Horticultural Science - In Press
Hydroponics and Food Safety: Key Risks and SolutionsReview
Sachin Adhikari
Hydroponics represents an innovative and sustainable approach to crop production that eliminates the need for soil by providing plants with nutrient-enriched water solutions. This review explores the relationship between hydroponic cultivation and food safety, emphasizing the importance of managing microbial contamination in controlled environments. Various hydroponic systems, such as deep-water culture, nutrient film technique, drip, ebb-and-flow, wick, and aeroponics, enable high yields and efficient resource utilization but remain vulnerable to the accumulation and spread of pathogens in recirculated water. Outbreaks associated with Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli underscore the importance of strict hygiene, continuous monitoring, and effective water treatment practices. Several disinfection methods have been developed, including chlorination, heat treatment, and advanced oxidation, but ultraviolet light (UV-C, 254 nm) irradiation has gained attention as a residue-free and energy-efficient alternative. Integrating UV-C with good agricultural practices and real-time monitoring can significantly reduce food safety risks. The review emphasizes the importance of future research on the application of UV-C in large-scale production for hydroponic systems, as well as the design of cost-effective hydroponic systems to promote safe and sustainable food production.
Combined analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics reveals the regulatory mechanism of branch bending on leaf bud development in Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. KochOriginal Paper
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.
Comparative analysis of peg-induced in-vitro drought stress responses in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) cultivarsOriginal Paper
Çağlar Kaya
In this study, the morphological and biochemical responses of three commercial strawberry cultivars (‘Camarosa’, ‘Albion’, and ‘Sweet Charlie’) were compared under in-vitro drought stress induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG). The results revealed that, under severe stress conditions (10% PEG), ‘Camarosa’ exhibited the highest shoot (9.57) and root numbers (8.89), while its rooting rate was (8.39%) at moderate stress (5% PEG). ‘Albion’ had the greatest leaf number (9.26) at 0% PEG, and reached maximum leaf length (9.10 cm) and fresh biomass (9.46 g) at 5% PEG. In contrast, ‘Sweet Charlie’ showed pronounced reductions in both growth and biochemical parameters as PEG concentration increased, with shoot number decreasing to (3.13) and biomass reduced by more than 40% at 10% PEG. Biochemically, ‘Albion’ showed the highest SOD activity (9.54 U mg-1) at 5% PEG and CAT activity (9.73 U mg-1) at 10% PEG. ‘Sweet Charlie’, on the other hand, displayed the most pronounced oxidative damage under high PEG, with elevated MDA (12.7 nmol g-1 FW) and proline (9.12 μmol g-1 FW) accumulation. Principal component analysis (PCA) explained 56.4% of the total variance, highlighting that ‘Albion’ stood out for its high antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, GR, SOD), while ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Sweet Charlie’ were able to maintain higher SPAD and relative water content (RWC) under severe stress. However, increased MDA and proline levels in ‘Sweet Charlie’ indicated heightened stress sensitivity. The PCA biplot further demonstrated that antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GR, SOD) were closely associated with ‘Albion’, while physiological parameters such as SPAD and RWC were more related to ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Sweet Charlie’. In conclusion, the in-vitro screening method using PEG is an effective and reliable tool for rapid assessment of drought tolerance in strawberry genotypes. These findings indicate that ‘Albion’, with its superior morphological and biochemical resilience, is a promising candidate for future breeding programs.
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.
Integrated nutrient management improves soil fertility, leading to improve the productivity and quality of Aonla (Emblica officinali L.)Original Paper
Soustav Datta, Susmita Dey, Sk Md Asif, Sarthak Bhattacharya, Suddhasuchi Das, Chinmoy Mandal, Kamal Kr. Mandal, Laila A. Al-Shuraym, Lamya Ahmed Alkeridis, Samy Sayed, Ahmed Gaber, Akbar Hossain
Aonla (Emblica officinali L.) is one of the most nutritious fruits and an excellent source of vitamin C. Chemical fertilizers and insecticides used indiscriminately have negative effects on soil fertility, yield and quality of produce. Given this background, a study was conducted from 2019 to 2021 at the Regional Research Substation, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya in Sekhampur, West Bengal, India, to examine the impacts of managing organic and inorganic nutrients for achievable production of aonla and preserving soil fertility in Red and Lateritic Regions of West Bengal-India. Treatments were: T1: RDF: 600-300-600 g NPK plant-1 (Control); T2: 20 kg FYM + 400-200-500g NPK plant-1; T3: 10kg Vermicompost + 400-150-450g NPK plant-1; T4: 40g Azotobacter + 550-300-600g NPK plant-1; T5: 50g PSB + 600-250-600g NPK plant-1; T6: 40g Azotobacter + 50g PSB + 550-250-600g NPK plant-1; T7: 10 kg FYM + 40g Azotobacter + 50g PSB + 350--500g NPK plant-1; T8: 10kg Vermicompost + 40g Azotobacter + 50g PSB + 350-100-450g NPK plant-1. All treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and repeated three times. The observations revealed that greatest increases in plant growth parameters, maximum fruit physicochemical characteristics, maximum yield/tree ratio and soil nutrient status were observed with the implementation of treatment T6. Finally, aonla (cv. ‘NA-7’) orchards in Sekhampur, West Bengal, benefit from treatment T6, which improves the soil nutrient status and increases fruit quality and yield.
Optimizing oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) mushroom cultivation in West Africa: Soybean straw as a promising substrateOriginal Paper
Abdoul-Azize Boukary, Lucrece Naomie Yabi, Meike Piepenbring, Soulemane Nourou Yorou
Mushroom cultivation has been proposed to valorize several types of lignocellulosic substrates. Soybean straw as the main dish for mushroom cultivation has not really been tried in West Africa, yet soybean cultivation has become very important in this area. The present study evaluates the performance of soybean straw in mushroom cultivation in Benin. We tested Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation on three different substrates including rice straw, sawdust and soybean straw. Different water contents of the substrates were tested to identify the best for good biological efficiency. We evaluated the performance of a growing substrate by measuring the days required for complete colonization, the time until primordia appeared, and the number of fruiting bodies per bag. Using a negative binomial regression model, we assessed the interactive effects of substrate type, moisture content, and their additive effects. To determine significance, we conducted Kruskal's multiple comparison test to rank the means. This study showed that soybean straw was the substrate with the fastest mycelial colonization (13 days) compared to rice straw or sawdust (2-3 weeks). Similarly, the highest yields were obtained on soybean straw (452.5 g/kg), followed by rice straw (367.8 g/kg) and sawdust (275.2 g/kg). Regarding water content, it was found that 60% was the most favorable for both rapid substrate colonization and a good yield. Due to its high biological efficiency, soybean straw has proved to be an excellent substrate for mushroom cultivation.
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.
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.
Changes in some nutritional components and physiological indices during the cutting process of Acer griseum cuttings
Junyang Song, Yingxue Shen, Sucheng He
Acer guiseum, a distinct endangered species native to China, is celebrated for its striking autumn foliage. The profound physiological dormancy of its seeds hampers both natural regeneration and industrial applications. This research examines the changes in nutritional components and physiological indices during the cutting process of Acer guiseum, offering insights for foundational research and practical applications in propagation by cuttings for this and similar species. Utilizing one-year-old branches of Acer guiseum as experimental material, this study assessed the variations in nutritional components and physiological indices among cuttings subjected to NAA treatment and a control group. It delved into the internal changes in substances within the cuttings throughout the process, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for its propagation via cuttings. Despite all treated and control group cuttings failing to successfully induce rooting, valuable data on nutritional components and physiological indices were collected during the process. The findings reveal a persistent decrease in the levels of starch, soluble sugar, soluble protein, catalase (CAT) activity, and a-amylase (α-AL) activity in the cuttings. Peroxidase (POD) activity exhibited a “decrease-increase-decrease-increase” pattern, failing to sustain high activity throughout the process. Increases were noted in malondialdehyde (MDA) content and lipase (LPS) activity, which are indicators of lipid peroxidation in cell membranes, reduction in cellular physiological functions, and cellular aging. Traditional cutting methods proved ineffective in inducing rooting in Acer guiseum cuttings. The observed reduction in nutritional substances and changes in enzyme activity during the cutting process are likely contributing factors to the unsuccessful propagation of Acer guiseum through cuttings.
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.
The nutrient requirement of Holcoglossum amesianum affects the formation of PLBs and the mortality of seedling based on micromorphological observationOriginal Paper
Qian Wu, Jianwei Yang, Shuxian Ren, Menglu Hu, ZongYan Li
Holcoglossum amesianum is an endangered orchid species because of its habitat destruction and overexploitation. But there is no research on the biology of H. amesianum, particularly relevant to nutrient requirement in seed germination. This study aimed to improve protocorm-like-bodies formation rate and seedling survival rate in vitro reproduction of H. amesianum by determining seeds nutritional requirements and screening optimal combinations of medium and organic additives. The results demonstrated that Hyponex medium with 30 g/L Banana Homogenate and 20 g/L Apple Homogenate as well as N6 medium with 30 g/L Banana Homogenate exerted significant effects on seed germination. However, these two mediums have had adverse effects on protocorm-like-bodies survival. The half-strength Murashige and Skoog medium with 20 g/L Apple Homogenate exhibited the Banana Homogenate higher seed germination rate and the lowest mortality rate of seedling, which can be assumed that H. amesianum is a high nutrient requirement species.
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.
Comparative evaluation of IBA and NAA effects on rhizogenesis and shoot morphogenesis in Rosa spp. stem cuttingsOriginal Paper
Wagdi Saber Soliman, Khaled Saad-Eldeen, Ahmed M. Abbas, Mohammed O. Alshaharni, Abd-Allah Gahory
This study was conducted at the Floriculture Nursery within the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt, during the growing seasons of 2021/2022 and 2022/2023. The evaluation study aimed to compare the effects of two plant growth regulators (PGRs), (IBA) and (NAA), on the rooting and shoot development of Rose, a species known for its difficulty in rooting. The experimental setup utilized a split-plot design, where the main plots were assigned to the type of PGR and the sub-plots to varying concentrations (control, 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 ppm). Results indicated that increasing the concentrations of IBA and NAA from 500 ppm led to significant improvements in plant height, root length, and potassium levels. Specifically, at 500 ppm of IBA and 1000 ppm of NAA, there were notable enhancements in the success rates of cuttings, leaf and branch counts, in addition to both fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots, along with increased phosphorus content. In contrast, higher concentrations of 1500 and 2000 ppm for both growth regulators resulted in a shorter duration for leaf sprouting, greater stem diameter, and elevated nitrogen levels. The findings suggested that soaking stem cuttings in a solution of 2000 ppm IBA for 30 minutes can significantly improve root formation and foster overall growth and development of the plants.
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.