Stem Diameter Research Articles

Regulation of seed soaking with indole-3-butyric acid potassium salt (IBA-K) on rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) seedlings under NaCl stress

The growth and yield of rapeseed are significantly hampered by salt stress. Indole-3-butyric Acid Potassium Salt (IBA-K) has been found to alleviate the impact of salt stress on plant growth. However, the regulatory effect of IBA-K dipping on salt-stressed rapeseed remains unclear. To explore the implications of IBA-K on the growth and development of rapeseed during the seedling stage, we conducted potting experiments using the Huayouza 62 variety. Five different concentrations of IBA-K for seed soaking (0, 10, 20, 40, 80 mg·L− 1) were tested. The promotional impact of IBA-K on rapeseed demonstrated an initial increase followed by a decline, reaching a peak at 20 mg·L− 1. Therefore, 20 mg·L− 1 was determined as the optimal concentration for subsequent experiments. To further understand the mechanism of IBA-K’s action on salt-stressed rapeseed seedlings, we utilized the moderately salt-resistant cabbage rapeseed variety Huayouza 158R and the highly salt-resistant Huayouza 62 as specimens. The investigation focused on their response and repair mechanisms under 150 mmol·L− 1 NaCl stress. The findings demonstrated that compared with the sole NaCl stress, the 20 mg·L− 1 IBA-K seed soaking treatment under salt stress significantly enhanced the plant height, stem diameter, and leaf area of both rapeseed varieties. It also led to greater biomass accumulation, increased chlorophyll content, and improved photosynthetic efficiency in rapeseed. Furthermore, this treatment bolstered the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), while significantly reducing the levels of electrolyte leakage (EL) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Consequently, it alleviated the membrane lipid peroxidation damage induced by NaCl stress, enhanced the accumulation of soluble proteins, maintained cellular osmotic pressure, and effectively mitigated the adverse effects of NaCl stress on rapeseed.

Architecture Pruning Technique (Pollarding) of Moringa (Moringa oleifera)

Moringa is a fast-growing, deciduous tree that can reach a height of 10–12 m and is not traditionally pollarded in agriculture production. A field experiment was conducted between May 2023 and Jun 2024 in MARDI, Serdang to determine the effect of pollarding at different levels of pruning heights on vegetative growth and yield of Moringa. The trial was laid down in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications and five plants per plot and the data was analyzed using ANOVA in SAS (SAS 9.4) software. Differences between means were compared using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at P≤0.05. Five months after being cultivated on field condition, trees were pruned pollarding at four levels: 30, 60, 90 cm and control (unpruned). Subsequently, the growth performance was evaluated by collecting data on plant height, diameter of the main stem, length of the secondary branch, number of budbursts, diameter of the secondary branch and leave area. Meanwhile, the yield components were recorded based on the fresh weight and dry weight of the leaves. Results showed that different levels of pruning heights significantly affected overall dependent variables. Unpruned trees produced an optimal response for all dependent variables, but it is not suggested due to the trees growing erratically, challenging to harvest, and having an uneven canopy structure. Meanwhile, for the yield components' pruning at 60 and 90 cm from the ground level was comparable and did not differ significantly from unpruned trees. Therefore, pruning at 60 cm was suggested as an architecture pruning technique for moringa production cultivated on mineral soil under tropical climates. Pollarding can be a way to improve the productivity of agricultural produce, but further evaluation of yield trends must be conducted to ensure the consistency of production.

Influence of Colored Shade Nets and Salinity on the Development of Roselle Plants

Adequate fertilizer concentration and use of shade nets can favor the development and yield of agricultural crops. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the growth of roselle plants with nutrient solutions of different electrical conductivities (ECns) (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 dS m−1) and under different colored shade nets (red, blue, black) compared with full sun. The experiments were conducted in a controlled greenhouse environment and in full sun in the Plant Production Department of ESALQ-USP, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. The experiments were organized using a 4 × 5 randomized block design. The results of analysis of variance and regression showed a significant impact of EC and colored shade nets on plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, number of flowers, fresh and dry mass of shoots and fresh and dry calyxes. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and regression, which showed a quadratic effect for the variables studied, with increasing values up to 3.0 dS m−1; after this value, there was a decrease. Increasing ECns up to approximately 3.0 dS m−1 promoted increments of 2.34% in plant height, 7.21% in number of leaves, 19.76% in shoot fresh mass and 12.38% in shoot dry mass.

Is Tea Waste A Promising Co-substrate for Optimizing The Cultivation, Growth, and Yield of Charleston Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)?

To address growing concerns about sustainable agriculture and waste management, this study aimed to explore the viability of tea waste as an eco-friendly alternative substrate for cultivating Charleston peppers (Capsicum annuum), with the goal of optimizing plant growth and yield while reducing soil dependence, lowering cultivation costs, and repurposing agro-industrial waste. Six different substrate combinations were evaluated: 1) Tea waste, 2) Tea waste + Manure, 3) Tea waste + Soil, 4) Manure + Soil, 5) Tea waste + Manure + Soil, and 6) Tea waste + Manure + Soil + Perlite. Data were analyzed using both multivariate and univariate analyses to assess significant differences among treatments. Notably, significant differences in stem diameter were observed among plants grown on different substrates (one-way MANOVA, p <.05). However, plant height and chlorophyll content remained unaffected by substrate type. Although leaf structure exhibited considerable variation across treatments, no significant difference in dry matter content was observed. These results demonstrate that tea waste, especially when combined with other materials, is a promising sustainable substrate for Charleston pepper cultivation, potentially reducing soil dependence and agro-industrial waste.

PGPR alleviated the negative effects of low temperature and low light stress on the growth and physiology of violet plants

Plants in greenhouses are often exposed to low temperature and low light conditions in the winter, and this has a major effect on flower cultivation. Inoculation of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can improve the growth of plants under stress. Here, we examined the effects of Pseudomonas fluorescens on the growth, photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and antioxidant enzyme systems of violet plants (Matthiola incana) exposed to normal temperature and normal light intensity (18 °C/11 °C, 500 μmol·m-2·s-1, NN), low temperature and normal light intensity (4 °C/1 °C, 500 μmol·m-2·s-1, LN), normal temperature and low light intensity (18 °C/11°C, 100 μmol·m-2·s-1, NL), and low temperature and low light intensity (4 °C/1 °C, 100 μmol·m-2·s-1, LL). The results showed that the plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, shoot fresh/dry weight, and underground fresh/dry weight of violet inoculated with PGPR were 40%, 17%, 13%, 25%, 41%, 30%, and 38% higher than the control, respectively. In addition, the total root length, mean root diameter, number of root tips, number of bifurcated root tips, and root vigor were 24%, 23%, 14%, 30%, and 21% higher in the inoculated group than in the control group, respectively. PGPR promoted chlorophyll accumulation in plants, and the net photosynthetic rate of violets was 32% higher in plants inoculated with PGPR than in control plants. PGPR also significantly promoted the maximum photochemical conversion efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) and the potential activity of PSII under UV light. After inoculation with PGPR, the content of MDA decreased by 16.8%, and the activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase increased by 19.2% and 20.0%, respectively. Therefore, PGPR can promote the growth of violet plants by increasing the photosynthetic capacity, activating the antioxidant enzyme system, and reducing damage induced by exposure to low light intensity.

The Effect of Anaerobic Composting Method of Coffee Waste on The Growth of Robusta Coffee Seedlings (Coffea canephora L.)

Coffee is one of the plantation commodities that has significant economic value. A factor that needs to be considered in coffee plant cultivation is good planting media composition. This study aims to determine the effect of planting media composition on the growth of robusta coffee seedlings. This study used a Completely Randomized Design with treatments M0= Soil: 100%, M1= Soil: 50% + Coffee Husk Compost: 25% + Rice Husk: 25%, M2= Soil: 25% + Coffee Husk Compost: 50% + Rice Husk: 25%, M3= Soil: 25% + Coffee Husk Compost: 25% + Rice Husk: 50%. The analyses conducted were compost analysis and initial and post-incubation soil analysis. Observation data were analyzed using the F test followed by DNMRT at the 5% level. The research results show that the provision of coffee husk compost and rice husks affects the chemical properties of the soil and the growth of coffee seedlings. The planting media composition of Soil: 25% + Coffee Husk Compost: 50% + Rice Husk: 25% proved to increase the pH of the planting media from 5.5 to 6.6, increase in total N-value from 0.2% to 0.5%, available P from 18.6 ppm to 38.5 ppm and the soil CEC from 7.6 me/100g to 36.6 me/100g. This planting media composition also makes it possible to enhance the growth of robusta coffee seedlings in plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf width, and root volume. Thus, this planting media composition is a suitable medium for the growth of robusta coffee seedlings.

Effect of Natural Growth Regulators on the Growth of Coffee Seedlings in the Cotyledon Phase

Coffee is an important agricultural commodity with increasing global demand, so optimizing the growth of coffee seedlings, especially during the seedling phase, is crucial to increase productivity. The use of natural plant growth regulators offers an environmentally friendly and economical solution. This study aims to evaluate the effect of natural plant growth regulators from onion extract and bean sprout extract on the growth of robusta coffee seedlings (Coffea canephora L.) during the seedling phase. The study was conducted using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three treatments, namely control, onion extract, and bean sprout extract. The parameters measured included plant height, stem diameter, and number of leaves for six weeks. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and BNT test at the 5% level. The results showed that both natural plant growth regulators significantly increased the growth of coffee seedlings compared to the control. Bean sprout extract gave the best results for plant height (16.75 cm), while onion extract was superior in increasing stem diameter (4.65 mm) and number of leaves (12.20). Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences between treatments and controls for all parameters. Thus, the use of onion and bean sprout extracts as natural growth regulators has proven effective in increasing the growth of coffee seedlings in the seedling phase, offering an environmentally friendly and economical alternative for optimizing the growth of coffee seedlings.

Growth Responses of Alpukat (Persea americana Mill.) Var. YM to the Application of Vitamin B1 and Banana Leaf Litter Compost

YM avocado is a superior product from Lebak, Banten, which requires sustainable cultivation for optimal growth. This study aims to improve the growth of YM avocado by applying vitamin B1 and banana leaf compost using a two-factor group randomized design. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, DMRT at the 5% level, and linear regression analysis. The factors were vitamin B1, with doses of 0, 15, 30, and 45 mg/l, and banana leaf compost, with doses of 0, 125, and 250 g/plant. The provision of vitamin B1 at a dose of 45 mg/l gave the highest growth results in the parameters of the number of leaves, leaf length-width ratio, plant height, leaf area, and leaf chlorophyll content, while the stem diameter showed the highest growth at a dose of 15 mg/l. Giving banana leaf compost at a dose of 250 gr/plant gave the highest growth in plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, and leaf chlorophyll content, while the dose of 125 gr/plant gave the highest growth in stem diameter parameters. It can be concluded that the provision of vitamin B1 and banana leaf compost can increase the growth of YM avocado plants.

Recent Insights into the Physio-Biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms of Low Temperature Stress in Tomato.

Climate change has emerged as a crucial global issue that significantly threatens the survival of plants. In particular, low temperature (LT) is one of the critical environmental factors that influence plant morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes during both the vegetative and reproductive growth stages. LT, including abrupt drops in temperature, as well as winter conditions, can cause detrimental effects on the growth and development of tomato plants, ranging from sowing, transplanting, truss appearance, flowering, fertilization, flowering, fruit ripening, and yields. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the comprehensive mechanisms underlying the adaptation and acclimation of tomato plants to LT, from the morphological changes to the molecular levels. In this review, we discuss the previous and current knowledge of morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes, which contain vegetative and reproductive parameters involving the leaf length (LL), plant height (PH) stem diameter (SD), fruit set (FS), fruit ripening (FS), and fruit yield (FY), as well as photosynthetic parameters, cell membrane stability, osmolytes, and ROS homeostasis via antioxidants scavenging systems during LT stress in tomato plants. Moreover, we highlight recent advances in the understanding of molecular mechanisms, including LT perception, signaling transduction, gene regulation, and fruit ripening and epigenetic regulation. The comprehensive understanding of LT response provides a solid basis to develop the LT-resistant varieties for sustainable tomato production under the ever-changing temperature fluctuations.

Application Techniques and Concentrations of Ascorbic Acid to Reduce Saline Stress in Passion Fruit

Salinity restricts the growth of irrigated fruit crops in semi-arid areas, making it crucial to find ways to reduce salt stress. One effective strategy is using eliciting substances like ascorbic acid. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of application methods and concentrations of ascorbic acid on the morphophysiology and production of sour passion fruit irrigated with saline water. The experiment was organized using a factorial randomized block design (3 × 3 × 2) with three application methods (soaking, spraying, and soaking and spraying), three concentrations of ascorbic acid (0, 0.8, and 1.6 mM) and two levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water—ECw (0.8 and 3.8 dS m−1). Foliar spraying of ascorbic acid at a concentration of 0.8 mM mitigated the effects of salt stress on the relative water content of leaves, the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange, and total production of sour passion fruit when irrigated with ECw of 3.8 dS m−1. Plants grown with water of 0.8 dS m−1 and under foliar application of 0.8 mM of ascorbic acid achieved the maximum growth in stem diameter and the greatest volume of pulp in the fruits.

Discrimination of Abrus cantoniensis Hance and Abrus mollis Hance using UPLC-Q/TOF-MS and assessment of their in vivo hepatoprotective effects

Ethnopharmacological relevanceIn Guangzhou and Guangxi, China, Abrus cantoniensis Hance (AH) is known for its liver-protective properties and is commonly used in herbal teas and soups. In the herbal market and pharmaceutical preparations, AH and Abrus mollis Hance (AMH) are often used interchangeable. Despite their morphological and usage similarities, distinguishing their differences is essential for scientific research and clinical practice. Aim of the studyThis study focuses on the morphological identification, chemical composition, and hepatoprotective effectiveness of AH and AMH. It aims to evaluate their interchangeable use and provide a rationale for this practice. This research helps regulate the market of AH medicinal materials, ensuring clinical safety and effectiveness. Materials and methodsSamples of AH and AMH roots, stems, leaves, and seeds were collected and photographed using a stereoscope and digital imaging system. The chemical components of AH and AMH were qualitatively analyzed using UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. Chemometric techniques, such as PCA and OPLS-DA, were employed to discern the componential differences between the two species. A CCl4-induced acute liver injury mouse model was developed to assess hepatoprotective effects. The hepatoprotective properties of AH and AMH were evaluated by analyzing the liver index, H&E staining, changes in serum liver function indicators (TBIL, ALT, AST), and concentrations of SOD, MDA in liver homogenate. ResultsThe root color, texture, stem diameter, cross-sectional characteristics, leaf shape, and seed morphology of the two plants were observed. Notable differences were identified, which can be used for accurate identification. The UPLC-Q/TOF-MS identified 50 compounds in both species, which were classified into 3 alkaloids, 22 flavonoids, 2 triterpenes, 10 triterpene saponins, 10 amides, and 3 others, and 20 different compounds between AH and AMH were screened by chemometrics. By improving serum biomarkers (ALT, AST, TBIL) and regulating oxidative stress markers (SOD, MDA), the alleviating effect of AH and AMH extracts on liver injury was confirmed. Notably, AH showed a stronger liver protective effect, significantly reducing ALT and AST levels more than AMH. ConclusionThis study enhances understanding of the morphological identification, chemical profiling, and hepatoprotective effects of AH and AMH. It provides a reference for future scientific research and the clinical application of AH in treating liver damage.

Comparative analysis of manures and fertilizer on okra growth, yield and its economics in Baitadi, Nepal

Embracing organic techniques can minimize environmental impacts and promote practices that enhance soil and ecological health. A field experiment to study, “Comparative Analysis of Manures and Fertilizer on Okra Growth, Yield and its Economics in Baitadi, Nepal” was conducted at Gokuleshwor Agriculture and Animal Science College in 2023. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications and 7 treatments. The variety used in this experiment was ‘Arka Anamika’. The treatments used in the experiment were FYM, Goat manure, Poultry manure, Vermicompost, Sesame cake, RDF, and Control (no fertilizer). The fertilizer provided the necessary nitrogen, while the insufficient phosphorus and potassium were supplemented with single super phosphate and muriate of potash, respectively. Results revealed that the application of different fertilizers significantly affected various vegetative and reproductive parameters such as germination days, plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, number of branches, number of buds, number of open flowers, number of pods, pod’s length, girth of pods, weight of pods and yield. The results obtained were minimum germination days(4.64) for RDF. Maximum plant height(208.43cm), maximum stem diameter(9.4cm), and number of branches(24.27) were obtained by application of poultry manure at 60 DAS. A maximum number of buds, open flowers, and pods were recorded in poultry manure and RDF application at 75 DAS. The maximum length of the pod(12.52cm) in vermicompost and the maximum girth of the pod(1.59cm) in poultry manure were obtained while the maximum wt. of the pod(14.1gm) in sesame cake. The application of poultry manure obtained a maximum yield per hectare(15.51t/ha). Also in the B: C ratio, Poultry manure exhibited higher(2.65) as compared to other treatments. From this study, we can conclude that poultry manure could contribute to the higher yield and overall attributes of okra.

Effect of Environmental and Anthropic Conditions on the Development of Solanum peruvianum: A Case of the Coastal Lomas, Lima-Peru

Land degradation and the effects of climate change are increasing arid lands, accelerating desertification, and leading to the loss of ecosystem services worldwide. This research focused on evaluating how human impact and environmental factors affect the development of Solanum peruvianum in its natural habitat of coastal lomas. The study was carried out in the coastal lomas of Mangomarca-Peru, where phenotypic and ecological data on the plants were collected. Information was also gathered on human impacts on the nutritional characteristics of the soils. Then, five types of organic amendments were used to improve the physical and chemical characteristics of the degraded soil, and the development and photosynthetic activity of S. peruvianum were evaluated. As a result, under the study conditions, it was found that S. peruvianum was established approximately 33.74 cm from the rocks, in a range of 300 to 650 m asl. The maximum height of the plants was 90 cm, with a stem diameter at ground level of 2 cm. S. peruvianum produced fruits between January and July, with a seed germination rate of 36% in 25 days. On the other hand, the anthropogenic impact on the soil reduced 58% of organic material (OM), 71% of nitrogen, 40% of P2O5, and 13% of K2O and increased the concentration of magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, pH, and electric conductivity (EC). The organic amendments bokashi, compost, and biochar, when mixed with the degraded soil, increased the pH, OM, N, P, and EC; however, the plants died after 25 days. On the other hand, the application of the Premix5 substrate for 100 days favored the growth of 52.84 cm and 38.29 cm in the preserved soil and 23.21 cm in the black soil mixed with blond peat, and it should be noted that the substrates presented an acid pH and EC > 0.1. Regarding photosynthetic phenotyping, S. peruvianum plants grown in their natural habitat and in Premix5 showed a higher proton flux (vH+), linear electron flow (LEF), and maximum quantum yield (Fv’/Fm’). On the contrary, they showed a lower NPQt value than plants grown in preserved and black soil mixed with blond peat.

Vegetative Growth Response of Chili Pepper Plants (Capsicum frutescens L.) Absolut 69 Variety to Rice Husk Biochar Application

Chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) is one of the raw material crops with high economic value in Indonesia. This research aims to determine the effect of rice husk biochar on the vegetative growth of cayenne pepper plants (Capsicum frutescens L.) Absolute 69 variety. This research was conducted from June to August 2024 in Kertasura Village, Kapetakan District, Cirebon Regency. The technique used in this research was a randomized block design (RAK) with six treatments. The rice husk biochar treatments tested consisted of B0 (0 t/ha control), B1 (2.5 t/ha), B2 (5 t/ha), B3 (7.5 t/ha), and B4 (10 t /ha) and B5 (12.5 t/ha) and each treatment was repeated four times so that resulting in 24 trials. The parameters observed were plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter, root length, root volume, and plant dry weight. The results showed that applying rice husk biochar affected all parameters except root volume. Providing 10 tons of rice husk biochar per hectare is most effective for the vegetative growth of chili peppers.

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PLANT DENSITY ON THE FORAGE YIELD AND SOME FORAGE QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF MORINGA (Moringa oleifera Lam.)

In sustainable animal husbandry, the use of highly adaptable shrub and tree species as alternative forage crops has gained importance in recent years. One of these plants is moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.), which is considered one of the promising feed sources due to its high nutritional value. This research was carried out to determine the potential of Moringa as a forage crop for the Mediterranean climate during 2020 and 2021 growing season in the experimental areas of the Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ege, Türkiye. The effects of four different plant densities (60x20 cm, 60x30 cm, 60x40 cm, 60x60 cm) on the some forage quality and digestibility traits were investigated. The Moringa cultivar "PKM-1" was used as plant material and plant height, stem diameter, dry matter, herbage yield, crude protein, crude ash, crude fat, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were examined during two consecutive vegetation periods. In the study conducted in Mediterranean ecological conditions, the average values of the moringa plant for two years were obtained as Plant height 159.2-170.3 cm, total herbage yield 3.310-6.970 kg/da, crude protein ratio 17.12-18.15%, ADF ratio 35.31-37.85% and NDF ratio 45.66-49.71%. Increasing the planting density increased the herbage yield and the highest value was obtained from 60x20 cm planting density. In addition, 60x20 cm planting density is also suggested in terms of protein , ADF and NDF traits.

Identifying the Numerical Components Affecting Soybean (Glycine max) Yield Under Waterlogging at Reproductive Stages

ABSTRACTWaterlogging is a critical abiotic stress increasing in importance due to more intense, erratic rainfall associated with climate change. Waterlogging leads to significant yield losses in sensitive crops, such as soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.). Identifying soybean genotypes and traits associated with better waterlogging tolerance is of high interest. We assessed the response of six soybean genotypes, selected from a field screening of over 190 genotypes, to 10 days of waterlogging at the R1 (onset of flowering) and R4 (grain filling) stages. We evaluated yield and its components, as well as shoot and root dry weights (DW) at the end of the waterlogging treatments and at maturity, along with morphological traits such as plant branch number, stem diameter and plant height. By integrating all these traits, a waterlogging tolerance index (WTI) was calculated for each genotype to rank their sensitivity. The WTI showed variations among genotypes from 0.61 to 0.77, indicating genotypic variation in response to waterlogging. Greater reductions in root DW compared to shoot DW were observed immediately after waterlogging. By maturity, shoot DW of waterlogged plants was more severely reduced than root DW in all genotypes. Despite similar DW losses at R1 and R4 at physiological maturity, seed number per plant and 100‐seed weight responses differed between the treatments. Genotypes that performed well under control conditions suffered significant yield reductions of 70%–85% after waterlogging, mainly due to fewer fertile nodes and seeds per pod, with some also experiencing a notable decrease in 100‐seed weight. In contrast, other genotypes had milder responses, with less severe reductions in seed and pod traits. Identifying breeding soybean genotypes tolerant to waterlogging during reproductive stages that maintain the number of fertile nodes and pods per node without changes in seeds per pod could significantly mitigate yield losses from waterlogging.

Jakaba Undercover: Taxonomic Riddle and Potency in Indonesian Agriculture

Excessive use of chemical fertilizers leads to serious environmental and health issues, while organic biofertilizers offer a sustainable solution. <em>Jakaba</em> or “<em>jamur keberuntungan abadi</em>,” a local liquid organic fertilizer derived from fungi, is increasingly used by Indonesian farmers. However, its taxonomy and potential applications require further investigation. Moreover, the effects of <em>jakaba</em> on <em>Fusarium</em> and its impact on maize growth remain unexplored. This study aims to characterize <em>jakaba </em>comprehensively, evaluate its anti-<em>Fusarium</em> properties, conduct pathogenicity tests, and assess its effects on maize growth. Morphological analysis of fresh <em>jakaba</em> fruiting bodies was conducted, and molecular identification was performed based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1/4 regions. The antagonistic test was done using plant pathogenic fungi (<em>Fusarium </em>sp.). In addition, <em>jakaba </em>was evaluated for its impact on the vegetative growth of maize<em>. </em>Observations identified <em>jakaba</em> as belonging to the genus <em>Corallomycetella</em>, characterized by coral-shaped fruiting bodies with an orange hue and a white tip. The hyphae are septate, spore hyaline, and ellipsoid. The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) analysis revealed that <em>jakaba</em> was <em>Corallomycetella repens</em>, with a query cover of 99% and a phylogenetic tree 96% bootstrap (BS) value. <em>Jakaba</em> exhibits antibiosis activity against <em>Fusarium</em> sp., with an inhibition rate of 5.64%. Although <em>C. repens</em> has been previously identified as a cause of root rot in Indonesia, the current study reveals that <em>jakaba</em> is not pathogenic to maize. Furthermore, the application of <em>jakaba</em>’s liquid organic fertilizer at a concentration of 40 ml l<sup>-1</sup> significantly increased plant height, leaf length, leaf width, and stem diameter compared to other treatments. These findings highlight <em>jakaba</em> potential as a biofertilizer.

A preliminary observation in evaluating maize evapotranspiration and plant features under meteorological variables and biochar effect

ABSTRACT A significant area of Hungary is cultivated with maize. To date, a limited number of direct field-based evapotranspiration studies have been performed. A Thornthwaite-Mather-type compensation evapotranspirometer was used to investigate both weather variables and biochar effects on maize evapotranspiration in Keszthely, Hungary, in the 2023 growing season. This research revealed that two meteorological variables daily mean temperature (Ta) and solar radiation (Rn) exhibited significant positive correlation coefficients in both daily evapotranspiration (ETa) applied treatments (0 and 400 kg ha−1 biochar), whereas precipitation (P) and daily relative humidity (RH) had negative impacts on both ETa treatments. Biochar application to a clay loam soil increased cumulative evapotranspiration (ETc), reaching 408.21 mm, while WUE (water use efficiency) stood at 3.46 kg m−3. Similarly, growth parameters (leaf area cm2, stem diameter cm, plant height cm, and chlorophyllSPAD) showed a positive effect after biochar amendment during the growing season intervals. This research outlined the most effective weather variables on ETa and how ETa could be computed depending on two climatic variables (Ta and RH). Furthermore, it concluded that biochar addition at low dose to clay loam soil is a powerful tool to improve ETc, WUE, and maize growth and productive features.

Deep Learning Algorithms for Addressing Overfitting and Biological Realism in Tree Taper and Volume Predictions

This study addresses the challenges of overfitting and maintaining biological realism in Deep Learning Algorithms (DLAs), for predicting individual tree taper using stem diameters outside bark (DOB) and total tree volume (TTV). To this end, DLAs were trained using two different approaches: a “hyperparameter-optimized DLA,” which customizes specific hyperparameters such as learning rate and momentum rate, and a “regularization-optimized DLA,” which incorporates optimization techniques like early stopping with Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), L1 and L2 regularization, and dropout. Although obtaining the deterioration in predictive capabilities statistics from the taring dataset to the validation dataset by standard DLA with adaptive learning processes without customizing the hyperparameters and regularization parameters, the hyperparameter-optimized DLA with a momentum of 0.8, and a 7 # hidden layer for the TTV and regularization-optimized DLA with a dropout ratio of 0.000001, a 3 # hidden layer for the DOB demonstrated comparable predictive capabilities statistics across both training and validation datasets with generating biologically plausible predictions. Our results support that these hyperparameter-optimized and regularization-optimized DLAs, by improving the "black-box" nature of artificial intelligence, offer significant potential for enhanced interpretability and performance by improving the problem of overfitting and the violations biological realism in forest biometrics applications.

Influence of Combined Supplemental Lighting and Nutrient Solution Concentration on Fruit Production and Quality of Cherry Tomato

We conducted an analysis on the combined effects of two light conditions (L1: greenhouse natural lighting; L2: greenhouse natural lighting plus supplemental lighting (SL)) and three nutrient solution concentrations (EC, NS1: 3.2 dS/m; NS2: 3.7 dS/m; NS3: 4.2 dS/m) on the growth, fruit production, and quality of two cherry tomato cultivars with different fruit coloring (‘Baiyu’ and ‘Qianxi’). The plants subjected to NS2 exhibited enhanced growth, photosynthetic parameters, and fruit production. The utilization of SL further enhanced stem diameter, leaf number, and single fruit weight, resulting in higher fruit weight per plant in ‘Baiyu’, which was not observed in ‘Qianxi’. The growth, fruit size, and fruit weight of both cultivars cultivated under NS3 conditions were suppressed, while these fruits exhibited elevated levels of total soluble solids (TSS), soluble sugars, vitamin C, polyphenols, fructose, glucose, sucrose, citric acid, and carotenoids. These levels were further enhanced by SL treatment. The improvement of fruit quality through the application of SL was found to be cultivar and EC dependent. In ‘Baiyu’, SL at NS1 significantly enhanced the accumulation of fruit water, minerals (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg), TSS, vitamin C, fructose, sucrose, and carotenoids. However, this effect was not observed in ‘Qianxi’. The combination of SL and EC 4.2 dS/m (NS3) generally contributes to the enhancement of fruit quality, while SL and EC 3.7 dS/m can ensure consistent fruit production. The yellowish-white fruit cultivar exhibited higher levels of soluble sugars, vitamin C, and polyphenols under L2NS3 conditions compared to the red fruit cultivar, whereas the carotenoid content showed an opposite trend. The findings are anticipated to establish a theoretical foundation for the consistent annual cultivation of cherry tomatoes in protected horticultural settings.