Narrow Leaf Research Articles

Selectivity of new generation herbicide ‘Tembotrione’ under conservation agriculture-based maize (<i>Zea mays</i>) in maize-wheat-mungbean cropping system

An experiment was conducted at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi during the rainy (Kharif) seasons of 2021–22 and 2022–23. The study aimed to evaluate the weed control efficiency of low dose new generation herbicide: tembotrione (34.4% SC) as a component of integrated weed management (IWM), on zero-till (ZT) and conventional till (CT) maize (Zea mays L.). The treatments were comprised of conventional tillage maize (M1: CT-M), conventional tillage maize with green manure from preceding green gram (M2: CT-M+GM), zero tillage maize with residue retention at 3 t/ha (M3: ZT-M+R), zero tillage maize with Sesbania co-culture as brown manuring (cover crop) (M4: ZT-M+BM) in the main plot and five weed control treatments, viz S1: Un- weeded check, S2: Pre +1 HW, S3: Pre + Post (tembotrione) @120g/ha, S4: Pre+ Post (Premix of Mesotrione+ Atrazine) @120 g/ha, S5: Weed free check (WFC) in the sub-plots were evaluated in split-plot design. It was ob- served that ZT-M+BM caused a considerable reduction in the population of broad-leaf weed, narrow leaf weed with sedges and total weeds (28.4% reduction at 60 days after sowing) compared to M1. The results also revealed that the sequential application of atrazine @750g/ha+pendimethalin @750g/ha(pre) followed by (fb.) tembotrione (34.4% SC) @120 g/ha (post) among the herbicide options reduced the weeds population (78.5%) and dry weight (81.3%) significantly than the un-weeded control (UWC). Maize yield attributes were higher in ZT with Sesbania co-culture (ZT-M+BM) than conventional-tilled treatments (CT-M). The application of atrazine @750g/ ha+pendimethalin @750g/ha (pre) fb. tembotrione @120 g/ha (post) combined with ZT-M+BM resulting in higher maize yield (6.88 t/ha) which was comparable with that in weed-free check (WFC). The post emergence (PoE) ap- plication of tembotrione (34.4% SC) @120 g/ha recorded highest weed control efficiency (86.2%), weed control in- dex (88.1%) and lowest value of weed index (7.04) when applied in the ZT-maize with sesbania as a cover crop. Therefore, combining zero tillage (ZT) with brown manure (Sesbania), along with atrazine and pendimethalin (@750g/ha each) as pre-emergence herbicides, and tembotrione (@120g/ha) as a post-emergence herbicide is recommended for effective weed control and high maize productivity in the North-Western Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP).

Aspidistra tripartita (Asparagaceae, Convallarioideae), a new species from Vietnam

Aspidistra tripartita, a new species of Asparagaceae, is described and illustrated. The species was discovered in 2019 in Son La Province, northern Vietnam. Aspidistra tripartita belongs to a group of species characterized by campanulate to cupulate perianth tube and deeply lobed stigma. The new species is readily distinguishable from the other species of this group by thick rhizome (more than 10.5 mm in diameter), long and narrow ensiform leaf blades (28–71.5 cm long and 2.6–3.1 cm wide), and stamens with supraconnectives.

Accelerated development of maize inbred lines suitable for high density through doubled haploid technology

Aim: Doubled haploid technology was utilized to accelerate the development of maize lines with traits suitable for high planting density, enabling the identification of potential parental lines for hybrid development under these conditions. Methodology: Two F1 populations (PML-119 x PML-185 and PML-95 x PML-172) were used to generate doubled haploid lines, confirmed using polymorphic markers phi115 and umc1887. These lines were phenotypically evaluated under high density (60 cm x 15 cm) and normal density (60 cm x 20 cm) conditions. Results: Using doubled haploid technology, 67 lines were developed from two source populations with traits such as narrow leaf angle, moderate plant height, and sparse tassel for high planting density stress tolerance. Molecular marker screening confirmed the homozygosity of these lines. Agronomic evaluation under narrow plant-to-plant spacing (15 cm) identified eight potential donor lines amenable to high planting density stress, ready for use as parents in breeding high-density tolerant hybrids. Interpretation: Potential donor doubled haploid lines viz. DH2-4, DH2-8, DH2-9, DH2-11, DH2-14, DH2-15 derived from Population-3 X CIM2GTAIL P2 and DH2-4, DH2-23 derived from Population-9 X CIM2GTAIL P2 were identified for utilization as putative parents of hybrids suitable for planting under high planting density conditions. Key words: Doubled haploid, High plant density, Maize, Plant architecture, Yield

Mining Candidate Genes for Leaf Angle in Brassica napus L. by Combining QTL Mapping and RNA Sequencing Analysis.

Leaf angle (LA) is an important trait of plant architecture, and individuals with narrow LA can better capture canopy light under high-density planting, which is beneficial for increasing the overall yield per unit area. To study the genetic basis and molecular regulation mechanism of leaf angle in rapeseed, we carried out a series of experiments. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping was performed using the RIL population, and seven QTLs were identified. Transcriptome analysis showed that the cell wall formation/biogenesis processes and biosynthesis/metabolism of cell wall components were the most enrichment classes. Most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in the synthesis of lignin, xylan, and cellulose showed down-regulated expression in narrow leaf material. Microscopic analysis suggested that the cell size affected by the cell wall in the junction area of the stem and petiole was the main factor in leaf petiole angle (LPA) differences. Combining QTL mapping and RNA sequencing, five promising candidate genes BnaA01G0125600ZS, BnaA01G0135700ZS, BnaA01G0154600ZS, BnaA10G0154200ZS, and BnaC03G0294200ZS were identified in rapeseed, and most of them were involved in cell wall biogenesis and the synthesis/metabolism of cell wall components. The results of QTL, transcriptome analysis, and cytological analysis were highly consistent, collectively revealing that genes related to cell wall function played a crucial role in regulating the LA trait in rapeseed. The study provides further insights into LA traits, and the discovery of new QTLs and candidate genes is highly beneficial for genetic improvement.

Screening and Validation of Leaf Width-Related Genes in Inbred Maize Lines.

Leaf width is a key determinant of planting density and photosynthetic efficiency. In an effort to determine which genes regulate maize plant leaf width, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 1.49 × 106 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 80 sequenced backbone inbred maize lines in Jilin Province, China, based upon phenotypic leaf width data from two years. In total, 14 SNPs were identified as being significantly related to leaf width (p < 0.000001), with these SNPs being located on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. A total of five candidate genes were identified within a mean linkage disequilibrium (LD) distance of 9.7 kb, with a significant SNP being identified within the Zm00001d044327 candidate gene. RNA was then isolated from 12 different inbred maize lines from this GWAS study cohort and was used to conduct qPCR analyses which revealed significant differences in Zm00001d044327 expression among strains exhibiting significant differences in leaf width. Based on an assessment of EMS mutant lines harboring a conserved amino acid stop mutation and two non-synonymous mutations in Zm00001d044327 that exhibited a narrow leaf width, these data suggested that Zm00001d044327 is a key regulator of maize leaf width.

Characterization of flag leaf morphology identifies a major genomic region controlling flag leaf angle in the US winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Key messageMulti-environmental characterization of flag leaf morphology traits in the US winter wheat revealed nine stable genomic regions for different flag leaf-related traits including a major region governing flag leaf angle.Flag leaf in wheat is the primary contributor to accumulating photosynthetic assimilates. Flag leaf morphology (FLM) traits determine the overall canopy structure and capacity to intercept the light, thus influencing photosynthetic efficiency. Hence, understanding the genetic control of these traits could be useful for breeding desirable ideotypes in wheat. We used a panel of 272 accessions from the hard winter wheat (HWW) region of the USA to investigate the genetic architecture of five FLM traits including flag leaf length (FLL), width (FLW), angle (FLANG), length–width ratio, and area using multilocation field experiments. Multi-environment GWAS using 14,537 single-nucleotide polymorphisms identified 36 marker-trait associations for different traits, with nine being stable across environments. A novel and major stable region for FLANG (qFLANG.1A) was identified on chromosome 1A accounting for 9–13% variation. Analysis of spatial distribution for qFLANG.1A in a set of 2354 breeding lines from the HWW region showed a higher frequency of allele associated with narrow leaf angle. A KASP assay was developed for allelic discrimination of qFLANG.1A and was used for its independent validation in a diverse set of spring wheat accessions. Furthermore, candidate gene analysis for two regions associated with FLANG identified seven putative genes of interest for each of the two regions. The present study enhances our understanding of the genetic control of FLM in wheat, particularly FLANG, and these results will be useful for dissecting the genes underlying canopy architecture in wheat facilitating the development of climate-resilient wheat varieties.

Morphological characterization and transcriptome analysis of rolled and narrow leaf mutant in soybean

BackgroundIn plants, the leaf functions as a solar panel, where photosynthesis converts carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen. In soybean, leaf type traits, including leaf shape, leaf area, leaf width, and leaf width so on, are considered to be associated with yield. In this study, we performed morphological characterization, transcriptome analysis, and endogenous hormone analysis of a rolled and narrow leaf mutant line (rl) in soybean.ResultsCompared with wild type HX3, mutant line rl showed rolled and narrower leaflet, and smaller leaf, meanwhile rl also performed narrower pod and narrower seed. Anatomical analysis of leaflet demonstrated that cell area of upper epidermis was bigger than the cell area of lower epidermis in rl, which may lead rolled and narrow leaf. Transcriptome analysis revealed that several cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX) genes (Glyma.06G028900, Glyma.09G225400, Glyma.13G104700, Glyma.14G099000, and Glyma.17G054500) were up-regulation dramatically, which may cause lower cytokinin level in rl. Endogenous hormone analysis verified that cytokinin content of rl was lower. Hormone treatment results indicated that 6-BA rescued rolled leaf enough, rescued partly narrow leaf. And after 6-BA treatment, the cell area was similar between upper epidermis and lower epidermis in rl. Although IAA content and ABA content were reduced in rl, but exogenous IAA and ABA didn’t affect leaf type of HX3 and rl.ConclusionsOur results suggest abnormal cytokinin metabolism caused rolled and narrow leaf in rl, and provide valuable clues for further understanding the mechanisms underlying leaf development in soybean.

Investigating the Effectiveness of Various Weed Control Methods to Reduce Narrow and Broad Leaf Populations in the Oat (Avena sativa L.) Crop

Aims: It is aim to investigating the effectiveness of various weed control methods to reduce narrow and broad leaf populations in oat (Avena sativa L.) crop. Study Design: The experiment was designed using a Randomized Block design method. Place and Duration of Study: Department of agronomy, School of Agriculture, Abhilashi university, Chail Chowk, Mandi, India (H.P.) during the Rabi season of 2022. Methodology: The field trail was conducted with seven treatments and replicated thrice. The investigation included seven different weed control techniques i.e. T1 - weedy check (control), T2 - weed free, T3 - one hand weeding at 25 DAS, T4 - two hand weeding at 25 DAS and 45 DAS,T5 - pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg a.i. ha-1 + one hand weeding at 25 DAS, T6 - post emergence application of atrazine @ 0.75 kg a.i. ha -1 at 35 DAS + one hand weeding at 25 DAS, T7 - post emergence metsulfuron methyl @ 0.004 kg a.i. ha -1 at 35 DAS + one hand weeding at 25 DAS. Results: The investigation found that the most effective ways to control weeds are by keeping the area completely weed-free or by using two-hand weeding at 25 DAS and 45 DAS. T2 (weed-free), which involved keeping the area weed-free, was found to be the most successful in terms of achieving the lowest weed density and highest weed control efficiency. Two-hand weeding at 25 DAS and 45 DAS was found to be better than using herbicides to reduce weed infestation in oat crops. Conclusion: Based on the results, it can be concluded that integrated weed management practices weed-free treatment is the most effective option for managing weeds in oats.

Membralin is required for maize development and defines a branch of the endoplasmic reticulum–associated degradation pathway in plants

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation (ERAD) plays key roles in controlling protein levels and quality in eukaryotes. The Ring Finger Protein 185 (RNF185)/membralin ubiquitin ligase complex was recently identified as a branch in mammals and is essential for neuronal function, but its function in plant development is unknown. Here, we report the map-based cloning and characterization of Narrow Leaf and Dwarfism 1 (NLD1), which encodes the ER membrane-localized protein membralin and specifically interacts with maize homologs of RNF185 and related components. The nld1 mutant shows defective leaf and root development due to reduced cell number. The defects of nld1 were largely restored by expressing membralin genes from Arabidopsis thaliana and mice, highlighting the conserved roles of membralin proteins in animals and plants. The excessive accumulation of β-hydroxy β-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase in nld1 indicates that the enzyme is a membralin-mediated ERAD target. The activation of bZIP60 mRNA splicing-related unfolded protein response signaling and marker gene expression in nld1, as well as DNA fragment and cell viability assays, indicate that membralin deficiency induces ER stress and cell death in maize, thereby affecting organogenesis. Our findings uncover the conserved, indispensable role of the membralin-mediated branch of the ERAD pathway in plants. In addition, ZmNLD1 contributes to plant architecture in a dose-dependent manner, which can serve as a potential target for genetic engineering to shape ideal plant architecture, thereby enhancing high-density maize yields.

Genetic Variability and Cause-Effect Relationship in Aromatic Rice

Twenty diverse rice genotypes, mostly aromatic landraces, were grown during warm wet season of 2022 to analyse the genetic variability, correlation and path coefficients for sixteen agro-morphological characters. The results of genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variability, heritability, and genetic advance indicated that improvement through selection for flag leaf angle, panicle exertion, secondary branches per panicle, test weight, spikelet number, and number of filled grains would be effective. Correlation coefficients of grain yield with flag leaf area, spikelet fertility percentage, test weight and harvest index were positive and significant, while with flag leaf angle it was negative and significant indicating the importance of these characters on grain yield. Path analysis revealed that selection for larger flag leaf area, greater test weight and narrow flag leaf angle, reduced plant height and early flowering would increase grain yield. However, restrictions are required to be imposed on panicle number, panicle length and filled grain, so that a balance between morphological architecture and physiological rhythm is maintained to optimize source-sink relationship.

Difference of effective component content and key enzyme gene expression of biosynthesis in Atractylodes chinensis with different leaf shapes

In this study, four Atractylodes chinensis(A. chinensis) with different leaf shapes, such as the split leaf, long and narrow leaf, oval leaf, and large round leaf, were used as experimental materials to establish a method for simultaneously determining atractylodin, atractylenolide Ⅰ, β-eudesmol, and atractylon in the rhizome of A. chinensis. The expression of key enzyme genes for biosynthesis of acetyl-CoA carboxylase(ACC), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase(HMGR), and farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase(FPPS) was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR). High performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was used to compare the difference in the content of four active components in A. chinensis with different leaf shapes, and the correlation between the content of active components and the expression of key enzyme genes in biosynthesis was discussed. The results show that there was good linearity among atractylodin, atractylenolide Ⅰ, β-eudesmol, and atractylon in the range of 3.30-33.00 μg·mL~(-1)(r =0.999 7), 12.04-120.40 μg·mL~(-1)(r =0.999 5), 29.16-291.60 μg·mL~(-1)(r =0.999 5), and 14.20-142.00 μg·mL~(-1)(r =0.999 5), respectively. The average recoveries were 99.77%(RSD=2.1%), 98.56%(RSD=1.2%), 103.0%(RSD=1.2%), and 100.6%(RSD=1.5%), respectively. The method was accurate and had good reproducibility, which could be used to simultaneously detect atractylodin, atractylenolide Ⅰ, β-eudesmol, and atractylon. The results showed that there were significant differences in the content of four active components in A. chinensis with different leaf shapes. The content of atractylodin, atractylenolide Ⅰ, and β-eudesmol in A. chinensis with split leaves was the highest, which were 1.341 9, 5.237 2, and 12.084 3 mg·g~(-1), respectively. The content of atractylon in A. chinensis with long and narrow leaves was the highest(5.470 1 mg·g~(-1)). The content of atractylodin, atractylenolide Ⅰ, β-eudesmol, and atractylon in A. chinensis with oval leaves was the lowest. The total content of the four effective components in descending order was A. chinensis with split leaves &gt; A. chinensis with long and narrow leaves &gt; A. chinensis with large round leaves &gt; A. chinensis with oval leaves. The gene expression levels of key enzymes ACC, HMGR, and FPPS in A. chinensis with split leaves were the highest(P &lt; 0.05), and the gene expression levels of key enzymes ACC and HMGR in A. chinensis with oval leaves were the lowest(P &lt; 0.05). The gene expression level of key enzyme FPPS in A. chinensis with large round leaves was the lowest. In A. chinensis with different leaf shapes, the key enzyme gene ACC was significantly positively correlated with the polyacetylene component, namely atractylodin(P &lt; 0.01), and the key enzyme genes HMGR and FPPS were positively correlated with the sesquiterpene components, namely atractylenolide Ⅰ, β-eudesmol, and atractylon. In summary, the quality of A. chinensis with split leaves is the best, and the biosynthesis of atractylodin is significantly correlated with the gene expression of key enzyme ACC, which provides a theoretical basis for screening and optimizing the germplasm resources of A. chinensis and improving the quality of medicinal materials.

An in silico Approach For Identification of Potential Therapeutic Targets For Cancer Treatment From Celastrus hindsii Benth

Celastrus hindsii Benth., a medicinal plant celebrated for its traditionally medicinal and practically therapeutic properties, has been used for generations in Vietnam to support the treatment of ulcers, tumors, and inflammation. The difference between several phenotypes, primarily identified as Broad Leaf (BL) and Narrow Leaf (NL), has been clarified by convincing scientific evidence through our previous proteomics study, which also revealed several bioactive proteins and peptides. Therefore, based on the findings, this study further investigated their therapeutic properties using a bioinformatics tool (BLASTP) and analyzing literature data. The results showed the distinguished variations in protein profile between the NL and BL proteomes and revealed five significant proteins with therapeutic properties. Of these, three proteins can have anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory activity and have been proven effective in cancer treatment. Therefore, C. hindsii, particularly the BL phenotype with elevated levels of therapeutic proteins, could be a promising plant candidate for future intensive research and applications for cancer treatment.

DNAL7, a new allele of NAL11, has major pleiotropic effects on rice architecture.

dnal7, a novel allelic variant of the OsHSP40, affects rice plant architecture and grain yield by coordinating auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellic acids. Plant height and leaf morphology are the most important traits of the ideal plant architecture (IPA), and discovering related genes is critical for breeding high-yield rice. Here, a dwarf and narrow leaf 7 (dnal7) mutant was identified from a γ-ray treated mutant population, which exhibits pleiotropic effects, including dwarfing, narrow leaves, small seeds, and low grain yield per plant compared to the wild type (WT). Histological analysis showed that the number of veins and the distance between adjacent small veins (SVs) were significantly reduced compared to the WT, indicating that DNAL7 controls leaf size by regulating the formation of veins. Map-based cloning and transgenic complementation revealed that DNAL7 is allelic to NAL11, which encodes OsHSP40, and the deletion of 2 codons in dnal7 destroyed the His-Pro-Asp (HPD) motif of OsHSP40. In addition, expression of DNAL7 in both WT and dnal7 gradually increased with the increase of temperature in the range of 27-31°C. Heat stress significantly affected the seedling height and leaf width of the dnal7 mutant. A comparative transcriptome analysis of WT and dnal7 revealed that DNAL7 influenced multiple metabolic pathways, including plant hormone signal transduction, carbon metabolism, and biosynthesis of amino acids. Furthermore, the contents of the cytokinins in leaf blades were much higher in dnal7 than in the WT, whereas the contents of auxins were lower in dnal7. The contents of bioactive gibberellic acids (GAs) including GA1, GA3, and GA4 in shoots were decreased in dnal7. Thus, DNAL7 regulates rice plant architecture by coordinating the balance of auxins, cytokinins, and GAs. These results indicate that OsHSP40 is a pleiotropic gene, which plays an important role in improving rice yield and plant architecture.

Identification and Transcriptome Analysis of a Novel Allelic Mutant of NAL1 in Rice.

Leaf morphology is a crucial aspect of plant architecture, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying leaf development remain incompletely understood. In this study, a narrow leaf mutant, m625, was identified in rice (Oryza sativa L.), exhibiting pleiotropic developmental defects. Pigment measurement revealed reduced levels of photochromic pigments in m625. Cytological analysis demonstrated that the m625 gene affected vascular patterns and cell division. Specifically, the narrowing of the leaf was attributed to a decrease in small vein number, shorter vein spacing, and an abnormal V-shaped arrangement of bulliform cells, while the thickening was caused by longer leaf veins, thicker mesophyll cells, and an increased number of parenchyma cell layers. The dwarf stature and thickened internode were primarily due to shortened internodes and an increase in cell layers, respectively. Positional cloning and complementation assays indicated that the m625 gene is a novel allele of NAL1. In the m625 mutant, a nucleotide deletion at position 1103 in the coding sequence of NAL1 led to premature termination of protein translation. Further RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that the m625 gene significantly impacted regulatory pathways related to IAA and ABA signal transduction, photosynthesis, and lignin biosynthesis. Moreover, the m625 mutant displayed thinner sclerenchyma and cell walls in both the leaf and stem, particularly showing reduced lignified cell walls in the midrib of the leaf. In conclusion, our study suggests that NAL1, in addition to its known roles in IAA transport and leaf photosynthesis, may also participate in ABA signal transduction, as well as regulate secondary cell wall formation and sclerenchyma thickness through lignification.

Estudos anatômicos, cariotípicos e de conteúdo de DNA nuclear em quatro morfotipos de alface silvestre

ABSTRACT Wild lettuce (Lactuca aff. canadensis L.), belonging to the Asteraceae family, occurs subspontaneously in Brazil and may originate from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Popularly known as Canada lettuce, it is an unconventional leafy vegetable. Studies on this species are scarce in Brazil, and its scientific name is debated among experts. It has high morphological variability and controversial botanical classification. This study characterized the stomata, organized the karyotype, and determined the nuclear DNA content of four morphotypes of wild lettuce to facilitate correct classification. The genetic material used was acquired from the non-conventional vegetable germplasm in UFLA. The leaves of wild lettuce morphotypes are hypoamphiestomatic with a greater number of stomata in the abaxial epidermis. There were similarities between the morphotypes (green and purple) and between the smooth purple types (narrow leaf and broad leaf) for the number and size of stomata. No variation was found in the number of chromosomes (2n = 18) or DNA content among the four morphotypes. The separation of the morphotypes of wild lettuce did not match the morphological classification or the karyological data. The four morphotypes evaluated were placed under the same species, and the results obtained when compared to other studies led us to infer that the four morphotypes of wild Lactuca belonged to the species L. indica and not L. canadensis as previously assumed. Further investigation may provide insights into the evolutionary history of this species.

Comparative analysis of paddy leaf diseases sensing with a hybrid convolutional neural network model

The major food in south India is Paddy. Early detection of leaf disease can increase the production of crops. In the agricultural field, farmers can control the spreading of leaf disease with the help of the modeling of automated disease classification. In comparison to the manual approach to paddy leaf infection detection via visual examination, automated identification of rice illnesses using an image of the paddy leaf may be advantageous. Deep learning, a highly well-liked and effective machine learning method, has recently demonstrated considerable promise in the categorization task of images. In this work, Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) pre-processes the augmented images of paddy leaves. The Gray level co-occurrence metrics (GLCM) model then extracts the features from an image of the pre-processed paddy leaves. The five disease classes of paddy leaves were finally identified using the hybrid CNN model as follows: Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB), Sheath Rot (SR), Narrow Brown Leaf Spot (NBLS), Brown Spot (BS) and Leaf Smut (LS). MATLAB platforms handle implementation works. While compared to the previous approaches, the proposed model reveals the superiority of paddy leaves classification.

Effect of Some Chemical Herbicides on the Weeds Accompanying the Field's Peanut Crop

A field experiment was conducted during the spring season of 2021 in a selected field of preparative Ibn Al-Bitar occupational/ Al-Hussainiya region in Holy Karbala. The experiment involved cultivating peanut plants (Arachis hypogaea L.), specifically a local variety, in soil characterized by a clay loam texture. The experiment aimed to determine the most effective chemical herbicides for controlling weed growth in conjunction with the Peanut crop. The experiment utilized a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The study encompassed six conditions: weedy and weed-free, which were under manual control for the entire duration of the growing season. Furthermore, there were treatments that involved the administration of chemical herbicides before planting, specifically Trifluralin and Pendimethalin, which were applied ten days before the planting phase. Additionally, post-planting herbicides, namely Oxyfluorfen and Clethodim, were sprayed during the vegetative growth phase of the plant as well as at the initiation of the flowering stage. The herbicides were administered according to the prescribed dosages. The findings demonstrated significant differences in the management procedure utilizing chemical herbicides throughout a 30-day period of applying said herbicides. This discrepancy became apparent when evaluating the two herbicides, specifically Oxyfluorfen and Pendimethalin, which produced the lowest quantity of broad-leaf weeds, with a recorded density of 4.6 and 7.6 plants m-2, respectively. Additionally, the results demonstrated that notable disparities were observed after 60 days from the application of herbicides. Specifically, the herbicides Pendimethalin and Oxyfluorfen exhibited the lowest density of broad-leaf weeds, with a count of 4.6 and 6.0 m-2 plants, respectively. Moreover, the impact of herbicides on narrow-leaf weed was examined at 30 and 60 days post-spraying. There was no significant difference in the means of the herbicides, and the herbicides Oxyfluorfen and Pendimethalin yielded the least density of broad leaf weeds after 90 days of herbicide application, with quantities of 6.0 and 6.3 plant m-2, respectively. Similarly, concerning narrow-leaf weed density on the same date, the herbicides Trifluralin, Clethodim,, and Ox-yfluorfen exhibited superiority in achieving the lowest density of narrow-leaf weeds, with quantities of 5.0, 5.3, and 5.6 plant m-2, respectively. Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was observed among these herbicides. The findings demonstrate the superiority of the herbicides Oxyfluorfen and Pendimethalin in achieving the highest percentage of control for broad-leaf weeds after 30, 60, and 90 days of herbicide application. Regarding the specific dates for the narrow-leaf weeds, the herbicides Oxyfluorfen, Clethodim, and Trifluralin exhibited superiority in providing optimal control. In contrast to alternative treatments involving herbicides, the herbicide Oxyfluorfen showcased the most diminished mean mass and the utmost level of hindrance on both extensive and limited-leafed weeds. Keywords: Herbicides; Oxyfluorfen; Pendimethalin; Clethodim; Trifluralin; Weeds; Narrow leaf; Broad leaf.

Identification of Pests, Diseases, and Nutrient Deficiencies in Rice (Oriza Sativa L.) Variety Sunggal

This study aims to identify pests, diseases and nutrient deficiencies in the Sunggal variety of rice (Oriza sativa L.). This research was conducted in June 2023. The research location was carried out in rice fields belonging to farmers in Sidorejo Hamlet, Polokarto District, Sukoharjo Regency. This research is descriptive qualitative by making direct observations or observations on rice fields, interviews and literature. The results showed that there were 7 pests that attacked this single variety rice plant, consisting of 5 pests from the insect class (insects), 1 from the mollusk class, and 1 from the aves class. Pests caused by insects (insects), namely: rice bug (Leptocorisa oryzae), ground bed bug (Scotinophara coarctata), white rice stem borer (Scirpophaga innotata Walker), armyworm (Spodoptera litura), grasshopper (Oxya servile). Caused by molluscs, namely the golden snail (Pomacea canaliculate) and caused by birds, namely sparrows (Lonchura sp). While there are 6 caused by diseases, namely caused by fungi/fungi there are 5 and caused by bacteria there is 1. Among those caused by fungi/fungus namely: brown leaf spot on rice (Helminthosporium oryzae), narrow brown leaf spot on rice (Cercospora oryzae), stem rot in rice (Sclerottium oryzae), rice leaf blight (Rhizotonia solani) and leaf blast (Pyricularia grisea). Caused by bacteria, namely bacterial leaf blight of rice (bacteria: Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae). Then lastly there is one that is caused by a lack of nutrients, namely: potassium deficiency.

Rhynchospora mesoatlantica (Cyperaceae), an imperiled new species of beaksedge from eastern U.S.A.

Rhynchospora mesoatlanticasp. nov. (Cyperaceae) is described, illustrated, and compared with morphologically similar species. Rhynchospora mesoatlantica is known only from southern Delaware, southeastern Maryland, and southern New Jersey, all within the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S.A. It inhabits sunny, wet margins of natural, shallow, nutrient-poor, seasonal ponds of the Coastal Plain. Narrow leaf blades; fruits obpyriform in outline; faces of mature fruits possessing a central, pale, well-demarcated disk; and fruit tubercle margins denticulate for most of their lengths indicate R. mesoatlantica is most similar to R. filifolia and R. harperi. Rhynchospora mesoatlantica is unique in its fruit dimensions, scales intermediate in length between R. filifolia and R. harperi, and relatively long fruit stipe. The NatureServe rank of Critically Imperiled and the IUCN rank of Endangered appear warranted for R. mesoatlantica because only six populations are known to be extant, most quite small and isolated; all populations occur within a small geographic area; populations have declined; and serious threats confront the survival of the species.

SMALL PLANT AND ORGAN 1 (SPO1) Encoding a Cellulose Synthase-like Protein D4 (OsCSLD4) Is an Important Regulator for Plant Architecture and Organ Size in Rice

Plant architecture and organ size are considered as important traits in crop breeding and germplasm improvement. Although several factors affecting plant architecture and organ size have been identified in rice, the genetic and regulatory mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Here, we identified and characterized the small plant and organ 1 (spo1) mutant in rice (Oryza sativa), which exhibits narrow and rolled leaf, reductions in plant height, root length, and grain width, and other morphological defects. Map-based cloning revealed that SPO1 is allelic with OsCSLD4, a gene encoding the cellulose synthase-like protein D4, and is highly expressed in the roots at the seedling and tillering stages. Microscopic observation revealed the spo1 mutant had reduced number and width in leaf veins, smaller size of leaf bulliform cells, reduced cell length and cell area in the culm, and decreased width of epidermal cells in the outer glume of the grain. These results indicate the role of SPO1 in modulating cell division and cell expansion, which modulates plant architecture and organ size. It is showed that the contents of endogenous hormones including auxin, abscisic acid, gibberellin, and zeatin tested in the spo1 mutant were significantly altered, compared to the wild type. Furthermore, the transcriptome analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are significantly enriched in the pathways associated with plant hormone signal transduction, cell cycle progression, and cell wall formation. These results indicated that the loss of SPO1/OsCSLD4 function disrupted cell wall cellulose synthase and hormones homeostasis and signaling, thus leading to smaller plant and organ size in spo1. Taken together, we suggest the functional role of SPO1/OsCSLD4 in the control of rice plant and organ size by modulating cell division and expansion, likely through the effects of multiple hormonal pathways on cell wall formation.