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, 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.

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.

Breeding against mycorrhizal symbiosis:Modern cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) varieties perform more poorly than older varieties except at very high phosphorus supply levels

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an importantfiber cash crop,but its root traits related to phosphorus (P) acquisition,including mycorrhizal root traits,are poorly understood.Eight cotton varieties bred in northwestern China that were released between 1950 and 2013 were grown in pots with or without one arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) species(Funneliformis mosseae) at three P supply levels (0,50 and 300 mg P as KH_(2)PO_(4)kg^(-1)).Eleven root traits were measured and calculated after 7 wk of growth.The more recent accessions had smaller root diameters,acquired less P and produced less biomass,indicating an (inadvertent) varietal selection for thinner roots that provided less cortical space for AMF,which then increased the need for a high P fertilizer level.At the two lower P levels,the mycorrhizal plants acquired more P and produced more biomass than non-mycorrhizal plants (3.2 vs.0.9 mg P per plant;1.8 vs.0.9 g biomass per plant at P_(0);14.5 vs.1.7 mg P per plant;and 4.7 vs.1.6 g biomass per plant at P_(50)).At the highest P level,the mycorrhizal plants acquired more P than non-mycorrhizal plants (18.8 vs.13.4 mg per P plant),but there was no difference in biomass (6.2 vs.6.3 g per plant).At the intermediate P level,root diameter was significantly positively correlated with shoot biomass,P concentration and the P content of mycorrhizal plants.The results of our study support the importance of the outsourcing model of P acquisition in the root economics space framework.Inadvertent varietal selection in the last decades,resulting in thinner roots and a lower benefit from AMF,has led to a lower productivity of cotton varieties at moderate P supply (i.e.,when mycorrhizal,the average biomass of older varieties 5.0 g per plant vs.biomass of newer varieties 4.4 g per plant),indicating the need to rethink cotton breeding efforts in order to achieve high yields without very high P input.One feasible way to solve the problem of inadvertent varietal selection for cotton is to be aware of the trade-offs between the root do-it-yourself strategy and the outsourcing towards AMF strategy,and to consider both morphological and mycorrhizal root traits when breeding cotton varieties.

Microscopic and metabolic investigations disclose the factors that lead to skin cracking in chili-type pepper fruit varieties

The hydrophobic cuticle encasing the fruit skin surface plays critical roles during fruit development and post-harvest.Skin failure often results in the fruit surface cracking and forming a wound-periderm tissue made of suberin and lignin.The factors that make the fruit skin susceptible to cracking have yet to be fully understood.Herein,we investigated two varieties of chili peppers(Capsicum annuum L.),Numex Garnet,whose fruit has intact skin,and Vezena Slatka,whose fruit has cracked skin.Microscopical observations,gas chromatography-mass spectrometry,biochemical and gene expression assays revealed that Vezena Slatka fruit form a thicker cuticle with greater levels of cutin monomers and hydroxycinnamic acids,and highly express key cutin-related genes.The skin of these fruit also had a lower epidermal cell density due to cells with very large perimeters,and highly express genes involved in epidermal cell differentiation.We demonstrate that skin cracking in the Vezena Slatka fruit is accompanied by a spatial accumulation of lignin-like polyphenolic compounds,without the formation of a typical wound-periderm tissues made of suberized cells.Lastly,we establish that skin cracking in chili-type pepper significantly affects fruit quality during post-harvest storage in a temperature-dependent manner.In conclusion,our data highlight cuticle thickness and epidermal cell density as two critical factors determining fruit skin susceptibility to cracking in chili-type pepper fruit.

Growth of Four Varieties of Coffea arabica L. Biofertilized with Rhizophagus intraradices and Azospirillum brasilense in Nursery

Coffee production has decreased due to environmental and management factors. The current plantations are old and unproductive, also due to the rust problem, caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix Berk & Br. Furthermore, the shade in the production systems has decreased with the consequent increase in soil erosion, in addition to the increase in agrochemicals. Currently, the planting of new varieties with resistance to the fungus is increasing. Furthermore, it has been shown that various biofertilized perennial crops in nursery favor their growth. In this study, the effect of applying two beneficial microorganisms, Rhizophagus intraradices and/or Azospirillum brasilense, to the planting of four varieties of Coffea arabica L. was evaluated. The coffee varieties marseillase, geisha, sarchimor and costa rica 95 were established in bags with the following treatments: 1) control, 2) R. intraradices, 3) A. brasilense, 4) R. intraradices + A. brasilense. Morphological and physiological yield components were recorded 168 days after transplanting. Data was analyzed statistically and differences between treatments were compared according to Tukey (p ≤ 0.05). The results indicate that individual or combined biofertilization of microorganisms favors dry matter allocation compared to the control and the same is differentially assigned to the stem and root. The Specific Leaf Area (SLA) also showed differential response between applications of the microorganisms, in two varieties it increased when they were applied alone and in the others when they were applied together.

Ethnobotanical Knowledge of Local Cassava Varieties and Characteristics Desired by Farmers in Sierra Leone

It has been observed that farmers adopt only a small number of the “improved” cultivars. A nationwide germplasm collection exercise in February 2018 provided the opportunity to collect indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) of the diversity of cassava varieties in terms of: their morphology, growth characteristics, uses (of tubers and leaves) and desirable characteristics. The objective is to see to what extent the objectives of the plant breeders are consistent with what farmers’ value. We performed 405 structured and semi-structured interviews with informants who were selected based on “purposive household sampling”. We found a considerable turn-over in cassava varieties, just over a third (45) have been in cultivation for at least 40 years, however, since the end of the civil war an additional 25 varieties are cultivated, while others varieties seem to have disappeared. One major issue with estimating turnover of varieties is whether the same variety might have several local names, and conversely the same name may be applied to different cultivars. Farmers overwhelmingly use ITK to select and preserve cassava germplasm for future use. Farmers have a clear preference for: sweet taste, high yield, early maturity and easy cooking and preferentially adopt cultivars that have those qualities. Cassava is primarily a human food eaten boiled or fried, some are processed into fufu and gari, and uses as livestock feed and medicine are reported but at low levels. The information produced during this study could help plant breeders choose selection criteria that will ensure their efforts are adopted and sustainable, the importance of preserving the genetic resources of local cultivars is also highlighted.

Evaluating Two Varieties of Sweet Pepper Using Different Nutrient Sources to Increase Productivity

This experiment aims to increase sweet pepper production sustainably by using manures and a combination of manure and fertilizer. Manures are well known to improve soil health and maintain crop production for a relatively long period. This study was conducted under a tunnel house at the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute at Mon Repos East Coast Demerara, Guyana. Plots were arranged according to strip plot design with two treatments (Aristotle and Sunsation), four rates (R1: 0 g/plant), (R2: 350 kg NPK/ha + 10 t vermicompost/ha), (R3: 10 t poultry manure/ha + 10 t vermicompost/ha and (R4: 350 kg NPK/ha + 10 t poultry manure/ha) and replicated thrice. These nutrients were applied in a split application at four weeks before planting, and four, eight, and twelve-week intervals after planting. The varieties did not differ from one another for the vegetative parameters tested. Plants treated with Rate 2 achieved significantly better growth parameters such as plant height, plant spread, and number of branches than the other rates. Sunsation obtained a significantly higher yield of 21.4 t/ha at the 5% level as compared to Aristotle (19.9 t/ha). The various rates recorded significant differences in yield. Rate 2 obtained a significantly higher yield of 32.8 t/ha followed by Rate 4 with 24.9 t/ha, then Rate 3 (17.0 t/ha). The lowest yield of 7.8 t/ha was attained by Rate 1. The interaction of varieties and rates showed statistically significant differences in yield. The interaction of Sunsation and Aristotle with Rate 2 achieved a superior yield of 34.8 t/ha and 30.7 t/ha respectively than other rates. Rate 4 also obtained significant interaction with Sunsation and Aristotle to achieve a yield of 25.7 t/ha and 24.1 t/ha respectively than Rate 3. Rate 3 interacted significantly with Sunsation and Aristotle and obtained a yield of 16.5 t/ha and 17.5 t/ha compared to Rate 1. Rate 1 achieved the least interaction for both varieties tested. Rates differed significantly for fruit shelf-life at room temperature. Fruits obtained from Rate 3 recorded a significantly longer fruit shelf-life of 14.7 days for 50% decay when stored at room temperature (30.3˚C) than other rates. The lowest fruit shelf-life of 7.7 days was obtained from Rate 1. This study indicated that the Sunsation variety is better to cultivate because of superior improvement in growth and yield attributes. The application of Rate 2 can considerably increase yield and when combined with Sunsation variety superior yield and yield attributes can be obtained.

Adoption of Improved Rice Varieties in the Global South:A Review

Improved rice varieties(IRVs)play a significant role in establishing food security and improving livelihood in the Global South since its introduction in the 1960s.However,the adoption of new IRVs has remained relatively low.This low adoption poses a challenge to rice-producing and consuming countries as they are increasingly threatened by production shortages,malnutrition,and poor rice quality.Many empirical studies have attempted to identify the determinants influencing the adoption of IRVs by distinguishing the characteristics between adopters and non-adopters.This review showed a consensus on the important determinants influencing the adoption of IRVs in the Global South.Findings synthesized from 99 studies suggested that variables(farm size,education,information access and farm location)examined extensively are not necessarily the most important determinants of adoption when undertaking a weighted analysis.Terrain,source of seed and technology-related attributes(perceived yield,maturity,ease of use,marketability and technical efficiency)are more important determinants of adoption,with determinants changing according to adoption type(probability or intensity of adoption),variety type and region.The recommendations for future adoption studies include:incorporating more technology-specific variables,increasing research for overlooked regions and variety types,shifting away from predominant static analysis by capturing the dynamics of the adoption process,and considering the potential biases in analyses.This review will facilitate the development of targeted interventions and policies that promote IRV adoption in the Global South.

Study on Adaptability of Introduced Pear Varieties

[Objectives]To study the adaptability of introduced pear.[Methods]Five pear varieties,"Aidang"pear,"Taiwan Zaomi"pear,"Cuiguan"pear,"Tianjin Yali"pear and"Zaosheng Xinshui"pear,were introduced.Then,using these five varieties,the phenology of pear trees,various characters of fruit,stress resistance(heat tolerance and cold tolerance)of varieties were studied.[Results]The plants of 5 varieties of pear trees grew fast and were robust;in late March,it went into the flowering period;"Aidang"pear fruit had a certain number of stone cells;"Taiwan Zaomi"pear had the highest sweetness;"Cuiguan"pear had the largest fruit;these five varieties of pear trees had good water resistance,heat resistance and cold resistance.[Conclusions]This study can provide a reference for the introduction of pear trees,and can also provide a practical basis for the large-scale planting of pear trees.

Influence of Colletotrichum truncatum on the Physiological and Chemical Quality in Different Varieties of Soy Seed

The literature highlights that a severe infection by the fungus Colletotrichum truncatum may be capable of inflicting considerable damage to seeds after harvest, potentially affecting their chemical composition and physiological quality. Taking into account that currently there is no categorization in terms of susceptibility and tolerance on this pathogen, the present work is presented with the main objective of “Evaluate the influence of Pathogenicity of C. truncatum on the physiological quality (germination, vigor, viability) and biochemical components in different varieties of soybean seeds (Glycine max)” most planted in the region. The work was carried out in the Agrotec laboratory, located in the Municipality of San Alberto (Alto Paraná), using a completely randomized experimental design, with AxB factorial arrangement, where A indicates ten most planted soybean varieties in the region and B with or without artificial inoculation of Colletotrichum truncatum, with twenty treatments and four repetitions. The variables evaluated were: germination, vigor, viability and chemical composition. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and the Tukey test at 5% error. The results showed a significant statistical difference, accepting the alternative hypothesis proposed “The pathogenicity of Colletotrichum truncatum influences the physiological quality (germination, vigor, viability) and biochemical components (saturated and unsaturated fatty acids) in different varieties of soybean seeds (Glycine max)”.

Experimental Research on Pomegranate Varieties

[Objectives]To study the introduction performance of pomegranate(Punica granatum)varieties in Shanghai area.[Methods]In this experiment,five pomegranate varieties were introduced,namely‘American 002’pomegranate,‘Huohulu’pomegranate,‘Wanli No.1’pomegranate,‘Yicheng Hongpitian’pomegranate,and‘American Qingpisuan’pomegranate.Then,using these five varieties,various biological traits such as phenology and fruit quality of pomegranate,as well as stress resistance such as heat resistance and cold resistance were studied.[Results]Five varieties of pomegranates began to mature in succession in early September;the smallest single fruit weight was 90 g,and the largest was 110 g;the plants grew fast,the plants were strong,the flowers were single petal,and plants bore fruits which were ornamental and edible.In addition,the pomegranates of these five varieties had good water tolerance and heat resistance,and good cold resistance.[Conclusions]This study is intended to provide a certain reference for the introduction of pomegranate varieties,and also provide a practical basis for the large-scale planting of pomegranate.

Selection of Greenhouse Zucchini Varieties and High-Quality,High-Yield and High-Efficiency Cultivation Techniques

[Objectives]To select zucchini varieties suitable for cultivation in Zibo City and test its high-yield cultivation techniques.[Methods]Six zucchini varieties were introduced,and their commercial quality and yield were determined.[Results]The yield of Shengfeier,Xiuyu 170 and Xihulu 309 increased by 11.4%,6.9%and 4.6%,respectively compared with S68(control),and zucchini was straight,looked pleasing to the eye,and had strong disease resistance.[Conclusions]The zucchini varieties were selected and the high-quality,high-yield and high-efficiency cultivation techniques were integrated.

Comparative Test on Spring Medium-sized Watermelon Varieties in Beijing

[Objectives]This study was conducted to select suitable medium-sized watermelon varieties for early spring cultivation in Beijing.[Methods]Seven watermelon varieties were collected,including Beinong Tianjiao 2,Beinong Tianjiao,Hongfuji,Yongfeng 1,Beinong Futian,Beinong Shijia,and Beinong Jinxiu,and Jingxin 2 was used as the control check(CK).The growth period,morphological traits,yield traits and fruit quality of the tested varieties were investigated.[Results]Beinong Tianjiao 2 had an earlier maturation stage,a fruit development period of 38 d and a total growth period of 118 d.It showed stable growth,with a single fruit weight of 7.56 kg,a fruit setting rate of 0.99 per plant,and a yield of 83076.9 kg/hm~2,which ranked,respectively,second,first,and second among all tested varieties,and were significantly superior to the CK.Furthermore,this variety had thin and tough peel,a bright red flesh color,high central sugar content,loose and crisp flesh,and a good taste.[Conclusions]It is preliminarily believed that it is suitable for early spring watermelon production in Beijing area.

Screening Test of Small Seedless Watermelon Varieties in Beijing Area

[Objectives]This study was conducted to select small seedless watermelon varieties with excellent quality and high yield suitable for planting in Beijing.[Methods]Under the conditions of facility cultivation in Beijing,a screening test was conducted on seven small seedless watermelon varieties for growth process,field traits,yield traits,fruit quality,and disease resistance.[Results]Varieties Mitong,Motong and Tianbao Xiaowuzi had a short growth period and relatively stable growth,and bore fruit easily,and their female flowers were closely spaced.Their yields exceeded 60000 kg/hm~2,ranking in the top three among all varieties.The fruit had a thin skin,a bright red flesh color,and a high mass fraction of soluble solids in the center.The flesh was tight or crispy,and tasted good.They also showed good disease resistance.Overall,they showed excellent comprehensive agronomic traits,and are thus suitable for facility cultivation in Beijing and its surrounding areas.[Conclusions]This study provides a theoretical basis for the upgrading of varieties and the increase in production and farmers'income in the suburbs of Beijing.

Differential distribution of authenticity results of different varieties of refined honey based on stable isotope ratio method

Objective Using the stable isotope ratio method for the authenticity identification and variety identification of refined honey.Methods In this paper,a total of 17 samples of different varieties of refined honey were used to obtain refined honey proteins by precipitation with sodium tungstate solution and sulphuric acid solution.The isotope mass spectrometer was used to simultaneously detect theδ^(13)C values of refined honey proteins and refined honey as well as theδ^(18)O andδ^(2)H values of refined honey,processed of the results obtained,analysed the authenticity of the samples and conduct a variety identification study.Results Tested of the resulting honey samples,the results showed that four batches of refined honey did not up to standard,two batches of C-4 vegetable syrup were detected as adulterated,and two batches of protein were not detected.Theδ^(18)O andδ^(2)H values of refined honey were also found to be effective in distinguishing the varietal origin of refined honey to a certain extent.Conclusions The stable isotope ratio method is useful in the authenticity identification of refined honey,and provides new ideas to further promote the authenticity of refined honey and variety identification research.

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.