Evaluation of cultivation methods and sustainable agricultural practices for improving shallot bulb production – a review

Abstract

Shallot is an economically important nutritive bulb vegetable and medicinal plant from Alliaceae family. Distributed in limited regions worldwide, in most cases, shallots widely grow in very cold to moderate cold temperate climates at high elevations required to induce bolting and overcome their bulbs and true seeds dormant period. Shallot responses to agricultural management and environmental conditions vary among different species and genotypes and, thus, selection of the elite genotypes is a prerequisite for obtaining desired yield and quality of bulbs and true seeds. Plant material (seed or bulb), plant selection, as well as cultivation and agricultural practices (importantly fertilization, spacing, planting date, and irrigation in greenhouse or farmland) critically affect productivity, phytonutrient value, and economic profit of the shallot produces. The knowledge of using biofertilizers and mulching techniques on shallots are currently evolving, but the information on the efficiency of nanobiofertilizers and eco-friendly and biodegradable mulching materials on shallots farming are still lacking. With the emphasis on sustainable agricultural systems, the efficiency of combined organic and inorganic fertilization is discussed and the potential biofertilizer agents are recommended. This review highlights the importance of using the integrated fertilization (organic and inorganic methods combined with biofertilizers) and irrigation methods (such as two-line spray hose irrigation combined with mulching), and the practices with the highest potential to further improve shallot farming are suggested. The information on shallots breeding is still lacking and requires extensive researches in the future.     

Effects of day and night temperature on photosynthesis,antioxidant enzyme activities,and endogenous hormones in tomato leaves during the flowering stage

To study the effects of day and night temperature difference (DIF) on tomato growth, a controlled experiment using Solanum lycopersicum L., cv. Jinguan 5 was conducted. The daily mean temperature (T_m) was maintained at 18°C and 25°C, and the DIF was set at 0°C, 6°C, and 12°C. The results indicated that chlorophyll a (Chl a) and chlorophyll b (Chl b) gradually increased as DIF rose. At 18°C T_m, the carotenoid content reached a maximum at 12°C DIF. The Chl a/Chl b, net photosynthetic rate (P_N), photosynthetic rate at irradiation saturation (P_max), stomatal conductance (g_s), intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i), stomatal limitation value, the maximum assimilation rate (A_max), apparent quantum efficiency (A_q), carboxylation efficiency (C_e), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), gibberellin A₃ (GA₃), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) were highest, while malondialdehyde (MDA) was lowest at 6°C DIF. At 25°C T_m, P_N, P_max, A_max, A_q, C_e, g_s, C_i, CAT, POD, GA₃, IAA, and zeatin reached the maximum under 6°C DIF, while SOD and MDA reached the maximum under 12°C DIF. Furthermore, the morphological index peaked at 6°C DIF under 18°C and 25°C T_m. The results suggested that 6°C DIF improved the growth and development of tomato during the flowering stage. ABBREVIATIONS: Aq – apparent quantum efficiency; Amax – the maximum assimilation rate; CAT – Catalase; Chl a(b) – chlorophyll a(b); Ca – ambient CO₂ concentration; Ce – carboxylation efficiency; Ci – intercellular CO₂ concentration; DIF – difference between day temperature (TD) and night temperature(TN); FM – fresh mass; gs – stomatal conductance; GA₃ – gibberellin A₃; IAA – indole-3-acetic acid; Ls – stomatal limitation value; MDA – malondialdehyde; Pmax – photosynthetic rate at irradiation saturation; PN – net photosynthetic rate; POD – peroxidase; ROS – reactive oxygen species; SOD – superoxidedismutase; Tm – daily mean temperature; ZT – zeatin.     

丛枝菌根真菌对芋组织培养苗生长的影响

 于温室盆栽条件下研究了丛枝菌根(AM) 真菌Gigaspora rosea、Glomus mosseae 和Glomus versi-forme 对芋(Colocasia esculenta) 组织培养苗移栽成活率、矿质营养、光合速率及生长的影响。结果表明, 接种AM真菌能提高芋组织培养幼苗移栽成活率和叶片光合速率, 降低气孔阻力; 其叶片和根内氮、磷、钾含量和生长量显著高于不接种对照。认为接种有效AM真菌是促进组织培养苗健康生长的重要技术。     

乡村生态学研究的尺度与等级特征

乡村生态学 ( Village ecology)的尺度和等级特征依赖一定空间区域 ,不同尺度所研究村落的特征也不尽相同 ,空间尺度的大小很大程度上决定于所研究村落的复杂性、稳定性及特征。在特定的空间尺度下 ,乡村的组成要素随着时间尺度的变化而变化 ,但变化速率受空间尺度大小的制约。乡村生态学研究具有等级结构 ,空间尺度决定所研究单元的等级位置。行政村 (中心村 )和自然村 (自然屯 )是乡村生态学研究的基本尺度     

土壤Cu^2＋污染对植物生长影响的研究进展

工农业生产的飞速发展,导致土壤中的重金属越来越多。Cu^2＋是植物必需的金属营养元素之一,但过量会对植物产生一系列的毒害作用。因此,有关Cu^2＋胁迫对植物的毒害方面的研究成为人们关注的焦点之一。综述了土壤Cu^2＋污染对植物种子萌发、植株生长和生理效应3个方面的毒害作用。     

病原菌诱导黄瓜对其主要病害的抗病反应

以5种黄瓜主要病原菌作为诱导抗病因子,研究其对黄瓜主要病害的作用,结果发现黄瓜经病原菌诱导后,可以产生对诱导病原菌及其它病原菌引起病害的交互保护作用,并且诱导的交互保护作用与诱导浓度、诱导间隔期、不同品种存在相关性.诱导效果不随诱导接种浓度的升高而升高.在黑星病菌对霜霉病菌的诱导作用中,以浓度为1×102个/ml的黑星病菌孢子悬浮液的诱导效果最好,诱导间隔期为48h黄瓜黑星病菌对霜霉病的交互保护作用最明显,抗性品种的交互保护作用明显好于感病品种;炭疽病菌可诱导黄瓜有效抑制褐斑病的发生,但挑战接种褐斑病菌后,却促进了炭疽病的发生.诱导接种炭疽病菌后再挑战接种褐斑病菌12d,对褐斑病的防效为92.07%.     

两种一年生植物在替代试验中的相互竞争关系

（1）用替代试验研究了燕麦（Aneva sativa）和箭舌豌豆（Vicia sativa）在混播中的竞争相互作用。为了攻混播比例对两种植物在混播条件下的行为影响，田间试验设为5个混播总密度和5种混播比例，共了5次。（2）方差分析表明，相对总生物量（RYT）和竞争平衡指数（CBI）对总密度，混播比例和生长时间的反应敏感。总密度对RYT和CBI的影响高度显著，在大多数情况下，混播比例对RYT和CBI的影响不显著。（3）本文研究的结果表明，持续时间对RYT和CBI很强的影响，在第1次测定时，RYT值接近1而BI值接近0，这一事实表明，种间无竞争或互惠作用。而在生长旺盛期，种间竞争较为剧烈。（4）本研究结果表明，箭舌豌豆的生长严惩受到燕麦的抑制作用，这说明箭舌豌豆在与燕麦混播时表现为竞争上的弱者。     

Diversity,plant growth-promoting traits,and biocontrol potential of fungal endophytes of Sorghum bicolor

The diversity of fungal endophytes in Sorghum bicolor was investigated in samples collected from 10 different geographical regions of Karnataka state, India. A total of 360 endophytes were isolated from leaf, stem, and root tissues and were assigned to 26 fungal species based on morphology and molecular characterization using ITS sequences. All the endophytes belonged to the phylum Ascomycota. The diversity (Shannon H, 2.57; Simpson_1-D, 0.92) and species richness (Margalef's, 4.68; Menhinick, 3.61) were found to be higher for the endophytes isolated from leaf tissues. The species evenness of the endophytic assemblage was strongly influenced by tissue type, followed by geographical location. The biocontrol potential of isolated endophytes was evaluated against economically destructive sorghum grain mould pathogens such as Fusarium thapsinum, Epicoccum sorghinum, Alternaria alternata, and Curvularia lunata using the dual culture method. Biocontrol potential was exhibited by 26 endophytic isolates, of which Trichoderma asperellum recorded broad-spectrum activity against target pathogens, followed by E. nigrum and A. longipes. Most (82%) endophytes showed plant growth-promoting traits. Biosynthesis of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was observed in 84% of isolates, and phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, and cellulase activity was observed in 69%, 23%, and 27% of isolates, respectively. Seeds treated with T. asperellum exhibited a significantly higher seed vigour index (2096), germination percentage (94%), and yield under greenhouse and field conditions. The results were substantiated by the confocal microscopy analysis, which clearly demonstrated the colonization of treated endophyte in root tissues. The present study reveals an ecofriendly approach to explore T. asperellum in sorghum disease management.     

田阳县水稻纹枯病病情指数与病株率关系数学模型的初步研究

依据田阳县2002—2012年水稻纹枯病观测田的病情系统调查记载表数据,采用分层随机抽样法抽取100对数据,构建了病情指数y与病株率x数学预测模型y=0．2919x-0．1478（％,0〈x〈20）,应用于预测预报时可减少调查工作量,提高工作效率。     

Assessment of microbial biocontrol agent (BCA) viability to mechanical and thermal stress by simulating spray application conditions

Background

In order to improve the biological control agent (BCA) efficacy, stress factors threatening the viability of microorganisms during spray application need to be determined. The effect of spray mixture temperature and exposure time on Trichoderma harzianum T 22 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens QST713 viability were tested. Concurrently the combined effect of mechanical and thermal stress effect on BCA viability were tested at two initial spray mixture temperatures (14 and 25 °C) by simulating a spray application using airblast sprayers featured by different tank capacity and a spray liquid circuit (without and with hydraulic agitation system). To assess the BCA microorganism viability, spray mixture samples were collected at time intervals along trials and plated to count the colony forming units (CFU).

Results

The critical temperature threshold that inhibited BCA viability was 35 °C with 30 min of exposure. The sprayer type, the initial temperature of the spray mixture and the temperature increment during the trials significantly decreased the number of CFU recovered. When simulating a spray application, the spray mixture temperature increase rate was determined mainly by the residual amount of spray mixture in the tank. Even if the tank capacity does not substantially affect the final temperature reached by the spray mixture, the higher residual spray mixture in bigger tanks can expose the BCAs for a longer time to critical temperatures.

Conclusions

Experimental trials allowed us to identify the effect of factors affecting the viability of tested BCAs, providing information about the actual chance to guarantee the biological efficacy of BCA treatments. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.