Plant Leaf Area Research Articles

The Effect of Using NPK Fertilizer and Liquid Organic Fertilizer Vegetable Waste on the Vegetative Growth of Purple Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

An key factor in promoting the growth and development of plants is fertilizer. Both organic and inorganic fertilizers can be used for fertilization. If inorganic fertilizers are applied over an extended period of time without the incorporation of organic matter, the soil's quality may be compromised, leading to suboptimal plant development. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the optimal fertilizer dose for purple eggplant growth response, as well as the effects of NPK fertilizer, liquid organic fertilizer made from vegetable waste, and a combination of both on the vegetative growth of purple eggplant plants. A two-factor Complete Random Design was employed in this study, with three replicates and five treatment levels for each of the liquid organic fertilizer made from vegetable waste and NPK fertilizer treatment. The Anova two-way test was used to examine the data, and then the DMRT test was performed. The application of liquid organic fertilizer made from vegetable waste and the combination of the two fertilizers had a real effect on plant height, leaf area, wet weight, and dry weight but no real effect on the number of leaves, according to the results. On the other hand, the application of NPK fertilizer had a real effect on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, wet weight, and dry weight. The results of the DMRT test (5%) indicated that the optimal dosage for plant height, wet weight, and dry weight was 1.5 grams of NPK and 10 ml of liquid organic fertilizer made from vegetable waste; for the number of leaves, it was 1.5 grams of NPK and 2 grams, and for the area of leaves, it was 1 gram of NPK.

Effect of Defoliation on Growth, Yield and Forage Quality in Maize, as a Simulation of the Impact of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

This study assesses the impact of defoliation applied to three developmental stages across three cropping seasons from 2021 to 2023 on growth, yield and forage quality in maize. The experimental design included three treatments: defoliation of three expanded leaves at the 3rd–4th leaf stage (DF1), the 5th–6th expanded leaves by leaf punch (DF2) and expanding leaves with the DF2 treatment (DF3) at the 6th–7th leaf stages, compared with no defoliation (control). Over three years, the most significant decrease in dry matter (DM) yield occurred in DF1 during spring sowing, while in summer sowing, the largest reduction was in DF3, both of which were correlated with changes in the number of grains per ear. The DM yields at harvest were positively correlated with plant leaf areas at the silking stage. The digestibility of forage in in vitro DM decreased concomitantly with an increase in acid detergent fiber content, indicating a decrease in forage quality. Given the frequent severe damage observed in summer sown maize and the detrimental effects of early growth stage leaf feeding on quality and quantity of spring sown maize, the application of registered insecticides is advised to reduce pest damage to maize crops.

Effects of Red and Blue Light on the Growth, Photosynthesis, and Subsequent Growth under Fluctuating Light of Cucumber Seedlings.

The effects of red and blue light on growth and steady-state photosynthesis have been widely studied, but there are few studies focusing on dynamic photosynthesis and the effects of LED pre-treatment on cucumber seedlings' growth, so in this study, cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Jinyou 365) was chosen as the test material. White light (W), monochromatic red light (R), monochromatic blue light (B), and mixed red and blue lights with different red-to-blue ratios (9:1, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, and 1:9) were set to explore the effects of red and blue light on cucumber seedlings' growth, steady-state photosynthesis, dynamic photosynthesis, and subsequent growth under fluctuating light. The results showed that compared with R and B, mixed red and blue light was more suitable for cucumber seedlings' growth, and the increased blue light ratios would decrease the biomass of cucumber seedlings under mixed red and blue light; cucumber seedlings under 90% red and 10% blue mixed light (9R1B) grew better than other treatments. For steady-state photosynthesis, blue light decreased the actual net photosynthetic rate but increased the maximum photosynthetic capacity by promoting stomatal development and opening; 9R1B exhibited higher actual net photosynthetic rate, but the maximum photosynthetic capacity was low. For dynamic photosynthesis, the induction rate of photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance were also accelerated by blue light. For subsequent growth under fluctuating light, higher maximum photosynthetic capacity and photoinduction rate could not promote the growth of cucumber seedlings under subsequent fluctuating light, while seedlings pre-treated with 9R1B and B grew better under subsequent fluctuating light due to the high plant height and leaf area. Overall, cucumber seedlings treated with 9R1B exhibited the highest biomass and it grew better under subsequent fluctuating light due to the higher actual net photosynthetic rate, plant height, and leaf area.

High ratio of blue:red light reduces fruit set in sweet pepper, which is associated with low starch content and hormonal changes

In sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), the fruit yield is often negatively affected by fruit abortion. Here we investigated whether fruit abortion is affected by the blue:red light ratio (B:R) and the possible underlying physiological mechanisms related to carbohydrates and hormones. Sweet pepper plants were grown at B:R of 1:10, 1:3, 1:1 or 9:1 with a total photosynthetic photon flux density of 200 µmol m−2 s−1, resulting in a phytochrome photostationary state (PSS) of 0.88, 0.88, 0.86 and 0.72, respectively. For fruit set observations, each plant was allowed to retain 12 flowers on 4 main stems. Sweet pepper plants grown at the highest B:R (9:1) showed a low fruit set (around 3 fruits per plant), whereas the other three treatments resulted in higher fruit set (6–7 fruits per plant). This response matched with the changes in PSS, suggesting the B:R effect on fruit set might be controlled by phytochrome signaling, which requires further investigation. Plant shoot biomass and leaf area were reduced at B:R of 1:1 and 9:1. The reduced fruit set was associated with a drop in starch content and sucrose synthases activity; and a low auxin, high salicylic acid and high cis-Zeatin type levels in flowers. Flowers in the low fruit set treatment also failed to reduce the abscisic acid and ethylene levels after anthesis. We concluded that both the reduced starch content and the hormonal changes in flowers play a role in triggering fruit abortion at the high B:R of 9:1.

Effects of far-red light on growth, endogenous hormones, antioxidant capacity and quality of Lettuce

This study aimed to explore the effects of various intensities of far-red light on the growth performance, endogenous hormones, antioxidant indices, and overall quality of hydroponically cultivated lettuce. As the control treatment, a white LED emitting light at an intensity of 200 µmol/(m2·s) was utilized (referred to as CK with an R/FR ratio of 5.5), while two experimental treatments, FT1 (R/FR = 1.2) and FT2 (R/FR = 0.8), were established by adding different intensities of far-red light to the CK treatment. The results demonstrated that the application of far-red light, particularly in FT1, led to a significant increase in plant height, leaf area, and lettuce biomass, while simultaneously resulting in a notable reduction in leaf thickness. The content of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) in response to far-red light treatments exhibited an initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease, with FT2 experiencing a significant decline. The gibberellin (GA3) content in FT2 reached its peak on the 35th day, showing a substantial increase of 60.09% compared to CK. Far-red treatments were found to enhance peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities, while significantly reducing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. In comparison to CK, FT1 exhibited a remarkable 134.33% increase in anthocyanin content. Both FT1 and FT2 significantly boosted vitamin C levels while reducing nitrite content. Additionally, the application of far-red light treatment significantly increased the alcohol and ester content in lettuce leaves. This study establishes a theoretical foundation for enhancing the quality and flavor of lettuce using different far-red light treatments.Graphical

Agro-morphological Growth Response of Acha (Fonio) (Digitaria Exilis and Digitaria Iburua [Kippist] Stapf.) Exposed to Colchicine: Leaf Length, Leaf Width and Leaf Area Index

The present study investigated the effects of colchicine treatment on leaf length, leaf width, and leaf area index (LAI) in two species of Acha (fonio), namely Digitaria exilis and Digitaria iburua. Colchicine, a potent mitotic inhibitor, has been widely used to induce polyploidy and in studying the effects of genome duplication on various morphological traits. This study aimed to explore if colchicine treatment could alter the leaf morphology of the two Acha species. Seeds of the two species were treated with colchicine solution at various concentrations (0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 g/dL), while a control group was maintained without any treatment. Leaf length and width were measured using a meter rule, and LAI was calculated by multiplying the leaf length and leaf width with the constant for both species. Statistical analysis was performed using the Analysis of Variance on SPSS to determine significant differences between treated and control groups. The results showed that colchicine treatment had a significant effect on leaf morphology in both Acha species. Leaf length and width increased significantly in response to colchicine treatment, with the degree of increase depending on the concentration. Moreover, the LAI also exhibited a significant increase in treated plants compared to the control group. Colchicine concentration level of 0.10 g/dL produced the best results that can be exploited to enhance the morphological characteristics of both Acha species. The findings suggest that colchicine-induced polyploidy can enhance leaf growth and overall leaf area in Acha plants, leading to potential implications for agricultural productivity and yield improvement. Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and long-term effects of colchicine-induced polyploidy on other growth parameters, reproductive traits, and yield in Acha. Understanding the genetic and physiological changes associated with polyploidy in Acha species will contribute to the development of improved breeding strategies and cultivation practices for this important cereal crop.

Growth Responses of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) to Selected Plant Growth Regulators

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of two types of plant growth regulators (PGRs) which are gibberellins (GA3) and Paclobutrazol (PBZ) on the growth and photosynthetic pigment (chlorophyll) of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) plants. Exogenous applications of GA3 and PBZ with different concentrations (i.e. 20, 40, 80 and 100 mg/L) were sprayed on two-week-old Okra plants under the nursery stage. The control plants were only treated with distilled water. The stem diameter (mm) of treated and control plants was measured weekly. At the end of the experimental period, data on growth characteristics such as plant height (cm), leaf area (cm2) and number of leaves were recorded. The estimation of chlorophyll was measured using the SPAD-502 Chlorophyll Meter. Results showed that the plant morphological characteristics of Okra plants were significantly affected by the application of GA3 and PBZ (P<0.0001). In addition, stem growth (expressed as stem cross-sectional area- mm2) of Okra plants was significantly increased with increasing GA3 concentrations. In contrast, applying PBZ reduced Okra plants' stem growth. This study highlighted the major effects of GA3 and PBZ on the growth of Okra plants when planted under tropical climate conditions.

Phenotype, Biomass, Carbon and Nitrogen Assimilation, and Antioxidant Response of Rapeseed under Salt Stress.

Salt stress is one of the major adverse factors affecting plant growth and crop production. Rapeseed is an important oil crop, providing high-quality edible oil for human consumption. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of salt stress on the phenotypic traits and physiological processes of rapeseed. The soil salinity was manipulated by setting three different levels: 0 g NaCl kg-1 soil (referred to as S0), 1.5 g NaCl kg-1 soil (referred to as S1), and 3.0 g NaCl kg-1 soil (referred to as S2). In general, the results indicated that the plant height, leaf area, and root neck diameter decreased with an increase in soil salinity. In addition, the biomass of various organs at all growth stages decreased as soil salinity increased from S0 to S2. The increasing soil salinity improved the distribution of biomass in the root and leaf at the seedling and flowering stages, indicating that rapeseed plants subjected to salt stress during the vegetative stage are capable of adapting their growth pattern to sustain their capacity for nutrient and water uptake, as well as leaf photosynthesis. However, as the soil salinity increased, there was a decrease in the distribution of biomass in the pod and seed at the maturity stage, while an increase was observed in the root and stem, suggesting that salt stress inhibited carbohydrate transport into reproductive organs. Moreover, the C and N accumulation at the flowering and maturity stages exhibited a reduction in direct correlation with the increase in soil salinity. High soil salinity resulted in a reduction in the C/N, indicating that salt stress exerted a greater adverse effect on C assimilation compared to N assimilation, leading to an increase in seed protein content and a decrease in oil content. Furthermore, as soil salinity increased from S0 to S2, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and the content of soluble protein and sugar increased by 58.39%, 33.38%, 15.57%, and 13.88% at the seedling stage, and 38.69%, 22.85%, 12.04%, and 8.26% at the flowering stage, respectively. In summary, this study revealed that salt stress inhibited C and N assimilation, leading to a suppressed phenotype and biomass accumulation. The imbalanced C and N assimilation under salt stress contributed to the alterations in the seed oil and protein content. Rapeseed had a certain degree of salt tolerance by improving antioxidants and osmolytes.

The Influence of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Salt Stress on the Morphological and Some Biochemical Characteristics of Solanum lycopersicum L. Plants.

Salinity reduces crop yields and quality, causing global economic losses. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) improve plant physiological and metabolic processes and abiotic stress resistance. This study examined the effects of foliar ZnO-NPs at 75 and 150 mg/L on tomato Kecskeméti 549 plants to alleviate salt stress caused by 150 mM NaCl. The precipitation procedure produced ZnO-NPs that were characterized using UV-VIS, TEM, STEM, DLS, EDAX, Zeta potential, and FTIR. The study assessed TPCs, TFCs, total hydrolyzable sugars, total free amino acids, protein, proline, H2O2, and MDA along with plant height, stem width, leaf area, and SPAD values. The polyphenolic burden was also measured by HPLC. With salt stress, plant growth and chlorophyll content decreased significantly. The growth and development of tomato plants changed by applying the ZnO-NPs. Dosages of ZnO-NPs had a significant effect across treatments. ZnO-NPs also increased chlorophyll, reduced stress markers, and released phenolic chemicals and proteins in the leaves of tomatoes. ZnO-NPs reduce salt stress by promoting the uptake of minerals. ZnO-NPs had beneficial effects on tomato plants when subjected to salt stress, making them an alternate technique to boost resilience in saline soils or low-quality irrigation water. This study examined how foliar application of chemically synthesized ZnO-NPs to the leaves affected biochemistry, morphology, and phenolic compound synthesis with and without NaCl.

Growth Performance of Low Chilling Varieties of Apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) under the Influence of Different Nutrient Levels in Assam, India

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the growth characters and leaf nutrient content of low-chilling apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) under the effect of different nutrient levels in Assam. Three low-chilling varieties viz. HRMN-99, Dorsett Golden and Anna were grown for this purpose subjected to different nutrients levels comprising of FYM applied alone or in combination with NPK doses. Obtained results revealed that HRMN-99 registered the highest significant plant height (179.76 cm), stem girth (9.91 cm), leaf area (63.34 cm2) and leaf area index (2.42) at the end of season. Amongst various nutrient levels, the application of 5 kg FYM+ 150 g urea+ 210g SSP+ 120 g MOP/plants showed superior performance in terms of plant height (192.03 cm), stem girth (11.30 cm), number of branches (17.25), leaf area (69.38 cm2) and leaf area index (2.61). Analysis of leaf nutritional status revealed that the variety HRMN-99 and nutrient application of 5 kg FYM+ 150 g urea+ 210g SSP+ 120 g MOP/plants showed impressive results in terms of leaf N, P, K, Ca and Mg. Thus, the variety HRMN-99 at nutrient level of 5 kg FYM+ 150 g urea+ 210g SSP+ 120 g MOP/plant proved to be promising for apple cultivation under Assam condition.

Effects of Different Film Types on Cotton Growth and Yield under Drip Irrigation

To address residual plastic film in fields in which mulched drip irrigation technology is applied, a sprayable degradable film (consisting of 1–5% clay, 5–20% humic acid, 0.5–5% crosslinker, and 0.5–5% auxiliary and water) can be used as a superior alternative to the plastic film applied in drip-irrigated fields. A field experiment was conducted in Xinjiang, Northwest China, to test the impacts of five different mulching treatments (SF1, sprayable degradable film applied at 1900 kg ha−1; SF2, sprayable degradable film applied at 1900 kg ha−1; SF3, sprayable degradable film applied at 2500 kg ha−1; PF, plastic film; and NF, no film mulching) on cotton growth and development, yield, and water use efficiency. The results showed that, compared to the NF treatment, sprayable degradable film mulching (SF1, SF2, and SF3) positively impacted the soil hydrothermal environment, promoted root growth, significantly increased plant height and leaf area, and enhanced physiological characteristics, which, in turn, increased yield and water use efficiency by 11.79–15.00% and 21.88–30.21%, respectively. The maximum yield and water use efficiency were observed in the PF treatment, amounting to 5345 kg ha−1 and 1.28 kg m−3, respectively, and they had no significant differences from those in the SF3 treatment. In general, applying moderate amounts of sprayable degradable film at a rate of 2500 kg ha−1 represents an effective agronomic strategy for managing residual film contamination while maintaining stable cotton yields.

Effect of High Salt Stress on Germination and Growth of Some Varieties of Common Beet

Information is provided on soil salinization as the most common abiotic stress that reduces the productivity and quality of agricultural plants. Salt stress is associated with lipid peroxidation in cell membranes, DNA damage, protein denaturation, carbohydrate oxidation, pigment breakdown and disruption of enzymatic activity, as well as metabolic adaptations, including primarily the accumulation of osmolytes. The growth of higher plants in saline soil depends on the salt tolerance of the plant species. Reduced plant growth due to salinity includes a reduction in plant leaf area. A pot experiment plant materials was carried out based on investigate the effect of salt stress on growth and state stomatal of three sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) cultivars, Cooper, Tarifa and Taltos which import from Denmark. Plants were harvested after 30, 45 and 60 days of salt treatment and were separated into leaf lamina, petioles, stem, and roots.

Interactive Effect of Nitrogen, Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe) on the Growth and yield Characteristics of Gobhi Sarson (Brassica napus L.)

Brassica napus L., commonly known as Gobhi Sarson in India, is a vital oilseed crop contributing significantly to the agricultural economy. India stands as the fourth-largest producer of oilseeds, with mustard-rapeseed, including Brassica napus, constituting about 28.6% of the total oilseed production [1]. The experiment titled "Study on Foliar Application of Nitrogen, Zinc (Zn), and Iron (Fe) on the Growth and Yield Characteristics of Gobhi Sarson (Brassica napus L.)" was conducted at the research farm of Lovely Professional University, Punjab, during the Rabi season of 2023-24. A total of nine treatments with three replications were evaluated using a Randomized Block Design. The findings indicate that Treatment 9 (75%RDF + 1% Urea + 0.5% FeSO4 + 0.5% ZnSO4) demonstrated the highest plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, leaf area, primary and secondary branches per plant, number of siliquae per plant, seeds per siliquae, 1000-seed weight, seed yield, biological yield, and oil content. Treatment 5 (50%RDF + 1% Urea + 0.5% FeSO4 + 0.5% ZnSO4) also performed well across these parameters, albeit to a slightly lesser extent. (T9) recorded the highest seed yield (19.7 q ha-1), significantly outperforming all other treatments, with Treatment 5 being statistically comparable. Moreover, Treatment 9 exhibited the maximum oil content (41.2%), followed closely by Treatment 5 with oil content of 40.6%. Conversely, the control treatment (T1) yielded the lowest oil content. These results underscore the efficacy of foliar application of 75% RDF with 1% Urea, 0.5% FeSO4, and 0.5% ZnSO4 in enhancing the growth and yield characteristics of Gobhi Sarson, with Treatment 5 showing similar trends.

Quantitative Relationship of Plant Height and Leaf Area Index of Spring Maize under Different Water and Nitrogen Treatments Based on Effective Accumulated Temperature

To optimize the growth management of spring maize, it is essential to understand the dynamics of plant height and leaf area index (LAI) under controlled water and nitrogen supply. This study conducted two-year field experiments (2022–2023) in Karamay, Xinjiang. Three irrigation levels (75%, 100%, and 125% of Crop Evapotranspiration (ETc)) and four nitrogen application rates (0, 93, 186, and 279 kg N/ha) were set. A logistic growth model was fitted using accumulated effective temperature as the independent variable to analyze the growth and development characteristics of spring maize under various water and nitrogen conditions. The results demonstrated that the logistic models, based on relative effective accumulated temperature, had a determination coefficient (R2) of over 0.99 and a Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE) of less than 10%. Irrigation extended the rapid growth phase of plant height, whereas nitrogen application shortened the time to enter this rapid growth phase and prolonged its duration. Irrigation increased the maximum LAI growth rate and shortened and prolonged the rapid growth phase, while nitrogen extended the duration of the rapid growth phase for LAI. The W2N2 treatment, consisting of 100% ETc irrigation and 186 kg N/ha, was identified as the optimal drip irrigation water–nitrogen combination for spring maize in the study area. Under optimal water and nitrogen supply, both the maximum growth rate and the average growth rate during the rapid growth phase were higher, requiring accumulated effective temperatures of 825.16–845.74 °C·d and 856.68–890.00 °C·d, respectively, to reach these rates. The appropriate water and nitrogen supply significantly enhanced the synergistic promotion of growth and development in spring maize. This study provides a theoretical basis for the quantitative analysis of growth dynamics in summer maize using effective accumulated temperature.

Field Examinations on the Application of Novel Biochar-Based Microbial Fertilizer on Degraded Soils and Growth Response of Flue-Cured Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.).

Southwestern China is receiving excessive chemical fertilizers to meet the challenges of continuous cropping. These practices are deteriorating the soil environment and affecting tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) yield and quality adversely. A novel microbially enriched biochar-based fertilizer was synthesized using effective microorganisms, tobacco stalk biochar and basal fertilizer. A field-scale study was conducted to evaluate the yield response of tobacco grown on degraded soil amended with our novel biochar-based microbial fertilizer (BF). Four treatments of BF (0%, 1.5%, 2.5% and 5%) were applied in the contaminated field to grow tobacco. The application of BF1.5, BF2.5 and BF5.0 increased the available water contents by 9.47%, 1.18% and 2.19% compared to that with BF0 respectively. Maximum growth of tobacco in terms of plant height and leaf area was recorded for BF1.5 compared to BF0. BF1.5, BF2.5 and BF5.0 increased SPAD by 13.18-40.53%, net photosynthetic rate by 5.44-60.42%, stomatal conductance by 8.33-44.44%, instantaneous water use efficiency by 55.41-93.24% and intrinsic water use efficiency by 0.09-24.11%, while they decreased the intercellular CO2 concentration and transpiration rate by 3.85-6.84% and 0.29-47.18% relative to BF0, respectively (p < 0.05). The maximum increase in tobacco yield was recorded with BF1.5 (23.81%) compared to that with BF0. The present study concludes that the application of BF1.5 improves and restores the degraded soil by improving the hydraulic conductivity and by increasing the tobacco yield.

The impact of biochar addition on morpho-physiological characteristics, yield and water use efficiency of tomato plants under drought and salinity stress

The use of saline water under drought conditions is critical for sustainable agricultural development in arid regions. Biochar is used as a soil amendment to enhance soil properties such as water-holding capacity and the source of nutrition elements of plants. Thus, the research was carried out to assess the impact of biochar treatment on the morphological and physiological characteristics and production of Solanum lycopersicum in greenhouses exposed to drought and saline stresses. The study was structured as a three-factorial in split-split-plot design. There were 16 treatments across three variables: (i) water quality, with freshwater and saline water, with electrical conductivities of 0.9 and 2.4 dS m− 1, respectively; (ii) irrigation level, with 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of total evapotranspiration (ETC); (iii) and biochar application, with the addition of biochar at a 3% dosage by (w/w) (BC3%), and a control (BC0%). The findings demonstrated that salt and water deficiency hurt physiological, morphological, and yield characteristics. Conversely, the biochar addition enhanced all characteristics. Growth-related parameters, such as plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, and dry and wet weight, and leaf gas exchange attributes, such rate of transpiration and photosynthesis, conductivity, as well as leaf relative water content were decreased by drought and salt stresses, especially when the irrigation was 60% ETc or 40% ETc. The biochar addition resulted in a substantial enhancement in vegetative growth-related parameters, physiological characteristics, efficiency of water use, yield, as well as reduced proline levels. Tomato yield enhanced by 4%, 16%, 8%, and 3% when irrigation with freshwater at different levels of water deficit (100% ETc, 80% ETc, 60% ETc, and 40% ETc) than control (BC0%). Overall, the use of biochar (3%) combined with freshwater shows the potential to enhance morpho-physiological characteristics, support the development of tomato plants, and improve yield with higher WUE in semi-arid and arid areas.

The influence of foliar macronutrient on growth and yield of sweet corn grown in Rengam and Rasau soil series under greenhouse conditions

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of different rates of macronutrients as a foliar applications on growth and yield performance of sweet corn cultivated in Rengam and Rasau soil series of Malaysia under greenhouse condition. The study comprised five treatments of macronutrient fertilization as a foliar application (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 % NPK). The plant height, stem width, leaf number, leaf area and cob height of sweet corn grown in Rengam soil series were significantly influenced by foliar macronutrient application. Notably, a rise in cob weight of sweet corns cultivated in Rasau soil series was observed at the 75 % rate, reaching 75 g, compared to 68 g for sweet corn grown in Rengam soil series. The foliar application of 100 % NPK resulted in the highest total leaf area at 252.92 cm2 compared to all other treatments. Regarding the cob fresh weight and dry matter content of sweet corn cultivated in the Rasau soil series, significant improvement noted with the 75 % NPK treatment, however plants grown in the Rengam soil series and treated with 75 % NPK as a foliar application did not exhibit significant effects. The concentrations of Fe and Mn in the corn stem from both soil series significantly increased with macronutrients foliar application. In the corn leaves grown in Rengam soil series, the concentration of nutrients was significantly influenced by the rate of NPK used as a foliar application in this study. Notably, the increased of Ca content in the treated leaves was significantly higher compared to control plants. Additionally, the contents of P, K, Cu and Zn in the corn flower of the plants in the Rengam soil series were significantly elevated in treated plants compared to untreated ones. Conclusively, based on this greenhouse study, it can be inferred that two foliar sprays of macronutrient solution at rates of 75 % and 100 % NPK greatly enhanced the growth, yield and nutrient contents of sweet corn cultivated in the Rengam and Rasau soil series.

Effects of different light conditions on morphological, anatomical, photosynthetic and biochemical parameters of Cypripedium macranthos Sw.

In this study, the morphological (plant height, leaf length and width, stem diameter and leaf number), anatomical (epidermal cell density and thickness, Stomatal length and width), photosynthetic (net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, relative humidity, leaf temperature and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters) and biochemical parameters (the content of soluble sugar, soluble protein, proline, malondialdehyde and electrical conductivity) of Cypripedium macranthos Sw. in Changbai Mountain were determined under different light conditions (L10, L30, L50, L100). The results showed that morphological values including plant height, leaf area, stem diameter and leaf number of C. macranthos were smaller under the condition of full light at L100. The epidermal cell density and epidermal thickness of C. macranthos were the highest under L30 and L50 treatments, respectively. It had the highest net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and chlorophyll content under L50 treatment. Meanwhile, correlation analysis indicated that photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and water use efficiency (WUE) were the main factors influencing Pn. C. macranthos accumulated more soluble sugars and soluble proteins under L100 treatment, while the degree of membrane peroxidation was the highest and the plant was severely damaged. In summary, the adaptability of C. macranthos to light conditions is ranked as follows L50 > L30 > L10 > L100. Appropriate light conditions for C. macranthos are 30%-50% of full light, which should be taken into account in protection and cultivation.

The potency of fungal entomopathogens isolated from Spodoptera frugiperda as endophytic plant-growth promoter

Previous studies have identified endophytic fungi as plant growth promoters and insect pest management. In the current study, six fungal isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana were isolated from larval corpses of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and tested for their ability to colonize leaf tissue through root and leaf applications or foliar-spray and to promote the growth of young maize (Zea mays) plants. The maize growth attributes examined were germination rate, height, dry and fresh weight, and leaf area. The research was conducted in May until June 2023 in Universitas Sriwijaya, Indonesia. The results revealed that M. anisopliae and B. bassiana were isolated from the cadavers of S. frugiperda and confirmed to be endophytic fungi. Root application was more effective to enhance the fresh weight, plant height, and leaf area of maize compared to foliar-spray. The fungi could significantly enhance the fresh weight, plant height, and leaf area of the young maize plants. The best isolate that could enhance the maize growth was the B. bassiana WTTJC260521A isolate. These findings suggest that M. anisopliae and B. bassiana isolated from fall armyworm corpses that had the potential to enhance maize plant growth through root applicaton.

ОТЗЫВЧИВОСТЬ ГИБРИДА КУКУРУЗЫ НУР НА ЛИСТОВЫЕ ПОДКОРМКИ КАРБАМИДОМ И СТИМУЛЯТОРОМ РОСТА ИЗАГРИ ВИТА В ПОЧВЕННО-КЛИМАТИЧЕСКИХ УСЛОВИЯХ РЕСПУБЛИКИ ТАТАРСТАН

The feed potential of the universal early-maturing hybrid corn Nur was studied in the conditions of the Ancestral region of the Republic of Tatarstan on gray forest heavy loamy soils. The content of humus in the arable layer was characterized as increased by 4.4 %, mobile phosphorus as very high - more than 377 mg/kg, exchangeable potassium increased – 124 mg/kg. The soil had a medium reaction close to neutral (pH 6.3). Meteorological conditions in 2023 were characterized as arid with a lack of precipitation during the growing season of corn. To obtain high-quality feed from corn, different corn nutrition systems were studied: without fertilizers, background N16P16K16, background N16P16K16 + urea leaf dressing in the 5-7 leaf phase, background N16P16K16 + Izagri Vita leaf dressing in the 5-7 leaf phase, background N16P16K16 + Izagri Vita leaf dressing in the 5-7 leaf phase and cob formation. Izagri Vita is a growth stimulant with trace elements. Improving the nutritional conditions of corn extends the growing season by 2-3 days. Corn responds positively to the application of mineral fertilizers and carrying out leaf fertilization with carbamide. This technique ensures the formation of the highest plant height (159.7 cm) and leaf area (42.19 thousand m2/ha). The largest aboveground mass was formed on the von NPK+ variant Izagri Vita 44.50 t/ha. Biometric indicators of corn also improved on fertilized food backgrounds. The highest yield of green mass was obtained on the variants background NPK and background NPK + Izagri Vita (2 phases) (45.81 and 41.88 t/ha). The increase in yield from the applied mineral fertilizers amounted to 16.25 and 12.31 t/ha. Better nutrition of corn provides a more nutritious feed from corn. The NPK background variant had the highest mass fraction of dry matter (86.3 %), crude fiber (35.0 %), and NPK background + From graphite, where the mass fraction of nitrogen was 20.5 g/kg, crude protein 128.2 g/kg, phosphorus 1.0%.