Spice Crop Research Articles

Morphological and yield trait-based evaluation and selection of chili (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes suitable for both summer and winter seasons

Abstract Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most important vegetable cum spice crops grown throughout the world. Evaluation of genotypes based on morphological and yield contributing traits provides the opportunity to assess variability and select superior genotypes. The present investigation was carried out from April 2018 to November 2018 in the summer season and from December 2018 to June 2019 in the winter season in a net house and field, respectively, in the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh. A set of 30 qualitative and 13 quantitative characteristics developed by Biodiversity International were recorded to evaluate the genotypes for morphological and yield-contributing traits. The estimated Shannon–Weaver diversity for qualitative traits ranged from 0 to 1.334, where the maximum diversity was recorded for fruit color at an intermediate stage, stem color after transplanting, fruit surface, stigma position, calyx margin shape, and fruit set, while the minimum diversity (H′ = 0) was observed for the traits corolla shape and anthocyanin spots, indicating no diversity of these traits. Thirteen quantitative traits were also analyzed for the selection of the genotypes with the greatest yield. The quantitative traits also exhibited a wide range of variability according to descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. Moreover, the present study revealed a high heritability for almost all of the quantitative traits, which was confirmed by the values of genotypic coefficient of variation, phenotypic coefficient of variation, h 2 b, and GA for both the summer and winter seasons. This suggests that these traits are predominantly governed by additive genes, making them highly amenable to effective selection. The heatmap analysis based on the morphological quantitative traits revealed five clusters for both the summer and winter seasons for the studied chili genotypes, four distinct clusters in the summer season, and three distinct clusters in the winter season for the parameters studied. Using the multi-trait genotype–ideotype distance index based on multiple trait information, the genotypes R-06, R-07, C0525-2, BARI (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute) Morich-2, Tengakhali, and Rcy 002 were selected as promising for both the summer and winter seasons. Hence, they are recommended for commercial cultivation or use as parent materials in future breeding for the development of new cultivars adaptable to climate change.

To analyse the dynamics of variation in area, production and productivity of spices crops in northern hills zone of Chhattisgarh

To analyse the dynamics of variation in area, production and productivity of spices crops in northern hills zone of Chhattisgarh

Effectiveness of plant extracts against cumin blight (Alternaria burnsii)

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is an important seeds spice crop at world level and India is the leading producer (70% of world production), consumer and exporter of cumin in the world. Almost 80% of the crop cultivated is consumed in India. This crop is affected by major three fungal pathogens (viz., wilt, blight and powdery mildew), among them blight (Alternaria burnsii) is considered as most important one. Among the phytoextracts tested, the majority were found effective in inhibiting the radial growth of test fungus and highest inhibition was in tulsi, akda and garlic extract at 10 per cent concentration which recorded 73.76, 70.63 and 70.09 per cent inhibition, respectively.

Studies on Bioresource based Seed Production Modules in Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.)

Background: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) family: fabaceae, locally known as ‘Methi’ is a self pollinated leguminous spice crop. The plant originated in India and Northern Africa. In India, it is commonly consumed a condiment and used medicinally as a lactation stimulant. There are numerous other folkloric uses of fenugreek, for example, in the treatment of indigestion and baldness. The crop has immense medicinal value and is a good source of vitamins, protein and essential oils. The leaves are used as a vegetable and the seeds as spice for adding medicinal value and flavor to the human food and also forage for cattle. Methods: The present investigation was conducted during 2017-18 and 2018-2019 under laboratory and field conditions in the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP). In both the years, ten bioresources based seed production modules were tested under field conditions. The field experiment comparised of 10 bioresource based seed production modules with one untreated control was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Result: It can be concluded from the present investigation that bioresource based seed production Module-5 consist of seed treatment with Rhizobium strain-B2@ 100 ml/kg seeds, soil application of Trichoderma viride mixed with FYM @ 2 L/20 kg and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi @ 2 kg of soil inoculum/m2 and foliar application of water extracts of garlic (Allium sativum) and drake (Melia azedarach) @ 5% is an effective treatment module which improved plant growth, pod yield, seed yield and reduced the incidence of downy mildew as compared to untreated control.

Stability Analysis and Genetic Variability in Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.)

Aims: To estimate the genetic variability and to identify the stable buckwheat genotype for growth and yield parameters. Study Design: Eberhart and Russell model. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops, College of Horticulture, Bagalkot, Karnataka during Jan-April 2021-2022. Methodology: Fifteen genotypes of buckwheat were assessed for stability parameters for 15 characters across three environments i.e, full dose of recommended fertilizer (RDF), 3/4th dose of RDF and 1/2nd dose of RDF. The pooled data of these environments were used for estimation of genetic variability. Results: The heritability estimates were moderate to high for all the characters. The genetic advance over mean was found highest for number of clusters per cyme (35.05%), seed yield per plot (32.68%) and seed yield per hectare (32.72%). The genotype EC-104035 was found stable for seed yield per plant, per plot and hectare, EC-386667, EC-3222, Nilgiri local, PRB-1 and Sangla B-460 for thousand seed weight, IC-313134 and EC-3222 for plant height at 45 days after sowing and at harvest, Shimla B-1 for plant height at 15 days after sowing, IC-49671, IC-274429 and Sangla B-460 for number of branches at 30 DAS, PRB-1 for days to first flowering and Nilgiri local for days to 50 percent flowering. Conclusion: The genotypes stable for more traits with high genetic variability, will be considered for future breeding program.

Predictive power of YREMs and BLUPs for selecting superior genotypes in perennial crops: A black pepper case study

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), a highly sought-after spice crop with medicinal properties, requires careful evaluation and selection due to its perennial nature and associated resource requirements. Being a perennial, yield trials across years are feasible and practical in this crop rather than that across locations. However, parameters to assess the yield trial data and/or derive criteria to select superior cultivars with stable performance are lacking in black pepper. In this study, we examined the genotype-by-year interaction (GYI) pattern and its impact on black pepper yield, as well as the selection parameters for identifying stable and high-yielding cultivars. Average Yield Relative Environment Maximum (YREM) and Best Linear Unbiased Predictor (BLUP) emerged as the most effective measures for evaluating cultivar performance, as they accounted for relative yield and stability. Among the evaluated cultivars, OPKM displayed better stability estimates. However, considering high mean yield along with all the stability estimates, the HP 2173 ranked first. Notably, even with single-location multi-year trial data, the single-year YREM and BLUP values showed significant predictive power for future performance which is most preferred in perennial crops. Additionally, the use of multi-year average performance (YREM and BLUP) as quantitative criteria for selecting or rejecting genotypes in future breeding programs proved to be effective.

Study on Effect of Bio Control Agent Trichoderma viride and Neem Cake on Rhizome Rot of Turmeric

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is one of the major spice crops in Andhra Pradesh, which is severely affected by rhizome rot (soil borne disease) and leaf spots (foliar diseases). There was drastic reduction in yield, which is majorly affected by soil borne fungus. So, the present study mainly intends to evaluate the performance of Trichoderma viride along with neem cake against rhizome rot disease. The experiment was conducted in three successive years at 10 villages and 30 locations of Krishna district as a Front-Line Demonstration of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ghantasala, Acarya N G Ranga Agricultural University. The treatment (TO1) consists of seed treatment, ridge sowing, excess water drainage and soil application of T viride culture 2 kg multiplied in 90 kg Farm Yard Manure and 10 kg neem cake at the last ploughing time and use of neem cake 300 kg/acre at 60 and 120 DAP at plant base. Whereas, the farmer’s practice (TO2) was drenching of copper oxy chloride @ 3g /l of water only to control rhizome rot. In comparing the average data of both the treatments for three consecutive years, TO1 recorded highest yield of 49.12 t/ha of fresh turmeric with a yield improvement of 32.43 % over control. In case of rhizome rot incidence, the average percent incidence for the three consecutive years was reported as 3.37 % in demo and 10.72% in control. In case of net returns, Rs. 2,08,743/- per ha was obtained with a B:C ratio of 1.99:1 in demo and Rs. 93,428.17/- of per ha with 1.43:1 B:C ratio in control. It can be concluded that apart from using only chemicals, integrated management practices fetch better yield and returns too.

Influence of Naphthalene Acetic Acid (PGR) on the Growth, Yield and Susceptibility to Specific Chili Paper Disease in Different Chilies Cultivars (Capsicum annuum) in the Upland of Baluchistan

Capsicum annuum, commonly known as chili pepper, is a significant spice crop worldwide, and its yield and fruit quality are important factors affecting economic returns for growers. However, these can be impacted by various abiotic and biotic stresses, including environmental conditions, nutrient deficiencies, pests, and diseases. Utilizing growth regulators for plants, such NAA, has emerged as a viable strategy to enhance growth, improve yield, and mitigate stress effects in chili production. To ascertain the impact of the plant growth regulator (NAA) on the development and yield of chilies, a field experiment was carried out. Plant pathogens pose a significant threat to agricultural productivity worldwide. The main challenge in this scenario is that the plant pathogens are dynamic organisms that adapt to changing environmental conditions and agricultural methods. Examples of this kind of evolution include the appearance and spread of novel diseases or more aggressive pathogens that are resistant to fungicides. Using three replications and seven treatments, randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used to perform the experiment. Control (applying no naphthalene acetic acid), 25 ppm, 50 ppm, 75 ppm, 100 ppm, 125 ppm, and 150 ppm applications of naphthalene acetic acid. The result shows that chili crop treated with application of NAA @ 125 ppm exhibited significantly maximum resulted with 80.95 cm plant height, 15.13 quantity of branches plant-1, 84.24 days to flowering, 100.02 days to fruit set, 8.65 cm fruit length, 42.89 g fruit weight, 36.72 quantity of fruits plant-1 and 0.43 kg yield plant-1. In contrast, chili treated under control exhibited the lowest performance, 53.98 cm plant height, 10.49 quantity of branches plant-1, 82.46 days to flowering, 90.77 days to fruit set, 5.66 cm fruit length, 22.54 g fruit weight, 20.39 quantity of fruits plant-1 and 0.02 kg yield plant-1. Among the chili variety, Hot chilies yielded the best results, with 69.31 cm plant height, 13.15 quantity of branches plant-1, 83.52 days to flowering, 96.05 days to fruit set, 7.39 cm fruit length, 34.07 g fruit weight, 29.71 quantity of fruits plant-1 and 0.25 kg yield plant-1. On the other hand, the variety SKY Cross showed the lowest performance, with 65.41 cm plant height, 12.49 quantity of branches plant-1, 83.24 days to flowering, 94.73 days to fruit set, 6.96 cm fruit length, 31.17 g fruit weight, 27.36 quantity of fruits plant-1 and 0.19 kg yield plant-1. After going through the findings of the present research, it was concluded that the application of NAA at 125 ppm showed superior results in terms of plant height, quantity of branches, days to flowering and fruit set, fruit length, fruit weight, quantity of fruits per plant, and overall yield per plant compared to other concentrations of NAA and the control group. The research findings show that that NAA at 125 ppm can be an effective growth regulator for chili crops, leading to improved growth and increased yields.

Influence of Elicitors on Growth and Yield of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.) Varieties

Black cumin is a miracle herb, an emerging seed spice and a medicinal plant of great demand. Black cumin has been used since thousands of years as a spice and food preservative as well as a protective and curative remedy for several disorders. A field experiment was conducted at the Department of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops, College of Horticulture, UHS Campus, GKVK, Bengaluru, from November 2018 to March 2019. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and included two factors: varieties and elicitors. Among the various treatment combinations, foliar application of methyl jasmonate at 100 ppm resulted in the highest recorded values for plant height (46.7 cm), primary branches (5.43), stem diameter (4.62 mm), dry weight of plants (8.42 g), and plant spread (397 cm2) when applied with nitric oxide (Sodium Nitroprusside (SNP)) at 2 mM on Pant Krishna variety. Conversely, the significantly highest chlorophyll content in leaves was observed in the Azad Kalonji variety sprayed with salicylic acid at 100 ppm. Furthermore, the significantly highest numbers of capsules (22.60), seeds per capsule (84.28), and seed yield per hectare (12.40 q) were recorded in Pant Krishna sprayed with methyl jasmonate at 100 ppm. The present study concludes that all varieties, including Azad Kalonji, AN-20, and Pant Krishna, performed equally well regarding growth and yield attributes in this location. Among the elicitors tested, methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid at 100 ppm show promise for commercial cultivation of black cumin.

Screening of Germplasms for Disease Resistance Against Anthracnose of Chilli Caused by Colletotrichum capsici

Chilli (Capsicum annuum Linn.) is an important extensively grown spice crop. It belongs to the family Solanaceae. Approximately 20-27 species of chilli are found, out of which five are domesticated viz., C. annuum, C. baccatum, C. chinense, C. frutescens, and C. pubescens in different parts of the world. Chilli crop suffers from various diseases in which anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum capsici is a very serious one, causes huge yield losses in India. Severely infected fruits look straw colour and bear numerous acervuli in concentric rings. Around 27℃ temperature, 80% relative humidity and soil pH 5-6 promote infection and disease progress. The average disease incidence level ranges between 66 and 84% which results in yield loss upto 12-50% This investigation was carried out at the Main Experiment Station Vegetable Science and Department of Plant Pathology, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P) during the year 2021 -2022. Twenty genotypes of chilli were screened and none one genotypes are found resistant, nine genotypes namely, Mahycojalna, Arkalohit, Phulemukta, Arkaharita, Madhurima, Classica 152, Arkameghna, Sonakshi 44 and Divyajyoti were found moderately resistant and rest of the genotype were susceptible and highly susceptible.

Variability in genome size of Trigonella foenum-graecum, Trigonella corniculata and Trigonella caerulea as estimated by flow cytometry indicates complex evolutionary history of fenugreek.

The determination of genome size is a fundamental step which provides a basis to initiate studies aimed at deciphering the genetic similarity of a species and to carry out other genomics based investigations. Fenugreek (Trigonella spp.) is an important spice crop which has numerous health promoting phytochemicals. Many species within this genus are known for their various health benefits owing to the presence of a wide diversity of important phytochemicals like diosgenin, trigonelline, fenugreekine, galactomannan, 4-hydroxy isoleucine, etc. It is a multipurpose crop being cultivated for food, animal feed and industrial purposes. Despite its importance, research on the genomics aspect of fenugreek remains scant. In the absence of sufficient genomic information, crop improvement in fenugreek is severely lagging. Estimation of genome size of a species is the preliminary step for initiation of any genomic studies and therefore in the present study we have estimated the genome size for fenugreek. Here, we have determined the genome sizes of three different Trigonella spp. namely T. foenum-graecum, T. corniculata and T. caerulea through flow cytometry (FC). The 2C DNA content values were found to be 6.05 pg (T. foenum-graecum), 1.83 pg (T. corniculata) and 1.96 pg (T. caerulea). The genome size of T. foenum-graecum is approximately three times the genome size of T. corniculata and T. caerulea. This variation in genome size of more than three-fold indicates the level of genetic divergence among the three species, though within the same genus. The differences observed in the genome sizes of the three species provide conclusive evidence of their genetic divergence. Additionally, the information about the genome size would provide an impetus to the structural and functional genomics-based research in this crop.

In Vitro Microrhizome Production, Genetic Homogeneity Assessment, and Field Performance Evaluation in Ginger

In vitro-induced microrhizomes are promising for producing disease-free planting materials in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.), spice and medicinal crops threatened by several soil-borne diseases. The study examined microrhizome induction, genetic homogeneity, and field performance in ginger. The condition combination of 3.0 mg·L−1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), 100 g·L−1 sucrose, and a 12-h photoperiod (the optimal conditions) produced the largest number of microrhizomes among all treatments but resulted in a lower average fresh weight during the 60-day culture period. Larger microrhizomes exhibited greater tolerance to water loss and a higher percentage of sprouting. Therefore, additional efforts were made to increase the size of the microrhizomes. Under the optimal conditions, the fresh weight increased significantly to 280.3 mg and 403.4 mg after 30 days of additional culture and in vitro culture of small-sized microrhizomes, respectively. Flow cytometry analysis and SSR characterization confirmed the genetic homogeneity of the regenerated plants with microrhizomes (MR) and those obtained by directly sowing sprouted microrhizomes into the substrate without acclimatization (FMR). At harvest, the MR had the most robust growth, a significantly higher fresh rhizome weight (206.1 g per plant) than the FMR (121.8 g per plant) and conventional tissue-cultured plants (TC), and similar rhizome finger size (11.5 g and 10.2 cm2) to the FMR. These findings suggest that both the MR and the FMR have advantages over the TC in producing seedling rhizomes of ginger in the first growing season. The established approach may be useful for large-scale production of disease-free ginger rhizomes.

First Report of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma citri' related strain (16SrII-C subgroup) associated with phyllody disease of cumin in India.

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), is an important export-oriented seed spice crop for India. Cumin is popularly used for flavouring food, including soups, pickles and vegetables, and for herbal medicine. India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of cumin seed with an annual production of 0.795 million tones over an area of 1.09 million hectares. During 2020-21, India exported about 0.299 million tons of cumin worth of Rs 33280 million (Anonymous, 2021). Recently, phytoplasma suspected symptoms were observed in cumin at Agricultural Research Station, Mandor, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India from 2019. The symptoms related to phytoplasma infection were first recorded after 70-75 days of sowing in the month of January of the years 2019 to 2022. The major symptoms recorded were yellowing, phyllody, witches-broom, yellowing and deformed elongated seeds. Disease incidence was recorded as 0.25-1.0%, 0.5-1.5%, 0.5-2.5 % and 0.5-10.6% during the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively using quadrate method. In 2022, among different genotypes assessed GC 4, MCU 73, MCU 105, and MCU 32 exhibited lower disease incidences ranging from 0.5% to 1.5%, while MCU 78 recorded the highest disease incidence at 10.6%. To detect the association of phytoplasma with symptomatic cumin samples, genomic DNA was extracted from four representative cumin genotypes (CuPP-MND-01 to CuPP-MND-04) and one asymptomatic cumin plant using the Qiagen DNeasy plant mini kit (Germany). The extracted DNA was amplified using nested PCR assays with universal phytoplasma detection primers for 16S rRNA gene (P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2) (Schneider et al., 1995; Gundersen and Lee, 1996) and secA gene specific primers (SecAfor1/SecArev3 followed by nested PCR primers SecAfor5/ SecArev2) (Hodgetts et al. 2008; Bekele et al. 2011). The amplicons of ∼1.25 kb with 16S rRNA gene and ∼600 bp with secA gene specific primers were amplified in all symptomatic cumin plant samples and positive control of brinjal little leaf. PCR amplified products from the four selected positive samples (CuPP-MND-01 to CuPP-MND-04) of 16S rRNA gene and secA gene, were sequenced from both ends. The 1,245 bp sequences were deposited in GenBank (OQ299007-10), which showed 100% sequence identity with each other and 99.4% identity with 'Candidatus Phytoplasma citri' reference strain (GenBank accession: U15442) (Rodrigues Jardim et al. 2023). The phylogenetic analysis and virtual RFLP analysis using 17 restriction enzymes of 16S rRNA gene sequences through iPhyclassifier allowed affiliating the cumin phytoplasma strains with 16SrII-C subgroup strain with a similarity coefficient of 1 to the reference pattern of 16Sr group II, subgroup C (GenBank accession: AJ293216) (Zhao et al. 2009). In addition, the phylogenetic analysis of the secA gene-based sequences (OQ305073-76) further confirmed the close association of 16SrII-C group phytoplasmas with phyllody and witches' broom disease of cumin. Earlier 16SrII-C subgroup phytoplasma has been reported from various crops and weeds in India (Rao et al. 2021). However, no phytoplasma association has been reported earlier with cumin in India and abroad. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the association of 16SrII-C group phytoplasma causing phyllody, witches' broom in cumin genotypes. This report has economic and epidemiological implications and needs immediate attention to reduce export losses due to phytoplasma disease in cumin and to prevent the potential spread to other crops.

Assessing the Post-harvest Losses of Spice Crops: Findings from Ri-Bhoi and West Jaintia Hills Districts of Megha

In this study, an attempt was made to find out post-harvest losses during marketing of ginger and turmeric in the state during 2022-23. Ri-Bhoi and West Jaintia Hills districts are the largest producers of ginger and turmeric respectively and are purposively selected for the study. Three villages growing ginger and another three villages growing turmeric were selected from Bhoirymbong and Laskein blocks in Ri-Bhoi and West Jaintia Hills. The study was conducted on 120 spice growers obtained by randomly selecting twenty from each selected village. The study reveals that the majority of ginger farmers (88.33%) and turmeric farmers (90.00%) are marginal in nature. The average post-harvest loss of ginger and turmeric for all the categories of farmer were 25.73% and 4.54 % where the highest loss of ginger (31.68%) and turmeric (6.37%) were found in small and marginal farmers respectively. High losses of ginger during storage are reportedly due to lack of proper storage facilities of the rhizomes. A proper storage and procurement policy of the spices may be facilitated so that storage losses and losses due to quantity deduction by buyers can be minimized.

Studies on genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) germplasms grown under the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, India

An evaluation of eighteen germplasms was conducted in Rabi season2020-21 using Randomized Block Design with three replicationsatDepartment of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops, Collegeof Horticulture, Mandsaur, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi VishwaVidyalaya (M.P.). The phenological characteristics of 18 germplasmshowed that G - MDF-2 took the least amount of time for 50 % flowering3(45.33 days), 50 % pod setting (53.67) and days to maturity (116.00) ascompared to other germplasm. However, G -Suraj had maximum plant13height (10.34, 24.61, 49.99 and 92.18 cm) but G -Sehore-12 had highest10fresh weight (2.27, 9.67, 29.09 and 52.45 g), dry weight (0.32, 3.32, 18.55and 23.16 g), number of branches (4.33, 7.10, 10.80 and 14.57), leaf area(131.59, 572.17, 1629.65 and 711.84) and leaf area index (1.09, 3.54 and3.9) at 30, 45, 60 DAS and at harvest respectively. Whereas, G -Sehore-1012 had highest number of pods (34.57), number of seeds (22.20), podlength (12.07 cm), shelling % (72.63), seed yield (27.17) and harvest index(43.37). While, G -Sarayu had maximum test weight (17.47 g). The highest18GCV(21.01) and PCV (30.29) were observed for leaf area. Although, thehighest heritability was recorded in plant height (70.66) and test weight(64.55). The highest genetic advance was recorded in leaf area (139.15)and plant height (14.66). Whilethe highest genetic advance as a percent ofmean was observed in leaf area (30.03) and leaf area index (27.80).Out ofeighteen studied germplasms, the highest yield was recorded in G -10Sehore-12 followed by G -Shree and G -Lajwab.

Aerial diseases and their management in Cuminum cyminum: A review

Cumin usually known as Jeera and scientifically known as Cuminumcyminum L. is annual and one of the most important spice crop that is moreprone to several diseases among which the aerial diseases cause severelosses in both yield and quality. Aerial diseases are those diseases whichcause de-formalities in aboveground system of the plant and may includestem, leaves, flower, seed, fruit etc. The threats of Aerial diseases areepidemics in crop production, high cost of chemical fungicides anddevelopment of fungicide resistance, climate change, new diseaseoutbreaks and increasing concerns regarding environmental as well assoil health are becoming increasingly obvious. These demand the use ofintegrated aerial disease management strategies for the crop. This articlesummarized the methods for management of aerial diseases in cuminseed production which included legal methods, resistant cultivars,sanitation, and cropping system, biological control, soil amendments andsoil fertility and weather parameters, plant nutrients, and chemical control.Decision support systems developed to predict disease allow choosinggood management methods such as the use of healthy seeds, culturalpractices and biological control agents for each aerial cumin disease. Thecomplexity in interactions between a pathogen and its host, influenced bybiotic and abiotic factors of the environment, build the control of thediseases frequently very hard. However, profound awareness of host-pathogen systems allows constructing integrated pest managementsystems enhances the production of good quantity as well as quality seed.

Transcriptional dynamics in source-sink tissues identifies molecular factors regulating the corm development process in saffron (Crocus sativus L.).

Geophytic plants have evolved to develop underground storage organs (USO) in the active growing season to withstand harsh environments as well as to coordinate growth and reproduction when conditions are favourable. Saffron is an autumn flowering geophyte and an expensive spice crop restricted to certain geographical locations in the world. Saffron, being sterile, does not produce seeds and thus propagates only through corms, the quality of which determines its yield. Corm development in saffron is unexplored and the underlying molecular mechanism is still elusive. In this study, we performed an extensive characterisation of the transcriptional dynamics in the source (leaf) and sink (corm) tissues during corm development in saffron. Via morphological and transcriptome studies, we identified molecular factors regulating corm development process in saffron, which defined corm development into three stages: the initiation stage demonstrates enhanced vegetative growth aboveground and swelling of shoot base belowground due to active cell division & carbohydrate storage; the bulking stage comprises of increased source and sink strength, active photosynthesis, circadian gating and starch accumulation; the maturation stage represents reduced source and sink strength, lowered photosynthesis, sugar transport, starch synthesis and cell cycle arrest. The global view of transcriptional changes in source and sink identifies similar and new molecular factors involved in the saffron corm development process compared to USO formation in other geophytes and provides a valuable resource for dissecting the molecular network underlying the corm development. We propose a hypothetical model based on data analysis, of how molecular factors via environmental cues can regulate the corm development process in saffron.

Phenological growth stages of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton): Detailed identification and description using the extended BBCH scale

AbstractCardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) is an important spice crop with high market value. In this study, we describe the phenological growth stages of cardamom using a three‐digit extended Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und CHemische Industrie (BBCH) scale, which includes eight principal growth stages, comprising four vegetative, two reproductive and two capsule development stages. Additionally, we identified 45 secondary stages within these principal growth stages, providing a comprehensive characterisation of the crop's growth progression, including bud development, leaf emergence, tillering and shoot development, while the reproductive stages included inflorescence emergence and flowering. The capsule development stage details the maturation process of capsules. The study also highlights the parallel occurrence of tillering, shoot development and inflorescence emergence stages during specific growth phases. The knowledge of growth stages facilitates timely interventions, optimising crop management strategies and enhancing overall crop productivity. Additionally, these findings offer valuable insights for breeding programmes and the selection of superior genotypes, contributing to the sustainable cultivation and economic viability of cardamom as an important export‐oriented spice crop.Highlights BBCH scale provides uniform coding for different growth stages of cardamom. Identified and described eight principal growth stages (PGS). PGS comprises of 4 vegetative, 2 reproductive and 2 capsule development stages. 45 secondary stages were identified within 8 principal growth stages. Tillering, shoot development and inflorescence emergence occurs parallelly.

Characteristics and Comparative Analysis of the Special-Structure (Non-Single-Circle) Mitochondrial Genome of Capsicum pubescens Ruiz & Pav.

Chilean peppers, cultivated from Capsicum pubescens, are globally renowned as popular vegetable and spice crops. C. pubescens belongs to the Capsicum L. (pepper) family and is one of the five pepper cultivars grown in China. In this study, we assembled and annotated the complete mt genome of C. pubescens. We investigated several aspects of its genome, including characteristics, codon usage, RNA editing sites, repeat sequences, selective pressure, gene clusters, and phylogenetic relationships. Furthermore, we compared it with other plant mt genomes. The data we obtained will provide valuable information for studying evolutionary processes in the Capsicum genus and will assist in the functional analysis of Capsicum mitogenomes.

Initial Physiological, Biochemical and Elemental Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Clove Responses to T. vulgaris and S. aromaticum Extract Application

Plant extracts are getting attention for their sterilizing, growth-promoting properties in the agricultural field. No exception exists when it comes to the treatment of propagating material with these natural components. Plant extracts may have complex compositions which affect plants or seeds in a positive way. However, they could also cause negative effects, like decreased germination, secondary metabolite contents or biomass gain. As the agricultural field requires sustainable techniques for plant growth and quality assurance in production, it is important to evaluate the potential effects of every alternative natural compound that shows promise for future plant treatment. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a popular spice crop grown in various regions of the world. Therefore, our study focused on an investigation of the early physiological and biochemical changes in garlic cloves (cv. ‘Jarus’ and ‘Vasariai’) treated with Thymus vulgaris essential oil and Syzygium aromaticum extract. Experiments were carried out in controlled climate conditions, in which the treated cloves were kept for four weeks. Results show that S. aromaticum extract increased germination in cv. ‘Jarus’ compared to untreated garlic cloves. Meanwhile, T. vulgaris caused lower germination of both cultivars compared to untreated cloves. None of the extracts increased biomass gain in garlic cloves. ABTS antioxidant activity was decreased by both extracts in cv. ‘Jarus’ (~7–47%) and ‘Vasariai’ (~22–32%) compared to untreated garlic cloves. Antioxidant DPPH and FRAP activities were ~6–11% and ~14–15% higher after ‘Vasariai’ treatment with extracts. Meanwhile, in ‘Jarus’ only, S. aromaticum extract caused an increase in DPPH and FRAP antioxidant activities. The elemental content was the highest in garlic cloves treated with T. vulgaris essential oil. Total phenolic compounds (TPC) and flavonoids (TF) were 1.2 times higher after S. aromaticum treatment of ‘Jarus’ compared to untreated cloves, while slightly increased TPC and two times higher TF values were found after treatment with T. vulgaris. Around 10% higher TPC and 1.5–3 times lower TF values were observed after the plant extract treatment of ‘Vasariai’ garlic cloves. Our study demonstrates initial changes in garlic cloves dependent on the plant extract treatment and cultivar. This provides important information for the future utilization of such technology, either alone or in combination with others.