Enriching Iodine and Regulating Grain Aroma,Appearance Quality,and Yield in Aromatic Rice by Foliar Application of Sodium Iodide

Applying iodine fertilizers to cultivate iodine-rich crops for daily intake is an effective approach for iodine supplementation,especially for aromatic rice.Field experiments were conducted during the early growing seasons of 2021 and 2022 to evaluate the impacts of foliar application of iodine fertilizer on aromatic rice and to explore the optimal iodine fertilizer concentration.At the full heading stage,six different concentrations of sodium iodide solutions of 0%(CK),0.010%(T1),0.025%(T2),0.050%(T3),0.075%(T4),and 0.100%(T5)were applied to indica aromatic rice cultivars Meixiangzhan 2 and Xiangyaxiangzhan.The results showed that sodium iodide treatments significantly increased the iodine and sodium contents in both leaves and grains.Compared with the CK,the T1 and T2 treatments increased the 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline(2-AP)content in mature grains by 8.41%-101.66%and 13.58%-74.60%,respectively.Improvements in the contents of 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid,proline,1-pyrroline,and methylglyoxal,as well as the activity of proline dehydrogenase were also detected.Additionally,sodium iodide treatments remarkably decreased the chalky grain rate,chalkiness area,and chalkiness degree of aromatic rice,with the T2 treatment exhibiting a 17.79%-47.42%decrease in chalkiness degree compared with the CK.Meanwhile,T1 and T2 treatments showed beneficial impacts on chlorophyll content,photosynthetic characteristics,and yield components,while T3,T4,and T5 treatments exhibited adverse effects on leaf and grain yields.The linear discriminant analysis revealed significant differences between treatments.The correlation analysis and piecewise structural equation modeling showed that the iodine and sodium influenced the photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll content of the leaves,thereby regulating the 2-AP biosynthesis and yield components,ultimately affecting the 2-AP content and yield.Overall,this study suggests that foliar application of 0.025%sodium iodide is an effective method to enrich the iodine content in rice grains,improve the grain aroma and appearance quality of aromatic rice,without detrimental effects on grain yield.

Effectiveness of biofertilizers foliar application on yield and quality traits of flax(Linum usitatissimum L.)

Flax is considered to be one of the most significant dual-purpose crops for oil and fiber production in Egypt and worldwide.Biofertilizers have a substantial impact on various metabolic processes,including increased photo-synthesis,endogenous hormone levels,ion absorption,nucleic acid synthesis,and protein synthesis.These factors collectively contribute to the growth and development of plants.Therefore,this study aims to investigate how three biofertilizers(Algae extract,CMS as a by-product of yeast,and Metalosate multi minerals as amino acids)can enhance both the quantity and quality of flax seed yield under sandy soil conditions.Two field experiments were conducted at the Experimental Station of National Research Centre in Nubaria District,Behira Governorate,Egypt during two seasons(2021/2022)using a randomized complete block design(RCBD).The results revealed significant differences among all tested biofertilizers in terms of various characteristics studied in flax.Foliar application of algae extract at a rate of 1.50 mL/L resulted in an increase in seed yield(ton/ha)by 26.69%&19.89%,straw yield(ton/ha)by 8.08%&17.12%,and oil yield(kg/ha)by 47.72%&33.69%compared to the control group during both seasons respectively.Foliar applications of algae extract at a rate of 1.50 mL/L along with CMS at a rate of 5 m L/L and amino acids at a rate of 1.50 mL/L demonstrated significantly higher macronutrient contents(N,P,K),micronutrient contents(Fe,Zn,Mn),seed oil content,and protein content in flax seeds during both seasons.The highest values for seed oil content and protein content%were obtained through foliar application of amino acids at a rate of 1.50 mL/L.It can be concluded that foliar sprays with these bio-fertilizers effectively improved flax performance by increasing seed straw and oil yields,nutrients oil,protein and fatty acids seeds contents.

Various Organic Nutrient Sources in Combinations with Inorganic Fertilizers Influence the Yield and Quality of Sweet Corn(Zea mays L.saccharata)in New Alluvial Soils of West Bengal,India

Nutrient management plays a crucial role in the yield and quality of sweet corn.A field experiment was conducted in consecutive two kharif seasons in 2018 and 2019 to investigate the effect of various organic sources of nutrients in combination with inorganic sources on the yield and quality of sweet corn under new alluvial soils of West Bengal,India.Treatments were:T_(1):Control(without fertilizers);T_(2):100%recommended dose(RDF)of chemical fertilizers(CF)(RDF CF_(100%));T_(3):100%recommended dose of N(RDN)through vermicompost(VC)(RDN VC_(100%));T_(4):50 RDN through CF+50%RDN through VC(RDN CF_(50%)+RDN VC50%);T_(5):50%RDF through CF+50%RDN through organic source(OS)1,Soligro(Ascophyllum nodosum)granular(RDN CF_(50%)+RDN OS_(150%));T6:50%RDN through CF+50%RDN through OS 2,Bioenzyme(liquid)(RDN CF_(50%)+RDN OS250%);T7:50%RDN through CF+50%RDN through OS 3,Opteine(Ascophyllum nodosum)filtrate[RDN CF_(50%)+RDN OS350%];T8:50%RDN through VC+50%RDF through OS 1,Soligro(Ascophyllum nodosum)granular(RDN VC50%+RDN OS_(150%)).The OS of fertilizers were VC,SoliGro Gr(OS1)(Ascophyllum nodosum),Bioenzyme liquid(OS2),and Opteine(Ascophyllum nodosum)filtrate(OS3).The inorganic source was traditional CF applied at the RDF(150:75:75 kg ha^(−1) of N:P2O5:K2O).The VC was used to supply 100%RDN as one source or 50%RDN when combined with CF or OS.Maximum fruit yield(10.75 and 10.79 t ha^(−1) in 2018 and 2019,respectively)was recorded when RDF was substituted through CF only,being statistically at par with 50%CF+50%VC on a nitrogen equivalent basis(9.92 and 10.00 t ha^(−1) in 2018 and 2019,respectively)and 100%VC(8.22 and 8.32 t ha^(−1) in 2018 and 2019,respectively).Compared to chemical sources of nutrients,VC-based treatments produced a larger percentage of large-size cob(>25 cm).The 100%VC increased antioxidant(8.35 and 8.45 mg g^(−1)),carotenoid(0.59 and 0.61 mg/100 g),and phenol(55.06 and 55.02 mg 100 g^(−1))content compared with its 50%dose in combination with other sources.The study revealed the potentiality of organic sources towards achieving improved cob quality of sweet corn.

Combining ability of Egyptian cotton(Gossypium barbadense L.)reveals genetic potential for improved yield and fiber quality

Background As the most widely cultivated fiber crop,cotton production depends on hybridization to unlock the yield potential of current varieties.A deep understanding of genetic dissection is crucial for the cultivation of enhanced hybrid plants with desired traits,such as high yield and fine fiber quality.In this study,the general combining ability(GCA)and specific combining ability(SCA)of yield and fiber quality of nine cotton parents(six lines and three testers)and eighteen F1 crosses produced using a line×tester mating design were analyzed.Results The results revealed significant effects of genotypes,parents,crosses,and interactions between parents and crosses for most of the studied traits.Moreover,the effects of both additive and non-additive gene actions played a notably significant role in the inheritance of most of the yield and fiber quality attributes.The F1 hybrids of(Giza 90×Aust)×Giza 86,Uzbekistan 1×Giza 97,and Giza 96×Giza 97 demonstrated superior performance due to their favorable integration of high yield attributes and premium fiber quality characteristics.Path analysis revealed that lint yield has the highest positive direct effect on seed cotton yield,while lint percentage showed the highest negative direct effect on seed cotton yield.Principal component analysis identified specific parents and hybrids associated with higher cotton yield,fiber quality,and other agronomic traits.Conclusion This study provides insights into identifying potential single-and three-way cross hybrids with superior cotton yield and fiber quality characteristics,laying a foundation for future research on improving fiber quality in cotton.

Yield Characteristics of a New High-quality Disease-resistant Wheat Variety Chuanmai 618

[Objectives]The paper was to analyze the yield characteristics of a new high-quality disease-resistant wheat variety Chuanmai 618.[Methods]The yield characteristics of Chuanmai 618 were analyzed using the AMMI model and GGE biplot based on data from a 2-year regional test and a 1-year production test.[Results]The analysis of the AMMI model for the 2-year regional test indicated that Chuanmai 618 had a moderate yield and good stability.During the production test,Chuanmai 618 had an average yield of 450.52 kg/666.7 m^(2),an effective spike of 235700 spike/666.7 m^(2),a 1000-seed weight of 47.93 g,and a kernel number per spike of 47.28.The AMMI analysis sequencing graph showed that the varieties were ranked in the following order:Zhongkemai 1816>Chuanmai 618>Shumai 1958>Chuanyu 42>Mianmai 367>Xikemai 5518.According to the GE analysis,Chuanmai 618 had comparative advantages.[Conclusions]The new wheat variety Chuanmai 618 is a high-quality disease-resistant variety with good yield and stability.

Effects of Water-retaining Agents on Growth, Development, Yield and Quality of Soybean under Drought Stress

[Objectives]The paper was to explore the effects of different doses of water-retaining agent on the growth and development indicators,yield and quality of soybean plants subjected to drought stress.[Methods]The effects of drought stress(MDS)and drought stress with low(MDS-L),medium(MDS-M)and high doses(MDS-H)of the water-retaining agent on the growth and development indicators,root activity,MDA content,antioxidant enzyme activity,yield and quality of soybean were studied by field plot test,with the normal water supply serving as the control(CK).[Results]In response to drought stress,the plant height,stem diameter,and yield of soybean exhibited a notable decline.Additionally,the contents of protein,fat,linoleic acid,and linolenic acid in seeds demonstrated a significant reduction.Conversely,the root activity and antioxidant enzyme activity exhibited a noticeable decline,while the MDA content exhibited an increase.The application of varying doses of the water-retaining agent was found to significantly enhance soybean growth,stimulate root activity,and elevate antioxidant enzyme activity,while concurrently reducing MDA content.The observed effects were found to be dose-dependent,with the greatest effects observed at the highest dose.In comparison to MDS,the yields of soybean in the MDS-L,MDS-M,and MDS-H treatments exhibited a 18.38%,25.58%,and 46.26%increase,respectively.Additionally,the content of protein,fat,linoleic acid,and linolenic acid in seeds demonstrated a notable enhancement.[Conclusions]The application of the water-retaining agent has been demonstrated to significantly promote the growth of soybean plants under conditions of drought stress,resulting in an improvement in both the yield and the quality of the soybean crop.The recommended dosage of the water-retaining agent is 3.3 kg/667 m 2.

Genome wide association analysis identifies candidate genes for fruit quality and yield in Actinidia eriantha

Quality and yield are the primary concerns in kiwifruit breeding,but research on the genetic mechanisms of fruit size,shape,and ascorbic acid(ASA)content is currently very limited,which restricts the development of kiwifruit molecular breeding.In this study,we obtained a total of 8.88 million highly reliable single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)markers from 140 individuals from the natural hybrid offspring of Actinidia eriantha cv.‘White’using whole genome resequencing technology.A genome-wide association study was conducted on eight key agronomic traits,including single fruit weight,fruit shape,ASA content,and the number of inflorescences per branch.A total of 59 genetic loci containing potential functional genes were located,and candidate genes related to single fruit weight,fruit length,ASA content,number of inflorescences per branch and other traits were identified within the candidate interval,such as AeWUSCHEL,AeCDK1(cell cycle dependent kinase),AeAO1(ascorbic oxidase)and AeCO1(CONSTANS-like 4).After constructing an RNAi vector for AeAO1 and injecting it into the fruit of cv.‘Midao 31’to interfere with the expression of the AeAO1 gene,the results showed that the activity of ascorbic oxidase in the fruit of‘Midao 31’significantly decreased,while the content of ASA significantly increased.This study provides valuable insights into the genetic basis of variation in A.eriantha fruit traits,which may benefit molecular marker-assisted breeding efforts.

The underlying mechanism of variety–water–nitrogen–stubble damage interactions on yield formation in ratoon rice with low stubble height under mechanized harvesting

Agronomic measures are the key to promote the sustainable development of ratoon rice by reducing the damage from mechanical crushing to the residual stubble of the main crop, thereby mitigating the impact on axillary bud sprouting and yield formation in ratoon rice. This study used widely recommended conventional rice Jiafuzhan and hybrid rice Yongyou 2640 as the test materials to conduct a four-factor block design field experiment in a greenhouse of the experimental farm of Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, China from 2018 to 2019.The treatments included fertilization and no fertilization, alternate wetting and drying irrigation and continuous water flooding irrigation, and plots with and without artificial crushing damage on the rice stubble. At the same time, a 13C stable isotope in-situ detection technology was used to fertilize the pot experiment. The results showed significant interactions among varieties, water management, nitrogen application and stubble status.Relative to the long-term water flooding treatment, the treatment with sequential application of nitrogen fertilizer coupled with moderate field drought for root-vigor and tiller promotion before and after harvesting of the main crop, significantly improved the effective tillers from low position nodes. This in turn increased the effective panicles per plant and grains per panicle by reducing the influence of artificial crushing damage on rice stubble and achieving a high yield of the regenerated rice. Furthermore, the partitioning of 13C assimilates to the residual stubble and its axillary buds were significantly improved at the mature stage of the main crop, while the translocation rate to roots and rhizosphere soil was reduced at the later growth stage of ratooning season rice. This was triggered by the metabolism of hormones and polyamines at the stem base regulated by the interaction of water and fertilizer at this time. We therefore suggest that to achieve a high yield of ratoon rice with low stubble height under mechanized harvesting, the timely application of nitrogen fertilizer is fundamental,coupled with moderate field drying for root-vigor preservation and tiller promotion before and after the mechanical harvesting of the main crop.

Manure substitution improves maize yield by promoting soil fertility and mediating the microbial community in lime concretion black soil

Synthetic nitrogen(N)fertilizer has made a great contribution to the improvement of soil fertility and productivity,but excessive application of synthetic N fertilizer may cause agroecosystem risks,such as soil acidification,groundwater contamination and biodiversity reduction.Meanwhile,organic substitution has received increasing attention for its ecologically and environmentally friendly and productivity benefits.However,the linkages between manure substitution,crop yield and the underlying microbial mechanisms remain uncertain.To bridge this gap,a three-year field experiment was conducted with five fertilization regimes:i)Control,non-fertilization;CF,conventional synthetic fertilizer application;CF_(1/2)M_(1/2),1/2 N input via synthetic fertilizer and 1/2 N input via manure;CF_(1/4)M_(3/4),1/4 N input synthetic fertilizer and 3/4 N input via manure;M,manure application.All fertilization treatments were designed to have equal N input.Our results showed that all manure substituted treatments achieved high soil fertility indexes(SFI)and productivities by increasing the soil organic carbon(SOC),total N(TN)and available phosphorus(AP)concentrations,and by altering the bacterial community diversity and composition compared with CF.SOC,AP,and the soil C:N ratio were mainly responsible for microbial community variations.The co-occurrence network revealed that SOC and AP had strong positive associations with Rhodospirillales and Burkholderiales,while TN and C:N ratio had positive and negative associations with Micromonosporaceae,respectively.These specific taxa are implicated in soil macroelement turnover.Random Forest analysis predicted that both biotic(bacterial composition and Micromonosporaceae)and abiotic(AP,SOC,SFI,and TN)factors had significant effects on crop yield.The present work strengthens our understanding of the effects of manure substitution on crop yield and provides theoretical support for optimizing fertilization strategies.

Regulation of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline and grain quality in early-season indica fragrant rice by nitrogen and silicon fertilization under different plantation methods

Fragrant rice has a high market value,and it is a popular rice type among consumers owing to its pleasant flavor.Plantation methods,nitrogen(N)fertilizers,and silicon(Si)fertilizers can affect the grain yield and fragrance of fragrant rice.However,the core commercial rice production attributes,namely the head rice yield(HRY)and 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline(2-AP)content of fragrant rice,under various nitrogen and silicon(N-Si)fertilization levels and different plantation methods remain unknown.The field experiment in this study was performed in the early seasons of 2018 and 2019 with two popular indica fragrant rice cultivars(Yuxiangyouzhan and Xiangyaxiangzhan).They were grown under six N-Si fertilization treatments(combinations of two levels of Si fertilizer,0 kg Si ha^(−1)(Si0)and 150 kg Si ha^(−1)(Si1),and three levels of N fertilizer,0 kg N ha^(−1)(N0),150 kg N ha^(−1)(N1),and 220 kg N ha^(−1)(N2))and three plantation methods(artificial transplanting(AT),mechanical transplanting(MT),and mechanical direct-seeding(MD)).The results showed that the N-Si fertilization treatments and all the plantation methods significantly affected the HRY and 2-AP content and related parameters of the two different fragrant rice cultivars.Compared with the Si0N0 treatment,the N-Si fertilization treatments resulted in higher HRY and 2-AP contents.The rates of brown rice,milled rice,head rice,and chalky rice of the fragrant rice also improved with the N-Si fertilization treatments.The N-Si fertilization treatments increased the activities of N metabolism enzymes and the accumulation of N and Si in various parts of the fragrant rice,and affected their antioxidant response parameters.The key parameters for the HRY and 2-AP content were assessed by redundancy analysis.Furthermore,the structural equation model revealed that the Si and N accumulation levels indirectly affected the HRY by affecting the N metabolism enzyme activity,N use efficiency,and grain quality of fragrant rice.Moreover,high N and Si accumulation directly promoted the 2-AP content or affected the antioxidant response parameters and indirectly regulated 2-AP synthesis.The interactions of the MT method with the N-Si fertilization treatments varied in the fragrant rice cultivars in terms of the HRY and 2-AP content,whereas the MD method was beneficial to the 2-AP content in both fragrant rice cultivars under the N-Si fertilization treatments.

Dynamic changes of rumen microbiota and serum metabolome revealed increases in meat quality and growth performances of sheep fed bio‑fermented rice straw

Background Providing high-quality roughage is crucial for improvement of ruminant production because it is an essential component of their feed.Our previous study showed that feeding bio-fermented rice straw(BF)improved the feed intake and weight gain of sheep.However,it remains unclear why feeding BF to sheep increased their feed intake and weight gain.Therefore,the purposes of this research were to investigate how the rumen micro-biota and serum metabolome are dynamically changing after feeding BF,as well as how their changes influence the feed intake,digestibility,nutrient transport,meat quality and growth performances of sheep.Twelve growing Hu sheep were allocated into 3 groups:alfalfa hay fed group(AH:positive control),rice straw fed group(RS:negative control)and BF fed group(BF:treatment).Samples of rumen content,blood,rumen epithelium,muscle,feed offered and refusals were collected for the subsequent analysis.Results Feeding BF changed the microbial community and rumen fermentation,particularly increasing(P<0.05)relative abundance of Prevotella and propionate production,and decreasing(P<0.05)enteric methane yield.The histomorphology(height,width,area and thickness)of rumen papillae and gene expression for carbohydrate trans-port(MCT1),tight junction(claudin-1,claudin-4),and cell proliferation(CDK4,Cyclin A2,Cyclin E1)were improved(P<0.05)in sheep fed BF.Additionally,serum metabolome was also dynamically changed,which led to up-regulating(P<0.05)the primary bile acid biosynthesis and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acid in sheep fed BF.As a result,the higher(P<0.05)feed intake,digestibility,growth rate,feed efficiency,meat quality and mono-unsaturated fatty acid concentration in muscle,and the lower(P<0.05)feed cost per kg of live weight were achieved by feeding BF.Conclusions Feeding BF improved the growth performances and meat quality of sheep and reduced their feed cost.Therefore,bio-fermentation of rice straw could be an innovative way for improving ruminant production with mini-mizing production costs.

Grain yield and N uptake of maize in response to increased plant density under reduced water and nitrogen supply conditions

The development of modern agriculture requires the reduction of water and chemical N fertilizer inputs.Increasing the planting density can maintain higher yields,but also consumes more of these restrictive resources.However,whether an increased maize density can compensate for the negative effects of reduced water and N supply on grain yield and N uptake in the arid irrigated areas remains unknown.This study is part of a long-term positioning trial that started in 2016.A split-split plot field experiment of maize was implemented in the arid irrigated area of northwestern China in 2020 to 2021.The treatments included two irrigation levels:local conventional irrigation reduced by 20%(W1,3,240 m^(3)ha^(-1))and local conventional irrigation(W2,4,050 m^(3)ha^(-1));two N application rates:local conventional N reduced by 25%(N1,270 kg ha^(-1))and local conventional N(360 kg ha^(-1));and three planting densities:local conventional density(D1,75,000 plants ha^(-1)),density increased by 30%(D2,97,500 plants ha-1),and density increased by 60%(D3,120,000 plants ha^(-1)).Our results showed that the grain yield and aboveground N accumulation of maize were lower under the reduced water and N inputs,but increasing the maize density by 30% can compensate for the reductions of grain yield and aboveground N accumulation caused by the reduced water and N supply.When water was reduced while the N application rate remained unchanged,increasing the planting density by 30% enhanced grain yield by 13.9% and aboveground N accumulation by 15.3%.Under reduced water and N inputs,increasing the maize density by 30% enhanced N uptake efficiency and N partial factor productivity,and it also compensated for the N harvest index and N metabolic related enzyme activities.Compared with W2N2D1,the N uptake efficiency and N partial factor productivity increased by 28.6 and 17.6%under W1N1D2.W1N2D2 had 8.4% higher N uptake efficiency and 13.9% higher N partial factor productivity than W2N2D1.W1N2D2 improved urease activity and nitrate reductase activity by 5.4% at the R2(blister)stage and 19.6% at the V6(6th leaf)stage,and increased net income and the benefit:cost ratio by 22.1 and 16.7%,respectively.W1N1D2 and W1N2D2 reduced the nitrate nitrogen and ammoniacal nitrogen contents at the R6 stage in the 40-100 cm soil layer,compared with W2N2D1.In summary,increasing the planting density by 30% can compensate for the loss of grain yield and aboveground N accumulation under reduced water and N inputs.Meanwhile,increasing the maize density by 30% improved grain yield and aboveground N accumulation when water was reduced by 20% while the N application rate remained constant in arid irrigation areas.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and quality control lie at the heart of subarachnoid hemorrhage

The dramatic increase in intracranial pressure after subarachnoid hemorrhage leads to a decrease in cerebral perfusion pressure and a reduction in cerebral blood flow.Mitochondria are directly affected by direct factors such as ischemia,hypoxia,excitotoxicity,and toxicity of free hemoglobin and its degradation products,which trigger mitochondrial dysfunction.Dysfunctional mitochondria release large amounts of reactive oxygen species,inflammatory mediators,and apoptotic proteins that activate apoptotic pathways,further damaging cells.In response to this array of damage,cells have adopted multiple mitochondrial quality control mechanisms through evolution,including mitochondrial protein quality control,mitochondrial dynamics,mitophagy,mitochondrial biogenesis,and intercellular mitochondrial transfer,to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis under pathological conditions.Specific interventions targeting mitochondrial quality control mechanisms have emerged as promising therapeutic strategies for subarachnoid hemorrhage.This review provides an overview of recent research advances in mitochondrial pathophysiological processes after subarachnoid hemorrhage,particularly mitochondrial quality control mechanisms.It also presents potential therapeutic strategies to target mitochondrial quality control in subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The combined effects of farm yard manure and boron application on growth,and oil quality of Canola grown under newly reclaimed soils

Two field experiments were conducted during the main seasons of 2021/2022 at the Research and Production Station of National Research Centre in Egypt to investigate the effects of farmyard manure(FYM)and boron on Canola growth,yield,oil yield,and quality.The results unequivocally demonstrated that the combined application of FYM at a rate of 14.4 ton ha^(-1)with a foliar spray of boron at 100 ppm positively influenced plant characteristics,leading to enhanced growth rates and higher yields compared to the control group.Moreover,this integrated approach significantly improved nutrient content by enhancing levels of oil content,carbohydrates,proteins,phenolics,flavonoids,and total soluble sugars.These findings provide compelling evidence that utilizing farm manure along with boron can effectively enhance Canola properties in newly reclaimed soils while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Yields,growth and water use under chemical topping in relations to row configuration and plant density in drip-irrigated cotton

Background Water deficit is an important problem in agricultural production in arid regions.With the advent of wholly mechanized technology for cotton planting in Xinjiang,it is important to determine which planting mode could achieve high yield,fiber quality and water use efficiency(WUE).This study aimed to explore if chemical topping affected cotton yield,quality and water use in relation to row configuration and plant densities.Results Experiments were carried out in Xinjiang China,in 2020 and 2021 with two topping method,manual topping and chemical topping,two plant densities,low and high,and two row configurations,i.e.,76 cm equal rows and 10+66 cm narrow-wide rows,which were commonly applied in matching harvest machine.Chemical topping increased seed cotton yield,but did not affect cotton fiber quality comparing to traditional manual topping.Under equal row spacing,the WUE in higher density was 62.4%higher than in the lower one.However,under narrow-wide row spacing,the WUE in lower density was 53.3%higher than in higher one(farmers’practice).For machine-harvest cotton in Xinjiang,the optimal row configuration and plant density for chemical topping was narrow-wide rows with 15 plants m-2 or equal rows with 18 plants m-2.Conclusion The plant density recommended in narrow-wide rows was less than farmers’practice and the density in equal rows was moderate with local practice.Our results provide new knowledge on optimizing agronomic managements of machine-harvested cotton for both high yield and water efficient.

Effect of Different Mulch Materials on Yield and Nutrition Profile of Common Capsicum (Capsicum annuum) Cultivars in Bangladesh

Capsicum is a nutritious vegetable and its cultivation in farms is getting popular in Bangladesh. Although many efforts have lain to explore better yielding and nutritionally rich cultivars with suitable modern cultivation techniques but still have to find the desired outcome. Thus, it’s necessary to conduct further research to identify the high-yielding and nutritious capsicum cultivars in Bangladesh. An experiment was conducted from July 2021 to June 2022 at the Bangladesh Institute of Research and Training on Applied Nutrition (BIRTAN) research field with three cultivars of capsicum: B0 = California Wonder, B1 = BARI Misti Morich-1 and B2 = BARI Misti Morich-2 and three mulching: T0 = No mulching, T1 = Water hyacinth, T2 = Poly Mulching in randomized complete block design with three replications to identify better quality capsicum cultivar and suitable mulching material. Among cultivars the BARI Misti Morich-2 (B2) showed increased agronomic parameters like number of branches and effective branches per plant, leaves length and width, consequently yield and yield contributing traits were also enhanced like fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit diameter and yield per plant (25.97%, 4.54%, 3.64% and 21.43%, respectively). Poly Mulching (T2) increased agronomic traits, yield traits and yield (0.61 kg) than BARI Misti Morich-1 (T1). The combined effect of B2T2 increased the number of branches per plant, effective branches per plant, leaves length and breadth by 40%, 90%, 15.57% and 26.22%, respectively, hence resulting in an increased yield of 20%. BARI Misti Morich-2 cultivar showed an increase in Fe, Zn and Vitamin-C content of 26.24% and 23.10%, 8.82% and 5.14%, and 6.03% and 5.74% than B0 and B1 cultivars, respectively. Therefore, BARI Misti Morich-2 exhibited the improved agronomic, yield and nutritional traits of capsicum under poly mulching among other cultivars in Bangladesh.

Effect of Inorganic and Organic Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Two Industrial Potato Varieties (Asterix and Courage) in Bangladesh

Potato is one of the most important vegetable crops, which contributes more than half of the total vegetable production in Bangladesh. Four field experiments were conducted in two different locations in Bangladesh to develop integrated nutrient management practices to produce quality potato seed in industrial processing varieties Asterix and Courage. For the inorganic trial, Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) including 2 potato varieties, 5 treatments with 4 replications, and in the organic fertilizer trial, Factorial RCBD including 2 potato varieties, 6 treatments with 4 replications were used. In the inorganic fertilizer trail, the highest yield was obtained in the variety Asterix due to Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Sulfur (NPKS) plus Magnesium treated plot in Domar BADC farm and due to NPKS plus Boron, Zinc, and Magnesium treated plots in Kashimpur Farm. In the case of variety Courage, the highest yield was found in the treatment of NPKS plus Zinc in Domar BADC farm while in Kashimpur farm, NPKS plus Mg treated plots had the highest yield of potato variety-Courage. In the organic fertilizer trail, the highest tuber yield per hill was obtained by applying the government-approved commercial brand Northern organic fertilizer in variety Asterix and by organic fertilizer brand Chook Chook in variety Courage. Parameters such as days to tuber initiation, number of stems per hill, plant height, and number of tubers per hill were found statistically different among the treatments and between the two varieties. Treatments namely Northern organic fertilizer and Cowdung combined with mustard oil cake performed better considering standard grade tuber yield (grade A and B) compared to other treatments. Hence, the combination of NPKS MgZn and either Northern organic or Chook Chook or Cowdung plus mustard oil cake could be used to grow the varieties Asterix and Courage.

Effect of Planting Date on Yield and Yield Components of Grain Sorghum Hybrids

In Kansas, productivity of grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is affected by weather conditions at planting and during pollination. Planting date management and selection of hybrid maturity group can help to avoid severe environmental stresses during these sensitive stages. The hypothesis of the study was that late May planting improves grain sorghum yield and yield components compared with late June planting. The objectives of this research were to investigate the influence of planting dates yield and yield components of different grain sorghum hybrids, and to determine the optimal planting date and hybrid combination for maximum biomass and grains production. Three sorghum hybrids (early, medium, and late maturing) were planted in late May and late June without irrigation in Kansas at Manhattan/Ashland Bottom Research Station, and Hutchinson in 2010;and at Manhattan/North Farm and Hutchinson in 2011. Data on dry matter production, yield and yield components were collected. Grain yield and yield components were influenced by planting date depending on environmental conditions. At Manhattan (2010), greater grain yield, number of heads per plant, were obtained with late-June planting compared with late May planting, while at Hutchinson (2010) greater yield was obtained with late May planting for all hybrids. The yield component most affected at Hutchinson was the number of kernels∙panicle−1 and plant density. Late-May planting was favorable for late maturing hybrid (P84G62) in all locations. However, the yield of early maturing hybrid (DKS 28-05) and medium maturing hybrid (DKS 37-07) was less affected by delayed planting. The effects of planting dates on yield and yield components of grain sorghum hybrids were found to be variable among hybrid maturity groups and locations.

Salinity Stress Deteriorates Grain Yield and Increases 2-Acetyl-1-Pyrroline Content in Rice

Salinity stress greatly impacts rice grain yield and quality, as well as the 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline(2-AP) content in grains. The present study was conducted with Nanjing 9108(NJ9108, conventional japonica rice) and Wenliangyou 669(WLY669, indica hybrid rice) in the fields with non-salinity(NS), low salinity(LS), and high salinity(HS) stresses in 2021 and 2022.

Correlation and variability analysis of yield and quality related traits in different peanut varieties across various ecological zones of China

Peanut cultivation in China spans various ecological zones, each with unique environmental conditions. Identifying suitable peanut varieties for these regions has been challenging due to significant phenotypic variations observed across environments. This study, based on a comprehensive analysis of 256 peanut varieties, selected nine representative varieties(Huayu23, Yuanza9102, Silihong, Wanhua2, Zhonghua6, Zhonghua16, Zhonghua21,Zhonghua215, Zhonghua24) for cultivation in five distinct ecological zones including Chengdu, Hefei, Nanjing,Shijiazhuang, and Wuhan. The yield and quality related phenotypic traits of these varieties were thoroughly assessed, revealing a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Principal component analysis(PCA) effectively distinguished varieties based on yield and quality traits. Strong correlations were observed between specific traits, such as seed size and quality components. The G × E interaction was evident, as some varieties consistently performed better in certain environments. Varieties with lower coefficient of variation(CV)values exhibited stable trait expression, making them reliable choices for broad cultivation. In contrast, varieties with higher CV values displayed greater sensitivity to environmental fluctuations, potentially due to specific genetic factors. Two high oleic acid varieties, Zhonghua24 and Zhonghua215, demonstrated remarkable stability in oleic acid content across diverse environments, suggesting the presence of genetic mechanisms that buffer against environmental variations. Overall, this study underscores the importance of selecting peanut varieties based on their adaptability and performance in specific ecological zones. These findings provide valuable insights for peanut breeders and farmers, facilitating informed decisions for improved crop production and quality.