Determination and Quantification of Proximate and Mineral Composition for 20 Improved Sorghum Varieties Grown in Machache, Lesotho

Twenty varieties of improved sorghum were grown in Machache at the Department of Agricultural Research station, located (29˚22'60"S and 27˚52'0"E) in the central foothills of Lesotho in Maseru district. The varieties were planted in a randomized complete block design. At maturity, they were harvested, dried, threshed, milled and analyzed in the crop science laboratory at the National University of Lesotho. The proximate and mineral contents were analyzed from samples in a completely randomized design with three replicates. The proximate composition parameters measured were crude proteins, crude fiber, crude fat, moisture content, and carbohydrates. The minerals analyzed were, phosphorus, sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, zinc, iron, and magnesium. The results showed the nutritional contents ranging from (4.7% - 16.16%), (0.35% - 2.10%), (1.25% - 4.00%), (71.60% - 84.06%), (5.53% - 10.18%), for protein, fat, fiber and carbohydrate, and moisture content, respectively. Mineral content ranged from (1342.96 - 3500.34 mg/kg), (25.97 - 185.25 mg/kg), (50.71 - 511.71 mg/kg), (29.35 - 4542.13 mg/kg), (577.19 - 3041.52 mg/kg), (0.25 - 4.07 mg/kg), (1.96 - 18.61 mg/kg), (67.14 - 122.96 mg/kg), (4.73 - 11.39 mg/kg) for phosphorus, sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, zinc, iron, and manganese respectively. The following varieties were found to have the highest and appreciable amounts of nutrients and minerals that are crucial in the country diet;protein content was KARI Mtama 1, zinc, IESX 16 2533-SB-SSI-19, and iron IESX 16 2535-SB-SSI-34.

Subplanes of PG(2,qr), Ruled Varieties V2r-12 in PG( 2r,q), and Related Codes

In this note we consider ruled varieties V22r−1of PG(2r,q), generalizing some results shown for r=2,3in previous papers. By choosing appropriately two directrix curves, a V22r−1represents a non-affine subplane of order qof the projective plane PG(2,qr)represented in PG(2r,q)by a spread of a hyperplane. That proves the conjecture assumed in [1]. Finally, a large family of linear codes dependent on r≥2is associated with projective systems defined both by V22r−1and by a maximal bundle of such varieties with only an r-directrix in common, then are shown their basic parameters.

Subplanes of PG( 2, q 3 ) and the Ruled Varieties V 2 5 of PG( 6,q )

In this note we study subplanes of order q of the projective plane Π=PG( 2, q 3 ) and the ruled varieties V 2 5 of Σ=PG( 6,q ) using the spatial representation of Π in Σ, by fixing a hyperplane Σ ′ with a regular spread of planes. First are shown some configurations of the affine q-subplanes. Then to prove that a variety V 2 5 of Σ represents a non-affine subplane of order q of Π, after having shown basic incidence properties of it, such a variety V 2 5 is constructed by choosing appropriately the two directrix curves in two complementary subspaces of Σ. The result can be translated into further incidence properties of the affine points of V 2 5 . Then a maximal bundle of varieties V 2 5 having in common one directrix cubic curve is constructed.

Screening and identification of salt tolerance soybean varieties and germplasms

Soil salinization is a globally prevalent abiotic environmental stress.The imbalance of ions caused by high concentrations of sodium chloride results in a 40%reduction in soybean yield.Soybean,as an important crop for soil quality improvement,necessitates the identification of salt-tolerant varieties and germplasms to effectively utilize and enhance saline-alkali land.In this study,we assessed the salt tolerance of 435 soybean varieties and germplasms during the seedling stage.Among them,Qihuang34,You2104,Hongzhudou,Pamanheidou,and Osage exhibited grade 1 salt tolerance rates surpassing other tested materials.Furthermore,Hongzhudou and Qihuang34 demonstrated higher salt tolerance during germination and emergence stages based on their elevated rates of emergence,salt tolerance index,chlorophyll content,and shoot fresh weights.Overall findings provide valuable resources for molecular breeding efforts aimed at developing salt-tolerant soybean varieties suitable for cultivation in saline-alkali soils.

Screening of Long Cowpea[Vigna unguiculata(L.)Walp.ssp.sesquipedialis]Varieties in Autumn in Hunan and Comparison of Various Comprehensive Evaluation Methods

[Objectives]The paper was to screen new varieties of long cowpea that are suitable for autumn cultivation in Hunan,as well as to develop a comprehensive evaluation method to assess their adaptability and performance.[Methods]A total of 48 long cowpea varieties were introduced,and a range of comprehensive evaluation methods was employed to assess these varieties through the collection and analysis of field data.[Results]The square Euclidean distance of 14 allowed for the classification of all varieties into eight distinct groups.Groups II,III,and V belong to the autumn dominant group within this region,while groups I and VIII belong to the intermediate group.Additionally,groups IV,VI,and VII belong to the autumn inferior group in this area.Through a comparative analysis of various comprehensive evaluation methods,it was determined that the common factor comprehensive evaluation,grey correlation method,and fuzzy evaluation method were appropriate for application in the selection of long cowpea varieties.Furthermore,the evaluation outcomes were largely consistent with the cluster pedigree diagram.[Conclusions]Through comprehensive index method,ten varieties demonstrating superior performance in autumn cultivation have been identified,including C20,C42,C29,C40,C3,C14,C18,C25,C15,and C47.The selected varieties exhibit several advantageous traits,such as a reduced growth duration,a lower position of initial flower nodes,a decreased number of branches,predominantly green young pods,elongated pod strips,thicker pod structures,an increased number of pods per plant,and higher overall yields.These characteristics render them particularly valuable for extensive cultivation.

An Application of Machine Learning Methods to Detect Mango Varieties

The mango, a fruit of immense economic and dietary significance in numerous tropical and subtropical regions, plays a pivotal role in our agricultural landscape. Accurate identification is not just a necessity, but a crucial step for effective classification, sorting, and marketing. This study delves into the potential of machine learning for this task, comparing the performance of four models: MobileNetV2, Xception, VGG16, and ResNet50V2. These models were trained on a dataset of annotated mango images, and their performance was evaluated using precision, accuracy, F1 score, and recall, which are standard metrics for image classification. The Xception model, with its exceptional performance, outshone the other models on all performance indicators. It achieved a staggering accuracy of 99.47%, an F1 score of 99.43%, and a recall of 99.43%, showcasing its remarkable ability to accurately identify mango varieties. MobileNetV2 followed closely with performances of 98.95% accuracy, 98.85% F1 score, and 98.86% recall. ResNet50V2 also delivered satisfactory results with 97.39% accuracy, 97.08% F1 score, and 97.17% recall. VGG16, however, was the least effective, with a precision rate of 83.25%, an F1 score of 83.25%, and a recall of 85.47%. These results confirm the superiority of the Xception model in detecting mango varieties. Its advanced architecture allows it to capture more distinguishing features of mango images, leading to greater precision and reliability. Xception’s robustness in identifying true positives is another advantage, minimizing false positives and contributing to more accurate classification. This study highlights the promising potential of machine learning, particularly the Xception model, for accurately identifying mango varieties.

RAPD Analysis of 33 Varieties of Banana

RAPD assessment of genetic variations in 33 varieties of banana (Musa nana Lour.) was carried out. Eighteen primers were screened from 249 10 bp arbitrary primers, and a total of 192 DNA bands were amplified, among which 183 (95.31%) were polymorphic. The average number of DNA bands amplified by each primer was 10.67, and the average genetic distance among 33 varieties was 0.3412. Based on UPGMA cluster analysis of 192 DNA bands amplified by 18 primers a DNA molecular dendrogram was established for 33 varieties of banana in China, which divided the 33 varieties into four groups: group A, B, C and D. Group A included 20 varieties, group B included 5 varieties, group C included 2 varieties and group D included 6 varieties. Group A could be divided into 3 sub-groups: A1, A2 and A3. The molecular foundation of genetic diversity of banana was also explored.

Analysis of Yield and Disease Resistance Traits of New Winter Rapeseed Varieties over the Past Twenty Years in China

Based on the results of the national regional trail for winter rapeseed in four groups,including the upper reaches,middle reaches and lower reaches of Yangtze River and Huang-Huai region in the past twenty years,new varieties of winter rapeseed showed upward trend in average yield,the yield level in Huang-huai group was higher than other groups.The changes of average effective pods per plant were not significant in any group,but the number of grain per pod and 1 000-grain weight showed increase trend.However,the increment of grains per pod in three Yangtze River groups was higher than that in Huang-Huai River group,while the increment of 1 000-grain weight was just opposite.The incidence rate of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and viral disease in new varieties of winter rapeseed obviously decreased,and the incidence rate of S.sclerotiorum decreased lower than 5%.Genetic improvement for winter rapeseed should be focus on the number of grain per pod and 1 000-grain weight in the future,and yield level of new varieties in all four groups is expected to increase.

Traits Analysis and Evaluation on Several Alfalfa Varieties

The agronomic and qualitative traits of 17 alfalfa varieties were analyzed in field and lab from 2006 to 2008, and these traits were evaluated by principal component analysis and cluster analysis. A total of 10 main traits were classified as five factors： growth factor, quality factor, stem and leaf factors, plant factor and yield factor. These five factors and their correlation were selected for breeding. These 17 varieties can be divided into five clusters. The domestic varieties have better agronomic traits, while the introduced ones have better qualitative traits.

Analysis of Mineral Elements in 13 Famous Tea Varieties in Sichuan Province

This study was to analyze the mineral elements in famous tea varieties in Sichuan Province. Eighteen mineral elements in the samples of 13 famous tea varieties in Sichuan Province were measured via related instruments. The results showed, of all the 18 measured samples, that the contents of K, P, S, Ca and Mg were relatively higher（ 〉1 500 mg/kg） in famous tea varieties in Sichuan Province, while those of Ba, Cr, V, Co and Se were relatively lower（ 〈 10 mg/kg） ; compared to common green tea, the famous tea varieties in Sichuan Province contained higher contents of K, Zn, P, Na, Ni, Cu, S, Se and Co（0.38% -115.65% higher than that in common green tea）, and lower contents of Mg, Mn, AI, Ca, V, Rb, Fe and Cr（7.20% -46.67% lower than that in common green tea）; of the 13 tested tea varieties, Hongyanyingchun, Yongchuanxiuya and Qingchengxueya were rich in mineral elements, while Yuchengyunwu and Yuqiancha lacked in mineral elements. The re- suits show that Hongyanyingchun, Yongchuanxiuya and Qingchengxueya are the elites in the famous tea varieties in Sichuan Province.

Varietal Characteristics and Nutrition Characteristics of Several New Varieties of High Biomass Sugarcanes for Sugar and Energy

[Objective] The aim was to study the varietal characteristics of six new varieties of high biomass sugarcanes for sugar and energy namely GT02-833,GT97-69,GT02-351,GT03-2287,B9 and GT02-770,as well as the nutrition characteristics of them under drip irrigation conditions. [Method] Industrial and agronomic characters,total N,total P,total K and chlorophyll content were determined. [Result] Cane yield,total biomass yield and sugar content of six varieties were more than 180,200 and 25 t/hm2 respectively,which were higher than that of the control Xintaitang 22. The total nitrogen and total phosphorus contents of six varieties were high and persistent from Jul to Nov,but they decreased sharply in Dec. Total potassium content of all varieties increased from Jul to Dec. Chlorophyll content of all varieties were high from Aug to Oct,but they decreased sharply in Nov. Total nitrogen,total phosphorus and total potassium content of GT02-833,GT97-69 and B9 were higher than that of CK. [Conclusion] GT02-833,GT97-69 and B9 had characteristic of efficient use of nutrients,thus should be extended as elite varieties.

Comparative Experiments on Different Varieties of Phaseolus vulgaris L. under Dry Farming Conditions

[Objective] The aim was to screen varieties of Phaseolus vulgaris L.for cultivation in arid,semi-arid areas.[Method] The cultivation experiments of seven varieties of P.vulgaris under dry farming conditions were carried out in typical dry farming agriculture region Yangqu County in North China.[Result] The plants of Teyoutejiadou,Chaojiwujing and Xinxinyichiqingyuanlong were relatively strong;the growth rate of Aifeng,Jingxuanjiadouwang and Chaochangsijidou was relatively rapid;the transpiration rate of functional leaves of Aifeng was the lowest.The yield of Tianma 95-33 jiadouwang was significant higher than that of other varieties,the unit yield was up to 36.33 t/hm2,which was 1.39 times higher than that of Aifeng and 1.9 times higher than that of Xinxinyichiqingyuanlong;followed by the yield of Aifeng（26.07 t/hm2）,which was 1.37 times higher than that of Xinxinyichiqingyuanlong.[Conclusion] The yield of Tianma 95-33 jiadouwang and Aifeng was relatively high,as well as the protein content,indicating that they were suitable to be applied and cultivated in the experimental plot and surrounding areas.

Comparative Analysis on Fruit Qualities of 7 Litchi Varieties from Vietnam

[Objective] The aim was to screen litchi varieties suitable for local production in Vietnam. [Method] The fruit botanical and quality characteristics of the seven litchi varieties introduced into Northern Mountainous Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute of Vietnam Academy of Agriculture Sciences were compared and analyzed. [Result] Three varieties with good general qualities including Lai Phu Ho,Thach Binh and Hung Long which were suitable to be cultivated in the local area were selected. In addition,Phu Dong was the available,early-maturing germplasm resource. [Conclusion] This research will provide reference for litchi production and breeding in northern mountainous area.

Comparative Analysis on Fruit Qualities of Longan Varieties form Vietnam

[Objective] The aim was to screen longan varieties suitable for local production in Vietnam.[Method] The fruit botanical characteristics and quality characteristics of longan varieties introduced into Northern Mountainous Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute of Vietnam Academy of Agriculture Sciences were compared and analyzed.[Result] Two varieties with good general qualities including PMP6 and PHS1-1 which were suitable to be cultivated in the local area were selected.In addition,Phu Dong was the available processed germplasm resource.[Conclusion] This research will provide reference for longan production and breeding in Northern Mountainous.

Differences in Primary Callus Induction among Different Anthurium andraeanum Varieties

[Objective] This research aimed to optimize continuously the highly efficient regeneration system of Anthurium andraeanum. [Method] The leaves and petioles of four A. andraeanum varieties were used as explants to investigate the differences in primary callus induction among different A. andraeanum varieties. [Result]The callus formation capacity of SAM and SST was stronger than that of SDM and SHG. Among the four varieties, the leaf regeneration capacity of SAM, SDM and SHG was stronger than the corresponding petiole regeneration capacity. However,the petiole regeneration capacity of SST was stronger. The optimum medium for petiole callus induction of SST was 1/2 MS ＋ TDZ 4.0 mg/L ＋ 2, 4-D 0.2 mg/L with induction rate of 87.5%; the optimum medium for leaf callus induction of SAM was 1/2 MS ＋ TDZ 2.0 mg/L ＋ 2, 4-D 0.2 mg/L with induction rate more than90%; the optimum medium for leaf callus induction of SDM and SHG was all 1/2MS ＋ ZT 2.0 mg/L ＋ 2, 4-D 0.2 mg/L with induction rates of 59.34% and 79.63%,respectively. [Conclusion] In addition to variety differences, the differences in differentiation ability among different types of calluses should be also taken into account in the establishment and optimization of tissue culture and rapid propagation technology system of A. andraeanum.

Selection of Example Varieties Used in the DUS Test Guideline of Tagetes L.

[Objective] Taking the characteristic of flower diameter of Tagetes L.as an example,this study aimed to select example varieties used in the DUS Test Guideline of Tagetes L.[Method] Two continuous years of measurements of flower diameter of 25 varieties were collected and then analyzed by using the box plot to illustrate the uniformity and stability of flower diameter of each variety.[Result] According to the information of variability,distribution symmetry of measurements and outliers of flower diameter of varieties provided by box plots,variety 16,2 and 4 were selected as the example varieties for the three expression states with respective flower diameter of 3.0-4.4,6.0-7.4 and 9.0-10.4 cm.[Conclusion] The box plot is an efficient method for the general analysis of varieties,which provides information covering the actual and possible expression range,median and outliers of measurements of flower diameter of each variety.It also provides references for selecting example varieties for other quantitative characteristics and evaluating the quality of varieties.

Expression of Recombinant Gene P1-2A3C of FMDV Asia I in Different Bombyx mori Varieties

[Objective] The aim was to investigate the expression level of recombinant gene P1-2A3C of FMDV Asia I in different Bombyx mori varieties,so as to screen out the B.mori varieties suitable for the foreign gene expression.[Method] The recombinant B.mori baculovirus rBmNPV（P1-2A3C） are injected into pupae of original species and hybrids of B.mori respectively.Then,the expression of antigen is detected by ELISA method and compared.[Result] The expression level of P1-2A3C significantly differed in different B.mori varieties,in which,the hybrids of Qiufeng×TQ78 and Qiufeng×Sijiaojian could be considered as the effective bioreactors for high-level expression of foreign genes.[Conclusion] This study provided the basis for breeding special B.mori varieties which can highly express target protein of Asia I FMDV.

Selection of Winter Rape Varieties in the National Early Maturing Area

[Objective] This study aimed to promote the sustainable development of rape industry, and to meet the growing demand of urban and rural residents for vegetable oil. [Method] Field test was conducted for winter rape varieties in the national early maturing area in 2015, and their yield, main economic traits, growth period, consistency and stress resistance were evaluated comprehensively. [Result] Xiangyou 420, Qingza 12, Qianyouzao 3 and Yunyouza 16 could be applied in Baoshan City, Yunnan Province, and Yangguang 1418, Shengguang 127 and Qingza 10 （CK） should be further tested. [Conclusion] The results can be demonstratively applied in Baoshan City and other similar regions, so as to promote the development of rape industry.

Analysis on Marginal Superiority and Yield of Different Wheat Varieties in Wheat-cotton Intercropping System

In wheat-cotton intercropping system,the spike number per unit area,grains per spike,thousand-grain weight and yield of side line and inner line were investigated in six wheat varieties to study the marginal superiority and select suitable wheat varieties intercropped with cotton.The results showed that Xingmai No.4had obvious marginal superiority with the yield of 6 919.0 kg/hm2,so it was the suitable variety for wheat-cotton intercropping system.

High-yield Characteristics of Summer Sowing Soybean Varieties

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of high-yield soybean varieties.[Method] The agronomic traits of six high-yield soybean varieties and other 57 summer sowing ones were investigated from 2007 to 2010.[Result] The higher-yield summer sowing soybean varieties should have higher plants （R=0.551 6＊）,more effective pods （R=0.739 7＊）,more seeds per pod （R=0.318 9）,more flowers per plant （＞130）,higher pod setting rate （＞52％）,smaller ratio of aborted pods （＜40％）,longer tap roots （more than 20 cm） and lateral roots （more than 15 cm）,shorter bottom nodes （the length of six bottom nodes should be less than 25 cm）,lower center of gravity of the plant （＜40 cm）,greater stem dry weight,higher dry matter transformation rate and continuously increasing seed weight in late seed filling stage.The ideal growth stage model for summer sowing soybean was that the durations between adjacent stages of sowing,seedling emergence,flowering,seed setting and maturity stage were 5,29-33,29-33,32-36 d,respectively.[Conclusion] This pattern could not only satisfy the ecological conditions for double cropping system,but also balance the full development of vegetative and reproductive growth,promote the yield formation of summer sowing soybean.