Performance In Field Conditions Research Articles

Effects of Prolonged High Salinity Stress on Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Cultivars and Populations

Background: Alfalfa is a promising crop for improving soil structure and restoring agricultural land, particularly in areas affected by salinity. However, high and continuing salinity in soil and irrigation water can pose a significant challenge to the growth and productivity of alfalfa. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of prolonged high salinity stress on alfalfa cultivars and populations. Methods: The material used in this study included 16 alfalfa populations and four alfalfa cultivars that exhibit salt tolerance during germination and early seedling development. The materials were exposed to 17.52 dS m-1 saline irrigation water stress for three months. As well as the morphology, survival at three months and crude ash, sodium and chloride ions were measured. Result: Salt-tolerant plants showed a slowdown in growth compared to control conditions, although they were still able to maintain growth. Duration and severity of stress affected the salt tolerance of the genotypes. The survival rates of the materials remained relatively unchanged for the first two months, but decreased significantly by the end of the third month. Furthermore, the survival rate of the materials increased as the amount of sodium and chloride ions absorbed by the plant decreased under high salinity conditions. Genetic material demonstrating long-term high salinity tolerance is crucial for resistance breeding and holds promise for the development of tolerant cultivars that can be grown under field conditions in the future. The properties of this material need to be determined and its long-term performance in field conditions needs to be tested.

Vigor of hybrid corn seeds is determinant for the establishment of seedlings in the field

The objective of this work was to determine the importance of vigor during the initial establishment of the maize crop. The work was carried out using 8 lots of hybrid corn seed, in which four lots were characterized as high vigor and four lots characterized as low vigor. After obtaining the seeds, they were sown in the field to determine the association between vigor and seedling performance at 21 days after sowing. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with four replications. Seedling emergence was measured daily up to 21 days, and at the end of the period, the shoot length, root system length, total seedling length and their respective masses, root system volume and stem diameter were determined. Seed vigor was positively associated with all measured variables, except for root system length. All parameters evaluated were superior in the group of seeds characterized as having high vigor. It is concluded that the vigor of hybrid corn seeds is crucial for the higher speed and uniformity of emergence in the field, being essential to form seedlings with superior performance in field conditions.

Endophytic Bacillus spp. from native chilli cultivars and their effect against fruit rot pathogen of Bhut Jolokia (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)

BackgroundFruit rot disease is one of the most important factors limiting the production potential of Bhut Jolokia (Capsicum chinense Jacq.), which is known as one of the hottest chillies in the world. The management strategies are highly dependent on synthetic chemicals which are causing a detrimental impact on the environment. Considering the factors, this study focuses on exploring potential endophytic microflora from native chilli cultivars which can suppress the fruit rot pathogen.ResultsEndophytic microflora occurs ubiquitously in plants that possess various plant-benefiting abilities. A total of 34 endophytic isolates were obtained from different chilli cultivars. These endophytic isolates were subjected to screening in vitro for their potential to suppress the incitant pathogen Colletotrichumgloeosporioides (the causal agent of chilli fruit rot), which was confirmed based on cultural, morphological, pathogenicity and molecular studies. The preliminary screening yielded four bacterial endophytic isolates capable of suppressing the pathogen which was found non-pathogenic to Bhut Jolokia plant. On the basis of morphological, biochemical and molecular identification, the four most promising isolates were identified as Bacillus velezensis, B. mycoides, B. altitudinis and B. cereus, respectively, and used for further in vitro tests. B. velezensis showed the highest inhibition (68.67%) on mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides, followed by B. mycoides (65.33%), B. altitudinis (52.89%) and B. cereus (45.33%). Among the compatible combination, the highest efficacy (56.00%) was found in the combination of B. velezensis and B. altitudinis.ConclusionFrom the present study, it can be concluded that B. velezensis and B. mycoides alone and in combination can be used as potential biocontrol agent in managing the fruit rot of Bhut Jolokia considering their performance in field conditions.

Design, development and deployment of a novel sea spray collector for sea-spray flux measurements

The risk of sea-spray icing on vessels and marine structures in cold regions highlights the need for an accurate and robust marine-icing estimation model. To develop such a model, it is crucial to accurately determine the quantity of liquid water available for freezing on the structure, as it directly influences ice formation. As sea spray constitutes the primary source of liquid water contributing to marine icing, researchers have often focused on measuring sea-spray flux from field campaigns to establish empirical expressions for icing estimation. However, due to the lack of standardised equipment or methods for such measurements and concerns regarding the generalisability and transferability of resulting empirical expressions, researchers have resorted to employing a variety of equipment and techniques tailored to their specific research requirements. Nevertheless, these approaches have inherent limitations. This paper introduces a novel spray collector device inspired by the cyclone separator, capable of performing real-time autonomous spray flux measurements on vessels and moving platforms. The collector is constructed using carbon fibre-infused nylon material, ensuring durability in harsh cold marine climates. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and laboratory tests demonstrate that the design of the new collector is more efficient than that of the previously employed devices, particularly at higher wind speeds. The device is currently deployed on a fish farm in Northern Norway in order to assess its performance in field conditions. The paper also shares preliminary findings, experiences, and limitations encountered during the deployment period.

Aptness of Seedling Age of Important Avenue Woody Species of Uttar Pradesh, India

Trees are an important component of our ecosystem, as far as ecological services provided by them are concerned. Especially in urban ecology, their role becomes more significant where they mitigate negative impacts of urbanization like deforestation; loss of wetlands; acquirement of agricultural lands; loss of biodiversity due to habitat clearing; degradation and fragmentation of the landscapes, etc. Trees make urban areas more resilient to these adverse impacts. Avenue plantation is an important part of Urban Forestry. In Avenue plantation, mostly tall seedlings are used. But planting very tall seedlings may affect the secondary growth of the tree, whereas planting small seedlings may be grazed by the animals. It is very important that the planting stock must be able of high rates of survival and good field performance to justify the expense of reforestation efforts. Therefore the present study is focused on the suitable planting age of some important preferred tree species of the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and their growth performance in field conditions. The selected tree species were Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo), Imli (Tamarindus indica) Kathal (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Jungle Jalebi (Pithecellobium dulce), Kat sagaun (Haplophragma adenophyllum) and Karanj (Pongamia pinnata). These are the major woody species presently being planted in urban forestry. The species with large crown are planted in government garden, city garden, etc. Different age groups of these tree species were planted and their growth performance was studied under different field conditions. Aptness and importance of seedling age were recommended for studied trees for avenue plantation. It was concluded that species like Jungle Jalebi (Pithecellobium dulce), Katsagaun (Haplophragma adenophyllum), and Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo ) seedlings performed well for one year old age as well as for two year old age ones but species like Karanj( Pongamia pinnata), Imli ( Tamarindus indica ) and Kathal (Artocarpus heterophyllus), performed well more for one year old seedling. Therefore all these may be planted after one year of age in nursery to avoid the extra expense of maintaining these seedlings in the nursery stage.

Recent work with electronic radon detectors for continuous Radon-222 monitoring

Background: Sensitive electronic radon detectors can be an advantageous solution for continuous monitoring of radon dynamics in dwellings and workplaces. In order to investigate their applicability, such detectors must be subjected to adequate metrological assurance, and their performance in field conditions must be tested and evaluated.
 Objectives: To perform laboratory and field tests in order to evaluate the applicability of RadonEye+2 instruments for continuous radon monitoring.
 Results: In this work, we have performed laboratory tests of 36 RadonEye+2 detectors, which appear to have linear response for 222Rn concentrations below 3.5 kBq/m3 and a non-linear response (<15%) in the interval from 3.5 to 7 kBq/m3. Their response to 222Rn at 4.7 kBq/m3 is within 15% to the reference. In experiments with sharp variation of the 222Rn concentration, the detectors show fast response within 2 h. For the application of the detectors in dwellings and workplaces, we have developed a database, which collects, stores and visualises the RadonEye data. The database proved to be very useful tool, not only for data analysis but also for the identification of interruptions in the detectors operation and/or their connection to the internet. In a pilot 10-month-long study with three detectors located in different dwellings, we have observed more than 91% uptime of the online data collection from the detectors and more than 96% uptime of the data recording in the internal memory of the instruments.
 Conclusions: Overall, the results show that the RadonEye+2 instruments are very suitable for continuous radon monitoring and may be useful for follow-up of radon dynamics in long-term measurement campaigns in homes and workplaces.

Evaluating the impact of ultraviolet C exposure conditions on coliphage MS2 inactivation on surfaces.

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised interest in using devices that generate ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation as an alternative approach for reducing or eliminating microorganisms on surfaces. Studies investigating the efficacy of UVC radiation against pathogens use a wide range of laboratory methods and experimental conditions that can make cross-comparison of results and extrapolation of findings to real-world settings difficult. Here, we use three different UVC-generating sources - a broad-spectrum pulsed xenon light, a continuous light-emitting diode (LED), and a low-pressure mercury vapour lamp - to evaluate the impact of different experimental conditions on UVC efficacy against the coliphage MS2 on surfaces. We find that a nonlinear dose-response relationship exists for all three light sources, meaning that linear extrapolation of doses resulting in a 1-log10 (90%) reduction does not accurately predict the dose required for higher (e.g. 3-log10 or 99.9%) log10 reductions. In addition, our results show that the inoculum characteristics and underlying substrate play an important role in determining UVC efficacy. Variations in microscopic surface topography may shield MS2 from UVC radiation to different degrees, which impacts UVC device efficacy. These findings are important to consider in comparing results from different UVC studies and in estimating device performance in field conditions.

Optical Identification of Fruitfly Species Based on Their Wingbeats Using Convolutional Neural Networks.

The spotted wing Drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii, is a significant invasive pest of berries and soft-skinned fruits that causes major economic losses in fruit production worldwide. Automatic identification and monitoring strategies would allow to detect the emergence of this pest in an early stage and minimize its impact. The small size of Drosophila suzukii and similar flying insects makes it difficult to identify them using camera systems. Therefore, an optical sensor recording wingbeats was investigated in this study. We trained convolutional neural network (CNN) classifiers to distinguish D. suzukii insects from one of their closest relatives, Drosophila Melanogaster, based on their wingbeat patterns recorded by the optical sensor. Apart from the original wingbeat time signals, we modeled their frequency (power spectral density) and time-frequency (spectrogram) representations. A strict validation procedure was followed to estimate the models’ performance in field-conditions. First, we validated each model on wingbeat data that was collected under the same conditions using different insect populations to train and test them. Next, we evaluated their robustness on a second independent dataset which was acquired under more variable environmental conditions. The best performing model, named “InceptionFly,” was trained on wingbeat time signals. It was able to discriminate between our two target insects with a balanced accuracy of 92.1% on the test set and 91.7% on the second independent dataset. This paves the way towards early, automated detection of D. suzukii infestation in fruit orchards.

Dual-Purpose Sorghum: A Targeted Sustainable Crop-Livestock Intervention for the Smallholder Subsistence Farming Communities of Adilabad, India

Sorghum plays an important role in the mixed crop–livestock system of tribal farming communities in Adilabad District, a high climate risk-prone region in India. Currently, the local seed system is limited to landraces and hybrids that are primarily used for domestic grain and fodder purposes. This study aimed to understand the farmers' needs and context, and use this knowledge to deliver relevant, adoptable climate-smart sorghum crop technologies through farmer-participatory approaches (FPAs). We conducted an ex-ante survey with 103 farmer households to understand their preferences and constraints concerning sorghum, their staple food-crop. Farmers expressed taste as the most important characteristic, followed by stover yield, grain yield, drought adaptation, and pest resistance. They identified fodder deficit, loss of seed purity in landraces, and lack of diverse sorghum seed options as critical constraints. Therefore, we chose dual-purpose, open-pollinated sorghum varieties suitable for postrainy/rabi cultivation as the study site's entry point. Accordingly, sixteen popular rabi sorghum varieties were tested at ICRISAT station (2017–18 and 2018–19) for agronomic performance in field conditions under a range of treatments (irrigation and fertilization). The standing crop was also scored by farmer representatives. Additionally, the detailed lysifield study elucidated the plant functions underlying the crop agronomic performance under water stress (plant water use and stay-green score) and an important trait of farmer's interest (relation between stay-green score and in-vitro stover digestibility and relation between grain fat and protein content) The selected varieties– Phule Chitra, CSV22, M35-1 and preferred landrace (Sevata jonna)–were further tested with 21 farmers at Adilabad (2018–20). Participating farmers from both the trials and focus group discussions voiced their preference and willingness to adopt Phule Chitra and CSV22. This article summarizes how system-relevant crop options were selected for subsistence farmers of Adilabad and deployed using participatory approaches. While varieties are developed for wider adoption, farmers adopt only those suitable for their farm, household, and accessible market. Therefore, we strongly advocate FPA for developing and delivering farmer relevant crop technologies as a vehicle to systematically break crop adoption barriers and create a positive impact on household diets, well-being, and livelihoods, especially for smallholder subsistence farmers.

Validation of the Magnetic Stirrer Method for the Detection of Trichinella Larvae in Muscle Samples Based on Proficiency Tests Results.

Trichinellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the nematodes of the genus Trichinella. Infection takes place through the consumption of infected meat containing live larvae. The only way to prevent the disease is to break its epizootic chain. To ensure effective control of Trichinella spp., a range of preventive and control measures have been undertaken. These efforts have been focused on controlling Trichinella in domestic pigs, the main source of the disease. Artificial digestion is also the reference point for other methods for Trichinella risk control. Descriptive data validation of the digestion assay was presented in 1998 based on results published by scientific laboratories. Herein, we supplement those data by characterizing the method’s performance in inter-laboratory comparisons. The source of data was the results of Proficiency Testing conducted in 2015–2019. Samples were contaminated by 0, 1, 3, and 5 larvae. In total, 7580 samples were examined by the laboratories. Based on Proficiency Testing results, the main parameters characterizing the method performance in field conditions were established as follows: specificity, 97.3%; sensitivity, 86.5%; accuracy, 89.2%; uncertainty, 0.3; limit of detection (LOD), 1 larva; and limit of quantification (LOQ), 3 larvae.

Evaluation of Growth Performance of Bixa orellana L. Progenies under Nursery Conditions

Dyeing is a traditional art and the Indians are experts in doing it. Natural dyes find huge scope in the current era of organic interests. Bixa orellana L. is commonly known as a lipstick tree. The present study was conducted to identify the superior progenies from plus trees selected from various locations of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The progenies were evaluated for four growth periods in the nursery such as 45 days after sowing (DAS), 90 DAS, 135 DAS, and 180 DAS. The growth performance was recorded for shoot length, collar diameter, root length, root to shoot ratio, number of leaves, sturdiness quotient, and volume index. The results indicated that the two progenies showed significant superiority in growth attributes viz., TNBi 008 and TNBi 003. Higher growth attributes in nursery seedlings may contribute more to better performance in field conditions. Volume index recorded the maximum values for GCV (36.04%), PCV (37.81%), and genetic advance (70.76%). The highest heritability was shown by shoot length (0.99) and root length (0.98). Good tree architecture facilitates them to produce more resources, such energy could be allocated for a further reproductive phase that results in increased seed yield. The superiority of these progenies for growth traits shows that they could be better utilized for developing plantations to meet the dye demand and for further tree improvement programme

ELISA indreto como método complementar de diagnóstico da tuberculose bovina

ABSTRACT: Bovine tuberculosis is an economic and health problem, requiring precise diagnostic methods for its control and eradication. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis. A total of 1,644 cattle from eight dairy herds were evaluated using the comparative cervical tuberculin test (CCTT). Three of the herds had no recent tuberculosis infection, and the other five had shown positive results in a previous tuberculin test. For the serological diagnosis of tuberculosis, a commercial ELISA antibody test kit for Mycobacterium bovis was used. Serum samples from 846 cattle from the eight herds were evaluated using ELISA for M. bovis. Animals that were positive based on either CCTT or ELISA for M. bovis or both were sent to slaughter. Samples of their lungs, livers, and lymph nodes were collected and stored under refrigeration for microbiological culture and subsequent confirmation by polymerase chain reaction. Samples from the same tissues were also fixed with 10% formaldehyde in bottles for histopathological examination and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). Of the 1,644 cattle, 61 were considered positive and 65 inconclusive based on CCTT. Retesting of the inconclusive samples identified an additional 19 positive cases, totaling 80 (4.8%) CCTT-positive animals from five herds. ELISA for M. bovis identified 4.2% (36/846) positive cattle, of which 35 were considered negative and one inconclusive based on CCTT. Of the 36 positive cases identified by ELISA for M. bovis, 27 were euthanized, 11% (3/27) showed suggestive lesions of tuberculosis on macroscopic examination, and two were confirmed by histological, microbiological, and PCR methods. The weak association of ELISA for M. bovis with the results obtained by macroscopic, histological, and microbiological isolation indicates the fragility of ELISA performance in field conditions. Therefore, it is suggested that its use as a complementary method for herd sanitation be based on the local epidemiological situation.

Evaluation of Reducing NO and SO2 Concentration in Nano SiO2-TiO2 Photocatalytic Concrete Blocks.

The use of titanium dioxide in concrete block pavements is a promising approach to reduce air pollution in the roadside. When TiO2 is used as an additive of cement concrete or mortar, it is not dispersed uniformly due to agglomeration between particles causing the degradation of photocatalytic reaction. To improve the photocatalytic performance of TiO2, the Nano SiO2-TiO2 (NST) has been developed by coating TiO2 with SiO2 as a support using the sol-gel method. The environmental performance of concrete blocks incorporating NST as an additive was evaluated using both laboratory and full-scale chamber experiments. It was observed from laboratory environment chamber testing that the NO reduction efficiency of concrete blocks with 4% NST ranged from 16.5 to 59.1%, depending on the UV intensity. Results of the full-scale chamber test on NST concrete blocks indicated that the NO and SO2 reduction efficiencies were 22.3% and 14.4% at a 564 W/m2 of solar radiation, respectively. It was found that the increase in UV intensity and solar radiation had a positive effect on decreasing NO and SO2 concentration. In the future, the NST will be applied at in-service photocatalytic block pavements to validate the environmental performance in field conditions.

Comparative Phenotypic and Agronomic Assessment of Transgenic Potato with 3R-Gene Stack with Complete Resistance to Late Blight Disease.

Simple SummaryA potato transgenic event was shown to have complete resistance to late blight, and no other biologically significant differences with the original variety it derives from. Field research, carried out at three locations for three seasons, demonstrates the value this transgenic potato events can deliver to potato farmers in Africa.Transgenic potato event Vic.172, expressing three naturally occurring resistance genes (R genes) conferring complete protection against late blight disease, was evaluated for resistance to late blight, phenotypic characterization, and agronomic performance in field conditions at three locations during three seasons in Uganda. These trials were conducted by comparison to the variety Victoria from which Vic.172 derives, using identical fungicide treatment, except when evaluating disease resistance. During all seasons, the transgenic event Vic.172 was confirmed to have complete resistance to late blight disease, whereas Victoria plants were completely dead by 60–80 days after planting. Tubers from Vic.172 were completely resistant to LB after artificial inoculation. The phenotypic characterization included observations of the characteristics and development of the stems, leaves, flowers, and tubers. Differences in phenotypic parameters between Vic.172 and Victoria were not statistically significant across locations and seasons. The agronomic performance observations covered sprouting, emergence, vigor, foliage growth, and yield. Differences in agronomic performance were not statistically significant except for marketable yield in one location under high productivity conditions. However, yield variation across locations and seasons was not statistically significant, but was influenced by the environment. Hence, the results of the comparative assessment of the phenotype and agronomic performance revealed that transgenic event Vic.172 did not present biologically significant differences in comparison to the variety Victoria it derives from.

Realities and hopes in the application of microbial tools in agriculture.

SummaryThe use of microbial tools to sustainably increase agricultural production has received significant attention from researchers, industries and policymakers. Over the past decade, the market access and development of microbial products have been accelerated by (i) the recent advances in plant‐associated microbiome science, (ii) the pressure from consumers and policymakers for increasing crop productivity and reducing the use of agrochemicals, (iii) the rising threats of biotic and abiotic stresses, (iv) the loss of efficacy of some agrochemicals and plant breeding programs and (v) the calls for agriculture to contribute towards mitigating climate change. Although the sector is still in its infancy, the path towards effective microbial products is taking shape and the global market of these products has increased faster than that of agrochemicals. Promising results from using microbes either as biofertilizers or biopesticides have been continually reported, fuelling optimism and high expectations for the sector. However, some limitations, often related to low efficacy and inconsistent performance in field conditions, urgently need to be addressed to promote a wider use of microbial tools. We propose that advances in in situ microbiome manipulation approaches, such as the use of products containing synthetic microbial communities and novel prebiotics, have great potential to overcome some of these current constraints. Much more progress is expected in the development of microbial inoculants as areas such as synthetic biology and nano‐biotechnology advance. If key technical, translational and regulatory issues are addressed, microbial tools will not only play an important role in sustainably boosting agricultural production over the next few decades but also contribute towards other sustainable development goals, including job creation and mitigation of the impacts of climate change.

Enhancing the Efficiency of Soybean Inoculant for Nodulation under Multi-Environmental Stress Conditions.

The development of rhizobial inoculants with increased resistance to abiotic stress is critical to mitigating the challenges related to climate change. This study aims at developing a soybean stress-tolerant Bradyrhizobium inoculant to be used under the mixed stress conditions of acidity, high temperature, and drought. Six isolates of Bradyrhizobium with high symbiotic performance on soybean were tested to determine their growth or survival abilities under in vitro conditions. The representative stress-tolerant Bradyrhizobium isolates 184, 188, and 194 were selected to test their ability to promote soybean growth under stress conditions compared to the type strain Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110. The plant experiment indicated that isolate 194 performed better in symbiosis with soybean than other Bradyrhizobium strains under stress conditions. Based on the stress tolerance index, soybeans inoculated with isolate 194 showed a high growth performance and significantly better nodulation competition ability than USDA110 under several stress conditions. Interestingly, supplementation of sucrose in the culture medium significantly enhances the survival of the isolate and leads to improved plant biomass under various stress conditions. Analysis of the intra-cellular sugars of isolate 194 supplemented with sucrose showed the accumulation of compatible solutes, such as trehalose and glycerol, that may act as osmoprotectants. This study indicates that inoculation of stress-tolerant Bradyrhizobium together with sucrose supplementation in a medium could enhance bacterial survival and symbiosis efficiency under stress conditions. Although it can be applied for inoculant production, this strategy requires validation of its performance in field conditions before adopting this technology.

Effect of temperature and insect herbivory on the regulation of glucosinolate-myrosinase system in Lepidium latifolium.

The glucosinolate-myrosinase (GLS-MYR) system is an important component of plant-insect interactions. However, there is no report on its performance in field conditions where the plants are subjected to both abiotic and biotic pressures simultaneously. We investigated the GLS-MYR system in a Himalayan ecotype of Lepidium latifolium that is recognized for its adaptive potential in field conditions. In order to understand the independent contribution of temperature and Pieris brassicae herbivory on the components of the GLS-MYR system, different conditions were simulated in the growth chamber. During field conditions, the final GLS hydrolysis products were found to be regulated by the metabolic GLS levels, the temperature conditions, and the density of insect interactions. These factors influence the expression of the hydrolyzing and specifier proteins, which further affects the GLS hydrolysis products. Our results suggest that the production of hydrolysis products is differentially affected under field conditions. While allyl isothiocyanate is significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected by temperature but not insect density, 1-cyano-2,3-epithiopropane is not affected by either. The study shows that the outcome of the GLS-MYR system in a plant is a consequence of the combinatorial effect of ecophysiological factors and the insect interactions that eventually decide the performance of a plant in an environment.

Force-velocity profiling in ice hockey skating: reliability and validity of a simple, low-cost field method

ABSTRACT In recent years, a simple method for force–velocity (F-v) profiling, based on split times, has emerged as a potential tool to examine mechanical variables underlying running sprint performance in field conditions. In this study, the reliability and concurrent validity of F-v profiling based on split times were examined when used for ice hockey skating. It was also tested how a modification of the method, in which the start instant of the sprint is estimated based on optimisation (time shift method), affects the reliability and validity of the method. Both intra- and inter-rater reliability were markedly improved when using the time shift method (approximately 50% decrease in the standard error of measurement). Moreover, the results calculated using the time shift method highly correlated (r > 0.83 for all variables) with the results calculated from a continuously tracked movement of the athlete, which was considered here as the reference method. This study shows that a modification to the previously published simple method for F-v profiling improves intra- and inter-rater reliability of the method in ice hockey skating. The time shift method tested here can be used as a reliable tool to test a player’s physical performance characteristic underlying sprint performance in ice hockey skating.

Optimizing Resource Allocation in a Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) Landrace Through Whole-Plant Field Phenotyping and Non-stop Selection to Sustain Increased Genetic Gain Across a Decade.

Cowpea is a warm-season legume, often characterized as an orphan or underutilized crop, with great future potential, particularly under the global change. A traditional cowpea landrace in Cyprus is highly valued for fresh pod consumption in the local cuisine. In order to improve the yield potential of the landrace, the long-term response to direct selection for fresh pod yield and the associated changes in fodder and root biomass were investigated in a variety of fertility regimes under real field conditions. The non-stop selection process employed comprehensive pod, fodder, and root phenotyping at the level of the individual plant and resulted in the creation of a range of highly improved sibling lines with differential adaptation to micro-environments and with an improved ratio of pod to shoot and root biomass. The average rate of increase per year for fresh pod yield is at the level of 180 g per plant despite the relatively narrow genetic base of a single landrace and it is seemingly inexhaustible testifying to the great plasticity of the cowpea genome and the potential of the methodology to capture it. The corresponding high genetic gain was also confirmed under dense stands where the difference in pod yield between the best selection and the control amounted to 31.37%. Thus, the new focus apart from the simple variety maintenance should also include the continuous improvement and exploitation of micro-adaptation processes specific for individual fields that allow quick responses to environmental and climatic changes. This work presents also a novel approach to the multiple challenges encountered in root phenotyping and a method to meaningfully associate it with whole-plant performance in field conditions.

Assessment of Seed Vigor Tests for Crambe abyssinica

Vigor tests are important mainly to identify differences associated to lots performance in field conditions. The objective of this study was to define the most appropriate tests to evaluate the crambe (Crambe abyssinica) seeds vigor. Seven seed lots of crambe were subjected to the standard germination (on the first and last count), germination speed index (GSI), primary root protrusion speed index (PRPSI), seedling length dry and weight seedling, water stress test using PEG 6000 at -0.2 MPa, electrical conductivity and cold test without soil. Crambe lots studied had germination percentages varying from 54 to 80.5%. The GSI, on the first count of water stress and electrical conductivity test ranked lots between two vigor classes The PRPSI, seedling length, seedling dry weight and last count of water stress tests were less sensitive to evaluate vigor for crambe seed. The cold test without soil and the first count of standard germination test were capable to dishtinguish lots more efficiently than the standard germination test on last count by ranking four of the seven seed lots studied.