Shoot Height Research Articles

Characterization of the species of Pythium associated with corn seedlings in Delaware.

Corn (Zea mays L.) is the top grain crop by hectares grown in Delaware (DE). Increased pre- and post-emergence damping-off in corn caused by Pythium species have been observed in recent seasons. To date, no characterization studies have been performed to understand Pythium species diversity in DE. Symptomatic corn seedlings were collected from 33 fields across DE in 2019 and 2020. Isolates were obtained from infected root tissues and identified by molecular sequencing. In total, 14 species were recovered: P. aristosporum, P. arrhenomanes, P. attrantheridium, P. catenulatum, P. dissotocum, P. graminicola, P. inflatum, P. irregulare, P. oligandrum, P. periplocum, P.spinosum, P. sylvaticum, P. tardicrescens, and P. torulosum. The dominant species recovered was P. graminicola, accounting for 66% of the isolates. Five species were screened for fungicide sensitivity to calculate the EC50 of mefenoxam, ethaboxam, and picarbutrazox which are the most commonly used active ingredients to manage species of Pythium in corn seed treatment packages. All species tested were sensitive to mefenoxam and picarbutrazox. For ethaboxam, P. torulosum was the only species with an EC50 value > 10 µg ml 1. Ten species were screened for fungicide sensitivity to mefenoxam, ethaboxam, or picarbutrazox at 18, 21, and 25ºC. As temperatures increased, percent inhibition was reduced in 40, 70, and 80% of the species screened for sensitivity to ethaboxam, picarbutrazox, and mefenoxam, respectively. Nine of these species were screened for isolate aggressiveness in greenhouse panels to examine impact on emergence, shoot height, shoot weight, and root weight. While all species were recovered from inoculated roots, P. arrhenomanes, P. attrantheridium, P. spinosum, and P. sylvaticum had the greatest root weight reduction.

Photoperiodic Effect on Growth, Photosynthesis, Mineral Elements, and Metabolome of Tomato Seedlings in a Plant Factory

The duration of light exposure is a crucial environmental factor that regulates various physiological processes in plants, with optimal timing differing between species and varieties. To assess the effect of photoperiods on the growth and metabolites of a specific truss tomato cultivar, three photoperiods (12 h, 16 h, and 20 h) were tested in a plant factory. Growth parameters, including plant height, stem diameter, fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots, photosynthetic characteristics, mineral content, and metabolome profiles, were analyzed under these conditions. The results indicated that prolonged light exposure enhanced plant growth, with the highest photosynthesis and chlorophyll content observed under a 20 h photoperiod. However, no significant correlation was observed between the photoperiod and the mineral element content, particularly for macro minerals. Metabolome analysis revealed that different photoperiods influenced the accumulation of metabolites, particularly in the lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and membrane transport pathways. Long periods of light would enhance photosynthesis and metabolism, improving the rapid growth of tomato seedlings. Overall, this study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the responses of truss tomato cultivars to varying photoperiods in plant factories and proposes an optimizable method for accelerating the progress of tomato seedling cultivation.

Potencial bioindicador de mudas de Cedrela fissilis em áreas contaminadas por cobre

ABSTRACT Soil contamination with toxic metals brings along severe environmental issues. Among these metals, copper (Cu) is harmful to plant development when it reaches high contamination levels in the soil. Thus, identifying species capable of resisting this contamination type helps these sites’ revegetation and decontamination processes. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the tolerance of Cedrela fissilis plants to excess Cu through morphophysiological and biochemical variables. C. fissilis seedlings were subjected to five concentrations of Cu (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 mg L-1). The experimental design was completely randomized, with five treatments and four repetitions. Morphophysiological (number of leaves, shoot height, root length, dry weight, morphological variables of the root system, and leaf area) and biochemical (antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide concentration, and photosynthetic pigments) traits and Cu accumulated in roots and shoot were evaluated. High concentrations of Cu had a negative effect on the shoot and root dry weight, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate. Overall, Cu increased the activity of the antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation. Therefore, Cu incidence in the nutrient solution has negatively influenced the biochemical and physiological traits of C. fissilis seedlings to the detriment of their growth. Thus, it was possible to identify sensitive behavior by the investigated species. Because of these features, C. fissilis seedlings can be used as markers for copper-contaminated areas.

Refinement of the in vitro propagation process of Petunia (Petunia hybrida) plant

Petunia (Petunia hybrida) is currently one of the most favored ornamental potted flowers. Tissue culture-based propagation has proven to be effective in terms of multiplication rates and consistent seedling quality, meeting the demand for Purple Petunia varieties. In this study, Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) with various culture media [Murashige and Skoog (MS), ½ MS, and Knudson C] and growth regulators [6-benzyladenine (BA), Indole 3-butyric acid (IBA), and Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)] were utilized to determine the appropriate concentrations and durations for sample sterilization, shoot multiplication, and root induction processes of Purple Petunia. Evaluation criteria for in vitro Purple Petunia included parameters, such as survival rate, contamination rate, dead samples, number of shoots, shoot height, number of roots, and root length. The results indicated that stem sample sterilization at a 5% NaOCl concentration for 10 min yielded the highest survival rate (70.7%) at 14 days post-culture initiation. Purple Petunia stem samples, when cultured in MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L BA combined with 0.1 mg/L IBA, demonstrated the most efficient shoot multiplication with a multiplication rate of 26.9, a shoot weight of 3.6 g, a leaf/shoot ratio of 4.6, and a shoot height of 3.0 cm. The MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L NAA was found to be optimal for root induction, resulting in the highest number of roots at 32.1 roots/plant and a root length of 7.0 cm. Briefly, this research provided fundamental insights into the in vitro propagation process of disease-free Purple Petunia multiplication.

Evaluating the efficacy of endophytic bacteria in controlling rice sheath blight: In vitro and In vivo studies

Rice production is highly susceptible to various pathogens, including Rhizoctonia solani, Curvularia lunata, and Epicoccum rostratum, which are major threats in Asia. Exploring biological control methods using endophytic bacteria offers promising opportunities to enhance rice resilience against these lethal diseases. Using 16S RNA sequencing, we identified four endophytic isolates of Bacillus spp. from rice roots, stems, and leaves. We evaluated the antagonistic activity of these endophytic bacterial isolates against rice pathogens both in vitro and in vivo. These isolates inhibited the growth of C. lunata by 82 %, R. solani by 79 %, and E. rostratum by 88 % in vitro. The detached leaf assay for sheath blight (ShB) disease severity in strains ranged from 10.4 % to 73.3 %. In vivo results showed that B. amyloliquefaciens (R-19) exhibited the lowest disease intensity at 7.2 % and the highest disease suppression at 78.8 %. The fungicide propiconazole at 0.1 % treatment showed the lowest disease intensity of 7.7 % and the highest disease suppression of 73.4 %, compared to the infected control. Besides biocontrol efficacy, endophytic isolates enhance plant growth parameters, including shoot height, root length, fresh and dry weights, number of tillers, and grains per tiller. Plant hormones abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellic acids (GA3) increased by 35 % and 53 %, respectively, due to B. subtilis (R-20) and B. amyloliquefaciens (R-19), while flavonoid and indole acetic acid (IAA) concentrations surged by 30%–80 %. Similarly, chlorophyll (a, b), carotenoids, antioxidant enzymatic activity, phenolic content, carbohydrates, and proline contents were higher compared to the control. This study provides a foundation for future studies on novel and eco-friendly biocontrol agents. In addition, our study recommends the integration of endophytic bacteria into sustainable agriculture for enhancing rice production and reducing disease impacts.

ROOT AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EUCALYPTUS SEEDLINGS PRODUCED IN BIODEGRADABLE CONTAINERS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nursery and field development of eucalyptus seedlings produced in biodegradable containers (BC), based on morphological and root characteristics, compared to the conventional method in 55-cm³ tubes. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized experimental design, using a 3×2 factorial arrangement consisting of three types of containers (55-cm³ tubes; 76-cm³ BC; and 115-cm³ BC) and two eucalyptus clones (CO-1407 and AEC-144). The parameters evaluated in the nursery were: shoot height (SH); stem base diameter (SBD); SH-to-SBD ratio; shoot, root, and total fresh and dry weights; and total number of roots. The parameters evaluated in the field were: SH; SBD; and root distribution. Considering the evaluated characteristics, the use of 115-cm³ BC enabled the development of high-quality seedlings in all evaluation phases. BC-produced seedlings presented better quality and performance in the field. Seedlings produced in 55-cm³ tubes presented lower values for all morphological parameters evaluated in the nursery, as well as in the field up to 120 days after planting.

Growth and Biomass Yield of Grey Sedge (Lepironia articulata Retz. Domin) under Different Shoot-Cutting Intervals in a Tropical Peatland

Grey sedge (Lepironia articulata Retz. Domin) is a plant endemic to tropical peatlands and is widely used as a handicraft and biodegradable product that brings income to local farmers. However, its habitat has been decreasing due to peatland degradation, which has forced local farmers to harvest L. articulata repeatedly in the same habitat. To examine the effects of repeated shoot cutting at different time intervals on L. articulata growth and biomass yield, a mesocosm experiment was conducted from June 2019 to March 2020 in a tropical peatland in Perigi village, Ogan Ilir District, South Sumatra, Indonesia, using a randomized block design with four treatments and three replicates. The treatments were as follows: P1 (cutting every 1 month), P2 (cutting every 2 months), P3 (cutting every 3 months), and P4 (cutting at 6-months). The results showed that P1 significantly reduced monthly shoot height, shoot diameter, shoot number, dry biomass, cumulative shoot number, and cumulative dry biomass. In contrast, considering L. articulata‘s regenerative growth, the growth and cumulative biomass yield of P3 (1453.5 ± 518.4 g m−2) were as good as those of P4. These results indicate that the harvesting interval should be longer than 3 months for the sustainable use of L. articulata in tropical peatlands without damaging its regenerative ability.

Alleviative effect of iron chlorin e6 on isoproturon phytotoxicity to wheat

Abstract Isoproturon phytotoxicity to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a worry for many farmers in chemical control of weeds in wheat fields, especially in subzero weather conditions. Iron chlorin e6 (ICe6), a new plant growth regulator, has been reported to enhance crop stress resistance to alleviate damage caused by stress; however, it is not clear whether ICe6 has an alleviative effect on isoproturon phytotoxicity to wheat. We determined the alleviative effect of ICe6 on isoproturon phytotoxicity to wheat, and 0.018 g ai ha−1 was the optimal dose. Meanwhile, we also studied the photosynthetic pigment content, photosynthetic parameters, oxidative stress indicators, and antioxidant enzyme activity of wheat treated with the three different treatments. We found that the photosynthetic pigment content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and photosynthesis of wheat damaged by isoproturon were significantly lower than those of the control, and the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased. These results indicate that isoproturon stress significantly weakened the photosynthetic and antioxidant capacity of wheat. The photosynthetic pigment content, photosynthetic parameters (excluding intercellular CO2 concentration), and antioxidant enzyme activity of isoproturon+ICe6– treated wheat were significantly higher than those of isoproturon-treated wheat. The H2O2 and MDA content was significantly lower than that of isoproturon-treated wheat. These results indicate that ICe6 treatment maintained the photosynthetic pigment content of wheat and relatively improved photosynthetic capacity, allowing photosynthesis to proceed normally. ICe6 treatment also limits the decrease in antioxidant enzyme activity, effectively clearing excess reactive oxygen species and ultimately alleviating membrane lipid peroxidation damage. In summary, ICe6 not only enhances stress resistance and increases yield in crops such as soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and canola (Brassica napus L.), but also has an alleviating effect on the isoproturon phytotoxicity to wheat, which is manifested by the improvement of photosynthetic and antioxidant abilities, ultimately leading to an increase in wheat shoot height and shoot fresh weight.

Ellagic acid alleviates aluminum and/or drought stress through morpho-physiochemical adjustments and stress-related gene expression in Zea mays L.

This study investigates the potential of ellagic acid (EA) to mitigate the effects of drought and aluminum (Al3+) stresses in maize by examining various morpho-physiochemical parameters and gene expressions. Maize (Zea mays L.) serves as a crucial global food source, but its growth and productivity are significantly hindered by drought and aluminum (Al3+) stresses, which lead to impaired root development, elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), diminished photosynthetic efficiency, and reduced water and mineral absorption. Recently, ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenolic compound with potent antioxidant properties, has been identified for its role in regulating plant growth and enhancing stress tolerance mechanisms. However, the specific mechanisms through which EA contributes to Al3+ and/or drought tolerance in plants remain largely unknown. The present study was conducted to examine the defensive role of EA (100μg/mL) in some morpho-physiochemical parameters and the expression profiles of some stress-related genes (ZmCPK22, ZmXTH1, ZmHIPP4, ZmSGR, ZmpsbA, ZmAPX1, and ZmGST1) in drought (polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG-6000), - 0.6MPa) and aluminum chloride (AlCl3, 60μM) stressed Zea mays Ada 523 grown in nutrient solution. Our results indicated that drought and aluminum chloride stresses affected root length, shoot height, H2O2 content, chlorophyll content (SPAD), electrolyte leakage (EL), and relative water content (RWC) of maize with several significant (P < 0.05) shifts up and down. Conversely, EA (100μg/mL) treatment had a mitigating effect on these parameters. Moreover, EA also mitigated the antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)), and regulated the expressions of aforementioned genes. These findings determined that EA treatment could efficiently improve the gene expressions and morpho-physiochemical parameters under drought and/or Al3+ stresses, thereby increasing the seedlings' adaptability to these stresses.

PEMANFAATAN FITOHORMON UNTUK PRODUKSI BIBIT KENTANG (Solanum tuberosum L.) SEHAT MELALUI KULTUR JARINGAN

Tissue culture is the primary method of propagating potato plants for the development of superior, pathogen-free seeds. One of the most critical aspects influencing tissue culture performance is the presence of growth hormones in the planting media. This study investigated the use of phytohormones found in coconut water as an alternative for pricey synthetic growth hormones. The purpose of study is to determine the optimal coconut water concentration for increasing potato seed growth and production potato plantlet. Explants were cut from potato plantlets and planted aseptically in Murashige and Skoog media, with coconut water added at varying concentrations as treatment. The experiment was designed using a completely randomized design, and the experimental data were analysed using analysis of variance and additional honest significant difference tests. The results showed that the treatment had a significant effect on the parameters of sprouting speed and root length, but not on the parameters of number of shoots, shoot height, and number of leaves. The 150 mg/l coconut water treatment resulted in the fastest micro shoots and the greatest number of leaves. The 100 mg/l coconut water treatment resulted in the highest number of shoots, shoot height, and root length. Based on these findings, it was determined that a coconut water concentration of 100 ml/l was more successful in promoting the growth and producing of potato plantlets than synthetic hormones, and therefore, may be recommended for developing potato tissue culture.

Влияние абиотических факторов на продуктивность тростника Phragmites australis в озёрах юга Западной Сибири

The article presents the results of studying phytomass, stem height and density of thickets (herbage) of Phragmites australis, one of the most common aerial-aquatic plant in the south of Western Siberia. This region is distinguished by a rare combination of chloride, sulfate and soda lakes in a relatively small space. As an eurybiont, reed is highly resistant to water and soil salinity, but high salinity adversely affects its growth and development. The aim of the work was to assess the degree of abiotic factors (pH, mineralization) effect on the quantitative characteristics of reed growing in water bodies with different water mineralization: from 0.005 to 387.6 g/L. In total, we studied 59 freshwater, brackish-water (oligo-, meso- and polyhaline) and hypersaline water bodies, located in various natural zones (southern taiga, forest, forest-steppe, steppe and dry-steppe) in the south of Western Siberia. The studies were carried out in late July – early August from 2012 to 2020 during the period of maximum vegetation of plants. As a result of the studies, it is shown that the optimal for reed growth and development is water mineralization from 0.5 to 5.0 g/L, when the highest values of biomass and plant height are observed. A model based on redundancy analysis (RDA) was built and a correlation analysis was carried out to assess the dependence of phytomass, shoot height and herbage density on abiotic factors. We took into account pH, salinity, and Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, K+, HCO3-, Cl- and SO42- content. We found that pH and determined by Ca2+ water hardness are the limiting factors in freshwater lakes. In brackish-water meso- and polyhaline, as well as in saline hyperhaline water bodies reed phytomass is affected by a whole range of factors, while shoot height is affected by pH, chlorides, and water hardness, and grass stand density is affected by chlorides and sulfates.

KOMPOSISI BERBAGAI KOMPOSISI BERBAGAI MEDIA TANAM TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN TANAMAN PORANG (Amorphophallus onchophyllus)

This study aims to find out the effect of the composition of various planting media on the growth of porang plants with the observed parameters consisting of bud growth time, the number of shoots, shoot height, and root volume. This study employed a Randomized Block Design with 4 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments given were P0 (without treatment), P1 (2,000 g of soil + 1,000 g of goat manure + 1,000 g of husk charcoal), P2 (2,000 g of soil + 1,000 g of goat manure + 1,000 g of banana midrib), and P3 (2,000 g of soil + 1,000 g of goat manure + 1,000 g bamboo leaf charcoal). This study was followed by extension activities which were evaluated at the beginning (the initial evaluation) and the end (the final evaluation). Results indicated that the use of various compositions of effective growing media had a significant effect on the outcomes. The planting media composition on P2 with 2,000 g of soil, 1,000 g of goat manure, and 1,000 g of banana midrib gave the best results for all parameters in which the average shoot growth time was 5 DAP, the average number of shoots was 5 and 6 shoots after 60 DAP, the average shoot height was 2.9 cm at 60 DAP, and the average root volume was 19.9 ml. Furthermore, the results of the evaluation of the extension activities carried out at the beginning and the end showed an increase in the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of farmers by 30.6%, 33.6%, and 33.6%, respectively, with the effectiveness reaching 56.14%, classified in the effective category

Halotolerant phosphate solubilizing bacteria isolated from arid area in Tunisia improve P status and photosynthetic activity of cultivated barley under P shortage

Forty-seven (47) bacterial strains were isolated from soil of Gabes (an arid region in southern Tunisia) and were screened for their ability to produce Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) and to solubilize phosphate (P). The characterization and molecular identification of the most successful P-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) were then carried out. When grown on suitable artificial media, the most salt-tolerant strains also showed the highest P solubilization capacity (up to 126.8 μg ml−1 of released phosphorus after 7 day incubation) and the strongest ability to produce IAA (up to 101.86 μg ml−1 after 3 day incubation). Overall, bacterial isolates displayed a different tolerance to varying pH, temperatures, and salinity. The molecular identification revealed that 11 strains belonged to three genera: Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Mesorhizobium. Inoculation of barley with P-solubilizing bacteria under tricalcium phosphate-induced P shortage significantly improved plant growth (biomass, shoot height, and root length) together with increasing total chlorophyll contents and photosynthetic activity. This was concomitant with (i) higher P uptake and translocation and (ii) increased phosphorus absorption and utilization efficiencies (PAE and PUE), which is indicative of a better plant P nutrition under P scarcity. Taken together, we provide strong arguments showing that bacteria native to extreme environments display PSB potential making them promising candidates to mitigate low Pi availability for crop plants.

Effect of pre-sowing treatments on seed germination and postgerminative seedling growth of acacia angustissima (mill.)

Seeds of Acacia angustissima were subjected to a control and five pre-sowing (soaking in cold water for 24 hours, soaking in hot water (100° C) for 5 minutes, immersion in 60 % H2SO4 for 30 seconds, immersion in 60 % H2SO4 for 5 minutes, and immersion in 60 % H2SO4 for 15 minutes) treatments. The number of seeds that sprouted was recorded daily for calculation of germination indices. When there had been no further germination in any of the treatments for four weeks, the height, number of leaves, number of leaflets, and root length of seedlings were determined. One-way analysis of variance was used to test the effects of the pre-sowing treatments on seed germination and seedling growth. Final Germination Percentage, Germination Rate Index, and Seedling Vigour Index were significantly higher in the warm water than other five treatments which displayed similar responses of the traits. Similar, the warm water pre-treatment resulted in the longest seedlings, when shoot height and / or root length was considered. There was no significant effect of treatment on Mean Germination Time, number of leaves, and number of leaflets. The findings suggest that hot water pre-sowing treatment is the most suitable for seed germination and initial seedling height attainment of Acacia angustissima.

Effect of pre-sowing treatments on seed germination and postgerminative seedling growth of acacia angustissima (mill.)

Seeds of Acacia angustissima were subjected to a control and five pre-sowing (soaking in cold water for 24 hours, soaking in hot water (100° C) for 5 minutes, immersion in 60 % H2SO4 for 30 seconds, immersion in 60 % H2SO4 for 5 minutes, and immersion in 60 % H2SO4 for 15 minutes) treatments. The number of seeds that sprouted was recorded daily for calculation of germination indices. When there had been no further germination in any of the treatments for four weeks, the height, number of leaves, number of leaflets, and root length of seedlings were determined. One-way analysis of variance was used to test the effects of the pre-sowing treatments on seed germination and seedling growth. Final Germination Percentage, Germination Rate Index, and Seedling Vigour Index were significantly higher in the warm water than other five treatments which displayed similar responses of the traits. Similar, the warm water pre-treatment resulted in the longest seedlings, when shoot height and / or root length was considered. There was no significant effect of treatment on Mean Germination Time, number of leaves, and number of leaflets. The findings suggest that hot water pre-sowing treatment is the most suitable for seed germination and initial seedling height attainment of Acacia angustissima.

Indica rice “Takanari” exhibited superiority to Japanese rice “Koshihikari” on N-uptake and biomass production under no-weeding practice

ABSTRACT Rice yield and whole biomass production are strongly related to the rice cultivar’s nitrogen (N) uptake ability and various meteorological conditions and management practices. Under different conditions, such as elevated CO2 with limited N-supply, the Indica cultivar” Takanari (Tak)” showed a higher N-uptake ability than the Japonica cultivar ‘Koshihikari (Kos).’ However, it is still unclear how Tak and Kos respond to N-uptake and biomass production under limited N conditions with or without weeding. For this reason, we conducted a pot experiment at Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan, in the 2022 rice growing season. Tak and Kos were transplanted individually and interplanted (Tak+Kos) in pots filled with 8.0 kg of air-dried alluvial soil from an organic rice farm with the main treatments of weeding and no weeding. Rice growth parameters (shoot height, tiller numbers, and leaf color) were investigated weekly, while rice biomass and N-uptake were measured after harvest. As a result, plant biomass and N-uptake were significantly different among all treatments. The rice biomass and N-uptake in weeding were significantly higher than those in no-weeding for both cultivars. Compared with Kos, Tak had significantly higher rice biomass and N-uptake for root, ear, and whole rice plants in all treatments, weeding practices, and planting modes. The ratios of aboveground biomass and N-uptake between Tak and Kos in interplanting were higher than their respective ratios in individual planting. Interplanting increased the aboveground biomass ratios between Tak and Kos by 16.24% and 27.43% in weeding and no-weeding conditions, respectively. The ratios of N-uptake in interplanting were higher than individual planting at 21.74% and 34.09% in weeding and no-weeding, respectively. Tak’s ability to compete with Kos on N-uptake and biomass production was increased when two rice cultivars were transplanted in the same pot under interplanting cultivation and no-weeding conditions.

Bioinoculation Strategies for Enhanced Growth and Development of Economically Important Dalbergia latifolia Roxb

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the plant growth properties of the native rhizospheric microflora of Dalbergia latifolia, an important medicinal, timber and biofuel plant. A systemic isolation, characterization and identification of rhizospheric soil, collected indigenously, initially produced 45 numbers of fungi and 3 numbers of bacteria. Both groups of organisms were characterized for their extracellular useful activity, especially phosphate solubilisation potential, and presented in terms of solubilisation index and solubilisation efficiency. Two fungi and two bacteria with good phosphate solubilization activity, along with NPK and organic manure, were selected and used in a pot culture experiment to promote the growth and development of Dalbergia latifolia under nursery conditions. Data recorded on 90 Days of plant growth exhibited the growth promotion of inoculated plants over control uninoculated experimental set. Results obtained on morphological and physiological growth parameters exhibited that the application of Aspergillus flavus followed by Burkholderia territorii + org. manure showed maximum shoot height and inoculation of Burkholderia anthina + Aspergillus sp. + NPK was significantly higher leaf area. Significantly longer root has been observed in Burkholderia territorii. However, a difference was observed in the number of leaves in Aspergillus flavus. + Org. manure and higher numbers of branches were observed in Aspergillus flavus only as compared to uninoculated control. Coinoculation of Aspergillus flavus + Penicillium simplicissimum showed better performance in fresh and dry shoot biomass as compared to other treatments. Burkholderia territorii + Org.manure produced higher fresh biomass of roots and coinoculation of bacteria Burkholderia territorii + Burkholderia anthina helped in enhancing root dry biomass. Dual inoculation of Aspergillus flavus + Penicillium simplicissimum gives better result in both fresh biomass of leaves and dry biomass of leaves. Application of Aspergillus flavus + Penicillium simplicissimum enhanced the total fresh biomass of the seedlings whereas supplementation of Burkholderia anthina + Penicillium simplicissimum enhanced the total dry biomass. Coinoculation of Aspergillus flavus + Penicillium simplicissimum showed higher RGR and coinoculation of Burkholderia anthina + Aspergillus flavus + NPK showed quite higher Leaf area ratio (LAR cm2gm-1). Co inoculation of Burkholderia territorii + Burkholderia anthina + Organic Manure showed highest root-shoot ratio and Coinoculation of Penicillium simplicissimum + Org. manure showed higher Net assimilation rate (NAR). However, Bacterial and fungal inoculants were also used as potent bioinoculants for the growth and establishment of crops of forest tree species.

Prolonged Post-Harvest Preservation in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by Reducing Water Loss Rate and Chlorophyll Degradation Regulated through Lighting Direction-Induced Morphophysiological Improvements.

To investigate the relationship between the lighting direction-induced morphophysiological traits and post-harvest storage of lettuce, the effects of different lighting directions (top, T; top + side, TS; top + bottom, TB; side + bottom, SB; and top + side + bottom, TSB; the light from different directions for a sum of light intensity of 600 μmol·m-2·s-1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD)) on the growth morphology, root development, leaf thickness, stomatal density, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll fluorescence, as well as the content of nutrition such as carbohydrates and soluble proteins in lettuce were analyzed. Subsequently, the changes in water loss rate, membrane permeability (measured as relative conductivity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content), brittleness (assessed by both brittleness index and β-galactosidase (β-GAL) activity), and yellowing degree (evaluated based on chlorophyll content, and activities of chlorophyllase (CLH) and pheophytinase (PPH)) were investigated during the storage after harvest. The findings indicate that the TS treatment can effectively reduce shoot height, increase crown width, enhance leaves' length, width, number, and thickness, and improve chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, photosynthetic capacity, and nutrient content in lettuce before harvest. Specifically, lettuce's leaf thickness and stomatal density showed a significant increase. Reasonable regulation of water loss in post-harvested lettuce is essential for delaying chlorophyll degradation. It was utilized to mitigate the increase in conductivity and hinder the accumulation of MDA in lettuce. The softening speed of leafy vegetables was delayed by effectively regulating the activity of the β-GAL. Chlorophyll degradation was alleviated by affecting CLH and PPH activities. This provides a theoretical basis for investigating the relationship between creating a favorable light environment and enhancing the post-harvest preservation of leafy vegetables, thus prolonging their post-harvest storage period through optimization of their morphophysiological phenotypes.

Increasing the Growth of Bridal Tears Flower Stem Cuttings (Antigonon leptopus) by providing Plant Growth Regulators and Planting Media

It is imperative to implement integrated control measures for Oil Palm Leaf-Eating Caterpillars (UPDKS), as continual chemical management can result in pest resistance and environmental degradation. Utilizing natural enemies for biological control involves the utilization of predators, pest-consuming animals, as well as parasites or bacteria with pathogenic properties against pests. Examples of predators, including Sycanus leucomesus and Eocanthecona furcellata, egg parasitoids, such as Trichogrammatidea thoseae, and larval parasites, such as Chaetexorista javana, are a few of the many types of organisms that can have an impact on the populations of their prey. These indigenous predators sustain themselves by feeding on host plants within their natural habitat. The bridal tears flower (Antigonon leptopus) is considered to be one of the host plants. Thus, it is imperative to promote the growth of Antigonon leptopus in order to provide a habitat for the natural predators of the UPDKS pest. The objective of this research was to identify the components of the planting medium and to establish the most effective concentration of growth regulators for propagating bridal tears stem cuttings (Antigonon leptopus). The research was conducted at the Indonesian Palm Oil Technology Institute (ITSI) Practice Garden in Medan, North Sumatra. The research was conducted over three months, from February to April 2024. The Factorial Randomized Block Design (RAK) method was employed, with the first factor, namely S (Planting Media), comprising three levels: Top Soil without solid, Top Soil with 20% Solid, and Top Soil with 40% Solid. The second factor, namely Plant Growth Regulators, was also treated with three levels: without plant growth regulators, concentration of 100 Mg/l, and concentration of 200 Mg/l. Thus, the study comprises nine treatment combinations, each with four replications. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) table is employed to assess the significance of the observed differences, with the Duncan multiple range test (DMRT) conducted at a 5% level of significance when warranted.The findings from the research indicated that the manipulation of the planting medium composition (S) had a notable impact on the number of leaves, number of roots, and fresh weight of the roots. Additionally, it was found to have a highly significant influence on the height of the shoots. The optimal composition of the planting medium was identified as S2. The manipulation of growth regulators (R) concentration had a notable impact on shoot height and root fresh weight, as well as a highly significant effect on the number of leaves and roots. R2 exhibited the most optimal concentration of growth regulators. The growth of Antigonon leptopus stem cuttings was not affected by the combination of planting medium composition (S) and growth regulator concentration (R) in a non-interacting manner.

Plant Growth Regulator-based Tissue Culture System Optimization for Cymbidium faberi Rolfe

Cymbidium faberi, a member of the Cymbidium genus known for its fragrant blooms and graceful foliage, has recently become endangered in the wild due to reproductive challenges. This study aimed to establish systematically a tissue culture system for Cymbidium faberi Rolfe (wild species) by evaluating the effects of various plant growth regulators its propagation stages, including rhizome proliferation, differentiation, shoot strengthening, and rooting. The results showed that 0.5 mg·L−1 thidiazuron significantly promoted rhizome proliferation, achieving a proliferation coefficient of 6.08 after 60 days of culture. For adventitious bud induction, 1.92 mg·L−1 brassinolide was most effective, inducing 6.43 buds per rhizome with an average bud height of 5.25 mm after 90 days of culture. The optimal strategy for shoot growth was using 3.0 mg·L−1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid, resulting in an average shoot height of 6.47 cm after 60 days. The highest rooting rate of 87.5% was achieved with 0.5 mg·L−1 zeatin, producing an average of 3.5 roots per shoot with an average root length of 3.06 cm. This study successfully developed a propagation system for C. faberi and highlighted the significant role of BL in promoting rhizome differentiation. In conclusion, this study provides a robust propagation method to support the conservation and industrial development of C. faberi.