Stem Diameter Research Articles

Comparative transcriptomic and physiological analyses unravel wheat source root adaptation to phosphorous deficiency

Phosphorus (P) is a crucial macronutrient for plant growth and development. Basic metabolic processes regulate growth; however, the molecular detail of these pathways under low phosphorous (LP) in wheat is still unclear. This study aims to elucidate the varied regulatory pathways responses to LP stress in wheat genotypes. Phenotypic, physiological, and transcriptome analyses were conducted on Fielder (P efficient) and Ardito (P inefficient) wheat genotypes after four days of normal phosphorous (NP) and LP stress. In response to LP, Fielder outperformed Ardito, displaying higher chlorophyll content-SPAD values (13%), plant height (45%), stem diameter (12%), shoot dry weight (42%), and root biomass (75%). Root structure analysis revealed that Fielder had greater total root length (50%), surface area (56%), volume (15%), and diameter (4%) than Ardito under LP. These findings highlight Fielder’s superior performance and adaptation to LP stress. Transcriptome analysis of wheat genotype roots identified 3029 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Fielder and 1430 in Ardito, highlighting LP-induced changes. Key DEGs include acid phosphatases (PAPs), phosphate transporters (PHT1 and PHO1), SPX, and transcription factors (MYB, bHLH, and WRKY). KEGG enrichment analysis revealed key pathways like plant hormones signal transduction, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and carbohydrate biosynthesis metabolism. This study unveils crucial genes and the intricate regulatory process in wheat’s response to LP stress, offering genetic insights for enhancing plant P utilization efficiency.

Effect of FYM and Different Levels of Panchgavya on Growth and Establishment of Papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. Red Lady

Today, with the advancement of environment pollution and health that is obtained from the improper use of inorganic fertilizer, production and use of organic fertilizer is considered as an important approach in the field of soil science in the world’s interest to investors. Research was conducted during the period 2023 on central research farm of department of horticulture, (NAI) SHUATS, Prayagraj. Field trial was designed on Randomized Block Design with three replications and ten treatments. Seedling were raised in polybag and 45 days old seedling were transplanted to the main field. Manure and fertilizer were applied as per treatment in ten equal split doses at 30,60 and 90days intervals. The treatment T9 (RDF) FYM+ Panchgavya (90ml/l) registered significantly maximum vegetative growth, chlorophyll content and survivality %. On the basis of our experimental findings, it can be concluded that the best result was found in treatment T9 (RDF) FYM+ Panchgavya (90ml/l) in term of vegetative growth parameters viz., plant height (cm), Number of leaves per plant, stem diameter (mm), leaf area (cm2) and root to shoot ratio, leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll content and survivality % of papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. Red lady.

Effects of water temperature on growth of invasive Myriophyllum aquaticum species

This study sought to investigate the invasive mechanism of Myriophyllum aquaticum by subjecting it to simulation experiments in varying water temperatures ranging from 0 °C to 30 °C. The results showed that water temperature considerably affected both the growth and reproduction of M. aquaticum. The optimal temperature range for the growth of M. aquaticum was 25‒30 °C. Although the growth of M. aquaticum was inhibited at temperatures between 0‒5 °C, this did not result in mortality. The stem nodes, branches, and diameter reached maximum values over a temperature range of 20‒25 °C. High-temperature stress at 30 °C led to a gradual decrease or disappearance of branches. Compared to the 0 °C, 5 °C, and 30 °C treatment groups, a temperature of 20 °C led to biomass accumulation and significantly higher values. M. aquaticum’s physiological activities were affected by temperature. Except for 10 °C and 15 °C, the catalase activity varied among different water temperatures. M. aquaticum catalase activity was maximal at 5 °C and minimal at 25 °C. Conversely, the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments was highest at 10 °C and 15 °C. The plant’s optimal temperature for growth was between 20 °C and 25 °C. When the temperature was <10 °C, M. aquaticum adapted to the water temperature’s potential damage. This plant has a notable ability to tolerate various temperatures.

Benchmarking Under- and Above-Canopy Laser Scanning Solutions for Deriving Stem Curve and Volume in Easy and Difficult Boreal Forest Conditions

The use of mobile laser scanning for mapping forests has scarcely been studied in difficult forest conditions. In this paper, we compare the accuracy of retrieving tree attributes, particularly diameter at breast height (DBH), stem curve, stem volume, and tree height, using six different laser scanning systems in a managed natural boreal forest. These compared systems operated both under the forest canopy on handheld and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms and above the canopy from a helicopter. The complexity of the studied forest sites ranged from easy to difficult, and thus, this is the first study to compare the performance of several laser scanning systems for the direct measurement of stem curve in difficult forest conditions. To automatically detect tree stems and to calculate their attributes, we utilized our previously developed algorithm integrated with a novel bias compensation method to reduce the overestimation of stem diameter arising from finite laser beam divergence. The bias compensation method reduced the absolute value of the diameter bias by 55–99%. The most accurate laser scanning systems were equipped with a Velodyne VLP-16 sensor, which has a relatively low beam divergence, on a handheld or UAV platform. In easy plots, these systems found a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of below 10% for DBH and stem curve estimates and approximately 10% for stem volume. With the handheld system in difficult plots, the DBH and stem curve estimates had an RMSE under 10%, and the stem volume RMSE was below 20%. Even though bias compensation reduced the difference in bias and RMSE between laser scanners with high and low beam divergence, the RMSE remained higher for systems with a high beam divergence. The airborne laser scanner operating above the forest canopy provided tree attribute estimates close to the accuracy of the under-canopy laser scanners, but with a significantly lower completeness rate for stem detection, especially in difficult forest conditions.

QTL Mapping and Candidate Gene Mining for Stem Diameter Using Genetic Basis of Cultivated Soybean and Wild Soybean

Soybean (Glycine max) is a vital food crop, serving as a major source of high-quality protein for human and animal consumption. Stem diameter is one of the primary determinants of the stem lodging resistance of a given plant, but there has been relatively little research to date focused on genes associated with this trait. To address this gap in the literature, 207 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) were generated in the present study through the crossing and backcrossing of the improved Suinong14 and the wild ZYD00006 soybean varieties. These CSSLs were then used for the mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with stem diameter in two-year field planting materials, leading to the identification of nine QTLs. Whole genome resequencing, RNA-seq, and qPCR were then used to evaluate candidate genes associated with stem diameter within these QTL intervals, ultimately leading to the selection of Glyma.04G004100 as a stem diameter-related gene. Subsequent qPCR analyses revealed that Glyma.04g004100 was upregulated in soybean plants with larger stem diameters, and haplotype analyses yielded results consistent with these stem diameter data in the population used to conduct this study. In summary, a series of QTLs associated with stem diameter were identified in the present study, resulting in the establishment of Glyma.04g004100 as a stem diameter-related gene. Together, these results offer a theoretical foundation for the future molecular-assisted breeding of lodging-resistant soybean varieties, and future functional research focused on Glyma.04g004100 may elucidate the molecular mechanisms and key signaling networks involved in soybean stem development.

Effect of Trichoderma spp. Fungi and Phytium oligandrum on Maiden Apple Tree Growth and Photosynthesis in the Nursery

The conducted experiment evaluated the effects of three fungi—Trichoderma atroviride (Ta), Trichoderma harzianum (Th) and Phytium oligandrum (Po)—on the growth of maidens of two apple cultivars, ‘Szampion’ and ‘Topaz’, budded on two rootstocks, M.9 and M.26, in the nursery. The evaluation was based on the number of maidens obtained and their height, trunk diameter and number and length of lateral shoots, as well as the fresh weight of the leaves and the whole maiden. For the weaker-growing maidens of the ‘Topaz’ cultivar, the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus was additionally measured depending on the rootstock and fungal treatments. The number of maidens obtained improved significantly when Th (8.3–9.0%) and Po (8.4–12.8%) were applied, depending on the rootstock and cultivar used. With the best treatment with the Po fungus, on average, for the two cultivars, maiden apple trees budded on the M.9 dwarf rootstock were characterized by a significantly better height of 6% and trunk diameter of 13% compared to the control. In contrast, trees grown on the M.26 rootstock did not have significantly increased growth after the same treatments, with the exception of the Po fungus, which improved the stem diameter by an average of 10%. The use of fungi stimulated an increase in the number and length of the lateral shoots of maidens of the more easily branching ‘Szampion’ apple tree cultivar. Based on the fluorescence parameters obtained, it can be assumed that the ‘Topaz’ cultivar on the M.26 rootstock is less susceptible to stress conditions, especially those related to high temperatures and drought. All fungi used had a positive effect on the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus. Significantly worse values of the fluorescence parameters were obtained for the control combination compared to the fungal treatments.

Evaluating geometric measurement accuracy based on 3D model reconstruction of nursery tomato plants by Agisoft photoscan software

Measuring the vegetation structure of a plant with the help of 3D images is a non-destructive method that can be used to monitor the plant’s status during the growing season. Structure from motion (SfM) is a popular optical distance measurement method that uses 2D images to create 3D models. Identifying factors that influence the precision of SfM is important due to its increasing use in phenotyping. The primary objectives of this study were, i) to scrutinize the impact of imaging parameters—including, color checkerboard location, overlap size of images, and background filtering—on the quality indices of 3D models, and ii) to attain precise measurements of leaf area, stem diameter, and height through the combination of images captured from different camera shooting angles. The three nursery tomato plants were photographed at every five-degree rotation of the turntable, five different locations of color checkerboards, and five camera shooting angles. Results indicated the color checkerboard’s presence and position affect the quality indices of the 3D models. Visually and by the lowest mean keypoint size value, the least noisy 3D model was obtained when the wall of the plant pot was covered with a checkerboard. When the base-to-distance (b/y) ratio as the image overlap index increased from 0.1 to 0.2, the generation time of the 3D models decreased by more than two times. Optimal Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) values of 1.08 %, 1.01 %, and 1.38 % were achieved for the estimation of leaf area, stem diameter, and height, respectively. This was recorded by using images taken at 0°, 30°, and 105° vertical azimuth angles. Constructing a 3D model by integrating images captured from other angles or more azimuth angles represents numerous visual challenges and leads to problems of point mismatch, which affects the accuracy of measurements.

Light competition drives species replacement during secondary tropical forest succession.

Light competition is thought to drive successional shifts in species dominance in closed vegetations, but few studies have assessed this for species-rich and vertically structured tropical forests. We analyzed how light competition drives species replacement during succession, and how cross-species variation in light competition strategies is determined by underlying species traits. To do so, we used chronosequence approach in which we compared 14 Mexican tropical secondary rainforest stands that differ in age (8-32year-old). For each tree, height and stem diameter were monitored for 2years to calculate relative biomass growth rate (RGR, the aboveground biomass gain per unit aboveground tree biomass per year). For each stand, 3D light profiles were measured to estimate individuals' light interception to calculate light interception efficiency (LIE, intercepted light per unit biomass per year) and light use efficiency (LUE, biomass growth per intercepted light). Throughout succession, species with higher RGR attained higher changes in species dominance and thus increased their dominance over time. Both light competition strategies (LIE and LUE) increased RGR. In early succession, a high LIE and its associated traits (large crown leaf mass and low wood density) are more important for RGR. During succession, forest structure builds up, leading to lower understory light levels. In later succession, a high LUE and its associated traits (high wood density and leaf mass per area) become more important for RGR. Therefore, successional changes in relative importance of light competition strategies drive shifts in species dominance during tropical rainforest succession.

Growth, dry matter and production components of cotton under phosphorus split application strategies

Compared with single application, the split application of phosphorus during sowing can enhance the efficiency of phosphate fertilization. In view of this, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of phosphorus split application on the growth, dry matter, and production components of the cotton plant. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse at the Faculdade de Tecnologia of the Instituto Centro de Ensino Tecnológico Cariri (Fatec Cariri), located in the municipality of Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (DIC), with four replications. The treatments were composed of a combination of different phosphorus split application strategies: T1 = no phosphorus; T2 = application of 100 % of the phosphorus at sowing (conventional way); T3 = application of 50 % of the phosphorus at sowing and of 50 % at 35 days after sowing; T4 = application of 70 % of the phosphorus at sowing and of 30 % at 35 days after sowing; and T5 = application of 30 % of the phosphorus at sowing and of 70 % at 35 days after sowing. The following variables were evaluated: plant height; absolute growth rate; stem diameter; number of leaves; root dry matter; total dry matter; and number of flower buds and bolls. The treatments significantly influenced all the variables analyzed. Based on the outcomes, it was found that the split application of phosphorus did not improve the growth, dry matter and production components of the cotton plant compared to the single application.

The Alteration in Physiological Status, Growth and Essential Oil Profile of French Marigold (Tagetes patula L.) Owing to Seaweed Extract and Salicylic Acid Application

Abstract Purpose Medicinal plants show a relevant importance in human life and health. The use of natural substances in crop management is not only significant for the plant healthy growth and yield, but also for obtaining safe products. The study aimed to examine the effect of seaweed extract (SW) as a natural source of nutrition and salicylic acid (SA) on plant health, physiology and essential oil profile of French marigold (Tagetes patula L.). Methods Three levels of salicylic acid, SA50, SA100 and SA200, (50, 100, and 200 mg L− 1) and three levels of seaweed extract, SW2, SW4 and SW6 (2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 ml L− 1), in comparison with control treatment (tap water) were applied as foliar sprayings. The seven treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design and were replicated thrice in two growing seasons (2020 and 2021). Results Findings pointed out that SA200 increased plant height, branches number plant− 1, stem diameter, leaf area, leaves number plant− 1, plant fresh weight, and plant dry weight by 32.9, 112.2, 59.2, 34.4, 44.3, 33.0 and 56.9% (averages of the two seasons), respectively, compared to the control treatment (tap water). SW6 increased carotenoids content by 34.8 and 46.4% in 2020 and 2021 seasons, respectively. Salicylic acid at the rate of 200 mg L− 1 along seaweed extract at 6 ml L− 1 gave the highest values of total sugars and free amino acids. SA200 alone recorded the maximal value of peroxidase activity surpassing the other treatments. SW6 possessed the greatest essential oil content in both seasons, statistically equaling SA200 in the first season. Huge variations in essential oil profile were recorded under the tested trial treatments. Conclusion It could be concluded that salicylic acid and seaweed extract foliar application unveiled their involvement in diverse physiological and developmental responses; pigment formation, enzyme activities, flower induction, nutrient uptake, essential oil metabolism, and overall plant growth and development. It is recommended to use the highest concentrations of the tested substances (SA at 200 mg L− 1 or SW at 6.0 ml L− 1) for achieving distinctive improvements in physiological responses of French marigold plant.

The impact of biochar addition on morpho-physiological characteristics, yield and water use efficiency of tomato plants under drought and salinity stress

The use of saline water under drought conditions is critical for sustainable agricultural development in arid regions. Biochar is used as a soil amendment to enhance soil properties such as water-holding capacity and the source of nutrition elements of plants. Thus, the research was carried out to assess the impact of biochar treatment on the morphological and physiological characteristics and production of Solanum lycopersicum in greenhouses exposed to drought and saline stresses. The study was structured as a three-factorial in split-split-plot design. There were 16 treatments across three variables: (i) water quality, with freshwater and saline water, with electrical conductivities of 0.9 and 2.4 dS m− 1, respectively; (ii) irrigation level, with 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of total evapotranspiration (ETC); (iii) and biochar application, with the addition of biochar at a 3% dosage by (w/w) (BC3%), and a control (BC0%). The findings demonstrated that salt and water deficiency hurt physiological, morphological, and yield characteristics. Conversely, the biochar addition enhanced all characteristics. Growth-related parameters, such as plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, and dry and wet weight, and leaf gas exchange attributes, such rate of transpiration and photosynthesis, conductivity, as well as leaf relative water content were decreased by drought and salt stresses, especially when the irrigation was 60% ETc or 40% ETc. The biochar addition resulted in a substantial enhancement in vegetative growth-related parameters, physiological characteristics, efficiency of water use, yield, as well as reduced proline levels. Tomato yield enhanced by 4%, 16%, 8%, and 3% when irrigation with freshwater at different levels of water deficit (100% ETc, 80% ETc, 60% ETc, and 40% ETc) than control (BC0%). Overall, the use of biochar (3%) combined with freshwater shows the potential to enhance morpho-physiological characteristics, support the development of tomato plants, and improve yield with higher WUE in semi-arid and arid areas.

A cyclic nucleotide-gated channel gene HcCNGC21 positively regulates salt and drought stress responses in kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.)

Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels (CNGCs) serve as Ca2+ permeable cation transport pathways, which are involved in the regulation of various biological functions such as plant cell ion selective permeability, growth and development, responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. At the present study, a total of 31 CNGC genes were identified and bioinformatically analyzed in kenaf. Among these genes, HcCNGC21 characterized to localize at the plasma membrane, with the highest expression levels in leaves, followed by roots. In addition, HcCNGC21 could be significantly induced under salt or drought stress. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of HcCNGC21 in kenaf caused notable growth inhibition under salt or drought stress, characterized by reductions in plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, root length, root surface area, and root tip number. Meanwhile, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly decreased, accompanied by reduced levels of osmoregulatory substances and total chlorophyll content. However, ROS accumulation and Na+ content increased. The expression of stress-responsive genes, such as HcSOD, HcPOD, HcCAT, HcERF3, HcNAC29, HcP5CS, HcLTP, and HcNCED, was significantly downregulated in these silenced lines. However, under salt or drought stress, the physiological performance and expression of stress-related genes in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants overexpressing HcCNGC21 were diametrically opposite to those of TRV2-HcCNGC21 kenaf line. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays revealed that HcCNGC21 interacts with HcAnnexin D1. These findings collectively underscore the positive role of HcCNGC21 in plant resistance to salt and drought stress.

A dataset of 40’000 trees with section-wise measured stem diameter and branch volume from across Switzerland

Estimating growing stock is one of the main objectives of forest inventories. It refers to the stem volume of individual trees which is typically derived by models as it cannot be easily measured directly. These models are thus based on measurable tree dimensions and their parameterization depends on the available empirical data. Historically, such data were collected by measurements of tree stem sizes, which is very time- and cost-intensive. Here, we present an exceptionally large dataset with section-wise stem measurements on 40’349 felled individual trees collected on plots of the Experimental Forest Management project. It is a revised and expanded version of previously unpublished data and contains the empirically derived coarse (diameter ≥7 cm) and fine branch volume of 27’297 and 18’980, respectively, individual trees. The data were collected between 1888 and 1974 across Switzerland covering a large topographic gradient and a diverse species range and can thus support estimations and verification of volume functions also outside Switzerland including the derivation of whole tree volume in a consistent manner.

The effect of balanced N, P, K, Ca, Mg fertilizer on soil and leaf nutrient and its correlation with growth and corn yield (Zea mays L.)

Fertilization in agricultural cultivation is important in increasing the supply of necessary nutrients for plants to achieve high yield and quality. This study aims to examine the balance of N,P,K,Ca, and Mg against nutrients in soil and plants and its correlation with the growth and yield of corn. There were 9 treatments of N, P, K, Ca, Mg fertilizer balance used, namely: control (A) and 1: 1: 1: 0: 0 (B); 0.25: 0.25: 0.25: 1: 1 (C); 0.5: 0.5: 0.5: 1: 1 (D); 0.75: 0.75: 0.75: 1: 1 (E); 1: 1:1: 1: 1 (F); 0.75: 0.75: 0.75: 0.25: 0.25 (G); 0.75: 0.75: 0.75: 0.5: 0.5 (H); 0.75: 0.75: 0.75: 0.75: 0.75 (I). Parameters observed included nutrients N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in soil and leaf, plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, cob weight with and without husks, and cob length and diameter. The results showed that nutrient balance significantly affected nutrient levels in soil and leaf, plant growth, and yield of corn. N, P, K, Ca, Mg Fertilizer application with ratio 0.5: 0.5: 0.5: 1: 1 (D) increased soil N 100%, P 40%, K 108.33%, Ca 28.08%, Mg 30.17% higher than the control and plant leaf N, P, K, Ca, Mg about 101.60%, 12.50%, 10.13%, 50.98%, 101.41% respectively, thus providing higher growth and yield. There was a significant correlation between plant height with leaf N and K, stem diameter correlated with leaf Ca, and number of leaves correlated with Mg in corn leaf. Meanwhile, yield correlated with P.

Effect of Magnetic Strength of the Water Salinity Treatment Devices on Salt Accumulation in the Root Zoon and Its Impact on Growth and Productivity of Olive Trees

This study was conducted during the two successive seasons 2022 and 2023 at Wadi El-Natron west Nile Delta (EL-Behera governorate) to evaluate three commercial magnetic devices “Water magnetizers” of different manufacturers (Nefertari Biomagnetic 6000 Gauss, Magnolith 8000 Gauss, Delta Water 14000 Gauss), and to figure out which is more effective to reduce the negative effect of irrigating olive trees with saline water. The study examined the effect on vegetative growth, leaf mineral contents, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf proline content, and relative water content of Manzanillo olive trees. The experiment confirmed that olive trees can be irrigated with water containing 3500 ppm without causing high salt stress. Data also showed a positive effect of magnetically treated water on all vegetative growth characters (growth rate, stem diameter, number of green leaves), an increase in all elements content in experimental plant leaves except sodium and chloride, an increase in leaf chlorophyll content, decreased leaf proline content and increase relative water content. In terms of determining whether commercial devices are more effective than others, the Magnolith has been demonstrated to achieve the best results when compared to other devices, in most cases the difference between using "Delta Water" or "Nefertari" was not big enough to be significant. "Nefertari" recorded almost the lowest values of the studied vegetative growth characters, leaf chlorophyll, and relative water content. This indicates that the strength of the magnets alone is not the only thing that affects how well the device works; furthermore, it depends also on how the magnetic fields are configured and the manufacturing expertise.

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Alleviate Salt Stress in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) by Adjusting Na+/K+ Ratio and Antioxidative Ability

Soil salinization poses a threat to the sustainability of agricultural production and has become a global issue. Cotton is an important cash crop and plays an important role in economic development. Salt stress has been harming the yield and quality of many crops, including cotton, for many years. In recent years, soil salinization has been increasing. It is crucial to study the mechanism of cotton salt tolerance and explore diversified materials and methods to alleviate the salt stress of cotton for the development of the cotton industry. Nanoparticles (NPs) are an effective means to alleviate salt stress. In this study, zinc oxide NPs (ZnO NPs) were sprayed on cotton leaves with the aim of investigating the intrinsic mechanism of NPs to alleviate salt stress in cotton. The results show that the foliar spraying of ZnO NPs significantly alleviated the negative effects of salt stress on hydroponic cotton seedlings, including the improvement of above-ground and root dry and fresh weight, leaf area, seedling height, and stem diameter. In addition, ZnO NPs can significantly improve the salt-induced oxidative stress by reducing the levels of MDA, H2O2, and O2− and increasing the activities of major antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). Furthermore, RNA-seq showed that the foliar spraying of ZnO NPs could induce the expressions of CNGC, NHX2, AHA3, HAK17, and other genes, and reduce the expression of SKOR, combined with the CBL-CIPK pathway, which alleviated the toxic effect of excessive Na+ and reduced the loss of excessive K+ so that the Na+/K+ ratio was stabilized. In summary, our results indicate that the foliar application of ZnO NPs can alleviate high salt stress in cotton by adjusting the Na+/K+ ratio and regulating antioxidative ability. This provides a new strategy for alleviating the salt stress of cotton and other crops, which is conducive to the development of agriculture.

Potential use of crop water stress index (CWSI) and spectral vegetation indices for black cumin under deficit irrigation

This study was carried out in 2022 to examine the yield, yield components and changes in crop water stress index (CWSI) and vegetation index in black cumin with deficit irrigation. Five different irrigation water levels (I0, I25, I50, I75, I100) were used. The amount of irrigation water applied changed between 20 and 276 mm. Plant water consumption (ET) values varied between 182 and 425 mm. The highest seed yields were obtained from I100 treatments (692 t ha−1) and the lowest from I0 treatments (25 t ha−1). Biological yield, plant height, stem diameter, first capsule height, number of capsules per plant, number of branches per plant, number of seeds per capsule and 1000-seed weight of black cumin were affected by deficit irrigation. CWSI lower limit equation to be used in irrigation scheduling was identified Tc−Ta = − 1.7524 × VPD + 0.7698 (R2 = 0.54) and the upper limit 10.9 ℃. For black cumin plants, irrigation is recommended when the CWSI value is between 0.08 and 0.12. 9 different spectral vegetation indices were evaluated in this study. It has been determined that there are significant correlations between yield, yield components and CWSI and spectral vegetation indices.

Evaluating resistance drilling and NIR spectroscopy for quantifying wood quality of young eucalypts grown in Guangxi province in southern China

Cost-effective, non-destructive means of estimating wood properties of eucalypts grown in Guangxi, China, were evaluated using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and resistance drilling. For this evaluation, wood samples for NIR analysis and resistance drill measurements were collected from 581 trees, representing eight plantation Eucalyptus taxa across five sites. The near infra-red (NIR) spectra collected from the 581 wood samples were analysed using existing calibrations for kraft pulp yield, cellulose content, hot water extractives and Klason lignin. These spectra and calibrations were effective in predicting over 60% of the variance in total carbohydrates and over 80% of the extractives and lignin values from independent laboratory analysis of a subset of 100 samples. Resistance drilling combined with software developed for processing the drill data proved to be a quick, low cost and effective means of quantifying wood density (as amplitude of the drill torque), stem diameter and bark thickness.

Effects of different light conditions on morphological, anatomical, photosynthetic and biochemical parameters of Cypripedium macranthos Sw.

In this study, the morphological (plant height, leaf length and width, stem diameter and leaf number), anatomical (epidermal cell density and thickness, Stomatal length and width), photosynthetic (net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, relative humidity, leaf temperature and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters) and biochemical parameters (the content of soluble sugar, soluble protein, proline, malondialdehyde and electrical conductivity) of Cypripedium macranthos Sw. in Changbai Mountain were determined under different light conditions (L10, L30, L50, L100). The results showed that morphological values including plant height, leaf area, stem diameter and leaf number of C. macranthos were smaller under the condition of full light at L100. The epidermal cell density and epidermal thickness of C. macranthos were the highest under L30 and L50 treatments, respectively. It had the highest net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and chlorophyll content under L50 treatment. Meanwhile, correlation analysis indicated that photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and water use efficiency (WUE) were the main factors influencing Pn. C. macranthos accumulated more soluble sugars and soluble proteins under L100 treatment, while the degree of membrane peroxidation was the highest and the plant was severely damaged. In summary, the adaptability of C. macranthos to light conditions is ranked as follows L50 > L30 > L10 > L100. Appropriate light conditions for C. macranthos are 30%-50% of full light, which should be taken into account in protection and cultivation.

Evaluation of the effect of organic fertilizers on the morphophysiological parameters and antioxidant compounds of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.).

Objective: To evaluate the effect of organic fertilizers on the morphophysiological parameters and antioxidant compounds of Swiss chard (B. vulgaris L.) var. ‘Rainbow’ grown under greenhouse conditions. Design/Methodology/Approach: A completely randomized design was used with three treatments and 33 repetitions: T1 (poultry manure-based organic fertilizer (T1 AAC)), T2 (coffe pulp-based vermicompost (T2 LC)), and T3 (chemical fertilization (T3 FQ)). Plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, fresh biomass, dry biomass, chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, total polyphenols, DPPH, and yield were evaluated. An analysis of variance and Tukey’s test (α=0.05) were used. Results: For most of the variables evaluated, the best results were obtained with the poultry manure-based organic fertilizer (T1 AAC) treatment. The antioxidant compounds and the quality of Swiss chard were influenced by organic fertilizers, with 0.21 mg Eq. gallic acid g-1 fresh tissue (ft), total chlorophyll of 19.5 µg g-1 (ft), and a yield of 6,150 kg·m2. Study Limitations/Implications: The mineral content of this vegetable was not evaluated. Findings/Conclusions: The use of poultry manure-based organic fertilizers can be an alternative nutritional management for Swiss chard cultivation.