Root Length Measurements Research Articles

Cytokinin B-Mo-based Product Influences the Source-to-sink Dynamics and Nonstructural Carbohydrate Contents in Hydroponic Lettuce Plants

An understanding of how amendments influence the sink-to-source relationship in leafy crops can be used to optimize plant resource allocation for enhanced growth and quality. Variations in growth rates and carbon pools across individual leaves or groups of leaves at similar developmental stages allow us to comprehend plant strategies of carbon allocation and partitioning. We hypothesized that products enhancing the carbon source-to-sink relationship during leaf development can increase growth and dry matter accumulation. This project aimed to determine whether exogenous applications of a cytokinin-B-Mo-based product during the leaf development of lettuce plants impact the carbon source-to-sink relationship, thus influencing plant growth and quality. The experiment was a complete randomized design with two treatments: a negative control and the application of the product twice during the growing cycle. Each experimental unit consisted of a deep-water culture reservoir with three lettuce plants. Destructive sampling was conducted five times throughout the cycle. At each sampling time (n = 4 per experimental run), the phenological stage was determined, and measurements of root and shoot length, root and shoot dry matter, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, chlorophyll contents, and nonstructural carbon contents were performed. These data were used to estimate growth indices. The results indicated that the cytokinin-B-Mo-based product increased the number of true unfolded leaves by 1 ± 0.4 and the overall size of the lettuce head by 9%. The treated lettuce reached marketable size 4 days earlier than that of the control treatment. Statistically significant differences were observed in shoot and root dry matter accumulation and foliar length and width at some sampling points. Some growth indices indicate an increase in leaf surface area investment and enhanced conversion efficiency of assimilates into biomass in plants treated with the product. Plants exhibiting these alterations had higher sucrose and total soluble sugar contents. There was a noticeable pattern of higher concentrations of nonstructural carbohydrates, proteins, and amino acids in the leaves compared with those in the roots across all plants and treatments. Overall, the cytokinin-B-Mo-based product appears to strengthen the source-to-sink relationship during lettuce development, resulting in a high-quality plant within a shorter timeframe.

Nano-priming of Vigna radiata seeds with opuntia stricta-derived γFe2O3 nanoparticles

The experimental investigation aimed to enhance sustainable and biocompatible nano-agriculture by examining the possible effects of biosynthesized nanoparticles (γFe2O3 NPs) on seed growth and growth parameters of Vigna radiata. The outcomes of various characterization procedures such as FTIR, XRD, UV, and Fe-SEM were used to determine the successful generation of γFe2O3 NPs (nanoparticles), which were capped with multiple phytoconstituents contained in the Opuntia stricta extract. γFe2O3 NPs were synthesised, as evidenced by the peak's presence, having a mean crystallite size of 13.9 nm, and were successfully detected using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Crucial Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) testing also yielded unambiguous proof of the element iron's presence. Raman spectroscopy was used to confirm the synthesis of pure maghemite nanoparticles. Wide areas around 350, 500, 670, and 1330 cm-1 values verify the creation of pure maghemite. TGA analysis was performed to check the stability of nanoparticles in which the residual weight was found to be 87.62%. TEM images confirm the spherical shape, and the mean size of the nanoparticles was found to be 12.28 nm. Through a number of tests, the analysis showed that the nanoparticles have a strong antioxidant capacity. This experiment aimed to determine how biogenic γFe2O3 Nanoparticles affected Vigna radiata seed germination. Measurements of shoot and root lengths, seed vigour index, germination rates, mean daily germination, and peak value (PV) were all included of the assessment. There was a total of four distinct γFe2O3 NPs concentrations examined (25, 50, 75, and 100 μg/mL). The penetration of the γFe2O3 NPs affects the germination and growth of the Vigna radiata seeds. When compared to untreated seeds, the germination index values for Vigna radiata seeds that underwent effective treatment with γFe2O3 NPs significantly improved.

Effects of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles on the Growth and Genotoxicity of Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum L.)

The interaction of nano-fertilizers with commercially important crops can be a promising solution to increase both crop yield and quality. This study investigated the effect of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) on four-week-old garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) seedlings. Iron is an essential micronutrient for plants but is not always available in sufficient quantities, which can lead to chlorosis and even plant death. The seedlings were grown hydroponically, with three concentrations (1 mg/L, 5 mg/L, and 10 mg/L) of the NPs, alongside a control group with no additions. During the experiment, the following methods were employed: measurement of stem and root length, spectrophotometry to determine chlorophyll absorbance and concentration, and the RAPD technique to assess the genotoxicity of Fe3O4 NPs. The study demonstrated a significant increase in the shoot length of cress at all concentrations compared to the control group (p < 0.05; p < 0.01). The light absorption and chlorophyll concentration levels in the experimental groups significantly increased compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Genotoxicity analysis revealed that the genotoxic impact of the NPs on the garden cress genome was only 10%, a statistically insignificant level. The findings suggest that Fe3O4 NPs exhibit low genotoxicity and have the potential to enhance the growth and chlorophyll content of cress seedlings in hydroponic conditions.

Nitrate Over Ammonium: Limited inorganic N niche partitioning between wheat and weeds regardless of fertilization treatment

Fertilization is a crucial agricultural practice that influences biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functions, and it plays a central role in widespread wheat and weed coexistence. However, it remains unclear how wheat and weeds coexist under N-limited conditions and how plant N uptake strategy change after N fertilization. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and two weeds (wild oats (Avena fatua), and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusgalli)) were selected as targeted plant species. We grew them alone, and after about seven months, we labeled these plants with 15NH4Cl or 15KNO3 for 2 h to quantify their NH4+ and NO3− uptake, and measured root length, root area, specific root length, specific root area, specific root volume, and root tissue density. We found that fertilization led to a more resource-acquisitive nutrient acquisition traits in wheat (i.e., increased specific root area and specific root volume (P < 0.05)), without altering weed root traits. Across three species, the increased NH4+ and NO3− uptake after fertilization were not mediated by root traits, but by the direct effect of fertilization. Additionally, both wheat and weeds predominantly preferred NO3− than NH4+ regardless of fertilization or not, indicating a limited niche differentiation for wheat-weed coexistence. These findings can improve our understanding of the mechanisms of species coexistence in agricultural systems, particularly with regards to N uptake strategies among crops and weeds.

Field assessment of Lake Erie dredged sediment for specialty crops cultivation

AbstractAnnually, approximately 1.5 million tonnes of sediment are dredged from federal navigational channels in Lake Erie. Recognizing the potential influence of Lake sediments on soil compaction, structure, water retention capacity, and aeration, this research assessed the agronomic performance of selected specialty crops under varying sediment ratios in an open‐field production system. The experimental design involved three sediment application rates: 0 tonne (100% farm soil), 0.7 tonne (90% farm soil and 10% sediment), and 7 tonnes per bed (100% sediment). Lettuces (Lactuca sativa L.) were harvested 35 days after planting, with assessments including fresh and dry weights of leaves root biomass and root length measurements. Radishes (Raphanus sativus L.) were evaluated for root length, leaf fresh weight, root fresh weight, and diameter. Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants were monitored for plant height and stem diameter. Fruit harvest occurred at days 70 and 75 post‐transplant. Metrics such as total number of marketable fruits, total fruit weight, number of US grade‐1 fruits, and polar and equatorial diameters were recorded. The results revealed significant positive effects of the 7‐tonne sediment treatment on lettuce, including increased dry leaf and root biomass, root lengths, and fresh weight. Similarly, radishes exhibited enhanced weight and length when grown in beds with 7 tonnes of sediment. Tomatoes from the 7‐tonne sediment treatment displayed higher values in plant measurements and harvested fruits. Overall, the findings indicate that soils treated with Lake Erie sediment positively influence the development and production of lettuce, radishes, and tomatoes compared to untreated soils.

The Influence of Varying Wavelengths of LED Light on the Development, Physiology Response, and Metabolism Activities of Micropropagated Dendrobium Hybrid ‘Shuijing’ Plantlets

Dendrobium hybrids have a significant role in the present floral sector. The aim of this research was to evaluate how various light qualities affect the physiological and biochemical traits of Dendrobium ‘Shuijing’. In order to determine the optimal light quality for in vitro cultivation of Dendrobium plantlets, we examined the correlations between growth, antioxidant capacity, and nutrient and chlorophyll levels, as well as chlorophyll fluorescence. The growth rate was compared by using different light qualities emitted by the LED light source. These included red light (R), blue light (B), and three ratios: 8R:2B, 7R:3B, and equal proportions of both colors, known as white, fluorescent light (CK). The combination of 7R:3B resulted in noticeable enhancements in leaf count, root length, root activity, fresh and dry weight measurements, antioxidant capability, as well as chlorophyll content and fluorescence. Specifically, the mixture of red and blue LED lights at a ratio of 7R:3B led to increased leaf number, root length, root activity, fresh and dry weight measurements, antioxidant ability, and chlorophyll content with improved fluorescence. In order to explore the effect of light quality on the growth and development of Dendrobium, the chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of plants under all light quality conditions were analyzed by using a linear regression model with other physiological and biochemical indexes. A significant correlation between non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and leaf length was also observed. The content of chlorophyll b showed significant correlations with both root number and leaf number. Furthermore, chlorophyll a, along with its ratio to chlorophyll b, significantly correlated with root length. Chlorophyll b and the relative electron transport rate of PSII (ETRII) significantly correlated with root activity and the free proline content (FPC) and catalase (CAT) activity. The photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) significantly correlated with total soluble sugars content (SSC) and peroxidase (POD) activity. The correlation between the quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm ratio) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was found to be significant. Similarly, the effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII) showed significant correlations with fresh weight, dry weight, soluble protein content (SPC), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity. Through a principal component analysis (PCA), it was observed that plants cultivated under the 7R:3B light treatment achieved significantly better comprehensive scores compared to those grown under different light treatments. In conclusion, growth achieved under an LED emitting a ratio of 7R:3B light yielded the most robust Dendrobium hybrid plantlets within a controlled environment.

Canine sexual dimorphism in crown and root dimensions: a cone-beam computed tomographic study.

The primary step in forensic odontological analysis is sex determination. The present study is one of the few studies that evaluated the accuracy of the combination of canine tooth root length and crown measurements for sex determination. The study sample comprised 196 cone-be am computed tomographic scans of individuals aged 20-80 years distributed in five age categories: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60+ years old. Different parameters, such as width, length, and ratio measurements for the crown and root of each maxillary and mandibular canine tooth, were examined and recorded. The findings indicated that maxillary canines had greater sex dimorphism ability (87.3%) than mandibular canines (80.6%). Total tooth length and root length of maxillary canine were the most pronounced variables in the differentiation of sex groups. When the combination of the mandibular and maxillary measurements was considered, the accuracy for sex dimorphism was 85.7%. By using ratio variables, the accuracy was reduced to 68.9%. According to the findings of this study, total tooth length and root length are the most discriminant variables of canine teeth. These variables are more reliable sex indicators than crown measurements.

Agro-Morphological Response of Three Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Genotypes to CAFCOOP Products in the Nursery and Field Conditions

Tomatoes are grown using chemical or organic fertilizers, which influence their quality at harvest. The study aimed to evaluate the agro-morphological and germinative characteristics of three tomato genotypes under CAFCOOP products. The Nadira F1, Rio grande and Roma savanna genotypes tested for their reaction to the effect of the CAFCOOP Ltd product were obtained from the Mfoundi market (Yaoundé). Germination time, emergence of seedlings and first leaf outline, number of secondary roots and stem development were counted manually at the nursery. In the field, a caliper was used to measure plant stem, while a graduated ruler was used to measure root length and plant height. The number of secondary roots, branches and plants were counted manually. The results obtained showed significant genotypic variation in all agro-morphological traits. The number of roots varied from 14.15 ± 2.8 to 22.46 ± 3.53 for Roma, from 10.38 ± 1.89 to 24.71 ± 3.69 for Nadira F1 and from 14.62 ± 2.99 to 24.38 ± 3.47 for Rio grande, for chemical and organic treatments respectively. Plant stem diameter ranged from 5.15 ± 1.14 mm to 9 ± 0.46 mm for Nadira F1 and Rio Control, with no significant difference between treatments. The number of branches per plant, with no significant difference between treatments, ranged from 11.50±3.83 to 17.95±2.98 for Nadira F1 and Rio grande. Our study has enabled us to gain a better understanding of the positive effect of organic products on tomato production.

Assessment of Unmanned Aerial System Flight Plans for Data Acquisition from Erosional Terrain

Accurate data mapping and visualization are of crucial importance for the detection and monitoring of slope morphodynamics, including erosion processes and studying small erosional landforms (rills and gullies). The purpose of the current research is to examine how the flight geometry of unmanned aerial systems (UASs) could affect the accuracy of photogrammetric processing products, concerning small erosion landforms that are a result of slope wash and temporary small streams formed by rain. In October 2021, three UAS flights with a different geometry were carried out in a hilly to a low-mountain area with an average altitude of about 650 m where erosion processes are observed. UAS imagery processing was carried out using structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry. High-resolution products such as photogrammetric-based point clouds, digital surface models (DSMs) and orthophotos were generated. The obtained data were compared and evaluated by the root mean square error (RMSE), length measurement, cloud-to-cloud comparison, and 3D spatial GIS analysis of DSMs. The results show small differences between the considered photogrammetric products generated by nadir-viewing and oblique-viewing (45°—single strip and 60°—cross strips) geometry. The complex analysis of the obtained photogrammetric products gives an advantage to the 60°—cross strips imagery, in studying erosional terrains with slow slope morphodynamics.

Morphometric Comparison and Prognostic Analysis of Permanent Maxillary Central Incisors with Eruption Disturbances-A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this study was to retrospectively compare the morphometrics of permanent maxillary central incisors with and without eruption disturbances, while simultaneously evaluating prognosis based on different factors. Seventy patients with unilateral permanent maxillary central incisor eruption disturbances were included. Within a group of 70 subjects, measurements were taken for both normally erupted central incisors and central incisors with eruption disturbances to determine the length of the roots and the volume of the teeth. Various factors, such as angulation of impaction, and vertical height of impaction, were assessed to investigate their correlation with surgical intervention. Both the root length and tooth volume were significantly smaller in the eruption disturbance incisors than in the normally erupted incisors (p ≤ 0.001). Moreover, there was a statistically significant increase in surgical intervention among cases with no clear physical barrier (primary retention) (p < 0.05) or when adjacent normally erupted central incisors exhibited more than 2/3 of root development (p < 0.05). The results of this study numerically demonstrated the delayed tooth development of the permanent maxillary central incisors with unilateral eruption disturbances compared to appropriately erupted incisors by measuring root length and tooth volume. The absence of obstacles and the degree of root development in adjacent erupted incisors might serve as factors for clinicians to determine the necessity and timing of surgical intervention.

Effect of Euphorbia hirta Leaf and Root Extracts on the Early Growth of Cucurbit Crops

The research investigates the allelopathic influence of Euphorbia hirta extracts on the germination and seedling development of various cucurbit species, including Bottle gourd (Sp. A), Winter melon (Sp. B), Ridged gourd (Sp. C), Sponge gourd (Sp. D), Bitter gourd (Sp. E), Snake gourd (Sp. F), Muskmelon (Sp. G), and Pumpkin (Sp. H). The experimental design incorporated the use of both aqueous and methanol extracts of E. hirta, applied at different concentrations, with distilled water employed as the control. The findings reveal that the methanolic extract of E. hirta significantly impedes both the germination process and the subsequent growth of seedlings for all cucurbit species tested. For instance, at 12 days post-treatment, control groups exhibited high germination percentages (78%, 90.67%, 95.33% and 90% for Sp. A, Sp. C, Sp. D and Sp. E, respectively), which drastically declined with a 20% methanol extract concentration (23.33%, 18.33%, and 17.67% and 18.33% for the same species, respectively). Similarly, shoot and root length measurements indicated that higher concentrations of both extracts suppressed growth, with methanol extract showing a stronger inhibitory effect compared to the aqueous extract. Interestingly, Lower extract concentrations occasionally boosted shoot growth, revealing a hormetic effect. This two-fold response, notably in Pumpkin and Snake Gourd, illuminates the complexity of allelopathic interactions. The study suggests E. hirta extracts could serve as eco-friendly herbicides, urging further research to isolate their active components. This could lessen synthetic herbicide use, promoting sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.

Response of Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) Genotypes to Soil Acidity, at Hula District, Sidama Region, Ethiopia

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was domesticated at about 8000 B.C. It is one of the most important cereal crops in Ethiopia, accounting for over 60% of the food of the peoples living in the highlands of Ethiopia. Soil acidity is expanding in its scope, about 43 % out of the total cultivated land in Ethiopia, is dominated with acidic soil, as a sensitive highland crop, barley productivity is decreasing due to soil acidity and in areas where the problem is severe the crop is going out of production. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted with the objective of performance comparison and screening of soil acidity-tolerant barley genotypes. The treatments consisted of two lime levels (with and without lime) and ten barley genotypes making up a total of 20 treatments laid out in a completely randomized design with six replications. Crop phenology, growth parameters, yield and yield components were evaluated. Primary root length, lateral root length, lateral root number, and root dry weight were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) affected by the application of lime. Stand count at harvest, above-ground biomass, plant height, total seed number per pot, and seed number per plant were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) affected by the application of lime. Accession 215454a, has shown a greater value of relative root length measurement with 73.76 centimeter. The study revealed the impact of soil acidity could be so severe it can result to the extent of having no yield as compared to lime-treated soils. This necessitates the use of lime in areas that are prone to acidic soils. Overall, the accession that showed relative tolerance from early stage screening can be candidate for further breeding program to develop barley variety that is tolerant to acidic soils.

The allelopathic effects of aqueous Talinum triangulare (jacq.) willd extracts on the development of Lactuca sativa L. seedlings.

Plants that produce allelopathic compounds against weeds have emerged as a potential solution for the development of ecologically correct bioherbicides. Talinum triangulare is noteworthy in this regard, as its phytochemical composition encompasses flavonoids, alkaloids and other metabolites that can be used to develop inhibitory weed growth solutions. Lactuca sativa (lettuce) has been widely applied as a bioindicator species for bioherbicides and several chemicals, animal waste, water and soil quality, and atmospheric contamination, among others. In this context, this study aimed to assess the potential allelopathic effect of aqueous T. triangulare extracts on the development of L. sativa seedlings. A completely randomized design employing a 2x4 factorial scheme (shoot and root extracts) x the concentration of each extract (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5%) was applied, comprising four replications. Lactuca sativa seeds were sown on germitest papers soaked with the extracts in a germination chamber at 20°C. Physiological seed evaluations comprising the germination test, where normal and abnormal seedlings are counted on the seventh day after sowing, first normal seedling counts on the fourth day after sowing, and seedling and root length measurements. At the end of the germination test, L. sativa seedlings were separated for morphoanatomical characterizations and chlorophyll a fluorescence analyses. The T. triangulare extracts significantly influenced L. sativa root growth, with shoot extract exposure leading to more abnormal plants and lower root lengths at increasing concentrations and compared to the root extract. Root extract exposure led to evident cellular changes and lower non-photochemical quenching and unregulated dissipation quantum yields at a 5% exposure dose compared to shoot extract exposure. These findings suggest that both aqueous T. triangulare root and shoot extracts from 5% exposure doses exhibit high potential as bioherbicides, acting directly on plant structure, anatomy, quality, size and physiology.

Reliability and agreement of root length measurements during orthodontic treatment in images from different CBCT machines using multiplanar reconstruction.

To assess inter- and intrarater reliability and agreement for measurements of root lengths using multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) examinations.Furthermore, to determine whether using MPR from different CBCT machines was a reliable and reproducible method for assessment of root length during orthodontic treatment of adolescents. A total of 40 CBCT examinations obtained before, during and after orthodontic treatment of 14 adolescents, with fixed appliances from a multicentre randomised controlled trial, were used. All roots from the incisors to the first molars were measured by two independent raters and in accordance with a protocol preceded by a multi-step calibration. Reliability was assessed by intra class correlation (ICC). Agreement was assessed by measurement error according to the Dahlberg formula and Bland-Altman plot. The number of repeated measurements varied from 436 to 474 for the different timepoints. Good to excellent inter- and intrarater reliability for different tooth groups and timepoints were shown. Measurement error for inter- and intrarater agreement varied between 0.41 mm and 0.77 mm. The Bland-Altman plot with 95% limits of agreement varied between +1.43 mm and -2.01 mm for different tooth groups and timepoints. The results of this study indicate that CBCT using MPR from different machines is a reproducible method for measuring root length during different phases of orthodontic treatment. When interpreting root shortening measurements in CBCT using MPR for clinical or research purposes, values below 2 mm should be approached with caution, as they may contain measurement errors.

Involvement of GA3-oxidase in inhibitory effect of nitric oxide on primary root growth in Arabidopsis.

Both NO and GAs are essential for regulating various physiological processes and stress responses in plants. However, the interaction between these two molecules remains unclear. We investigated the distinct response patterns of Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 and GA synthesis functional deficiency mutants to NO by measuring root length. To investigate underlying mechanisms, we detected bioactive GA content using UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS, assessed the accumulation of ROS by chemical staining Arabidopsis roots. We also conducted RNA-seq analysis and compared results between Col-0 and ga3ox1, with and without SNP (as NO donor) treatment. Phenotypic results revealed that the inhibitory effect of NO on primary roots of Arabidopsis was primarily mediated by GA3-oxidase, rather than GA20-oxidase or GA2-oxidase. The content of GA3 decreased in Col-0 treated with SNP, whereas this decrease was not observed in ga3ox1. The deficiency of GA3-oxidase alleviated the buildup of H2 O2 in roots when treated with SNP. We identified 222 DEGs. GO annotation of these DEGs revealed that all top 20 GO terms were related to stress responses. Moreover, three DEGs were annotated to GA-related processes (DDF1, DDF2, EXPA1), and seven DEGs were associated with root development (RAV1, RGF2, ERF71, ZAT6, MYB77, XT1, and DTX50). In summary, NO inhibits primary root growth partially by repressing GA3-oxidase catalysed GA3 synthesis in Arabidopsis. ROS, Ca2+ , DDF1, DDF2, EXPA1 and seven root development-related genes may be involved in crosstalk between NO and GAs.

Pengkayaan CaCl2 pada Nutrisi Hidroponik untuk Meningkatkan Hasil Tanaman Kailan (Brassica oleraceae L.)

One highly sought-after vegetable is Kalian (Brassica oleraceae L.), valued for its exceptional nutritional content. The cultivation of kalian demands specialized attention. Hydroponic cultivation utilizing Calcium Chloride plays a pivotal role in fostering robust plant growth and resilience, particularly in urban settings. Calcium serves a multifaceted role: safeguarding against pests, enhancing fruit quality, and functioning as an antioxidant during storage. This research was conducted between October 2022 and February 2023, employing a single-factor Randomized Block Design (RBD) that was replicated three times. The study encompassed the following treatments: (i) Control with 0 ppm CaCl2, (ii) 550 ppm CaCl2 (P1), (iii) 650 ppm CaCl2 (P2), and (iv) 750 ppm CaCl2 (P3). The observed parameters encompassed plant height, leaf count, leaf area, fresh weight, and dry weight. The data underwent analysis via analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Honest Significant Difference (HSD) test at the 5% significance level. The outcomes of the study unveiled substantial and statistically significant responses at the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days after planting (HST) concerning the leaf count and wet weight variables. However, no statistically significant response was observed in relation to root length and leaf area measurements.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: CaCl2, kailan, hydroponics, Ab Mix nutrition

Age Assessment through Root Lengths of Mandibular Second and Third Permanent Molars Using Machine Learning and Artificial Neural Networks

The present study explores the efficacy of Machine Learning and Artificial Neural Networks in age assessment using the root length of the second and third molar teeth. A dataset of 1000 panoramic radiographs with intact second and third molars ranging from 12 to 25 years was archived. The length of the mesial and distal roots was measured using ImageJ software. The dataset was classified in three ways based on the age distribution: 2-Class, 3-Class, and 5-Class. We used Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and Logistic Regression models to train, test, and analyze the root length measurements. The mesial root of the third molar on the right side was a good predictor of age. The SVM showed the highest accuracy of 86.4% for 2-class, 66% for 3-class, and 42.8% for 5-Class. The RF showed the highest accuracy of 47.6% for 5-Class. Overall the present study demonstrated that the Deep Learning model (fully connected model) performed better than the Machine Learning models, and the mesial root length of the right third molar was a good predictor of age. Additionally, a combination of different root lengths could be informative while building a Machine Learning model.

Synthesis and Phytotoxic Evaluation of Isatin Derivatives Supported by 3D-QSAR Study.

Concerned about weed infestation, a major threat to food production and herbicide resistance that interferes in the mechanism of action of the main herbicides, we have synthesized eight isatin derivatives using the "Click Chemistry" approach through copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloadditions (CuAAC). Sixteen isatin derivatives were evaluated for their phytotoxic activity against the seed culture of the model plants, Lactuca sativa and Allium cepa. Six of them showed phytotoxic activity similar to the positive control, trifluralin. Hypocotyl length measurement analysis in L. sativa revealed that triazole derivative 8 is more active than trifluralin. For A. cepa, root length measurement analyses revealed that 3, 10, 14, 16, and 17 were similar to the positive control trifluralin. Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) model construction using the acetolactate synthase (ALS) crystallographic structure displayed pki values of predicted inhibitory activity and contour maps revealing sterically bulky groups for 11, the CF3 group in ortho, and for 17, Br in ortho, favoring the inhibitory ALS activity.

Formulation of substrates with agricultural and forestry wastes for Camellia oleifera Abel seedling cultivation.

Five Camellia oleifera Abel seedling substrates were prepared using the conventional formula, but with the peat substituted by the composts of Camellia oleifera shell, pine chips, palm fiber residues, chicken manure, and sheep manure. The physical and chemical properties of the prepared substrates before and after seedling cultivation were determined and their effects on the growth of Camellia oleifera seedling were analyzed. It was found that the survival rates of the one-year-old seedlings produced from stem cuttings on all substrates at 6 months were greater than 97.5%. As compared with the conventional substrate, the substrates formulated with the composts were able to promote the seedling growth based upon height, ground diameter, root length and root volume measurement. The substrate prepared with the compost of Camellia oleifera shell+ palm fiber residue+ chicken manure (A3), vermiculite and perlite (6:3:1) was the most optimal, which gave 100% seedling survival rate, the greatest seedling height, and the largest ground diameter. In particular, the ground diameters and 26.67% of the seedling heights reached the grade 1 standard for two-year-old seedlings.

Acetic acid disturbs rice germination and post-germination under controlled conditions mimicking green mulching in flooded paddy

Cover crop use in organic rice cropping systems efficiently manages the two most limiting factors in organic agriculture - weed competition and nutrient availability. Nonetheless, cover crop biomasses on soil surfaces under the anaerobic conditions in flooded rice systems produce organic acids (mainly acetic acid) that cause early phytotoxicity to rice seedling coleoptile and roots. This study evaluated the dose-response of acetic acid on germination rates and post-germination growth traits (coleoptile, first leaf, and roots). Under controlled conditions, the seeds of three rice varieties (Sant’Andrea, Salvo, and Selenio) were immersed in acetic acid concentrations (0, 9, 18, 36, 54, and 72 ppm) for eight days. Germination results suggest that acetic acid likely scarred var. Salvo, based on a 15% faster germination rate compared to untreated controls. Across all varieties, increased acetic acid concentrations never slowed germination. During post-germination growth stages, root phytotoxicity was always more evident than shoot phytotoxicity, although the responses varied among the varieties. Root length damage appeared first at acetic acid concentrations of 36 ppm in var. Sant’Andrea and Selenio, and at 54 ppm in var. Salvo. Root length measurements provided explicit and speedy information on varietal tolerance to acetic acid and, consequently to cover crop fermentation and suggested that direct observation of root damage in paddy fields is valuable for prompt water management decisions, such as flooding interruption. Further development of this method may lead to more complete varietal screening and identification of related genetic traits responsible for tolerance. Highlights- Based on genotype, increasing acetic acid levels in flooding waters can speed rice germination.- Roots are more sensitive than shoots to acetic acid phytotoxicity during very early germination.- Early root length impairments provide information on tolerance to acetic acid phytotoxicity.- A slower germination rate may induce higher tolerance to green mulching.