Modern Plant Production Research Articles

Effect of Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) on Some Physical and Bioactive Compounds of ‘Iceberg’ Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.)

Abstract The use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is a recent concerned application in the indoor crop system of the modern plant production. In our research, we evaluated the influence of four monochromic LED lights including 100% White (W), Yellow (Y), Red (R) and Blue (B) in comparison to solar lightening condition (GR) as a control. In this regard, some morphological characteristics and biochemical content of the common outdoor ‘Iceberg’ lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was measured. The results show that leaf length, leaf area and total head weight were significantly greater in the plants grown under B LED, while all the other physical parameters were significantly higher in the plants grown under GR environmental conditions. On the other hand, chlorophyll (Chl), carotenoids (Car), and nitrate content were also influenced by different light treatments. Plants grown under LED light treatment resulted in significantly higher chlorophyll content compared to the control. However, significantly greater carotenoid content was in the plants grown under GR condition. The highest total chlorophyll content was recorded under B and R LED, whereas the lowest was in the GR condition. The lowest nitrate content in the blade and petiole was recorded in the plants grown under Y LED, while the highest nitrate content was recorded in the GR. Based on our result, it is possible to grow and improve some quality parameters of common outdoor ‘iceberg’ lettuce under LED where the solar light is limited or unavailable. Thus, plants performed better under GR light conditions than monochromic LEDs; however, some LED lights could improve some quality parameters and biochemical contents in the ‘iceberg’ lettuce variety.

Overview of the aeroponic agriculture – An emerging technology for global food security

Traditionally, crops are cultivated in soil-based open field systems. Seasonality, environmental degradation, urbanization, and food security issues have replaced open-field systems with modern plant production systems. Soilless culture is one of the modern plant production systems, which involves much higher use of available resources. The presented study provides information about currently accessible soilless systems and discussed the aeroponic system. Compared to other soilless systems, aeroponic reduce water usage through continuous water circulation. However, the aeroponic is not entirely implemented among local farmers, and very few farmers have adopted the system due to the lack of research and technical information available in the literature. Therefore, this study was planned to provide information about the development and maintenance tasks required for practicing the aeroponic system. This study could provide knowledge to the researchers, farmers, and those people interested in practicing the aeroponic system. Keywords: aeroponic, food security, hydroponic, soilless culture, substrate culture DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20201301.5156 Citation: Lakhiar I A, Gao J M, Syed T N, Chandio F A, Tunio M H, Ahmad F, et al. Overview of the aeroponic agriculture – An emerging technology for global food security. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2020; 13(1): 1–10.

Overview of the aeroponic agriculture – An emerging technology for global food security

Traditionally, crops are cultivated in soil-based open field systems. Seasonality, environmental degradation, urbanization, and food security issues have replaced open-field systems with modern plant production systems. Soilless culture is one of the modern plant production systems, which involves much higher use of available resources. The presented study provides information about currently accessible soilless systems and discussed the aeroponic system. Compared to other soilless systems, aeroponic reduce water usage through continuous water circulation. However, the aeroponic is not entirely implemented among local farmers, and very few farmers have adopted the system due to the lack of research and technical information available in the literature. Therefore, this study was planned to provide information about the development and maintenance tasks required for practicing the aeroponic system. This study could provide knowledge to the researchers, farmers, and those people interested in practicing the aeroponic system. Keywords: aeroponic, food security, hydroponic, soilless culture, substrate culture DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20201301.5156 Citation: Lakhiar I A, Gao J M, Syed T N, Chandio F A, Tunio M H, Ahmad F, et al. Overview of the aeroponic agriculture – An emerging technology for global food security. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2020; 13(1): 1–10.

Applying plant ecological knowledge to increase agricultural sustainability

Summary Plant ecological knowledge accumulated over the past 150 years has enormous implications for agriculture, but most of these implications have not been appreciated by ecologists or agronomists. Here, I present several of the most salient examples. Agriculturalists refer to ‘improvements’, but plant ecologists know that ‘trade‐offs’ represent a better conceptual framework for agricultural production. There is much evidence for trade‐offs between yield and resource use efficiency, and between individual fitness and population yield. I argue that there is also a ‘limiting trade‐off’ between short‐term yield and sustainability, and it is important to take this into consideration if we are serious about increasing sustainability. At the local level, agricultural sustainability is about maintaining or improving soil fertility, but this is not a priority in most agricultural systems world‐wide. Increased biomass density (both living and dead) in the field is the key to increasing sustainability while maintaining high yields, and I present a vision of ‘High Biomass Cropping Systems’. Classical and current research in plant community ecology tells us that rotation of crops with different nutritional needs, pests, diseases and weeds can make a major contribution to sustainability. The very limited crop rotations practised in most modern plant production systems are a clear indication that farming practices are usually based on short‐term economic and regulatory factors, without much if any consideration for sustainability. Synthesis. The modern scientific method tells us how we should test hypotheses, but it says nothing about how hypotheses are generated. We need to address the agricultural research agenda if it is to serve the interests of farmers, consumers and society as a whole, rather than narrow but powerful economic interests.

Plant Omics Biotechnologies: Probiotics or Antibiotics

The objective of this viewpoint article was to critically discuss uses or misuses of plant omical biotechnologies. Such technologies would become probiotics functioning towards improved plant health, or would become antibiotics suboptimizing modern plant production. The world plant science and industry is in great need of pragmatic omical biotechnologies to minimize challenges. Omical biotechnologies must not be utilized to further complicate the current complexities with outward goals. Plant science mentors must persistently educate the next plant scientists on such a critical issue. This is only way to make science solution.

Biological mode of action of a nitrophenolates-based biostimulant: case study.

The challenges facing modern plant production involve (i) responding to the demand for food and resources of plant origin from the world's rapidly growing population, (ii) coping with the negative impact of stressful conditions mainly due to anthropopressure, and (iii) meeting consumers' new requirements and preferences for food that is high in nutritive value, natural, and free from harmful chemical additives. Despite employing the most modern plant cultivation technologies and the progress that has been made in breeding programs, the genetically-determined crop potential is still far from being fully exploited. Consequently yield and quality are often reduced, making production less, both profitable and attractive. There is an increasing desire to reduce the chemical input in agriculture and there has been a change toward integrated plant management and sustainable, environmentally-friendly systems. Biostimulants are a category of relatively new products of diverse formulations that positively affect a plant's vital processes and whose impact is usually more evident under stressful conditions. In this paper, information is provided on the mode of action of a nitrophenolates-based biostimulant, Atonik, in model species and economically important crops grown under both field and controlled conditions in a growth chamber. The effects of Atonik on plant morphology, physiology, biochemistry (crops and model plant) and yield and yield parameters (crops) is demonstrated. Effects of other biostimulants on studied in this work processes/parameters are also presented in discussion.

Genetic engineering and sustainable production of ornamentals: current status and future directions

Through the last decades, environmentally and health-friendly production methods and conscientious use of resources have become crucial for reaching the goal of a more sustainable plant production. Protection of the environment requires careful consumption of limited resources and reduction of chemicals applied during production of ornamental plants. Numerous chemicals used in modern plant production have negative impacts on human health and are hazardous to the environment. In Europe, several compounds have lost their approval and further legal restrictions can be expected. This review presents the more recent progress of genetic engineering in ornamental breeding, delivers an overview of the biological background of the used technologies and critically evaluates the usefulness of the strategies to obtain improved ornamental plants. First, genetic engineering is addressed as alternative to growth retardants, comprising recombinant DNA approaches targeting relevant hormone pathways, e.g. the gibberellic acid (GA) pathway. A reduced content of active GAs causes compact growth and can be facilitated by either decreased anabolism, increased catabolism or altered perception. Moreover, compactness can be accomplished by using a natural transformation approach without recombinant DNA technology. Secondly, metabolic engineering approaches targeting elements of the ethylene signal transduction pathway are summarized as a possible alternative to avoid the use of chemical ethylene inhibitors. In conclusion, molecular breeding approaches are dealt with in a way allowing a critical biological assessment and enabling the scientific community and public to put genetic engineering of ornamental plants into a perspective regarding their usefulness in plant breeding.

Plant protection and environment

Modern plant production cannot do without chemical pesticides, houever, this requires continued supervision. This control is especially necessary with regard to the incidence of pests and the methods for their elimination with special consideration of residue control. Ecologic plant protection in accordance with the environment will be one of the most important factors in guaranteeing human food in future.