Number Of Tillers Research Articles

The near-optimal adjustment of carbon and nitrogen allocations into different organs in early-season rice cultivars with drastically different yield components under nitrogen application

IntroductionOptimized photosynthesis and transport of photosynthate from the upper three leaves in a rice plant is critical for yield formation in rice.MethodsIn this study, we selected two high-yielding early-season rice cultivars, i.e. a large-panicle inbred rice Zhongzao39 (ZZ39) and a plural-panicle hybrid rice Lingliangyou268 (LLY268) with high effective panicle number, to study the translocation of photosynthate from the flag and the basipetal 2nd leaves to the other organs under different nitrogen application scenarios. 13CO2 labeling was study the proportion of newly assimilated carbon partitioned into different organs.ResultsResults demonstrate that the ratio that 13C assimilated in the flag leaves and the basipetal 2nd leaves, and the distribution ratio 13C in the organs of ZZ39 and LLY268 cultivars were not affected by nitrogen application. However, at the booting stage, the translocation rate of photosynthate was slower under N150 compared with CK in both flag and the basipetal 2nd leaves labeled with 13C. At the grain filling stage, an average of 51% of photosynthetic products labeled with 13C was translocated to the panicle in both cultivars under CK treatment; in contrast, only 43% of leaf photosynthate was translocated to panicles in the N150 treatment. At maturity, the photosynthate labeled with 13C distribution ratio in the panicle was greater in the basipetal 2nd leaves than in the flag leaves for ZZ39, whereas the opposite was observed in LLY268. These different photosynthate allocation patterns and their responses to nitrogen application were linked with their corresponding tiller number and number of grains per panicle.DiscussionThis study shows that early-season rice has the ability to flexibly adapt their carbon and nitrogen allocation patterns to gain optimized yield components for higher yield under different nitrogen status. Early season rice can be used as a model system to study the growth strategy selection of plants to changing environment conditions.

Different harvesting dates influence the growth, seed yield and quality of two rice varieties in Ghana

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food which contains a high amount of nutrients essential for human nutrition, energy supply, and food security. Despite its nutritional value, it does not reach its physiological maturity at the same time thereby affecting the quality of seeds produced when harvested. The overarching objective of this research was to determine the influence of harvesting days on seed yield and quality of two rice varieties (Jasmine 85 and Amankwatia) at the Department of Horticulture, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. A 2 x 3 factorial arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications was the study design. Factor one was the two varieties (Jasmine and Amankwatia) and factors two was different harvesting times at three levels [105, 112 and 126 days after transplanting (DAT)]. The study revealed that Jasmine 85 had the highest plant height, number of panicles and number of tillers. The study also showed that the interaction of the varieties and different harvesting times had a significant influence on the germination percentage, germination energy, germination rate index and mean germination time. The study showed that Amankwatia harvested at 126 DAT and Jasmine harvested at 112 DAT respectively, performed the best in terms of yield. Furthermore, Amankwatia harvested at 112 DAT and Jasmine harvested at 105 DAT respectively, also improved germination parameters. Harvesting of both varieties (Jasmine and Amankwatia) at 112 DAT and 126 DAT will maximize yield, while harvesting at Amankwatia at 112 DAT and Jasmine at 105 will improve germination. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 14(2): 122-131, December 2024

Assessment of Genetic Divergence in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Germplasm Using D2 Analysis

The present investigation was conducted with 41 genotypes of Rice during Kharif 2023 under Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. Data were recorded for thirteen quantitative characters to obtain estimates of variability, heritability, genetic advance and genetic divergence. Significant differences were observed among the genotypes for all the characters studied. This study concluded, the highest grain yield was observed in VASUMATHI 38.9 followed by DHAN-69 34.33 based on mean performance at Prayagraj region. A higher magnitude of PCV as well as GCV coefficient of variation was noted for the number of total tillers per plant (22.05) and (21.20). Whereas the lowest PCV and GCV coefficient of variation was recorded for Days to maturity (7.40 and 6.80). High estimates of heritability (above 60%) in broad sense were recorded for all the thirteen characters under study, which ranged from 92.45% number of total tillers per plant to 61.55 harvest index. along with high genetic advance for number of spikelets per panicle (54.38), plant height (cm) (27.95), days to 50% flowering (22.93), and days to maturity (17.72). Biological yield (g) (15.33), harvest index (%) (11.06) and flag leaf length (cm) (10.05) D2 analysis distributed the 41 genotypes into six clusters. The largest cluster was cluster I with 36 genotypes followed by cluster II, III, IV, V, VI with 1 genotype each. Highest contribution in manifestation of genetic divergence was exhibited by grain yield per plant (22.82) followed by biological yield (21.28) and test weight (12.56). Lowest intercluster distance was between cluster I and cluster IV which was (60.58). The intercluster distance was maximum between cluster IV and VI (247.17). Therefore, genotypes present in these clusters should be used for the future hybridization program. Highlights: Germplasms were grouped into 6 clusters. Cluster IV and VI were the most divergent clusters

Increasedchloroplast occupancy in bundle sheath cells of ricehap3Hmutants revealed by Chloro-Count: a new deep learning-based tool.

There is an increasing demand to boost photosynthesis in rice to increase yield potential. Chloroplasts are the site of photosynthesis, and increasing their number and size is a potential route to elevate photosynthetic activity. Notably, bundle sheath cells do not make a significant contribution to overall carbon fixation in rice, and thus, various attempts are being made to increase chloroplast content specifically in this cell type. In this study, we developed and applied a deep learning tool, Chloro-Count, and used it to quantify chloroplast dimensions in bundle sheath cells of OsHAP3H gain- and loss-of-function mutants in rice. Loss of OsHAP3H increased chloroplast occupancy in bundle sheath cells by 50%. When grown in the field, mutants exhibited increased numbers of tillers and panicles. The implementation of Chloro-Count enabled precise quantification of chloroplasts in loss- and gain-of-function OsHAP3H mutants and facilitated a comparison between 2D and 3D quantification methods. Collectively, our observations revealed that a mechanism operates in bundle sheath cells to restrict chloroplast occupancy as cell dimensions increase. That mechanism is unperturbed in Oshap3H mutants but loss of OsHAP3H function leads to an increase in chloroplast numbers. The use of Chloro-Count also revealed that 2D quantification is compromised by the positioning of chloroplasts within the cell.

Evaluation of wheat drought resistance using hyperspectral and chlorophyll fluorescence imaging.

Photosynthesis drives crop growth and production, and strongly affects grain yields; therefore, it is an ideal trait for wheat drought resistance breeding. However, studies of the negative effects of drought stress on wheat photosynthesis rates have lacked accurate evaluation methods, as well as high-throughput techniques. We investigated photosynthetic capacity under drought stress in wheat varieties with varying degrees of drought stress resistance using hyperspectral and chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) imaging data. We analyzed various morpho-physiological traits involved in wheat drought tolerance, including tiller number, leaf relative water content, and malondialdehyde content, to determine the relationships between drought resistance and hyperspectral and ChlF data. The results showed that the spectral first derivative ratio (FDR) between drought stress and control conditions in the 680-760nm region was closely related to photosynthetic capacity and drought tolerance and that hyperspectral imaging can be used to monitor ChlF parameters, with bands sensitive to ChlF identified in two spectral regions (539-764nm and 832-989nm). The spectral first derivative at 989nm had the strongest linear relationship with the minimal fluorescence (R2=0.49). An uninformative variable elimination algorithm indicated that FDRs in the green (504-609nm), red (724-751nm), and near-infrared (944-946nm) light regions had great potential as indices of drought resistance. A support vector machine model based on the FDRs of these characteristic bands identified wheat drought resistance with 97.33% accuracy. These findings provide insight into the application of high-throughput technologies in studying drought resistance and photosynthesis in wheat.

Study on the Adaptability of 15 Oat Varieties in Different Ecological Regions

The planting of oat varieties is influenced by factors such as their inherent traits, ecological regional climate, altitude conditions, and resistance differences, resulting in a decrease in both forage yield and quality. It is crucial to carefully select appropriate oat varieties for different ecological regions in order to enhance forage yield and quality, thereby facilitating the advancement of the grass industry. The correlation between the indices and the relationship between the indices and varieties were investigated through rigorous correlation analysis and principal component analysis. By employing gray correlation analysis, the 21 indices were transformed into 15 independent comprehensive indices. Subsequently, based on a comprehensive analysis, oat varieties suitable for cultivation in different ecological regions were identified. In this study, fifteen domestic and foreign oat varieties were cultivated in the semi-arid region of Weiqi Town and the alpine region of Damaying Town in Shandan County throughout 2023. Among the yield traits, Everleaf 126 exhibited a significantly lower plant height while possessing the largest leaf area, the highest number of effective tillers, and achieving the highest hay and seed yields (p < 0.05), which were 13,199 kg/ha and 5136 kg/ha, respectively. The plant height of Longyan No.3 in Damaying Town was significantly higher than that of other varieties. This variety also demonstrated the highest number of effective tillers, along with the greatest hay yield (7783 kg/ha) and seed yield (5033 kg/ha). Among the evaluated quality traits, Everleaf 126 in Weiqi Town exhibited the highest leaf–stem ratio, crude protein content, and crude fat content (p < 0.05). In contrast, Mengshi in Damaying Town had the highest leaf–stem ratio, while Longyan No.3 demonstrated the highest levels of crude protein and crude fat content. Furthermore, Molasses displayed the highest soluble sugar content in both locations (p < 0.05). The resistance of 15 oat varieties to pests and diseases was found to be lower in Weiqi Town compared to Damaying Town. Notably, Everleaf 126 exhibited the highest resistance to powdery mildew, red leaf disease, leaf spot disease, and aphids among the varieties tested in Weiqi Town. In contrast, Longyan No.3 demonstrated superior resistance in Damaying Town. In conclusion, based on a comprehensive analysis of the gray correlation degree, in the semi-arid region, Everleaf 126 exhibited the most superior performance, followed by Molasses and Longyan No.3. In the alpine region, Longyan No. 3 demonstrated the highest overall performance, followed closely by Molasses and Mengshi. These varieties exhibit significant potential for promotion as high-yield, high-quality forage oats in semi-arid and alpine environments.

APLIKASI PUPUK ORGANIK CAIR SABUT KELAPA UNTUK MENINGKATKAN HASIL BAWANG MERAH (Allium ascalonium L.)

Coconut husk and waste can be used as liquid organic fertilizer (POC) to improve soil fertility due to the nutrient content contained in coconut coir. The use of coconut fiber as POC needs to be assessed to obtain recommendations for the correct concentration and application interval. This study aimed to examine the effect of coconut fiber POC application on shallot growth and yield, and determine the optimal concentration that can provide the best results. The study used RCBD (Randomized Completely Block Design) in three replications, consisting of two factors. The first factor was the concentration of the coconut fiber POC solution: control, 10%, 20%, and 30%. The second factor is the time interval of coconut fiber POC application, namely 1, 2, and 3 weeks. The variables observed in this study were the number of tillers per clump, number of tubers, fresh weight of tubers, dry weight of tubers, and tuber diameter. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at a significance level of 5%. The results showed that applying coconut fiber POC concentrations of 10%, 20%, and 30% increased the number of tillers per clump, dry bulb weight, and diameter of shallot bulbs, but there were no significant differences among the three concentrations. The results of the regression analysis showed that the optimum concentration was in the range of 17%–18.26%. The time interval for applying coconut fiber POC has no significant effect on increasing the number of tillers per clump, the number of bulbs.

Effects of combined application of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers on seed yield, seed quality and economic returns of Elymus nutans in alpine region.

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), one of the most important ecological regions in the world, is experiencing a decline in ecological function as a result of severe grassland degradation. Elymus nutans is one of the ecological grass species for restoring degraded grasslands in QTP. The seed yield and seed quality are often limited by soil nutrients in QTP, so it is very important to optimize the application rates of fertilizer for E. nutans seed production. In this study, a "3414" fertilization experiment (nitrogen: 0 ~ 225kg N ha- 1; phosphorus: 0 ~ 180kg P2O5 ha- 1; potassium: 0 ~ 135kg K2O ha- 1) was established in the third year of planting E. nutans seed field based on the soil nutrient supply situation in the planting area to explore the effects of combined application of N, P and K fertilizers on the seed yield and seed quality of E. nutans. The results showed that the balanced application of N, P and K fertilizers significantly improved the seed yield, seed quality and seed vigour of E. nutans. The seed yield of E. nutans was regulated by the seed yield components. Under different fertilization treatments, the number of fertile tillers and thousand kernel weight had a greater contribution to seed yield, followed by the number of spikelets per panicle. Compared to the no fertilization treatment, the combined application of N, P, and K fertilizers increased the seed yield of E. nutans by 23.05%-90.49%. The seed size, seed nutrient content, germination percentage and seedling growth of E. nutans were positively affected by the combined application of N, P and K fertilizers. The seed vigour of E. nutans increased by 38.23%-89.85% compared to the no fertilizer treatment. Fertilizer application promoted seed nutrient storage and increased seed size thereby promoting seed germination and seedling growth. The crude protein, soluble sugar and starch content of E. nutans seed increased by 9.70%-54.05%, 6.70%-25.70% and 4.31%-35.88%, respectively. Nitrogen fertilizer had a greater effect on seed yield and seed quality of E. nutans than phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. The balanced nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers at an application rate of 150kg N ha- 1, 120kg P2O5 ha- 1, 90kg K2O ha- 1 in the planting area of QTP was found to be the optimum fertilization amount for increasing seed yield, seed quality and net income. This study provides theoretical evidence and certain practical suggestions for sustainable forage seed production in alpine regions of QTP.

Genetically-encoded targeted protein degradation technology to remove endogenous condensation-prone proteins and improve crop performance

Effective modulation of gene expression in plants is achievable through tools like CRISPR and RNA interference, yet methods for directly modifying endogenous proteins remain lacking. Here, we identify the E3 ubiquitin ligase E3TCD1 and develope a Targeted Condensation-prone-protein Degradation (TCD) strategy. The X–E3TCD1 fusion protein acts as a genetically engineered degrader, selectively targeting endogenous proteins prone to condensation. For example, a transgenic E3TCD1 fusion with Teosinte branched 1 (TB1) degrades the native TB1 protein, resulting in increased tiller numbers in rice. Additionally, conditional degradation of the negative defense regulator Early Flowering 3 via a pathogen-responsive ProTBF1-uORFsTBF1 cassette enhances rice blast resistance without affecting flowering time in the absence of pathogen. Unlike prevailing targeted protein degradation strategies, the TCD system does not rely on small molecules, antibodies, or genetic knock-in fusion tags, demonstrating its promise as a transgene-based approach for optimizing crop performance.

Introgression profiling of F4 population derived from the cross of Zea mays × Teosinte spp. Mexicana using SSR markers

To increase the production of crops together with resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, germplasm enrichment is much more important in any breeding programme. Exploitation of Teosinte and Tripsacum, the wild relatives of maize, as the sources of novel genes to improve resiliency, adaptability and productivity in maize, has been documented. In the present study, teosinte was used in the crossing programme. The experiment material comprised 109 RILs derived from Teosinte spp. mexicana and popcorn. Using SSR markers, the introgression profiling of teosinte-derived maize F4 population (109 maize-teosinte derivatives). Morphological characterization for different parameters, i.e., days to maturity, number of cobs, number of tillers, seed rows per cob and cob length, showed significant variation among all the traits studied. The highest significant positive correlation was observed between the number of rows per cob and cob length. Introgression profiles of different lines were inferred from the consensus of genotypic and morphological data, which revealed that the marker bnlg1297 was common among the lines that exhibit a higher number of tillers and cobs. Therefore, these specific genomic regions might be associated with these traits. Thus, these results showed different parental contributions, which leads to diversification in the progenies derived from diverse crosses in maize. Further, such crosses appear crucial for producing germplasm for which breeders are looking.

Assessment of Genetic Divergence and Character Association Studies on Germplasm Accessions of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

In this study, fifty-five rice germplasm accessions were used along with five checks, namely IR64, Swarna, Jaya, DRR Dhan 42 and MTU1010, for evaluating genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance during kharif 2023. The analysis of variance revealed extremely large genotype differences for each of the 16 traits under investigation. The highest heritability measures were found in number of filled grains per panicle followed by paddy breadth, paddy length:breadth ratio, brown rice length:breadth ratio, 100 seed weight, paddy length, plant height, brown rice breadth, number of effective tillers per plant, brown rice length, number of unfilled grains per panicle, grain yield per plant, panicle length, and harvest index. High heritability with high genetic advance shown by characters such as plant height, number of filled grains per panicle, paddy length and brown rice length this indicates that the heritability is due to additive gene action and is found least influenced by environment. Hence, the desirable characters with high heritability coupled with genetic advance can be used for selection. Grain yield per plant exhibits a positive and highly significant correlation with the days to 50% flowering (0.383), number of effective tillers per plant (0.315), number of filled grain per panicle (0.219) and paddy length (0.219). In terms of direct effect, paddy length (4.735) shows the highest impact, followed by brown rice length (1.183), number of filled grain per panicle (0.578), days to 50% flowering (0.347), panicle length (0.135), harvest index (0.082).

Character Association and Path Coefficient Analysis for Yield Attributing Traits in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The present investigation was carried out to estimate the nature and magnitude of variability parameters and characters associations among 19 genotypes of wheat for 12 characters. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Completely Block Design with 3 replications during rabi, 2022-23 at Research Farm of Genetics and plant breeding AKS University, Stana, (M.P). The Analysis of variance indicated that the mean sum of squares due to genotypes were highly significant for all the traits. Seed Yield per Plant also demonstrated considerable genetic variability (GCV: 17.37%, PCV: 18.60%) with high heritability (87.20%) and a genetic advancement of 14.95, confirming its potential for genetic enhancement. Seed yield per plant is strongly correlated with the number of productive tillers (0.808**), biological yield (0.354**), number of seeds per spike (0.357**), and harvest index (0.327*), making these traits vital for breeding programs focused on yield improvement. Days to 50% flowering positively correlates with plant height (0.590**), number of seeds per spike (0.471**), test weight (0.319**), and harvest index (0.330**), but negatively with days to maturity (-0.428**) and biological yield (-0.378**).

Comparative analysis of growth, yield and nutrient content in six rice varieties under slightly saline conditions in southwest coastal Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Considering the threats of climate change to rice production in Bangladesh, one of the most climate-vulnerable countries, initiatives to boost rice production and improve grain nutrition are crucial. To identify the best rice variety, a field experiment was conducted with a Randomised Complete Block Design in slightly saline soil from December 2019 to April 2020. Six rice varieties (Black rice, Violet rice, BRRI dhan47, BRRI dhan28, BRRI dhan67 and Hybrid Hera dhan-6) were tested to evaluate growth, yield and nutrient content. Black rice was the tallest one; however, it produced the lowest tillers, leaves and shoots dry weight. Conversely, Hybrid Heradhan-6 was one of the shortest varieties and produced the highest tiller number and shoot dry weight. Hybrid Hera dhan-6 also yielded a higher grain yield, biological yield and harvest index and Black rice did the opposite. There was a negative linear relationship of plant height with tiller number and shoot dry weight and tiller number and biological yield served as the major contributors to the grain yield. Hybrid Hera dhan-6 also extracted the maximum amount of P and K. Therefore, Hybrid Hera dhan-6 was the best rice variety in terms of growth, yield and nutrient uptake.

Effect of Sowing Date and Post-Emergence Herbicide Application on Growth of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major Rabi crop around the world, including India. After rice, it is India's second-most important food grain crop, accounting for about half of all calories and protein. To improve wheat growth and output, it is crucial to seed at the right time and use effective weed control techniques. An Experiment was conducted at Pilikothi Farm of T. D. P. G. College, Jaunpur, U.P. during the Rabi season of 2018-19 and 2019-20. Experiment was laid out in split plot design replicated thrice with three sowing dates i.e. 15 November, 30 November and 15 December as main plot treatment and six weed management practices i.e. weedy check, weed free, 2, 4 DEE @ 0.5 kg a.i./ha., Carfentrazone @ 0.025 kg a.i./ha., Metsulfuron methyl @ 0.004 kg a.i./ha., Arylex 20.85% + Florasulam @ 20% as sub plot treatment. Soil of the experimental field was sandy clay loam. Fertilizer dose of 150:60:40 kg N, P2O5 and K2O per hectare were applied. The results of the two years experiment clearly indicate that plant height, number of tillers, and leaf area index values were recorded high under sowing on November 15th as compared to other dates of sowing, while Arylex 20.85% + Florasulam @ 20% recorded higher growth over the rest of the herbicide treatments, but the weed-free plot recorded the highest values of the aforementioned growth parameters. Based on the findings, it is possible to infer that planting wheat on time (15th November) with Arylex 20.85% + Florasulam 20% herbicide for weed control may result in increased crop growth in the agro-climatic conditions of eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Genetic Parameters Estimation and Identification of Promising Rice Genotypes Grown in Rainfed Condition Using Mgidi Index in Rampur, Chitwan

Rice, the world’s most vital crop with over 40,000 varieties cultivated for 8 to 13 thousand years, produced around 520.65 million metric tons annually—largely in China, India, and Bangladesh—while nearly half the global population relies on it as a primary food source, facing significant challenges in rainfed areas that impede productivity. This study evaluated 24 rice genotypes, including 22 pipeline varieties from the National Rice Research Program (NRRP) in Dhanusa and two checks, Bahaguni-2 and Sabitri. The Multi-Trait Genotype-Ideotype Distance Index (MGIDI) was used as selection tool to rank genotypes based on their proximity to an ideal genotype. Broad-sense heritability (h²) estimates ranged from 0.03 for panicle length to 0.96 for days to 80% maturity, suggesting high potential for selection gains in days to 80% maturity (h² = 0.96) and plant height (h² = 0.91), while tiller number and grain yield showed low heritability (h² > 0.5). Variance analysis indicated substantial genetic control for plant height and days to 80% maturity, while panicle length and grain yield were more influenced by environmental factors. Principal component analysis revealed four factors explaining 76.5% of the trait variation, with FA1 (days to 50% flowering, days to 80% maturity) accounting for the most variation. Selection gains were assessed using MGIDI and FAI-BLUP indexes, with MGIDI achieving a 15.13% gain for targeted traits and FAI-BLUP yielding 1.25%. Selected genotypes from MGIDI included SVIN 127, SVIN 098, SVIN 643, SVIN 084, and IR 18F1085, with SVIN 127 and SVIN 098 also appearing in the FAI-BLUP index, highlighting their potential value for breeding. This research demonstrates the effectiveness of both selection indexes in identifying superior genotypes for enhanced breeding efficiency. SAARC J. Agric., 22(2): 239-255 (2024)

Unveiling the Rice Hybrid Parental Lines - A Study of Genetic Variability for Yield Attributing Traits (Oryza sativa. L)

Fifty-five rice hybrid parental lines along with five checks were evaluated in augmented block design (ABD) at ICAR-IIRR Hyderabad, to determine the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for ten traits during Rabi,2023-24. Analysis of variance showed that significant variation was present in the hybrid parental lines studied. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was found to be higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation for all the traits. High GCV (Genotypic Coefficient of Variation) and PCV (Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation) levels were recorded for number of productive tillers (20.12% and 22.28%) and grain yield per plant (21.82% and 23.88%) respectively. Heritability was high for all the traits studied. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was recorded for majority of the traits suggesting importance should be given to these characters during selection.

Optimization of planting methods and seed coating for enhanced rice seed yield and quality in mechanized farming

The demand for rice is predicted to rise by over 200 million tons by 2050 due to the rapidly growing population. India needs to step up its rice production because of the burgeoning population and decreasing land and other resources. Existing lower yield in rice caused by improper planting methods, particularly related to transplanting. This research was conducted to understand the effect of planting methods with coated and uncoated seeds to maximize seed yield and quality of rice. A field was raised in a randomized block design (RBD) on different treatments as coated and uncoated seeds with methods of sowings such as drone sowing, drum sowing, machine transplanting and manual transplanting with three replications. The observation on the number of hills m-2, number of tillers m-2, number of productive tillers m 2, number of grains panicle-1, 1000-grain weight, rice yield m-2 and quality indicators were gathered. The result indicates the maximum seed yield and productive tillers per hill recorded in drone seeding with coated seeds (59.71 q ha-1 and 31.75, respectively) whereas uncoated manual transplanting recorded 51.68 q ha-1 and 25.0 numbers, respectively in rice variety CO 55. Further, results on seed quality parameters revealed that machine transplanting yields higher production with the best seed quality compared to the seeds from drone sowing. It is concluded that drone sowing and machine transplanting are superior in seed yield and quality than conventional manual transplanting. Further research on enhancing the seed productivity through drone sowing on seeding density, population maintenance and productive tiller enhancement can be done.

Effect of Recommended and Graded Doses of Biochar with and without ZMB Biofertilizer and Zinc on the Growth Attributes of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif seasons of 2022 and 2023 at the Students' Instructional Farm, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj Ayodhya, to assess the impact of graded doses of biochar, varying fertility levels, and the addition of biofertilizers and zinc on rice cultivation under partially reclaimed sodic soils. Nine treatments were applied, including combinations of recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF), biochar (5 t ha⁻¹ and 2.5 t ha⁻¹), biofertilizer (ZMB), and zinc sulphate (ZnSO₄) in a randomized block design with three replications. The treatments were: T1 (Control), T2 (100% RDF), T3 (50% RDF), T4 (50% RDF + 5 t ha⁻¹ biochar), T5 (50% RDF + 5 t ha⁻¹ biochar + ZMB), T6 (50% RDF + 5 t ha⁻¹ biochar + ZMB + ZnSO₄), T7 (100% RDF + 2.5 t ha⁻¹ biochar), T8 (100% RDF + 2.5 t ha⁻¹ biochar + ZMB), and T9 (100% RDF + 2.5 t ha⁻¹ biochar + ZMB + ZnSO₄). The rice variety NDR 2065 was used as the test crop. Growth parameters such as plant height, dry matter accumulation, root length, root volume, number of tillers, and panicle length were evaluated. The results showed that the treatment T9 (100% RDF + 2.5 t ha⁻¹ biochar + ZMB + ZnSO₄) produced the highest growth and quality parameters, indicating a significant improvement in rice performance. The study suggests combining biochar, biofertilizers, and zinc under reduced fertilizer levels can enhance rice growth and productivity in sodic soils, offering a sustainable approach to soil fertility management.

Performance and profitability of growing ginger using single bud technique under high density arecanut-based multispecies cropping system

The performance of five known ginger cultivars of eastern India, namely Gorubathan, Suruchi, Suprabha, Bhaisay and a Local collection, were studied in an eight-year-old 2.7 m × 2.7 m spaced arecanut plantation at Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya within the Teraiagro-ecological region of West Bengal. Plantlets of ginger were raised through single bud sprout techniques (SBT) using 5 g cut piece of rhizome with a plump bud and transplanted under an arecanut-based high density crop model along with bay leaf and citrus as component crops. Different ginger cultivars showed considerable variations with respect to their growth behavior and yield. The Local cultivar produced vigorous growth with a higher average number of tillers (5.83) per plant with maximum height (57.6 cm). However, the cultivar Suprabha proved its superiority over other cultivars with respect to rhizome yield, producing 2.45 tons from one hectare of crop model, with 11% net cropped area of ginger and possessing a higher benefit cost ratio (6.51).

Unveiling shared genetic regulators of plant architectural and biomass yield traits in sorghum.

Sorghum is emerging as an ideal genetic model for designing high-biomass bioenergy crops. Biomass yield, a complex trait influenced by various plant architectural characteristics, is typically regulated by numerous genes. This study aimed to dissect the genetic regulators underlying fourteen plant architectural traits and ten biomass yield traits in the Sorghum Association Panel across two growing seasons. We identified 321 associated loci through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), involving 234,264 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These loci include genes with known associations to biomass traits, such as 'maturity', 'dwarfing (Dw)', and 'leafbladeless1', as well as several uncharacterized loci not previously linked to these traits. We also identified 22 pleiotropic loci associated with variation in multiple phenotypes. Three of these loci, located on chromosomes 3 (S03_15463061), 6 (S06_42790178; Dw2), and 9 (S09_57005346; Dw1), exerted significant and consistent effects on multiple traits across both growing seasons. Additionally, we identified three genomic hotspots on chromosomes 6, 7, and 9, each containing multiple SNPs associated with variation in plant architecture and biomass yield traits. Chromosome-wise correlation analyses revealed multiple blocks of positively associated SNPs located near or within the same genomic regions. Finally, genome-wide correlation-based network analysis showed that loci associated with flowering, plant heights, leaf traits, plant density, and tiller number per plant were highly interconnected with other genetic loci influencing with plant architectural and biomass yield traits. The pyramiding of favorable alleles related to these traits holds promise for enhancing the future development of bioenergy sorghum crops.