Horticultural Science - In Press
A comparison of seven macadamia cultivars for suitability to the high altitude and high latitude climate of southern Tibet in ChinaOriginal Paper
Jifeng Wan, Minghong Zou, Ximei Song, Qian Yang, Hui Zeng, Yang Zhao
The suitability of macadamia for different climates has been shown to affect tree growth and fruit quality. In this study, the differences in tree survival rate after frost injury, tree growth, nut mass, kernel quality and yield of seven macadamia cultivars, namely 'Beaumont' ('HAES695'), 'HVA16' ('A16'), 'Hinde' ('H2'), 'Own Choice' ('O.C.'), 'SSCRI-1', 'SSCRI-2' and 'SSCRI-3' were evaluated for field production in the high altitude and high latitude climate of southern Tibet, and the suitability of macadamia cultivars was determined. The results showed that the seven cultivars grew well under the high altitude and high latitude climate conditions of southern Tibet without continuous frost. 'A16' and 'Beaumont' in addition to their reasonable yield, nut mass and kernel quality, had the higher tree survival rate after frost injury. 'A16' and 'Beaumont' were well adapted to the high altitude and high latitude climate of southern Tibet, followed by 'O.C.', 'SSCRI-1' and 'SSCRI-2', but 'SSCRI-3' and 'H2' were unsuitable. These results indicated that it is possible to produce macadamia in the high altitude and high latitude climate of southern Tibet by planting excellent frost-resistant cultivars, with promising yields and a commercial standard of nut quality.
Powdery mildew (Erysiphales) on ornamental plants in the Czech RepublicOriginal Paper
Marketa Michutova, Maria Neoralova, Barbora Jilkova, Jana Vichova, Helena Pluhackova, Ivana Safrankova
Ornamental perennials are highly popular and irreplaceable plants commonly used for enhancing public spaces and private gardens. One of the most frequently occurring pathogens is powdery mildew, a parasitic fungus that covers leaves, stems, and flowers with a whitish to light grey mycelium and reproductive structures. It significantly reduces not only the lifespan of plants but also their aesthetic value. A field survey of ornamental plants infected with powdery mildew was conducted during the growing seasons of 2021–2023 in the Czech Republic. Thirty-nine species and cultivars of infected plants from 17 families were collected from botanical gardens, private gardens, and city parks, and 26 species of powdery mildew were identified. The most frequently represented genus was Golovinomyces (13 species and varieties of powdery mildew on 21 plant samples from eight families), followed by five species of the genus Erysiphe on seven plant species from five families, and seven species of the genus Podosphaera on ten plant species from five families. The species Neoërysiphe galeopsidis was identified on a single plant sample. Two new powdery mildew species (Golovinomyces savulescui, Erysiphe knautie) were identified in the Czech Republic, and the host range of several species was clarified. Golovinomyces bolayi was confirmed on Campanula lactiflora and Veronica longifolia, Erysiphe macleaye on Dicentra spectabilis, and Podosphaera xantii on Calendula officinalis, Chrysanthemum sp., Dahlia pinnata, and Gerbera × hybrida.
Combined analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics reveals the regulatory mechanism of branch bending on leaf bud development in Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch
Wei Wu, Kun Hu, Ming Gong, Xiaohua Yao, Shao Yang, Qing Song, Xueying Li, Qin Yang, Yan Wang
Branch bending is an important cultivation practice that manipulates plant growth by promoting lateral bud growth. Although this practice has been applied to various plant species, no research has been conducted to identify its effect on the molecular regulatory mechanism in Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch leaf bud development. This study analyzed dynamic changes in hormone concentrations, differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) by integrating transcriptome, widely targeted metabolome, and targeted hormone metabolome after branch bending in leaf buds. Key regulatory pathways were also investigated using multi-omics analysis. Transcriptome analysis identified 132 DEGs (117 up-regulated, 15 down-regulated) between treated and control groups. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis indicated that these DEGs were mainly enriched in sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis and pentose and glucuronate interconversions pathways. Widely targeted metabolome screened 62 DAMs, which were mainly enriched in flavonoid-related biosynthetic pathways including biosynthesis of quercetin aglycones I, biosynthesis of chalcone II, and flavone and flavonol biosynthesis pathways. Targeted hormone metabolome showed branch bending increased auxin (IAA), cytokinins acid (CTK), and jasmonate (JA) concentrations, but reduced abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellins (GA), and salicylic acid (SA) concentrations. Multi-omics integration identified 7 core co-enriched pathways, namely carotenoid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, α-linolenic acid metabolism, plant hormone signal transduction, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and metabolic pathways. These main pathways work together to facilitate the influence of branch bending on enhanced leaf bud development by regulating hormone homeostasis, the production of secondary metabolites, and signal transduction. This study discusses the molecular and metabolic mechanisms involved in branch bending and its role in regulating the development of C. illinoinensis leaf buds. It also offers key basic data, theoretical support for optimizing its high-quality cultivation techniques, as well as significant practical guidance for the optimization of branch bending technology through the regulation of leaf bud development.
Impact of Thinning Level and Timing on Yield, Maturity, and Quality of Merlot Grapevines under the Big T Trellis SystemOriginal Paper
Ilknur Korkutal, Elman Bahar, Gamze Uysal Seckin, Derya Akinci
This study evaluated the effects of cluster thinning on yield and quality of 12-year-old Merlot/41B grapevines over the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 growing seasons. Six phenological stages-Before Flowering, Setting, Bunch Closure, Veraison, Half Maturity, and Before Maturity-and three thinning levels (0%, 25%, and 50%) were assessed. Key parameters included total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity (TA), pH, sugar accumulation, maturity indices (TSS/TA, pH² × °Brix), secondary metabolites (total anthocyanins, total tannins, total phenolic content, total polyphenol index), and yield. Cluster thinning significantly enhanced most quality traits, with Veraison emerging as the optimal stage for improving phytochemical composition. The highest TSS was observed at Setting, while maximum total anthocyanins, tannins, TPI, and maturity indices occurred at Veraison under 50% thinning. Sugar accumulation was optimized at 25% thinning. Yield decreased proportionally with thinning intensity, with Control vines producing the highest yield and 50% thinning the lowest. Overall, 25% cluster thinning at Veraison achieved a balance between improved grape quality and commercial yield, providing a practical management strategy for Merlot production.
Pre-harvest UV-B Radiation during the Dark Period Enhances Phenolic Compounds in Agastache rugosa Cultivated in a Plant Factory with Artificial LightingOriginal Paper
Jaewook Shin, Sehee Kang, Meiyan Cui, Nakhyun Lee, Hyein Lee, Jeesang Myung, Changhoo Chun
Agastache rugosa Kuntze is an aromatic plant recognized for its phenolic compounds. To address the limitations of field cultivation, this study evaluated the interactive effects of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), electrical conductivity (EC), and nutrient solution types on A. rugosa growth, to explore its introduction into controlled environments. After determining conditions for a stable yield, specifically 250 μmol m–2 s–1 PPFD and 2.5 dS m–1 EC using Hoagland solution, the effects of pre-harvest ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on secondary metabolite accumulation was examined. UV-B was applied during the dark period starting one week prior to harvest, with treatments of 0.2 W m–2 for 4 or 8 h d–1 and 0.4 W m–2 for 2 or 4 h d–1, along with a control. Leaf rosmarinic acid (RA) content significantly increased in all UV-B treatments, whereas tilianin and acacetin levels decreased under higher UV-B intensity or longer duration. Growth characteristics remained largely unaffected. These findings demonstrate the potential of UV-B radiation at 0.2 W m–2 for 4 h d–1 during the dark period for enhancing RA content. Overall, this study highlights the feasibility of a pre-harvest UV-B application to enhance phenolic compounds in A. rugosa under optimized cultivation conditions.
Effect of Pre-Harvest Chemical Treatments on Postharvest Disease Control and Quality Enhancement in Banana FruitsOriginal Paper
Loganathan Murugan, Thangavelu Raman, Muthubharathi Kalimuthu, Bagavathi Subramanian, Shiva KN, Prabhu Govindasamy, Kaushik Banerjee, Sandip Hingmire, Mohanasundram Arumugam, Selvarajan Ramasamy
Bananas, being climacteric fruits, are highly prone to rapid spoilage caused by fungal pathogens, leading to substantial post-harvest losses. These pathogens often infect the fruit during field growth, resulting in latent infections that develop into disease after harvest. Generally, several rounds of fungicides such as Carbendazim, Mancozeb + Carbendazim, Trifloxystrobin + Tebuconazole, and Propiconazole are applied to manage fungal diseases like Fusarium wilt and leaf spot in field. This study assessed the effectiveness of these chemicals on post-harvest diseases, fruit quality and residual toxicity. All four fungicides recorded 80–100% control against major pathogens responsible for anthracnose (Colletotrichum musae) and crown rot (Lasiodiplodia theobromae and C. musae), at concentrations of 0.05–0.2%. Field application of the chemicals completely controlled anthracnose and significantly reduced crown rot severity. The treatments also improved fruit size (32.0–35.62 mm vs. 21.23 mm), yield (18.83–20.06 kg/plant vs. 13.5 kg/plant), firmness (13.65–15.67 N vs. 11.36 N), and shelf life (up to 8.25 days). No pesticide residues were detected in the fruit or core stem, ensuring consumer safety.
Manuscript title：The effect of exogenous salicylic acid on the germination and seedling growth of sweet melon (Cucumis melo L.) seeds under NaCl stressOriginal Paper
Chun liu, Lingyue Wang, Jinjin Li, Yupeng Fang
To investigate the effects of different concentrations of salicylic acid on seed germination and seedling growth physiology of sweet melon under NaCl stress. Using ‘Emerald’ sweet melon seeds as the experimental material, 360 seeds with plump particles were selected, and a total of 12 treatments were set up. Each treatment was repeated 3 times, with 10 seeds per repetition. The 12 treatments were blank control group (CK), salicylic acid single factor treatment group (with five concentration gradients of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mmol/L, labeled as 0.25SA-2.0SA), salt stress treatment group (treated with 150 mmol/L NaCl solution, labeled as N), and salt salicylic acid composite treatment group (treated with a mixed solution of 150 mmol/L NaCl and the above five salicylic acid concentrations, labeled as N+0.25 SA-N+2.0 SA), in order to explore the effects of salicylic acid on the germination and physiological growth of sweet melon seeds. Under salt stress, low concentrations of 0.25-0.5 mmol/L SA treatment can effectively alleviate plant salt damage and promote the germination rate of sweet melon seeds; Simultaneously using high concentrations of SA has a significant inhibitory effect on the root length, root fresh weight, and root shoot ratio of sweet melon, but using medium concentrations (1.0 mmol/L) of SA can increase the root length and root shoot ratio of seedlings. In addition, low concentration SA treatment can reduce the MDA content of plants and increase the activity of POD. High concentrations will reduce POD activity and increase MDA content. Adding exogenous salicylic acid at different concentrations without NaCl stress can to some extent inhibit seedling growth, reduce plant root length, root fresh weight and other growth indicators, but can reduce malondialdehyde content, increase POD activity, and enhance plant defense ability against the outside world. Under NaCl stress, treatment with 0.25 mmol/L LSA can reduce MDA content, increase POD activity, enhance plant salt resistance, and improve seed germination rate; Treatment with 1.0 mmol/L SA promotes seedling root elongation and increases root shoot ratio. Treating plants with different concentrations of SA without NaCl stress can to some extent inhibit their growth.
Effects of Nitrogen on the hydraulic characteristics and biomass allocation in Notopterygium franchetii in the Qinghai-Tibet PlateauOriginal Paper
xu shengrong, lili pei, zhou honghong, hu yijin, tong li, ma ruili
Nitrogen fertilizer changes the soil environment, regulates the water balance of plants, and directly affects nitrogen and water use efficiency. In order to identify the adaptation mechanism and water regulation strategy of Notopterygium franchetii to soil nitrogen environment, this study was conducted. Two-year-old Notopterygium franchetii plants grown in farmland were used as the test material. The hydraulic characteristics, natural dehydration, water capacitance and biomass allocation were investigated to three nitrogen application levels (0, 40, 80 kg/ha) and four growth periods (seedling, jointing, flowering and harvesting period). Nitrogen content in roots, stems and leaves increased with different levels of nitrogen treatments at each growth stage, and the change of nitrogen content in stems was the most significant. The overall water capacitance of all tissues was root > stem > leaf. After medium nitrogen treatment and high nitrogen treatments, the average water capacitance of leaves was 122.00% and 129.26% of low nitrogen treatment, and the average water capacitance of stems was 125.78% and 134.59% of low nitrogen treatment, the average water capacitance of leaves was 112.28% and 116.37% of low nitrogen treatment. Nitrogen treatment can improve water use efficiency of plant roots, stems and leaves, and the relative content of stable carbon isotope (δ13C) in the whole growing season increased by 0.77%, 1.96% and 5.27% of the control group after medium nitrogen treatment, and 1.60%, 2.18% and 1.61% of the control group after high nitrogen treatment. The ratio of root to canopy decreased significantly in each growth stage after nitrogen treatment, and the change was most significant at seedling period (from 1.25 to 0.66), and the change was the most least at jointing period (from 0.77 to 0.63). Our study thus indicates that nitrogen addition could regulate water balance in plants is beneficial to water storage and utilization, but excessive nitrogen fertilizer supply will also affect the distribution of plant biomass.
Investigating the Role of 6-BAP and 2,4-DPA in Enhancing Biochemical Nutrients and Reducing Fruit Drop and Cracking of Litchi cv. BombaiOriginal Paper
Bikash Chandra Sarker, Shams Shaila Islam, Kanij Farhana, M.A. Hakim, Thanet Khomphet
Litchi fruit drop and cracking are major issues that lead to low yields and reduced income for growers in Bangladesh. To address this, an experiment was conducted to determine the effects of biochemical nutrients and the ability to reduce fruit cracking and dropping in litchi cv. Bombai under various concentrations of 6-Benzylaminopurine (6-BAP) and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-DPA). The study followed a two-factor factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design, using four levels for each growth regulator: control, 20, 30, and 40 ppm 2,4-DPA, and similarly for 6-BAP. Various parameters were measured, including the number of flowers, fruit retention, fruit cracking, moisture content, ash content, acidity, fruit growth, and fruit quality, as well as yield per tree. The results demonstrated that both plant growth regulators, 2,4-DPA and 6-BAP, significantly reduced fruit dropping and cracking while improving the overall quality and nutrient content of the fruits. The retention of fruits was higher with 6-BAP compared to 2,4-DPA. The highest fruit weight, length, diameter, pulp-to-seed ratio, and pulp-to-peel ratio were achieved with the 20 ppm treatments of both 2,4-DPA and 6-BAP. Additionally, fruit quality indicators, including vitamin C, vitamin A, total phenol content, and key mineral nutrients, were significantly enhanced by both growth regulators. Based on the findings, it is recommended that either 20 ppm of 2,4-DPA or 20 ppm of 6-BAP be applied three times at the pea-size, marble-size, and pre-harvest stages after fruit set to enhance fruit quality and reduce cracking in litchi.
Somatic embryogenesis and in vitro plant regeneration of Manzano (AAB) and Pelipita (ABB) banana cultivarsOriginal Paper
Adrián José Enríquez-Valencia, Martín Mata-Rosas, Claudia-Anahí Pérez-Torres, Enrique Ibarra-Laclette
Bananas are among the most produced, traded, and consumed fruits globally. The present study aimed to develop an efficient protocol for in vitro propagation by somatic embryogenesis of Manzano and Peliptia cultivars. Immature male flower bud explants were used for embryogenic callus induction. In contrast with Pelipita, the Manzano cultivar showed the highest percentage of embryogenic callus induction. Stereomicroscopic observations of the embryogenic callus revealed various stages of somatic embryos, indicating an asynchronous type of embryogenesis. White translucent pro-embryogenic callus were efficiently used to establish embryogenic cell suspension. The development of different stages in the regeneration process of embryogenic cell suspension was also observed under a stereomicroscope in order to understand their development and structure. Only the embryos in the late coleoptilar stage with an opaque white morphology were selected and transferred to an appropriate media to evaluate the germination percentage. We prove that the germination percent is highly efficient for both cultivars (even higher than 90% when opaque white embryos in the late coleoptilar stage are used). Besides, we also prove that in contrast with 60-day-old embryos, a 10-12 % increase in germination is observed when embryos slightly older (90 days old) are used.
Identification of essential oils of Mentha rotundifolia from north-east Jijel region and their antifungal potential against Botrytis cinereaOriginal Paper
Bouziane zehaira
The objective of the present research is to determine the main essential oils of Mentha rotundifolia and to clarify the antifungal effect of these oils against Botrytis cinerea. The essential oils were obtained from hydro distillation of fresh leaves, and composition was determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The results show that the essential oils yield is in the order of (1, 37%), and the main components were identified as pulegone (39.21%), ß-cubebene (11.72%), caryophyllene (9.18%), D-limonene (4.7%), ß-ocimene (2.39%), myrcene (2.21%), myrtenol (2.1%), ß-farnesene (2.03%) respectively. The essential oils of Mentha rotundifolia have been shown to be effective against Botrytis cinerea in terms of antifungal activity recording significant statistical results (p˂0, 0001). Screening of antifungal activity by essential oils revealed the efficiency of the concentrations of (100%) and (60%) against B. cinerea with an average of (26.66 and 20.58 mm). The activities of the essential oils indicated that B. cinerea was sensitive strain tested to the oils of Mentha rotundifolia. According to the finding, the plant under consideration is promising as a source of natural fungicides and lends itself well to research in the field of fungi control using biochemical alternatives.
Investigation on morphological, photosynthetic traits, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) roots infection in sago palm (Metroxylon sagu rottb.) under saline conditionOriginal Paper
Aidil Azhar
This study investigated the response of sago palms to saline conditions, focusing on their morphological and photosynthetic performance. The photosynthetic traits were evaluated using OJIP chlorophyll fluorescence transient. The plants were exposed to a saline condition of 224 mM NaCl, and their ability to form associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was also assessed. We tested both commercial AMF products, containing spores from multiple genera, and isolated AMF spores from Glomus etunicatum and Glomus grape, to determine their ability to infect sago palm roots under high salt conditions. The results showed that sago palms can maintain efficient photosynthesis even at high salt levels. This is likely due to their ability to prevent excessive salt uptake in shoots and water loss from roots by forming lignin deposits in cell tissues. Furthermore, the study found that sago palm roots can form associations with AMF under saline conditions. These findings indicate that sago palms exhibit tolerance to saline environments, making them a promising crop option for areas with low soil quality where other carbohydrate-producing crops cannot tolerate the conditions
Seasonal changes in Elaeocarpus sylvestris leaf colour and physiologyOriginal Paper
Qingqing Liu, Zhijun Huang, Xiaolong Tian, Zhangwei Tan
In this study, Elaeocarpus sylvestris (Lour.) Poir. leaves were sampled on five dates from autumn to winter and analysed to reveal the factors that cause progressive changes in leaf colour and differences in leaf physiological characteristics. The colour parameters L*, a*, C*, and s* increased significantly, the gloss of E. sylvestris leaves became reddish, and the colour brightness and purity increased. The chlorophyll and carotenoid contents decreased significantly with anthocyanin accumulation, and pigment content ratio changes in autumn and winter were the most direct reasons for the reddening of E. sylvestris leaves. The leaf pigment content interacted with the fluorescence and photosynthetic characteristics during the reddening process. The decrease in chlorophyll and carotenoid contents weakened leaf fluorescence, decreased light energy use efficiency, and decreased the net photosynthetic rate. The allocation of light energy from E. sylvestris leaves to regulatory energy dissipation (e.g., photochemical reactions) and heat dissipation pathways was reduced, and the excess excitation energy led to photosystem II photodamage. These findings provide a basis for the garden application of E. sylvestris and theoretical insights into the mechanisms of leaf colouration in colourful plants.
Chilling Requirements of Apple Cultivars: Physiological Insights and Adaptation Strategies in a Changing ClimateReview
Garima Vashisth, Sanjeev Kumar, Ibajanai Kurbah, Nitesh Kumar
Apple cultivars' chill requirements directly affect the break from dormancy to active growth, thus playing a significant role in flowering and fruit set and production. This abstract explores physiological insights and adaptation techniques concerning the chilling requirements of apple cultivars against the backdrop of change in the environment. Chilling hours are the total hours the apple cultivar needs to be exposed to low temperatures to break dormancy. These needs vary highly with the varieties and are intrinsically related to the genetic constitution of the cultivar. These cooling hours must be met in synchronization for bud break and consistent flowering. On the contrary, with the rise in global temperatures and associated uncertainty with climate, the mere normal satisfaction of chilling requirements is being increasingly threatened. Physiologically, the freezing process creates complex hormonal as well as metabolic changes in the bud tissue. In plants that have shifted from a dormant state to active growth, it is the kind of balance of hormones like gibberellins (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA) that is critical. The expression of some of those genes that are linked to chilling accumulation further explains the core biological mechanisms involved in controlling dormancy release. These include low-chill or adaptive apple cultivars, using chemical agents to induce dormancy release, and orchard management practices such as irrigation and shading to "immerse" the trees in those environments where warmer winters might be more common, hence minimizing the impact of warmer winters.
Impact of integrated nutrient management on fruit quality attributes of sapota (Acharas zapota)Original Paper
HEM RAJ MEENA, RAM AVATAR KAUSHIK, CHAITHRA T.S., MEENAKSHI MEENA, SOMASUNDARAM J., KALA S., GULSHAN KUMAR SHARMA, ASHOK KUMAR, SHAKIR ALI, GOPAL LAL MEENA, KULDEEP KUMAR
Indiscriminate use of inorganic fertilizers are threat to environment coupled with adverse affects on quality of produce and soil health. Integrated nutrient management (INM) can supplement the requirement of the plant for qualitative and quantitative production and reduce the amount of chemical fertilizers. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of organic, inorganic and biofertilizers on fruit quality of sapota fruits and also to determine the amount required from diverse source of nutrients on fruit quality. A field study was conducted with 11 different treatment combinations, including farm yard manure (FYM), vermicompost, recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and biofertilizers. Among various treatments, application of 2/3 of RDF+10 kg vermicompost + 250 g Azospirillum + 250 g Azotobacter per plants recorded higher fruit diameter, fruit length and fruit weight i.e. 5.67 cm, 6.20 cm and 100.17 g respectively. In addition, higher fruit firmness (4.96 kg/cm2) and pulp: seed ratio (93.09) was recorded in the same treatment. Although, biochemical parameters such as total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid, TSS/ acid ratio and reducing sugar were recorded in treatments having 750:375:375 g NPK + 50 kg FYM +250 g Azospirillum + 250 g Azotobacter / plant. The results demonstrated that applying two-thirds of the recommended amount of fertilizers i.e.1000:500:500 g NPK per plant in Sapota cv. Kalipatti enhanced TSS content (9.68%) and fruit weight (13.72 %) over the control.
Overlooked plums and their potentialReview
Lukáš Maryška, Lubor Zelený
Plums are one of the most important and most overlooked fruits. Their nutritional value, composition, antioxidant potential, and vitamin content place them at the forefront of the food industry. Their potential is so great that plums are one of the fruits being considered for space travel. Prunes are not just a hot topic for astronauts. The possibility of growing plums in a cultivation box at reduced or zero gravity have also been studied. The sharka virus (plum pox virus) is responsible for the major economic losses worldwide. Efforts are being made to develop the most effective way to control the spread of the virus between trees, as there is still no reliable treatment against this disease. The main vectors of transmission in the orchards are aphids and grafting of infected material. Consistent control and testing of the health of propagating material can reduce the percentage of infection by plant material. Therefore, major efforts have been made to develop effective aphid control strategies to in both conventional and organic production systems. Hand in hand with the development of chemical treatments goes the breeding of new plum varieties that combine natural resistance or tolerance to sharka and the required high value of the fruit for the consumer. The trees themselves have not been able to develop a natural immunity to the disease, but a variety with the sharka coat protein encoded has been developed through genetic modification. This variety has shown a high level of resistance. At present, the use, development, and cultivation of GMO plants is under very strict control and large-scale production is not possible, but in the future these mutants are likely to be very interesting breeding material.
Eco-physiological attributes of Physalis philadelphica, Physalis angulata and Physalis pubescens in the Valley of MexicoOriginal Paper
Gabriela Berenice Vilchis Granados, Edgar Jesus Morales Rosales, Edgar Javier Morales Morales, Jose Antonio Lopez Sandoval, Ana Patricia Morales Colin
The processes and mechanisms that determine the growth and yield of crops in different environments are necessary to increase agricultural production, since they guide us in the choice of the most appropriate management practices. The aim of the study was to evaluate, during the years 2018, 2019, 2020, the performance of Physalis philadelphica, Physalis angulata and Physalis pubescens as a function of leaf area index, light extinction coefficient and radiation use efficiency. Research was carried out at the Center of Research and Advanced Studies of the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico. Results revealed that the environmental conditions of 2018 positively influenced the expression of leaf area index and radiation use efficiency, increasing the average production of Physalis sp. (10.65 t/ha) compared to 2019 (9.67 t/ha) and 2020 (8.13 t/ha). Physalis philadelphica produced the greatest amount of fruit (16.69 t/ha) followed by Physalis angulata (10.46 t/ha) and Physalis pubescens (1.33 t/ha). Genotype × environment interaction in 2018 stimulated the expression of the eco-physiological attributes of Physalis philadelphica achieving a yield of 18.83 t/ha.
Biomass production of Lettuce: Nitrogen Fertilizer and Harvesting Period Effects on Phytochemical composition in Growth Chamber-GrownOriginal Paper
Soran Aziz, Fuad Othman Abdullah, Ayman Al-Qaanehd, Matteo Micuccie
Concern over the potential health benefits of the phytochemical compounds in lettuce has grown as intake of leafy vegetables, especially lettuce, has increased. This study was to investigate the effect periods of harvesting and the different concentration of nitrogen fertilization including low, normal and high (100, 200 and 300 mg/plant) respectively on level of phytochemical compounds such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids and chlorophylls in lettuce. The experiment was conducted in the growth chamber at Newcastle University. The plants were randomly designed for 3 treatments with 15 replications. Plants were harvested in three different times. The first harvesting took place after 6 weeks from planting, and the second and third harvesting were done after 7 and 8 weeks from planting respectively. After each harvest, the chlorophyll content and total carotenoids and other phytochemicals were measured by High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) before and after drying the plants. The plant biomass was higher at normal nitrogen application (200 mg/L) in all periods of harvesting. As well as, significantly increased plant phytochemicals including carotenoids and chlorophylls, while, the composition of phenolic acids and flavonols were not affected such as, higher level of nitrogen fertilizer to the soil has resulted in a higher concentration of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in the lettuce by 154.2%～420.3%, 72.1%～287.9% respectively. Aa well as, that lutein was increased from 209 µg/g dry weight at the first period of harvest to 287 µg/g dry weight at the second period of harvest. Furthermore, total phenolic increased by 25%. The finding of current study showed that plant maturity has positive correlation with plant phytochemicals.
Effect of the application of phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina platensis) as fertiliser on bioactive compounds in microgreensOriginal Paper
SILA BARUT GÖK, FUNDA ÖZDÜVEN, FUNDA ERYILMAZ AÇIKGÖZ, Çetin YAĞCILAR
Bio-fertilization has gained popularity due to its sustainability in agricultural practice. One of the cyanobacterial-based bio-fertilizers is Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina platensis) which contains phycocyanin, a blue protein pigment that is abundant in Spirulina sp., that boosts the growth yield and bioactive content of plants. The aim of the current study is to determine the alteration in antioxidant and phenolic content in red cabbage microgreens (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra) by treating different organs of the plant with phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis. The phycocyanin application did not significantly affect the phenolic content of the cotyledon leaves. However, soaking with phycocyanin solution significantly affected the phenolic content of seeds. Regarding the antioxidant capacity of the microgreens, no significant effect was detected on the antioxidant activity of the seeds among the phycocyanin concentrations. The phycocyanin application significantly increased antioxidant activity compared to control soaked in deionised water. The results clearly demonstrate that phycocyanin application to seed and cotyledon leaves affected the antioxidant capacity and phenolic content of the microgreens. Although there are several studies about the effects of phycocyanin on growth parameters, this study has different perspectives in terms of the method of phycocyanin application and evaluation of the bioactive compounds in microgreens.
Standardization of gamma radiation dose based on lethality and growth reduction in dragon fruit cultivarsOriginal Paper
Karunakaran Ganesan, Pavithra Gopavaram, Sivaramakrishna V N P, Sakthivel T, Arivalagan M, Kalaivanan D, Thirugnanavel A, Ruchitha T, Abhilash K
An exotic vine cactus commonly known as ‘pitaya’ is a weather resilient crop, rich in vitamin-C and antioxidants. The chances of crop improvement through conventional breeding is a limitation in dragon fruit, hence induced mutation can be exploited for creating genetic variability in dragon fruit. The present investigation was conducted to assess the radiation sensitivity of two dragon fruit cultivars viz., Red and White irradiated with gamma mutagen to determine the lethal dose (LD) and growth reduction dose (GR). Dragon fruit seeds were pre-soaked and exposed to different doses of gamma radiation using cobalt-60 at 100 Gy to 1000 Gy at 100 Gy interval. The mean LD and GR values for Red and White cultivars were assessed using a linear regression model. The findings revealed that the lethal doses (LD50) for gamma radiation were 674.28 Gy and 731.06 Gy for LD50 in cv. Red and White, respectively. The GR50 value for seedling height, shoot and root length was observed in 656.27 Gy, 738.22 Gy and 653.76 Gy in Red cultivars, whereas 818.51 Gy, 855.08 Gy and 616.08 Gy in White cultivars. Furthermore, the findings revealed that the raise in dose of mutagens had significant negative effect on growth attributes and survival rate of dragon fruit seedlings. The determined LD and GR doses obtained from this research can be exploited in mutation breeding programme of dragon fruit to develop a cultivar with novel traits.