Use Of Agricultural Practices Research Articles

Exploring the Socioeconomic Dynamics and Technological Adaptation among Farmers: Implications for Sustainable Agricultural Development and Rural Livelihoods in Jaipur, India

The research was conducted in Jaipur district of Rajasthan. There are 23 AAO departments under the jurisdiction of Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture, Jothwara (Jaipur). Among these, 4 AAO departments viz. Hingonia, Jobner, Boraj and Bichun were deliberately chosen for this study because the AAO circle is next to SKNAU, Jobner is within a radius of 20 km, researchers from the school respectively many people are making technological improvements in nearby villages and farmers are also active. A total of 120 participants were selected from these four AAO circles. Judging from the entire health history of farmers benefiting from Nongtang, the majority of farmers benefiting from Nongtang are middle-aged (35 to 51 years old) (58.33%). Primary school graduates (20.00%), farmers are union members (37.50%), their share of average annual income (77.50%) is Rs. 1,26,781 to Rs. 4,72,303 and farmers share small land. category (38.33%). Moreover, most of the beneficiary farmers (44.17%) have moderate farming experience ranging from 15 to 31 years, (23.19%) farmers use PM Kisan application, (70.00%) farmers use information technology, (68%) 34) consider agriculture as the main business. job. The relationship between income and technological change shows that there is a positive relationship between education level, social participation, annual income, insured land, agriculture, agricultural practice and knowledge. The beneficiary's social profile indicates education, community involvement, annual income, land ownership, farm practice use, and data-effective and relevant job creation and annual income. The correlation between the profile of the beneficiaries and their social variables shows a positive relationship between the level of education, social participation, and annual income. There is a significant relationship between the use of agricultural practices and the change in personal property and the education level of family members. Agricultural knowledge and information are important and positively related to changes in household members' education levels and ownership of agricultural equipment.

Characterization and exploration of an As(III)-oxidizing bacterium TMKU1 for plant growth promotion under arsenic stress

Arsenic (As) pollution has been recognized as a serious global environmental problem. Though various remediation strategies are being explored to cope up with the As-toxicity, currently microbe-assisted detoxification of As is found to be the most promising technique for restoring As-contaminated rhizosphere soil for its eco-friendly nature. As(III)-oxidizing bacteria were reported to most suitable in this regard. In this study, an As(III)-oxidizing bacterium, TMKU1 was isolated from As-contaminated rhizospheric soil that could withstand up to 20 mM As(III) and 95 mM As(V). The strain was closely related to the genus Acinetobacter, according to 16 S rDNA analysis. The strain could transform ∼70% of As(III) to As(V) under aerobic culture condition. The transformation of As(III) was found to be catalyzed by arsenite oxidase, which is constitutive nature in this strain. The As(III)-oxidase was found to be encoded by the functional gene aioA harbored on the genomic DNA. The enzyme was localized mostly in the periplasm, and the partially purified enzyme showed the Km = 95.76667 μM and Vmax = 0.356341 M min−1g−1 protein. The novelty of this strain is that it could express plant growth promoting features like phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, IAA production and N2-fixation, both under stress-free and As-stress conditions. Seed bacterization with TMKU1 not only significantly increased the germination of chickpea seeds, but also shielded the seedlings from the As toxicity and accumulation. Overall, the results suggest that this bacterial candidate would be of potential use in agricultural practices for detoxification of As in crop field.

The transcriptome response of Enterobacter sp. S-33 is modulated by low pH-stress.

Acidic environments naturally occur worldwide and uncontrolled use of agricultural practices may also cause acidification of soils. The development of acidic conditions disturbs the establishment of efficient microbial populations in their natural niches. The survival of Enterobacter species under acidic stress remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the survival of an environmental isolate Enterobacter sp. S-33 under acidic stress and to identify the various genes involved in stress protection at the global gene transcription level. The obtained results provide new targets that will allow understanding the in-depth mechanisms involved in the adaptation of bacteria to environmental pH changes. We used the next-generation sequencing (NGS) method to analyze the expression (up-regulation & down-regulation) of genes under varying pH conditions. A total of 4214 genes were differentially expressed under acidic conditions (pH 5.0), with 294 up-regulated and 167 down-regulated. At pH 6.0, 50 genes were significantly expressed, of which 34 and 16 were identified as up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively. Many of the up-regulated genes were involved in carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid transport & metabolism, and the most down-regulated genes were related to post-translational modification, lipid transport & metabolism, etc. The observed transcriptomic regulation of genes and pathways identified that Enterobacter reduced its post-translational modification, lipid transport & metabolism, and increased carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism & transport, energy production & conversion to adapt and grow in acidic stress. The present work provides in-depth information on the characterization of genes associated with tolerance or adaptation to acidic stress of Enterobacter bacterium.

Contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to the bioavailability of micronutrients (iron and zinc) in millet accessions.

Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies, are prevalent public health issues in developing countries, with children under 5 years old and breastfeeding women being the most affected in Senegal. Agronomic approaches, including soil fertilization and microbial biotechnology, are used to alleviate these deficiencies, yet challenges persist due to poor nutrient availability in staple food crops like pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.). This study aimed to assess the contribution of one arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) strain, Glomus mosseae, to the bioavailability of micronutrients (zinc and iron) in pearl millet biomass. Four pearl millet accessions from the National Laboratory for Research on Plant Production (LNRPV) collection were inoculated with G. mosseae obtained from the Common Microbiology Laboratory (LCM), with four replications. Gaussian regression tests were employed to analyze the data and determine correlations between AMF concentration and micronutrient bioavailability. The results indicate that the combination of Glomus mosseae inoculation and organic residual products improved growth parameters and micronutrient absorption in pearl millet accessions. Analysis revealed significantly greater iron, zinc, phosphorus, and potassium contents in the foliar biomass of mycorrhizal pearl millet plants compared to non-mycorrhizal plants (control). Inoculation with AMF facilitated micronutrient absorption, particularly iron and zinc, not only in roots but also in aerial parts of the plants. These findings suggest that incorporating AMF and organic residual products in millet cultivation could be a viable strategy for enhancing plant development and increasing iron and zinc contents in varieties. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying AMF-mediated nutrient uptake and optimize their use in agricultural practices.

Weediness of spring cereal ear crops depends on the forecrop, tillage, fertilizers and herbicides

Goal. To analyze the species composition of weeds, their dominant role and to determine the type and level of weediness of spring cereal ear crops depending on different forecrops, methods of basic tillage, fertilization systems and herbicides in the conditions of the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.
 Methods. The investigations were conducted in field experiments of spring cereal crops (barley, wheat, triticale) in a stationary field, fixed nine-course-fallow-grain-row crop rotation by means of route surveys.
 results. According to the data of 2016—2018, during the cultivation of spring cereal ear crops in crop rotation after soybeans, corn for grain and sugar beets as forecrops, 38, 34 and 45 species of weeds were identified, respectively. In total, 52 species of weed plants were found in the crops, of which 27 species occurred after all forecrops. The largest number of weeds in agrocenoses was represented by early and late spring species (48.9—58.8%), and the second and third places were respectively occupied by wintering, winter and biennial (26.5—31.1%), and perennial (14.7—20.0%). The main species of weeds in cereal crops were: after soybean forecrop, Setaria glauсa, Echinochloa crus-galli, Chenopodium album, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Cirsium arvense, Convolvulus arvensis; after corn for grain forecrop, S. glauсa, E. crus-galli, C. album, Amaranthus retroflexus, Solanum nigrum, A. artemisiifolia, Polygonum lapathifolium, C. arvense, C. arvensis; after sugar beets forecrop, S. glauсa, E. crus-galli, C. album, A. retroflexus, S. nigrum, A. artemisiifolia, P. lapathifolium, C. arvense, Sonchus arvensis, C. arvensis. The largest number of weeds (33 species each) was found after sugar beets forecrop in the control (plowing, without fertilizers) and after chisel tillage (manure, after effect 30 t/ha + N30P30K30). Herbicides and forecrops significantly influenced the dominant and subdominant positions of certain weed species. In the crops, the cereal annual-bicotyledonous-root-sprouting type of weediness predominated (44.2%). The type of weediness of the crops depended on the use of agricultural practices in the years of research.
 Conclusions. In the conditions of the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, weediness of spring cereal ear crops depended significantly on the forecrop, the method of basic tillage, the fertilization system, and the use of herbicides.

Assessing the Public Perceptions of Media Coverage for Pesticides Use in the Agriculture Sector of India

Present research employs a survey method to explore the intricate relationship between media exposures and public perceptions of pesticide use in agriculture. A well-structured Google questionnaire was shared for data collection from the participants belonging to the northern district of Haryana, encompassing Panchkula, Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, and Karnal. A total 350 respondents participated in the online survey. The study reveals that the respondents who perceive media coverage as balanced are more likely to express concerns about pesticide use. The study tries to find out the degree of concern, trust, accuracy, and statistical significance. In terms of the perception influenced by media portrayals on pesticide use, a significant association is observed (Chi-square = 41.029, p < 0.0001). The analysis of media sources accuracy reveals a statistically significant association (Chi-square = 58.156, p < 0.0001). Respondents who perceived media sources as "Very accurate" reported higher levels of concern about pesticide use in agricultural practices, emphasizing the impact of perceived media accuracy on public concerns about pesticide use. The study found a strong link between media influence and the level of concern regarding pesticide use.

Improving a herbicide risk assessment model in paddy rice cultivation

Herbicides play a pivotal role in paddy rice cultivation by effectively controlling weeds, thus ensuring optimal resource utilisation and higher crop yields, making them indispensable for efficient rice production systems. However, herbicide applications could be related to potential environmental impacts such as water contamination and harm to non-target species, requiring special attention in their management to ensure the long-term sustainability of rice farming practices. The development and utilisation of robust risk assessment indicators for pesticides are essential tools in evaluating and mitigating potential environmental and human health hazards associated with pesticide use in agricultural practices. The Environmental Potential Risk Indicator for Pesticides (EPRIP) is not suitable for rice paddy cultivation due to its limitations in accurately assessing pesticide risk in this specific agricultural context. This is primarily attributed to the unique hydrological characteristics and ecosystem dynamics of paddy fields, which significantly differ from other agricultural systems. To address this issue and to enhance the accuracy of pesticide risk assessment in rice paddy fields, EPRIP has been improved and validated in two agricultural seasons. A synergistic approach involving field experiments and enhanced EPRIP model simulations was employed to assess the risk associated with the application of two herbicides in Italian paddy rice systems. The observed and model-predicted surface water (SW) concentrations exhibited a close alignment, though an overestimation was observed for groundwater (GW). In general, the estimated Risk Points (1 for SW and 4 for GW) were largely in accord with those derived from the field experiments (1 for SW and 3 for GW), suggesting that the refined EPRIP model holds promise for conducting reliable risk assessments following herbicide applications in such contexts.

Application of Biostimulants and Herbicides as a Promising Co-Implementation: The Incorporation of a New Cultivation Practice

Over the last decades, biostimulants have been the center of discussion as a sustainable cultivation practice to promote plant growth and protect crops from abiotic stress. Agrochemical products are abundantly used for this purpose, which has resulted in raised international concern. Biostimulants, when used in combination with herbicides in some cases, could act as safeners, reducing the harmful and stressful effects of herbicides, and as a result, this combination can be considered a relatively new agricultural technique. However, they can also have adverse or non-significant effects, something that is strongly affected by the operating mechanisms of their components. In practice, there is a need to identify plant species-biostimulant-herbicide working systems from all the stakeholders of agricultural production. While research is still in its early stages, several studies have been conducted to evaluate various biostimulant and herbicide combinations to contribute to this goal. In this review, studies of their combination in sequential or mixed tank applications have been gathered to see how and if each specific combination can have a potential use in agricultural practice. The results indicated that there are various effects on crops, some of which were positive and others negative or non-significant. The fact that there is a countless number of possible plant species-biostimulant-herbicide combinations to be evaluated is a challenging task. Nevertheless, this review could serve as a foundation for the upcoming research. The aim of this review is to summarize the knowledge of some successful working examples of these three factors that could facilitate the incorporation of biostimulant and herbicide application, either sequentially or in a tank mixture, as a part of the agricultural practice for field crops.

Enhancing Manganese Availability for Plants through Microbial Potential: A Sustainable Approach for Improving Soil Health and Food Security

Manganese (Mn) is essential for plant growth, as it serves as a cofactor for enzymes involved in photosynthesis, antioxidant synthesis, and defense against pathogens. It also plays a role in nutrient uptake, root growth, and soil microbial communities. However, the availability of Mn in the soil can be limited due to factors like soil pH, redox potential, organic matter content, and mineralogy. The excessive use of chemical fertilizers containing Mn can lead to negative consequences for soil and environmental health, such as soil and water pollution. Recent research highlights the significance of microbial interactions in enhancing Mn uptake in plants, offering a more environmentally friendly approach to address Mn deficiencies. Microbes employ various strategies, including pH reduction, organic acid production, and the promotion of root growth, to increase Mn bioavailability. They also produce siderophores, anti-pathogenic compounds, and form symbiotic relationships with plants, thereby facilitating Mn uptake, transport, and stimulating plant growth, while minimizing negative environmental impacts. This review explores the factors impacting the mobility of Mn in soil and plants, and highlights the problems caused by the scarcity of Mn in the soil and the use of chemical fertilizers, including the consequences. Furthermore, it investigates the potential of different soil microbes in addressing these challenges using environmentally friendly methods. This review suggests that microbial interactions could be a promising strategy for improving Mn uptake in plants, resulting in enhanced agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. However, further research is needed to fully understand these interactions’ mechanisms and optimize their use in agricultural practices.

Sustainable Farming Management in India

Agriculture has historically had a significant negative impact on the environment, primarily due to practices aimed at increasing yields to meet the growing demands of the population. These practices have led to consequences such as deforestation, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, irrigation issues, and pollution. To tackle these challenges, the concept of sustainable agriculture has emerged as a new approach. Sustainable agriculture aims to meet the present food and resource needs of society while ensuring the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It emphasizes the use of agricultural practices that minimize negative environmental impacts, promote resource efficiency, and ensure long-term sustainability. To effectively implement sustainable agriculture, it is crucial to adopt practices that align with its principles. Examples of such practices include organic farming, integrated pest management, crop rotation, agroforestry, conservation tillage, and water management techniques. By adopting these practices, farmers can reduce reliance on synthetic inputs, preserve soil health, conserve water resources, protect biodiversity, and mitigate the impact of agriculture on climate change. However, the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices is influenced by various factors that can vary across regions and contexts. These factors may include economic considerations, access to resources and knowledge, policy support, market demand for sustainable products, social norms, and farmer attitudes and beliefs. Understanding these factors is essential for promoting widespread adoption of sustainable agriculture. Research has been conducted to explore the drivers and barriers to the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. By identifying these factors, policymakers, researchers, and agricultural stakeholders can develop targeted strategies to incentivize and support farmers in transitioning towards sustainable practices. Although progress has been made in understanding the factors influencing adoption, there are still gaps and challenges in the existing literature. Further research is needed to deepen our understanding of the complex interactions between different factors and their effects on adoption outcomes. This will contribute to the development of more effective policies, programs, and interventions to promote sustainable agriculture and address the environmental challenges associated with conventional farming practices.

Changing the logic in agricultural extension: evidence from a demand-driven extension programme in Kenya

ABSTRACT Developing countries have recognised the need to strengthen their agricultural extension services as an engine for improving productivity, reaching marginalised, poor and female farmers and addressing new challenges, such as environmental degradation and climate change. However, structuring effective and viable extension systems remains a major challenge in most places. This paper studies the Plantwise extension programme in Kenya, an initiative that supports and increases collaboration among actors in the national plant health system, establishes and maintains a network of plant clinics – a physical interface between farmers and crop protection experts – to address the needs of smallholders, and collects key information in the process that can be used for informing policy and for monitoring and evaluation purposes. To assess the programme in Kenya, we conducted a longitudinal mixed-methods evaluation of the programme from 2014 to 2018. Our results show that Plantwise has altered the way the Government of Kenya addresses crop protection. The programme is innovative and improves knowledge at multiple levels. At the farm level, Plantwise has contributed to improvements in the use of agricultural practices, inputs and maize productivity, a major staple crop. The results show that the Plantwise approach is a reasonable alternative to other agricultural extension systems that support smallholder farmers.

Hygienic aspects of the possibility of using the new insecticide seller in agriculture

According to the results of toxicological studies, it was found that the Seller preparation of 20% k.s. Belongs to hazard class III (sanpin ruz No. 0321-15). The insecticide has an irritating effect on the mucous membranes of the eyes and skin. The drug has functional cumulation. The permissible daily dose at the level of 0.72 mg (people) per day is scientifically substantiated. Seller 20% K.s. Does not have carcinogenic, mutagenic and embryotoxic effects. Based on the complex of studies, hygienic standards of the preparation were developed and recommended: maximum concentration limit in water of reservoirs at the level of 0.04 mg / l (limiting hazard indicator is organoleptic); MPC in the air of the working area - 0.24 mg / m3; MPC in atmospheric air - 0.002 mg / m3; MDU in wheat - 0.18 mg / kg; UEC in the soil - 0.2 mg / kg sanitary protection zone (C33) - 200 meters, time for going to work after 7 days. Thus, on the basis of the above, the insecticide Seller 20% k.s. Can be recommended for use in agricultural practice, subject to the mandatory use of personal protective equipment for eyes, skin, respiratory organs and compliance with the rules for the use of the drug, recommended consumption rates and safety measures when working with pesticide.The purpose of this study was to identify the danger of an insecticide. Seller is 20% ks for humans and to develop, taking into account the specific features of agriculture in Central Asia, regulations that guarantee its safety in the environment and for consumers of agricultural products in hot climates.

Chlorphoxim induces neurotoxicity in zebrafish embryo through activation of oxidative stress.

It is known that chlorphoxim is a broad-spectrum and high-effective pesticide. With the wide use in agricultural practice, chlorphoxim residue is also frequently detected in water, but its potential toxicity to aquatic life is still unclear. In this study, zebrafish is used as a model to detect the toxicity of chlorphoxim. Our results showed that exposure of high concentration of chlorphoxim at 96 h post-fertilization (hpf) resulted in a high mortality and pericardium edema rate, a low hatchability rate and heart rate. The nervous system damage, swimming behavior alteration and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition were measured in zebrafish embryos after a 6 days post-fertilization (dpf) of chlorphoxim exposure. The expression of neural-related genes is abnormal in zebrafish embryos. Chlorphoxim exposure significantly increases oxidative stress in zebrafish embryos by inhibiting antioxidant enzyme (SOD and CAT) and activating reactive oxygen species (ROS). As expected, chlorphoxim exposure induces apoptosis by enhancing the expression of apoptotic genes (Bax, Bcl2, and p53). Astaxanthin (ATX), an effective antioxidant, was found to be able to rescue the neurotoxicity of chlorphoxim through relieving oxidative stress and apoptosis. Altogether, the results showed that chlorphoxim exposure led to severe neurotoxicity to zebrafish embryos, which was contributed to a more comprehensive understanding of the safety use of the organophosphorus pesticide.

Solid-Phase Microextraction-Gas Chromatography Analytical Strategies for Pesticide Analysis.

Due to their extensive use and the globalized commerce of agricultural goods, pesticides have become a global concern. Despite the undoubtful advantages of their use in agricultural practices, their misuse is a threat to the environment and human health. Their analysis in environmental samples and in food products continues to gain interest in the analytical chemistry community as they are challenging matrices, and legal concentration limits are particularly low (in the order of ppb). In particular, the use of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has gained special attention in this field thanks to its potential to minimize the matrix effect, while enriching its concentration, allowing very low limits of detection, and without the need of a large amount of solvents or lengthy procedures. Moreover, its combination with gas chromatography (GC) can be easily automated, making it a very interesting approach for routine analysis. In this review, advances and analytical strategies for the use of SPME coupled with GC are discussed and compared for the analysis of pesticides in food and environmental samples, hopefully encouraging its further development and routine application in this field.

The size of iron oxide nanoparticles determines their translocation and effects on iron and mineral nutrition of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima L.)

The ability of nanoparticles (NPs) to migrate in the plant body is an important issue to ensure that the NPs reach the desired tissue and to be able to select the most efficient NPs for agricultural applications. In this study, the size impact of four different iron oxide NPs (8–10, 18–20, 20–40, and 30–50 nm referred as NP10, NP20, NP30, and NP40, respectively) on their translocation in pumpkin was elucidated. To assess the root-to-shoot translocation, phloem sap was examined under transmission electron microscope (TEM). In addition, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometry (ICP-OES) analyses of stem and leaf tissues were performed to confirm size-dependent translocation. TEM and VSM analyses verified root-to-stem translocation of all tested NPs. The NPs treatment significantly altered the abundances of Mn, Cu, K, P, Al, Mg, and Na in tissues. The iron (Fe) content was abundant in plants treated with NP30 and NP20, and the lowest in plants treated with NP10 and NP40. Together with, only NP30 was found to be significantly translocated to the leaves, where it was 393 mg/kg in DW, about 2.3 times that of control. These findings pointed out the size-dependent translocation of NPs. It seems that biological barriers in the vascular bundle appear to restrict the migration, especially for NPs with an average size of 40 nm and above in pumpkins. These findings are important for selecting the most suitable size of iron oxide NPs for use in agricultural practices.

Environmental behavior of the chiral fungicide epoxiconazole in earthworm-soil system: Enantioselective enrichment, degradation kinetics, chiral metabolite identification, and biotransformation mechanism.

The environmental impact of the chiral fungicide epoxiconazole and its chiral transformation products (TPs) on non-target organisms and the environment has become a significant concern due to its widespread use in agricultural practice. Enantioselectivity studies of parent contaminants cannot adequately assess the complexity of its chiral TPs in the environment. This study aimed to investigate the environmental behavior of epoxiconazole in an earthworm-soil system. 2S,3R-(-)-epoxiconazole was preferentially enriched in earthworms during the accumulation phase (p<0.05), but no enantioselectivity was observed during the elimination phase. One methoxylated and four hydroxylated chiral TPs were identified in soil, earthworm, and excrement. The epoxy ring hydroxylated TP and methoxylated TP of epoxiconazole were discovered for the first time in the environment. The chemically specific enantioselectivity with enantiomer fraction (EF)>0.8 was observed for the TPs in different matrices. The CYP450 monooxygenase of earthworm was significant activated. In vitro enzyme metabolism experiments (earthworm microsomes and recombinant CYP450 enzymes CYP2A6, CYP 2C9, and CYP 3A4) were carried out to further explain the biotransformation mechanism of epoxiconazole in earthworm. This study provides new evidence of enantiomeric biotransformation of chiral fungicide epoxiconazole in the earthworm-soil system and could provide valuable insights into their environmental risk assessment.

Halotolerant Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria Colonization of Agronomic Crops Under Saline Stress

The ability of a plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) strain to colonize the roots and tissues of inoculated plants is important for their successful use in agricultural practices. The purpose of this study was to determine how effective 15 indigenous halotolerant PGPB were at colonizing three different agronomic crops via seed inoculation. Using standard Hoagland’s media and Hoagland’s media amended with 100 mM NaCl, we tested 15 gfp-tagged halotolerant bacterial isolates for their ability to colonize rice, maize, and soybean seedlings. The quantitative dilution plating method and fluorescent microscopy were used to determine the colonization degree of gfp-tagged halotolerant PGPB isolates in the rhizoplane zone and in the inner tissue of the seedlings at 21 days after germination. All halotolerant PGPB isolates colonized the rhizoplane zone of all seedlings. In both standard and 100 mM NaCl amended Hoagland’s media, isolates E194-3, D183-4, and E101-1 showed the highest colonization in rice, maize, and soybean seedlings, respectively. The ability of halotolerant PGPB isolates to colonize agronomic crops was found to vary depending on bacterial isolates, plant species, plant tissues, and NaCl concentration.&#x0D; Keywords: inoculation, colonization, halotolerant, endophyte, rhizoplane

Nematicidal effects of a peptidase (NlpC/P60) from the phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae MB03 on the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and plant-parasitic Meloidogyne incognita.

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are severe threats to agricultural yields and continue to be challenging to treat in several crops worldwide. Microbial-based control has been suggested as a better alternative to chemical control. In this study, we aimed to identify and characterize nematicidal virulence factors of a common phytopathogenic bacterium, Pseudomonas syringae, mainly focusing on the nematicidal and suppressive activities of an NlpC/P60 family peptidase, namely, Peptidase03, against the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and an agriculturally important PPN, Meloidogyne incognita. Genome-wide virulence factor prediction of the P. syringae wild-type strain MB03 revealed numerous nematode pathogenic determinants. We selected 11 predicted nematicidal genes for cloning and induced expression in an Escherichia coli expression system and then performed comparative nematicidal bioassays on the model nematode C. elegans. The recombinant strain expressing Peptidase03 showed the highest level of toxicity against C. elegans, with 75.9% mortality, compared to the other tested strains. Purified Peptidase03 showed significant toxicity against C. elegans and M. incognita, with half lethal concentration (LC50) values of 147.9µg/mL and 211.50µg/mL, respectively. We also demonstrated that Peptidase03 could damage the intestinal tissues of C. elegans and exhibit detrimental effects on its growth, brood size, and locomotion. The Peptidase03 protein from P. syringae MB03 had significant nematicidal and suppressive activities against C. elegans and M. incognita, thereby showing potential for the development of an effective PPN-controlling agent for use in agricultural practice.

Efficiency of foliar application with organic fertilizer agrochelate on seed plots of summer sowing watermelon

Relevance. In the central zone of the Krasnodar Territory, the mobility and availability of the main elements of mineral nutrition can be limited in certain phases of the growing season of melons and gourds, especially with a decrease in soil moisture and high temperatures. An important additional and corrective element of nutritional technology is foliar feeding, which increase the absorption of fertilizers during critical periods of plant growth and development.Material and methods. The purpose of the research is to determine the effectiveness of foliar application with organic fertilizer AGROCHELATE to maximize the biological potential of watermelon varieties on seed plots during summer sowing. The research was carried out at the seed-growing area of the vegetable growing department in the "Federal Scientific Rice Centre" in 2020-2021. The object of research was selected varieties of watermelon selection “Federal Scientific Rice Centre” Tersky early and Yubilyar with a growing season of 65-75 days. Organic fertilizer AGROCHELATE was used to treat the leaf surface of plants with a consumption rate of 100 ml/ha. A single spraying was used during the flowering phase of the plants. For the isolation of seeds, fruits were selected that were characteristic of the varietal phenotype in the phase of biological ripeness: in shape, size, color and pattern of the bark, color of the pulp, size and color of seeds.Results. In the Terskiy early variety, during spring sowing, fruits weighing 3.5-4.0 kg are formed. With summer sowing, the weight of fruits was significantly inferior and did not exceed 2.36 kg. The size of the Yubilyar watermelon fruit corresponded to the declared varietal parameters. The use of foliar application with organic fertilizer AGROCHELATE during the flowering phase did not affect the fruit weight. Analysis of the results of the content of dry soluble substances (DRS) in the pulp of the fruits showed a positive varietal response to the use of feeding. The share of influence on the improvement of the pulp quality indicator was 64.1%. On seed plots, after application of fertilizing with organic fertilizer AGROCHELATE, 0.81-3.09 t more than from control plots, selected fruits corresponding to varietal characteristics. The seed yield is largely influenced by the number of fruits selected for seed isolation. A one-time application of sheet processing made it possible to select a larger number of fruits on the Tersky Early variety - by 289 pieces./ha, on the Yubilyar variety – by 495 pcs./ha. Treatment of plants with organic fertilizer AGROCHELATE in the flowering phase contributed to an increase in the number of seeds in each fruit in the Tersky early watermelon by 19-127 pieces, in the Yubilyar variety by 9-111 pieces, respectively. Unripe seeds in fruits by varieties were 0.9-5.0% less than in untreated plants. In general, watermelon seeds obtained during summer sowing, regardless of the use of agricultural practices, corresponded to the elite category that can be used to grow marketable products.

Impact of Ecological Factors on the Occurrence and Spatial-Taxonomic Structure of Keratinophilic Fungi and Their Co-Occurrence in Arable Soils

Fungi that decompose keratinized animal remains are an important component of the arable soil microbiome. The aim of the study is to characterize the communities of keratinophilic and co-inhabiting (non-keratinophilic) fungi in four cultivated soils that differ in physico-chemical properties, with particular emphasis on granulometric fractions, which have so far been omitted from studies concerning the ecology of these micromycetes. Fungi were isolated using the keratin-baiting method. Fungal species identification was carried out on the basis of their macro- and micromorphological features. The Simpson diversity index and Marczewski–Steinhaus similarity index were calculated for precise determination of the relationships between fungal communities. In the studied soils, Trichophyton ajelloi and Ctenomyces serratus dominated among keratinophilic fungi, while Purpureocillium lilacinum and Metacordyceps chlamydosporia, from the orders Eurotiales and Hypocreales, were dominant among non-keratinophilic fungi. The frequency of keratinophilic fungi was significantly positively correlated with pH and the content of two granulometric fractions, as opposed to non-keratinophilic fungi. This was reflected in the higher growth rates of keratinomycetes in loamy soil, chernozem, and rendzina, i.e., soils with a higher content of silt and clay fractions compared to sandy soil characterized by a high content of sand fractions. The species composition of both groups of fungi was most similar between loamy soil and chernozem, whereas the greatest differences were found for sandy soil and rendzina. Chernozem was characterized by the highest diversity of fungal species from both groups of fungi. The study, in addition to providing information about ecological factors, provided a collection of keratinomycete strains that can be used as a starting material for subsequent research stages regarding keratinolytic activity of these fungi and their potential use in agricultural practices.