Vegetative Phase Research Articles

Water for agriculture: more crop per drop.

Global crop production in agriculture depends on water availability. Future scenarios predict increasing occurrence of flash floods and rapidly developing droughts accompanied by heatwaves in humid regions that rely on rain-fed agriculture. It is challenging to maintain high crop yields, even in arid and drought-prone regions that depend on irrigation. The average water demand of crops varies significantly, depending on plant species, development stage, and climate. Most crops, such as maize and wheat, require relatively more water during the vegetative phase compared to the ripening phase. In this review, we explain WUE and options to improve water use and thus crop yield. Nutrient management might represent another possibility to manipulate water uptake and use by plants. An emerging topic involves agroforest co-cultivation, where trees in the system facilitate water transfer through hydraulic lift, benefiting neighbouring crops. Other options to enhance crop yield per water use are discussed.

Notes on Zingiberaceae from Assam

These notes based on a study of live plants and related herbarium material include the description of the hitherto unknown vegetative phase of Amomum pauciflorum Baker; distribution of Amomum corynostachyum Wall.; detail description of Hornstedtia loroglossa (Gagnep.) Schum. and additional remarks on Globba clarkei Baker. Kaempferia involucrata King ex Baker and Mantisia saltatoria Sims.

The differential expression of the P5CR and αTPS6 genes in cowpea plants increases tolerance to water-deficit and high temperatures

Plants exposed to adverse environmental conditions develop molecular mechanisms of adaptation and/or defense, the osmoprotectors, which function as compatible solutes and contribute to tolerance via prevention systems and protection against cellular damage caused by these abiotic stresses. This study aimed to identify and characterize the osmoprotectors proline and trehalose in cowpea plants cv. Carijó under controlled conditions of water-deficit and heat stress based on the IPCC scenario of 4.8 °C increase in temperature, evaluating their structure and function through computational methods, as well as gene expression by RT-qPCR. The experimental assays were carried out in growth chambers under controlled conditions with different levels of soil water availability, phenological phases and temperature regimes. From the in silico analyses, ten TPS genes and one P5CR gene were identified in Vigna unguiculata, and these were named according to their chromosomal location. The VuP5CR and VuTPS genes play roles in hormone pathway signaling and in the response to light and biotic and abiotic stresses. The genes P5CR (proline) and αTPS6 (trehalose) were induced with increased temperature and lower water availability in the vegetative phase of cowpeas. In addition, P5CR also showed induction with 50% water availability at high temperatures. In the pod filling phase, the P5CR and αTPS6 genes were repressed with water availability of 75%, while only the P5CR gene was induced when water availability was reduced to 25% under heat stress. P5CR and TPS6 genes were induced in cowpea cv. Carijó in response to associated abiotic stresses (water-deficit and high temperatures), which suggests their participation in the mechanisms of adaptation of the species in adverse environmental conditions.

Comparing vegetative growth patterns of cultivated (Daucus carota L. subsp. sativus) and wild carrots (Daucus carota L. subsp. carota) to eliminate genetic contamination from weed to crop

Wild carrot is a problematic weed that can threaten the genetic purity of cultivated carrots by hybridization. Wild carrots must be controlled before flowering to avoid the undesirable crossing with cultivated carrots. Understanding wild carrot's vegetative growth pattern helps formulate sustainable weed management practices. However, little is known about the vegetative growth patterns of wild and cultivated carrots. A pot experiment was carried out to compare and model the vegetative growth pattern of different morphological traits in both wild and cultivated carrots. This study was executed in a glasshouse located in Palmerston North, New Zealand. A factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two factors and four replications was used. The first factor was assigned to the carrot genotype (cultivated and wild) and the second factor to length of juvenile stages (12-weeks, 8-weeks, and 4-weeks). Plant height, leaf number, shoot fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight, root diameter and root length were measured. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA), correlation, and regression analysis. At the 8-week juvenile stage (9–11 leaves stage), wild carrot's shoot and root characteristics exhibited rapid growth. Correlation analysis indicated positive and significant (p < 0.05) correlations between above and below-ground morphological traits. PCA showed that morphological characteristics, except plant height, can be used to distinguish wild and cultivated carrots. To predict the vegetative growth pattern of most of the morphological traits of wild and cultivated carrots, power regression models were selected based on higher R2 and adj-R2 values and lower values of RMSE, AIC and BIC. The study showed wild carrots grew more quickly than cultivated carrots during the vegetative phase. It is recommended that appropriate weed management practices, such as hoeing, tilling, hand pulling, or herbicide spraying, be implemented before wild carrot leaf stages 9–11.

Expression analyses of CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON and SHOOT MERISTEMLESS in the one-leaf plant Monophyllaea glabra reveal neoteny evolution of shoot meristem

The one-leaf plant Monophyllaea glabra exhibits a unique developmental manner in which only one cotyledon continues growing without producing new vegetative organs. This morphology is formed by specific meristems, the groove meristem (GM) and the basal meristem (BM), which are thought to be modified shoot apical meristem (SAM) and leaf meristem. In this study, we analysed the expression of the organ boundary gene CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON (CUC) and the SAM maintenance gene SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM) orthologs by whole-mount in situ hybridisation. We found that CUCs did not show clear border patterns around GM and BM during the vegetative phase. Furthermore, double-colour detection analysis at the cellular level revealed that CUC and STM expression overlapped in the GM region during the vegetative phase. We also found that this overlap is dissolved in the reproductive phase when normal shoot organogenesis is observed. Since co-expression of these genes occurs during SAM initiation under embryogenesis in Arabidopsis, our results demonstrate that GM is a prolonged stage of pre-mature SAM. Therefore, we propose that neotenic meristems could be a novel plant trait acquired by one-leaf plants.

Determination of Population Dynamics of Cicadellidae (Hemiptera) Species and Their Relationship with Climatic Parameters in Organic Cotton Fields in Hatay Province, Türkiye

In this study, population dynamics of leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) species in organic cotton-growing areas of Hatay province were investigated along with their associations with climatic parameters. Weekly sampling using a sweep net (100 sweep net/parcel) identified nine species within the Cicadellidae family. Among these, Asymmetrasca decedens (Paoli) and Empoasca decipiens (Paoli) displayed high population densities throughout the entire vegetation period of cotton, while Zyginidia sohrab (Zatchvakin), Psammotettix striatus (Linnaeus), Orosius orientalis (Matsumura), Anaceratagallia laevis (Ribaut), and Anaceratagallia sinuata (Mulsant &amp; Rey) were present in both vegetative and reproductive phases of cotton, with Z. sohrab reaching significant population levels. Cicadulina bipunctella (Matsumura) and Balclutha hebe (Kirkaldy) were found only during the reproductive phase, yet they achieved considerably high populations. Correlation and regression analyses have shown a moderate to high level of positive correlation between the population development of five leafhopper species and various temperature (°C) parameters (r=0.578-0.790, p

Multiomics-assisted characterization of rice-Yellow Stem Borer interaction provides genomic and mechanistic insights into stem borer resistance in rice.

By deploying a multi-omics approach, we unraveled the mechanisms that might help rice to combat Yellow Stem Borer infestation, thus providing insights and scope for developing YSB resistant rice varieties. Yellow Stem Borer (YSB), Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is a major pest of rice, that can lead to 20-60% loss in rice production. Effective management of YSB infestation is challenged by the non-availability of adequate sources of resistance and poor understanding of resistance mechanisms, thus necessitating studies for generating resources to breed YSB resistant rice and to understand rice-YSB interaction. In this study, by using bulk-segregant analysis in combination with next-generation sequencing, Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) intervals in five rice chromosomes were mapped that could be associated with YSB resistance at the vegetative phase in a resistant rice line named SM92. Further, multiple SNP markers that showed significant association with YSB resistance in rice chromosomes 1, 5, 10, and 12 were developed. RNA-sequencing of the susceptible and resistant lines revealedseveral genes present in the candidate QTL intervals to be differentially regulated upon YSB infestation. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed a putative candidate gene that was predicted to encode an alpha-amylase inhibitor. Analysis of the transcriptome and metabolite profiles further revealed a possible link between phenylpropanoid metabolism and YSB resistance. Taken together, our study provides deeper insights into rice-YSB interaction and enhances the understanding of YSB resistance mechanism. Importantly, a promising breeding line and markers for YSB resistance have been developed that can potentially aid in marker-assisted breeding of YSB resistance among elite rice cultivars.

Physiological characterization and bioactive compounds of promising accessions of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) in the Peruvian Amazon

Cowpea production in the Peruvian Amazon is increasing due to its ability to adapt to diverse environments, its contribution to soil conservation, and its versatility of uses. This crop is particularly valuable in human nutrition due to its high nutritional quality and nutraceutical properties of its bioactive compounds. The aim of the study was to evaluate the physiology of cowpea plants in accessions PER1005854, PER1005851, and PER12645, under the influence of rice husk mulch, screw tree litter, and oil palm fiber, as well as to determine the bioactive compounds present in the grains. This study aims to promote sustainable cowpea production, expose the nutritional aspects of the grains, and foster their consumption both locally and nationally. The experiment was conducted from November 2022 to March 2023, in Yurimaguas, Loreto, Peru. The application of organic mulches demonstrates a significantly positive impact on the growth of cowpea accessions during their vegetative phase. This effect is possibly attributed to increased water availability, as the mulch reduces soil evaporation. In particular, cowpea accessions PER12645 and PER1005851 exhibit desirable physiological characteristics for grain production, with short cycles of 71 days and higher yields of 1141 and 1125 kg/ha respectively. In contrast, accession PER1005854 is distinguished by its higher biomass production, reaching a value of 14497 kg/ha, a relevant trait for foliage production and its contribution to soil conservation. The bioactive compounds, such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, present in the accessions PER1005854, PER1005851, and PER12645, are similar to those found in other legumes. However, the antioxidant activity of dark tegument cowpeas proved to be superior, particularly highlighted in accession PER12645 (black tegument) with 26.3 μmolTG/g, and in accession PER1005854 (dark red tegument) with 19.5 μmolTG/g. This characteristic is particularly important for consumption, as it is related to the ability to combat oxidative stress in the human body.

Genetic Architecture, Studies to Identify the Selection Criteria for Yield in Long Duration Rice Lines (Oryza sativa L.)

Genetic Architecture, Studies to Identify the Selection Criteria for Yield in Long Duration Rice Lines (Oryza sativa L.)

J-family genes redundantly regulate flowering time and increase yield in soybean

Soybean (Glycine max) is a short-day crop whose flowering time is regulated by photoperiod. The long-juvenile trait extends its vegetative phase and increases yield under short-day conditions. Natural variation in J, the major locus controlling this trait, modulates flowering time. We report that the three J-family genes influence soybean flowering time, with the triple mutant Guangzhou Mammoth-2 flowering late under short days by inhibiting transcription of E1-family genes. J-family genes offer promising allelic combinations for breeding.

Pythium oligandrum induces growth promotion in starch potato without significantly altering the rhizosphere microbiome

Plant health promoting organisms, including microbial biological control agents, are of increasing importance for the development of more sustainable agriculture. To understand the function of these microbes as biological control agents under field conditions and their overall impact on soil and plant health, we need to learn more about the impact of plant beneficial microbes on the rhizosphere microbiome of crops such as potato. The plant beneficial oomycete Pythium oligandrum has previously been reported both as a biocontrol agent and as a plant growth promoter, or biostimulant, in several crop species. To investigate the potential of P. oligandrum as a biostimulant in potato, we performed a series of controlled-environment bioassays in three cultivars. We showed that biostimulation of potato by P. oligandrum is plant genotype-specific. We confirmed the biostimulation by P. oligandrum in the starch potato cultivar Kuras under field conditions. We further investigated the effects of P. oligandrum on the potato rhizosphere microbiome, sampling individual potato plants at three time points over the growing season (representing the vegetative growth phase, flowering, and the onset of senescence). Metabarcoding using ITS and 16S amplicon sequencing revealed no significant overall effect of P. oligandrum application on the bacterial and fungal rhizosphere communities. However, some genera were significantly differentially abundant after P. oligandrum application, including some classified as plant-beneficial microbes. We conclude that P. oligandrum has a cultivar-dependent growth-promoting effect in potato and only minor effects on the rhizosphere microbiome.

Effect of forest betel leaf extract (Piper aduncum L.) from various altitudes on the mortality of fall armyworm (S. frugiperda J.E. Smith) in the laboratory

S. frugiperda pests can attack corn plants in the vegetative and generative phases, resulting in yield losses ranging from 15% to 73%. Forest betel plant (P. aduncum L.) is one type of plant that can be used effectively as a botanical pesticide to control these pests. The effectiveness of a plant as a source of botanical insecticide is influenced by the ecology, geography, and climate where the plant grows. This study aimed to obtain the best and most effective forest betel leaf extract from various growing heights against S. frugiperda mortality. The research was conducted at the Plant Pest Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Riau University, from April to June 2023, using a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of three treatments and six replicates. Application of forest betel leaf extract at different altitudes above sea level, namely 200 meters, 500 meters, and 800 meters. The results showed that the difference in altitude significantly affected the mortality of S. frugiperda. Forest betel leaf extract from 200 meters above sea level was the best treatment for controlling armyworm pests, with a total mortality of 96.67%.

EXPLORING THE EFFICACY OF CNSL-BASED BOTANICAL PESTICIDES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PESTS OF BHINDI (ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS)

The consistent use of chemical pesticides over the years has led to various issues. To mitigate these problems, botanical insecticides have been used as a better alternative. One such botanical insecticide is cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL 20% EC), which contains a mixture of phenolic compounds. Under laboratory conditions, this insecticide was assessed against Sylepta derogata larvae in different concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1, along with a chemical control. At 5, 7, and 10 DAT, CNSL 1% was found to be the most effective treatment, with 90% mortality recorded. A probit analysis was conducted to determine the effective dose, which was found to be 1%. The CNSL 20% EC was modified to produce two combination products, EC1 and EC2, by substituting half of the active ingredient with neem oil and pongam oil respectively, without changing other ingredients and their proportion. The developed formulations were evaluated for product stability and emulsion properties. A pot culture experiment was conducted on bhindi crops once during the vegetative and reproductive phases. At 7 DAT, EC1 @ 1% and CNSL 20% EC @ 1% caused over 95% reduction of sucking pests such as Amrasca biguttula biguttula and Aphis gossypi compared to the control. However, CNSL 20% EC produced only a 76.48% reduction of the chewing pest S. derogata, whereas treatments with EC1 and EC2 showed over 80% reduction. Sucking pests were effectively reduced (by more than 90%) by the application of EC2 as well. It was concluded that the combination products EC1 and EC2 were more effective in controlling pests than CNSL alone.

Optimizing nutrient solution for vegetative growth of Dendrobium Tubtim Siam and Phalaenopsis Taisuco Swan through plant tissue nutrient balance estimation

BackgroundOrchids are grown without soil in many regions of the world, but there is a lack of studies to define the balanced and adequate nutrient solution for their cultivation, mainly in the vegetative growth phase. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the optimal concentration of the nutrient solution based on the proposal by Hoagland and Arnon (1950) in the vegetative growth phase capable of increasing the nutrient contents, growth, and dry matter production of Dendrobium Tubtim Siam and Phalaenopsis Taisuco Swan. In addition, this paper aims to estimate a new nutrient solution from the optimal nutrient contents in the dry matter of these orchid species to be used in the vegetative growth phase.ResultsNutrient contents, growth, and dry matter production increased as the nutrient solution concentration increased up to an average concentration of 62 and 77% for D. Tubtim Siam and P. Taisuco Swan, respectively. We found that the Hoagland and Arnon solution presented a group of nutrients with concentrations above the requirement for P. Taisuco Swan (nitrogen, phosphor, calcium, and sulfur) and D. Tubtim Siam (phosphor, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur), while other nutrients in the solution did not meet the nutritional demand of these orchid species, inducing nutritional imbalance in the vegetative growth phase.ConclusionWe conclude that using a balanced nutrient solution created specifically for each orchid species in vegetative growth might favor their sustainable cultivation by optimizing the use of nutrients in the growing medium.

Age-dependent changes in leaf size in apple are governed by a cytokinin-integrated module.

Plants undergo various age-dependent changes in leaf morphology during the transition from the juvenile to the adult stage. However, the precise molecular mechanisms governing these changes in apple (Malus domestica) remain unknown. Here, we showed that CYTOKININ OXIDASE/DEHYDROGENASE5 (MdCKX5), an age-dependent gene, encodes a functional CKX enzyme and serves as the common downstream target of SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) transcription factor MdSPL14 and WRKY transcription factor MdWRKY24 to control the degradation of cytokinin (CK). As the target of mdm-microRNA156a, MdSPL14 interacts with MdWRKY24 to coordinately repress the transcription of MdCKX5 by forming the age-mediated mdm-miR156a-MdSPL14-MdWRKY24 module, which regulates age-dependent changes in CK during the juvenile-to-adult phase transition. We further demonstrated that MdARR6, a type-A ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATOR (ARR), is a negative feedback regulator in the CK signaling pathway. Silencing of MdARR6 in apple resulted in large leaves with smaller epidermal cells and a greater number of epidermal cells. Biochemical analysis showed that the mdm-miR156a-MdSPL14-MdWRKY24 module acts as a transcriptional repressor to directly regulate MdARR6 expression, thus controlling the age-dependent changes in leaf size by reducing CK responses. These findings established a link between the age pathway and CK signaling and revealed the molecular mechanism underlying age-dependent changes during the juvenile-to-adult phase transition; our results also provide targets for the genetic improvement of the vegetative phase transition in apple.

Potassium silicate as a new micronutrient agent in the initial development of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Silicon (Si) is considered a non-essential micronutrient for vegetables, although it has important functions during vegetative development in some large crops of agricultural interest. This study aimed to evaluate the action of Silicon on vegetative development in a sunflower cultivar ‘Multissol’. The experiment was carried out in full sun in February 2024, with five dosages (0; 150; 300; 600 and 900 kg ha-1) using potassium silicate as a source of Si. The vigor variables for humidity, germination, accelerated aging, weight of 100 grains, electrical conductivity, cold test and emergence in sand and soil were analyzed. Vegetative parameters for plant height, root size, number of leaves, aerial and root fresh mass and aerial and root dry mass were also evaluated. The germination rate was greater than 90%, the electrical conductivity was 100 µS cm-1.g-1, emergence in sand and soil was greater than 90%, regarding the variables of the vegetative phase, there were substantial gains (p &lt; 0.05) in all parameters analyzed, especially for the highest dosage of 900 kg ha-1 when compared between the control. Si has a positive effect on the evaluated parameters and is a non-essential element that has positive effects on sunflower crops, especially on the Multissol cultivar.

Liquid in vitro culture system allows gradual intensification of osmotic stress in Solanum tuberosum through sorbitol

Because of their shallow root system, drought stress is a major problem in potato cultivation. Due to climate change more severe drought periods are expected to occur in the vegetative growth phase of potato growth. Therefore, there is a great need for drought tolerant potato genotypes. Potato responds to drought stress in the field in various ways, including osmoregulation. Osmotic stress can be induced in vitro by adding an osmotic agent and thus lowering the osmotic potential of the medium. In this study, a new, cost-effective in vitro test system is presented, in which the osmotic agent can be gradually added after root formation to prevent an osmotic shock. This is achieved by using sieves as plant holders and liquid medium, which, allows an improved simulation of gradually drying soil. Responses to osmotic stress in four potato genotypes were analysed and an increase in proline under osmotic stress was detected. Moreover, genes of interest that were postulated to be linked to drought stress were shown by quantitative qRT-PCR to be regulated under osmotic stress. Furthermore, we showed that the content of sorbitol, which was used as osmotic agent, was 700- fold higher for ‘Eurostarch’ after seven days under osmotic stress and 1093- fold higher after 14 days, respectively, compared to control plants without sorbitol addition. Therefore, further investigations must show, whether it was taken up through the roots, is metabolised, stored or de novo synthesised by the potato plants.KeypointsThe established novel in vitro test system for potato allows gradually increasing stress exposition of rooted plants. Sorbitol seems not an ideal osmotic agent as it is likely taken up.

Phenological evolution in annual plants under light competition, changes in the growth season and mass loss.

Flowering time is an important phenological trait in plants and a critical determinant of the success of pollination and fruit or seed development, with immense significance for agriculture as it directly affects crop yield and overall food production. Shifts in the growth season, changes in the growth season duration and changes in the production rate are environmental processes (potentially linked to climate change) that can lead to changes in flowering time in the long-term due to selection. In contrast, biomass loss (due to, for example, herbivory or diseases) can have profound consequences for plant mass production and food security. We model the effects of these environmental processes on the flowering time evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) of annual plants and the potential consequences for reproductive output. Our model recapitulates previous theoretical results linked to climate change and light competition and makes novel predictions about the effects of biomass loss on the evolution of flowering time. Our analysis elucidates how both the magnitude and direction of the evolutionary response can depend on whether biomass loss occurs during the earlier vegetative phase or during the later reproductive phase and on whether or not plants are adapted to grow in dense, competitive environments. Specifically, light competition generates an asymetric effect of mass loss on flowering time even when loss is indiscriminate (equal rates), with vegetative mass loss having a stronger effect on flowering time (resulting in greater ESS change) and final reproductive output.

Potential of Bacillus spp. Consortium for controlling Meloidogyne spp. and enhancing tomato crop production

Introduction: rhizobacteria Bacillus spp. are microorganisms that reside in plant roots that function as biocontrol agents of plant diseases and increase plant growth and yield. Bacillus spp. consortium is a combination of several Bacillus spp. that synergize and do not inhibit each other. The study aimed to obtain the best Bacillus spp. consortium to control Meloidogyne spp. and increase the growth and yield of tomato plants. Methods: This research is experimental using a completely randomized design consisting of 2 stages, namely 1.) Compatibility test of rhizobakteria consortium Bacillus spp. consists of 6 treatments 4 replicates and 2.) Test consortium rhizobakteria Bacillus spp. selected to control Meloidogyne spp. and increase the yield of tomato plants. The observed variables were the development of root swelling by Meloidogyne spp., and the growth of seedling, vegetative, and generative phases. Results: The results showed that testing all isolates of rhizobacteria Bacillus spp. showed compatibility (compatible). Bacillus spp. rhizobacteria consortium can suppress the development of Meloidogyne spp. and showed different results compared to the control. Bacillus spp. rhizobacteria consortium can increase the growth of tomato seedlings and showed different results compared to the control. Bacillus spp. rhizobacteria consortium can increase the growth of tomato plants in the vegetative phase and showed different results compared to the control. rhizobacteria consortium Bacillus spp. can increase the growth of tomato plants in the vegetative phase and shows different results compared to the control. Conclusion: The best rhizobakteria Bacillus spp. consortium in suppressing the development of Meloidogyne spp. and increasing the growth and yield of tomato plants is Bacillus cereus strain RBI2AB2.2 + Bacillus cereus strain RBIKDA2.2.

Temporal variation in aphid abundance throughout cucumber plant growth stages

This study aims to analyze the abundance of aphids (Aphis gossypii) on cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.) during both the vegetative and generative growth phases in the agricultural land of the Jambi farming community. The research employs a descriptive exploratory approach. Data were collected using a total sampling technique, involving the counting of all aphids found on sampled cucumber plants. Measurements of air humidity, temperature, and light intensity were conducted during the observation period. The results revealed that during the vegetative phase, the highest abundance of aphids occurred in the third week after planting (696 individuals), with an average abundance of 174. Conversely, the lowest abundance was observed in the first week after planting (42 individuals), averaging 10.5. In the generative phase, the highest abundance of aphids was recorded in the fifth week after planting (798 individuals), with an average abundance of 133; whereas the lowest abundance was noted in the tenth week after planting (36 individuals), averaging 6.