Shade House Research Articles

Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops: A Comprehensive Review

Horticultural crops grown under protection are becoming more and more significant in modern agriculture, offering a number of benefits such as increased yields, better quality, and protection from pests and bad weather. This comprehensive review aims to demonstrate protected cultivation methods as they currently exist and explore their future applications in horticulture. The first part of the examination covers the many types of protected production structures, including high tunnels, shade houses, and greenhouses, along with their advantages and disadvantages. The significance of protected farming in tackling concerns associated with worldwide food security is further underscored by preserving crop productivity throughout the year and limiting dependence on seasonal variations. This review looks more closely at the effects of protected cultivation methods on the growth and development of horticultural crops. These methods include improved crop morphogenesis, precipitation control, and the optimisation of environmental parameters like temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels. Furthermore, the utilisation of advanced technologies like hydroponics, aeroponics, and vertical farming in protected growing systems is examined and its capacity to optimise crop yield while minimising resource consumption is emphasised. The difficulties and limitations associated with adopting protected cultivation are also examined in the study, including the need for artificial inputs, energy requirements, and financial considerations. It talks about environmentally friendly and sustainable ways to reduce these problems and preserve ecological balance, like switching to organic farming methods and using renewable energy sources. Future trends and developments in protected cultivation are covered in detail in the study's final section. These include the application of artificial intelligence, the adoption of smart farming technologies, and the employment of precision agriculture techniques. Higher yields and higher-quality horticultural crop output could be the outcome of these developments, which further optimise resource utilisation, improve automation, and better crop monitoring and management.

Trends in Greenhouse Production Technology with Special Reference to Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops

Greenhouse is an important application scenario of modern agriculture. With the improvement of people's life quality, the demand for vegetables, fruits, flowers and has also increased, and the amount of greenhouses has developed rapidly. Greenhouse adopts artificial technical means to change natural light and temperature conditions, and to create environmental factors to optimize the growth of animals and plants, so that greenhouse crops can grow throughout the year and the weather. Compared with traditional planting methods, the greenhouse is more automated, intelligent, and mechanized. Greenhouse farming (Protected cultivation) refers to the practice of growing crops in an enclosed or partially enclosed environment, such as greenhouses, shade houses, or high tunnels. The primary purpose of protected cultivation is to create a controlled microclimate that shields the crops from adverse weather conditions, pests, and diseases, while optimizing environmental factors. It involves the use of structures, materials, and technologies that provide a protective barrier and allow for manipulation of temperature, humidity, light, and other environmental variables. The benefits of greenhouses are high production per unit area because the genetic potential of the crop can be completely exploited, vegetables and nurseries can be grown off-season that obtain high market prices, good quality products and it is easy to protect the crops from pests, diseases and extreme climatic conditions. Greenhouse farming is a highly intensive industry that needs considerable labour and capital inputs. Because of this, all factors important for a successful enterprisers should be carefully considered by potential growers.

Impact of goat manure application on growth of wild watermelon under shade house cultivation

The continuous use of inorganic fertilizers in agriculture poses detrimental effects on soil health and future crop yields. Therefore, alternative sources of plant nutrients that are environmentally friendly and cost-effective for use in crop production, especially with the escalating cost of inorganic fertilizers, are necessary. A shade-house study was designed to determine the effect of different quantities of goat manure applications on growth attributes and yield of wild watermelon (Citrullus lanatus subsp.). A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used to arrange the treatments, with fourteen (14) replications (n = 84). Six (6) treatments consisting of various quantities (v/v) of river sand, Hutton soil, and goat manure (T0 -1:3:0, T1 -1:3:1, T2 -1:3:2, T3 -1:3:3, T4 -1:3:4, and T5 -1:3:3) were used, with T0 -1:3:0 constituting the control. Treatments had a highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) effect on dry shoot mass (65%), fruit weight (75%), and fruit diameter (75%) except for the dry root mass (44%), vine length (47%), chlorophyll (47%), number of fruit (27%) and stem diameter (22%) of wild watermelon plants. Dry shoot mass was the highest (11.14 g) in T4 -1:3:4, and the lowest dry shoot mass (6.57 g) was obtained in T1 -1:3:1 when compared to the control. The fruit fresh weight of the wild watermelon was reduced in all the treatments, when compared to the control. The biggest fruit diameter (66.66 mm) was observed in T4 -1:3:4, and the lowest (14.4 mm) was observed in T5 -1:3:5. In conclusion, T4 -1:3:4 enhanced greater vegetative growth (dry shoot matter) and yield attributes (fruit diameter and weight) of the wild watermelon.

Influence of rooting hormone and rooting substrate on growth of apical shoot cuttings of mulberry (Morus indica l.) Using mini clonal technology at nursery level

An experiment was conducted at Department of Sericulture, Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam to analyse the effect of rooting hormone and their concentrations, rooting medium on apical shoot cuttings of mulberry. Auxin with various concentrations namely IBA and NAA (1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000 ppm) and rooting mediums such as Soil, Soil: Sand: FYM (1:1:1), Soil: Coir pith (1:1), Soil: Sand: Vermicompost (1:1:1) and Soil: Coir pith: FYM (1:1:1) were used for this study. Mulberry apical cuttings were treated with different hormonal concentrations and placed in different rooting medium under shade house condition. After planting survival per cent, sprouting per cent, rooting per cent and shoot length of the plants were examined. Among the various interaction effect, IBA at 3000 ppm treated plants placed in Soil: Coir pith: FYM medium performed well in all parameters.

Seedling ecology of Aucoumea klaineana Pierre, the most important timber species in Central Africa

Aucoumea klaineana Pierre is the most exploited timber species in Central Africa. In natural forests, its regeneration is hindered by various factors, including limited light availability and pest attacks. To address these challenges and develop effective forest management practices, a comprehensive understanding of A. klaineana seedling ecology is necessary. This study investigated the light requirements and pest resistance of A. klaineana seedlings under different light conditions through an 18-month experiment conducted in Gabon. Six shade houses with varying light intensities were constructed, ranging from 1 % to 62 % of full irradiance, along with an unshaded platform representing 100 % light. Six-month-old seedlings were planted among shade houses and platform and monitored monthly for growth parameters (relative growth rate in height and diameter), morphological parameters (number of leaves, both total and compound) and mortality. Productivity (total seedling biomass), biomass allocation traits (leaves, roots, and stem mass ratios), number of branches, and symptoms of pests attacks were assessed after 18 months. Resultsreveal that light conditions influence seedling performance, with optimal levels for biomass and relative growth rate in diameter and height identified between 9 % and 62 % of relative irradiance. However, pest infestation, particularly by psyllids and black canker, poses substantial threats to seedling growth, health, and form, regardless of light conditions. Pest attacks had a significant impact on growth but not on survival, which remained high (97.1 %) even under extreme lights conditions (1 % and 100 % of relative irradiance). The findings underscore the importance of integrating pest management strategies and adapting silvicultural practices to meet the species’ ecological requirements. We suggest planting A. klaineana in small groups (to allow root anastomoses), separated by other species (to limit pest contamination), under light canopy cover (around 9–62 % of relative irradiance, to promote sustained growth rates at the seedling stage). This approach should ensure the conservation of A. klaineana populations and the long-term viability of Central Africa's timber industry.

A Rapid and Cost Effective Hardening Method for Tissue Culture Derived Banana Plantlets

The present study was aimed to develop a cost effective method for the hardening of tissue culture derived plants of banana var. Robusta. Two approaches were investigated to reduce cost. First, the shoots inoculated in rooting medium were incubated in (i) growth room under controlled temperature and light conditions for four weeks (RL) (ii) shadehouse exposed to natural light and ambient temperature (RP). The plants obtained from these treatments were given five hardening treatments (a) direct planting in polybags (filled with 1 : 1 Soil and leaf mould) (DP), (b) DP plants covered individually with transparent polybags (DPC), (c) DPC plants placed in tray of water (up to 3 cm height)-DPCW (d) DP plants kept in polytunnel (DPP) (e) DP plants placed in tray of water and kept in polytunnel DPWP, (f) control plants (CN)-primary hardened in potrays kept in polytunnel for four weeks followed by transplantation to polybags (filled with3:1 Soil and leaf mould). RP Plants were greener and sturdier with less hyperhydricity. Rooting outside the lab (RP) reduced the cost as the growth room space during rooting could be saved and so there is saving in electricity of lighting and climate control. 80% of plants in control and 50% plants in direct planting (DP) survived. In all other treatments 100% survival was observed. RP-DPCW and RP-DPWP plants showed the best performance in terms of visible appearance and accumulation of biomass. The method employed could reduce the hardening period from 12 weeks (CN) to 8 weeks. The cost reduction occurs in this process by a) omitting primary hardening process which requires costly potting media, manpower and climate controlled greenhouse, b) Lab space could be saved as incubation for rooting can be done in shade house thereby saving electricity c) As there is 4 weeks saving in hardening, shade house space could be utilized for hardening more plants. The method could be adopted for hardening in small nurseries to large industries and can result in cost reduction of plantlets. Saving of 4 weeks for hardening will be highly beneficial to the micropropagation industries for delivering plants to farmers in time during peak planting seasons. Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 34(1): 11-24, 2024 (June)

A Comprehensive Review on Protected Cultivation: Importance, Scope and Status

The practice of protected cultivation of horticultural crops has become increasingly important in contemporary agriculture, providing a host of advantages including higher yields, improved quality, and defence against pests and unfavourable weather. This thorough analysis seeks to illustrate protected cultivation practices as they stand today and investigate their potential in horticulture going forward. The examination starts out by going over the many kinds of protected production buildings and their benefits and drawbacks, such as greenhouses, high tunnels, and shade houses. The importance of protected farming in addressing issues related to global food security is then emphasised by maintaining crop output all year round and minimising reliance on seasonal changes. The impact of protected cultivation techniques which include enhanced crop morphogenesis, precipitation control, and the optimisation of environmental parameters like temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels on the growth and development of horticultural crops is further examined in this review. In addition, the application of cutting-edge technologies such as aeroponics, hydroponics, and vertical farming in protected growing systems is discussed and its potential to maximise crop output while consuming the least amount of resources is highlighted. The study also explores the difficulties and limitations associated with adopting protected cultivation, such as the need for synthetic inputs, energy requirements, and financial issues. It talks about environmentally friendly and sustainable ways to reduce these problems and support ecological balance, like using renewable energy sources and switching to organic farming methods. The investigation concludes that discussing some potential developments and trends in protected cultivation going forward, including as the application of artificial intelligence, the integration of precision agriculture methods, and the uptake of smart farming technologies. These developments could lead to increased yield and quality improvements in the production of horticulture crops by further optimising resource utilisation, enhancing automation, and improving crop monitoring and management.

Effects of organic acid application and ectomycorrhizal symbiosis on growth and morphological parameters of <em>Pinus pseudostrobus</em>

Background: Many landscapes, both natural and anthropogenic, are dominated by degraded soils that have low phosphorus availability due to low overall phosphorus concentration or to phosphorus sequestration by iron-rich minerals. Questions and / or Hypotheses: Does the application of low molecular weight organic acids improve phosphorus availability and plant growth in phosphorus-poor soils, and is this effect modulated by ectomycorrhizal fungi? Studied species / data description /Mathematical model: Pinus pseudostrobus and its ectomycorrhiza Pisolithus arhizus, in addition to six sodium salts of organic acids. Study site and dates: The experiment was carried out in a shade house (35 % shade) in Morelia, Michoacán in 2015. Methods: We conducted experiments with Pinus pseudostrobus and its ectomycorrhiza Pisolithus arhizus in addition to six sodium salts of organic acids. Sodium salts of citrate, oxalate, acetate, tartrate, succinate and malate were added to the soil at 0, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 micromolar concentrations. Results: The salts of the organic acids—particularly tartrate and malate-solubilized phosphorus and improved plant growth after 12 months in the absence of P. arhizus. When plants were inoculated with P. arhizus, the effect of most organic acids was either detrimental or non-significant. However, citrate, tartrate and succinate improved biomass and morphological parameters. Conclusions: These results suggest that adding appropriate organic acids to heavily degraded soils can aid P. pseudostrobus establishment and its benefits are higher than the association with mycorrhiza for young plants during the initial stages of fungal colonization.

Efficacy of Different Concentrations of IBA and NAA on Growth of Hardwood Cuttings of Fig (Ficus carica L.) cv Dinkar

An investigation was conducted to know the influence of growth hormones on shoot growth in hardwood cuttings of fig (Ficus carica L.). The experiment was set up in RBD having thirty cuttings with three replications treated with different concentrations of growth hormones viz., T1 (IBA 1000 ppm), T2 (IBA 2000 ppm), T3 (NAA 1000 ppm), T4 (NAA 2000 ppm), T5 (IBA 1000 ppm + NAA 1000 ppm), T6 (IBA 2000 ppm + NAA 2000 ppm) along with control. Present study revealed earliest sprouting, maximum shoot diameter, shoot length and number of leaves, fresh and dry weights shoot with T6 (IBA 2000 ppm + NAA 2000 ppm). On the basis of findings of this study fig hardwood cuttings treated with IBA 2000 ppm + NAA 2000 ppm under the shade house conditions can be recommended to nursery growers and researchers to obtain desirable shoot growth under Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh.

Growth regulators on shooting and adventitious rooting of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia adult stem cuttings

Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, crucial for fencing and firewood in Brazil's Caatinga dry forest, presents a promising avenue for commercial propagation. The challenges faced in seed propagation, such as the scarcity of inputs and the difficulties in overcoming dormancy, highlight the advantages of vegetative methods. These methods emerge as a viable alternative, enabling uniform and large-scale production of clonal plantlets. This technique ensures consistent plant quality, which is crucial given the wide variety of uses for this species. Additionally, the use of plant growth regulators is critical to enhance the success of vegetative propagation, promoting the formation of robust roots and overall development of plants from cuttings of adult trees. Recognizing the significance of creating clonal forests of M. caesalpiniifolia and the necessity for understanding methods to expedite this endeavor, this study was designed to assess the shooting and adventitious rooting of stem cuttings sourced from adult M. caesalpiniifolia trees, examining the effects of auxinic agents. M. caesalpiniifolia cuttings were harvested through vegetative rescue from six randomly selected adult trees, treated with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) at concentrations of 0, 1,000, 2,000, and 4000 mg L−1, using a completely randomized design in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement. The evaluations included assessing root presence, number of shoots, vigor of clonal plantlets and plant survival under greenhouse conditions, shade house conditions, and full sun exposure. The study did not reveal any significant interaction between growth regulators and their concentrations under these conditions. IBA at intermediate concentrations enhanced root growth, while cuttings without growth regulators exhibited superior aerial development. A decrease in survival percentages with increasing concentrations of regulators was observed, while cuttings without regulators demonstrated better morphological development. The study suggests for large-scale nurseries, natural rooting and shoot formation in M. caesalpiniifolia cuttings may suffice for successful propagation without IBA or IAA.

How healthy are horticultural plants cultivated in urban gardens in polluted cities? The case of Mexico City

Soil-to-plant metal(loid) accumulation has been highly evaluated recently due to its significant impact on human health. This study reports the concentrations of 15 metal(oid)s in four vegetables (tomato, onion, chili, and lettuce) cultivated in a greenhouse and three shade houses (two roofs of buildings and one in the UNAM Botanical Garden) in four locations in the metropolitan area of Mexico City. In this experiment, the contribution of metals and metalloids due to atmospheric deposition and irrigation may be negligible. Hence, the concentration of metals depends only on transfer from the soil. Soil analysis indicates that only vanadium in one location (a rooftop garden in the municipality of Venustiano Carranza) exceeds the permissible limits according to Mexican regulations. Lettuce shows the highest concentrations and transfer factors for most metals compared to the other vegetables studied. Transfer factors were exceptionally high for Cd (lettuce) and Hg (tomato), presenting values above 1. Concentrations of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were compared with limit values recommended by different international agencies for vegetables. It was observed that, except for As, these values are exceeded in various vegetables harvested in this study. This information must be corroborated with more detailed studies evaluating the chemical species in which those metal(oid)s are present and identify the physical and chemical parameters of the soil that may have interfered with the soil-plant transfer factor.

Micropropagation, genetic fidelity and chromatographic analysis in Evolvulus alsinoides (L.): A potent multipurpose medicinal plant

Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) is an annually growing medicinal plant used in many popular systems as a source of traditional medicine. However, fresh plant material for medicinal uses and research purposes is critically unavailable year-round due to its short life cycle. A micropropagation method for E. alsinoides was developed, and its genetic diversity was described. Surface sterilized nodal explants were inoculated onto Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators; the best response of multiple shoot induction was observed on MS media augmented with 5 μM kinetin (Kn) and 0.1 μM Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), which gave a maximum number of 10.27 ± 0.0118 shoots. Further, the addition of 30 μM of adenine sulfate to the MS media enhanced shoot multiplication (18). The cloned shoots were accomplished to in vitro rooting on MS medium with 0.1 μM Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 10 μM phloroglucinol, resulting in 16 healthy roots. The rooted plantlets were acclimatized in the shade house. The genetic stability of micropropagated plants was confirmed through molecular marker analysis. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the tissues of clones revealed the contents of secondary metabolites. High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) revealed that squalene levels were highest in plants cultured in MS medium supplemented with adenine sulfate (378.89 ng/ 15 μl). The methods developed and defined are highly reproducible and can be used for commercial production of E. alsinoides valued for human health.

First Report of Achromobacter xylosoxidans Causing Bacterial Stem and Leaf Blight on Cyrilla arida in Tennessee and the United States.

Scrub titi (Cyrilla arida), broadleaf semi-evergreen shrub, is endemic to central Florida. However, its smaller stature, lustrous, dark-green leaves and abundance of white racemes in late spring make it a potential candidate for future use in Southeastern U.S. landscapes. Three-years-old container grown C. arida plants maintained in a shade house at the Nursery Research Center, McMinnville, TN exhibited black leaf lesions and brown stem lesions (Fig. 1a) in April 2023. The disease severity was 25% of the shoot area and the disease incidence was 10% out of 60 plants. Symptomatic stem and leaf tissues were surface sterilized with 0.525% NaOCl for 1 min. Bacterial colonies were white-colored, opaque, round with smooth edges on lysogen broth agar medium after 2 days of incubation at 28°C. Bacteria were gram-negative and non-fluorescent on King's B. Esculin, catalase, and oxidase tests were positive but arginine dihydrolase and gelatine hydrolysis were negative. Bacterial identity was confirmed by sequencing of DNA from pure cultures (strains FBG5290 and FBG5294). The 16S ribosomal RNA, RNA polymerase sigma factor (rpoD), enolase (eno), and NADH-quinone oxidoreductase subunit L (nuoL) genes were amplified and sequenced using the primers 8F/1492R (Galkiewicz et al. 2008), rpoDpF/R (Sarkar and Guttman 2004), enoP1/P2 and nuoLP1/P2 (Spilker et al. 2012), respectively. The sequences were deposited in GenBank with acc. nos.: OR689356, OR689357 (16S); OR751366, OR751367 (rpoD); OR792456, OR792457 (eno); and OR792458, OR792459 (nuoL). The closest identified species to our two identical strains was Achromobacter xylosoxidans (CP054571), showing 99.6%, 95.2%, 96.2%, and 95.0% identity with >99% coverage to the above mentioned gene sequences, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis, using concatenated sequences along with the genome sequences of other closely related taxa (Fig. 2), suggest that A. xylosoxidans is presently the identified species, but given the results of the MLST, it may be that this organism will be classified as new species in the future. The pathogenicity of the strains was confirmed on 1-year-old C. arida by inoculating five plants per strain. Stems were inoculated by depositing 15 µl of bacterial suspension (1x108 CFU/mL) into the stem wounded using a scalpel. The inoculation sites were covered with moist cotton and wrapped with Parafilm. Inoculation was also performed on three leaves per plant by using a needleless syringe to infiltrate bacteria into the intercellular spaces (1x108 CFU/mL). Sterile water was used for five control plants. Plants were kept in a greenhouse at 21-23°C, 70% RH, and 16-h photoperiod. All inoculated plants showed brown lesions in stems (Fig. 1b and 1c) and leaves (Fig. 1d) 7-10 days after inoculation, while control plants remained asymptomatic (Fig. 1e and 1f). The bacteria were re-isolated from inoculated plants and confirmed as A. xylosoxidans using morphological and molecular methods. Achromobacter spp. are commonly known as human pathogens, and cross-kingdom pathogenic bacterium in animal (mice) and fungi (Coprinus comatus) (Ye et al. 2018). However, A. xylosoxidans was recently reported as the causal agent of stem rot of Amorphophallus konjac in China (Wei et al. 2023). To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. xylosoxidans causing bacterial stem and leaf blight of C. arida in Tennessee and the U.S. Identification of this novel disease lays the foundation development of effective management strategies.

Influence of growing condition, spacing and nutrition on flower quality and post harvest life of Heliconia genotypes

Heliconia, a high value flower crop can assure sizable income to farmers with minimum investment and care. Suitable agro techniques help in obtaining maximum number of high quality flowers. Therefore, field trial was undertaken at the Department of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during 2021-22 to understand the influence of growing condition, spacing and nutrition to improve the flower quality and post harvest life of Heliconia genotypes. The experiment was laid out in strip plot design with three replications and sixteen treatment combinations comprised of two growing conditions as main plot (M1:Coconut garden and M2:Shade house) and combinations of genotypes, spacing and nutrition as eight sub plots [G1:Orange (H. latispatha), G2:Kenea Red (H. psittacorum), S1:40 × 40 cm, S2:40 × 60 cm, N1:100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) and N2:75% RDF]. Result indicated significant difference with all flower quality parameters and post harvest life. Plants in shade house exhibited highest values for all the characters compared to plants in coconut garden. The interaction found significant for stem length (54.01 cm) which was higher under T13 (M2G2S1N1). Treatment combination T11 (M2G1S2N1) recorded maximum stem girth (2.37 cm), spike length (19.87 cm) and spike width (21.67 cm). The same treatment combination (T11:M2G1S2N1) recorded maximum fresh weight of flowers (117.68 g), lowest physiological loss in weight (23.26%) and highest vase life of 16.60 days. and the same treatment combination can be suggested to get good quality flowers with extended vase life in Heliconia.

Field Applications of Fluorinated Nematicides for Meloidogyne enterolobii Management on Tomato.

Mexico is the 8th largest producer of tomatoes. Meloidogyne enterolobii is reported in Sinaloa, affecting tomato cultivars with genetic resistance to Meloidogyne spp. We aimed to evaluate field applications of fluopyram, fluensulfone, and fluazaindolizine treatments for managing M. enterolobii on tomatoes. Experiments were set on raised beds in a shade house. Nematicides were applied via drip irrigation. Under fluopyram treatment, M. enterolobii did not reduce the number of extra-large-size fruits. The number of large-size fruits with fluopyram and fluazaindolizine plus fluopyram treatments was also unaffected by M. enterolobii. Yield from the treatments fluopyram, fluazaindolizine plus fluopyram, and fluensulfone plus fluopyram was similar to the control treatment without M. enterolobii. Finally, fluazaindolizine plus fluopyram, fluopyram, and fluensulfone plus fluopyram treatments showed the highest reduction of root galling. We conclude that the fluopyram was more effective as an individual treatment. Pre-plant applications of fluensulfone and fluazaindolizine reduced the damage to the plant and the loss of yield; however, the complementary application of fluorinated nematicides improved the management of M. enterolobii in the tomato crop.

The Application of Cyanobacteria as a Biofertilizer for Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) Production with a Focus on Environmental and Ecological Sustainability

Cyanobacteria, an important addition to biofertilizers, are gaining popularity for their multifaceted benefits in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem restoration. However, harmful algal blooms (HABs) in freshwater, predominantly caused by cyanobacteria, prevent sunlight penetration into the water and develop hypoxic and anoxic conditions. We collected cyanobacteria slurry from Lake Jesup (Central Florida, USA), repurposed it as a biofertilizer, and incorporated it in a typical South Florida calcite soil for high-value okra (Abelmoschus esculentus; var: Clemson spineless) production. Experiments were conducted at the Organic Garden Shade House and Greenhouse located inside the main campus of the Florida International University (FIU), FL, USA. A two-year experiment with four different treatments was conducted, namely, (a) control (C; no fertilizer applied), (b) total synthetic (TS), (c) total biofertilizer (TB; only cyanobacteria biofertilizer was applied), and (d) half and half (HH; 50% biofertilizer + 50% synthetic fertilizer), which were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six replications for each treatment. Our results indicate that TB and TS produced about 29 to 33% higher SPAD (soil plant analytical development) readings than the control. The absence of interveinal chlorosis (yellowing of leaves) in the TB and HH treatments suggests that the cyanobacteria-based biofertilizer had a role in supplying one of the critical micronutrients, iron (Fe). Analysis of the biofertilizer indicated 2000 ppm Fe content, which directly supports our observation. Similarly, average plant height (61 cm), yield (130 gm per pot), and crop biomass (67 gm) productions were significantly higher in TB than in the control. Overall, this study documents the potential of cyanobacteria biofertilizers as a viable option compared to synthetic fertilizers for sustainable crop production and soil health improvement.

An Insightful Exploration of Protected Cultivation in Horticultural Crops: A Comprehensive Review

The survey starts by examining various sorts of protected cultivation, encompassing a variety of techniques such as greenhouses, polytunnels, modern nurseries, high passages, and shade houses, as well as their benefits and constraint has emerged as a pivotal component in horticultural practices. It then, at that point, features the significance of protected cultivation in tending to worldwide food security challenges by guaranteeing all year crop creation and decreasing dependence on occasional varieties. This comprehensive review delves into the multifaceted aspects of protected cultivation in horticultural crops, aiming to provide a nuanced understanding of its impact on crop yield, quality, and resource efficiency. The audit further investigates the effect of protected cultivation strategies on the development and advancement of plant crops, including further developed crop morphogenesis, precipitation the board, and the streamlining of natural factors like temperature, moistness, and carbon dioxide levels. Besides, the usage of cutting-edge innovations like aquaculture, aeroponics, and vertical cultivating inside protected cultivation frameworks is inspected, with an accentuation on their true capacity for amplifying crop efficiency while limiting asset utilization. The article synthesizes recent advancements, challenges, and future prospects in this field, shedding light on the dynamic interplay between environmental factors, crop physiology, and technological interventions. By critically evaluating the existing literature, we present a synthesis of knowledge that can inform both researchers and farmers in optimizing protected cultivation for sustainable and resilient horticultural production systems.

Chemical Control of Powdery Mildew of Bigleaf Hydrangea

The efficacy of the fungicide pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole (Postiva) was evaluated at varying application rates and intervals for the control of powdery mildew (Golovinomyces orontii, formerly Erysiphe polygoni) in bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nikko Blue’). Container-grown hydrangeas were arranged in a completely randomized design with six single-plant replications. Experiments were done in 2022 and 2023 under both greenhouse and shade house conditions (56% shade). Powdery mildew in hydrangea was developed naturally. Pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole at 1.1, 1.6, and 2.2 ml·L−1 and a standard fungicide azoxystrobin + benzovindiflupyr (Mural) at 0.5 g·L−1 were sprayed to runoff on 2-, 4-, and 6-week intervals. Plants that were not treated with fungicide served as the control. Plants were evaluated weekly for disease severity (0% to 100% foliage affected) and defoliation (0% to 100% defoliation). The season-long area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) and defoliation progress curve (AUDFC) were calculated for the evaluation period. The initial and final plant height and width were recorded, and height and width increase were determined. Pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole and azoxystrobin + benzovindiflupyr significantly reduced final disease severity, AUDPC, and defoliation both in the greenhouse and shade house compared with control plants. In both greenhouse trials and the 2022 shade house trial, AUDFC was reduced in all treatments compared with the control plants. However, AUDFC was not reduced by all treatments in the 2023 shade house trial. Pooled over application intervals, the low rate of pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole was as effective as the medium and high rates of pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole and azoxystrobin + benzovindiflupyr in reducing final powdery mildew severity and AUDPC both in the greenhouse and shade house in both 2022 and 2023. No significant differences between application intervals were noted in final disease severity and progress. Control of powdery mildew with fungicides failed to increase plant dimensions (i.e., plant height and width) compared with the no fungicide control. Because all application rates and intervals of pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole provided comparable powdery mildew disease control, it is suggested that using a low rate of pydiflumetofen + difenoconazole with the longest application interval (6 weeks) is the most cost-effective approach for managing powdery mildew in bigleaf hydrangeas.

Cash crop farmers’ perceptions of, and adaptation to climate change: A preliminary study of Black Bush Polder, Guyana

Farmers Black Bush Polder, Guyana, have been experiencing changes in weather variability and climate parameters as well as the impacts of those changes on their livelihoods. Understanding farmers’ perception of climate change and their adaptation strategies is crucial to assisting with efforts for developing suitable intervention strategies to combat the effects of climate variability and climate change. In this non-experimental research engaging fifty (50) randomly selected farmers the aim was to: (1) examine how cash crop farmers in Black Bush Polder perceived the effects of climate change; (2) identify adaptation strategies used by farmers in combating the effects of climate change; (3) identify the factors that influence the adaptation strategies chosen by farmers; (4) identify perceived barriers in the implementation of adaptation measures; and (5) make recommendations in light of the difficulties encountered by farmers. A self-administered structured questionnaire survey was used to collect primary data and the responses to the items using a modified Likert scale. Descriptive statistics, and Pearson Correlation Coefficient were used to analyze the data. The results showed that there was variation in both temperature and rainfall in the Black Bush Polder Area. Overall, farmers had a general perception that these variations had an impact on their farming activities as well as on their choice of adaptation measures. Key recommendations made were: planting improved, or more resistant varieties of crops, changing planting times as dictated by rainfall, collection of water in furrows near plants, utilizing drip irrigation systems and techniques for preparing crop beds, and using of shade houses and greenhouses to lessen the effects of climate change.

Implementing sanitation practices against the hibiscus bud weevil Anthonomus testaceosquamosus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract The hibiscus bud weevil, Anthonomus testaceosquamosus Linell (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an invasive pest of tropical hibiscus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (Malvaceae). While chemical and biological control alternatives have been identified, the viability of cultural control through sanitation (collecting and destroying dropped buds where larvae complete development) remains to be explored. The impact of adult hibiscus bud weevil infestation on flower bud abortion was studied in a greenhouse. Plants were infested with one mating pair of adult weevils, with non-infested plants as controls. Actively growing buds and dropped buds were counted weekly for four weeks. A subsequent shade house experiment evaluated the effect of sanitation on plant productivity. Groups of ten plants in a tunnel tent were infested with ten hibiscus bud weevil adult mating pairs per tent. Treatments included sanitation (weekly collection of dropped buds for eight weeks) and a no sanitation control. Five actively growing buds per tent were collected in search of eggs and larvae, while counts of actively growing buds and open flowers were recorded per plant. To identify efficient sanitation methods, the time required to remove fallen buds using three methods (manual, vacuum, and blower) was estimated. Hibiscus bud weevil infestation, using two adult weevils per plant, led to a 16-fold increase in bud abortion compared to non-infested plants. Sanitation reduced the proportion of dropped buds by 22 %, while no sanitation plants showed more actively growing buds, suggesting overcompensation in response to abortion. The vacuum method was the most efficient bud removal method tested. Sanitation can be an effective, practical, and complementary measure to reduce hibiscus bud weevil infestation in commercial nurseries.