Plant Growth Rate Research Articles

Acinetobacter oleivorans IRS14 alleviates cold stress in wheat by regulating physiological and biochemical factors.

Climate change is responsible for extremely cold winters causing a significant loss in crop yield and productivity due to chilling stress. This study aims to investigate the potential of psychrotrophic plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strain to promote wheat growth under cold stress and explore the adaptive responses of wheat. Wheat seeds and seedlings were inoculated with the psychrotrophic strain IRS14 and the plants were cultivated for five weeks at 6±2°C. The genetic, biochemical, physiological, and molecular analysis of the bacterium and plant was done to evaluate the effect of the PGPR strain in alleviating chilling stress. IRS14 possesses antioxidant activity and produced multiple phytohormones, which enhanced seed germination (∼50%) and plant growth (∼50%) during chilling stress. Here, we reported that the application of IRS14 helps to regulate the biochemical and metabolic pathways in wheat plants. It alleviates chilling stress and increases plant growth rate and biomass. Strain IRS14 in wheat effectively increased chlorophyll content, antioxidants, carotenoid, proline, and endogenous phytohormones compared with untreated wheat.

The effectiveness of the complex application of humates and micronutrient fertilizers on the <i>Macleaya x kevensis</i> Turill. and <i>Macleaya cordata</i> (Willd.) R.Br.

Relevance. In the arsenal of agents with antibacterial activity, a significant place belongs to preparations based on the raw materials of two types of Macleia - Macleaya x kevensis Turill. and Macleaya cordata (Willd.) R.Br. used both in medical and veterinary practice. It is possible to provide the domestic pharmaceutical industry with these medicinal raw materials in full through the development of methods for increasing yields and adapting Maclea to unstable environmental weather conditions.Material and methods. Experiments to study the effect of the use of humates and microfertilizers on these indicators were laid in the fields of the North Caucasus branch of VILAR in 2019-2021. We studied the morphological and economically valuable traits of two species of Maclea, evaluated the growth rates of plants, the yield of raw materials, the content of alkaloids and their collection per hectare under optimal and dry weather conditions.Results. Differences between the two types of Maclea are established in terms of morphological and economically valuable traits. Maclea heart-shaped palmate-lobed leaves are light green in color, the roots are vertical, round-cylindrical, reaching a depth of 50 cm or more, plant height is 300-350 cm. at a depth of 25-30 cm, plant height 200-250 cm. % versus 0.162-0.164% for the heart-shaped Maclea. The dependence of the growth, development and productivity of two types of Maclea on meteorological conditions has been established. Under the conditions of insufficient water supply and high temperatures, the loss of yield in the first year of vegetation in Macleaya cordata is 14%, in the second year - 6%, in Macleaya x kevensis - 21 and 12%, respectively. Foliar treatments with the Normat L complex with Ferovit in the first year of vegetation contributed to a decrease in crop losses and an increase in the yield of alkaloids per 1 hectare in both types of makley, in the second year, with these treatments, an increase in yield by 7-11% was observed, the collection of alkaloids per hectare increased by 14- 18%.

A Simulation Based Modeling of Multiple Plants Ecosystems

In order to solve the problem of multi-species community growth, a multi-species competitive development model based on Lotka-Volterra equation was established. Second, consider the growth rate of plants under weather conditions. Thirdly, interspecific competition, drought adaptation, drought frequency and pollutants were introduced to consider plant growth. Finally, the optimal population size was simulated by calculating community abundance and stability. The results showed that when the community stability was 0.928, the corresponding species number was 146, and the species abundance was inextricably related to biodiversity and interspecies interaction.

Respons Tanaman Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) terhadap Pemberian Paclobutrazol

Ornamental plants have now developed as souvenirs given at a wedding. Requirements for souvenirs, the plants should be tiny, lush, and have much of flowers. So its growth needs to be modified using a growth regulator paclobutrazol. This study aimed to determine the response of angelonia plants to the application of paclobutrazol at several levels of concentration and determine the concentration of paclobutrazol which has the best appearance of angelonia plants. This research method used a randomized block design (RBD) with treatment of 6 levels of paclobutrazol concentration, namely 0 ppm, 30 ppm, 60 ppm, 90 ppm, 120 ppm and 150 ppm with 3 replications. The F test and further tests were carried out an Orthogonal Polynomials. All tests were carried out at the 5% level. The results showed that the application of paclobutrazol at a concentration level of 30-150 ppm, was effective in suppressing the growth rate of angelonia plants in the vegetative phase. This value was proved by the results of the questionnaire that, the highest visual value was obtained at a concentration of 150 ppm. But with the increasing concentration of paclobutrazol, the freshness of flowers became shorter. Keywords: Angelonia, Concentration, Paclobutrazol

Investigation of Rain-Fed Horticulture Productivity in the Namangan Region, Uzbekistan

With the limited availability of water, rain-fed horticulture is important anywhere in the world, especially in countries with arid climates. Therefore, experimental analysis is necessary to see the impact of rain-fed horticulture. Thus, it can be popularized among agricultural people if the strategies achieve better outcomes. This study aims to create a garden without irrigation in the lower regions of the Namangan hills in Uzbekistan using agrotechnical measures based on collecting natural moisture and its long-term storage due to the natural growth of some wild fruits. Soil moisture is the most important factor for plant development in arid and warm regions. The experiments were analyzed from 2013 to 2019 and promising results were found. The plant growth rate after a few years was comparable with that of irrigated agricultural lands. In addition, the yield in non-irrigated gardens was comparable with that of irrigated farms. However, a slight reduction in fruit sizes was observed (10–20%). Furthermore, the terracing and plastic and organic mulching method’s efficiency is higher than terracing and organic mulching due to maintaining long-term soil moisture that can be absorbed by the plants (For May 2019, 12.7%, 7.7%, and 6.1% soil moisture levels were found in plastic and organic mulching, organic mulching, and unmulched areas). Overcoming the challenges in rain-fed horticulture experiments requires a holistic approach that integrates scientific knowledge, technological advancements, and sustainable farming practices. Collaboration between researchers, farmers, and policymakers is crucial to develop and disseminate effective strategies that address these challenges and promote resilient rain-fed horticulture systems. Therefore, this study shows the practical possibility of rain-fed horticulture in the northeastern hills in the Namangan region of Uzbekistan. Furthermore, this study provides possible agrotechnologies to practice horticulture without irrigation, which is beneficial for planners, engineers, farm managers, and agribusiness controllers.

Asian elephants as ecological filters in Sundaic forests

Megaherbivores exert strong top-down influence on the ecosystems they inhabit, yet little is known about the foraging impacts of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) on the structure of Southeast Asia’s rainforests. Our goal was to document Asian elephants’ dietary composition, selectivity, and foraging impacts in a Sundaic rainforest and test whether these differed between habitats. We conducted controlled direct observations of five wild-born captive elephants feeding on six plant types (bamboo, grass, monocot herbs, palms, lianas, and trees) of different age 2 in two habitats (mature vs. early successional forest) in Krau, Peninsular Malaysia. Palms, trees, and lianas formed the bulk of the elephants’ diet. In the mature forest, elephants showed a strong preference for monocots (preference ratio, PR = 5.1), particularly large palms (PR = 5.4), while trees were negatively selected (PR = 0.14). Conversely, in early successional habitats, large tree saplings were positively selected (PR = 1.6). Elephants uprooted (30%) and broke the main stem (30%) of the dicot trees, mainly large saplings, that they handled. Tree saplings broken by elephants had an average diameter of 1.7 ± 1.1 cm (up to 7 cm), with breaks happening at 1.1 ± 0.5 m of height. We estimated that, in a year, an elephant could damage (i.e., either uproot or break) around 39,000 tree saplings if it fed entirely in mature forest, and almost double the number (73,000) if it fed solely in early successional habitats. Assuming a density of 0.05–0.18 elephants/km2, elephant foraging could damage 0.2–0.6% of the tree sapling population per year. Slow growth rates of understory plants in mature forests could result in negative feedbacks, whereby elephants suppress palms, other monocots, and highly preferred tree species. Alternatively, elephants may initiate positive feedbacks by impeding succession along forest edges and in semi-open environments, thereby increasing the size of gaps and the availability of their preferred foodplants. Overall, our results show that Asian elephants act as ecological filters by suppressing the plants they prefer in Southeast Asia’s rainforests.

Reduction of bioavailability and phytotoxicity effect of cadmium in soil by microbial-induced carbonate precipitation using metabolites of ureolytic bacterium Ochrobactrum sp. POC9.

The application of ureolytic bacteria for bioremediation of soil contaminated with heavy metals, including cadmium (Cd), allows for the efficient immobilization of heavy metals by precipitation or coprecipitation with carbonates. Microbially-induced carbonate precipitation process may be useful also in the case of the cultivation of crop plants in various agricultural soils with trace but legally permissible Cd concentrations, which may be still uptaken by plants. This study aimed to investigate the influence of soil supplementation with metabolites containing carbonates (MCC) produced by the ureolytic bacterium Ochrobactrum sp. POC9 on the Cd mobility in the soil as well as on the Cd uptake efficiency and general condition of crop plants (Petroselinum crispum). In the frame of the conducted studies (i) carbonate productivity of the POC9 strain, (ii) the efficiency of Cd immobilization in soil supplemented with MCC, (iii) crystallization of cadmium carbonate in the soil enriched with MCC, (iv) the effect of MCC on the physico-chemical and microbiological properties of soil, and (v) the effect of changes in soil properties on the morphology, growth rate, and Cd-uptake efficiency of crop plants were investigated. The experiments were conducted in soil contaminated with a low concentration of Cd to simulate the natural environmental conditions. Soil supplementation with MCC significantly reduced the bioavailability of Cd in soil with regard to control variants by about 27-65% (depending on the volume of MCC) and reduced the Cd uptake by plants by about 86% and 74% in shoots and roots, respectively. Furthermore, due to the decrease in soil toxicity and improvement of soil nutrition with other metabolites produced during the urea degradation (MCC), some microbiological properties of soil (quantity and activity of soil microorganisms), as well as the general condition of plants, were also significantly improved. Soil supplementation with MCC enabled efficient Cd stabilization and significantly reduced its toxicity for soil microbiota and plants. Thus, MCC produced by POC9 strain may be used not only as an effective Cd immobilizer in soil but also as a microbe and plant stimulators.

Growth Increase in the Herbaceous Plant Centella asiatica by the Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Priestia megaterium HyangYak-01.

Centella asiatica is a traditional herbaceous plant with numerous beneficial effects, widely known for its medicinal and cosmetic applications. Maximizing its growth can lead to beneficial effects, by focusing on the use of its active compounds. The use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is known to be an alternative to chemical fertilizers. In this study, we used the PGPR Priestia megaterium HY-01 to increase the yield of C. asiatica. In vitro assays showed that HY-01 exhibited plant growth-promoting activities (IAA production, denitrification, phosphate solubilization, and urease activity). Genomic analyses also showed that the strain has plant growth-promoting-related genes that corroborate with the different PGP activities found in the assays. This strain was subsequently used in field experiments to test its effectiveness on the growth of C. asiatica. After four months of application, leaf and root samples were collected to measure the plant growth rate. Moreover, we checked the rhizosphere microbiome between the treated and non-treated plots. Our results suggest that treatment with Hyang-yak-01 not only improved the growth of C. asiatica (leaf length, leaf weight, leaf width, root length, root width, and chlorophyll content) but also influenced the rhizosphere microbiome. Biodiversity was higher in the treated group, and the bacterial composition was also different from the control group.

Biodegradable Cellulose/Polycaprolactone/Keratin/Calcium Carbonate Mulch Films Prepared in Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquid.

Ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [BMIM][Cl] was used to prepare cellulose (CELL), cellulose/polycaprolactone (CELL/PCL), cellulose/polycaprolactone/keratin (CELL/PCL/KER), and cellulose/polycaprolactone/keratin/ground calcium carbonate (CELL/PCL/KER/GCC) biodegradable mulch films. Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, optical microscopy, and Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) were used to verify the films' surface chemistry and morphology. Mulch film made of only cellulose regenerated from ionic liquid solution exhibited the highest tensile strength (75.3 ± 2.1 MPa) and modulus of elasticity of 944.4 ± 2.0 MPa. Among samples containing PCL, CELL/PCL/KER/GCC is characterized by the highest tensile strength (15.8 ± 0.4 MPa) and modulus of elasticity (687.5 ± 16.6 MPa). The film's breaking strain decreased for all samples containing PCL upon the addition of KER and KER/GCC. The melting temperature of pure PCL is 62.3 °C, whereas that of CELL/PCL film has a slight tendency for melting point depression (61.0 °C), which is a characteristic of partially miscible polymer blends. Furthermore, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed that the addition of KER or KER/GCC to CELL/PCL films resulted in an increment in melting temperature from 61.0 to 62.6 and 68.9 °C and an improvement in sample crystallinity by 2.2 and 3.0 times, respectively. The light transmittance of all studied samples was greater than 60%. The reported method for mulch film preparation is green and recyclable ([BMIM][Cl] can be recovered), and the inclusion of KER derived by extraction from waste chicken feathers enables conversion to organic biofertilizer. The findings of this study contribute to sustainable agriculture by providing nutrients that enhance the growth rate of plants, and hence food production, while reducing environmental pressure. The addition of GCC furthermore provides a source of Ca2+ for plant micronutrition and a supplementary control of soil pH.

Habitat preferences and functional traits drive longevity in Himalayan high‐mountain plants

Plant lifespan has important evolutionary, physiological, and ecological implications related to population persistence, community stability, and resilience to ongoing environmental change impacts. Although biologists have long been puzzled over the extraordinary variation in plant lifespan and its causes, our understanding of interspecific variability in plant lifespan and the key internal and external factors influencing longevity remains limited. Here, we demonstrate the concurrent impacts of environmental, morphological, physiological, and anatomical constraints on interspecific variation in longevity among > 300 vascular dicot plant species naturally occurring at an elevation gradient (2800–6150 m) in the western Himalayas. First, we show that plant longevity (ranging from 1 to 100 years) is largely related to species' habitat preferences. Ecologically stressful habitats such as alpine and subnival host long‐lived species, while productive ruderal and wetland habitats contain a higher proportion of shorter‐lived species. Second, longevity is influenced by growth form with monocarpic forbs having the shortest lifespan and woody shrubs having the highest. Small‐statured cushion plants with compact canopies and deep roots, most found on cold and infertile alpine and subnival soils, had a higher chance of achieving longevity. Third, plant traits reflecting plant adaptations to stress and disturbance affect interspecific differences in plant longevity. We show that longevity and growth are negatively correlated. Slow‐growing species are those that have a higher chance of reaching a high age. Finally, higher longevity was associated with high leaf carbon and phosphorus, low root phosphorus and nitrogen, and with large bark‐xylem ratio. Our findings suggest that plant longevity in high elevation is intricately determined by a combination of habitat preferences and growth form, as well as the plant growth rate and physiological processes.

Influence of silicon doped biochar on germination and defense mechanisms of pea (Pisum sativum L.) under copper and salinity stresses

Soil pollution is an increasing environmental problem in all developing countries. Salinity and heavy metal stress increase the oxidative stress in plants and lead to the increased production of reactive oxygen species, decreases the production of anti-oxidant enzymes and decreases the rate of plant growth. In the current study, pea plants were grown in the botanical garden GCU, Lahore under stress of salinity and copper. In second stage, these plants were given the treatments of silicon nanoparticles and silicon nano-doped biochar. The salinity and copper effects were observed on different parameters of plant growth. Silicon nanoparticles and silicon-doped biochar proved to be the most effective in improving seedling fresh weight (70%) shoot length (68%), vitality index (82%), germination percentage (16%), seed vigor index (38%), and chlorophyll content (46%) under salinity and copper stress. Biochar, on the other hand, effectively improved root length (37%), total seedling length (55%), germination index (10%), and catalase (21%). Silicon nanoparticles and biochar proved to be most effective in decreasing total phenolics (11%) and total protein content (13%). Therefore, it is concluded that the application of Si-NPs and silicon-doped biochar can enhance plants resistance against saline-sodic and metal contaminated soil and can mitigate these stresses.

The effect of lead (Pb) on the growth rates of two aquatic macrophyte species; Limnobium laevigatum (Humb & Bonpl. ex Willd) Heine and Egeria densa Planch. grown in different experimental media

Anthropogenic causes contribute to toxic pollutants in aquatic environments and heavy metal pollution. As a heavy metal, Lead (Pb), is one of the most common causes of pollution in water. Heavy metals must be removed from the aquatic environment because they adversely affect health and all living things in each environment. In this study we aimed to determine the effects of lead (Pb) exposure on the growth rates and biomass of two aquatic macrophyte species, E. densa and L. laevigatum. Plants grown in in two different experimental media. For this purpose, both plants were exposed to 3 different concentrations of lead (1 ppm, 5 ppm, 15 ppm). Samples were measured on the 1st, 4th and 7th days, and the first and last weights of the plants were compared. Bioexperiments were run in triplicate. Positive values were observed in the growth rates of both plants, except for the negative growth rates observed on the 1st day at 1 ppm and 5 ppm lead concentrations in the pond water environment. Both plants showed positive growth in 25% Hoagland medium at all concentrations and days, except for the 1 ppm lead concentration, being observed for E. densa. As a result of our study, lead exposure did not significantly alter the growth rates of E. densa and L. laevigatum in the experimental media used for short-term (up tp 7 days) durations.

Effect of Planting Space and Dose of Phosphate Fertilizer on the Development and Production of White Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) Samurai-2 Variety

White sorghum is utilized for food, beverage, fodder, and other industrial purposes. Spacing and fertilization are among problems for the development of sorghum plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction effect of planting space and phosphate fertilizer treatments on the development and production of white sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) varity of Samurai-2, and to determine the best results from those treatments as well. This research was performed at the experimental field of Al-Zaitun Islamic Boarding School located in Mekarjaya Village, Subdistrict of Gantar, Indramayu Regency, West Java. A factorial randomized block design was employed with planting space treatment of PS30 (70 cm × 30 cm), PS40 (70 cm × 40 cm), and PS50 (70 cm × 50 cm) and phosphate fertilizer treatment of PF50 (50 kg/ha), PF100 (100 kg/ha), and PF150 (150 kg/ha). Response parameters consisted of plant heigh, number of leaves, leaf area index (LAI), stem diameter, root volume, plant growth rate, and crop yield (weight of 1000 grains and yield per plot). Results of this study showed no interaction in all treatments, and the PS30 with crop spacing of 70 cm x 30 cm resulted the best yield on weight per plot of 5.08 kg/plot equivalent to 8.5 ton/ha. Keywords : Crop yield, Growth rate, Leaf area index, Plant height, Stem diameter

Climatically induced anomalies in tree-ring structure of Abies pindrow (Royal ex D. Don) and Taxus baccata (L.) growing in Hindu-Kush mountainous region of Pakistan

Dendroclimatic potential from Abies pindrow Royal ex D. Don. (fir) and Taxus baccata L. (yew) was investigated by developing four different types of tree-ring width chronologies (by ARSTAN program) in a mixed broadleaf forest of Kalam, KP, Pakistan. Firstly, measured tree-ring width series were cross-dated and identified the best and least (cross-matched with master plot) samples with the most applied Skeleton Plot Model (SPM) method alongside checking the quality through statistical program (COFECHA). Tree-ring attributes (age, growth rate and earlywood and latewood) were also measured with maximum age (677 years) was observed in fir plant and maximum growth rate (6.096 mm year−1) in yew plant with clear demarcations of earlywood and latewood formation. Yew trees were observed to be more sensitive species towards climatic variations (expressed population signal = 0.945, mean sensitivity = 0.321 and signal to noise ratio = 3.214) while fir trees were comparatively less affected by climatic alterations of the study site (expressed population signal = 0.954, mean sensitivity = 0.314 and signal to noise ratio = 2.453). Correlation between tree-ring series of T. baccata with the master series was found to be more significant as compared to A. pindrow after developing series plots of both the species by using package dplR in R. Potential ecological and anatomical explanations for these results were also discussed. Sensitivity of samples showed good climatic signals which are valuable for dendroclimatic growth response investigations leading to reconstruction of past climate as well as possible future climate predictions.

From a different angle: genetic diversity underlies differentiation of waterlogging-induced epinasty in tomato.

In tomato, downward leaf bending is a morphological adaptation towards waterlogging, which has been shown to induce a range of metabolic and hormonal changes. This kind of functional trait is often the result of a complex interplay of regulatory processes starting at the gene level, gated through a plethora of signaling cascades and modulated by environmental cues. Through phenotypical screening of a population of 54 tomato accessions in a Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS), we have identified target genes potentially involved in plant growth and survival during waterlogging and subsequent recovery. Changes in both plant growth rate and epinastic descriptors revealed several associations to genes possibly supporting metabolic activity in low oxygen conditions in the root zone. In addition to this general reprogramming, some of the targets were specifically associated to leaf angle dynamics, indicating these genes might play a role in the induction, maintenance or recovery of differential petiole elongation in tomato during waterlogging.

Генотипический скрининг устойчивости зернобобовых культур к воздействию тяжелых металлов на основании нейронного профилирования экссудации их аминокислот

Abstract. The purpose of the article was to assess the change in the level of structural organization of the amino acid profile of root exometabolites of various resistance genotypes of peas under the influence of metal-induced stress. Research method. Plants were grown under sterile controlled conditions (climatic chamber) with the addition of toxic concentrations, cadmium, cobalt, zinc or mercury to the nutrient medium. The objects for the study were the Cd-sensitive genotype of the pea variety SGE, as well as the unique Cd-resistant mutant SGECDt created on its basis. Results. It has been established that all salt solutions of metals have an inhibitory effect on plant growth rates. At the same time, as expected, the addition of cadmium and cobalt to the medium had a greater effect on the decrease in the biomass of the wild line SGE than in the mutant genotype SGECDt. The latter reacted more to the introduction of toxic mercury into the environment. As for zinc, here, the inhibition of the biomass of both organs in the two genotypes was equivalent. The addition of all toxicants to the medium led to an increase in the total yield of all amino acids. In the SGECDt mutant, this manifested itself to a greater extent, which is associated with certain aspects of metal detoxification in this genotype in plant tissues. Cluster analysis made it possible to separate the ratios of the amino acid profile obtained on zinc and mercury in both genotypes into a separate independent group. The results of calculations using a neural network confirmed the resistance of the mutant to Cd and Co ions, and sensitivity to Zn and Hg. The wild line was found to be resistant to the selected concentration of Co. Scientific innovation. The mathematical model, designed on the basis of the collected amino acid exudation data array, makes it possible, on the basis of a matrix of correlation ratios, to predict the yield of absolutely dry plant protein biomass and to primary screening the adaptive lability of various varieties under metal-induced stress.

Improved soil physico-chemical characteristics, soil moisture and plant growth properties through vertical mulching in a plum orchard

ABSTRACTThis study investigated effects of vertical mulching with organic manures (applied into vertical holes in the soil) in combination with grass mulching of the soil surface, on plant growth, leaf and soil properties in plums (Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. Red Beaut) grown in Himachal Pradesh, India. Five manures were used for vertical mulching (farmyard manure, vermicompost, mushroom compost, ghanjeevamrit and jeevamrit) in combination with two levels of grass mulching (with and without). Vertical mulching treatments with ghanjeevamrit and vermicompost resulted in significant improvements of plant growth, leaf chlorophyll and photosynthetic rate. Leaf and soil nutrient concentrations were also highest in treatments with vermicompost and ghanjeevamrit, with the highest soil nutrient concentrations recorded when these manures were applied with grass mulching. For most plant growth parameters, trees grown with grass mulching performed better than those grown without. Soil physical properties were significantly enhanced by vertical mulching with vermicompost and ghanjeevamrit. Soil moisture at 15 and 30 cm depth was not affected by the vertical mulching with manures, but at 45 and 60 cm depth the manures had significant effects. Grass mulching was also found to be important for regulating soil moisture. The results showed the potential benefits of vertical mulching with manures in combination with grass mulching, with positive effects on both plant growth and soil fertility. The importance of grass mulching was highlighted in terms of its potential for preserving soil moisture and the use of ghanjeevamrit and vermicompost for their potential as nutrient sources and to improve soil fertility.

Diniconazole Promotes the Yield of Female Hemp (Cannabis sativa) Inflorescence and Cannabinoids in a Vertical Farming System

Hemp (Cannabis sativa) has gained global attention since being legalized in the USA in 2018. The legalization of hemp is also underway in Korea; however, it requires facility cultivation and an agricultural technological system that can produce high-quality plants. This study investigated the changes in the growth and secondary metabolite content of female hemp following treatment with the plant growth retardant diniconazole (DIN). Treatment with DIN decreased the plant growth rate with increasing concentrations; however, at a concentration of 25 mg∙L−1, it increased inflorescence biomass and apical inflorescence size. The high-performance liquid chromatograph analysis of major cannabinoids showed no statistically significant differences in total cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) contents among the treatment groups (25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg∙L−1). However, the calculated production of CBD and THC per plant was significantly highest at DIN 25 mg∙L−1. Overall, at a concentration of 25 mg∙L−1, DIN treatment not only decreased the height of female hemp but also enhanced the production of female hemp inflorescences as well as major cannabinoids (CBD and Δ9-THC). Our results indicate that at a concentration of 25 mg∙L−1, DIN is suitable for use in a vertical farming system. However, the Δ9-THC content needs to meet the 0.3% standard for industrial use. These findings can be applied in various fields that use hemp.

Https://rfna.com.my/archive/2rfna2023/2rfna2023-71-77.pdf

The success of System of Rice intensification (SRI) has been extrapolated to numerous crops in the name of System of Crop Intensification (SCI). Similar to SRI, SCI practices tend to have beneficial effects, especially on the performance of tillering crops by optimizing tiller production. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at a farmer’s field in Sundarbazar, Lamjung from July 2018 to January 2019 to evaluate the influence of SCI practices on the performance of finger millet. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications, comprising five varieties (Okhle-1, Dalle-1, KabreKodo-1, KabreKodo-2 and Local) as main plot factors and planting methods (Direct Sowing (DS) at 20 cm ×10 cm, Conventional Transplanting (CT) at 10 cm × 10 cm with 30 days old seedling and System of Crop Intensification (SCI) at 25 cm × 25 cm with 15 days old seedling) as sub-plot factors. Growth attributes like plant height, tillering habit and growth rates were recorded maximum in SCI method resulting in highest yield (2.75 tons/ha). The yield obtained from CT and DS was 14.90% and 29.69% less than SCI. Kabrekodo-1 variety recorded maximum height at harvest and growth rate during both vegetative and reproductive phases also the yield of this variety was higher than other varieties. Thus, the study revealed Kabrekodo-1 as potential variety of the area and SCI as a better option to increase performance of finger millet.

Sensory plastid-associated PsbP DOMAIN-CONTAINING PROTEIN 3 triggers plant growth- and defense-related epigenetic responses.

Sensory plastids are important in plant responses to environmental changes. Previous studies show that MutS HOMOLOG 1 (MSH1) perturbation in sensory plastids induces heritable epigenetic phenotype adjustment. Previously, the PsbP homolog DOMAIN-CONTAINING PROTEIN 3 (PPD3), a protein of unknown function, was postulated to be an interactor with MSH1. This study investigates the relationship of PPD3 with MSH1 and with plant environmental sensing. The ppd3 mutant displays a whole-plant phenotype variably altered in growth rate, flowering time, reactive oxygen species (ROS) modulation and response to salt, with effects on meristem growth. Present in both chloroplasts and sensory plastids, PPD3 colocalized with MSH1 in root tips but not in leaf tissues. The suppression or overexpression of PPD3 affected the plant growth rate and stress tolerance, and led to a heritable, heterogenous 'memory' state with both dwarfed and vigorous growth phenotypes. Gene expression and DNA methylome data sets from PPD3-OX and derived memory states showed enrichment in growth versus defense networks and meristem effects. Our results support a model of sensory plastid influence on nuclear epigenetic behavior and ppd3 as a second trigger, functioning within meristem plastids to recalibrate growth plasticity.