Plant Yield Research Articles

Impact of Pre-Plant Fertilizer Rates in Combination with Polysulphate® on Soil Nitrogen Distribution and Yield of Short-Day Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa cv. Camarosa)

Strawberries are by far the most produced soft fruit (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries) worldwide, with China and the US being the two countries with the most production. In the US, strawberries reached a farm gate value of more than USD 3 billion in 2023 and are predominantly grown in the open field on an annual cycle in hilled-up soil beds using plastic mulch (plasticulture). This process relies on adequate pre-plant fertilizer application for plant establishment and fruit development. In North Carolina (US), it is current practice to apply pre-plant fertilizer containing 67 nitrogen (N) kg/ha; however, with increasing fertilizer costs and environmental concerns, questions remain as to whether or not pre-plant full-spectrum fertilizer rates can be reduced and substituted with organic low-N fertilizer sources, such as Polysulphate, without impacting yield or fruit quality. For this reason, field trials were established to evaluate the impact of pre-plant fertilizer rates on strawberry production (‘Camarosa’). Trials were conducted in the 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 seasons at two locations in North Carolina. The following N-rate pre-plant fertilizer treatments were applied: 80.1, 67.3, 54.1, 41.1, 33.6, 28.0, and 0 kg/ha. NO3 and NH4 content were frequently assessed in each replicate in the raised bed profile between planting and spring fertilizer application. Marketable and total strawberry yields were assessed over 6 weeks in the spring of 2020 and 2021. Our trial results showed that, especially in sandy soil, N rapidly declined under plastic within the first 8 weeks after pre-plant fertilizer application. However, no impact between pre-plant fertilizer rates and plant yield was observed. Treatments that contained Polysulphate and lower amounts of full-spectrum fertilizer showed significantly lower N concentrations in the soil while maintaining similar yields and fruit quality compared to grower-standard pre-plant fertilizer treatments. In summary, our results show that it is possible to reduce N content in pre-plant fertilizer by up to 50% compared to current recommendations without causing yield loss in short-day strawberry cultivars.

Crop, livestock, and forestry integration to reconcile soil health, food production, and climate change mitigation in the Brazilian Cerrado: A review

Integrated crop–livestock (ICL) and crop–livestock–forestry (ICLF) systems have been widely adopted in the Brazilian Cerrado. In this study, we gathered the publications regarding the effects of the ICL and ICLF systems on soil health, plant and animal production, and carbon (C) balance and then synthesized them in comparable terms, aiming to evaluate the sustainability of these systems in a broader and comprehensive approach. On the basis of the evidence from 65 peer-reviewed publications, it was observed that adopting integrated systems can improve soil health in the Brazilian Cerrado. With a few exceptions, positive effects on chemical, physical, and biological indicators of soil health were observed in most of the studies that comprised our data. Accordingly, the results showed that the ICL and ICLF systems can improve plant yield and animal production, but special attention regarding the grazing regime and tree management (e.g., spacing, pruning, and thinning) is required. Moreover, soil C accumulation fully offsets soil N2O emissions, underscoring the feasibility of using the ICL and ICLF systems for decreasing the C footprint of agricultural commodities in this region. The research assembled in this review has undoubtedly advanced our knowledge regarding integrated systems in the Brazilian Cerrado. However, there are still significant knowledge gaps that should be addressed, such as their effects on soil physics and biology. Despite these shortcomings, our literature review demonstrates that the ICL and ICLF systems are essential strategies to intensify agricultural production in the Brazilian Cerrado while ensuring sustainability.

Deciphering proteomic mechanisms explaining the role of glutathione as an aid in improving plant fitness and tolerance against cadmium-toxicity in Brassica napus L.

Cadmium (Cd) hazard is a serious limitation to plants, soils and environments. Cd-toxicity causes stunted growth, chlorosis, necrosis, and plant yield loss. Thus, ecofriendly strategies with understanding of molecular mechanisms of Cd-tolerance in plants is highly demandable. The Cd-toxicity caused plant growth retardation, leaf chlorosis and cellular damages, where the glutathione (GSH) enhanced plant fitness and Cd-toxicity in Brassica through Cd accumulation and antioxidant defense. A high-throughput proteome approach screened 4947 proteins, wherein 370 were differently abundant, 164 were upregulated and 206 were downregulated. These proteins involved in energy and carbohydrate metabolism, CO2 assimilation and photosynthesis, signal transduction and protein metabolism, antioxidant defense response, heavy metal detoxification, cytoskeleton and cell wall structure, and plant development in Brassica. Interestingly, several key proteins including glutathione S-transferase F9 (A0A078GBY1), ATP sulfurylase 2 (A0A078GW82), cystine lyase CORI3 (A0A078FC13), ferredoxin-dependent glutamate synthase 1 (A0A078HXC0), glutaredoxin-C5 (A0A078ILU9), glutaredoxin-C2 (A0A078HHH4) actively involved in antioxidant defense and sulfur assimilation-mediated Cd detoxification process confirmed by their interactome analyses. These candidate proteins shared common gene networks associated with plant fitness, Cd-detoxification and tolerance in Brassica. The proteome insights may encourage breeders for enhancing multi-omics assisted Cd-tolerance in Brassica, and GSH-mediated hazard free oil seed crop production for global food security.

Characterization and Transcriptome Analysis Reveal Exogenous GA3 Inhibited Rosette Branching via Altering Auxin Approach in Flowering Chinese Cabbage

Branching is an important agronomic trait that is conducive to plant architecture and yield in flowering Chinese cabbage. Plant branching is regulated by a complex network mediated by hormones; gibberellin (GA) is one of the important hormones which is involved in the formation of shoot branching. Research on the regulatory mechanism of GA influencing rosette branch numbers is limited for flowering Chinese cabbage. In this study, the exogenous application of 600 mg/L GA3 effectively inhibited rosette branching and promoted internode elongation in flowering Chinese cabbage. RNA-Seq analysis further found that these DEGs were significantly enriched in ‘the plant hormone signal transduction’ pathways, and auxin-related genes were significantly differentially expressed between MB and MB_GA. The upregulation of auxin (AUX) and the upregulation of auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (AUX/IAA), as well as the downregulation of SMALL AUXIN-UPREGULATED RNA (SAUR), were found in the negative regulation of the rosette branching. The qRT-PCR results showed that the expression of AUX/IAA and SAUR from IAA gene family members were consistent with the results of transcriptome data. Phytohormone profiling by targeted metabolism revealed that endogenous auxin contents were significantly increased in MB_GA. Transcriptome and metabolome analysis clarified the main plant hormones and genes underlying the rosette branching in flowering Chinese cabbage, confirming that auxin could inhibit rosette branching. In this regard, the results present a novel angle for revealing the mechanism of gibberellin acting on the branching architecture in flowering Chinese cabbage.

Insights into Genetic Variability Parameters and Character Association among Agro-morphological and Biochemical Traits in Little Millet (Panicum sumatrense Roth. Ex. Roem and Schultz)

A set of 64 little millet genotypes was evaluated for their genetic variability parameters, principal components, and their contribution to total variance using seven agro-morphological and four biochemical traits in alpha lattice design with two replications. The mean performance revealed the presence of substantial variability for the characters studied. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) estimated ranged from 18.28% to 43.75% and 10.06% to 42.75%, respectively. Even though PCV was found to be significantly greater than GCV for the number of tillers, a slightly higher PCV over GCV was observed for all the other traits, suggesting a limited environmental influence for the majority of the traits. High heritability was observed for all agro-morphological and biochemical traits (84.00-94.00%), except for the number of tillers (42.00%), which exhibited moderate heritability. Genetic advance as a percentage of mean (GAM) was high for most of the traits, viz., days to 50% flowering, plant height, panicle length, single plant yield, test weight, grain protein, iron, zinc, and calcium contents. suggesting the predominance of additive gene action and the greater possibility of genetic improvement through simple phenotypic selection. Majority of the contribution towards the total divergence by days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of tillers, panicle length, single plant yield, and grain calcium content coupled with significant and positive correlations of majority of grain yield components with grain yield suggested that these traits are the key drivers of variability that could be exploited through a little millet improvement program.

Development and Application of the Novel Plant Growth Regulator Guvermectin: A Perspective.

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) play an important role in alleviating the detrimental effects of biotic and abiotic stress and improving crop yield and quality. As a novel PGR from Streptomyces registered in 2021, guvermectin (GV) has the potential to improve plant yield and defense, making its application in agriculture a subject of interest. Here, we describe the discovery process, functional activities, agricultural applications, toxicity, environmental safety, and biosynthetic mechanism of GV. This Perspective provides a guide for the development of novel PGRs from microorganisms.

Foliar Application of Sakurab (Allium Chinense G. Don) Extract on Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentun) Production

The demand for tomatoes is constantly high all year round. They are one of the most popular crops among home gardeners and farmers worldwide. Not only are they delicious, but they are also easy to grow and could provide high returns for the space they occupy. However, tomatoes are highly sensitive to several biotic and abiotic stresses. This study aimed to evaluate two varieties of tomatoes and their interaction effects in response to the application of Sakurab leaf extract as organic foliar fertilizer and insect pest repellent. It utilized Split Plot Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times with 30 plots comprising two main plots: Tomato variety (V1 – Braveheart and V2 – Diamante). Each main plot was divided into five equal sub-plots: Sakurab leaf extract concentration [ F1 – control (no foliar application), F2 – 2% foliar fertilizer (20 ml/ L of water), F3 – 5% foliar fertilizer (50 ml/ L of water), F4 – 10% foliar fertilizer (100 ml/ L of water), and F5 – 15% (150 ml/ L of water) levels of concentrations. In terms of growth parameters, results revealed that the varying levels of Sakurab leaf extract foliar application did not significantly affect the plant height, days to first flowering, days to fruiting, and the days to harvest. However, the marketable fruits per tomato plot, marketable fruits per plant, and the marketable yield of tomato plants per hectare were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by varying levels of Sakurab foliar application. Based on the findings, the Diamante variety applied with a 15% (150 ml/L of water) level of Sakurab leaf extract concentration which produced the most marketable fruits per plot and the yield per ton/ha is recommended. Further experiment using a higher level of concentration of Sakurab leaf extract such as 30%, 60%, and 90% within a controlled environment, including the assessment of pest and disease incidence is proposed.

Impact of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield of Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) in the hilly region of Nepal

The use of both organic and inorganic fertilizers plays a crucial role in farming practices in Nepal, depending on their availability. Applying fertilizers like compost, vermicompost, goat manure, and NPK has shown significant effects on various aspects of plant growth and yield. This study was conducted in Diktel, Khotang district of Nepal, from March 14th to June 7th, 2023, aiming to evaluate how different organic and inorganic sources affect the growth and yield of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.). The experiment followed a one-factor randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications, involving five treatments: T1: 100% Compost manure, T2: 100% Vermicompost, T3: 100% Goat manure, T4: 100% NPK, and T5: Control. The results clearly showed that both vegetative and reproductive traits were significantly varies among several treatments utilized in the experiments at 0.1% level of significance. Compost application consistently showed better results across most growth and yield parameters assessed. Growth parameters included plant height, leaf count per plant, leaf length, and leaf width, while yield parameters included beetroot diameter, beetroot length, root yield, and leaf yield. Organic compost manure particularly stood out, displaying significantly larger beetroot diameter (4.85 cm) and greater beetroot length (9.3 cm). Additionally, compost manure led to notably increased root yield (13.95 t/ha) compared to the control treatment, which recorded a lower root yield (6.28 t/ha). Overall, all treatments outperformed the control in terms of growth and yield parameters. These findings suggest that organic compost manure is the most favorable choice for achieving high-quality beetroot production in the hilly regions of Nepal.

Influence of Biofertigation and Crude Edible Oils Application on Yield Attributing Characters and Yield of Papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. Red Lady

Various organic substances have demonstrated effectiveness in sustaining soil and plant health, thereby enhancing growth, yield, and quality across different crops. The experiment was carried out to know the influence of biofertigation and crude edible oils application on yield attributing characters and yield of papaya (Carica Papaya L.) cv. Red Lady at Department of Fruit Science, Dr. YSRHU-College of Horticulture, Venkataramanannagudem, West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh during 2021-22 and 2022-23. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial RBD with three replications consisted of two factors viz., biofertilizers at three levels (B1: 5 ml each of NFB + PSB + KRB; B2: 2.5 ml each of NFB + PSB + KRB; B3: Without biofertilizer) and crude edible oil at five levels (C1: Ground nut oil @0.5%; C2: Castor oil @0.5%; C3: Mustard oil @0.5%; C4: Ground nut oil + Castor oil + Mustard oil @0.5%; C5: No crude oil spray) with fifteen treatment combinations. Among the treatments studied, the results revealed that minimum days to first flowering, fruit initiation height, days to first harvest, maximum number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit girth, average fruit weight, fruit yield per plant and fruit yield hectare were registered in the plants applied with 5 ml each of biofertilizers NFB+ PSB + KRB along with ground nut oil + castor oil + mustard oil @0.5% (B1C4).

Alleviating effect of calcium sulfate on aluminum stress through enhanced malate release with increased gene expression of malate transporter and sulfate transporter

ABSTRACT Gypsum (calcium sulfate) are commonly used to improve subsoil acidity. Aluminum (Al) toxicity in acid soil reduces crop yields worldwide, especially in the tropical regions. In soil, sulfate decrease Al toxicity and improves plant growth and yield. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of CaSO4 on Al stress of Al-tolerant accession Col-0 as well as the Al-sensitive accessions, Wei-0 and Ts-5, of in Arabidopsis thaliana using hydroponics. Our research indicates that CaSO4 supply has a significant effect on root growth and malate release compared to CaCl2 under Al stress, especially in Al-sensitive accessions. In response to Al stress, CaSO4 supply enhanced the expression of malate transporter gene AtALMT1 and sulfate transporter gene SULTR3;5, which were regulated by the Al-resistant transcription factor STOP1. Furthermore, knockout lines of SULTR3;5 and SULTR2;1, which are involved in sulfate uptake and translocation, were more Al-sensitive than the wild type under Al stress without CaSO4, and malate release was reduced with decreased AtALMT1 expression. In conclusion, one of the alleviative effects of gypsum application on Al rhizotoxicity is promoted by sulfate through organic acid release mechanism enhancing AtALMT1 expression, alongside the Ca2+ reduction Al3+ activity on the plasma membrane.

Drone‐based imaging sensors, techniques, and applications in plant phenotyping for crop breeding: A comprehensive review

AbstractOver the last decade, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for plant phenotyping and field crop monitoring has significantly evolved and expanded. These technologies have been particularly valuable for monitoring crop growth and health and for managing abiotic and biotic stresses such as drought, fertilization deficiencies, disease, and bioaggressors. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the progress in UAV‐based plant phenotyping, with a focus on the current use and application of drone technology to gain information on plant growth, development, adaptation, and yield. We reviewed over 200 research articles and discuss the best tools and methodologies for different research purposes, the challenges that need to be overcome, and the major research gaps that remain. First, the review offers a critical focus on elucidating the distinct characteristics of UAV platforms, highlighting the diverse sensor technologies employed and shedding light on the nuances of UAV data acquisition and processing methodologies. Second, it presents a comprehensive analysis of the multiple applications of UAVs in field phenotyping, underscoring the transformative potential of integrating machine learning techniques for plant analysis. Third, it delves into the realm of machine learning applications for plant phenotyping, emphasizing its role in enhancing data analysis and interpretation. Furthermore, the paper extensively examines the open issues and research challenges within the domain, addressing the complexities and limitations faced during data acquisition, processing, and interpretation. Finally, it outlines the future trends and emerging technologies in the field of UAV‐based plant phenotyping, paving the way for innovative advancements and methodologies.

Effect of Organic Manures and Foliar Application on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata Nees.)

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of organic manures and foliar application of organics on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of Kalmegh at the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University to find out the suitable organic inputs and foliar organics for better growth, yield and nutrient uptake of Kalmegh. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with twelve treatments and three replications comprising of a different combination (i) basal organics viz., Farm Yard Manure, Vermicompost and Pressmud (ii) foliar spray of organics viz., Panchagavya and Fish Amino Acid and untreated control. Among the twelve treatments, the plants which received Vermicompost at 5 t ha-1 + fish amino acid at 3% expressed higher values for the growth parameters viz., plant height (69.80 cm), number of branches plant-1 (25.13), number of leaves plant-1 (140.87). Physiological parameters viz., leaf area plant-1 (6.78), total dry matter production plant-1 (15.86 g plant-1). Yield parameters viz., fresh herbage yield plant-1 (42.74 g plant-1) and dry herbage yield plant-1 (14.24 g plant-1). Nutrient uptake viz., Nitrogen (38.97 Kg ha-1), Phosphorous (6.87 Kg ha-1) and Potassium (84.23 kg ha-1).

Genetic diversity of selected basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) genotypes based on morphological, yield, and leaf color parameters

ABSTRACT Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is an aromatic plant used in foods, pharmaceuticals, and in cosmetics. In this study, the morphology and yield of 17 different basil genotypes and three cultivars (Moonlight, Midnight, and Dino) from Türkiye were analyzed in 2019 and 2020. A wide range of variations in plant height, number of branches, and weights of fresh and dry herbs weights were observed. The genotypes PI 531,396 from Hungary, PI 174,284 from Türkiye, PI 253,157 from Iran, and the Dino cultivar had the highest plant yield compared with the other genotypes and cultivars. The leaf color parameters (L*, a*, b* C*, H° and WI) were also determined for the plants. The highest lightness (L*) values were recorded in the PI 190,100 genotype, and the highest yellowness/blueness (b*) and hue angle (H°) values were recorded in the PI 207,498 genotype. The highest redness/greenness (a*), chroma (C*), and whiteness index (WI) values were recorded in the PI 197,442, PI 190,100, and PI 531,396 genotypes, respectively. Except for the L* values, the leaf color parameters clustered on the same side of the principal component analysis (PCA) axis. Dendrogram analysis divided the genotypes and cultivars into two main groups, and the main A group contained the cultivar Dino only. Therefore, the study identified important genotypic characteristics of the examined basil genotypes and cultivars that could be utilized to develop new cultivars.

EFFECT OF OKORO [(Albizia zygia (J.F.) Macbr)] LEAFY BIOMASS AND NPK FERTILISER ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF SWEET PEPPER (Capsicum annum L.)

Agricultural productivity and sustainable crop management are pivotal aspects of global food security and economic stability. The quest for efficient and environmentally friendly practices in crop production has led to a surge in research exploring the utilisation of organic materials alongside conventional fertilisers to enhance crop growth and yield. An experiment was conducted over a growing period of three months, starting in August 2023 at the research field of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana, to investigate the effects of Albizia zygia leafy biomass in combination with NPK fertiliser on the growth and yield of sweet pepper (Capsicum annum L.). A randomised complete block design was employed with four treatment groups replicated four times, including various combinations of A. zygia leafy biomass and NPK fertiliser, alongside control groups of sole fertiliser application and untreated plots (T1). The treatments were as follows: T1 = No biomass, no NPK (control); T2 = 0.5348 kg of A. zygia leafy biomass per 4.86 m2 (1100.5 kg/ha of A. zygia leafy biomass); T3 = 0.2463 kg of NPK per 4.86 m2 (506.7 kg/ha of NPK); and T4 = 0.2674 kg of A. zygia leafy biomass per 4.86 m2 + 0.1231 kg of NPK (550.3 kg/ha of A. zygia leafy biomass + 253.4 kg/ha of NPK). The assessed parameters were plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, fruit yield and fresh fruit weight. Significant variations (p ˂ 0.05) were observed in the growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves, number of branches) and yield attributes (fruit yield and fresh fruit weight) of sweet pepper among the treatments. The combined application of A. zygia leafy biomass and NPK fertiliser (T4) exhibited increased effects on plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, fruit yield and fresh fruit weight compared to individual treatments and control groups (p ˂ 0.05). Notably, the treatment combining A. zygia leafy biomass and NPK fertiliser (T4) demonstrated a substantial increase in plant height (44.58 cm), a significant improvement in the number of leaves (42.98) and a remarkable enhancement in the number of branches (11.33) compared to the sole applications and the control group. Furthermore, the combined treatment significantly increased (p ˂ 0.05) the yield parameters, including fruit yield and fresh fruit weight per hectare, showcasing an increase of 8796/ha and 23.91 t/ha, respectively, compared to sole fertiliser application and the control. The findings from this study demonstrated that the incorporation of A. zygia leafy biomass, either solely or in combination with NPK fertiliser, positively impacted the growth and yield of sweet pepper plants. These results highlight the potential of A. zygia leafy biomass as a valuable organic amendment for sustainable and enhanced crop production, offering promising implications for agricultural practices aimed at improving yield and plant growth.

Manganese and zinc effect on yield, fatty acid ratio, and maternal seeds germination of canola cultivars upon late-season drought stress

To mitigate the effects of drought stress on fatty acid compositions and seed germination, various hypothesis have been studied by researchers. In this study, the field experiments were conducted in two cropping seasons (2020–2021) to investigate the effect of micronutrients on some characteristics of canola cultivars under late-season drought stress conditions. The experiments were arranged in a factorial split-plot design with three replications. The main factors included irrigation regimes (regular irrigation and irrigation interruption at the flowering stage) and foliar applications of Zn and Mn after rosette stage (F1: none application, F2: ZnSO4, F3: MnSO4, and F4: ZnSO4+MnSO4). The third factor included three cultivars, including Nima, R15 and KS7, as subfactor. Limited irrigation at flowering stage reduced length of seedling (25% and 17%), weight of seedling (30% and 14%), and seed yield (42% and 29) in first and second year, respectively. Irrigation withholding at flowering stage reduced seed yield by 37, 27, and 42% in R15, Nima and KS7 cultivars, respectively. Based on the current experimental data, irrigation withholding at flowering stage caused severe stress to the plants, especially those with long-term growth periods such as R15 and KS7. By contrast, the minimum yield loss was obtained from Nima cultivar, an early mature cultivar. Overall, it is recommended R15 cultivar for normal irrigation and Nima cultivar for a drought environment when considered the acceptable seed yield in new plants. In general, it is suggested that a suitable performance of canola seeds is achieved by foliar application of manganese and zinc.

A biostimulant complex comprising molasses, Aloe vera extract, and fish-hydrolysate enhances yield, aroma, and functional food value of strawberry fruit

Strawberry is a popular functional food due to the presence of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals. Enhancing this functional food value is an opportunity to improve consumer health, but strategies to do so cannot compromise yield or organoleptic properties, which are highest priorities for farmers and consumer, respectively. One promising strategy is the supplementation of fertiliser regimens with biostimulants, which are non-nutritive substances associated with species-specific improvements to crop growth, yield, and quality. Accordingly, the impacts of a biostimulant complex (BC) containing molasses, Aloe vera extract, and fish-hydrolysate is characterised herein for its potential to impact strawberry growth, yield, quality, and functional food value. Results indicated that BC treatment significantly increased (p < 0.05) plant biomass and canopy area (growth), total fruit count and weight per plant (yield), fruit aroma and colour (quality), and antioxidant potential (functional food value). The results presented highlight the potential utility of biostimulants to the strawberry sphere, providing a strategy to enhance the fruit to the benefit of both farmers and consumers.

Impact of ascorbic acid-rich phyto-extracts on growth, yield and physio-biochemistry of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.] subjected to drought stress

To overcome the negative effects of drought stress by exogenous application of natural [lemon juice (LJ) and orange juice (OJ)] and synthetic ascorbic acid (AsA) as sources of potential antioxidants was assessed in okra (A. esculentus) under field conditions. The experiment comprised of two cultivars (Sabz Pari and Bhindi Sanwali) those were subjected to different irrigation regimes including control (12 irrigations) as well as water deficit regimes such as D1 (eight irrigations) and D2 (six irrigations). The plants were sprayed with synthetic AsA (150 mg L-1), 50 % LJ and 50 % OJ to both control and water stressed plants after 30 days of seed germination. Foliar applied AsA obtained from varied sources significantly increased the plant biomass, yield characteristics and leaf photosynthetic pigments, total soluble proteins, proline, AsA, total amino acids, total phenolics, total soluble sugars, and activities of POD, CAT and SOD enzymes in okra plants under varying irrigations. Although, in contrast different AsA sources minimized the accumulation of H2O2 and MDA contents in okra plants. In conclusions, LJ and OJ (both 50 %) proved to be more effective than the synthetic AsA (150 mg L-1) in enhancing yield production, plant biomass and different physio-biochemical traits of okra plants subjected to varying water stress levels. Thus, a better organic source of AsA both LJ and OJ may be suggested to overcome the negative influence of water deficiency in plants.

Characterisation of the Endophytic and Rhizospheric Bacillus licheniformis Strains Isolated from Sweet Potato with Plant Growth-Promoting and Yield Enhancing Potential

The primary aim of the present study was to identify bacterial isolates with yield-enhancing potential for application as biofertilisers in the cultivation of sweet potato. Therefore, endophytic and rhizospheric strains were isolated from sweet potato plantations in Hungary to identify bacterial strains with plant growth-promoting and antifungal potential. In total, seven Bacillus licheniformis strains were identified and subjected to detailed ecophysiological investigations. Experiments have been conducted to investigate the tolerance of selected strains to different limiting factors such as pH, temperature, and water activity, which affect survivability in various agricultural environments. The majority of tested B. licheniformis strains exhibited plant growth-promoting potential (e.g., production of indole-3-acetic acid up to 40.42 μg mL−1, production of ammonia up to 0.87 mg mL−1, phosphorus solubilising activity, siderophore production), with two strains (SZMC 27713 and SZMC 27715) demonstrating inhibitory activity (ranging between 7% and 38%) against plant pathogenic fungi prevalent in sweet potato cultivation. Furthermore, strain SZMC 27715 induced accelerated germination and a significantly higher germination rate in tomato seeds compared to the control. In a field study, it was observed that strain SZMC 27715 had a potent yield enhancing effect in sweet potato, where a significant yield per plant increase was observed in all treatments (1.13, 1.09 and 1.40 kg) compared to the control plants (0.92 kg). The highest yield per plant was observed when the cuttings were soaked combined with two additional foliar treatments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the successful utilisation of the B. licheniformis strain as a biofertiliser for yield enhancement in sweet potato cultivation. Based on our results, strain SZMC 27715 has potential for application as a biofertiliser in sweet potato cultivation either as a standalone option or in a microbial consortium.

Morphological Characterization and Assessment of Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Genetic based knowledge of different growth traits including morphological, physiological and developmental play’s fundamental role in the improvement of wheat. Genetic divergence allows superior recombinants which are essential in any crop development project. The present investigation was involving forty-four genotypes were assessed for 13 morphological traits undertaken to study the genetic variability, heritability (bs), genetic advance, genetic advance as percent of mean analysis. Among the genotypes, almost all the traits exhibited highly significant variation. The higher extent of genotypic (GCV) as well as phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) were noticed for number of productive tillers per plant and grain yield per plant indicted high degree of variability in these quantitative traits and suggested the possibility of yield improvement through these traits. High heritability (in broad sense) estimates were obtained highest for biological yield per plant, spike length, grain yield per plant, protein content, 1000 grain weight, plant height, productive tillers per plant, days to maturity and spikelets per spike including that these traits are mainly controlled by the genetic factor and selection based on these factors will be rewarding. Moderate estimates of genetic advance were obtained for two traits viz., plant height and biological yield per plant. A suitable combination of these traits can be used for development of high yielding genotypes. For plant height and the number of grains per spike, there was a combination of high heritability and moderate genetic advance. As a result, these qualities are controlled by additive gene action and should be chosen for further development through the use of pedigree breeding.

Mapping the Potential Development of Soybenas Crops Based on Growing Degree Days

The main factors affecting plant growth and yield are soil, climate, and plants. The influence of clime is more than soil on plant growth under certain conditions. The evidence is that some cover vegetation growth conditions are much different even though they grow on the same land. In each distinct place, the harvest time of one type of plant is not the same. One crucial factor that affects this is the daily growth rate or the degree of Growing Degree Days (GDD). Know parameters such as soil type, slope, land use, rainfall, and GDD temperature by using geographic information systems in determining the suitability of agricultural commodity development areas. The study aims to determine the suitability of soybean cropland in West Sumatra based on GDD value. Conducting land suitability analysis using the GDD method through several stages, namely, the classification of soybean land suitability parameters, making a map of soybean plant land suitability in physical characteristics, classifying the GDD value of soybean plants for the West Sumatra region, and making a soybean cropland suitability map based on GDD value. The potential land for soybean cultivation in West Sumatra based on land suitability class, physical characteristics, and GDD value is 555,791.66 hectares in class S1 (very suitable) and an area of 2,313,796.44 hectares in class S2 (appropriate enough). The most optimal planting time for soybean cultivation is in August. Lima Puluh Kota Regency, Pasaman Regency, Sijunjung Regency, and Solok Regency have land suitable for soybean cultivation with more than 200 thousand hectares of areas and are in areas with growing degree days suitable for soybean growth.