal size, density and the speed of physiological adjustment of Gs were not significantly different under full irrigation. Under water deficit conditions the leaf areas of the two varieties with the largest leaves decreased to match those of Earlina 8FC. This reduction in leaf area, alongside an increase in stomatal initiation, resulted in higher densities of smaller stomata. This effect was most evident in Fibror 79 that showed the largest reduction in leaf area, increase in stomatal density and decrease in stomatal size. This corresponded to the most rapid physiological adjustment of Gs to fluctuations in photosynthetic photon flux density of the hemp varieties occurring in Fibror 79 when subject to water deficit. The coincidence of the fastest velocity of Gs adjustment with the highest densities of small stomata may support interpretations of a functional advantage of high densities of small stomata in the physiological regulation of Gs to fluctuating conditions. The larger leaf area of Fibror 79 appeared to be associated with higher capacity to respond to water deficit through modification of stomatal morphology and physiological behaviour. This result indicates that phenotyping of crop species and genotypes to identify traits conducive to water deficit tolerance through effective stomatal control should consider the foliar plasticity of genotypes to water deficit, and the potential implications for stomatal morphological and physiological control of transpirative water loss and photosynthetic CO2-uptake.

Contrasting responses of an invasive plant to herbivory of native and introduced insects

BackgroundInteractions between alien plants and insect herbivores in introduced ranges may determine their invasion success. However, few studies have investigated whether alien plants respond differently to native and introduced herbivores in their introduced ranges and whether genotypes of alien plants matter. We conducted a greenhouse experiment to examine the effects of herbivory by a native insect (Spodoptera litura), by an introduced insect (S. frugiperda), and simultaneously by both insect species on growth, morphology, and biomass allocation of 17 genotypes of an invasive alien clonal plant Hydrocotyle verticillata, and used selection gradient analysis to test which herbivory conditions favor selection of a specific leaf or root trait value.ResultsDifferent genotypes of H. verticillata showed significant variation in growth, morphology, and biomass allocation, but their responses to herbivory were relatively consistent. All three herbivory treatments significantly decreased total mass and stolon mass, but herbivory of S. frugiperda increased specific leaf area. Herbivory of S. litura and simultaneous herbivory of both insect species also decreased leaf mass, petiole mass, root mass, and ramet mass. Selection gradient analysis showed that leaf and root traits varied under different herbivory treatments. To achieve greater fitness, as measured by total mass and/or number of ramets, H. verticillata favored larger leaf area under herbivory by S. frugiperda, larger leaf area and lower specific leaf area under herbivory by S. litura, and larger leaf area, lower specific leaf area, and lower root-to-shoot ratio under simultaneous herbivory.ConclusionsH. verticillata demonstrated contrasting responses to herbivory by native and introduced insects, showing a remarkable ability to coordinate leaf trait plasticity and optimize biomass allocation. This strategy allows H. verticillata to achieve greater fitness under various herbivory conditions, potentially contributing to its invasion success. These findings highlight the importance of plant–herbivore interactions in shaping invasion dynamics and underscore the complex adaptive mechanism that enables invasive plants to establish and spread in introduced ranges.

Agronomic Evaluation and Yield Potentials of Grafting of Piper nigrum and Piper colobrinum

Foot rot disease (Phytophthora capsica) is Indonesia's primary challenge in cultivating pepper (Piper nigrum). Grafting to another Piper species, Piper coclobrinum, or melada (the local name), is a potential solution to increase resistance to this disease. The use of melada as rootstock has shown promising results during the seedling phase, but it has not been thoroughly evaluated during the production phase. The study was conducted in the pepper grower’s location in Puput and Simpang Katis Villages, Central Bangka, Bangka Belitung Islands Province. The study used kapok (Ceiba petandra) as the standard; plant morphology, leaf area, leaf thickness, and crown diameter for grafted melada and non-grafted pepper were recorded. Harvest variables included panicle length, panicle weight, the number of fruits per panicle, and fruit diameter, measured in three different areas of the canopy: the lower area (0-1 meter above the ground surface), the middle area (1-2 meters above the ground surface), and the top area (more than 2 meters above the ground surface). Physiological variables measured included rates of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, intercellular CO2, and CO2 conductance. The study demonstrated that the grafted pepper plants had a larger leaf area than the non-grafted pepper plants; the panicle weight and the number of fruits per panicle were higher. Panicles located in the middle zone of the plant canopy tended to be longer for grafted and non-grafted peppers. Panicle weight, fruit size, and the number of fruits per panicle were generally more significant at the top of the plant canopy. In all parts of the canopy, grafted peppers exhibited larger fruit size, greater panicle weight, and a higher number of fruits per panicle than non-grafted “Nyelungkup” peppers, highlighting the potential of melada as a rootstock for pepper plants.

Plastic mulching enhances maize yield and water productivity by improving root characteristics, green leaf area, and photosynthesis for different cultivars in dryland regions

Uneven precipitation during the growing season and frequent seasonal droughts on the Loess Plateau in Northwest China adversely affect crop production and water use efficiency. While plastic mulching (PM) has been used to alleviate water stress, few studies have examined the traits maize cultivars need to adapt to the altered water environment under PM and achieve high yields. A two-year field experiment was conducted to assess the root characteristics and aboveground growth traits of three widely used high-yielding maize cultivars—Zhengdan 958 (ZD), Huanong 138 (HN), Heboshi 122 (HBS)—under no mulching (NM) and PM conditions. Among the three cultivars, HBS had the highest root system indices—root length density (RLD), root surface area density (RSD), and root biomass—in the topsoil (0–40 cm), followed by ZD and HN under both NM and PM conditions. Under NM, HBS_NM treatment exhibited strong water absorption, improving photosynthesis and yield, making it suitable for drought conditions. Under PM, topsoil moisture increased significantly, with root system indices increasing by 22.5–36.1 % for RLD, 30.2–36.1 % for RSD, and 25.2–36.5 % for root biomass across the cultivars compared to NM. While ZD_PM did not have the highest root system indices under PM, it exhibited higher green leaf area index (4.5–7.5 %), chlorophyll content (2.8–8.6 %), and photosynthetic rate (6.0–14.5 %), resulting in the highest aboveground biomass and yield among the treatments. These findings suggest ZD is better adapted to the enhanced soil moisture under PM. Future research should focus on breeding genotypes that thrive under PM conditions, emphasizing traits such as larger leaf areas and higher photosynthetic rates to boost crop productivity in rainfed areas.

Exploring grapevine canopy management: effects of removing main leaves or lateral shoots before flowering

Over the course of a six-year trial, we investigated the physiological response of the Swiss white cultivar Vitis vinifera Petite Arvine, rich in varietal thiols, to the following canopy removal treatments from the cluster area, i.e. from the shoot base to the sixth leaf of each shoot: A) lateral shoots only, B) lateral shoots + 50 % main leaves, C) lateral shoots + 100 % main leaves or D) main leaves only. All leaf removal (LR) treatments were performed at the pre-flowering stage. Intensive pre-flowering removal of both lateral shoots + 100 % main leaves from the cluster area (C) strongly reduced yield potential (‒47 % on average) and tended to reduce the concentration of 3-mercaptohexanol precursors (Cys-3MH) in the must (‒21 %; p-value &lt; 0.10). The effect of LR on berry set and must composition was modulated by removing fewer main leaves (‒24 % in yield potential and ‒6 % in Cys-3MH concentration). Climate conditions primarily influenced yield and grape composition. Main leaves and lateral shoots played different physiological roles: removal of main leaves only (D) resulted in a larger leaf area (+15 %) due to the development of lateral shoots in the cluster area and a lower yield potential (‒12 %) due to fewer berries per cluster when compared one-to-one with removal of lateral shoots only (A). In the must at harvest, treatment D had higher concentrations of malic acid (+12 %), yeast-assimilable nitrogen (+10 %) and glutathione (+8 %), but there were no significant trends for TSS, pH, Cys-3MH or Folin index. The overall effects of pre-flowering LR on wine composition were negligible in the context of this trial. The study highlighted the different physiological roles of the main leaves and lateral shoots, suggesting that pre-flowering leaf removal should be used cautiously, taking into account the plant’s resilience to environmental conditions. This research is part of a broader project on grapevine canopy management in temperate climates in Switzerland.

Effects of Root Pruning and Size on Growth Traits of Hybrid Poplar Seedlings

Selecting seedlings of varying sizes and effectively managing root pruning are key challenges in transplantation. However, the effects of seedling size and root pruning on transplantation outcomes are not fully understood. This study classified one-year-old Populus ‘Beilinxiongzhu-01’ seedlings into three size categories based on height: large (308.75 ± 9.66 cm), medium (238.00 ± 7.71 cm), and small (138.92 ± 7.18 cm). In early March of the subsequent year, root pruning was applied with varying intensities based on root collar diameter: low (15 times), medium (7.5 times), and high (3.75 times). A control group without pruning was also included. Over the year, key phenological and morphological traits were monitored. The results showed that (1) root pruning significantly impacted the phenology of seedlings, accelerating root emergence, delaying early leaf phenology, increasing the dieback rate, and postponing end-of-season defoliation. Mortality and the rapid growth phase were not significantly affected. Larger seedlings exhibited earlier end-of-season defoliation and higher dieback rates early in the growing season, while smaller seedlings advanced in early leaf development. (2) Except under low or no pruning, root pruning reduced seedling height (H), diameter at breast height (DBH), and root collar diameter (RCD). However, across all treatments, these indicators remained higher in larger seedlings compared to smaller ones. Under medium- and high-intensity pruning, smaller seedlings exhibited higher relative growth rates and larger leaf areas than larger seedlings, with the reduction in these variables becoming more pronounced as seedlings increased in size. Notably, only larger seedlings demonstrated a reduction in maximum growth rate, suggesting greater vulnerability to root pruning. In summary, root pruning induced significant phenological and morphological differences across seedling sizes. While smaller seedlings showed some response to pruning, larger seedlings experienced more pronounced phenological disruptions and growth inhibition.

Impact of ENVI-met-Based Road Greening Design on Thermal Comfort and PM2.5 Concentration in Hot–Humid Areas

Road greening markedly impacts road thermal comfort and air quality. However, previous studies have primarily focused on thermal comfort or PM2.5 individually, with relatively few addressing both aspects comprehensively, particularly in humid regions. This study combined field measurements and simulations. It employed physiological equivalent temperature (PET) and quantified the horizontal distribution of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5). The research examines the effects of planting spacing, tree species, and tree–shrub combinations on pedestrian walkways in humid climates during both summer and winter. Using measured tree data and road PM2.5, a plant model was established and pollution emission parameters were set to validate the effectiveness of the ENVI-met through fitting simulations under various scenarios. The results indicated that (1) plant spacing for trees influenced both the road thermal environment and PM2.5 levels. Smaller spacing improved thermal conditions but increased PM2.5. (2) trees with large canopies and high leaf area indices (LAIs) notably enhanced thermal comfort, while those with smaller canopies and dense understories facilitated PM2.5 dispersion. The 3 m spacing resulted in a maximum absolute PM2.5 concentration difference (C) of 5.05 μg/m3 in summer and a maximum mean absolute PM2.5 concentration difference (M) in the downwind region of 2.13 μg/m3 in winter. (3) Combining trees with shrubs moderately improved pedestrian thermal comfort. However, taller shrubs elevated PM2.5 concentrations on walkways; heights ranging from 1.5 m to 2 m in summer showed higher C values of 5.38 μg/m3 and 5.37 μg/m3. This study provides references and new perspectives for the optimization of roadway greening design in humid areas in China.

A Hydroponic System to Study the Effects of Root and Meristem Night Temperature on Growth, Photosynthesis Carbon Balance, and Antioxidant Enzymes in Rice

Nocturnal root and meristem temperature (RMT) can have a strong effect on rice growth and yield. However, underlying mechanisms are not well understood. To investigate the effects of night-time RMT on photosynthesis biomass allocation and activities of antioxidant enzymes, we designed a hydroponic system that maintained the following daily patterns of day/night temperature: 18/28 °C (HNT) or 28/18 °C (LNT). Rice plants cv. IR64 were grown in the greenhouse and subjected to either HNT or LNT. HNT stimulated growth and tillering but did not affect biomass allocation. HNT plants increased total biomass by 16 and 35%, depending on time of exposure. HNT increased rates of photosynthesis (Pn) compared to LNT plants in leaves of different ages. Overnight carbohydrate remobilisation was larger in HNT than in LNT plants, particularly at 16 days after treatment (dat), when Pn and relative growth rates were highest. Leaf soluble protein concentrations and specific leaf area were not affected by RMT, indicating higher photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency in HNT plants. Super Oxide Dismutase, Ascorbate Peroxidase, and Glutathione Reductase activities did not respond to RMT, indicating no change in the production of reactive oxygen species in LNT plants despite lower photosynthesis rates. HNT increased sink demand by stimulating tillering, the increased sink demand upregulated the source activity through a larger leaf area per plant and a higher Pn throughout the canopy. The hydroponic system described here was able to control the temperature of the nutrient solution effectively, the installation of a second pump directly circulating the nutrient solution from and back to the reservoir through the cooling system allowed reaching the target temperature within 1 h. This system opens new opportunities to characterise plant responses to RMT alone or in combination with other environmental drivers.

EXOGENOUS APPLICATION OF IRON ANDZINC NANOPARTICLES ON GERMINATION AND GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS OF SUGARCANE (SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM L.) BUDNODE

The applications of nano-particles (NPs) in agriculture, such as nano-fertilizers, nano-insecticides, and nano-herbicides, are significantly impacted by their specific structure. In an experiment conducted at the College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, the presence of Fe and Zn nano-particles at different concentrations was investigated to promote the appearance and growth of sugarcane buds. The experiment was conducted using a Randomize Complete Block Design (RCBD) method, with three replications of plant height at different concentrations of Fe NPs and Zn NPs. The results showed that high Zn concentrations, such as 75 and 100 mg L-1, significantly influenced germination-related characteristics, including minimum plant height. Sugarcane buds treated with Fe NPs at 50 mg L-1 and Zn NPs at 100 mg L-1 had the largest leaf area, while buds treated with Zn NPs at 50 mg L-1 had the minimum leaf-to-plant ratio. The topical application of Fe NPs and Zn NPs to sugarcane increased chlorophyll concentration and photosynthetic rate by 1.3 cm. The plant also showed the highest amount of zinc. At 100 mg L-1, the shoot Fe 6.9 concentration in Zn NPs was the highest. In conclusion, adding Zn and Fe nano-particles in amounts ranging from 100 mg L-1 to 50 mg L-1 significantly improved the growth and development of sugarcane bud nodes.

Листовые подкормки при возделывании козлятника восточного на орошении

To strengthen the fodder base of animal husbandry in the Lower Volga region, first of all, it is necessary to expand the range of fodder crops and varieties, to optimize their nutritional regime, to create optimal conditions for their cultivation, in other words, to ensure the production of a large amount of valuable fodder in a relatively limited area, in this regard, the improvement of cultivation technology of eastern goatgrass is relevant. The purpose of the research was to increase the efficiency of cultivation of oriental goatgrass in the Lower Volga region through the use of mineral fertilizers and growth stimulants. Experiments to study the dependence of productivity of oriental goatgrass in the form of green mass on leaf fertilization with water-soluble mineral fertilizers were conducted from 2016 to 2023 on an irrigated plot with irrigation regime of 70...85...70 % NV by sprinkler machine “Valey”. In the experiment in 2017, varieties of oriental goatgrass Krivich, Yubilyar, Kazbek were sown. The general background before sowing was applied mineral fertilizers in the form of azofosk at a dose of N24P24K24. In each cutting in the phase of active growth of plants were fertilized with potassium monophosphate with and without a sticking agent at the rate of 0.5 kg/ha for one fertilizer. On average for seven years, the largest leaf area - 43.7 thousand m2/ha and photosynthetic potential - 7.87 million m2 x dn./ha of oriental goatgrass in the experiment were in the variety Jubilar in the variant of potassium monophosphate with a sticking agent. On average for seven years, the largest leaf area - 43.7 thousand m2/ha and photosynthetic potential - 7.87 million m2 x dn/ha of oriental goatgrass in the experiment were in the variety Jubilar in the variant of potassium monophosphate with a sticking agent. Also on this variant the maximum yield of green mass - 92.7 t/ha, dry matter content - 23.2 t/ha, fodder units - 20.4 t/ha and exchangeable energy - 1.62 GJ/ha were observed.

EVALUACIÓN DEL PRENDIMIENTO Y DESARROLLO DE CLONES DE CAUCHO (Hevea brasiliensis) PROPAGADOS POR INJERTO EN LA SELVA PERUANA

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background.&lt;/strong&gt; The latex yield in &lt;em&gt;Hevea brasiliensis&lt;/em&gt; trees is highly variable; Therefore, it is important to propagate commercial clones of this species by grafting in order to standardize or improve latex yields and therefore improve the economic income of producers in this part of the Amazon region. &lt;strong&gt;Objective.&lt;/strong&gt; To evaluate the attachment and development of rubber clones propagated by grafting in the Peruvian jungle. &lt;strong&gt;Methodology.&lt;/strong&gt; Nine-month-old patterns installed in the field were used. These were grafted with budding rods from the commercial clones TR-1, FX-3864, RRIM-600, IAN-873 and MDF-180. A completely randomized block design was used with five treatments and three blocks with 15 experimental units; each containing 30 repetitions. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance and Tukey's multiple range test (p&amp;lt;0.05) and the Kruskal Wallis test. &lt;strong&gt;Results.&lt;/strong&gt; The best results in attachment and number of shoots were obtained in grafts with clone MDF-180 with values of 73.33 % and 7.83 shoots respectively; Regarding days to the appearance of the shoot and length, clone TR-1 presented it with 36.63 days and 27.47 cm; The largest leaf area was presented by the graft with clone IAN-873 with 55.46 cm&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;, while the highest chlorophyll content was obtained in grafts with clone RRIM-600 with 47.18 SPAD. &lt;strong&gt;Implications&lt;/strong&gt;. More studies are required to establish the quality and adaptability of rubber clones propagated by grafting in different site conditions and establish patterns of tree productivity in a short time; Likewise, it is desired to evaluate the quality and quantity of latex produced by these clones. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusions.&lt;/strong&gt; These results indicate the feasibility of propagating &lt;em&gt;Hevea brasiliensis&lt;/em&gt; through shoot grafting in the field, which opens great possibilities for propagating rubber trees with better commercial characteristics, particularly with greater latex production.&lt;/p&gt;

EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTARY LIGHT ON GROWTH, FLOWERING AND CUT FLOWER QUALITY IN TWO CULTIVAR OF CARNATION PLANT

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different types of light and some factors on some vegetative growth and flowering of two cultivars of carnation plant (Dianthus caryophyllus L.). The results showed the maximum leaves number, leaf area per plant, internodes number and intermodal length were recorded under 14h incandescent (41.09 leaves/plant, 363.91 cm2, 18.70 node/plant, and 7.675 cm) respectively, and the increase was significant. While the effect of triple interaction, which showed a significant effect in all characteristics, the largest leaf area per plant (578.66 cm2) was obtained from the moonlight cultivar when cultured on the media containing 60% local compost and exposed to the 14h incandescent, Also, the maximum vase life was found in the Ormea cultivar (17.47 days) when the cultivar was exposed to the 14h incandescent and was cultured on medium that included 60% local compost. The best grade flower was obtained when the Ormea cultivar was cultured on a medium containing 30% and 60% local compost under 14 hours of incandescent light, reaching 3.89.

Transcriptome analysis reveals the key role of overdominant expression of photosynthetic and respiration-related genes in the formation of tobacco(Nicotiana tabacum L.) biomass heterosis

BackgroundLeaves are the nutritional and economic organs of tobacco, and their biomass directly affects tobacco yield and the economic benefits of farmers. In the early stage, our research found that tobacco hybrids have more leaves and larger leaf areas, but the performance and formation reasons of biomass heterosis are not yet clear.ResultsThis study selected 5 parents with significant differences in tobacco biomass and paired them with hybrid varieties. It was found that tobacco hybrid varieties have a common biomass heterosis, and 45 days after transplantation is the key period for the formation of tobacco biomass heterosis; By analyzing the biomass heterosis of hybrids, Va116×GDH94 and its parents were selected for transcriptome analysis. 76.69% of the differentially expressed genes between Va116×GDH94 and its parents showed overdominant expression pattern, and these overdominant expression genes were significantly enriched in the biological processes of photosynthesis and TCA cycle; During the process of photosynthesis, the overdominant up-regulation of genes such as Lhc, Psa, and rbcl promotes the progress of photosynthesis, thereby increasing the accumulation of tobacco biomass; During the respiratory process, genes such as MDH, ACO, and OGDH are overedominantly down-regulated, inhibiting the TCA cycle and reducing substrate consumption in hybrid offspring; The photosynthetic characteristics of the hybrid and its parents were measured, and the net photosynthetic capacity of the hybrid was significantly higher than that of the parents.ConclusionThese results indicate that the overdominant expression effect of differentially expressed genes in Va116×GDH94 and its parents plays a crucial role in the formation of tobacco biomass heterosis. The overdominant expression of genes related to photosynthesis and respiration enhances the photosynthetic ability of Va116×GDH94, reduces respiratory consumption, promotes the increase of biomass, and exhibits obvious heterosis.

Evaluation of Particulate Matter Deposition Efficiency and Air Quality Improvement by Vertical Shrub and Climber Walls

Fine particulate matter poses a significant health risk indoors, making indoor air quality improvement crucial. Vertical greenery systems offer a promising solution, but selecting suitable plant species remains a challenge. This study evaluated the PM deposition and air quality impact of six ornamental plants (climbers and shrubs) in a controlled chamber. Almost all plants reduced CO2 by 20%, while PM deposition varied by species, with Petunia hybrid being the most efficient. Total leaf area showed the strong correlated with PM deposition. These findings confirm the potential of ornamental plants, particularly those with large total leaf area, for PM reduction in vertical greenery systems. Further research with a wider range of plants and advanced characterization techniques is needed to refine our understanding and develop practical guidelines for their effective use in indoor air purification.

Growth and yield of Brazilian potato cultivars

The analysis of plant growth of cultivars is useful for understanding the dynamics of accumulation and partition of photoassimilates during the crop cycle, and this information is important for the crop management of each cultivar. The objective of this study was to evaluate potato cultivars BRS Ana, BRSIPR Bel, BRS Clara, BRS F63 (Camila) and Macaca for growth and yield, under subtropical climatic conditions of Southern Brazil. Plant samples were collected every 20 days, beginning 40 days after planting (DAP), totaling five collections, and physiological growth indexes and the dry mass partitioning to plant organs were estimated. ‘BRSIPR Bel’ showed the fastest development of assimilatory system. ‘BRS Ana’ had the most vigorous plants and the largest leaf area, reaching the leaf area index 4.0 at 70 DAP. ‘BRSIPR Bel’ e ‘BRS Ana’ had the highest dry mass yield, 214 g and 206 g of dry mass plant-1, respectively. ‘BRS F63’ (Camila) and ‘BRSIPR Bel’ presented earlier tuberization and were the most efficient cultivars in the partitioning of dry mass to tubers, with the highest coefficient of dry mass partitioning to tubers estimated between 40 and 64 DAP. These two cultivars also showed the highest yield of marketable tubers.

RESPUESTA DEL MAIZ A LA APLICACIÓN DE CONSORCIO MICROBIANO Y SU COMBINACION CON BIOL, EN CONDICIONES DE TRÓPICO SECO

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;The utilization of organic fertilizers is put forward as an effective approach to address soil degradation and enhance crop yields. &lt;strong&gt;Objective:&lt;/strong&gt; To assess the impact of applying microbial consortia, in combination with fermented liquid fertilizer (biol), on maize grain production, with a focus on fostering sustainable family farming in dry tropical conditions&lt;strong&gt;. Methodology:&lt;/strong&gt; A randomized complete block design with three blocks and divided plots was employed, with the main plots featuring various maize cultivars, while the subplots consisted of four bioferments and a control treatment. The bioferments included Microbial Consortium (CM), BIOL+CM, and BIOL+EM-1, compared to the commercial product Efficient Microorganisms (EM-1) and a control with no application. Parameters such as days to male and female flowering, plant and ear height, leaf area, grain diameter, and yield, along with the physical and chemical soil characteristics, were evaluated following the bioferment application. &lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; The application of BIOL+CM to the Marginal 28T variety resulted in increased plant height (164.17 cm) and cob size (65.83 cm), as well as a larger leaf area (361.17 cm²). It also enhanced the grain yield of the Marginal 28T variety (3.42 tꞏha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;) and the HS-1 hybrid (3.02 tꞏha&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;). &lt;strong&gt;Implications:&lt;/strong&gt; The combined use of locally-sourced microbial consortia and Biol significantly improves the agronomic performance of hard yellow corn and aids in maintaining the soil's physical and chemical conditions, thereby promoting its enhancement. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/strong&gt; The Marginal 28T variety and the HS-1 hybrid exhibited a favorable response to the application of microbial consortia, particularly BIOL+CM, making it a viable option for family farming in dry tropical conditions.&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;