Harvest Period Research Articles

Exogenous regulation of macronutrients promotes the accumulation of alkaloid yield in anisodus tanguticus (Maxim.) pascher

BackgroundAnisodus tanguticus (Maxim.) Pascher (A. tanguticus) is a valuable botanical for extracting tropane alkaloids, which are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. Implementing appropriate cultivation methods can improve both the quality and yield of A. tanguticus. A two-year field experiment was conducted from 2021 to 2023 using a single-factor randomized complete block design replicated three times. The study examined the effects of different nutrient levels (nitrogen: 0, 75, 150, 225, 300, 375 kg/ha; phosphorus: 0, 600, 750, 900, 1050, 1200 kg/ha; potassium: 0, 75, 112.5, 150, 187.5, 225 kg/ha) on the growth, primary alkaloid contents, and alkaloid yield of A. tanguticus at different growth stages (S-Greening, S-Growing, S-Wilting; T-Greening, T-Growing, and T-Wilting) in both the roots and aboveground portions.ResultsOur results demonstrate that nutrient levels significantly affect the growth and alkaloid accumulation in A. tanguticus. High nitrogen levels (375 kg/ha) notably increased both root and aboveground biomass, while phosphorus had a minimal effect, especially on aboveground biomass. For alkaloid content (scopolamine, anisodamine, anisodine, atropine), a moderate nitrogen level (225 kg/ha) was most effective, followed by low potassium (75 kg/ha), with phosphorus showing a limited impact. Increased phosphorus levels led to a decrease in scopolamine content. During the T-Growing period, moderate nitrogen addition (225 kg/ha) yielded the highest alkaloid levels per unit area (205.79 kg/ha). In the T-Wilting period, low potassium (75 kg/ha) and low phosphorus (750 kg/ha) resulted in alkaloid levels of 146.91 kg/ha and 142.18 kg/ha, respectively. This indicates nitrogen has the most substantial effect on alkaloid accumulation, followed by potassium and phosphorus. The Douglas production function analysis suggests focusing on root biomass and the accumulation of scopolamine and atropine in roots to maximize alkaloid yield in A. tanguticus cultivation.ConclusionsOur findings show that the optimum harvesting period for A. tanguticus is the T-Wilting period, and that the optimal nitrogen addition is 225 kg/ha, the optimal potassium addition is 75 kg/ha, and the optimal phosphorus addition is 600 kg/ha or less.

ANALYSIS OF RICE PRICE FORMATION AND INCREASE AT THE FARMER LEVEL

<p>This study aims to determine and analyze the condition of farmers, increasing and determining rice prices at the farmer level in German Village, Sugio District, Lamongan Regency. This study used a qualitative approach with data collection methods by conducting interviews. The results of this study show that German Village is a village with high agricultural sector potential due to rainfed areas. In addition, irrigation facilities and agricultural equipment in German Village are very adequate. Furthermore, the average German Village farmer has a land area above 5,000 m2 with a harvest period of 4 months and can harvest 3 times a year. Next, in rice pricing, the role of middlemen is very large. Meanwhile, there are four ways to increase rice prices, including: selling crops through social media, price monopoly by farmers, agricultural socialization, and scheduling harvest and planting seasons.</p>

Functional and pasting properties of aerial yam starch at different harvesting periods

The impact of the harvesting period (sixth, seventh and eighth month) on functional and pasting properties of starches from Tob2857 and Tob3059 cultivars of aerial yam was investigated. Matured yam bulbils were further classified into two; matured ripe bulbils (MRB) and matured unripe bulbils (MUB) based on their peel colours at harvest. Starch content, amylose, resistant starch (RS), pasting and morphological characteristics of starches were evaluated using standard methods. RS (5.11-12.37%), amylose (14.88-20.15%) and solubility (1.16-3.98%) were higher in MUB than MRB starches and varied with the harvesting period. Pasting profiles revealed that peak, hot, break down, cold paste and set back viscosities, respectively ranged thus; (261.50-528.92 RVU), (269.00-458.38 RVU), (16.95-70.54 RVU), (304.14-576.79 RVU) and (71.42-118.41 RVU). Pasting time and temperature ranged from 4.68-5.92 min and 84.18-88.26 oC, respectively. The swelling power (0.53-9.85%) varied significantly between the cultivars and ripeness of the bulbils. The starch granules showed similar shapes (ovo-triangular-oblong) and granule size (16.80-32.34 µm) varied significantly with the harvesting period. The variation in functionality of aerial yam starch cultivars at different harvesting periods in this study could be exploited for the postharvest valorization of aerial yam starches.

The development of honey recognition models with broad applicability based on the association of isotope and elemental content with ANNs

Honey adulteration represents a worldwide problem, driven by the illicit economic gain that producers, traders, or merchants pursue. Among the falsification methods that can unfairly influence the price is the incorrect declaration of the botanical origin and harvesting year. Therefore, the present study aimed to test the potential given by the application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) for developing prediction models able to assess honey botanical origin and harvesting year based on isotope and elemental fingerprints. For each classification criterion, significant focus was dedicated to the data preprocessing phase to enhance the models' prediction capability. The obtained classification performances (accuracy scores >86% during the test phase) have highlighted the efficiency of ANNs for honey authentication as well as the feasibility of applying the developed classifiers for a large-scale application, supported by their ability to recognize the correct origin despite considerable variability in botanical source, geographical origin, and harvesting period.

Tritium Behavior from Vine to Wine

The hydrogen radioactive isotope, tritium, not only reflects seasonal variation in precipitation but also variations on a local level. To use this radioisotope in authentication and geographical indication procedures, the tritium levels in vines, grapes, and wine were measured in two forms: (1) tissue-free water tritium (TFWT), measured in the free water of the plant or the aqueous phase of the wine; (2) organically bound tritium (OBT), measured in the organic part of the plant or wine (as ethanol). This paper presents the tritium behavior in vines from May to October and in the wine produced from harvested grapes for both tritium forms (TFWT and OBT) in connection with environmental tritium concentrations in air and precipitations during the 2019–2023 vegetation periods near the Râmnicu Vâlcea city. If the tritium of tissue-free water was influenced by precipitation and air humidity during the harvest period, the organically bound tritium recorded a maximum level with a delay of 1–2 months compared with tritium’s seasonal variation in precipitation and air. The tritium values of early mean in precipitation and ethanol from wine were approximately an average value of 11 TU for all 5 years of observations.

Spatiotemporal Variabilities in Evapotranspiration of Alfalfa: A Case Study Using Remote Sensing METRIC and SSEBop Models and Eddy Covariance

Prolonged drought exacerbated by climate change in the Mesilla Valley, one of the major agricultural areas of New Mexico, USA, is causing a shortage of surface water from the Rio Grande for irrigation. Farmers in the Valley are using groundwater for irrigation and complementing it with limited surface water from the river (Rio Grande). Managing irrigation water better is vital to sustaining agriculture in the Valley. Remote sensing (RS)-based crop evapotranspiration (ETa) models offer significant advantages over traditional methods. The ET maps generated by these RS models provide valuable information that can be used to manage irrigation water and crops in water-scarce areas. This study used METRIC and SSEBop RS models to map the ET of alfalfa on a private farm that is managed as commonly practiced in the Valley. The integrated ET values of the two models are compared to those of the ETa measured using the eddy covariance method. The comparison showed that 91.55% of the variability in SSEBop ETa estimates can be explained by the variability in the METRIC ETa estimates, and the variability in eddy covariance ETa can explain 93.07% of the variability in METRIC ETa and 86.01% in the SSEBop Eta estimates. Both METRIC and SSEBop reflected the ETa of alfalfa during full growth and harvesting periods. However, the absolute percent mean relative difference (MRD) of ET was higher for two out of three cuttings by SSEBop (>32%) compared to those for METRIC and eddy covariance. The spatiotemporal variabilities in crop ET estimates using METRIC and SSEBop showed a need to improve on-farm irrigation conveyance and on-the-field irrigation efficiency. Overall, RS models can provide spatiotemporal maps of ET that can be used for decision-making to manage irrigation water better and improve crop yield on a field, farm, and regional scale.

Effects of Freeze-Thaw Pretreatment Combined with Hot Air on Snake Gourd (Trichosanthes anguina L.).

Snake gourd is a seasonal vegetable with a high water content and medicinal value, but the short harvest period limits the large-scale application of snake gourd. Therefore, the effects of freeze-thaw pretreatment (FT) combined with hot air (HD) on the drying characteristics, active ingredients and bioactivities of snake gourd were investigated. The results showed that FT pretreatment reduced browning and shortened the drying time by 44%; the Page model was the best fit for describing the drying process. The polysaccharide contents (21.70% in alcoholic extract (TG1) and 44.34% in water extract (TG2)) and total phenol contents (1.81% in TG1 and 0.88% in TG2) of snake gourd pretreated by FT-HD were higher than those of snake gourd pretreated by the corresponding HD treatment. The FT pretreatment decreased the molecular weight of snake gourd polysaccharides and increased the molar ratio of glucose. The extracts pretreated by FT-HD showed greater chemical, cellular antioxidant capacity and α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition than those pretreated by HD. FT-HD can be recommended for achieving a short drying time and high quality of snake gourd and can be used for the drying of other fruits and vegetables.

Botanical, Chemical, and Pharmacological Characteristics of Carob Tree (Ceratonia Siliqua L)

In Morocco the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.), is scattered in the wild or articificial state throughout the country. It belongs to the Ceasalpiniaceae subfamily of the legume family, is a sclerophyllous, xerophilic, thermophilic, calciclous and heliophilous species. The carob is a Mediterranean medicinal plant, it is characterized by ecological, socio-economic, industrial and ornamental importance. It is an agro-sylvo-pastoral species that can be used for the rehabilitation of degraded soils, thanks to its capacity to adapt to different edapho-climatic conditions. The most important producing countries are Spain, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. Many factors affect the chemical composition of the fruit as well as its mineral content, for example the temperature, the origin of the cultivar and the harvest period. In therapy, this plant is known for its cholesterol-lowering, antiproliferative, antidiarrheal effect.

Nutrient-feeding strategy promotes the growth, biomass, and quality of genotype/variety CIM Megha of Kalmegh

The current study used two harvesting periods (2020-21 and 2021–2022) to investigate the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers applied to the soil on Kalmegh growth, productivity, and economic viability. The study looked at a variety of growth parameters, including plant height, the number of primary and secondary branches, plant spread, leaf area, dry matter accumulation, and fresh, dry, and seeded herbage output. T6 (RDF + VAM + Vermicompost) produced much higher growth metrics and yields than other treatments, exhibiting consistently better performance. The improved outcomes were attributed to the combined effects of inorganic fertilizers, mycorrhizal association (VAM), and organic supplementation (vermicompost). T2 (RDF + vermicompost) displayed a similar performance. On the other hand, the T7 control group had the lowest values across all metrics. The economic study determined that T6 was the most economically viable choice due to its higher gross and net returns. This emphasizes the importance of coordinated nutrient management in achieving optimal agricultural output and economic sustainability. According to the study's findings, T6, which has a balanced mix of inorganic and organic amendments, is a promising technique for increasing kalmegh variety CIM Megha production. This technique provides higher crops, financial rewards, and improved soil nutrient levels.

Utilizing Biostimulator Grow–B for Increasing Tobacco Seeds Germination, Biometric Indicators of Seedling and Quality of Cured Tobacco

In 2020–2021, in the central zone of the Krasnodar Territory, a study was conducted on the effectiveness of a biostimulator based on triterpene acids Grow–B on tobacco of the promising variety Sheptalsky 63. According to the results of the use of a growth-stimulating agent with a fungicidal effect in laboratory conditions, it was found that pre-sowing soaking of tobacco seeds at a concentration of 0.05% for 6 hours increased the weight of tobacco seedlings by 43%. Sowing of treated tobacco seeds in a greenhouse together with additional double treatment of seedlings in the development phases “ears” and “fit for planting” with a solution of the biostimulator Grow–B in a concentration of 0.05% increased the number of leaves on plants by 18, the length of seedlings from the root neck to the point of growth – by 37, to the end of the elongated leaves – by 24, the diameter of the stem is by 30, the crude mass of the aboveground part and the root system is by 96 and 95%, respectively. The yield of standard seedlings per unit of greenhouse area increased by 29%. The survival rate of plants in the field reached 98, their height increased by 12 by the end of the harvesting period, the area of tobacco leaves of the middle tier – by 28, yield – by 37% compared with the control. Pre-sowing soaking of seeds and seedling treatment with the Grow–B biostimulator increased the amount of nicotine in tobacco raw materials by 34, carbohydrates by 68, and reduced the amount of proteins by 13%. The number of Schmuck (carbohydrate-protein ratio characterizing the quality of raw materials) increased by 89% against the background of a biostimulator.

Fertilizer Effects on the Nitrogen Isotope Composition of Soil and Different Leaf Locations of Potted Camellia sinensis over a Growing Season.

The nitrogen-stable isotopes of plants can be used to verify the source of fertilizers, but the fertilizer uptake patterns in tea (Camellia sinensis) plants are unclear. In this study, potted tea plants were treated with three types of organic fertilizers (OFs), urea, and a control. The tea leaves were sampled over seven months from the top, middle, and base of the plants and analyzed for the δ15N and nitrogen content, along with the corresponding soil samples. The top tea leaves treated with the rapeseed cake OF had the highest δ15N values (up to 6.6‱), followed by the chicken manure, the cow manure, the control, and the urea fertilizer (6.5‱, 4.1‱, 2.2‱, and 0.6‱, respectively). The soil treated with cow manure had the highest δ15N values (6.0‱), followed by the chicken manure, rapeseed cake, control, and urea fertilizer (4.8‱, 4.0‱, 2.5‱, and 1.9‱, respectively). The tea leaves fertilized with rapeseed cake showed only slight δ15N value changes in autumn but increased significantly in early spring and then decreased in late spring, consistent with the delivery of a slow-release fertilizer. Meanwhile, the δ15N values of the top, middle, and basal leaves from the tea plants treated with the rapeseed cake treatment were consistently higher in early spring and lower in autumn and late spring, respectively. The urea and control samples had lower tea leaf δ15N values than the rapeseed cake-treated tea and showed a generalized decrease in the tea leaf δ15N values over time. The results clarify the temporal nitrogen patterns and isotope compositions of tea leaves treated with different fertilizer types and ensure that the δ15N tea leaf values can be used to authenticate the organic fertilizer methods across different harvest periods and leaf locations. The present results based on a pot experiment require further exploration in open agricultural soils in terms of the various potential fertilizer effects on the different variations of nitrogen isotope ratios in tea plants.

GROWTH AND YIELD OF BRAZILIAN SPINACH UNDER DIFFERENT SHADING INTENSITIES AND HARVESTING PERIODS IN A TROPICAL LOWLAND URBAN ECOSYSTEM

Brazilian spinach (Alternanthera sissoo) is a less prominent perennial leafy vegetable growing in the tropical ecosystem. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the effects of different shading intensities and harvesting periods on the growth and yield of Brazilian spinach in a tropical lowland urban ecosystem. The investigation used a split-plot design, with different shading intensities (no-shading, 45%, 55%, and 80% shading) as the main plot and harvesting periods (every 2, 3, and 4 weeks) as the subplot. The results showed that Brazilian spinach growth was significantly enhanced under no-shading conditions compared to shading treatments. Furthermore, 80% shading negatively impacted plant growth during early stages, as evidenced by alterations in parameters including canopy area (26.47 cm2), diameter (7.98 cm), and index (0.52), as well as Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) values. This led to reduced branch elongation, marketable yield (14.76 g), and non-marketable yield (4.68), along with a decreased dry weight of stems (0.25 g), branches (0.40 g), leaves (0.85 g), and roots (0.44 g). However, marketable leaves from unshaded plants had higher carbon content (34.64%) and lower nitrogen content (2.83%). More frequent harvesting every 2 weeks elevated marketable yield (67.22 g) but suppressed the growth of stems (1.05 g), branches (4.39 g), and roots (1.73 g). Based on these observations, the cultivation of Brazilian spinach in unshaded areas with a biweekly harvesting routine was recommended

Residue behavior and quality influence of tolfenpyrad and cyromazine in cowpea during simulated household washing process

Cowpea, a typical vegetable characterized by a consistent growth and harvest period, often accumulates high pesticide residues in pods. The household washing process has the potential to impact both pesticide residue and the quality of cowpea pods. This study investigated the behavior of tolfenpyrad and cyromazine in cowpea pods using in situ mass spectrometry imaging, analyze changes in nutrients, and explore typical metabolite alterations following the washing process. Both tolfenpyrad and cyromazine levels on the surface of the cowpea were significantly reduced after the washing process, although cyromazine distributed inside the cowpea remained at a high level. Immersing cowpeas in 2% NaHCO3 for 30 min and a 3 min tap-water rinse resulted in the removal of 72% and 58% of tolfenpyrad, 66% and 50% of cyromazine, respectively. Importantly, a 3 min tap-water rinse did not impact nutrient content, while other 30 min immersions led to a reduction in typical nutritional factors. Furthermore, the levels of typical metabolites such as tamarix, quercetin, and aspartic acid were down-regulated, while malic acid, glucose, and ascorbic acid were up-regulated in cowpea after pesticide immersion. The concentrations of all six metabolites in cowpea decreased after the washing procedure.

An Exploration of the Potentialities of Bai-Salam as a Mode to Financing Agricultural Products in Nigeria: A Case Study of Nguru-Bade Farmers

Lack of funding and difficult in securing loan from the bank due to absence of collateral are the major problems that detrimentally affecting the farmers of Nguru-Bade local government areas. Therefore, the overall objectives of this study are to gauge the level of awareness of the farmers of Nguru-Bade local government areas about Bai-Salam product and services and examine how Bai-Salam product can be used as best alternative in financing farmers in Nguru-Bade local government areas. The study used primary source of data (interview) to gained information for the study in order to answer the research questions and achieve the stated objectives. The study also used thematic analysis techniques to analyze the data collected through interview using focus coding techniques. The result from the study depicts out that there is lack of awareness on the Bai-Salam instrument by majority of the farmers of Nguru-Bade local government areas of Yobe state and Bai-Salam being an instrument of Islamic financial institutions can play a vital role in financing farmers deficit in the areas from planting up to harvesting period.

Calibrating ultrasonic sensor measurements of crop canopy heights: a case study of maize and wheat.

Canopy height serves as an important dynamic indicator of crop growth in the decision-making process of field management. Compared with other commonly used canopy height measurement techniques, ultrasonic sensors are inexpensive and can be exposed in fields for long periods of time to obtain easy-to-process data. However, the acoustic wave characteristics and crop canopy structure affect the measurement accuracy. To improve the ultrasonic sensor measurement accuracy, a four-year (2018-2021) field experiment was conducted on maize and wheat, and a measurement platform was developed. A series of single-factor experiments were conducted to investigate the significant factors affecting measurements, including the observation angle (0-60°), observation height (0.5-2.5 m), observation period (8:00-18:00), platform moving speed with respect to the crop (0-2.0 m min-1), planting density (0.2-1 time of standard planting density), and growth stage (maize from three-leaf to harvest period and wheat from regreening to maturity period). The results indicated that both the observation angle and planting density significantly affected the results of ultrasonic measurements (p-value< 0.05), whereas the effects of other factors on measurement accuracy were negligible (p-value > 0.05). Moreover, a double-input factor calibration model was constructed to assess canopy height under different years by utilizing the normalized difference vegetation index and ultrasonic measurements. The model was developed by employing the least-squares method, and ultrasonic measurement accuracy was significantly improved when integrating the measured value of canopy heights and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The maize measurement accuracy had a root mean squared error (RMSE) ranging from 81.4 mm to 93.6 mm, while the wheat measurement accuracy had an RMSE from 37.1 mm to 47.2 mm. The research results effectively combine stable and low-cost commercial sensors with ground-based agricultural machinery platforms, enabling efficient and non-destructive acquisition of crop height information.

Viability of Cull Bee Brood (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Apis mellifera&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;) as an Additive in Chicken Feed for Enhanced Food Security

There is insufficient knowledge by African beekeepers on how to utilize and integrate culled bee brood into their chicken feed or food systems instead of dumping broods as wastes. Culling out access bee brood combs, diseased, old combs with brood remains will reduce over reproduction of bee brood in the bee colony and hence improving hygiene in bee hive colony which will increase its fitness. African bee keepers regularly practice bee brood culling of unwanted, damaged, diseased and excessive combs with brood during production and harvesting periods and throw away culled bee brood Africa beekeepers. Therefore, this study came up with new ways on how to collect, process, utilize and integrate culled bee brood into chicken feeds as additives instead of throwing them away as wastes. This would create new production opportunity among bee keeper now and in the future as culled bee brood to be an alternative source of protein in chicken feeds systems leading to improved food security. The study was conducted in three districts of southwestern Uganda (Kiruhura, Mbarara, Rwampara). Current Nutritional composition and hygiene practice were analyzed after sampling practices and collection. Analyzed 966 culled bee brood combs from 46 beekeeper’s colony. Data was analyzed using r-statistical program. All assumptions for statistical tests were met. A total of seven (7) apiaries participated in cull brood removal sample from 46 bee hives from each district that was sampled making a total of 966 colonies. a repeated measures ANOVA both at beginning of the season and the end of the season was used to analyze the beekeepers’ data from different apiary yard in western Uganda and five (5) colonies (bee hive) from an on-farm trial experiment at Mbarara, Kiruhura, Rwampara western Uganda, three (3) treatment and two control were utilized. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze this data. Using computer aided software of R-statistical package for analysis. Results were presented in table form from different seasons from laboratory analysis. The study also adds to existing literature where some insects are used industrially for selling as seen with the Nsenene (grass hoppers) in Uganda and crickets and black soldier’s flies in western Kenya at Jaramongi Odinga Oginga University of Science and Technology. MP2 has the highest metabolizable energy with slightly less microbes, and average moisture content. This makes it a good choice of feeds with bee brood additives for the chicken.

Biomass yield and metal phytoextraction efficiency of Salix and Populus clones harvested at different rotation lengths in the field experiment

BackgroundPhytoextraction belongs to environmentally well-accepted remediation technologies to remove metals from contaminated soils. Due to long-time requirement, sufficient data for proper phytoextraction evaluation are missing. Four clones of fast-growing trees: two willow species (S1), Salix viminalis L. (Salix schwerinii E.L.Wolf × S. viminalis) × S. viminalis) and (S2)—Salix smithiana (Salix × smithiana Willd.), and two poplar clones (P1), Populus Max-4 (Populus nigra L. × Populus maximowiczii A. Henry) and (P2) Wolterson (P. nigra L.) were cultivated under field conditions at medium-to-high Cd and Pb, and low Zn soil contamination to assess trees’ long-term ability of biomass production and removal of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The biomass yield and PTE uptake were measured during 8 years of regular growth under three rotation lengths: four harvests following 2-year periods (4 × 2y), two harvests in 4-year periods (2 × 4y), and one harvest representing 8 years of growth (1 × 8y).ResultsIn most cases, the highest annual dry biomass yield was achieved with a 2 × 4y rotation (P1 = 20.9 t ha−1 y−1, S2 = 18.4 t ha−1y−1), and the yield decreased in order 2 × 4y > 1 × 8y > 4 × 2y of harvesting periods. Only clone S1 showed a different pattern. The differences in biomass yield substantially affected the PTE phytoextraction. The greatest amount of Cd and Zn was removed by willow S2, with the highest biomass yield, and the strongest ability to accumulate PTEs. With 2 × 4y rotation, S2 removed a substantial amount of Cd (9.07%) and Zn (3.43%) from the topsoil horizon (0–20 cm) and 5.62% Cd and 2.04% Zn from horizon 20–40 cm; phytoextraction rate was slightly lower for 1 × 8y rotation. The poplar P1 removed the most Pb in the 1 × 8y rotation, but the overall Pb phytoextraction was negligible. The results indicated that lignin and cellulose contents increased, and hemicellulose content decreased with increased concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn in poplars wood.ConclusionsThe data confirmed that phytoextraction over longer harvest periods offered promising results for removing Cd from medium- to high-level contaminated soils; however, the ability of Pb removal was extremely low. The longer harvest period should be more economically feasible.Graphical

Changes in phycospheric and environmental microbes in Neoporphyra haitanensis during the cultivation cycle

Neoporphyra haitanensis is an economic seaweed widely cultivated along the coast of China, allowing 4–5 times harvests during a cultivation season. The composition and functions of algal-microbial communities are intricate, dynamic, and closely linked to the health of algae. This study utilized metagenomic and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing to investigate the dynamic changes in the phycospheric microbial communities of Neoporphyra haitanensis (PMC-Nh) and bacterial communities of surrounding seawater (BC-SW) during the cultivation cycle, providing valuable reference data for monitoring and preventing diseases of cultivated seaweed. The results indicated that N. haitanensis might possess the ability to “recruit” and “select” surrounding microbial communities. Beneficial bacteria contributing to carbon, nitrogen, sulfur or phosphorus cycles, such as Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria at the class level, and Rhodobacteraceae, Saprospiraceae, Flavobacteriaceae at the family level, exhibited increased abundance. A symbiotic relationship based on resource supply formed between algae and PMC-Nh. However, potential pathogenic bacteria capable of degrading algae, such as Aquimana, Nonlabens, Alteromonas, Loktanella, also successfully colonized. The yield and quality of N. haitanensis in the 2nd and 3rd harvests are crucial for annual production and income. However, potential pathogenic bacteria and factors peaked in abundance during the 2nd harvest. At this point, the symbiotic body formed by Neoporphyra and the PMC-Nh was in a state of equilibrium on the “tip of the needle”. Biomarkers in the 2nd harvest, such as Nonlabens and Alteromonas, have been reported as algal pathogens. Moreover, pathways or factors associated with bacterial pathogenesis were significantly enriched in the algal-associated microbial community in the 2nd harvest, such as biofilm formation, flagellar assembly, bacterial secretion system pathways, and virulence factors of the Virulence Factors of Pathogenic Bacteria (VFDB) database. This may be attributed to the variable and frequently intense temperature increases in the coastal areas of the East China Sea during the 2nd harvest period in mid to late October, leading to significant shifts in microbial balance. The PMC-Nh remained relatively stable during the 3rd harvest. Until the end of cultivation, pathways related to glycometabolism and the content of glycoside hydrolases in the PMC-Nh increased, possibly due to heightened polysaccharide content and the maturation or senescence of the final stage of N. haitanensis, favoring polysaccharide exudation. Our results suggest that the 2nd harvest stage is a high-risk period for N. haitanensis cultivation, and effective cultivation management should be conducted to prevent widespread algal decay and reduce production losses.

Study on optimal harvesting period and rational medicinal parts of Zanthoxylum nitidum based on statistics of main effective components

To determine the optimal harvesting period and rational medicinal parts of Zanthoxylum nitidum, the main effective components of cultivated Z. nitidum samples, which originate from various growth years, harvesting months, and different parts were analyzed and compared with the wild samples. HPLC was performed on a Kinetex C18 column(4. 6 mm×100 mm, 2. 6 μm) with the gradient elution of 0. 3% phosphoric acid solution-acetonitrile(80 ∶ 20) containing 0. 2% triethylamine. The flow rate was 1. 0 m L·min-1, and the detection wavelength was 273 nm. The column temperature was 30 ℃. Nitidine chloride and chelerythrine, the main effective components, were determined as the markers. The results showed there was no significant difference in the contents of the main effective components among the roots of wild and cultivated Z. nitidum, as well as the roots and roots + stems of cultivated Z. nitidum. The statistical results of HCA and PCA indicated that the roots and stems could be clearly distinguished, but no distinction could be made between wild and cultivated products, which was consistent with the results of the significance analysis. The total contents of nitidine chloride and chelerythrine in roots and stems of Z. nitidum of 1-6 years old were 0. 114%-0. 256% and 0. 030%-0. 133%, respectively. These results suggested a positive correlation between the content of the main effective components and the growth years. No significant difference was observed between the contents of samples harvested in different seasons, indicating that the harvest season had no effect on the content of the main effective components of the Z. nitidum samples. The total contents of nitidine chloride and chelerythrine of the dried Z. nitidum samples(excluding branches) from three plantation bases were 0. 308%±0. 123% in Yunfu, 0. 192%±0. 025% in Maoming, and 0. 197%±0. 052% in Nanning, respectively, and they were all not less than 0. 15%, or in other words, the roots(including fibrous roots, taproots, and underground stems) and stems(aboveground stems) of Z. nitidum transplanted for more than 2. 5 years can meet the medical requirements. This study demonstrates that the cultivated Z. nitidum could be used as a valid substitute for the wild Z. nitidum, which provides a guarantee for the sustainable development and the application of Z. nitidum resources. The stems and roots could be considered medicinal parts of Z. nitidum. It is recommended to revise the medicinal parts of Z. nitidum to dried roots and stems in the next edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and the medicinal parts can be harvested all year round. In order to ensure the content of effective components and clinical effectiveness, the root and stem should be harvested for medical use after the seedlings of Z. nitidum have been transplanted for more than three years.

Analisis Usahatani Tanaman Sela Pada Lahan Perkebunan Kelapa Di Desa Tontalete Kecamatan Kema Kabupaten Minahasa Utara

This research aims to analyze the income of farmers who cultivate land under coconut trees with intercropping. This research uses primary data and secondary data. Primary data is a source of data obtained directly from original sources or not through intermediaries. Meanwhile, secondary data is data sourced from the Tontalete Village office, Kema District, North Minahasa Regency and the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). Sampling was carried out randomly (Simple Random Sampling). The total research sample was 13 corn farmers and 2 chili farmers. The research results were analyzed using farming income analysis. The results of this study show that farmers utilizing coconut plantation land with intercropping in Tontalete Village, Kema District, North Minahasa Regency, obtained an average production cost of corn intercropping respondents amounting to IDR8.445.822,00 per hectare, with revenue of IDR21.868.750,00 per hectare, resulting in an income of IDR13.422.929,00 per hectare. Meanwhile, respondents growing intercropped chili had an average production cost of IDR10.865.342,00 per hectare, with revenue of IDR69.307.857,00 per hectare, and income of IDR58.442.515,00 per hectare over 8 harvesting periods.