Potential Crop Research Articles

Agro-morphological and nutritional assessment of chenopod and quinoa germplasm-Highly adaptable potential crops.

Quinoa belongs to the family Chenopodiaceae, a pseudo-grain having high nutritional value and is considered an underexploited vegetable crop with the potential to improve the nutritional security of millions. Therefore, assessing genetic diversity in Chenopodium germplasm to untap nutritional and site-specific adaptation potential would be of prime importance for breeders/researchers. The present study used 10 accessions of two Chenopodium species, that is, C. quinoa and C. album. Quantitative and qualitative phenotypic traits, proximate composition, minerals, and amino acids profiles were studied to compare the differences in nutritional value and extent of genetic diversity between these two species. Our results showed significant variation existed in yield attributing agro-morphological traits. All the traits were considered for hierarchical clustering and principal components analysis. Large genetic variability was observed in traits of Chenopodium accessions. The protein, dietary fiber, oil, and sugar content ranged from 16.6% to 19.7%, 16.8% to 26%, 3.54% to 8.46%, and 3.74% to 5.64%, respectively. The results showed that C. album and C. quinoa seeds had good nutritional value and health-promoting benefits. The C. quinoa was slightly ahead of than C. album in terms of nutritional value, but C. album accession IC415477 was at par for higher test weight, seed yield (117.02 g/plant), and other nutritional parameters with C. quinoa accessions. IC415477 and other potential accessions observed in this study may be taken up by breeders/researchers in the near future to dissect nutritional value of Chenopodium and related species for dietary diversity, which is imperative for the nutritional security of the ever-growing world's population.

Pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, food additive and agricultural perspectives of Cymbopogon martini: A potential industrial aromatic crop

Magnifying the productivity of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) ultimately relies on the ability to scale from Farm to Laboratory and Laboratory to Industry. Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) W.Watson (Poaceae), popularly known as palmarosa, Indian geranium, ginger-grass, and rosha-grass is rich in volatile secondary metabolites having an industrial perspective. In this review article, we provide a comprehensive assessment of the industrial application of C. martini and its potential in the pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, food industries, and its agriculture perspective in terms of its potential in phytoremediation and land restoration. We have attempted to put all the material accessible in the literature about C. martini and its volatile metabolites for various industrial applications. Electronic databases such as Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Ethnobotany, Academic Journals, and library searches were used to assemble the available data. According to the published literature, the essential oil of C. martini is rich in cyclic and acyclic monoterpenoids which has a wide range of pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, food additive, and agricultural applications due to anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, wound healing, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, anthelmintic, insecticidal, larvicidal, acaricidal, nematicidal and herbicidal activities. The cultivation of C. martini has shown additional benefits in terms of restoration of productivity and functions of wasteland through the phytoremediation process. This review article provides first-time updated information about C. martini as a potential bio-resource for utilization of wastelands with special reference to its industrial potential.

Evaluation of Growth Promotion Traits of Ridge Gourd in Vitro and In Vivo Conditions Using Soil Rhizobacteria as Green Bioinoculants

Abstract: Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are now a days an important source of biofertilizers, due to increasing trend of organic fertilizers and ill effects of chemical fertilizers. PGPBs are efficient soil microbes which enhance the nutrient utilization efficiency, growth of several crops and controlling soil borne pathogens. Ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula L.) is a potential horticulture crop due to its high economic value and belongs to the family, Cucurbitaceae. In the present study, PGPB were isolated from the rhizospheric soil of 3 different crop fields (sugarcane, mustard and wheat) from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh were used to investigate their effect on growth pattern of ridge gourd. The isolates were screened for morphological, biochemical, and plant growth-promoting characterstics. Under in-vitro condition, inoculation of Ridge gourd with the P1, P2, B2, B3, B4, B5, R2, , R5, A2, A3, A5, A6, A7 showed a significant increase in seed germination and enhancement in elongation of root and shoot compared to control. Then isolated PGPB inoculated with Ridge gourd for Pot experiment and P1, P2, B2, B3, B4, B5, R2, R5, A2, A3, A4, A6, A7 showed the enhanced growth parameters as appearance of first leaf, flower and fruit as compared to the control. Hence, it can be concluded that application of PGPB has immense potential to be used as agricultural crop inoculants as they promote plant growth as well as improve the health and yield of the plants.

Growth and Performance of Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.) Genotypes under Various Irrigation Regimes with and without Biogenic Silica Amendment in Arid Southwest US.

Guar is a potential crop that can be grown as a forage or as a seed crop in arid to semi-arid regions due to its low water requirements and tolerance to heat. Optimizing irrigation water use is important for making alternative crops such as guar a sustainable option. Amendments such as biogenic silica, a sedimentary rock from a biogenic source such as fossils, may help plants tolerate water stress due to reduced irrigation. The objective of the current study was to evaluate seed yield and attribute components and agronomic and physiological parameters for four guar genotypes (Matador, Kinman, Lewis, and NMSU 15-G1) under five drip irrigation regimes (I1-normal irrigation, I2-no irrigation at 75% pod formation, I3-no irrigation at 50% and 75% pod formation, I4-terminate irrigation at flowering, and I5-terminate irrigation at flowering + biogenic silica amendment) at Las Cruces in southern New Mexico, USA, from 2016 to 2018. On average, the I1 irrigation regime produced the highest guar seed yield (2715 kg ha-1) followed by I5 (2469 kg ha-1) from 2016 to 2018. As compared to the I1 regime, the I2 and I3 regimes resulted in a 20.8% and 23.4% decline in guar seed yield, respectively, on average from 2016 to 2018. The results suggest that the addition of biogenic silica might help to improve guar seed yield under reduced irrigation conditions and can produce comparable yields with an average of 300 mm of irrigation during the growing season in the southern New Mexico region of the Southwest US.

Nutritional Composition, Functionality, and Processing Technologies for Amaranth

The current production levels of the major staple food crops are not sufficient to fulfill the projected global food requirements, with more than 75% of total grain production being maize (corn), wheat, and rice together. Accordingly, there is an acute need to explore alternative crops such as amaranth with the potential to play a crucial role in sustainable agriculture and their use in nutrition-dense food products. Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is one of the oldest food crops in the world with broad leaves and inflorescence. It has a tolerance to drought and heat and is considered a smart crop. Amaranth is gluten-free and high in quality proteins, fiber, minerals, and bioactive compounds. The grains are processed by popping, flaking, and grinding for flour production which works well in blends with flours from other cereals. Besides nutritional value, amaranth grains keep religious importance in some countries. Even being a potential crop with substantial nutrient content amaranth grains remain underutilized as food. This article presents a critical overview of the nutritional composition, functionality, and processing technologies of amaranth grains and their utilization in different sustainable products. It also presents the effect of production on the composition and properties. Understanding the effect of processing technologies on the amaranth product functionality and nutritional value will assist in its utilization as a solution to alleviate food sustainability and food insecurity.

Optimization of macronutrients for improved grain yield of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Wild.) crop under semi-arid conditions of Morocco.

In the context of climate change, quinoa represents a potential alternative crop for increasing crops diversity, agricultural productivity, and farmer's income in semi-arid regions. However, appropriate crop management practices under limited water supply are still poorly documented. Quinoa, like other cultivated crops, needs optimum quantities of nutrients, especially nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), for better growth and high grain yield. To determine the adequate levels of nutrient requirements and their effect on quinoa growth and productivity, a field experiment was conducted during two growing seasons (2020-2021 and 2021-2022). The experiment was conducted in Ben Guerir region, north-central Morocco, and consisted of a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments studied consist of a combination of four N rates (0, 40, 80, and 120kg ha-1), three P rates (0, 30, and 60kg P2O5 ha-1), and three K rates (0, 60, and 120kg K2O ha-1). The physiological, nutritional, and production parameters of quinoa were collected and analyzed. The results showed that the highest total biomass (3.9t ha-1) and grain yield (0.8t ha-1) under semi-arid conditions were obtained with 40kg N ha-1, 60kg P2O5 ha-1, and 120kg K2O ha-1. The application of 40-60-120 kg ha-1 of N-P2O5-K2O increased plant height by 44%, chlorophyll content index by 96%, total biomass by 134%, grain yield by 112%, and seed weight by 118%. Among the three macronutrients, N was the most limiting factor, followed by K and P. Nutrients uptake data showed that quinoa needs 60kg N, 26kg P2O5, and 205kg K2O to produce 1t of grain yield. Our field results provide future recommendations for improving the agronomic and environmental sustainability of quinoa cultivation in dryland areas in Morocco.

The Impact of Nitrogen on the Yield Formation of Artemisia dubia Wall: Efficiency and Assessment of Energy Parameters.

With the increasing importance of energy crops, research on potential energy crops is carried out to identify plant species with high productivity and energy value. The field experiment with the new promising energy crop, Artemisia dubia (wormwood), was executed at the Vėžaičiai Branch of the LAMMC. The soil site was naturally acidic Retisol (pH 4.2-4.4). The species was investigated as an energy crop through the evaluation of its biomass productivity and some energetical qualities. According to the three investigation years, DM yield significantly varied depending on the growing season, cutting time and nitrogen rate. The highest average DM yield was observed in 2020-10.58 t ha-1. On average, the DM yield varied from 6.49 t ha-1 (first cutting) to 11.82 t ha-1 (third cutting). The DM yield was positively correlated with stem height and the mass of one stem. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) depended on the growing season, cutting time and nitrogen rate. Both N90 and N180 rates should be used for A. dubia fertilization. Energy growing analysis (including direct and indirect expenses) revealed that the highest share of energy expenses are due to indirect energy expenses (particularly nitrogen application). EUE (energy utilization efficiency) tends to decrease as a result of increasing nitrogen fertilization. Overall, A. dubia granules are characterized by a high calorific value.

Maize On-Farm Stressed Area Identification Using Airborne RGB Images Derived Leaf Area Index and Canopy Height

The biophysical properties of a crop are a good indicator of potential crop stress conditions. However, these visible properties cannot indicate areas exhibiting non-visible stress, e.g., early water or nutrient stress. In this research, maize crop biophysical properties including canopy height and Leaf Area Index (LAI), estimated using drone-based RGB images, were used to identify stressed areas in the farm. First, the APSIM process-based model was used to simulate temporal variation in LAI and canopy height under optimal management conditions, and thus used as a reference for estimating healthy crop parameters. The simulated LAI and canopy height were then compared with the ground-truth information to generate synthetic data for training a linear and a random forest model to identify stressed and healthy areas in the farm using drone-based data products. A Healthiness Index was developed using linear as well as random forest models for indicating the health of the crop, with a maximum correlation coefficient of 0.67 obtained between Healthiness Index during the dough stage of the crop and crop yield. Although these methods are effective in identifying stressed and non-stressed areas, they currently do not offer direct insights into the underlying causes of stress. However, this presents an opportunity for further research and improvement of the approach.

Studies on modulation of hemocyte surface antigen through agglutination reaction under arsenic toxicity in edible mudcrab (Scylla serrata)

Scylla serrata (Crustacea: Decapoda), which is widely spread on the intertidal mudflat of West Bengal, India's Sundarbans Biosphere Reserves, is a potential aqua crop and an economically significant edible species. One of the larger crab groups in the mangrove swamp of the Sundarbans is thought to be this one. The S. serrata's multifaceted immune response is directly tied to its diverse habitat and survival technique. It lives in dangerous surroundings and is constantly in danger of physiological stress brought on by various xenobiotics, such as arsenic. By producing a number of polyclonal antisera in rabbits (New Zealand White, albino), the study attempted to evaluate the surface antigen against crab hemocytes and murine lymphocytes. Control hemocytes and hemocytes treated to 1 ppm expressed very identical reactivity to antihemocyte sera for the agglutination reaction. The control results, however, shifted when exposed to 2 and 3 ppm of sodium arsenite, indicating arsenic-induced hemocyte surface modification. The agglutination reaction from the control sets of hemocytes that reacted with murine anti-lymphocyte sera gradually, shifted as the quantity of sodium arsenite in the medium of the treatment sets increased. The maximum equivalence zone of murine lymphocyte and hemocyte agglutination 98.6% and 99% respectively suggested a potential epitope sharing between two phylogenetically separate species. The situation may lead to a possible alteration of immune status and make opportunity for pathogenic foreign invaders within the mud crab body. Chronic arsenic exposure indicated a steady decline of edible and demandable S. serrata in the natural habitat of Sundarbans.

Intercropping Cover Crops for a Vital Ecosystem Service: A Review of the Biocontrol of Insect Pests in Tea Agroecosystems.

The intercropping of cover crops has been adopted in several agroecosystems, including tea agroecosystems, which promotes ecological intensification. Prior studies have shown that growing cover crops in tea plantations provided different ecological services, including the biocontrol of pests. Cover crops enrich soil nutrients, reduce soil erosion, suppress weeds and insect pests, and increase the abundance of natural enemies (predators and parasitoids). We have reviewed the potential cover crops that can be incorporated into the tea agroecosystem, particularly emphasizing the ecological services of cover crops in pest control. Cover crops were categorized into cereals (buckwheat, sorghum), legumes (guar, cowpea, tephrosia, hairy indigo, and sunn hemp), aromatic plants (lavender, marigold, basil, and semen cassiae), and others (maize, mountain pepper, white clover, round-leaf cassia, and creeping indigo). Legumes and aromatic plants are the most potent cover crop species that can be intercropped in monoculture tea plantations due to their exceptional benefits. These cover crop species improve crop diversity and help with atmospheric nitrogen fixation, including with the emission of functional plant volatiles, which enhances the diversity and abundance of natural enemies, thereby assisting in the biocontrol of tea insect pests. The vital ecological services rendered by cover crops to monoculture tea plantations, including regarding the prevalent natural enemies and their pivotal role in the biocontrol of insect pests in the tea plantation, have also been reviewed. Climate-resilient crops (sorghum, cowpea) and volatile blends emitting aromatic plants (semen cassiae, marigold, flemingia) are recommended as cover crops that can be intercropped in tea plantations. These recommended cover crop species attract diverse natural enemies and suppress major tea pests (tea green leaf hopper, white flies, tea aphids, and mirid bugs). It is presumed that the incorporation of cover crops within the rows of tea plantations will be a promising strategy for mitigating pest attacks via the conservation biological control, thereby increasing tea yield and conserving agrobiodiversity. Furthermore, a cropping system with intercropped cover crop species would be environmentally benign and offer the opportunity to increase natural enemy abundance, delaying pest colonization and/or preventing pest outbreaks for pest management sustainability.

Fertilizer management and incorporation of legumes on performance of maize (Zea mays L.) in western hills of Nepal

One of the main obstacles limiting the production of the improved potential crops in Nepal is the low and diminishing productivity of soils. There is a need to take urgent measures to establish good agricultural management practices that check the rate of deterioration and build up soil fertility, In this regard, an experiment was conducted to determine the rotational effect of legumes and nutrient management on performance of maize at Horticulture Research Station (HRS), Dailekh, Nepal during 2018 and 2019. The experiment was laid out in split plot design which consists 4 cropping systems: fallow–maize, lentil-maize, chickpea–maize and field pea–maize as main plot and 4 combinations of manures and fertilizers: control, recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), Farmyard Manure (FYM), and RDF (50%) + FYM (50%) as sub-plot which were replicated three times. The highest grain yield of 1598 kg ha−1 was obtained from field pea followed by 1388 kg ha−1 in chickpea and 1151 kg/ha in lentil and significantly higher grain yield of 1707 kg ha−1 was obtained from the application of FYM alone. Results obtained showed that yield of maize was increased by 28.8%, 13.5% and 12.7% by use of legumes: chickpea, lentil and field pea, respectively as rotational crop over fallow-maize cropping system. Similarly, the data revealed that significantly higher growth characters of maize were recorded from application of RDF followed by combination of RDF plus FYM. The grain yield of maize was increased by 68.4%, 38.5% and 16.4% from the application of RDF, RDF plus FYM and FYM alone, respectively over control plots. The incorporation of grain legumes like chickpea, lentil and field pea can be effective as rotational crop with maize and application of organic and inorganic fertilizer increase productivity of legumes as well as maize which make viable alternative to agricultural sustainability.

Evaluation of the Intra- and Interspecific Development of Different Accessions of Silphium perfoliatum L. and Silphium integrifolium Michx.

For higher sustainability in biomass production the use of new perennial species can lead to sustainable progress in the energy production and manufacturing industry. During the last decades, two different species of Silphium were discussed for biomass production. However, some questions regarding their cultivation and different uses are still to be answered. In this study, two accessions of Silphium perfoliatum L. and Silphium integrifolium Michx. were investigated during the year of establishment, and the first generative year for the phenotypic characteristics and suitability for cultivation, under Central European field conditions. Intra- and interspecific comparisons were made with special attention to their growth kinetics. While cup plant (S. perfoliatum) is well known as a potential biomass crop in Europe, silflower (S. integrifolium) is still unknown. In intraspecific comparison, S. integrifolium shows a more uniform development than S perfoliatum. In parallel, the development of S. perfoliatum accessions is temporally shifted, so that the S. perfoliatum accessions differ in the length of their phases of generative growth and onset of senescence in comparison to S. integrifolium. To make these results applicable, an improvement proposal was made to the existing BBCH scale for S. perfoliatum. In addition, an adaptation was conducted on S. integrifolium.

Nutritional and nutraceutical potential of rice bean (Vigna umbellata) -a legume with hidden potential.

In the recent years there has been paradigm shift in global agriculture for the exploration of different underutilized crops as future potential crops. Rice bean [Vigna umbellata (Thunb.) Ohwi and Ohashi] one of the lesser known pulses among Vigna species has gained attention during last decade as food and nutritional security crop. Rice bean seeds are well-balanced source of beneficial constituents such as protein, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and anti-oxidants for health benefits and combating malnourishment in human. In the present investigation, seeds of 15 diverse rice bean accessions from north-western Himalayan region were analyzed for nutrients, anti-nutrients and nutraceutical traits. Significant differences were observed among genotypes for different traits. The rice bean genotypes revealed variation for major quality traits including total carbohydrates (50.56-56.87%), crude protein content (22.56-25.97%) and lipid content (1.87 to 3.17%) with the higher proportion of linolenic acid followed by linoleic acid which are nutritionally desirable PUFAs. The genotype IC-548758 revealed higher proportion of desirable quality traits. Among protein fractions, globulins and albumins constituted major seed storage protein fraction in rice bean seeds. The wide range variation was also observed for anti-nutrients like including raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs), phenolics, tannins, trypsin inhibitor (TI), phytic acid, lipoxygenase activity and saponin content among genotypes. Insignificant correlation among iron, zinc, magnesium and manganese revealed good selection accuracy for genetic biofortification program in rice bean. In summary, the genotype IC-548757, IC-548760 and IC-548770 revealed lower proportion of anti-nutrients, whereas, the genotype IC-548759 and IC-548757 revealed higher level of free radical scavenging activity indicating nutritional and nutraceutical superiority of these genotypes. Overall, the study revealed nutritional superiority of genotype IC-548770, IC-548758 and IC-548760 with balanced proportions of nutrients and anti-nutrients. Rice bean legume has the potential to support more sustainable and resilient food and nutritional security in future. Our study highlights the potential of different rice bean genotypes as functional ingredients for future food and nutritional security programmes.

OPTIMIZATION OF WATER RESOURCES UTILIZATION DISTRIBUTION FOR AGRICULTURAL BENEFITS IN THE CLAMPIS IRRIGATION AREA SAMPANG DISTRICT

Utilization of water resources and management is an important factor and has a decisive role in order to increase production per plant in general and crop production in particular. In order to maintain self-sufficiency in food, it is necessary to make efforts to continuously increase the intensity of potential food crops. These efforts include optimizing the proper distribution of water utilization. Factors to determine the need for irrigation water include land preparation, consumptive use, percolation and seepage, replacement of water layers, and effective rainfall. While the method used in this study is optimization using a linear program using the Solver facility in Microsoft Excel with the aim of optimizing the availability of irrigation water so as to produce maximum profits and distribution of irrigation utilization that is more effective and efficient. From the optimization results using the Solver and Microsoft Excel tools, it can be seen that the maximum area of ​​land that can be planted with the available inflow at the intake for MTI (Rice I 2086 Ha/Tobacco II 667.54 Ha), MT-II (Rice I 667, 54 Ha/Tobacco I 1391 Ha/PolowijoI 567.35 Ha/Rice II 128.11 Ha), MT III (Polowijo I 323.65 Ha/Rice II 348.89 Ha/Tobacco II 1261.46 Ha/Polowijo II 825, 00) and provides an analysis of the maximum profit of agricultural products of Rp. 178,183,800,000.00,-. Keywords: Linear Program Optimization; Utilization of Water Resources; Agricultural Benefits; Klampis Irrigation.

Preliminary Assessment of Four Wild Leafy Species to Be Used as Baby Salads

Wild edible leafy plants, thanks to their organoleptic characteristics and nutritional value that can make them be appreciated as salads by consumers, represent a good opportunity for growers and the fresh-cut industry, which are always looking for new crops to expand the number of products they offer. In this study, four wild species (dandelion, sorrel, wild chicory, and wild lettuce) were cultivated hydroponically up to the baby leaf stage in order to evaluate them as potential crops. At harvest, yield and antioxidant compounds, minerals, and nitrates content were assessed. The contribution to human mineral intake and the possible health risk associated with heavy metals were investigated. A characterization of the sensory profile was also carried out. Yield and chlorophylls and carotenoids content of the investigated species were comparable to those of common leafy vegetables. Variability in nitrate content was observed, with the lowest value in sorrel and the highest in dandelion. All species could contribute in Cr, Mg, and Se intake, and health risks due to heavy metals were excluded. Each species was well characterized by distinctive and peculiar sensory notes. In conclusion, the results of this preliminary study suggest that the four wild investigated species may be promising for baby leaf production.

Watermelon as a potential nutritional horticultural crop: A comprehensive review

Watermelon possesses anticancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties due the phytochemicals like lycopene, vitamin C and polyphenolic material. Cardiovascular health conscious patients are consuming essential nutrient watermelon. Antioxidant property of watermelon plays an important role in coronary heart disease, cancer, diabetes, tension as well dehydration of body. The present review provides the information about different varieties that gain more production and keep in regulatory dietary source because of their nutritional values. It also supports to the selection of watermelon variety for more production from this ancient fruit. This information will encourage production and consumption of watermelon in worldwide.

Patterns of spread and adoption of millet agriculture along the eastern rim of the Tibetan Plateau: Archaeobotanical evidence from Houzidong, Southwest China (4200–4000 cal. BP)

The spread of domesticated crops has commonly occurred alongside broad patterns of long- and short-distance human movements and culture contact across regions. While exchange across Eurasia along the so-called Silk Road has been much discussed, recent work has revealed increasingly more evidence for early north-south contact along the eastern rim of the Tibetan Plateau. Main points of debate concern the timing and direction of the spread of agriculture and domesticated crops. This paper contributes to these discussions by presenting new data from macrobotanical remains and phytoliths from Houzidong in southwest Sichuan, a Neolithic site on the eastern rim of the Tibetan Plateau. The results show that the main crops during the late Neolithic (4200–4000 cal. BP) were foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), with a small amount of rice (Oryza sativa), but that agriculture was overall not a major focus. Rather, the subsistence at Houzidong like at other sites in the region was highly diverse, relying on gathering, hunting, and small-scale cultivation with considerable crop diversity aimed at minimizing the impact of potential crop failure. This paper shows that subsistence practices differed markedly between sites, local populations exploiting the rich natural resources in the respective ecological niches in various ways. We argue that the wide variety of food sources available in southwest China allowed people to mitigate risk but also made them more receptive to new food sources such as plant crops, experimenting with them and adding them to their portfolio. Similar patterns can be seen in the adoption and adaptation of other outside influences with each community picking and choosing what suited them best, thus creating the rich and varied patchwork of highly localized cultural phenomena that came to characterize southwest China.

In-vitro Response of Gladiolus (var. American Beauty) towards Plant Growth Regulators Using Cormel Explants

Gladiolus is one of the most potential bulbous cut flower crops cultivated widely in India due to its attractive and long lasting spikes. The plant is propagated vegetatively through corms and cormels, but due to low rate of multiplication, its cultivation is hindered. Also, it is grown through underground modified stems, they are more often attacked by soil borne diseases such as Fusarium corm rot. In-vitro propagation techniques, assumes significance, especially for securing rapid multiplication of quality planting propagules using dormant cormlet explants and media. The results of the study revealed that the MS growing medium supplemented with 2 mg/l BAP showed improved results in respect of sprouting of explants (54.46 %), days required for sprouting of explants (8.68 DAI) and shoot length at 30 (6.32 cm), 60 (12.40 cm) and 90 (13.21 cm) DAI. The in vitro regenerated gladiolus plantlets when placed in the rooting MS medium supplemented with 4 mg/l IBA showed earlier root initiation (8.31 DAI) and higher number of roots/shoot (5.37 DAI) as compared to the rest of the treatment combinations. Hardening medium consisting of garden soil + sand + vermicompost (1:1:1) showed greater survivability (50.98 %) of plantlets. Thus, the study has been initiated an efficient protocol for in-vitro propagation of gladiolus through cormlets cultured in MS media containing BAP and IBA as shooting and rooting plant growth regulators and subsequent acclimatization in garden soil + sand+ vermicompost medium.

Glyphosate‐resistant alfalfa can exhibit injury after glyphosate application in the Intermountain West

AbstractGlyphosate‐resistant (GR) alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) has been widely adopted in the United States. Exceptional tolerance of GR alfalfa to glyphosate application has been reported as a strength of this technology; however, growers have recently reported potential crop injury under specific environmental conditions. The purpose of this study was to document and characterize the injury and determine best management practices for avoiding injury to GR alfalfa in the Intermountain West. The effects of glyphosate rate and application timing during various seasons were investigated at 24 sites over 5 years, measuring the impact on alfalfa crop height and biomass yield. Summer glyphosate applications did not injure alfalfa. However, spring applications reduced crop height at 76% of sites and biomass yield at 62% of sites. At responsive sites, low (869 g ae ha−1) and high (1739 g ae ha−1) glyphosate rates reduced yield by 0.53 and 1.06 Mg ha−1, respectively. Alfalfa treated with high rates in the late spring, when 15–20 cm tall, had mean yield reductions of 16%–17% compared with untreated alfalfa. These results suggest that glyphosate applications made at tall crop heights or high rates on GR alfalfa are more likely to reduce crop height and yield in the Intermountain West compared with earlier applications at lower rates. We recommend that spring applications using low glyphosate rates occur before alfalfa is 10 cm tall to mitigate the risk of injury. If a high glyphosate rate is necessary, then an application should be made before alfalfa is greater than 5 cm tall.

Assembly of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Pereskia aculeata Revealed That Two Pairs of Repetitive Elements Mediated the Recombination of the Genome.

Pereskia aculeata is a potential new crop species that has both food and medicinal (antinociceptive activity) properties. However, comprehensive genomic research on P. aculeata is still lacking, particularly concerning its organelle genome. In this study, P. aculeata was studied to sequence the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) and to ascertain the assembly, informational content, and developmental expression of the mitogenome. The findings revealed that the mitogenome of P. aculeata is circular and measures 515,187 bp in length with a GC content of 44.05%. It contains 52 unique genes, including 33 protein-coding genes, 19 tRNA genes, and three rRNA genes. Additionally, the mitogenome analysis identified 165 SSRs, primarily consisting of tetra-nucleotides, and 421 pairs of dispersed repeats with lengths greater than or equal to 30, which were mainly forward repeats. Based on long reads and PCR experiments, we confirmed that two pairs of long-fragment repetitive elements were highly involved with the mitogenome recombination process. Furthermore, there were 38 homologous fragments detected between the mitogenome and chloroplast genome, and the longest fragment was 3962 bp. This is the first report on the mitogenome in the family Cactaceae. The decoding of the mitogenome of P. aculeata will provide important genetic materials for phylogenetic studies of Cactaceae and promote the utilization of species germplasm resources.