Multi-sensors data fusion approach for site-specific seeding of consumption and seed potato production

Precision Agriculture - This study evaluated the agronomic and economic prospects of Site-Specific Seeding (SSS) for consumption and seed potato production based on Management Zone (MZ) maps...     

Fungal endophyte Penicillium janthinellum LK5 can reduce cadmium toxicity in Solanum lycopersicum (Sitiens and Rhe)

We investigated the role of gibberellins-producing endophyte Penicillium janthinellum LK5 associated with Solanum lycopersicum (host), abscisic acid (ABA)-deficient tomato mutant Sitiens and its wild-type Rheinlands Ruhm (Rhe) plants under cadmium (Cd) stress. A 100-μM Cd application to host, Sitiens and Rhe reduced the shoot growth, chlorophyll content and stomatal conductance. However, these parameters were significantly (P?<?0.0011) higher (1.0- to 2.6-folds) in host, Sitiens and Rhe under endophytic association than in non-endophyte infected plants (control) under Cd stress. Furthermore, endophytic association minimized the Cd-induced membrane injury and oxidative stress to host, Sitiens and Rhe plants by reducing electrolytes and lipid peroxidation while increasing the content of reduced glutathione and catalase activities as compared to non-endophyte-infected plants. Stress-responsive ABA content significantly increased (～2-folds) in Sitiens and Rhe under endophyte association, while in host plants it was decreased under Cd stress. Salicylic acid content was ～?1.7-fold higher in host, Sitiens and Rhe plants under Cd stress and endophyte association than in the control. Besides gibberellins production, the endophyte has the potential to solubilize phosphates (12.73?±?0.24 mg/l) since higher P was observed in the roots of Sitiens, Rhe and host plants. Similarly, nutrients like sulfur and calcium were more efficiently assimilated in roots of endophyte-associated plants than control under Cd stress. Conversely, Cd accumulation was significantly decreased (P?<?0.001) in the roots of endophyte-inoculated host, Sitiens and Rhe than control. In conclusion, endophyte symbiosis can counteract heavy metal stress which can exert negative effects on plant growth.     

On the occurrence,distribution and taxonomy of Cucumis setosus Cogn., an endemic wild edible vegetable from India

Cucumis setosus Cogn. is a rare, endemic, wild gathered or semi-domesticated vegetable restricted to Maharashtra state and border districts of adjoining states in India. Herbarium and literature survey shows that it is poorly collected and inadequately studied. Morphological characters, basic chromosome number and crossability barriers indicate that Cucumis setosus is a valid species, distinct from C. sativus and endemic to western India. Its morphology, basic cytology, crossability relationship with other Cucumis species, taxonomy, distribution, ecology, conservation, economic importance and viability under cultivation are discussed. Besides, a key to distinguish it from C. sativus var. hardwickii (wild and feral form of C. sativus) and other species having sympatric distribution in the area is also presented. Absence of bitter principle in the fruits makes it a potential germplasm for melon and cucumber improvement as well as direct domestication as a future crop.     

State of Urban Nurseries in Bangladesh: A Case Study from the North-Eastern Region

The state of urban seedling nurseries in the north-eastern region of Bangladesh is examined with a focus on production and profitability of the enterprises. Twenty-eight sample nurseries out of the 97 nursery enterprises in Sylhet town were selected at random, and operators personally interviewed. It was found that the entrepreneurs are not highly educated though they believed that a basic level of education is required to understand the management of young nursery stock. Labourers of various employment categories work in the enterprises and their wage is determined by their skill, gender and efficiency. Capital and operating costs vary among the enterprises according to land value, production capacity, infrastructure type and workforce size. Production capacity ranges from 10,000 to 5 M seedlings/year with an average 836,000, though actual average production is only 341,000 seedlings/year. The production cost per seedling ranges from Tk. 4 to 50 while sale value ranges from Tk. 10 to 60. The most frequently sold species are Acacia mangium, Swietenia macrophylla, Tectona grandis, Mangifera indica, Litchi chinensis and Cocos nucifera. Nursery techniques and cultural practices adopted by nursery operators depend on the type of species and its silvicultural requirement. Despite some problems, including lack of suitable land for nursery establishment and inadequate level of technical knowledge for high quality seedling management, it seems that production of tree seedlings is a promising profitable small-scale business in the study area.     

棕榈在孟加拉乡村传统利用——一种可持续的生物多样性管理手段(英文)

采用多级采样的方法研究了孟加拉国农村耕作区内棕榈树的传统利用模式和当地的管理经验。农民管理棕榈主要为获取树液产品,生产以糖为主的次生品。树液可直接用作饮料,也可加工成糖蜜或酒精饮料。7块不同地块为棕榈提供生长环境,20.40%的棕榈种植在果园内。尽管中等级的农民拥有多数棕榈(33%),但是主要管理棕榈的是没有土地的农民,他们靠棕榈维持生计。这些农民将自己的智慧应用到棕榈管理当中,从种植到开孔取树液再到产品加工。如果能更科学地管理棕榈,加上农民的智慧,棕榈业将会对当地经济发展起到重要作用,也会丰富当地生物多样性。     

Postmortem abdominal radiographic findings in feline cadavers.

Postmortem radiographic examinations of animals are commonly performed in judicial investigations to rule out gunshot and fractures. However, there was no available data on radiographic postmortem changes of animals. Forty-one sets of abdominal radiographs of feline cadavers made within 12 h of death were evaluated for postmortem changes. Intravascular gas was detected in 11 of 41 (27%) cadavers. The most common site of intravascular gas was the liver. Intravascular gas was also present in the aorta, femoral artery, celiac and cranial mesenteric arteries, and caudal superficial epigastric artery. Intrasplenic gas was detected in two cadavers. Only two cadavers had distended small intestine. One cadaver had pneumatosis coli. The changes detected were most likely due to putrefaction.     

Endometrial transcript profile of progesterone‐regulated genes during early pregnancy of Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Progesterone (P₄) plays a key role in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in most mammals. Unravelling the expression of progesterone‐regulated genes can expand the understanding of the embryonic mortality. Accordingly, we studied the relative mRNA expression of the P₄‐regulated genes in the buffalo. Uteri were collected from the abattoir and categorized into nonpregnant late luteal phase, stage I (28–38th days of gestation) and stage II (48–56th days of gestation) of pregnancy (n = 6/group). After extraction of total RNA from the endometrial tissues, we carried out qRT‐PCR for determining the relative mRNA expression of the P₄‐regulated genes using nonpregnant late luteal phase as calibrator group. The expression of LGALS3BP (essential for maternal recognition of pregnancy) gene was found to be significantly upregulated (p < 0.05), while MUC1 (important for embryo attachment) gene was downregulated in stage I and II of pregnancy. We observed no significant change in the expression of LGALS1, LGALS9 and CTSL genes. The SLC5A11 and SLC2A1 genes (involved in the transport of glucose to endometrium) in early pregnancy were upregulated in the pregnancy stage I (p < 0.05) relative to nonpregnant late luteal phase. The CST3 gene was significantly upregulated in pregnancy stage II (p < 0.01). These results provide molecular insights into the specific pathways involved in foeto‐maternal communication during early pregnancy in buffaloes.     

Acetyl salicylic acid and 24-epibrassinolide enhance root activity and improve root morphological features in tomato plants under heat stress

High temperature has deleterious impacts on tomato growth and development and limits its production. Acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) and 24-epibrassinolide (EBL) have been widely reported as stress-ameliorating agents. The effect of exogenous application of varying levels of EBL (0.75, 1.5, and 3 µM) and ASA (0.25, 0.75, and 1.25 mM) on root activity (RA) in terms of 2,3,5 triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) reduction and root morphological features was evaluated in four-week-old tomato seedlings (cultivar: Mei Jie Lo) grown under high-temperature stress (46°C/4 h per day) for 21 days. The daily heat stress treatment almost ceased the root growth of chemically untreated seedlings. However, both EBL and ASA significantly attenuated the deleterious impacts of heat stress to different extents regarding root activity, total root length, surface area, volume, and number of nodes and connections. Different concentrations demonstrated signature effects. EBL (3 µM) was over all the best treatment to improve root activity whereas ASA (0.25 mM) best enhanced root architecture (net length, volume, and area) as compared to the untreated heat-stressed controls. However, EBL (3 µM) and ASA (1.25 mM) slightly inhibited mean root diameter. It is concluded that under high-temperature conditions, the exogenous EBL and ASA in studied doses improve root morphological features and root activity, hence enhance heat stress tolerance. Both chemical agents can be potential candidates in practical agriculture for extension of tomato growth period in summer by virtue of their heat stress amelioration ability.     

Physiological Role of Exogenously Applied Glycinebetaine to Improve Drought Tolerance in Fine Grain Aromatic Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice performance under drought stress is mainly impeded by oxidative damage and hampered plant water status, which may be improved by exogenous use of osmoprotectants. In this study, the role of glycinebetaine (GB) to improve drought tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar Super-basmati was evaluated. GB was used both as seed and foliar application. For priming, seeds were soaked in 50, 100 and 150 mg l⁻¹ aerated solution of GB for 48 h. At four-leaf stage, one set of plants was subjected to drought stress, while the other set kept at full field capacity. Drought was maintained at 50 % of field capacity by watering when needed. For exogenous application, 50, 100 and 150 mg l⁻¹ GB levels were applied at five-leaf stage. Drought stress greatly reduced the rice growth while GB application improved it both under well-watered and drought conditions. Drought tolerance in rice was strongly related to the maintenance of tissue water potential and antioxidant system, which improved the integrity of cellular membranes and enabled the plant to maintain high photosynthesis. Foliar treatments were more effective than the seed treatments, while among the GB treatment, foliar application with 100 mg l⁻¹ was the most effective.     

Activation of Antioxidant System by KCl Improves the Chilling Tolerance in Hybrid Maize

As maize is a chilling-sensitive crop, low temperatures during the early stages of development can be injurious to crop growth and development. Prime mechanism behind chilling-induced damage is oxidative stress. This study was undertaken to improve the chilling tolerance in hybrid maize by seed priming with KCl. For priming, seeds of the maize hybrid Hycorn 8288 were soaked in 50, 100 and 150 mg l⁻¹ aerated solution of KCl for 24 h and then re-dried close to original weight. Primed and untreated seeds were sown at 27 °C (optimal temperature) and at 15 °C (chilling stress) under controlled conditions. Seed priming improved the performance of maize under both normal and stress conditions. It was found that the chilling tolerance in maize is well associated with the enhanced capacity of the anti-oxidative system. Priming with KCl significantly improved the chilling tolerance mainly by the activation of antioxidants including catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase enzymes. KCl treatments also improved the germination rate and time, root and shoot length, and fresh and dry weights of seedlings compared with control. Soluble sugars and α-amylase activity determined as general metabolic indicators of stress were also improved by seed priming with KCl. Other possible bases of chilling tolerance in maize included maintenance of high tissue water contents, reduced electrolyte leakage and carbohydrate metabolism. Seed treatment with 100 mg l⁻¹ KCl was the best treatment to improve the performance of hybrid maize both under normal and chilling stress conditions.