Cultivar Type Research Articles

Биохимичен състав на някои сортове ечемик, отглеждан в различни системи на земеделие

Biochemical analyzes were made of some varieties of barley grown in different farming systems, to establish the presence of antioxidants and other useful substances in their composition. The antioxidant capacity equivalent (vit. E), total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total antioxidants, zinc, iron and sulfur were analyzed. The research was carried out at the Institute of Agriculture - Karnobat, Bulgaria and Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Research unit Microbe-Plant Interactions, Ingolstädterlandstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany. The data show significant differences in the biochemical characteristics of different barley cultivars depending on the type of cultivation. Under conventional cultivation, the cultivars showed high levels of 1000-grain weight, crude protein content, antioxidant activity, and iron and sulfur content. In organic cultivation, the cultivars have good indicators of weight per 1000 grains, antioxidant capacity, total flavonoid content and zinc content. In biodynamic cultivation, the varieties have increased values for some biochemical indicators. Sitara variety has the highest total phenolic compounds content (TPC content) and antioxidant activity (DPPH activity), while Obzor variety has the highest iron content. These data highlight the possibility of achieving higher levels of some beneficial parameters in barley through biodynamic and organic cultivation.

Effects of gender and agricultural cooperatives on biodiversity conservation farming practices: evidence from an emerging economy

PurposeThis study explores the effects of gender and participation in agricultural cooperatives on biodiversity conservation farming practices in vegetable production.Design/methodology/approachThis study used data collected from a survey of 627 vegetable farmers in Viet Nam and employed the Ordered Probit regression model to examine the effects of gender and participation in agricultural cooperatives on biodiversity conservation farming practices.FindingsWe find that female vegetable farmers are more likely to conduct biodiversity conservation farming practices than male farmers. This gender difference is, however, removed when participation in agricultural cooperatives is controlled, suggesting that agricultural cooperatives effectively facilitate biodiversity conservation farming practices.Research limitations/implicationsIt is noted that our study is not free from some limitations. First, we conducted our study on vegetable farmers only. The biodiversity conservation practices in vegetable cultivation might be different from other types of farming. Future studies should be conducted with other types of agricultural cultivation. Second, we do not have enough data to explain why female farmers are more likely to adopt biodiversity conservation practices than male farmers. Future studies should capture biological and social aspects of gender differences to address this limitation.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on biodiversity conservation by presenting empirical evidence on the effects of gender and agricultural cooperatives. Participation in agricultural cooperatives is revealed to facilitate the adoption of biodiversity conservation practices. In addition, we find that the education of farmers, the number of years that farmers have been living in the local area and the quality of land and water are positively related to the adoption of biodiversity conservation practices in vegetable production.

Morphological and molecular characterization of some Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora) cultivars

The diversity and genetic relationships among seven commercial chrysanthemum cultivars were analyzed using morphological and molecular markers. Vegetative growth, flowering, flower yield, and flower quality parameters were evaluated to assess genetic variability across the cultivars. Cultivars Crystal Red, Kodiack, and Crystal White exhibited superior vegetative growth, while Abrun, Crystal Red, and Kodiack displayed better flowering characteristics, particularly in terms of the number of inflorescences per plant and mass of colored flowering. Crystal White, Coca Bleach, and Crystal Red cultivars demonstrated the highest inflorescence stalk length, while cvs. Crystal Red, Crystal Yellow, Crystal Pink, and Kodiack Yellow recorded the maximum number of ray floret inflorescences. Other quality parameters such as inflorescence diameter and ray floret length were found to be optimal in Kodiack, Crystal White, Crystal Pink, Coca Bleach, and Crystal Yellow cultivars. Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers were employed to distinguish and identify standard-type chrysanthemum cultivars, utilizing twelve SSR markers from the chrysanthemum SSR database. The results suggest that these SSR markers hold promise for identifying additional chrysanthemum cultivar types and assessing genetic relationships among them. Association studies combining morphological and molecular data offer a valuable approach to identifying informative markers for plant breeding purposes.

Variations in the root mycobiome and mycorrhizal fungi between different types of Vanilla forest farms on Réunion Island.

The mycorrhizal fungi of cultivated Vanilla spp. have mainly been studied in America, while a recent study has investigated them on Réunion Island (Indian Ocean). However, there are many different types of cultivation on Réunion, from shade-house crops to forest farms of endemic or exotic trees. Here we fill a gap in the study of the root mycobiome of Vanilla by sampling vines in forest plantations on recent lava flows in the southeast of Réunion. Specifically, we aimed to characterize the fungal communities between terrestrial and epiphytic roots, between forest farms that differ mainly in the species of trees, and between Vanilla roots and ECM-like roots of nearby trees. By sequencing fungal ITS2, we showed that the Vanilla root mycobiome is diverse and differed between the root types and forest farms. Epiphytic and terrestrial roots host endophytic fungi, while a putative rust with visible urediniospores was abundant in terrestrial roots mainly. Other pathogens were detected in epiphytic roots (Colletotrichum) with no sign of disease. Following sequencing and electron microscopy, Tulasnellaceae, characterized by imperforate parenthesomes and cell wall expansion with an amorphous matrix, were shown to be the main mycorrhizal fungi in both vanilla root types. Interestingly, the dominant Tulasnellaceae OTU was found in ECM-type roots of trees belonging to the ectomycorrhizal family Sapotaceae. Further observations are needed to confirm the ectomycorrhizal association of endemic trees with Tulasnella. Moreover, labeling experiments will be instrumental in investigating the transfer of nutrients between the trees and the Vanilla through the network of mycorrhizal associations in the soil.

Allelic Variation of BnaFTA2 and BnaFTC6 Is Associated With Flowering Time and Seasonal Crop Type in Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.).

Different ecological types of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), including winter, spring, and semi-winter cultivars, exhibit varying flowering times and cannot be planted in the same cultivation areas. FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) plays a key role in regulating flowering. In allotetraploid B. napus six copies of FT (BnaFT) have been reported. However, there is uncertainty about how the translated products of each paralog, as well as cis-allelic variations at each locus, contribute functionally to flowering time and define specific crop types. In this study, we confirm that BnaFT exhibit distinct expression patterns in different crop types of rapeseed. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system, we provide functional evidence that the mutants between Bnaft paralogues affects the regulation of flowering time. Furthermore, we identify a new haplotype of BnaFT.A2 that is associated with early flowering time, although this appears necessary but not sufficient to confer a spring type phenotype. Three haplotypes of BnaFT.C6 were further identified and associated with both flowering time and crop types. We speculate that variations in both BnaFT.A2 and BnaFT.C6 may have undergone diversifying selection during the divergence of seasonal crop types in rapeseed.

Metabolic profile of fatty acids, phenolic compounds, and methylxanthines of cocoa kernels (Theobroma cacao L.) from different cultivars produced in cabruca and full sun farming systems

The demand for high-quality cocoa beans has increased in line with the growing global demand for chocolate. The chemical composition of cocoa beans can vary according to their origin and growing conditions. In this context, this study evaluated the influence of the cultivar type (CCN51 and PS1319) and the cocoa management system (cabruca and full sun) on the chemical composition of unfermented cocoa kernels. The cultivation system influenced the fatty acid composition of cocoa kernels, with higher values of linoleic acid associated with the full sun system, although higher total lipid contents were obtained in the cabruca system. The cultivar influenced the content of saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), total unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and the saturated/unsaturated ratio (S/U). Lower levels of total phenolic compounds, total anthocyanins and antioxidant properties were found in the full sun system, especially in the PS1319 cultivar. Higher levels of epicatechin and catechin were found in the cocoa kernel of the CCN51 cultivar. Theobromine and caffeine were not influenced by the treatments. Neither the PCA of total lipids and fatty acids, nor the PCA of antioxidant properties, phenolic compounds and methylxanthines indicated an isolated clustering between cultivar and cultivation system. The results showed that the factors under study influenced the chemical composition of the unfermented cocoa kernel. Furthermore, they indicated that the migration from traditional systems, such as cabruca, to full sun systems can reduce the total lipids and phenolic compounds content of the cocoa beans. When planning new plantations, the choice of genetic material should also be carefully considered to produce higher-quality cocoa butter and beans with a higher phenolic compound content.

Pilot plant cultivation of microalga Dictyosphaerium chlorelloides with night illumination from LEDs sources

Illumination during the night with white LEDs increased the growth of the microalga Dictyosphaerium chlorelloides strain CCALA 330 on a thin-film platform unit (150 L volume, 12 m2 area) approximately 2.5× in comparison to the platform illuminated only by the Sun. The mean PAR intensity on the Sun-illuminated unit was 71 μmol m−2 s−1, on the Sun + LEDs unit 549 μmol m−2 s−1, the mean temperatures were 15 °C and 20.1 °C. On the Sun unit the algae grew to a maximum of 15 g L−1 dry weight in 42 days, with Sun + LEDs into 17.8 g L−1 during 24 days when the both units reached the stationary phase of the growth curve. Biomass production was 3.3 in the Sun and 8.54 g m−2 d−1 in the Sun + LED, i.e. 0.27 and 0.68 g L−1 d−1. In total, the mean of 37.5 and 58.2 kWh per night were consumed, so the total electricity consumptions for biomass production was 0.20 and 0.40 kWh g−1 DW during LED + Sun cycles 1 and 2, respectively. The production of the extracellular polysaccharides was practically the same for both platforms, and constant during time. A more substantial double increase was only after 30 days of cultivation in both platforms and reached 4 g L−1. The fluorescence measurements proved good physiological state of the cultures. The PAR was found as a main driver of the photosynthetic activity. The correlation of the growth and fluorescence parameters to the environmental conditions was much more profound in the Sun pilot plant, therefore the reliable set of monitored parameters should be defined according to the cultivation type, for both of them we propose OD680/OD720 ratio as a proxy of nutrient deficiency.

A Holistic Irrigation Advisory Policy Scheme by the Hellenic Agricultural Organization: An Example of a Successful Implementation in Crete, Greece

The aim of this communication article is to present a successful irrigation advisory scheme on the island of Crete (Greece) provided by the Hellenic Agricultural Organization (ELGO DIMITRA), which is well adapted to the different needs of farmers and water management agencies. The motivation to create this advisory scheme stems from the need to save water resources while ensuring optimal production in a region like Crete where droughts seem to occur more and more frequently in recent years. This scheme/approach has three different levels of implementation (components) depending on the spatial level and end-users’ needs. The first level concerns the weekly irrigation bulletins in the main agricultural areas of the island with the aim of informing farmers and local water managers about crop irrigation needs. The second level concerns an innovative digital web-based platform for the precise determination of the irrigation needs of Crete’s crops at a parcel level as well as optimal adaptation strategies in the context of climate change. In this platform, important features such as real-time meteorological information, spatial data on the cultivation type of parcels, validated algorithms for calculating crop irrigation needs, an accurate soil texture map derived from satellite images, and appropriate agronomic practices to conserve water based on cultivation and the geomorphology of a farm are considered. The third level of the proposed management approach includes an open-source Internet of Things (IoT) intelligent irrigation system for optimal individual parcel irrigation scheduling. This IoT system includes soil moisture and atmospheric sensors installed on the field, as well as the corresponding laboratory soil hydraulic characterization service. This third-level advisory approach provides farmers with specialized information on the automated irrigation system and optimization of irrigation water use. All the above irrigation advisory approaches have been implemented and evaluated by end-users with a very high degree of satisfaction in terms of effectiveness and usability.

Sustainability of the Different Rice Cultivation Practices in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The current food crisis has become a serious threat to humanity. Other issues such as climate change, farmer regeneration, and excessive use of chemical inputs at the producer level threaten sustainability in agriculture. The sustainability of agricultural practices among farmers remains questionable due to the small number of organic farmers in Indonesia. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of sustainability of rice cultivation and the factors that influence the sustainability of rice cultivation in various types of cultivation in Yogyakarta. Research on farm sustainability that is analyzed in a multidimensional (5 dimensions) and compares 3 types of cultivation has not been widely carried out in Indonesia. This research was conducted in Bantul and Sleman with 90 respondents. The analysis method used Multidimensional Scaling-RAPFISH and Tobit regression. The results showed interesting findings where the 3 types of rice cultivation are in the sufficient (moderately sustainable) category even though the 3 have differences in the use of inputs, especially in the ecological dimension. The factors of education, frequency of attending extension and activity in farmer groups, the use of good agricultural practices, land ownership, and type of cultivation had a positive effect on increasing the sustainability of rice cultivation in various types of cultivation in Yogyakarta. The results of this research have an impact on agricultural extension field education provided by the government to increase the sustainability of rice cultivation in Yogyakarta. It is recommended that the 3 types of rice farmers to pay more attention to the use of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to increase sustainability.

Impact of cultivar types and thermal processing methods on sweet potato metabolome, a comparative analysis via a multiplex approach of NIR and GC–MS based metabolomics coupled with chemometrics

This study comprehensively analyzes the primary metabolites of sweet potato peels and pulps from four cultivars and assesses the impact of four different processing methods on pulp metabolome using a multiplex metabolomics approach of GC–MS and NIR. A total of 69 metabolites were identified. Beauregard cv. showed the highest sugar content (387.85 mg/g), whereas Sahrawy cv. was higher in alcohols (24.63 mg/g) and organic acids (2.98 mg/g). The chemometric analysis identified key markers that distinguished each cv. represented by its pulp, peel, and processed pulp. KEGG enrichment analysis pinpointed key metabolic pathways leading to the metabolic discrepancy of the specimens. Sugars were the most altered class by processing as manifested by a 5 to 11-fold increase, notably in the air-fried pulp. Air-frying also increased alcohol and organic acid contents. NIR analysis revealed that air-frying was the preferred method of processing, preserving the majority of pulp's metabolites, including β-carotene and phenolics.

INFESTATION OF DIFFERENT INSECT PESTS ON NOVEL COTTON CULTIVARS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON COTTON FIBER QUALITY PARAMETERS

Pakistan is the 5th largest producer of cotton in the world. Exports of cotton and textile products have a share of around 60 percent in overall exports of the country. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the different fiber quality parameters in relation to different insect pest populations. The introduction of this new types of cultivars may satisfy the needs of farmers for better quality and quantity, laborers who harvest crops, and other investors, including those in the cotton sector. A field research was carried out at the Cotton Research Station, Faisalabad, Pakistan, during the year 2023 cotton cultivars (VH-447, FH-1133, BH-228, SLH-94, MNH-S GOLD, BH-227, FH-1214, MNH-1095, VH-442, MNH-1090, RH-BAGHO BAHAR, MNH-1050, and MNH-TP) were evaluated for resistance to sucking pests such as whitefly (Bemisia tabaci); jassid (Amrasca biguttula biguttula); and thrips (Thrips tabaci) as well as bollworms such as pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella); spotted bollworm (Earias insulana; E. vitelli); and American bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera). There were notable variations across the genotypes in terms of the population of sucking and bollworm insect pest infestation, which lowers cotton production and negatively affects fiber quality. FH-1133 showed the lowest average populations of thrips (1.00/leaf), jassid (0.27/leaf), and whiteflies (2.00/leaf), indicating the highest resistance. The average population (9.84%) of pink bollworm larvae in residual boll. The virus percentage on different cotton genotypes recorded after 30, 60, 90, and 120 days was 0.00, 9.00, 14.00, and 19.00%, respectively. The cultivar FH-1133 was observed to be good for all other genotypes of cotton due to its yield (2372.50 kg/acre), and it had the following lint quality attributes: GOT (46.50%), staple length (28.50 mm), fiber fineness (4.70 µg/inch), and fiber strength (33.20 g/tex).

Wild Genetic Resource in Vegetable Improvement: Applications and Strategies

Domestication of feral types of the present-day cultivated types was in vogue in earlier days of farming followed by the selection and hybridization that led to many improved varieties. Expression of traits faded due to the development of homozygosity due to repeated interventions in the same set. Relying on wild relatives that are found to be the source of many target genes is found significant. While, this is not so easy, because of the barriers that reside in distant hybridization, consequences like failure in zygote and embryo formation, embryo death, linkage drags, and incompatibility within wild and cultivated groups, etc are need of concern. Strategies like bridge crosses, somatic hybridization, grafting, embryo rescue, etc., techniques are solely or in combination can combat these issues. Vegetables are the group of crops that are mainly cultivated for their high returns and quality aspects for the healthy food routine of the consumer. This review will spotlight the recent advances in vegetable improvement through their wild relatives and available strategies to overcome the barriers to the usage of wild relatives in vegetable improvement, meanwhile the conservation of these resources for the future utilization in vegetable improvement.

The multifactorial phenomenon of enzymatic hydrolysis resistance in unripe banana flour and its starch: A concise review.

Unripe banana flour starch possesses a high degree of resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis, a unique and desirable property that could be exploited in the development of functional food products to regulate blood sugar levels and promote digestive health. However, due to a multifactorial phenomenon in the banana flour matrix-from the molecular to the micro level-there is no consensus regarding the complex mechanisms behind the slow enzymatic hydrolysis of unripe banana flour starch. This work therefore explores factors that influence the enzymatic hydrolysis resistance of raw and modified banana flour and its starch including the proportion and distribution of the amorphous and crystalline phases of the starch granules; granule morphology; amylose-amylopectin ratio; as well as the presence of nonstarch components such as proteins, lipids, and phenolic compounds. Our findings revealed that the relative contributions of these factors to banana starch hydrolytic resistance are apparently dependent on the native or processed state of the starch as well as the cultivar type. The interrelatability of these factors in ensuring amylolytic resistance of unripe banana flour starch was further highlighted as another reason for the multifactorial phenomenon. Knowledge of these factors and their contributions to enzymatic hydrolysis resistance individually and interconnectedly will provide insights into enhanced ways of extraction, processing, and utilization of unripe banana flour and its starch.

Strategies for improvement of bioactive compounds production using microalgal consortia: An emerging concept for current and future perspective

In recent times, microalgae have been recognized as one of the most potential sources of biomolecules with therapeutic potential. Microalgae are rich sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates, carotenoids, and vitamins. These compounds have significant anticancer, antioxidant, anti-aging, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and anti-inflammatory potentials. Until now, monoculture of microalgae has been the most preferred way to produce these compounds. However, this method faces the challenge of low biomass and biomolecule production and a high risk of contamination. Controlled symbiotic co-culture of microalgae with suitable microorganisms can overcome these challenges. Therefore, it is crucial to explore the compatibility of microalgae with other microorganisms to develop novel consortia to enhance biomass and biomolecule production. The article comprehensively reviews the strategies for the improvement of bioactive compound production using microalgal consortia (SIBCP-MC) viz. microalgae, fungi, bacteria, and cyanobacteria. It also discusses the mechanisms of their interaction, economic viability, and a comparison of expected revenue generation from different types of microalgal consortia. The review mainly focuses on the therapeutic potentials of microalgae biomolecules and the optimization of different factors, such as the selection of consortium partners, inoculum ratio, cultivation types and modes, temperature, pH, light intensity, and photoperiod, that affect the biomass and biomolecule production of microalgal consortia which in future helps in enhancement in biomass and biomolecules production from microalgae and curing chronic diseases. The review discusses various types of microalgal consortia, aiding in selecting the most suitable consortia for future use. The review compares their biomass and biomolecule production with monoculture, outlining microalgal consortia's advantages, challenges, and prospects. Additionally, it discusses advanced artificial intelligence techniques that could assist in the future in the selection of compatible organisms and predict expected revenue generation.

Genetic erosion in domesticated barley and a hypothesis of a North African centre of diversity.

Barley is one of the founder crops of the Neolithic transition in West Asia. While recent advances in genomics have provided a rather detailed picture of barley domestication, there are contradictory views on how the domestication process affected genetic diversity. We set out to revisit this question by integrating public DNA sequencing data from ancient barley and wide collections of extant wild and domesticated accessions. Using two previously overlooked approaches - analyses of chloroplast genomes and genome-wide proportions of private variants - we found that the barley cultivated six millennia ago was genetically unique and more diverse when compared to extant landraces and cultivars. Moreover, the chloroplast genomes revealed a link between the ancient barley, an obscure wild genotype from north-eastern Libya, and a distinct population of barley cultivated in Ethiopia/Eritrea. Based on these results, we hypothesize past existence of a wider North African population that included both wild and cultivated types and suffered from genetic erosion in the past six millennia, likely due to a rapid desertification that ended the Holocene African humid period. Besides providing clues about the origin of Ethiopian landraces, the hypothesis explains the post-domestication loss of diversity observed in barley. Analyses of additional samples will be necessary to resolve the history of African barley and its contribution to the extant cultivated gene pool.

MENENTUKAN NILAI ERODIBILITAS TANAH (K) PADA JENIS TANAH DI SUB DAS JENELATA

The purpose of this study is to determine the value of soil erosion for each type of cultivation in several land units (K) in Jenelata Subdistrict, Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi Province. The Jenelata watershed is part of the Jeneberang watershed, located at 05º15'40'' - 05º25'50'' S and 119º34'45'' - 119º49'48'' E, with an area of approximately 23,733 hectares. The Jenelata watershed lies between 25 and 1375 meters above sea level. Most of the residents in the Jenelata watershed earn their livelihoods from farming and gardening. The types of land use in the Jenelata watershed include rice fields, mixed gardens, production forests, and grasslands. In the Jenelata watershed, the dominant trees are mahogany, white teak, and bamboo, while the dominant food crops/plantations are rice, corn, cassava, and cocoa. The results of the study show that cultivation activities have a significant impact on soil erosion, and the values of soil erosion were obtained from field data

Comprehensive framework for interpretation of WaPOR water productivity

This study presents a comprehensive framework for analyzing water productivity products provided by the FAO Water Productivity Open-access portal (WaPOR), focusing on various crops cultivated in both rainfed and irrigated areas within a semi-arid basin in Iran. Two indices, namely Gross Water Productivity (GWP) and Net Water Productivity (NWP), were introduced to quantify water productivity across crop fields. However, these indices may mislead decision-makers, because they aggregate water productivity for all crops and exacerbate the challenges posed by water scarcity. Therefore, mapping crop types seems necessary to enhance the interpretation of these indices and develop a dimensionless index for comparing different crops. The results demonstrated a fundamental change when comparing dimensionless water productivity with GWP and NWP products. Surprisingly, some pixels initially exhibiting high water productivity ranked as low water-productive pixels based on the derived dimensionless index, and vice versa. Based on dimensionless indicators, rainfed crops, particularly rainfed cereals, ranked as the most water-productive crops. The areas with dimensionless values below 0.5 warrant heightened attention to curtail non-beneficial water consumption and elevate water productivity. This research emphasizes the significance of mapping cultivation types as supplementary layers to facilitate precise, data-driven decision-making and enable comparisons of crops based on dimensionless water productivity indices.

Influence of crop management on stability rye yield and some grain quality traits

AbstractThe study explored the performance of hybrid and population rye (Secale cereale) cultivars under two different crop management intensities in Poland: moderate‐intensity and high‐intensity management. The focus was grain yield, grain quality, yield components, and variety stability in two growing seasons (2018/2019 and 2019/2020) at three locations. Hybrid cultivars consistently yielded higher grain yields (9.81 t ha−1) than population cultivars (7.90 t ha−1), with increase of 24.9%. However, hybrid cultivars had lower protein content (8.94%) than population cultivars (9.77%). Spike number was the most influential factor on yield, followed by 1000‐grain weight and grains per spike, regardless of cultivar type. Hybrid cultivars displayed a lower degree of stability as assessed using the ranking sum of the Shukla variance and the multi‐trait stability index. Hybrid cultivars were strongly dependent on resistance to fungal diseases, including Septoria (Mycosphaerella graminicola), and increased stability under moderate‐intensity management. Resistance to soil acidification became more important for cultivar stability under high‐intensity management.

Exploring adaptation strategies for smallholder farmers in dryland farming systems and impact on pearl millet production under climate change in West Africa

Understanding and identifying appropriate adaptation optons for cropping systems and management practices at spatial and temporal scales is an important prerequisite for scaling. Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L) R. Br.) could be regarded as a risk-reducing measure crop under climate change when coupled with tactical agronomic management practices. In this study, we assess the impacts of adaptation strategies such as cultivar type, planting windows, and fertilizer strategies on pearl millet production under rainfed farming systems over Nigeria and Senegal using the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) model. The impact of climate change on millet yield was evaluated using a validated APSIM-millet module that utilized yield data collected through participatory research and extension approach (PREA) in contrasting environments. The climate model projections for the mid-century period (2040–2069) were compared against a baseline period of 1980–2009 for both locations. During the simulation, two millet varieties (improved local and dual-purpose) with two sowing regimes were considered comparing traditional farmers’ sowing window (dry sowing) and agronomic sowing window (planting based on the onset of the rainfall) at three different fertilizer levels [low (23 kg N ha−1), medium (40.5 kg N ha−1), and high (68.5 kg N ha−1) respectively]. The performance of the APSIM-millet module was found to be satisfactory as indicated by the low Root Means Square Error (RMSE) and Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE) values. The range for grain yield was between 17.7% and 25.8%, while for AGB it was between 18.6% and 21.4%. The results showed that farmers’ sowing window simulated slightly higher grain yield than the agronomic sowing window for improved local millet cultivar indicating yield increased by 8–12%. However, the projected changes in the mid-century (2040–2069) resulted in a decline in yield against baseline climate for both varieties and sowing windows, indicating the negative impact of climate change (CC) on yield productivity. The comparison between dual-purpose millet and improved local millet indicates that disseminating the improved millet variety and implementing early sowing could be an effective adaptation strategy in reducing risks and losses caused by climate change. Similarly, low magnitude impacts simulated on grain yield (< −8% in Nigeria compared to > −8% in Senegal) even though both locations are in the same agroecological zone.

Effectiveness of potassium spraying on mitigation of aril paleness disorder in different pomegranate cultivars

Aril paleness is a physiological disorder that might be related to genetics, climate, and orchard management, and is progressed to negatively influence the quality of pomegranates in Iran. The final fruits are not economically valuable for costumers and not exportable. Thus, the present research investigated the intensity of aril paleness disorder in different cultivars including Shisheh Kab, Malas-e-Saveh, and Malas-e-Yazdi cultivated in Birjand, Southern Khorasan, Iran. Treatments included spraying potassium sulfate concentrations of 0 (control), 3 and 5% at late summer (exactly at aril color change stage) on trees for two consecutive years. Fruit and aril weight, anthocyanins, and phenols significantly increased on treated fruit compared to control. Comparison among cultivars indicated that the lowest amounts of quality parameters were observed in Shisheh Kab. Considering the multiple variables that affect the severity of the aril paleness, attention to cultivar type, climate, and the use of nutritional elements based on the soil and leaf analysis was recommended.