Vegetative Growth and Molecular Identification of Fusarium equiseti Isolated from Wilt Disease of Centella asiatica L. in Bangladesh

Centella asiatica (L.) is commonly known as Thankuni plant and has ethnobotanical importance in Bangladesh. Present experiment was conceded to investigate the wilt disease of C. asiatica, vegetative growth and molecular characterization of pathogenic fungi. Pathogenic fungus, Fusarium equiseti was identified as a causal agent of wilt disease in C. asiatica. The effect of culture media on the mycelial growth of F. equiseti showed the highest (89.25 mm) on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium followed by carrot agar (CA) medium and the lowest growth (40.25 mm) was measured in HA medium. The optimal temperature and pH for mycelial growth of F. equiseti were 30°C and 7, respectively. The genetic variation of the selected species of fungi, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified using ITS4 and ITS5 primers and sequenced. The PCR product of the ITS region of F. equiseti was 535 bp. Phylogenetic tree of thirty-seven strains of Fusarium sp. based on the nucleotide sequences of the ITS region using the neighbor-joining method with 1000 bootstrapping indicated that 98% - 100% identity with MN886590.1 JUF0046 (F. equiseti). ITS sequences are generally constant, or show little variation within species, but vary between species in a genus. The ITS region is relatively short and can be easily amplified by PCR using universal single primer pairs. Genetic distance exhibited high level of similarity with identical ITS sequences. To date, no published research articles are found on the molecular identification of F. equiseti, the causal agent of fusarium wilt disease of C. asiatica in Bangladesh.

Assembly and variation of root-associated microbiota of rice during their vegetative growth phase with and without lindane pollutant

Soil-derived microbiota associated with plant roots are conducive to plant growth and stress resistance.However,the spatio-temporal dynamics of microbiota in response to organochlorine pollution during the unstable vegetative growth phase of rice is not well understood.In this study,we focused on the rice(Oryza sativa L.)microbiota across the bulk soil,rhizosphere and endosphere compartments during the vegetative growth phase in two different soils with and without lindane pollutant.The results showed that the factors of growth time,soil types and rhizo-compartments had significant influence on the microbial communities of rice,while lindane mostly stimulated the construction of endosphere microbiota at the vegetative phase.Active rice root-soil-microbe interactions induced an inhibition effect on lindane removal at the later vegetative growth phase in rice-growth-dependent anaerobic condition,likely due to the root oxygen loss and microbial mediated co-occurring competitive electron-consuming redox processes in soils.Each rhizocompartment owned distinct microbial communities,and therefore,presented specific ecologically functional categories,while the moderate functional differences were also affected by plants species and residual pollution stress.This work revealed the underground micro-ecological process of microbiota and especially their potential linkage to the natural attenuation of residual organochlorine such as lindane.

Impact of Commercial Organic Ameliorants on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations of Maize Biomass at Ninth Leaf and Silking Growth Stages

The response of grain yield, biomass yield and harvest index of maize to the application of commercial organic ameliorants was inconsistent and poor. Hence it was hypothesized that the supply of N and P to maize plants was inadequate during vegetative growth, resulting in low concentrations of the two nutrients in maize biomass. The effects of nine ameliorants on the N and P concentrations of maize plants at ninth leaf (V9) and silking (R1) stages of maize were studied over three years at Bothaville (8% clay), Ottosdal (12% clay) and Potchefstroom (34% clay). All ameliorants were applied as prescribed by manufacturers. The N and P concentrations in maize biomass of the ameliorants at V9 and R1 were lower, comparable or higher, showing that the inconsistent and poor response of yield parameters can not be ascribed to inadequate uptake of N and P. A matter of concern that justifies thorough investigation, is the prescribed use of Crop care and Growmor with partial and of Montys and Promis with no NPK fertilization, an unsustainable practice over the long term. Characterization of the active ingredient(s) of the ameliorants is deemed also of importance for better insight.

Effects of Uniconazole on Stem and Leaf Growth and Endogenous Hormone Contents of Dahlia ( Dahlia pinnata Cav.)

[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the physiological mechanism of the response of Dahlia pinnata to exogenous uniconazole during vegetative growth.[Methods]The effects of different concentrations(20,30,60 and 80 mg/L)of foliar fertilization on stem and leaf growth,chlorophyll and endogenous hormone contents were investigated using dahlia seedlings(cultivar‘Shiwucaiqiu’)cultivated in the open field.[Results]Different concentrations of uniconazole could make dahlia plants dwarf,shorten internodes,increase stem diameter,and deepen leaf color,and the higher the application concentration,the more significant the effects.Compared with the control group,the relative contents of chlorophyll(SPAD value)in various treatment groups increased,the contents of endogenous GA_(3) and IAA decreased,and the contents of ABA increased.Among them,the contents of IAA and ABA also showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing.[Conclusions]The results indicated that uniconazole could affect the growth of stems and leaves and plant type by regulating photosynthetic pigments and the levels of endogenous hormones in dahlia,and good dwarfing effect and ornamental value could be obtained under the condition of foliar application concentration of 30 mg/L.This study provides a new experimental basis for the cultivation and application of dahlia.

Regulation of Reproduction in Delayed Gametophyte of Saccharina japonica (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae): Effects of Light Intensity, Quality and Photoperiod

Saccharina japonica gametophytes can survive a long period under unfavorable environmental conditions,while they also delay in growth and/or reproduction.Although the reproduction in delayed gametophyte of S.japonica was known to be strongly influenced by light intensity,light quality,and photoperiod,no previous studies have evaluated their interactive effects on gametogenesis.To evaluate these effects,we used an orthogonal experiment to expose delayed gametophytes of S.japonica to different light intensities,light qualities,and photoperiods for 12 days.The results showed that changes in light intensity rather than light quality and photoperiod significantly affected the relative growth rates of the delayed gametophytes.Blue light had the greatest promotion on reproduction rate.The optimal light conditions in the early vegetative growth phase in gametogenesis induction for the delayed gametophytes were at 60–80μmol photons m^(−2) s^(−1) with daylength of 12 or 16 hours under white or blue light.When the delayed gametophytes were maintained in a constant light condition from delayed state to gametogenesis,the beneficial photoperiods for vegetative growth and reproductive rate were both 16L(16 hours of light):8D(8 hours of dark).However,when the delayed S.japonica gametophytes achieve the optimal growth state during the first 6 days and then they were cultured at different light conditions for the following 6 days,the reproduction rate increased as the daylength decreased and attained a peak value in group of 8L:16D photoperiod,indicating that photoperiod adjustment at the transition period is crucial in the gametogenesis induction process of delayed gametophyte of S.japonica.

Integrated Use of Organic and Bio-fertilizers to Improve Yield and Fruit Quality of Olives Grown in Low Fertility Sandy Soil in an Arid Environment

Olive productivity should be improved through stimulating nutrition,particularly under poor fertility soils.Consequently,the objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of applying organic and bio-fertilizers on the physiological growth,yield and fruit quality of olive trees under newly reclaimed poor-fertility sandy soil in an arid environment.During a field experiment carried out at El-Qantara,North Sinai,Egypt over two consecutive seasons(2019-2020 and 2020-2021),olive Kalamata trees were evaluated under three organic fertilizer treatments alone or in combination with three bio-fertilizers treatments.Organic fertilizer was applied as goat manure(16.8 kg/tree/year),or olive pomace(8.5 kg/tree/year)in mid-December of each season vs.untreated trees.The bio-fertilizers were applied as N-fixing bacteria(150 g/tree)was inculated in early March of each season,or amino acid mixture(1.5%)was applied three times,at 70%of full bloom,21 days after full bloom,and a month later in comparison to a non-fertilized trees(control).The cultivar used was Kalamata,a dual-purpose cultivar for oil and table olives whose value increases when processed as table olives.The results indicated that the goat manure followed by olive pomace significantly enhanced photosynthetic pigments(chlorophyll a,b,and carotenoids),leaf mineral contents(N,P,K,Ca,Mg and Fe),tree canopy volume,number of flowers per inflorescence,number of inflorescences per shoot,initial fruit set,fruit retention.For fruit quality,fruit length and width,fruit weight,and total fruit yield was increased compared to the non-fertilized control.Likewise,The bio-fertilizer N-fixing bacteria followed by the amino acid mixture significantly improved all of the aforementioned parameters.Accordingly,it is recommended,both environmentally and economically to utilize organic and bio-fertizers,particularly goat manure combined with N-fixing bacteria,in low-fertility soil to sustain olive production as well as reducing mineral fertilization.

Morphology and Molecular Identification of Dry Fish Fungus Cunninghamella blakesleeana from Small Indigenous Fish “Kachki” Corica soborna (Hamilton 1822) in Bangladesh

The present experiment was conducted to investigate a dry fish fungus, Cunnighamella blakesleeana, which was identified from the infected part of the Corica soborna, locally named as Kachki fish. Mycelium was hyaline, often with granular content, and conidiophores were erected, with verticillate or solitary branches. Zygospores were globose, tuberculate, suspensors equal, smooth, hyaline and heterothallic. Using ITS4 and ITS5 primers, the 740 bp-long ITS region was amplified and sequenced. The ITS region sequences had reciprocal homologies of 98% to 100%. The findings showed that several species of C. blakesleeana fall into the same cluster. It has been determined by molecular data that the fungus we had studied was C. blakesleeana. The maximum mycelial growth (95.33 mm) was observed in the PDA medium, followed by the PSA medium, and the lowest growth (65.50 mm) was measured in the HPA medium in the study of the impact of culture media on the mycelial growth of C. blakesleeana. The influence of temperature on the radial mycelial growth of C. blakesleeana on PDA medium was investigated through five different temperatures. Although pH is a crucial factor in understanding the ecology of spoilage fungus, the highest mycelial growth of C. blakesleeana (88.25 mm) was seen at pH 7, followed by pH 8 and pH 6, while pH 9 was revealed to have the lowest mycelial growth. The outcome suggested that C. blakesleeana thrived in neutral environments.

Effects of Agro-Ecological Practices on the Productivity of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) and Soil Fertility in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of Burkina Faso

This study consisted to evaluate the effects of ecological practices on the yield performance of the JEWEL of orange-fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam). The study was conducted in a Sudano-Sahelian cropping system (Lantargou, eastern region of Burkina Faso). Agro-ecological practices consisted of the inputs of 3.20 t/ha of compost + 2.45 t/ha of wood ash (CO + WA);4.90 t/ha of wood ash (WA);6.40 t/ha of compost (CO) were compared to control with no inputs (T0). Each treatment was repeated four times. The crop management consisted of plowing, harrowing, raising of ridges with 40 cm height, burying of treatments, transplanting of cuttings, two weeding’s, and using of biopesticide called PIOL for crop protection. Composite soil samples per treatment were also collected at tuber harvest and analyzed to determine the effects of treatments on residual soil fertility. Results showed that the plant heights and diameters under the CO were significantly (P < 0.001) improved by 16% and 12% compared to T0. The WA treatment significantly increased the number of large tubers by 43% (P ≤ 0.01) compared to T0. Total tuber numbers, large tuber numbers and tuber yields of sweet potato under CO + WA were significantly (P < 0.001) and respectively improved by 27%, 50% and 31% compared to T0. All treatments increased soil organic matter, N, P and K contents, and reduced soil acidity compared with those obtained under T0. Soil K content was improved by 39% under CO + WA, and soil N content by 34% under WA compared to T0. Soil C/N ratio under CO + WA was reduced by 20% compared others treatments. But, the CO + WA treatment outperformed by improving residual soil N content by 38%, and the WA treatment by increasing soil K content by 50% compared to T0. In addition, soil pHH2O increased by 1.2 units under WA treatment compared to T0. As conclusion, the application of 6.4 t/ha of compost performed well to improve the vegetative growth of orange-fleshed sweet potato while the inputs of 3.2 t/ha of compost + 2.45 t/ha of wood ash were efficacy to significantly increase the tuber yields and improve the residual fertility of soil.

Straw strip mulching in a semiarid rainfed agroecosystem achieves winter wheat yields similar to those of full plastic mulching by optimizing the soil hydrothermal regime

Straw strip mulching(SM)is a new mulching technology.From 2012 to 2018,SM’s effects on soil moisture and temperature and production performances were compared with other mulching practices,using three treatments:full-cover plastic mulch(PM),no mulch with wheat sown in rows as the control(CK),and SM with 50%to 59%of the field area mulched.Compared with CK,on average over six growing seasons,SM and PM increased grain yield by 27.0%and 21.7%,straw yield by 21.6%and 22.6%,kernels ha;by 26.6%and 19.0%,net income by 29.8%and-25.0%,soil temperature at 5 cm by-1.5°C and 0.2°C from overwintering to maturity,and soil water storage at 0–200 cm by 25 and 22 mm,respectively.The increase in soil moisture in SM and PM was greater in the early period(overwintering to jointing)than in the later period(booting to maturity)and at 0 to 120 cm than at 120–200 cm in the early period.Although the mean evapotranspiration of whole growth period across six seasons was similar among treatments,SM and PM increased water consumption during the key formation period of yield components after overwintering by 16 and 32 mm,respectively,while reducing it before overwintering.Compared with CK,SM and PM had the effects of warming during overwintering and cooling after jointing.By increasing water consumption after overwintering and ratio of transpiration to evapotranspiration and providing favorable soil temperature for multiple growth stages and more sufficient soil moisture,SM and PM promoted vegetative growth and increased kernels ha^(-1),the main mechanisms by which SM and PM increased grain yield relative to CK.Relative to PM,SM is a more economically beneficial and environment-friendly technology for dryland wheat production.

Paclobutrazol and Its Use in Fruit Production:A Review

There are documentary records referring to paclobutrazol(PBZ)as a growth bioregulator that inhibits the gibberellin synthesis and its application increases yields in fruit and vegetable crop productions.Its agronomic management includes it as an emerging technology to reduce vigour,promote flower induction and flower development in fruit trees with increased economic returns.Its use is banned in some countries because of concerns about residues that can cause harmful effects on the environment.Therefore,the aim of this article was to collect,analyse and summarise relevant information on the use of PBZ in fruit tree production and its possible risks to the environment.The results obtained indicated that the application of PBZ can be effective in solving some problems related to flowering if it is applied in the right amount and at the right time.However,it is necessary to elucidate the physiological processes with which it is associated and its response to be taken into account to increase yield.PBZ is currently used in fruit trees such as mango,lime,apple and guava,increasing their productivity.However,some studies have shown its residual effect on the environment.Therefore,PBZ is a viable strategy,because it presents a series of advantages in the production of fruit trees.However,it is vital to generate protocols that seek its regulation with a rational and sustainable approach.

Genetic Analysis of Heading Date of Japonica Rice Cultivars in Southwest China

Heading date of 26 native japonica rice cultivars in southwest China was investigated,and their basic vegetative growth(BVG),photoperiod-sensitivity(PS) and temperature-sensitivity(TS) were analyzed under artificial short-day and natural long-day conditions in Nanjing,as well as artificial high-temperature and natural low-temperature conditions in winter in Hainan.The results showed that the PS and TS varied among different cultivars.The BVG of all the japonica cultivars was well situated,but differed within cultivars.Regression analysis showed a significant correlation between heading date and PS,indicating that PS was the main factor affecting heading date of japonica cultivars in southwest China.Genetic analysis was conducted on these 26 cultivars using a set of heading date near isogenic lines as test lines.All the japonica cultivars carried the dominant early-heading gene Ef-1 or Ef-1t,and most of these cultivars carried the dominant photoperiod sensitivity allele E1 or E1t,the PS of which was slightly weaker than E1.For the Se-1 locus,these cultivars mainly carried recessive photoperiod insensitivity gene Se-1e.In addition,the PS of 22 japonica cultivars could be repressed or weakened by the recessive allele hd2,inhibiting the expression of E1 and Se-1.These results indicated that the genotypes of heading date determined different PS and well situated BVG in japonica rice cultivars in southwest China.

Improving the Quality of Rubber Plants in Bagged Nurseries by the Use of Compost-Based Culture Substrates

The decrease of fertility soils, the rarity of quality potting soil used to fill nursery bags, the high cost of chemical fertilisers and the problems associated with their use are leading planters and rubber nurserymen in developing and/or expanding areas to look for alternative and sustainable fertilization. In this perspective, a trial was carried out at Research Station of CNRA-Bimbresso and in a farmer’s environment in order to evaluate the agronomic quality of compost made from chicken droppings and dry Panicum maximum straw to improve the growth of rubber plants in bagged nurseries. Mixtures based on potting soil and/or compost in different proportions were prepared. The follow-up of the trial focused on determination of the physico-chemical characteristics of the soils, measurement of the parameters of vegetative growth and the grafting success rate evaluation of rubber plants in nursery. The results obtained show that compost-based crop substrates increase soil organic matter, nitrogen, exchangeable bases, etc., in proportion to the doses applied. For the pH, the application of compost resulted in a reduction in soil acidity of about 1.3 unit compared to the initial values at the two study sites. The vegetative behaviour of the rubber plants also shows that qualitative (height and collar diameter) and quantitative (grafting success rate) improvements were recorded in the plants raised in compost-based substrates. The production of rubber plants in bagged nurseries was optimal with compost doses of 27 t⋅ha−1 (at Bimbresso, in the southeast) and 27 t⋅ha−1 combined with fractionated application of urea (at Kimoukro, in the centre), which under the conditions of the present study may be the recommended doses on rubber plants in bagged nurseries at Côte d’Ivoire.

Deep learning projects future warming-induced vegetation growth changes under SSP scenarios

Climate warming has been projected to enhance vegetation growth more strongly in higher latitudes than in lower latitudes,but different projections show distinct regional differences.By employing big data analysis(deep learning),we established gridded,global-scale,climate-driven vegetation growth models to project future changes in vegetation growth under SSP scenarios.We projected no substantial trends of vegetation growth change under the sustainable development scenario(SSP1-1.9)by the end of the 21st century.However,the increase of vegetation growth driven by climate warming shows distinct regional variability under the scenario representing high carbon emissions and severe warming(SSP5-8.5),especially in Northeast Asia where growth could increase by(6.00%±4.21%).This may be attributed to the high temperature sensitivities of the deciduous needleleaf forests and permanent wetlands in these regions.When the temperature sensitivity that is defined as permutation importance in deep learning is greater than 0.05,the increase in vegetation growth will be more prominent.In addition,an extreme temperature increase across grasslands,as well as changing land-use management in northern China may also influence the vegetation growth in the future.The results suggest that the sustainable development scenario can maintain stable vegetation growth,and it may be a reliable way to mitigate global warming due to potential climate feedbacks driven by vegetation changes in boreal regions.Deciduous needleleaf forests will be a centre of greening in the future,and it should become the focus of future vegetation dynamics modelling studies and projections.