Minor Crops Research Articles

Determination of Engineering Properties of Coleus Pertinent to the Design of a Digging-cum-Windrowing Unit

Coleus (Solenostemon rotundifolius) is an important minor tuber crop grown in the homesteads of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. There was a demand for mechanisation for harvesting the tuber because the conventional method of harvesting followed was tedious and time-consuming. For the design and development of a coleus harvester with reduced drudgery, the design parameters were selected with respect to the tuber properties. Random sampling was carried out for determining the physical and frictional properties of coleus. The average values of physical properties such as length, width, thickness, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, surface area, volume and bulk density were found out as 44.56 mm, 27.36 mm, 24.50 mm, 30.99 mm, 0.70, 3029.69 mm2, 15786.50 mm3 and 718.21 kg m-3 respectively. The angle of repose was determined as 30.83° and the coefficient of static friction was found out as 0.73, 0.69 and 0.81 on galvanised iron, stainless steel and plywood surfaces respectively. These data were used for the design of various components of the harvester.

Evaluation of F1 hybrids for horticultural and quality traits and pumpkin yellow vein mosaic disease resistance in pumpkin

Pumpkins being cheap and having higher medicinal value can act as a saviour to low-income families. Butbeing a minor crop, little attention has been paid to its improvement. The hybridization in pumpkins is economicallyfeasible due to the monoecious nature and higher number of seeds per fruit. Moreover, the development of superiorhybrids can enhance production and consumption through ease in cultivation, meeting consumers’ preferencesand suitability to different seasons. Hitherto, 34 F1 hybrids were evaluated during spring and rainy seasons forstandard heterosis. H9 (P-225 × GFR-6783) and H28 (VR-1365 × VR-13364) hybrids exhibited maximum standardheterosis for yield per plant and can be exploited for commercial cultivation. Resistance to PYVMD is a pre-requisitefor the successful cultivation of pumpkin in the rainy season. 11 hybrids (H24, H25, H26, H27, H28, H29, H30, H31,H32, H33 and H34) tolerant to PYVMD offered the advantage of cultivating pumpkin in both seasons.

Residue behaviors and dietary risk of cyazofamid in turnip, onion and romaine lettuce assessed by a QuEChERS-LC-MS/MS method

In this study, the dissipation, terminal residues and dietary risk of the cyazofamid residue in three globally consumed minor crops, turnip (Brassica rapa L.), onion (Allium cepa L.) and romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were assessed by supervised field trials at 6 locations of China in 2020. A reliable QuEChERS-LC-MS/MS method was developed for simultaneous analysis of cyazofamid and its primary metabolite, 4-chloro-5-p-tolylimidazole-2-carbonitrile (CCIM). The average recoveries of cyazofamid and CCIM in turnip, onion and romaine lettuce were 79 %–97 % and 77 %–99 %, respectively. The half-lives of cyazofamid in these crops were 5.7–6.5, 5.3–8.7 and 5.8–6.5 days in turnip, onion and romaine lettuce, respectively, with the final cyazofamid residues at harvest all lower than limit of quantitation (LOQ, 0.01 mg/kg). The turnip roots, onion bulbs and romaine lettuce leaves grown in China under Good Agricultural Practices conditions and harvested 10, 14 and 5 days, respectively, after the cyazofamid SC (100 g/L) application, would be reasonably safe for consumption by the general population. The maximum residue limit (MRL) values of cyazofamid could be tentatively set as 10 mg/kg for turnip leaves, 0.3 mg/kg for turnip roots, 0.05 mg/kg for onion bulbs, and 10 mg/kg for romaine lettuce leaves.

The genetic diversity and nutritional quality of proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) and its Philippine ecotype, the ancient grain “kabog millet”: A review

Climate change and biodiversity loss will push us to revolutionise and transform our existing food systems to feed the global population and provide sustainable nutrition. Alternative crops such as proso millet present a viable option to diversify our diet and contribute to food security. Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is nutritious but is not a widely popular food grain in developed countries. This review provides existing relevant information on the genetic diversity and nutritional properties of proso millet. This paper also presents additional current information on the “kabog millet”, an ancient grain from Cebu, Philippines, considered an ecotype of proso millet. The nutritional profiles of these ancient grains should be emphasised because farmers tend to abandon cultivation of these ancient grains in the absence of nutritional data. By understanding the nutritional profile of “kabog millet” and other ancient grains, the local diets could be redesigned to incorporate these crops for a more complete and balanced nutrition. Proso millet offers a resilient, nutritious crop in the face of climate change. Nutritional analyses of proso millet varieties and other minor crops are tools to encourage farmers and growers to cultivate them and for consumers to integrate these crops in the diet. Without nutritional studies, many minor crops will be overlooked and will soon be forgotten. The inclusion and consumption of ancient grains like “kabog millet” as staple food can help address the challenge of food insecurity by providing more balanced diets, and biodiversity loss by encouraging cultivation of overlooked and often forgotten plant varieties.

Toward Exploring and Utilizing the Nutritional and Functional Properties of Cereal Crops

Cereal crops are of great importance in the development of human civilization and fall into two groups, major crops and minor crops [...].

Overcoming barriers to crop diversification uptake in Europe: A mini review

Crop diversification (CD) encompasses practices such as extending crop rotation, cover cropping and intercropping practices, and growing minor crops. It has attracted increasing interest because it can produce both private benefits for farmers, including improved crop and soil health, and reduced inputs, and public goods for society, including greater biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and climate resilience. Nevertheless, CD is not widely practiced in Europe. This paper uses a conceptual framework based upon the literature on barriers to agricultural innovation and CD to guide a systematic-like literature review of existing review articles on the barriers to CD in Europe and a review of research from the European Crop Diversification Cluster, comprising six EU research projects. We compare barriers to CD uptake and identify opportunities to accelerate CD uptake, drawing four main conclusions. First, the barriers to CD are influenced by many factors: the specific crop, cropping method, geographical region, the farmer, the supply chain or market, and the institutional environment. Second, the barriers to CD uptake are interconnected and occur at multiple points along the supply chain; addressing barriers to CD uptake therefore requires a simultaneous and coordinated approach. Third, the inclusion of farmers' perspectives in the CD cluster research revealed novel barriers and solutions demonstrating that participatory and transdisciplinary agricultural research is needed to understand the on-farm reality and its influence on CD uptake. Lastly, farmers' decision-making warrants greater attention. The results highlight that farmers' decision-making is unpredictable and likely to focus on utility rather than profit maximization.

Determination of Multi-pesticides Residues in Jasmine Flower and Its Scented Tea.

For minor crops such as jasmine, the lack of pesticide registration and maximum residue limits are important issues that need to be solved in order to facilitate trading and ensure food safety. Meanwhile, reliable and quick analytical methods for multi-pesticide residues in these commodities are few, but required by various stakeholders. In this study, a method for detecting twenty-five most frequently used pesticides in jasmine flower and its scented tea by multi-plug filtration cleanup and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was developed and validated. The cleanup process was optimized and compared with the dispersive solid phase extraction procedure. The method was validated, showing that except for methomyl, recoveries of twenty-five pesticides were 64%-108%, with relative standard deviations (n = 5) of 0.33%-10%. The method was successfully applied to detect pesticide residues in marketed samples. The results showed that some flower and tea samples contained a combination of different pesticide residues.

Micropropagation of Minor Fruit Crops of India: A Review

Micro-propagation refers to the technique of in vitro multiplication of plants in a short duration using any plant parts (nodes, leaves, flowers, seeds etc.) under aseptic conditions. It is advantageous over vegetative propagation and its application in horticultural aspects. It is well-proven method of surplus production of elite identical plants in a controlled environment which are uniform, stable, disease-free, true-to-type and are independent of any seasonal restrictions or limitations. India is homeland to diverse of significant but minor fruit crops such as Indian gooseberry, (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.), Karonda (Carissa carandas L.), Bael (Aegle marmelos Corr.), Jamun (Syzygium cuminii L.), Jackfruit (Artocarpus hetrophylous L.) which bear high nutritional, medicinal, therapeutic values and of great commercial importance (medicinal, food and cosmetics). Due to a paucity of desirable planting materials, the commercial production process for these crops is restricted. Micropropagation has the potential to significantly increase the number of new cultivars or genotypes of such fruit crops. The objective of this review study is to compile existing research work done on the micropropagation of these underutilized fruit crops.

Biochemical Mechanism Unlocking Their Potential Role in Salt Tolerance Mechanism of Zizyphus Germplasm

Salinity is one of the major constraints reducing plant growth and yield. Irrigation with poor quality and brackish water to orchards is a major cause of stunted growth and low yield. The salt tolerance mechanism is one of the complicated genomic characters that is very problematic to develop in fruit trees and becomes much more severe at any growth and developmental stage. Osmotic stress and hormonal imbalances are major constraints causing low biomass production. Fruit tree tolerance/sensitivity is chiefly based on the activation of a defense system comprised of super-oxidase dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalases (CAT), non-enzymatic compounds including ascorbic acid, phenolics, flavonoids, stress indicators [i.e., hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and osmolytes containing proline, glycine-betaine (GB), ascorbates (APX), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR)]. Tolerant genotypes must have higher antioxidant assays to cope with the adverse effects of salinity stress because their defense system had the potential to scavenge toxic ROS and protect from membrane leakage. Some work is conducted on agronomic and horticultural crops; however, underutilized fruit crops are still neglected and need serious consideration from plant researchers. Minor fruit crops especially Zizyphus had excellent nutritional aspects. The current study provides detailed insights into the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of Zizyphus species to cope with the adverse effects of salinity by improving their plant defense system. The development of salt-tolerant germplasm is a requisite and can be developed by utilization of physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms. Application of different molecular approaches (i.e., genome mapping, genome editing, genetic transformation, proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolites) are effective for higher yield by improving tolerance mechanisms.

STARTING POINT OF BUCKWHEAT BREEDING IN BANGLADESH

Buckwheat is not commonly cultivated in Bangladesh because it is an ancient minor crop. Common buckwheat is familiar as a rabi season crop and is rarely cultivated in some areas of northern part in Bangladesh. Henceforth, organized research improvement has not been established yet on buckwheat and so research information about buckwheat breeding is very limited. Again no developed variety available in Bangladesh. The varieties which are being cultivated in farmer’s level are actually local cultivar. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) started working on buckwheat with five genotype, since 2018 and collected from PGRC, BARI. Characterization, different yield trial in different regions of Bangladesh have been conducted for selection of promising genotype.

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BASED ON POLYPLOIDIZATION: A PERSPECTIVE CONTRIBUTION OF MINOR CROPS

Polyploidization is commonly known to become a vital process to succeed in developing potential crops. In the plant kingdom, the polyploids, i.e., aneuploidy and polyploidy, are generally developed through sexual and asexual pathways, resulting in totally increasing biomass, phytochemical compounds, and adaptation to detrimental environment. For more precision, thousands of polyploidy plant species adapted to various climatic and topographic conditions through genomic evolution. Autopolyploid, allopolyploid, and aneuploidy, as well as, different levels of ploidy are simply found in vegetables, such as, potatoes, and among fruits, i.e., bananas, watermelon, and so on. Contrastingly, in mammals, polyploidization causes congenital diseases and pregnancy loss, especially in human beings. This review article will first describe polyploidization in plants and then enumerate the advantages of its beneficial effects that are more valuable. The paper also intends to introduce new knowledge on polyploidization in crop breeding. Thus, it has further mentioned the polyploid like aneuploidy and polyploidy in a perspective contribution of minor crops in plant kingdoms and their beneficial and detrimental effects in the development of crop strategies.

Pathogenic and Genetic Characterization of Fusarium verticillioides Strains Collected from Maize and Sorghum Kernels

Commercial and sanitary qualities of cereals are important and contribute to the determination of the final application and destination of the grain and, thus, farmer profit. Although considered a minor crop in Italy, in the last years, the cultivation area of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) has been increasing and is often adjacent or subsequent to the most common maize (Zea mays L.) fields, with the risk of sharing mycotoxigenic fungi that are common to both cereals, such as Fusarium verticillioides. The present work aims to clarify if a fungal physiological characteristic such as fumonisin production and some plant growth parameters such as effects on germination, root and shoot development and on tissue necrosis may be common and shared among F. verticillioides strains belonging to maize and sorghum, especially if present on adjacent fields at the same time. Sorghum kernels are commonly less colonized and contaminated by F. verticillioides and fumonisins than maize, and, at least in part, this aspect could be explained by the higher frequency of low-producing strains obtained from sorghum compared to those obtained from maize. Moreover, although no clear pathogen specificity was found, the results relating to the parameters analyzed suggest a host preference by F. verticillioides isolated from maize that affects maize seedlings with greater severity as well as F. verticillioides strains from sorghum versus sorghum. Five microsatellite markers showed minor differences between the two sets of strains but could not reliably discriminate between hosts. The resulting data suggest that in adjacent maize and sorghum crops, the population of F. verticillioides selected during sorghum cultivation may not represent a particular mycotoxigenic or pathogenic issue for maize cultivation.

Management of blast disease of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn) caused by Pyricularia grisea under field conditions in Dolakha, Nepal

Lack of understanding regarding the choice of chemical fungicides or botanicals with their optimal doze and spraying schedule is one of the major problems concerning mid-hill farmers to control finger millet diseases in Nepal. In order to assess the effectiveness of the four fungicides, namely Bavistin 50 WP (Carbendazim 50%), SAAF (Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% WP), RIDOMIL-MZ 72 WP (Metalyxl 8% + Mancozeb 64% WP), BAAN 75 WP (Tricyclazole 75%), and two botanicalsermented anaerobically in cattle urine, an artificial epiphytotic field. In the years 2018 and 2019, the experiment was run using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Carbendazim, one of the chosen treatments, had the greatest impact in lowering the AUDPC values for leaf blast (1818, 1191) as well as neck (4,53) and finger blast (10,45) incidence percentage in both 2018 and 2019 years. Tricyclazole, SAAF, RIDOMIL-MZ, and Lantana camara fermented in cow urine were also discovered to be beneficial throughout the year. So it is recommended to deploy fungicides in a controlled manner through rotation and mixed applications, which is advantageous for both grain and seed production even for minor and underutilized crops from an economic aspect.

Measuring Production Function and Technical Efficiency of Onion, Tomato, and Chillies Farms in Sindh, Pakistan

Pakistan is blessed with vast agricultural resources on account of its fertile land, well-irrigated plains, huge irrigation system and infrastructure, variety of weathers, and centuries old experiences of farming. Agriculture is the single largest sector of the economy which contributes 20.9 percent in GDP and employees 43.4 percent of total work force. The estimated GDP of agricultural crops at current factor cost is Rs 1,608,522 million with major crops contributing Rs 579996 million and minor crops valued at Rs 191,835 million for the year 2006-07 [Pakistan (2007)]. The horticulture crops (fruits, vegetables and condiments) alone contribute Rs 116.645 billion, equivalent to US$ 2 billion, which is 26 percent of the total value of all crops and 81.8 percent of the total value of minor crops. Pakistan annually produces about 12.0 million tons of fruits and vegetables. Fruit and vegetable export trade in Pakistan amounts to US$ 134 million (2003-04), of which fruits account for US$ 102.7 million (76.6 percent), vegetables US$ 25.7 million (19.2 percent) and fruit and vegetable preparations (mostly juices) US$ 5.6 million which is 4.2 percent [Pakistan (2004)] .

Commercialization of Pigeon Pea Production: Its Determinants and Constraints

Commercialization of neglected and underutilized species is a reasonable pathway to food security, employment growth, and reducing poverty. Pigeon pea is one of the underutilized crops with great economic value and health benefits. Despite its potential, pigeon pea is still a minor crop. This study, therefore, examined the level of pigeon pea commercialization, influencing factors of the commercialization of pigeon pea production and the constraints faced in its commercialization in Nigeria. The descriptive statistics, the household commercialization index, and the Tobit regression model were used to analyse primary data collected from 160 randomly selected pigeon pea farmers. The results showed that the mean household commercialization index was 29.2%, implying that the farmers still had a gap of a minimum of 45.8% to attain a high level of commercialization in pigeon pea production. The positive influencing factors for the commercialization of pigeon pea production were access to credit, farming experience, farm size, farm output, extension services, the use of farm machinery, and pesticides. The distance to the market had a negative influence on the commercialization of pigeon pea production. Farmers' major challenges in commercializing pigeon pea production included a lack of credit, insufficient extension contacts, a poor transportation system, pests and diseases, high production input costs, inadequate storage facilities, and insufficient access to timely market information. Therefore, this study recommends encouraging pigeon pea commercialization by the government and non-governmental organizations through the provision of farm credits, production inputs, a good transportation system, and an improved agricultural extension system.

Adlay, an ancient functional plant with nutritional quality, improves human health.

Adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L.), a crop closed related to maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), originated in tropical/subtropical regions of Asia and Africa; southwest China primary center of this plant's origin, evolution and migration. Adlay is a traditional high-value minor crop used for both medicinal and dietary purposes. Adlay has anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, blood sugar-lowering, and blood lipid-lowering effects. To clarify the main bioactive components and phytochemical compounds and to fully explore their utility, this review summarizes the research done on the main functional ingredients of adlay, including amino acids and proteins, oils, vitamins and minerals, polysaccharides, and polyphenols. This study also highlighted the application of genome sequencing to tailor nutrient-rich adlay cultivars and nutraceutical product development. Additionally, the acquisition of high-density genomic data combined with next-generation phenotypic analysis will undoubtedly improve our understanding of the potential genetic regulation of adlay nutraceutical traits. This review provides new insights and ideas for the research of adlay in comparison and evolutionary genomics, and a useful reference for molecular breeding and genetic improvement of this important minor crop.

Osmotic dehydration influence on marking nut (Semecarpus anacardium)

Marking nut (Semecarpus anacardium) is one of the underutilized minor crops growing wildly in our country. This fruit has got great medicinal properties and health benefits. But its importance is not completely understood and the fruits go waste. Therefore, it is necessary to develop value-added products and osmotically dehydrated fruits have good potential. The inclusion of an osmotic process in conventional dehydration has two major advantages quality improvement and energy savings. There was a significant difference found in the samples prepared from different pretreatments of osmotic dehydration. Osmotic pretreatment T3 (Sucrose 60º Brix. + 18 hrs of immersion + Drying at 60º C) had a great influence on the quality and organoleptic properties of the fruits with maximum solid gain (86.40 %), carbohydrates (75.78 %) and minimum scores for moisture (13.60 %). Also, the highest scores for organoleptic parameters like colour (4), appearance (4), texture (3.75) and taste (3.75) were recorded in the same sample.

Hybrid knowledge and climate-resilient agriculture practices of the Tharu in the western Tarai, Nepal

Indigenous knowledge can function as a basis of innovation in agriculture because it is not only culturally accepted, but often also environmentally adaptive. The debates and misunderstandings regarding the relations between Indigenous and scientific knowledge are transforming into a trend to integrate all knowledge to deal with complex issues, such as climate change. In this study we explore the understandings of the Tharu people of their farming system in relation to adaptation and mitigation of climate change, based on mixed methods design using both ethnographic analysis of their specific agriculture practices from participant observation and a survey of 229 households in the western Tarai of Nepal. Among our findings is the fit of the traditional agricultural calendar of the Tharu with the labor regimen of agricultural seasons. We found that conservation tillage-oriented agricultural practices, such as relay cropping, including zero-tillage, remain important in the farming system. Although this practice is decreasing, particularly due to the low yield as compared to the conventional tillage system, relay sowing and zero-tillage in the lowlands and uplands remain important for timely crop sowing. Similarly, mixed cropping is prevalent, particularly among small holders, for subsistence-based farming, in part due to higher yield than sole cropping. We conclude that Indigenous knowledge regarding climate and agriculture practices assists making informed decisions for climate-resilient and low emission agriculture. Although some traditional climate-resilient agriculture practices may yield lower profit than those derived from scientific knowledge/methods, the Tharu have therefore embraced “hybrid knowledge”—a combination of Indigenous and scientific knowledge, technology and practice—to balance increased yield and profit maximization with concurrent decreased vulnerability to extreme weather events. We argue that it is not useful to make firm distinctions among traditional, Indigenous and local knowledge in the age of hybridity. This hybridity is evident in the complementarity of the use of improved varieties and scientific agricultural practices for the major grains and the continuing use of landraces for minor crops such as lentils, peas and mustard. However, further research on the sustainable productivity of such practices is required before their widespread dissemination.

Orphan crops: A genetic treasure trove for hunting stress tolerance genes

AbstractOrphan crops, also known as minor crops, smart foods, and superfoods, have attracted great attention recently because of their unique ability to grow in resource‐poor marginal lands, and under harsh environmental conditions without any intensive agricultural care. These crops possess inherent tolerance against different abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, cold, and heat. Recent advancements in genomic resources and high‐throughput phenotyping platforms have provided opportunities to explore the untapped potential of orphan crops to identify novel gene source(s) and mechanism(s) for developing abiotic stress‐tolerant crops. Moreover, genomics‐assisted investigations into the various physiological and molecular mechanism(s) could provide useful insights into stress tolerance mechanisms in these plants. Nevertheless, translating the hidden power of the tolerant gene pools from the orphan crops into major staple crops for enhancing their stress tolerance while maintaining yield is a challenging task. The contemporary tools of genomics can be used to unravel the secret of stress tolerance in orphan crops and employ these untapped genes for tailoring stress‐tolerant crop varieties to ensure global food security in the era of climate change.

Prediction of Buckwheat Maturity in UAV-RGB Images Based on Recursive Feature Elimination Cross-Validation: A Case Study in Jinzhong, Northern China

Buckwheat is an important minor grain crop with medicinal and edible functions. The accurate judgment of buckwheat maturity is beneficial to reduce harvest losses and improve yield. With the rapid development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, it has been widely used to predict the maturity of agricultural products. This paper proposed a method using recursive feature elimination cross-validation (RFECV) combined with multiple regression models to predict the maturity of buckwheat in UAV-RGB images. The images were captured in the buckwheat experimental field of Shanxi Agricultural University in Jinzhong, Northern China, from September to October in 2021. The variety was sweet buckwheat of "Jinqiao No. 1". In order to deeply mine the feature vectors that highly correlated with the prediction of buckwheat maturity, 22 dimensional features with 5 vegetation indexes, 9 color features, and 8 texture features of buckwheat were selected initially. The RFECV method was adopted to obtain the optimal feature vector dimensions and combinations with six regression models of decision tree regression, linear regression, random forest regression, AdaBoost regression, gradient lifting regression, and extreme random tree regression. The coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE) were used to analyze the different combinations of the six regression models with different feature spaces. The experimental results show that the single vegetation index performed poorly in the prediction of buckwheat maturity; the prediction result of feature space "5" combined with the gradient lifting regression model performed the best; and the R2 and RMSE were 0.981 and 1.70 respectively. The research results can provide an important theoretical basis for the prediction of the regional maturity of crops.