Local Cultivars Research Articles

First report of Stemphylium vesicarium causing leaf blight of onion in Slovakia

AbstractDuring the 2022 growing season, commercial crops of onion (Allium cepa cv. Medusa) were found to be affected by an extensive leaf blight in south western Slovakia. The pathogen present on diseased leaves was isolated and identified as Stemphylium vesicarium through morphological and molecular analyses, utilizing three DNA markers (ITS, tef1-α, and β-tubulin). A detailed description and illustration of the fungus are provided. Although this pathogen is already present in Slovakia, this is the first record of S. vesicarium causing leaf blight on A. cepa in the country. Pathogenicity tests with a fungal isolate were performed on three local cultivars of onion plants in the laboratory, indicating varying susceptibility of the cultivars to S. vesicarium.

Investigating, Determining Morphological Features, Development and Producing Capacity, and Linking Local Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) in Sumedang District

In order to create future superior varieties, local rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a source of germplasm. In Sumengang Regency, conservation efforts are required to prevent the extinction of native rice genotypes. This study attempts to investigate native rice in Sumedang Regency, identifying morphological characteristics, studying growth and yield, and family links. The study's sites included greenhouses and experimental paddy fields at Winaya Mukti University's Faculty of Agriculture in Tanjungsari, Sumedang Regency, and the Sumedang Regency area. A survey method, descriptive qualitative analysis, and an experimental methodology employing a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 18 treatments of local rice cultivars and two repetitions were used to conduct the research from May 2022 to December 2022. Sixteen local rice cultivars from Sumedang and two local rice cultivars from Tuban and Probolinggo were discovered as a result of research in the form of exploration; morphological characters were identified using the UPOV criteria (2020); growth characters with high yields were discovered in Gemah and Tri Sakti cultivars, whereas Bagendit cultivars tended to have low growth but high fruitfulness. All 18 of the examined cultivars showed variations in growth and yield. The dendrogram that resulted from the phenetic analysis split the eighteen rice cultivars into two groups: Group I was made up of local rice cultivars, namely Sertani, Bagendit, Masreum, Gading, Jablay, Patenggang, Gede Wangi, Hawara salak, Mentik Susu A, Godang, and Omas Genteng; group II was made up of local rice cultivars, namely Jalur, Gemah, Mesir Super, Sri Dewi, Tri Sakti, Mentik Susu B, and Mareum. There is a 56.16% similarity between each distinct rice variety. Many Sumedang local rice cultivars, such as Gading, Jablay, and Patenggang, share morphological characteristics. The morphological character data shows a 90% similarity coefficient amongst the cultivars.

Valorization of a Local Italian Pear (Pyrus communis L. cv. ‘Petrucina’)

In recent decades, the food production chain has undergone transformations that have profoundly affected the way food is supplied, causing changes in the quality of the final products. Moreover, biodiversity is seriously threatened worldwide, and the valorization of local germplasm is a priority goal for most sectorial policies in Europe and elsewhere. Southern Italy and the Mediterranean basin present a vast heritage of fruit tree cultivars that is gradually being lost. Through this work, we aim to valorize a well-adapted local pear cultivar named Petrucina from the Salento area (southeastern Italy, Apulia region), which has never been studied before in detail. With this aim, the nutritional and nutraceutical features of pear flesh were characterized and compared with a reference pear cultivar that is widespread and well-known in Europe (cv. ‘Conference’). Petrucina fruits have shown a peculiar aromatic compound profile, and a content of up to 398.3, 30.9, and 4.7 mg/100 g FW of malic acid, citric acid, and ascorbic acid, respectively, much higher than that of Conference fruits. Additionally, Petrucina flesh presents a more than triple total phenolic content and an antioxidant activity more than double that of Conference, making Petrucina a true functional food that deserves wide appreciation.

Morphological characterization and molecular marker-assisted selection for resistance to Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in S2 population of capia pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Morphological characterization and molecular marker-assisted selection for resistance to Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in S2 population of capia pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Optimum intra-row spacing and clove size for the economical production of garlic (Allium sativum L.) in Northwestern Highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract Garlic is one of the most important cash crops cultivated by smallholder farmers throughout Ethiopia. However, due to inappropriate agronomic practices including clove size and intra-row spacing, the productivity of the crop is low in the country. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted during the 2019 main cropping season under rain feed conditions to identify the optimum clove size and intra-row spacing for the economical production of garlic in Lay Gayint district, Northwestern Ethiopia. Local garlic cultivar obtained from farmers was used as a test crop. A factorial combination of three clove sizes and four intra-row spacings was used in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that the main as well as the interaction effects of clove size and intra-row spacing influenced most of the tested growth and yield parameters of garlic. The longest plant height (73.77 cm) was recorded from garlic plants grown at 5 cm intra-row spacing, while the shortest plant height (66.98 cm) was from plants grown at 12.5 cm. The treatment combination of large-sized clove and 12.5 cm intra-row spacing recorded the longest leaf length (61.07 cm), the highest leaf number (7.79), bulb diameter (4.98 cm), bulb weight (33.83 g), and clove weight (2.71 g) of garlic. However, the treatment combination of large-sized cloves and 7.5 cm intra-row spacing produced the highest marketable (13.44 t ha−1) bulb yield. Based on the partial budget analysis, however, medium-sized cloves (1.5–1.99 g) planted at 10 cm intra-row spacing recorded the highest net benefit (723,205 Eth-Birr ha−1) with an acceptable marginal rate of return (3277.3%). Therefore, growing garlic using medium-sized cloves (1.5–1.99 g) at 10 cm intra-row spacing is recommended for economical production of garlic by smallholder farmers in the study area and areas with similar agroecology.

Herbage Yield and Nutritive Value of Selected Grasses in Subhumid Agroecological Environments in Ethiopia

The introduction of improved forage varieties could play a crucial role in meeting the growing demand for livestock and livestock products in Ethiopia. However, different cultivars exhibit varied performance. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the performance of Brachiaria cultivars and other grass cultivars in two subhumid agroecological areas of Ethiopia. Four Brachiaria cultivars (B. brizantha (DZF-13379), B. humidicola (DZF-9222), B. decumbens (DZF-10871), and B. mutica (var. DZF-483), and two local grass cultivars, Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana var. Massaba) and Desho grass (Pennisetum glaucifolium var. Kindu Kosha), were evaluated in Bako and Bishoftu for three years during the rainy season. The experiment was carried out using a completely randomized block design. Results indicated that both cultivars and years had significant (P<0.001) effects on herbage dry matter (DM) yield, crude protein (CP) yield, and plant height, whereas location only affected DM yield. Significant cultivar × year interactions were observed for DM yield, CP yield, and plant height, while cultivar × location interactions had a significant effect on all parameters except for CP yield. Additionally, cultivars significantly (P<0.001) impacted the in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) as well as the nutritional content (CP, ash, acid detergent lignin (ADL), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Overall, all cultivars demonstrated potential as alternative ruminant feeds, with B. mutica, followed by B. brizantha, showing superior performance in the subhumid agroecological areas of Ethiopia.

Evaluation of Chemical Content and Phytochemical Composition of Yemeni Almond Cultivars

The almond plant is considered one of the most important agricultural crops economically, nutritionally, and healthily, its properties and chemical composition differ according to the places of its cultivation. This study aims to estimate the chemical and phytochemical content of some local cultivars of almonds in Yemen. The chemical components, minerals, and secondary metabolites were estimated in the seeds. The results of the chemical analysis showed that the studied cultivars of Yemeni almonds contained a high percentage of nutrients compared to the imported samples, the percentages of moisture, protein, fat, carbohydrates, and ash were 2.88–3.39%, 12.7–19.15%, 36.87–65.34%, 13.23–38.02%, and 2.55–3.56%, respectively, and they contained a high content of some minerals such as iron, zinc, copper, and potassium. The total phenols in the studied almond cultivars ranged from 9.9–113 mg Gallic acid/g, and the total flavonoids ranged from 47.7–63.00 mg Rutin/g. It is concluded from the study that Yemeni almonds are characterized by unique properties that promise multiple uses in the food and pharmaceutical industries and in the prevention and treatment of many diseases.

Initial vegetative growth and determination of the lethal dose of local rice arias putih at various doses of gamma irradiation

Local rice cultivars that are resistant to biotic and abiotic stress, in fact, still have weaknesses in terms of longevity and idiotypes that causes farmers to rarely cultivate local rice cultivars commercially. One method of plant breeding that can be taken to correct deficiencies in a plant is a mutation program using gamma-ray irradiation. The use of gamma rays must be tested for the value of LD50 so that the right dose is obtained in an effort to increase diversity. One of the upland rice varieties, Arias Putih, was irradiated with gamma rays at the following doses, G0=0 Gy, G1=100 Gy, G2=200 Gy, G3=300 Gy, G4=400 Gy, G5=500 Gy, G6=600 Gy, G7=700 Gy, G8=800 Gy, G9=900 Gy, G10=1000 Gy, and G11=1100 Gy. This LD 50 was carried out with three repetitions per treatment dose, including control. Each dose of gamma-ray irradiation used 100 rice seeds and sown in the seedbed for three weeks. The parameters observed were germination percentage, seedling height and root length, crown and root fresh weight. LD50 was obtained from germination percentage data and was analyzed using Curve-Fit Analysis software. The results revealed a decrease in growth character as the irradiation dose increased. Increasing the irradiation dose up to 500 Gy caused the seeds to die. The LD50 value obtained from the study was 224.13 Gy.

Changes in the Content of Nutrients, Starch and Protein in On and Off Years in Three Local Olive Cultivars in Kermanshah, West of Iran

Changes in the Content of Nutrients, Starch and Protein in On and Off Years in Three Local Olive Cultivars in Kermanshah, West of Iran

Prevalence of African Mosaic and Morphological Characterization of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Cranz) Varieties in Two Agroecological Zones of Cameroon

The objective of this work is to conduct an epidemiological study of African cassava mosaic and to characterize the diversity of local cultivars in circulation in the monomodal and bimodal rainforest zones of Cameroon. Disease-related parameters (incidence and severity index) were studied as well as morphological parameters (plant height, leaflet color, petiole color, lobe length, number of lobes, number of branches, petiole length). The results show that 96 cassava varieties were identified with 89 local varieties and 07 improved varieties. Diseased plants showed a symptom severity index of 1 to 5, which could reduce production by half in the areas considered. The leaf color was dark green, the number of branches was 3, the lobe and petiole lengths were 16.46 and 22 cm respectively, while the number of lobes was 5 the disease incidence for the two agro-ecological zones as a whole is 57.58% for a symptom severity index of 3. The epidemiological study reveals that the desease incidence of both agro-ecological zones was 57.58 % for a symptom severity index of 2 corresponding to 40 %. In the humid forest zone with monomodal spray the average incidence was 49.74% and a leaf attack rate was 29.03 % in the locality of Njombé (Cameroon's littoral region). At Ekona in southwestern Cameroon, the average incidence was 63% and leaf attack index was 1 corresponding to 20 %. In the bimodal rainforest zone (central Cameroon region), the average incidence was 60 % for a leaf attack rate was 37.11%. The expected results highlight a relatively worrying situation. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) confirms the convergence of tolerance towards the mosaic and grouped the different varieties into more or less homogeneous groups according to the morphological and epidemiological cassava descriptors. The results of the present work show that the introduction of cassava local varieties tolerant to mosaic disease in middling could be an alternative for the control of the cassava mosaic disease.

Genetic Characterization of Water Yam (Dioscorea alata L.) and Production Constraints of Yam in Pwani Region and Unguja Island, Tanzania

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a tuber crop cultivated in over 30% of all regions in Tanzania, contributing to the carbohydrate needs of many households. The morphological and genetic diversity of water yam (D. alata L.) local cultivars collected from Pwani region and Unguja Island were evaluated using 26 agro-morphological characters and 10 Short Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers. Cluster analysis using morphological characters classified nine water yam local cultivars into two main clusters with three subclusters. Tuber flesh and leaf colour were the main descriptors for clustering. The genetic diversity of 128 water yam genotypes using ten polymorphic SSR markers generated a total of 40 alleles that ranged from 2 to 7 per SSR marker. The mean polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.3 to 0.9, with a mean of 0.56. Cluster analysis separated 128 yam genotypes into two main clusters with five subclusters. The findings revealed relatively high genetic diversity of D. alata in the study areas. A structured questionnaire revealed drought (29.3%) and lack of planting materials (23.3%) as the major constraints to yam production in the study areas. Information reported in this study is useful in improving, reviving and promoting yam through breeding and conservation programs.

Introgression from local cultivars is a driver of agricultural adaptation in Argentinian weedy rice.

Weedy rice, a pervasive and troublesome weed found across the globe, has often evolved through fertilization of rice cultivars with little importance of crop-weed gene flow. In Argentina, weedy rice has been reported as an important constraint since the early 1970s, and, in the last few years, strains with herbicide-resistance are suspected to evolve. Despite their importance, the origin and genetic composition of Argentinian weedy rice as well its adaptation to agricultural environments has not been explored so far. To study this, we conducted genotyping-by-sequencing on samples of Argentinian weedy and cultivated rice and compared them with published data from weedy, cultivated and wild rice accessions distributed worldwide. In addition, we conducted a phenotypic characterization for weedy-related traits, a herbicide resistance screening and genotyped accessions for known mutations in the acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene, which confers herbicide resistance. Our results revealed large phenotypic variability in Argentinian weedy rice. Most strains were resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides with a high frequency of the ALS mutation (A122T) present in Argentinian rice cultivars. Argentinian cultivars belonged to the three major genetic groups of rice: japonica, indica and aus while weeds were mostly aus or aus-indica admixed, resembling weedy rice strains from the Southern Cone region. Phylogenetic analysis supports a single origin for aus-like South American weeds, likely as seed contaminants from the United States, and then admixture with local indica cultivars. Our findings demonstrate that crop to weed introgression can facilitate rapid adaptation to agriculture environments.

Exploring the prebiotic characteristics of crude polysaccharides from coconut testa flour: A comparative analysis of local cultivar

Crude polysaccharides (CPs) of coconut testa flour (CTF) of five local cultivars; Commercial hybrid (COM), Gon Thembili (GT), Ran Thembili (RT), San Ramon (SR), and Tall × Tall (TT) were isolated in this study to examine to evaluate potential prebiotic properties and structural characteristics. The isolated CPs were subjected to FTIR analysis to identify functional groups of biomolecules. Digestibility tests were performed on CPs of different coconut cultivars using artificial human gastric juice. CPs were applied to Lactobacillus sp. and Escherichia coli to evaluate their proliferation in vitro. FTIR results showed that the occurrence of peaks between 1200 cm−1 – 1000 cm−1 was indicative of the presence of C–O side groups and C–O–C glycosidic bonds. CPs of all cultivars displayed strong resistance to hydrolysis (94–97 %) by human gastric juice when compared to inulin and fructooligosaccharides (FOS). The higher proliferation of Lactobacillus sp. was detected on all five CPs when compared to that of glucose. The SR cultivar (1.09) showed a higher prebiotic activity score compared to fructooligosaccharides (0.92) and inulin (0.81). These findings suggest that CPs isolated from CTF of local coconut cultivars possess potential prebiotic characteristics that can be used in the preparation of functional foods. Further studies on this aspect are granted to enable the effective use of CTF in promoting human gut health.

Olive reproductive biology: implications for yield, compatibility conundrum, and environmental constraints.

Olive (Olea europaea L.) is an important Mediterranean tree species with a longstanding history of cultivation, boasting a diverse array of local cultivars. While traditional olive orchards are valued for their cultural and aesthetic significance, they often face economic sustainability challenges in the modern context. The success of both traditional and newly introduced cultivars (e.g. those obtained by cross-breeding) is hindered by self-incompatibility, a prevalent issue for this species that results in low fruit set when limited genetic diversity is present. Further, biological, environmental, and agronomic factors have been shown to interlink in shaping fertilization patterns, hence impacting on the final yield. Climatic conditions during pollination, such as excessive rainfall or high temperatures, can further exacerbate the problem. In this work, we provide an overview of the various factors that trigger the phenomenon of suboptimal fruit set in olive trees. This work provides a comprehensive understanding of the interplay among these factors, shedding light on potential mechanisms and pathways that contribute to the observed outcomes in the context of self-incompatibility in olive.

A Case Study of RNA-Silencing Resistance against Potato Virus (PVY) in Condition of Climate Change

Abstract Global environmental issues shift crop production to the new conditions. This increases all kinds of biotic and abiotic stresses, beside others also plant diseases. Such changes are also in Kazakhstan where potato production is dramatically increasing, and crop is growing in regions with continental climate. Problems with potato virus type Y (PVY) need cultivars with better resistance. Introduction of silencing small interfering RNA (siRNA) is new technology. In vitro experiment was done on potato (Solanium tuberosum L.) local cultivar Izolda. Results show significant effect of siRNA in decreasing mortality and occurrence of PVY symptoms and allow expansion of potato cultivation to continental climate conditions, where are faced with new virus problems.

The first draft genome sequence of Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.) in Iran

Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.) is a native tree species of Iran and the Caucasus region growing in both wild habitats and cultivated settings. The area under cultivation of this tree has been increasing in recent years due to its ability to withstand drought and soil salinity. Revealing the complete genome of this tree holds great importance. To achieve this, a local cultivar of Russian olive was sampled from the northwest region of Iran for whole genome sequencing using the Illumina platform resulting in approximately 6GB of raw data. A quality check of the raw data indicated that approximately 45,011,388 read pairs were obtained from sequences totalling around 6.7×109bp with CG content of 31%. To assemble the genome of the Russian olive tree, the raw data was aligned to a reference sequence of the jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) genome, which is the taxonomically closest plant to the Russian olive. Assembly of alignments yielded a genome size of 553,696,299bp consisting of 339,701 contigs. The N50 value was 5,300 with an L50 value of 24,921 and GC content of the Russian olive genome was 31.5%. This research represents the first report on the genome of the Iranian cultivar of the Russian olive tree.

Response Two Cultivars of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) to Phosphate Fertilization Level and Bacterial Inoculum

The research was conducted during season 2020 in Al-Shallalat area, 5 km northeast of Mosul. The study included three factors, namely, the treatment of seed soaking with water and the bacterial inoculum, two local cultivars of chickpea: large seeds (Kabuli) and small seeds (Desi) and three levels of phosphate fertilization (zero, 50 kg, and 100 kg P2O5. h-1). The study was conducted according to the factorial experiment system, in (R. C. B. D) design. In three replication, some traits of plant are obtained such as: plant height (cm), the height of the first pod above the ground (cm), pod length (cm), number of seeds/ pod, number of pods/plant (total), number of pods/plant (full) number of pods cleavage (empty), percentage of yield, the weight of 100 seeds (g), biological yield (g/plant), Seed yield (g/plant) and harvest index. The results indicate a significantly excelled of the treatment of soaking with bacteria inoculum on the treatment of soaking with water for all the studied traits. And highly significantly excelled in most of the studied traits of Kabuli over Desi cultivar. Most of the binary and triple interactions recorded a significant difference between the bacterial inoculum and the seeds of the Kabuli cultivar.

Cultivar-Specific Growth and Yield of Mukunuwenna (<em>Alternanthera sessilis</em>) in the Low Country Wet Zone, Sri Lanka

Joyweed/Mukunuwenna (Alternanthera sessile) is a globally significant leafy vegetable, yet its maximum yield potential remains largely unrealized due to the limited genetic diversity of existing varieties. Farmers frequently lack precise knowledge about the yield potential, growth characteristics, and quality of the produce. Few attempts of research attentions were given to assess its growth characteristics, susceptibility to diseases and pests, consumer acceptability, and yield potential. Therefore, this study aims to comprehensively evaluate growth and yield traits, sensory qualities and morphological features of eight carefully selected Mukunuwenna cultivars. Thus, identifying the most suitable Mukunuwenna cultivars for the Low Country Wet Zone, Sri Lanka. In this investigation, we assessed four Mukunuwenna selections, including one wild (red) variety, alongside three local Mukunuwenna cultivars, focusing on their growth, yield and morphological characteristics under upland field conditions at the Agriculture Research Station, Thelijjawila, Sri Lanka. The study followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Data were meticulously collected for eight growth parameters and two yield parameters including average internodal distance, average leaf length, average leaf width, average number of shoots per unit area, average number of leaves per stem, average number of flowers per stem, average shoot height, average chlorophyll content, average leaf to stem ratio, and average yield per plot. The results, analyzed through ANOVA and mean separation demonstrated significant differences (P< 0.05) among Mukunuwenna cultivars across various attributes, To assess the diversity in growth and yield, a principle component analysis was conducted. A sensory evaluation was performed to assess the consumer preference. Notably, the Piliyandala selection exhibited the most promising growth and yield traits, particularly excelling leaf to stem ratio and gaining the highest consumer preference. Other notable performers were the Colombo selection, Weda Mukunuwenna and Cultivar M7 showing preferable growth and yield traits with strong consumer appeal. Considering these findings, we conclude that Piliyandala selection, Colombo selection, and Cultivar M7 exhibit preferable growth and yield traits for commercial cultivation, while Weda Mukunuwenna stands out as an ideal choice for home garden cultivation under upland conditions in the Low Country Wet Zone, following recommended agronomic practices. This study’s outcomes hold significant promise for further research endeavors, focusing on enhancing desirable growth and yield traits.

Starch spectra of Ampelopteris prolifera (Retz.) Copel, a new addition to the existing lexicon and its comparison with a local potato cultivar (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Kufri Jyoti)

Novel kinds of starch spectra were generated from a lesser-known plant, making this investigation unique. The recent trend of starch characterization shows the establishment of novel bioresources from nonconventional unexplored databases. The present endeavor was made to obtain the starch fingerprint of Ampelopteris prolifera (rhizome) belonging to seedless vascular plants. For comparison, a commercial local cultivar of potato (Kufri Jyoti) was taken. The starch particle of A. prolifera shows much uniqueness depicting its novelty viz., crystallinity index of 60.04 %, powder diffractogram at (2θ scale)17.57° to 39.78°; this diffractogram pattern is reported from this study as newer one i.e. R type(whereas potato starch is CB type); characteristic peak at 2θ = 20.07° suggests starch-lipid complex formation and V type crystallinity (i.e. RS 5 type); FTIR spectra showing the presence of more short chain branching; high gelatinization temperature(84.62 ± 0.10), particle size and zeta value of A. prolifera is 4.00 ± 0.81 μm and − 18.91 ± 3.58 mV respectively. Bragg's peak from the single crystal X-ray diffraction has been generated for the first time of A. prolifera. Extraction of the starch particle was performed in chilled water. Therefore, the present study suggests wide-spectrum commercial utility and cost-effective production.

Metabolite Profiling Foamy Substance of Cucumis sativus L. white local cultivar studied by HR-LCMS

Cucumis sativus L. belong to Cucurbitaceous. The Phytochemical profiling of white foamy substance was performed using HR-LCMS, details of projecting compounds with MS spectra, peak list, and compound structure were studied. The prominent constituent analysis (PCA) of the investigative data displayed the existence of Triterpenes: Gitoxigenin (7.76ppm), Strophanthidin(13.79ppm), Cucurbita in-C (-0.8ppm), Cucurbita in-E(5.53ppm), and Cardiac glycosides: and Digitoxigenin(-2.13ppm) in 10µl of the loaded sample.100 other composites were identified by accurate mass of Q-TOF/MS and confirmed by database compounds (IRM calibration) which comprises, abscisic acid amino acids, fatty acids pyridylactic acid etc. Strophanthidin in the premier attention in the white foamy extract is a noteworthy finding where it has interaction with various proteins in biochemical reactions. This study reports the customary implication of removing white foamy substances before slicing for ingestion. It is used as both vegetables as well as fruit in Indian traditional medicine. It is a source of bioactive compounds.