1. |
- Ahmed, Mukhtar
(författare)
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Impact of Climate Warming on Cotton Growth and Yields in China and Pakistan: A Regional Perspective
- 2021
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Year to year change in weather poses serious threats to agriculture globally, especially in developing countries. Global climate models simulate an increase in global temperature between 2.9 to 5.5 degrees C till 2060, and crop production is highly vulnerable to climate warming trends. Extreme temperature causes a significant reduction in crop yields by negatively regulating the crop phenology. Therefore, to evaluate warming impact on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production and management practices, we quantified agrometeorological data of 30 years by applying multiple crop modelling tools to compute the expected rise in temperature, impact of crop phenology, yield loss, provision of agrometeorology-services, agronomic technologies, and adaptation to climate-smart agriculture. Model projections of 15 agrometeorology stations showed that the growing duration of the sowing-boll opening and sowing-harvesting stages was reduced by 2.30 to 5.66 days decade(-1) and 4.23 days decade(-1), respectively, in Pakistan. Temperature rise in China also advanced the planting dates, sowing emergence, 3-5 leaves, budding anthesis, full-bloom, cleft-boll, boll-opening, and boll-opening filling by 24.4, 26.2, 24.8, 23.3, 22.6, 15.8, 14.6, 5.4, 2.9, and 8.0 days. Furthermore, present findings exhibited that the warming effect of sowing-harvest time was observed 2.16 days premature, and delayed for 8.2, 2.4, and 5.3 days in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s in China. APSIM-cotton quantification revealed that the sowing, emergence, flowering, and maturity stages were negatively correlated with temperature -2.03, -1.93, -1.09, and -0.42 days degrees C-1 on average, respectively. This study also provided insight into the adaptation of smart and better cotton by improving agrotechnological services.
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2. |
- Andonov, Sreten
(författare)
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Direct Economic Impact Assessment of Winter Honeybee Colony Losses in Three European Countries
- 2021
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Honeybees are of great importance because of their role in pollination as well as for hive products. The population of managed colonies fluctuates over time, and recent monitoring reports show different levels of colony losses in many regions and countries. The cause of this kind of loss is a combination of various factors, such as the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, viruses, pesticides, management practices, climate change, and other stress factors. Having in mind that the economic aspect of honeybee colony losses has not been estimated, a pioneer effort was made for developing a methodology that estimates the economic impact of honeybee colony losses. Winter loss data was based on 2993 answers of the COLOSS standard questionnaire survey of honeybee winter colony losses for 2016/2017. In addition, market and financial data were used for each country. In a comparative analysis, an assessment on the economic impact of colony losses in Austria, Czechia, and Macedonia was made. The estimation considered the value of the colonies and the potential production losses of the lost colonies and of surviving but weak colonies. The direct economic impact of winter honeybee colony losses in 2016/2017 in Austria was estimated to be about 32 Mio; in Czechia, 21 Mio; and in Macedonia, 3 Mio. Economic impact reflects the different value levels in the three countries, national colony populations, and the magnitude of colony losses. This study also suggests that economic losses are much higher than the subsidies, which underlines the economic importance of honeybees for the agricultural sector.
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3. |
- Blanco Penedo, Isabel
(författare)
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Effect of Feeding Level and Breed on the Daily Activity Budget of Lactating Beef Cows Fed Total Mixed Ration
- 2020
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of two feeding levels and two breeds on the daily activity budget of indoor‐housed lactating beef cows fed total mixed ration (TMR). We used a total of 20 cows from Parda de Montaña (PA, n = 14) and Pirenaica (PI, n = 6) breeds. To evaluate the feeding level, PA cows were fed the TMR at the maintenance level and in a restricted amount. To evaluate the breed effect, PA and PI cows were fed at maintenance. All cows were video recorded for 24 consecutive hours at weeks 3, 8 and 13 of lactation. Scan sampling at 10‐ minute intervals was used to obtain information on their daily activity budget. The restricted feeding level did not affect the time standing or lying, but it reduced the time eating the TMR and increased the time exploring and/or eating straw bedding. Both breeds showed a similar daily activity budget, except for the time that they spent foraging straw, which was lower in PA than in PI breed. In conclusion, feeding level and breed of lactating beef cows fed on TMR during the indoor housing period did not affect the main contributors to the daily activity budget.
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4. |
- Chawade, Aakash
(författare)
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Chitinases—Potential Candidates for Enhanced Plant Resistance towards Fungal Pathogens
- 2018
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 8
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Crop cultivation is crucial for the existence of human beings, as it fulfills our nutritional requirements. Crops and other plants are always at a high risk of being attacked by phytopathogens, especially pathogenic fungi. Although plants have a well-developed defense system, it can be compromised during pathogen attack. Chitinases can enhance the plant's defense system as they act on chitin, a major component of the cell wall of pathogenic fungi, and render the fungi inactive without any negative impact on the plants. Along with strengthening plant defense mechanisms, chitinases also improve plant growth and yield. Chitinases in combination with recombinant technology can be a promising tool for improving plant resistance to fungal diseases. The applicability of chitinase-derived oligomeric products of chitin further augment chitinase prospecting to enhance plant defense and growth.
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5. |
- Dedicova, Beata
(författare)
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Germination and the Biochemical Response of Pumpkin Seeds to Different Concentrations of Humic Acid under Cadmium Stress
- 2022
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The poisoning of heavy metals and their accumulation in food chains are major environmental and health risks. There have been several reports that determined that pumpkins tend to collect small amounts of nitrate or heavy metals. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of organic matter (humic acid) on the germination and activity of antioxidant enzymes, glycosylate cycle enzymes, and utilization of lipid and protein reserves of pumpkin seeds under cadmium stress conditions. An experiment was conducted to quantify the germination response and biochemical change of pumpkin seeds to the use of humic acid under cadmium stress conditions. The treatments were cadmium at three levels (0 (control), 100, and 200 mg.L-1) and humic acid at five levels (0 (control), 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg.L-1). Linear and sigmoidal models were used to investigate the trend of trait changes. The results show that changes in the germination percentage and seed vigor were affected by applying humic acid and cadmium stress. The highest germination percentage for pumpkins was observed without stress and cadmium stress at a concentration of 200 mg.L-1. The results of quantification for the germination and seed vigor also showed that the model of germination changes by the use of humic acid was sigmoidal in non-stress and cadmium stress conditions of 100 mg.L-1, but it was linear for seed vigor in the stress conditions of 200 mg.L-1. The activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, isocitrate lyase, and malate synthase was also affected by the simultaneous use of humic acid and cadmium stress, and the trend of their changes was linear.
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6. |
- Dimitrova Mårtensson, Linda-Maria, et al.
(författare)
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The Perennial Grain Crop Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey (Kernza (TM)) as an Element in Crop Rotations: A Pilot Study on Termination Strategies and Pre-Crop Effects on a Subsequent Root Vegetable
- 2021
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) may benefit soil fertility in crop rotations. To investigate termination strategies, i.e., autumn ploughing (AP), autumn harrowing (AH) and spring harrowing (SH) on a five-year-old IWG stand, a pilot study was performed. After the treatments, beetroots were sown and the IWG plants were counted twice during the beetroot growing season. The number of IWG plants was highest (20) after the SH strategy, intermediate (14) after the AH, and lowest (3) after the conventional termination strategy, AP. After the first plant count, the plots were subject to mechanical weeding in the form of a stale seedbed (i.e., harrowing twice before sowing). At beetroot harvest, the number of IWG plants was low (3 in SH and AH, 0 in AP) and similar between the treatments. The beetroot production was highest after AP and lowest in SH, and intermediary in AH, which showed no difference from AP and SH. At beetroot harvest, the weed biomass did not differ between the termination strategies. The weeds were mainly annuals. There were no differences in soil bulk density between termination strategies. Our results show that shallow soil tillage is enough to terminate IWG, as long as it repeated. We suggest further studies that investigate the dynamics of crop sequences with IWG, and how to benefit from this crop in rotations.
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7. |
- Durodola, Oludare Sunday, et al.
(författare)
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Modelling the impacts of climate change on soybeans water use and yields in Ogun-Ona river basin, Nigeria
- 2020
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Ingår i: Agriculture (Switzerland). - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 10:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- African countries such as Nigeria are anticipated to be more susceptible to the impacts of climate change due to reliance on rainfed agriculture. In this regard, the impacts of climate change on crop water requirements (CWR), yields and crop water productivity (CWP) of soybean in the Ogun-Ona River Basin, Nigeria, were evaluated for the baseline period (1986–2015) and future period (2021–2099) under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios using AquaCrop Version 6.1. Future climate projections from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute’s climate models (HadGEM2-ES and RCA4) were used in simulating the future scenarios. The results show that for the baseline period, CWR and yield are increasing while CWP shows a slight increase. For the future period, the CWR is projected to fluctuate and depend on the rainfall pattern. Meanwhile, carbon dioxide fertilization has positive effects on yield and is projected to increase up to 40% under RCP 8.5. The results of this study certainly offer useful information on suitable adaption measures which could be implemented by stakeholders and policymakers to improve soybean productivity in Nigeria.
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8. |
- Gallardo Fernández, Gloria L., 1953-, et al.
(författare)
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Commoditization of rural lands in the semi-arid region of Chile—the case of the huentelauquén agricultural community
- 2018
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - Basel : MDPI. - 2077-0472. ; 8:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The agri-pastoralist communities of the semi-arid region of Chile, with their unusual common land ownership, have not escaped economic neo-liberalism. The general pattern of insatiable demand of land for agricultural production, mining, energy generation and real-estate development has become a challenge for these communities. How are these processes affecting the traditional practices of these localized agri-food systems, based on rain-fed-agriculture, pastoralism and the fading practice of transhumance? In this article, we look at how the Huentelauquén Agricultural Community in the Canela Commune has dealt with, reacted to, and been affected by regional economic shifts geared towards market liberalization. In particular, we analyze the structural changes in the community in regard to alienation of the commons and changes in land tenure. Qualitative interviews were conducted with key informants in this setting. To provide a richer contextual setting, this article draws on several other empirically-based works on the commons’ emergence and evolution, land commoditization and local struggles for livelihoods. Our study shows that a community can adopt different strategies when dealing with powerful sectoral development that can involve resistance as well as positioning that seeks to find favorable terms of engagement. Our findings highlight that processes affecting the traditional commons are resulting in the re-appropriation and re-occupation of the land. This is resulting in social differentiation, weakening of the community’s social bonds, depeasantization and further degradation of an already vulnerable ecosystem. In sum, these shifts are posing an existential threat to this form of traditional agri-pastoralism.
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9. |
- Hernandez Velasco, Marco, 1985-
(författare)
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Enabling year-round cultivation in the Nordics : Agrivoltaics and adaptive Led lighting control of Daily Light Integral
- 2021
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : Springer Nature. - 2077-0472. ; 11:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- High efficacy LED lamps combined with adaptive lighting control and greenhouse integrated photovoltaics (PV) could enable the concept of year-round cultivation. This concept can be especially useful for increasing the production in the Nordic countries of crops like herbaceous perennials, forest seedlings, and other potted plants not native of the region, which are grown more than one season in this harsh climate. Meteorological satellite data of this region was analyzed in a parametric study to evaluate the potential of these technologies. The generated maps showed monthly average temperatures fluctuating from −20 °C to 20 °C throughout the year. The natural photoperiod and light intensity also changed drastically, resulting in monthly average daily light integral (DLI) levels ranging from 45–50 mol·m−2·d−1 in summer and contrasting with 0–5 mol·m−2·d−1 during winter. To compensate, growth room cultivation that is independent of outdoor conditions could be used in winter. Depending on the efficacy of the lamps, the electricity required for sole-source lighting at an intensity of 300 µmol·m−2·s−1 for 16 h would be between 1.4 and 2.4 kWh·m−2·d−1. Greenhouses with supplementary lighting could help start the cultivation earlier in spring and extend it further into autumn. The energy required for lighting highly depends on several factors such as the natural light transmittance, the light threshold settings, and the lighting control protocol, resulting in electric demands between 0.6 and 2.4 kWh·m−2·d−1. Integrating PV on the roof or wall structures of the greenhouse could offset some of this electricity, with specific energy yields ranging from 400 to 1120 kWh·kW−1·yr−1 depending on the region and system design.
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10. |
- Lundkvist, Anneli
(författare)
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Weed Species Trait Selection as Shaped by Region and Crop Diversity in Organically Managed Spring Cereals
- 2021
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Weeds remain a challenge in organic arable farming, as well as supply ecosystem services. The aim is to control weed densities while hosting a diverse and manageable weed community, preventing domination of few deleterious species. Therefore, we want to understand how specific species are stimulated, and which traits are selected for. This study focuses on crop diversity hypothesizing that (1) regions and (2) crop diversity function as filters for specific weed species traits. We conducted a weed monitoring in spring cereals over 2 years on organic farms in five northern European regions. Management and weed trait variables collected for the occurring species allowed an RLQ fourth-corner analysis. The weed communities were regionally specific, but trait selection was not observed, except in Latvia. Hence, the regional species pool provided different species with similar traits. Crop diversity within the management of spring cereals, such as undersowing and cereal frequency in the rotation, affected weed traits. The number of years under organic production selected no traits, although species numbers are known to increase. Hence, general weed species diversity increased, irrespective of traits. We conclude that organic management may support the agility within the weed community against selection of species and act as a buffer rather than as filter.
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11. |
- Munialo, Sussy, et al.
(författare)
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Micro-Spatial Analysis of Maize Yield Gap Variability and Production Factors
- 2019
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 9:219
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Site-specific land management practice taking into account variability in maize yield gaps (the difference between yields in the 90th percentiles and other yields on smallholder farmers’ fields) could improve resource use efficiency and enhance yields. However, the applicability of the practice is constrained by inability to identify patterns of resource utilization to target application of resources to more responsive fields. The study focus was to map yield gaps on smallholder fields based on identified spatial arrangements differentiated by distance from the smallholder homestead and understand field-specific utilization of production factors. This was aimed at understanding field variability based on yield gap mapping patterns in order to enhance resource use efficiency on smallholder farms. The study was done in two villages, Mukuyu and Shikomoli, with high and low agroecology regarding soil fertility in Western Kenya. Identification of spatial arrangements at 40 m, 80 m, 150 m and 300 m distance from the homestead on smallholder farms for 70 households was done. The spatial arrangements were then classified into near house, mid farm and far farm basing on distance from the homestead. For each spatial arrangement, Landsat sensors acquired via satellite imagery were processed to generate yield gap maps. The focal statistics analysis method using the neighborhoods function was then applied to generate yield gap maps at the different spatial arrangements identified above. Socio-economic, management and biophysical factors were determined, and maize yields estimated at each spatial arrangement. Heterogeneous patterns of high, average and low yield gaps were found in spatial arrangements at the 40 m and 80 m distances. Nearly homogenous patterns tending towards median yield gap values were found in spatial arrangements that were located at the 150 m and 300 m. These patterns correspondingly depicted field-specific utilization of management and socio-economic factors. Field level management practices and socio-economic factors such as application of inorganic fertilizer, high frequency of weed control, early land preparation, high proportion of hired and family labor use and allocation of large land sizes were utilized in spatial arrangements at 150 and 300 m distances. High proportions of organic fertilizer and family labor use were utilized in spatial arrangements at 40 and 80 m distances. The findings thus show that smallholder farmers preferentially manage the application of socio-economic and management factors in spatial arrangements further from the homestead compared to fields closer to the homestead which could be exacerbating maize yield gaps. Delineating management zones based on yield gap patterns at the different spatial arrangements on smallholder farms could contribute to site-specific land management and enhance yields. Investigating the value smallholder farmers attach to each spatial arrangement is further needed to enhance the spatial understanding of yield gap variation on smallholder farms.
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12. |
- Naznin, Most Tahera
(författare)
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The Evaluation of Growth Performance, Photosynthetic Capacity, and Primary and Secondary Metabolite Content of Leaf Lettuce Grown under Limited Irradiation of Blue and Red LED Light in an Urban Plant Factory
- 2020
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Plant production in urban areas is receiving much attention due to its potential role in feeding the rapidly growing population of city dwellers. However, higher energy demands in urban plant factories are among the key challenges that need to be addressed. Artificial lighting is responsible for the most significant levels of energy consumption in plant factories; therefore, lighting systems must be modulated in consideration of the sustainable food–energy nexus. In this context, low light irradiation using blue (B) and red (R) LED was applied in a plant factory for the growth of red leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var Lollo rosso) to evaluate the growth performance and functional quality. The tested B (450 nm) and R (660 nm) light ratios were B/R = 5:1; 3:1; 1:1; 1:3, and 1:5, with a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 90 ± 3 µmol m−2 s−1. In the plant factory, the photoperiod, temperature, RH, and CO2 conditions were 16 h d−1, 20 ± 0.5 °C, 65% ± 5%, and 360 ± 10 μL L−1, respectively. The lettuce was harvested 10 and 20 days after the commencement of LED light treatment (DAT). In this study, normal photosynthetic activity and good visual quality of the lettuce were observed. The results show that a higher fraction of R (B/R = 1:5) significantly increased plant growth parameters such as plant height, leaf area, specific leaf area, plant fresh and dry weight, and carbohydrate content. By contrast, a higher fraction of B (B/R = 5:1) significantly increased the photosynthetic parameters and contents of pigment and phenolic compounds. The rate of photosynthetic performance, carbohydrates (except starch), and content of phenolic compounds were highest after 10 DAT, whereas the pigment contents did not significantly differ at the different growth stages. It is concluded that high R fractions favor plant growth and carbohydrate content, while high B fractions favor photosynthetic performance and the accumulation of pigments and phenolic compounds in red leaf lettuce under limited lighting conditions. This study will help in designing artificial lighting conditions for plant factory production to reduce energy demands.
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13. |
- Nunan, Naoise
(författare)
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Can Organic Amendments Improve Soil Physical Characteristics and Increase Maize Performances in Contrasting Soil Water Regimes?
- 2021
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Organic amendments are believed to help increase the soil carbon storage and therefore improve soil quality, which may be important in the context of climate change. However, the added value of organic amendments for farmers must be clearly demonstrated in order to convince them of the utility of their use. The aims of this study were: (i) to investigate the impact on maize of compost and vermicompost combined with two levels (negligible and significant) of plant water stress; and (ii) to determine how the organic amendments affected the soil's physical properties and maize productivity. Water stress levels were imposed by controlling the matric potential of soil columns in which cultivated soil characteristics was mimicked (10 cm topsoil with organic amendments, above a 50 cm subsoil without any inputs containing the majority of the roots). Plant and soil characteristics were monitored daily for 70 days. Our results show that the use of organic amendments is profitable for farmers as: (i) maize performances were increased in both moisture regimes; and (ii) the improvement was particularly striking in terms of yield. No additional benefits were measured when using vermicompost instead of compost. The data suggest that the improvement in plant characteristics did not result from increased water storage in the soils with organic amendments, but rather from better access to the water, resulting in faster root development in the macroporosity of the amended soils.
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14. |
- Ofoegbu, Chidiebere
(författare)
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Evaluating the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Climate Information Communication in the African Agricultural Sector: A Systematic Analysis of Climate Services
- 2022
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 12
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The use of climate services (CS) for the provisioning of climate information for informed decision-making on adaptation action has gained momentum. However, a comprehensive review of the literature to evaluate the lessons and experiences of CS implementation in the African agriculture sector is still lacking. Here, we present a systematic review (mapping) of 50 pieces of literature documenting lessons and experiences of CS adoption in the agriculture sector of 20 African countries. The qualitative analysis of the reviewed literature revealed: (1) CS implementation overwhelmingly relied on a participatory process through workshops and participatory scenario planning meetings to connect users with actors along the CS value chain of forecast production, translation, integration, and application. Additionally, innovations such as mobile phones and internet service are increasingly being integrated with CS to strengthen the relationship between CS providers and users. They are, however, mostly at the trial stage and tend to have a varying impact depending on available facilities and infrastructure in the community. (2) Although there is a growing recognition of the need for the integration of indigenous and scientific knowledge systems in the production of climate information, such integration is currently not happening. Rather, indigenous knowledge holders are engaged in a participatory process for insight on modalities of making scientific climate information locally relevant and acceptable. Given the aforementioned findings, we recommend further research on modalities for facilitating indigenous knowledge mainstreaming in climate information production, and investigation of options for using innovations (e.g., mobile) to enhance the interactions between CS users and CS providers. Such research will play a great role in scaling up the adoption of CS in the African agricultural sector.
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15. |
- Ogle, Brian, et al.
(författare)
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Aflatoxins, Fumonisins and Zearalenone Contamination of Maize in the Southeastern and Central Highlands Provinces of Vietnam
- 2015
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 5, s. 1195-1203
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A survey of the contamination of maize with aflatoxins, fumonisins and zearalenone was carried out in the Southeastern and Central Highland provinces in Vietnam. Four provinces were chosen for sampling maize: Dong Nai (22), Binh Phuoc (25), Dak Lak (30) and Dak Nong (20). Aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)), B-2 (AFB(2)), G(1) (AFG(1)), G(2) (AFG(2)), fumonisin B-1 (FB1), fumonisin B-2 (FB2) and zearalenone (ZEA) were analysed by HPLC in 97 maize kernel samples. Fumonisins were the most common toxins found in all samples (67%), followed by aflatoxins (55.7%) and zearalenone (27.8%). The incidence of aflatoxin positive samples (61.7%) in the Southeastern provinces was higher than in the Central Highlands (50%), while fumonisins and zearalenone incidences were higher in the Central Highlands. The mean level of fumonisin B-1 in samples from the Central Highlands provinces (1757 mu g/kg) was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than in the Southeastern provinces (740 mu g/kg). Importantly, the percentage of positive samples (about 70%) that had over 20 mu g/kg (ppb) aflatoxin was very high. Moreover, many samples (53%) contained more than one mycotoxin and this result highlights the difficulty of diagnosing mycotoxicoses in the field and the need for ongoing research to reduce the occurrence of mycotoxins in Vietnamese maize.
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16. |
- Oliveira De Sousa, Dannylo, et al.
(författare)
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Milk Production of Dairy Cows Fed Grass-Clover Silage Pulp
- 2021
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Silage pulp (SP) is a byproduct from biorefinary of silage that can be used as forage source for ruminants. However, there is a lack of information regarding the complete replacement of dietary silage for SP on performance of dairy cows. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the complete substitution of dietary grass-clover silage for SP on milk production of dairy cows. Grass-clover mixture was harvested, wilted, and ensiled in bunker silos. The silage was screw pressed in a biorefinery for solid (SP) and liquid (protein-rich juice) separation. Seventy-two lactating cows were used in a completely randomized block design, receiving either the original silage- or SP-based diets. The SP-based diet had lower concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates and crude protein but greater fibre concentration compared to the silage-based diet. Milk yield and energy corrected milk were generally greater for cows receiving the silage-based diet compared to the SP-based diet. Cows receiving the silage-based diet had a greater yields of milk protein and milk fat, and tended to have a greater yield of milk lactose than cows receiving the SP-based diet. Milk composition, body condition score and body weight were not affected by diets. The complete substitution of silage for SP reduced the lactation performance of dairy cows over time.
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17. |
- Ortiz Rios, Rodomiro Octavio
(författare)
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Durum Wheat Breeding: In the Heat of the Senegal River
- 2018
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Global warming may cause +4 degrees C temperature increases before the end of this century. Heat tolerant bred-germplasm remains the most promising method to ensure farm productivity under this scenario. A global set of 384 durum wheat accessions were exposed to very high temperatures occurring along the Senegal River at two sites for two years. The goal was to identify germplasm with enhanced tolerance to heat. There was significant variation for all traits. The genetic (G) effect accounted for >15% of the total variation, while the genotype by environment interaction (G x E) reached 25%. A selection index that combines G and a G x E wide adaptation index was used to identify stable high yielding germplasm. Forty-eight accessions had a stable grain yield above the average (2.7 t ha(-1)), with the three top lines above 3.5 t ha(-1). Flowering time, spike fertility and harvest index were the most critical traits for heat tolerance, while 1000-kernel weight and spike density only had environment-specific effects. Testing of six subpopulations for grain yield across heat-prone sites revealed an even distribution among clusters, thus showing the potential of this panel for dissecting heat tolerance via association genetics.
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18. |
- Ortiz Rios, Rodomiro Octavio, et al.
(författare)
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Heritable Variation, Genetic and Phenotypic Correlations for Tuber Traits and Host Plant Resistance to Late Blight for Potato Breeding in Scandinavian Testing Sites
- 2021
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Potato breeding aims to improve crop productivity, quality and resilience based on heritablecharacteristics. Estimating the trait heritability and correlations—both genetic and phenotypic—amongcharacteristics in a target population of environments allows us to define the best breeding methodthat leads to selection gains. Breeding clones (47) and released cultivars (209) were grown usingsimple lattice designs at three testing sites in northern and southern Sweden to estimate the bestlinear unbiased predictors (BLUPs) derived from mixed linear models for characteristics such as tuberweight (total and according to sizes), host plant resistance to late blight (caused by the oomycetePhytophthora infestans) and tuber quality (starch percentage based on specific gravity measurementsand reducing sugars). There was significant heritable variation for all the characteristics investigated.Tuber starch percentage and total tuber weight were the traits with the highest broad-sense heritability(H2), while the weight for the smallest size (<40 mm) had the highest H2 among the different tubercategories. These results show the potential for further improving these traits for Scandinavia throughrecombination and selection in segregating offspring. The genetic and phenotypic correlations amongthe tuber weight characteristics were significant (p 0.05) irrespective of their sizes, but none weresignificant (p > 0.05) with tuber starch percentage. Host plant resistance to late blight was negativelyand significantly associated with tuber weight and starch percentage, thereby showing the strongeffects of this disease on the productivity and quality of the potatoes.
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19. |
- Ortiz Rios, Rodomiro Octavio
(författare)
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Induced polyploidy: a tool for forage species improvement
- 2021
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 11
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Polyploidy means having more than two basic sets of chromosomes. Polyploid plants may be artificially obtained through chemical, physical and biological (2n gametes) methods. This approach allows an increased gene scope and expression, thus resulting in phenotypic changes such as yield and product quality. Nonetheless, breeding new cultivars through induced polyploidy should overcome deleterious effects that are partly contributed by genome and epigenome instability after polyploidization. Furthermore, shortening the time required from early chromosome set doubling to the final selection of high yielding superior polyploids is a must. Despite these hurdles, plant breeders have successfully obtained polyploid bred-germplasm in broad range of forages after optimizing methods, concentration and time, particularly when using colchicine. These experimental polyploids are a valuable tool for understanding gene expression, which seems to be driven by dosage dependent gene expression, altered gene regulation and epigenetic changes. Isozymes and DNA-based markers facilitated the identification of rare alleles for particular loci when compared with diploids, and also explained their heterozygosity, phenotypic plasticity and adaptability to diverse environments. Experimentally induced polyploid germplasm could enhance fresh herbage yield and quality, e.g., leaf protein content, leaf total soluble solids, water soluble carbohydrates and sucrose content. Offspring of experimentally obtained hybrids should undergo selection for several generations to improve their performance and stability.
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20. |
- Rahimi Jahangirlou, Maryam, et al.
(författare)
-
Grain Quality of Maize Cultivars as a Function of Planting Dates, Irrigation and Nitrogen Stress: A Case Study from Semiarid Conditions of Iran
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 11
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Maize grain is an important source of human and animal feed, and its quality can be affected by management practices and climatic conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the concentration and composition of starch, protein and oil in grain of maize cultivars in response to different planting dates (20 June and 21 July), irrigation (12-day and 6-day intervals) and nitrogen rates (0 and 184 kg N ha(-1)). The first two principal components (PCs) accounted for 84.5% of the total variation. High N fertilization increased protein (by 6.0 and 10.9 g kg(-1)) and total nonessential amino acids (by 3.4 and 2.4 g kg(-1)) during 2018 and 2019, respectively. With the high irrigation rate, the high N rate increased oil, total unsaturated fatty acids, and starch and amylopectin, whereas with the low irrigation rate, there was no effect of the N rate. With earlier planting, total saturated fatty acids were higher. The findings highlight the complicated relationship between the different factors and how they affect quality characteristics of maize grain. There was a large impact of year, which to a great extent cannot be controlled, even in this environment where water supply was controlled and rainfall did not affect the results.
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21. |
- Ramesh, Vetukuri
(författare)
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Interactions between Biochar and Compost Treatment and Mycorrhizal Fungi to Improve the Qualitative Properties of a Calcareous Soil under Rhizobox Conditions
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 11
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Most calcareous soils have relatively low levels of organic matter. To evaluate the effect of pruning waste biochar (PWB) and pruning waste compost (PWC) combined with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the biological indices, a rhizobox study on wheat using a completely randomized design was conducted under greenhouse conditions. The studied factors included the source of organic material (PWB, PWC, and control), the microbial inoculation (+AMF or -AMF), and the zone (rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil). At the end of the plant growth period, organic carbon (OC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass phosphorous (MBP), microbial respiration (BR), substrate-induced respiration (SIR), and alkaline (ALP) and acid (ACP) phosphatase enzyme activities in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils were determined. Simultaneous application of a source of organic matter and AMF inoculation significantly increased the OC and biological indices of soil relative to those observed when applying organic matter without AMF inoculation. Additionally, MBC, MBP, ACP, and ALP enzymes activities in the rhizosphere zone were significantly higher than in the non-rhizosphere. AMF increased BR and SIR levels in the rhizosphere by 13.06% and 7.95% compared to those in the non-rhizosphere, respectively. It can be concluded that PWC and PWB can improve soil biological properties by increasing microbial activity.
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22. |
- Rytkönen, Paulina, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
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Bringing the Consumer Back in—The Motives, Perceptions, and Values behind Consumers and Rural Tourists’ Decision to Buy Local and Localized Artisan Food—A Swedish Example
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - Basel : MDPI. - 2077-0472. ; 8:4
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article highlights the motivational factors behind consumers’ and tourists’ decisions to buy local artisan cheese in Jämtland (Sweden). Empirically, the case itself diverts from the typical Franco-Mediterranean case in which both the actions of producers and consumers are embedded in historical, long-term culinary traditions and territorial features, nor is it the typical farmers’ market or another market-driven direct produce system. The main purpose is to shed light on the motivational factors behind the purchasing decision of consumers and tourists by studying the attributes that consumers embody in the products. The article is based on two consumer surveys/short interviews, the first conducted in June 2012 and the second in February 2017. The results were tested against/related to the wider local food discussion conceptualized through four types of attributes. Namely, intrinsic and extrinsic attributes; post-modernity and environmental attributes; geographical and territorial attributes; and local and rural development attributes. The results in this article clearly show that consumers value a combination of different attributes from both market-driven direct produce systems and close typicity systems. Therefore, the construction of proximity from the point of view of the consumer can be derived from a complex set of attributes and motivational factors not normally highlighted in the localized food discussion
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23. |
- Schmidt, Hans Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Fourfold Increase in Pumpkin Yield in Response to Low-Dosage Root Zone Application of Urine-Enhanced Biochar to a Fertile Tropical Soil
- 2015
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Ingår i: Agriculture (Basel). - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 5:3, s. 723-741
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A widely abundant and invasive forest shrub, Eupatorium adenophorum, was pyrolyzed in a cost- efficient flame curtain kiln to produce biochar. The resulting biochar fulfilled all the requirements for premium quality, according to the European Biochar Certificate. The biochar was either applied alone or mixed with fresh cow urine ( 1: 1 volume) to test its capacity to serve as slow release fertilizer in a pumpkin field trial in Nepal. Treatments included cow- manure compost combined with ( i) urine- only; ( ii) biochar- only or ( iii) urine- loaded biochar. All materials were applied directly to the root zone at a biochar dry matter content of 750 kg . ha- 1 before seeding. The urine- biochar treatment led to a pumpkin yield of 82.6 t . ha- 1, an increase of more than 300% compared with the treatment where only urine was applied, and an 85% increase compared with the biochar- only treatment. This study showed for the first time that a low- dosage root zone application of urine- enhanced biochar led to substantial yield increases in a fertile silt loam soil. This was tentatively explained by the formation of organic coating of inner pore biochar surfaces by the urine impregnation, which improved the capacity of the biochar to capture and exchange plant nutrients.
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24. |
- Wahab, Ibrahim, et al.
(författare)
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An integrated approach to unravelling smallholder yield levels : The case of small family farms, eastern region, Ghana
- 2020
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 10:6
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Yield levels and the factors determining crop yields is an important strand of research on rainfed family farms. This is particularly true for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which reports some of the lowest crop yields. This also holds for Ghana, where actual yields of maize, the most important staple crop, are currently about only a third of achievable yields. Developing a comprehensive understanding of the factors underpinning these yield levels is key to improving them. Previous research endeavours on this frontier have been incumbered by the mono-disciplinary focus and/or limitations relating to spatial scales, which do not allow the actual interactions at the farm level to be explored. Using the sustainable livelihoods framework and, to a lesser extent, the induced innovation theory as inspiring theoretical frames, the present study employs an integrated approach of multiple data sources and methods to unravel the sources of current maize yield levels on smallholder farms in two farming villages in the Eastern region of Ghana. The study relies on farm and household survey data, remotely-sensed aerial photographs of maize fields and photo-elicitation interviews (PEIs) with farmers. These data cover the 2016 major farming season that spanned the period March–August. We found that the factors that contributed to current yield levels are not consistent across yield measures and farming villages. From principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression (MLR), the timing of maize planting is the most important determinant of yield levels, explaining 25% of the variance in crop cut yields in Akatawia, and together with household income level, explaining 32% of the variance. Other statistically significant yield determinants include level of inorganic fertiliser applied, soil penetrability and phosphorus content, weed control and labour availability. However, this model only explains a third of the yields, which implies that two-thirds are explained by other factors. Our integrated approach was crucial in further shedding light on the sources of the poor yields currently achieved. The aerial photographs enabled us to demonstrate the dominance of poor crop patches on the edges and borders of maize fields, while the PEIs further improved our understanding of not just the causes of these poor patches but also the factors underpinning delayed planting despite farmers’ awareness of the ideal planting window. The present study shows that socioeconomic factors that are often not considered in crop yield analyses—land tenure and labour availability—often underpin poor crop yields in such smallholder rainfed family farms. Labour limitations, which show up strongly in both in the MLR and qualitative data analyses, for example, induces certain labour-saving technologies such as multiple uses of herbicides. Excessive herbicide use has been shown to have negative effects on maize yields.
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25. |
- Wallgren, Torun, et al.
(författare)
-
Implementation of Straw Racks in Commercial Pig Housing-Impact on Straw Availability and Pig Behaviour
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 12
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study investigated if straw racks, which enable larger straw rations, induced a more straw-directed behaviour in pigs, as a mean to facilitate the provision of manipulable material and natural behaviour. It was conducted on a commercial farm (459 pigs, 42 pens, 30-120 kg) where half of the pens received 25 L of straw on the floor (CONTROL) and the other half of the pens received straw in a rack holding 44 L of straw (RACK). The pig behaviour in five randomly assigned pens per treatment were recorded for 24 h, during three periods of production. Pig activity levels, exploratory behaviour, pen utilization and available clean straw were scan sampled. During period 1, no pigs were observed interacting with the straw racks. During this period, CONTROL pigs conducted more straw-directed behaviour and less pen-directed behaviour compared to pigs in the pens with a rack during period 1. The lack of rack interactions may imply an underdeveloped spatial cognition in the pigs. Apart from period 1, there were no significant difference in behaviour between RACK and CONTROL pigs. The racks did not disturb the use of the pen. The absent treatment effect in periods 2 and 3 may reflect that there was a too small difference in straw ration between the treatments. In order to design and implement straw racks that promote straw interaction, future studies should focus on understanding pigs' spatial cognition.
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26. |
- Weih, Martin, et al.
(författare)
-
Grain Yield Stability of Cereal-Legume Intercrops Is Greater Than Sole Crops in More Productive Conditions
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 11
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The intercropping of two or more crop species on the same piece of land at a given time has been hypothesized to enhance crop yield stability. To address this hypothesis, we assessed the grain yield stability of various barley-pea and wheat-faba bean mixtures grown in seven experimental field trials (locations) across Europe during two years with contrasting weather (2017 and 2018). Three different yield stability measures were used, all based on the expected yield variability of the mixture components grown as sole crops, and the corresponding observed yield variability of the same components grown in 50:50 mixtures in a replacement design. Stability indices were calculated as ratios between the expected and observed variabilities, with values > 1 indicating greater stability of the intercrops. Mean grain yields tended to be higher in intercrops than sole crops. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, the observed (intercrop) yield stability was similar or lower than the expected (sole crop) stability in most locations except one. Furthermore, yield stability significantly increased with increasing mean yields when assessed across differentially productive locations. The results are relevant for the designing of intercropping systems as a means to increase yield stability and the resilience of cropping systems.
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27. |
- Weih, Martin
(författare)
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Intercropping Systems for Sustainable Agriculture
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 12
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Increasing sustainability in agriculture is an imperative target for whole food and feed production and transformation chains [...]
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28. |
- Zhan, Jiasui
(författare)
-
Crop Rotation Enhances Agricultural Sustainability: From an Empirical Evaluation of Eco-Economic Benefits in Rice Production
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 11
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cropping systems greatly impact the productivity and resilience of agricultural ecosystems. However, we often lack an understanding of the quantitative interactions among social, economic and ecological components in each of the systems, especially with regard to crop rotation. Current production systems cannot guarantee both high profits in the short term and social and ecological benefits in the long term. This study combined statistic and economic models to evaluate the comprehensive effects of cropping systems on rice production using data collected from experimental fields between 2017 and 2018. The results showed that increasing agricultural diversity through rotations, particularly potato-rice rotation (PR), significantly increased the social, economic and ecological benefits of rice production. Yields, profits, profit margins, weighted dimensionless values of soil chemical and physical (SCP) and heavy metal (SHM) traits, benefits and externalities generated by PR and other rotations were generally higher than successive rice cropping. This suggests that agricultural diversity through rotations, particularly PR rotation, is worth implementing due to its overall benefits generated in rice production. However, due to various nutrient residues from preceding crops, fertilizer application should be rationalized to improve the resource and investment efficiency. Furthermore, we internalized the externalities (hidden ecological and social benefits/costs) generated by each of the rotation systems and proposed ways of incenting farmers to adopt crop rotation approaches for sustainable rice production.
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29. |
- Blanco Penedo, Isabel
(författare)
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Targeting environmental and technical parameters through eco-efficiency criteria for Iberian pig farms in the dehesa ecosystem
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 13
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Eco-efficiency could be defined as the simultaneous ability to achieve acceptable economic results with the least possible environmental degradation. Its analysis in crop and livestock production systems has become a hot topic among politicians and scientists. Pig pasture production systems are in high commercial demand because they are associated with high quality and environmentally friendly products. This work aimed to assess the eco-efficiency of pig farms and subsequently explore the determinants of inefficiency in the dehesa ecosystem in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Farmers from 35 randomly selected farms were interviewed to obtain farm-level data. The eco-efficiency level was calculated through a joined data envelopment analysis (DEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. Subsequently, a truncated Tobit model was applied to determine factors associated with inefficiency. The results of the research revealed that Iberian pig farms are highly eco-efficient. The estimated average eco-efficiency score is 0.919 and ranges from 0.479 to 1, suggesting that the average farm could increase its value by about 8.1%. This means that the aggregate environmental pressures could be reduced by approximately this proportion (8%) while maintaining the same input level. The determinants related to social and demographic characteristics that positively affected eco-efficiency were the number of children, while years of farm activity and educational level had a negative effect. On the other hand, farm’s characteristics and the type of management, the percentage of own surface area, the percentage of livestock use, and the high proportion of pigs fattened in montanera, positively affected the eco-efficiency level.
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30. |
- Bogdanovski, Oliver Persson, et al.
(författare)
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Yield Prediction for Winter Wheat with Machine Learning Models Using Sentinel-1, Topography, and Weather Data
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - 2077-0472. ; 13:4
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We train and compare the performance of two different machine learning algorithms to learn changes in winter wheat production for fields from the southwest of Sweden. As input to these algorithms, we use cloud-penetrating Sentinel-1 polarimetry radar data together with respective field topography and local weather over four different years. We note that all of the input data were freely available. During training, we used information on winter wheat production over the fields of interest which was available from participating farmers. The two machine learning models we trained are the Light Gradient-Boosting Machine and a Feed-forward Neural Network. Our results show that Sentinel-1 data contain valuable information which can be used for training to predict winter wheat yield once two important steps are taken: performing a critical transformation of each pixel in the images to align it to the training data and then following up with despeckling treatment. Using this approach, we were able to achieve a top root mean square error of 0.75 tons per hectare and a top accuracy of 86% using a k-fold method with k=5. More importantly, however, we established that Sentinel-1 data alone are sufficient to predict yield with an average root mean square error of 0.89 tons per hectare, making this method feasible to employ worldwide.
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31. |
- Bosona, Techane
(författare)
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Life Cycle Assessment of Dried Organic Apple Value Chains Considering Conventional and Heat-Pump-Assisted Drying Processes: The Case of Sweden
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - 2077-0472. ; 14
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The increasing population pressure and demand for quality food, and the significant burden of agriculture on the environment, impede the sustainable development of the food sector. Understanding the environmental performance of different agricultural technologies and food value chains and identifying improvement opportunities play important roles in the sustainable development of this sector. This article presents the results of an environmental impact assessment of organic dried apples produced and supplied in Sweden, which was conducted using primary and literature-based data. A "cradle-to-consumer gate" life cycle analysis (LCA) method with a functional unit (FU) of 1 ton of fresh organic apples at the farm stage was used while considering conventional drying and heat-pump (HP)-assisted apple-drying techniques. The main environmental impact categories investigated were cumulative energy demand (CED), climate change impact (GWP), acidification potential (AP), and eutrophication potential (EP). The results indicate that the total CED values were 7.29 GJ and 5.12 GJ per FU for the conventional drying and HP-assisted drying methods, respectively, i.e., a reduction of about 30%. Similarly, the GWP values were 130 kg CO2 eq and 120 kg CO2 eq per FU, respectively. These findings highlight the importance of improving energy use and process efficiency to increase the sustainability of dried organic apple value chains.
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32. |
- Carini, Valeria
(författare)
-
Application of Traditional Cooking Methods in Chestnut Processing: Effects of Roasting and Boiling on Secondary Metabolites and Antioxidant Capacity in Castanea spp. Fruits
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 13
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- More information on the effects of traditional cooking methods (roasting or boiling) on the chestnut composition may be important if health-promoting aspects are considered. The main aims of this study were to investigate and describe the phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity of raw, boiled, and roasted chestnuts from several Castanea spp. genotypes, evaluating the influence of the application of different traditional cooking methods on the nut phytochemical composition by chromatographic and spectroscopic strategies. The amounts of phenolics were used as selected variables together with total polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity to perform a Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Catechins and tannins were the main molecules in the phenolic phytocomplex, reaching 30-40% of the total, followed by phenolic acids (5-20%) and flavonols (about 5%). Gallic and ellagic acids were the most important phenolic acids in raw and processed chestnuts (about 20-70 mg center dot 100 g(-1) dried weight-DW and 10-50 mg center dot 100 g(-1) DW, respectively). Both of the cooking processes significantly influenced the polyphenolic content and the relative antioxidant capacity. This research may support and confirm the potential use of chestnuts for human health, increasing the information on the phenolic pattern of differently processed Castanea spp. fruits from different genotypes to (i) assess the potential health-positive effects, (ii) help processing companies to select specific varieties to commercialise in the market, and (iii) increase the use of these fruits with the relative increase in income for the producers.
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33. |
- Chawade, Aakash
(författare)
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Genetic Engineering of Energy Crops to Reduce Recalcitrance and Enhance Biomass Digestibility
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 8
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bioenergy, biofuels, and a range of valuable chemicals may be extracted from the abundantly available lignocellulosic biomass. To reduce the recalcitrance imposed by the complex cell wall structure, genetic engineering has been proposed over the years as a suitable solution to modify the genes, thereby, controlling the overall phenotypic expression. The present review provides a brief description of the plant cell wall structure and its compositional array i.e., lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, wall proteins, and pectin, along with their effect on biomass digestibility. Also, this review discusses the potential to increase biomass by gene modification. Furthermore, the review highlights the potential genes associated with the regulation of cell wall structure, which can be targeted for achieving energy crops with desired phenotypes. These genetic approaches provide a robust and assured method to bring about the desired modifications in cell wall structure, composition, and characteristics. Ultimately, these genetic modifications pave the way for achieving enhanced biomass yield and enzymatic digestibility of energy crops, which is crucial for maximizing the outcomes of energy crop breeding and biorefinery applications.
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34. |
- Chopin, Pierre
(författare)
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How to Measure the Performance of Farms with Regard to Climate-Smart Agriculture Goals? A Set of Indicators and Its Application in Guadeloupe
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 13
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Conceptualized by the Food and Agriculture Organization in 2010, climate-smart agriculture aims to simultaneously tackle three main objectives. These are increasing food security, building the resilience of agricultural systems for adaptation to climate change and mitigation of GHG. As much research focuses on one of these three objectives, our understanding of how agricultural systems address these three challenges simultaneously is limited by the lack of a comprehensive evaluation tool. In order to fill this gap, we have developed a generic evaluation framework that comprises 19 indicators that we measured in a sample of 12 representative farms of the North Basse-Terre region in Guadeloupe. The evaluation revealed clear differences in the performance of these farming systems. For example, nutritional performance varied from 0 to 13 people fed per hectare, the average potential impact of climatic conditions varied from 27% to 33% and the GHG emissions balance varied from +0.8 tCO(2eq)center dot ha(-1) to +3.6 tCO(2eq)center dot ha(-1). The results obtained can guide the design of innovative production systems that better meet the objectives of climate-smart agriculture for the study region. The evaluation framework is intended as a generic tool for a common evaluation basis across regions at a larger scale. Future prospects are its application and validation in different contexts.
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35. |
- Dedicova, Beata
(författare)
-
Seed Fatty Acid Changes Germination Response to Temperature and Water Potentials in Six Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Cultivars: Estimating the Cardinal Temperatures
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - 2077-0472. ; 13
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Seed fatty acid composition can influence seed quality, followed by seed germination and optimal seedling establishment. Therefore, to find out the role of seed fatty acids in changing the cardinal temperatures of six sesame cultivars germinated at different temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 degrees C) and water potentials (0, -0.2, -0.4, -0.6, -0.8, -1, and -1.2 MPa), an experiment was conducted. The dent-like, beta, and segmented models were used to analyze the data. The results showed that different cultivars at optimal temperatures show different reactions to environmental conditions; for example, the germination rate in Halil and Dashtestan2 cultivars followed the dent-like model, Darab1, Oltan, and Yellow-White followed the beta model, and Naz followed the segmented model. Based on the results, the average temperature in all water potentials of the base, sub-optimal, supra-optimum, and ceiling was determined as 12.6, 33.3, 38, and 43.9 degrees C, respectively, once the superior dent-like model was used. Using the superior beta model, the average temperatures in the base, optimum, and ceiling were 8.5, 31.2, and 50.5 degrees C. In contrast, when the segmented superior model was used, they were determined to be 7.6, 34, and 44.1 degrees C, respectively. According to the results, it can be stated that the Halil cultivar with more oleic acid and less linoleic acid has a higher base temperature and is more adapted to high temperatures for later cultivations. The Naz cultivar with a long biological clock is suitable for earlier cultivations. The ceiling temperature of these cultivars was also affected by the osmotic potential and decreased significantly with the increase in osmotic levels. Dashtestan2 cultivar with a high germination rate could be chosen for cultivation in water and high-temperature stress areas.
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36. |
- Dedicova, Beata
(författare)
-
The Coupling Effects of PGPR Inoculation and Foliar Spraying of Strigolactone in Mitigating the Negative Effect of Salt Stress in Wheat Plants: Insights from Phytochemical, Growth, and Yield Attributes
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - 2077-0472. ; 14
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Salt stress has detrimental effects on wheat plants at several physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels. This stress leads to suppressed growth, reduced grain yield, and poor quality of harvested grains. However, two approaches have shown promise for improving wheat salt tolerance: using a synthetic strigolactone analog called GR24 and applying plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). GR24 plays a vital role in regulating plant growth and development and in defense against various stresses. Conversely, PGPR are beneficial bacteria that colonize the rhizosphere of plants and promote their growth through multiple mechanisms. In our study, we investigated the effects of salinity on the growth and yield traits of two different wheat cultivars and explored the combined role of PGPR and GR24 in mitigating the impact of salt stress. We created three different salinity levels using NaCl in pots (original, 5 dS m(-1), and 10 dS m(-1)) and inoculated wheat seeds with a salt-tolerant Bacillus velezensis UTB96 strain. In addition, we applied 10 mu M GR24 via foliar application during the pollination stage. Our observations showed that salt stress negatively affected wheat's growth, yield, and phytochemical properties compared to the control. However, both single and combined applications of PGPR and GR24 mitigated the adverse effects of salinity. The combined treatment had a more substantial impact than either alone in inducing and improving biochemical and ionic characteristics. These included decreasing Na+ content in both leaves and roots, and EL, H2O2, and MDA content in leaves while increasing K+ content in both leaves and roots, growth and yield-related traits, RWC, chlorophyll pigments, total protein, soluble sugar, starch, proline, GB, and antioxidant enzyme activity (APX, POX, and CAT) of leaves. In conclusion, integrating PGPR and GR24 can efficiently induce salt tolerance and improve plant growth under stressed conditions. This combined approach has the potential for broad applicability in supporting plant growth in the presence of salt stress.
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37. |
- Dida, Mulatu Geleta
(författare)
-
Untapped Genetic Resources for Breeding Acidic Soil-Adapted Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Cultivars
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - 2077-0472. ; 13
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Globally, more than half of potentially arable land is acidic, and aluminum (Al) is the primary factor limiting plant growth and crop productivity on acidic soils worldwide. The development and utilization of Al-tolerant crops is a sustainable approach to enhancing crop production on acidic soils. For this purpose, screening available genetic resources under Al-stressed conditions is a crucial initial step. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the Al tolerance of 264 Ethiopian chickpea landraces under hydroponic conditions without Al (control) and with 120 mu M Al (Al treatment). Significant (p < 0.001) variations were detected among the genotypes for all studied traits under control (0 mu M Al) and 120 mu M Al concentration. The relative growth values for the 120 mu M Al/0 mu M Al ratio was also significant, indicating the presence of a considerable amount of genetic variation in Ethiopian chickpea landraces in terms of Al tolerance. Based on relative root growth (RRG) as an Al-tolerance parameter, the genotypes were grouped into five distinct (p < 0.001) classes. The highest RRG value (1.59) was obtained for genotype ETC_209008, followed by ETC_41184 and ETC_212589, while ETC_208995 had the lowest RRG value of 0.27. Of the total landraces screened, 35% had higher RRG values than the tolerant genotype ETC_WL_1_2016 used as a reference, indicating the presence of adequate genotypes capable of outperforming the reference genotype on acidic soils. The genotypes identified in the present study may serve as sources of novel alleles in genes regulating Al tolerance in chickpea that can be utilized in breeding programs to improve the crop's adaptation to acidic soils, thus contributing to smallholder farmers' increased nutritional and food security.
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38. |
- Huang, Yanqin, et al.
(författare)
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Humic Acids Combined with Dairy Slurry as Fertilizer Can Increase Alfalfa Yield and Reduce Nitrogen Losses
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - : Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). - 2077-0472. ; 14:8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dairy slurry could be a significant source of nitrogen (N) for plants, but mismanagement can lead to atmospheric ammonia losses or nitrate leaching into groundwater. To make the use of dairy slurry efficient and reasonable, the loss of N pollution to the environment should be reduced. We used repacked lysimeters to comprehensively determine ammonia emission and N leaching losses in an alfalfa–soil system. The application of dairy slurry had no significant effect on alfalfa yield at the same rate of N application in comparison to chemical fertilizer, and adding humic acids significantly increased yield by about 12%. However, the application of dairy slurry increased the ammonia emission rate significantly, leading to an increase in the cumulative amount of ammonia emission, while the addition of humic acids reduced the ammonia emissions by 11%. Chemical fertilizer and dairy slurry application significantly increased nitrate leaching compared to the control treatment, while the addition of humic acids can significantly reduce ammonium N leaching. Dairy slurry was proven to be as effective as chemical N fertilizer in achieving the optimum biomass, and adding humic acids can significantly reduce N loss to the atmosphere and groundwater. This study showed the possibility of replacing chemical fertilizer with dairy slurry in alfalfa production and the advantages of humic acids’ addition to alfalfa to maintain production yield and improve environmental friendliness.
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39. |
- Lagerquist, Elsa, et al.
(författare)
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Temporal and Spatial Positioning of Service Crops in Cereals Affects Yield and Weed Control
- 2022
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 12
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Leguminous service crops (SCs) can provide multiple services to cropping systems, reducing the reliance on external resources if sufficient biomass is produced. However, rapid light and temperature reductions limit post-harvest cultivation of SCs in Northern Europe. A novel practice of intercropping SCs in two consecutive crops (spring-winter cereal) to extend the period of SCs growth, and hence improve yield and reduce weeds, was tested. Three spatial and temporal arrangements of SCs and cash crops were investigated, as well as three SC mixtures, characterized by their longevity and frost sensitivity. Compared to no SC, the best performing mixture, frost-tolerant annuals, increased grain and N yield of winter wheat by 10% and 19%, respectively, and reduced weed biomass by 15% and 26% in oats and winter wheat, respectively. These effects were attributed to high biomass production and winter survival. However, this SC reduced oat yields by 15% compared to no SC. Furthermore, SC growth and service provision varied largely between experiments, driven by the weather conditions. Extending the SC's growth period by intercropping in two consecutive cereal crops has potential, but locally adapted species choices and establishment strategies are needed to ensure SC vitality until termination.
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40. |
- Latif, Saira, et al.
(författare)
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Bale Collection Path Planning Using an Autonomous Vehicle with Neighborhood Collection Capabilities
- 2022
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI. - 2077-0472. ; 12:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This research was mainly focused on the evaluation of path planning approaches as a prerequisite for the automation of bale collection operations. A comparison between a traditional bale collection path planning approach using traditional vehicles such as tractors, and loaders with an optimized path planning approach using a new autonomous articulated concept vehicle with neighborhood reach capabilities (AVN) was carried out. Furthermore, the effects of carrying capacity on reduction in the working distance of the bale collection operation was also studied. It was concluded that the optimized path planning approach using AVN with increased carrying capacity significantly reduced the working distance for the bale collection operation and can thus improve agricultural sustainability, particularly within forage handling.
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41. |
- Mohammadi, Ali, 1983-, et al.
(författare)
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Eco-Efficiency Analysis to Improve Environmental Performance of Wheat Production
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI. - 2077-0472. ; 12:7, s. 1-16
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Though increasing food supply in order to meet the rising demand for nutrition is a global social imperative, reducing the dependence on imports of essential food commodities is both an economic and a geo-political imperative for national governments. However, in light of the Sustainable Development Goals, although Zero Hunger (SDG2) and Good Health and Well-Being (SDG3) can be ensured within a country when the inhabitants are well-nourished and staple food items remain affordable to one and all, oftentimes, there are trade-offs in the process, with the environmental dimensions—SDGs 13 (Climate action), 14 (Life below water) and 15 (Life on Land). In this paper, using a combination of Environmental-Life Cycle Assessment (E-LCA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), the authors have evaluated the eco-efficiency of 169 wheat cultivation systems in the Golestan province in the north of Iran. Benchmarking performance based on the best-performing wheat farms and optimizing (decreasing essentially) the consumption of resources, will enable an average reduction of between 10% and 16% in global warming, acidification, eutrophication, and non-renewable energy usage of the wheat cultivation systems in the case study region. The authors recommend the use of this combination not only for wheat cultivation in other regions of the world, but also for other agricultural systems.
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42. |
- Mohanavelu, Aadhityaa, et al.
(författare)
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Irrigation Induced Salinity and Sodicity Hazards on Soil and Groundwater : An Overview of Its Causes, Impacts and Mitigation Strategies
- 2021
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI. - 2077-0472. ; 11:10
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Salinity and sodicity have been a major environmental hazard of the past century since more than 25% of the total land and 33% of the irrigated land globally are affected by salinity and sodicity. Adverse effects of soil salinity and sodicity include inhibited crop growth, waterlogging issues, groundwater contamination, loss in soil fertility and other associated secondary impacts on dependent ecosystems. Salinity and sodicity also have an enormous impact on food security since a substantial portion of the world’s irrigated land is affected by them. While the intrinsic nature of the soil could cause soil salinity and sodicity, in developing countries, they are also primarily caused by unsustainable irrigation practices, such as using high volumes of fertilizers, irrigating with saline/sodic water and lack of adequate drainage facilities to drain surplus irrigated water. This has also caused irreversible groundwater contamination in many regions. Although several remediation techniques have been developed, comprehensive land reclamation still remains challenging and is often time and resource inefficient. Mitigating the risk of salinity and sodicity while continuing to irrigate the land, for example, by growing salt-resistant crops such as halophytes together with regular crops or creating artificial drainage appears to be the most practical solution as farmers cannot halt irrigation. The purpose of this review is to highlight the global prevalence of salinity and sodicity in irrigated areas, highlight their spatiotemporal variability and causes, document the effects of irrigation induced salinity and sodicity on physicochemical properties of soil and groundwater, and discuss practical, innovative, and feasible practices and solutions to mitigate the salinity and sodicity hazards on soil and groundwater.
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43. |
- Nadeau, Elisabet
(författare)
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Exogenous Fibrolytic Enzymes and Length of Storage Affect the Nutritive Value and Fermentation Profile of Maize Silage
- 2022
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The addition of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFEs) and length of storage can affect the quality of maize silage. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the fermentative profile and the nutritive value of maize silage treated with different doses of EFEs ensiled for 30, 60, or 90 days. The study was designed as completely randomized in a split-plot arrangement of treatments, where four doses of EFEs were assigned to the main plot and three lengths of storage to the sub-plot, with four replicates per treatment. Treatments were: Control, E100 (EFEs at 100 g/ton dry matter (DM)), E150 (EFEs at 150 g/ton DM) and E200 (EFEs at 200 g/ton DM). The EFE treatment did not increase the digestibility of nutrients but increased the acetic acid concentration (1.87 vs. 1.18% DM), while decreasing the content of ethanol (0.02 vs. 0.08% DM), ethyl lactate (7.50 vs. 15.9 mg/DM) and ethyl acetate (5.58 vs. 10.6 mg/DM). Prolonged storage increased DM losses (7.05 vs. 2.32%) and acetic acid content (2.19 vs. 1.03% DM), but decreased ethanol concentration (0.02 vs. 0.09% DM). In conclusion, the addition of EFEs in maize silages did not affect nutrient digestibility and DM losses during fermentation, but it slightly decreased the concentrations of ethanol and esters and increased the acetic acid content. Although statistically significant, such differences may not be relevant biologically, due to the relatively low concentrations of ethanol and esters in all treatments.
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44. |
- Naznin, Most Tahera
(författare)
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Effect of Different Combinations of Red and Blue LED Light on Growth Characteristics and Pigment Content of In Vitro Tomato Plantlets
- 2019
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth characteristics and pigment content of tomato plantlets grown under various ratios of red (R) (661 nm) and blue (B) (449 nm) LED light. In this study, three different ratios of R and B (RB) light such as 5:01, 10:01, and 19:01 along with R (100%) were used. The photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), and photoperiod of the growth chamber was 120 +/- 5 mu mol m(-2)s(-1) and 16/8 h (day/night), respectively. Tomato plantlets were cultured for six weeks in the growth chamber. It was shown that tomato plantlets had higher photosynthesis rate, higher pigments content, higher growth characteristics (e.g., number of leaves, leaf area, shoot number, root number, root length, dry, and fresh mass), and greater surviving rate under the R:B = 10:01 ratio among the treatments. The plantlets showed at least a threefold decrease in photosynthesis rate, as well as a significant abnormal stem elongation when grown under 100% R light. It is concluded that the RB ratio of 10:01 showed excellent performance in all growth parameters. This result has shown that the optimum lighting environment improves tomato plantlet cultures in vitro.
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45. |
- Nilsson, Jerker
(författare)
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Social Capital in Cooperative Memberships and Farmers' Access to Bank Credit-Evidence from Fujian, China
- 2023
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 13
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- For rural communities in poor countries to develop, farmers need money to invest in their farms. However, with limited assets of their own and poor conditions for obtaining loans, the farmers' operations suffer. This study explores how farmers' chances of obtaining a bank loan are related to the social capital that they receive from their cooperative membership. The data originated from 743 farmers in Fujian province, China, and was analyzed with the help of the instrumental variable probit (IV-probit) regression model. The results show that (a) cooperative members have a higher chance of obtaining a bank loan compared to non-members; (b) cooperative membership positively influences the chances of obtaining a bank loan for farmers with no acquaintances in banks and government or off-farm work; and (c) among farmers with higher financial knowledge, cooperative members are more likely to receive a bank loan than non-members are. Therefore, the conclusion provides empirical evidence for the financial function of cooperatives to farmers. The findings are especially relevant for cooperatives in developing countries, and they call for farmers and cooperatives to establish cooperative financial institutions. Moreover, the research conclusions point out the direction for further improving the financial effect of cooperatives.
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46. |
- Novakazi, Fluturë
(författare)
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Validation of Molecular Markers of Barley Net Blotch Resistance Loci on Chromosome 3H for Marker-Assisted Selection
- 2022
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 12
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The most widespread and harmful disease of barley is net form of net blotch caused by the ascomycete Pyrenophora teres f. teres Drechsler (Ptt). A cost effective and environmentally sustainable strategy for barley protection against Ptt is to develop barley cultivars possessing genetic resistance. In previous GWA analysis, we identified SNP-markers associated with a resistance locus on chromosome 3H in the interval of 45.82-54.53 cM. These SNPs have been described previously in the literature to be located within the same region of chromosome 3H. The aim of the study was to validate QTL markers controlling resistance to Ptt on chromosome 3H in this region by KASP genotyping in four F-2 populations of crosses between the resistant cultivars, Morex, Fox, and Zolo, and the accession, Local k-21578, with the susceptible barley cv. Gesine and in a doubled haploid (DH) population of Canadian Lake Shore (CLS)/Harrington. Eleven of fifteen studied markers showed high efficacy (97.5-100%) for co-segregation with resistance to Ptt in the DH population, CLS/Harrington. Three of these markers located at 54.53 cM and one at 51.27 cM were effective in two F-2 populations of crosses of Morex and Fox with susceptible cv. Gesine. These markers are also located close to each other on the physical map (442,203,921-443,119,491 bp). Apparently, in cultivars, CLS, Morex, and Fox, resistance to Ptt is determined by the same locus. Markers JHI-Hv50k2016-166392 (47.1 cM, 112,536,071 bp), Clone ID 3255462_1 (51.63 cM, 363,531,898 bp), and Clone ID 3255462_2 (51.63 cM, 363,531,871 bp) showed high efficacy in the DH population and in the F-2 population, Local k-21578/Gesine. Apparently, at least two loci controlling Ptt resistance exist in the chromosome region of 47.0-54.3 cM: one at 46.0-48.44 cM and another at 51.27-54.8 cM. These regions were found to harbor several genes involved in important plant functions, including disease response and signaling pathways. Allele-specific PCR markers were developed based on the KASP assay data and tested on six resistant, two moderately resistant, and two susceptible barley genotypes. Four markers were found to be effective to differentiate susceptible and resistant barley genotypes. The KASP and allele-specific PCR markers associated with Ptt resistance on chromosome 3H will be useful for pyramiding resistance QTLs in barley marker-assisted selection.
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47. |
- Ortiz Rios, Rodomiro Octavio
(författare)
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Evaluation of Introgressed Lines of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under Contrasting Water Treatments
- 2023
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - 2077-0472. ; 13
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Drought stress is a major production constraint in crops globally. Crop wild relatives are important sources of resistance and tolerance for both biotic and abiotic stresses, respectively. A breeding program was initiated to introgress drought tolerance in sunflowers through hybridization between the wild species Helianthus argophyllus and the cultivated pool of H. annuus. Selection was carried out from the F2 to F5 segregating populations for the silver canopy, high cuticular wax, small leaf area, single heading and high oil content. Cuticular wax ranged between 8.72 µg g−1 and 17.19 µg g−1 in the F5 offspring. The selected F5 breeding lines were self-pollinated to obtain the F6 generation. Thereafter, this F6 was compared with the non-adapted elite sunflower germplasm in a factorial complete randomized design with different water treatments; i.e., comparing fully irrigated (100%, T0) versus 75% (T1), 50% (T2) and 25% (T3) of total irrigation. The comparison between the two types of the germplasm showed that drought-tolerant breeding lines had a comparatively lesser decrease in leaf area (0, 11, 22%) and shoot length (4, 21, 28%) than the elite germplasm, which experienced a decrease in leaf area (21%, 33% and 40%) and shoot length (17, 27 and 34%) under the various drought treatments. Moreover, drought-tolerant breeding lines had 100% more root shoot ratios than the elite germplasm (20%) in T3 when compared with control. Several drought-tolerant promising lines (D-2, D-5 and D-27) were selected due to their high leaf area, great root length and increased root to shoot ratio under T3. Some of the lines could be directly used for the development of drought-tolerant hybrids. Combining ability testing indicated that D-27 (F7) was a good general combiner for seed yield plant−1 and oil content after mating with male-line RSIN.82. Resulting hybrids could help to minimize seed yield loss due to water stress and to achieve profitable cultivation of sunflowers in arid regions of Pakistan.
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48. |
- Ortiz Rios, Rodomiro Octavio, et al.
(författare)
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Genomic Prediction for Inbred and Hybrid Polysomic Tetraploid Potato Offspring
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - 2077-0472. ; 14
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Potato genetic improvement begins with crossing cultivars or breeding clones which often have complementary characteristics for producing heritable variation in segregating offspring, in which phenotypic selection is used thereafter across various vegetative generations (Ti ). The aim of this research was to determine whether tetrasomic genomic best linear unbiased predictors (GBLUPs) may facilitate selecting for tuber yield across early Ti within and across breeding sites in inbred (S1 ) and hybrid (F1 ) tetraploid potato offspring. This research used 858 breeding clones for a T1 trial at Umeå (Norrland, 63◦4903000 N 20◦1505000 E) in 2021, as well as 829 and 671 clones from the breeding population for T2 trials during 2022 at Umeå and Helgegården (Skåne, 56◦0104600 N 14◦0902400 E), respectively, along with their parents (S0 ) and check cultivars. The S1 and F1 were derived from selfing and crossing four S0 . The experimental layout was an augmented design of four-plant plots across testing sites, where breeding clones were non-replicated, and the parents and cultivars were placed in all blocks between the former. The genomic prediction abilities (r) for tuber weight per plant were 0.5944 and 0.6776 in T2 at Helgegården and Umeå, respectively, when T1 at Umeå was used as the training population. On average, r was larger in inbred than in hybrid offspring at both breeding sites. The r was also estimated using multi-environment data (involving at least one S1 and one F1 ) for T2 performance at both breeding sites. The r was strongly influenced by the genotype in both S1 and F1 offspring irrespective of the breeding site.
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49. |
- Ramesh, Vetukuri
(författare)
-
Constitutive and Inducible Expression of Genes Related to Salicylic Acid and Ethylene Pathways in a Moderately Resistant Tomato Cultivar Leads to Delayed Development of Meloidogyne javanica
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 12
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Knowledge of the molecular changes in resistant and susceptible cultivars during nematode attack is essential for developing plant resistance. Increased expression of genes related to the synthesis and signaling of salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene is known to induce expression of genes related to defense against plant parasitic nematodes. Here, we inoculated approximately 3000 s-stage juveniles (J2s) of Meloidogyne javanica to moderately resistant and highly susceptible tomato cultivars (ALYSTE F-1 and Dutch Mobil, respectively) to compare the developmental disease stages. The roots of each cultivar were collected daily until 30 days after inoculation (DAI). The roots were stained with acid-fuchsin and dissected under a microscope. The results showed that a few parasitic J2s were converted to J3s in the moderately resistant cultivar at 14 DAI, at which time, the highly susceptible cultivar had the highest number of J3s. Comparison of hormonal pathways in the two cultivars revealed that the expression of genes related to the ethylene pathway in ALYSTE F-1 was more strongly upregulated than in Dutch Mobil at 14 DAI. Moreover, the jasmonic acid pathway in the roots of both cultivars decreased at 14 DAI. The expression of genes related to salicylic acid synthesis and signaling was not significantly different between the two cultivars with regard to their non-inoculated controls, respectively, but ALYSTE F-1 in general showed constitutively higher levels of these genes compared to Dutch Mobil at 14 DAI. These results suggest that constitutive and induced expression of genes related to the salicylic acid pathway and ethylene pathway, respectively, delay the development of M. javanica J2s in ALYSTE F-1.
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50. |
- Ramesh, Vetukuri
(författare)
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Improving Phosphorus Availability and Wheat Yield in Saline Soil of the Lake Urmia Basin through Enriched Biochar and Microbial Inoculation
- 2023
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Ingår i: Agriculture. - : MDPI AG. - 2077-0472. ; 13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To reduce requirements for conventional chemical fertilizer and alleviate salinity stress in soils, a glasshouse experiment was conducted to assess the effects of enriched biochar on phosphatase activity, microbial respiration and wheat yield in non-saline and saline soils from the Lake Urmia basin (electrical conductivities 2 dS.m(-1) and 15 dS.m(-1), respectively). Nine treatments were tested: control, 1:1 mixture of apple and grape biochars (BC), phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), BC plus PSB (BC-PSB), BC plus rock phosphate (BC-RP), BC enriched by rock phosphate and bacteria (BC-RP-PSB), BC enriched by rock phosphate and HCl (BC-RP-HCl) or H3PO4 (BC-RP-H3PO4) and chemical fertilizer (TSP). The addition of enriched biochar decreased the soil pH (by 0.5-0.9 units) and increased available phosphorus (>7-fold). In both the saline and non-saline soils, the highest alkaline phosphatase activity was obtained for BC-H3PO4-RP and BC-HCl-RP. Wheat growth parameters were reclaimed after enriched biochar application, indicating superior dry matter yields compared to the control and non-enriched biochar treatments and significantly higher yields compared to TSP. Beneficial effects on soil pH, phosphatase activity, soil respiration and biomass yield demonstrated that enriched biochar could partly substitute chemical fertilizers and increase plant growth in salt stress conditions. However, further field studies are needed to understand the benefits of enriched biochar in different soils and climates.
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