Scientific Journals of INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria)
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Antifungal effects of phenolic extract from industrial residues of Aloe vera
Get PDFThis research is concerned with the fungicidal properties of the phenolic extract from industrial residues of Aloe vera used for antifungal treatment of various plant pathogens (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Phaeoacremonium aleophilum, and Sporisorium scitamineum). Six phenolic compounds were identified in this extract from A. vera cortex: aloesin, α-barbaloin, chromone X, isoaloeresin D, β- barbaloin and aloeresin E. Phenolic extract was added to PDA medium at 20 concentrations from 0.32% to 10% and the growth of four different plant pathogenic fungi was tested. Fungal inhibition was calculated in order to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of phenolic extract against pathogens. Inhibition of Sporisorium scitamineum hyphal growth was observed after treatment with the phenolic extract at concentrations higher than 2.5% and a fungistatic effect with a 58.2% mycelia growth inhibition was detected at 3% extract concentration. Inhibition of P. chlamydospora and P. aleophilum hyphal growth was observed at concentrations higher than 4% and 3% respectively. A fungistatic effect with a 71.65% and a 19.87% mycelia growth inhibition was detected at 4.5% and 3.5% extract concentration respectively. About F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, inhibition of hyphal growth was observed at concentrations higher than 2.5% and a fungistatic effect with a 32.07% mycelia growth inhibition was detected at 3% extract concentration. The results indicate that the tested extract possess antifungal activities against these pathogens at various concentration levels and could be used as a potential natural fungicide in order to control fungi pathogens providing a new use for the A. vera industrial residues
Fuzzy clustering algorithm to identify the effects of some soil parameters on mechanical aspects of soil and wheat yield
Get PDFIn this paper, site-specific management zones (MZs) were delineated in three fields belonging to a farm in the center of Italy and characterized by different soil texture. Crop yield and various soil parameters, both physical (soil structural stability, clay fraction, water content, and organic matter) and mechanical (shear strength and penetration resistance) were monitored. Yield data were acquired by means of a combine harvester equipped with a precision land management system during three consecutive growing seasons. At the end of the third growing season, soil properties were investigated by means of georeferenced soil sampling. After data gathering, a fuzzy clustering algorithm was applied to define management zones. Results highlighted spatial variability between the three fields and temporal variability between the three consecutive growing seasons. Whilst the latter could be ascribed to the rainfall distribution (therefore moisture could be considered as a limiting factor in wheat growth), the delineated MZs suggest that clay content and organic matter could affect both mechanical parameters of soil and crop yield. The defined MZs can serve as a basis to generate prescription maps for variable-rate application inputs and variable tillage
An automatic and non-intrusive hybrid computer vision system for the estimation of peel thickness in Thomson orange
Get PDFOrange peel has important flavor and nutrition properties and is often used for making jam and oil in the food industry. For previous reasons, oranges with high peel thickness are valuable. In order to properly estimate peel thickness in Thomson orange fruit, based on a number of relevant image features (area, eccentricity, perimeter, length/area, blue component, green component, red component, width, contrast, texture, width/area, width/length, roughness, and length) a novel automatic and non-intrusive approach based on computer vision with a hybrid particle swarm optimization (PSO), genetic algorithm (GA) and artificial neural network (ANN) system is proposed. Three features (width/area, width/length and length/area ratios) were selected as inputs to the system. A total of 100 oranges were used, performing cross validation with 100 repeated experiments with uniform random samples test sets. Taguchi’s robust optimization technique was applied to determine the optimal set of parameters. Prediction results for orange peel thickness (mm) based on the levels that were achieved by Taguchi’s method were evaluated in several ways, including orange peel thickness true-estimated boxplots for the 100 orange database and various error parameters: the sum square error (SSE), the mean absolute error (MAE), the coefficient of determination (R2), the root mean square error (RMSE), and the mean square error (MSE), resulting in mean error parameter values of R2=0.854±0.052, MSE=0.038±0.010, and MAE=0.159±0.023, over the test set, which to our best knowledge are remarkable numbers for an automatic and non-intrusive approach with potential application to real-time orange peel thickness estimation in the food industry
Identification and pathogenicity of Rhizoctonia solani AG-4 causing root rot on chickpea in Turkey
Get PDFIn the 2016-17 growing seasons, surveys were conducted in the Isparta, Uşak, Kütahya and Denizli provinces of Turkey to identify the Rhizoctonia solani AG-4 associated with root and crown rot of chickpea. A total of 75 isolates of Rhizoctonia were obtained from surveyed areas. Visual diagnostic, isolation and microscopic observation identified the causal organism as R. solani. Sequence data of the ITS rDNA region confirmed the species identity and revealed that the anastomosis group of the 23 isolates were AG-4 HGII. The isolates were variable in their morphological characters. The sequences generated during this study were clustered in the same branch with the reference isolates of R. solani AG-4 HGII based on their ITS sequencing on chickpea and the isolate grouping was not related to their geographic origins or virulence pattern. Pathogenicity tests revealed that all AG-4 isolates were pathogenic on chickpea and the disease severity values of 23 isolates varied between 42.8% and 100%. Based on the virulence, the isolates were grouped into two categories: 5 of them exhibited moderately virulence and 18 of them exhibited highly virulence reaction on chickpea. The high virulent isolate level (>50% disease severity) was determined as 78.2% of all 23 isolates. This is the first report of R. solani AG-4 as a pathogen of chickpea in Turkey
Growth promotion and yield enhancement of barley cultivars using ACC deaminase producing Pseudomonas fluorescens strains under salt stress
Get PDFPlant growth-promoting rhizobacteria containing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase enzyme reduce the level of stress, ethylene and stimulate plant growth under various biotic and abiotic stress conditions. The present study aims at characterizing efficient salt-tolerant, ACC deaminase containing Pseudomonas fluorescens strains with plant growth-promoting activity isolated from the rhizosphere of barley plants and evaluating the influence of potent plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolates on growth and yield of five barley cultivars under salinity stress. Plant growth and yield in barley cultivars following inoculation with salt-tolerant, ACC deaminase producing PGPR strains under salt stress were quantified. Results indicated that under various levels of salinity (50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl) inoculation with PGPRs had positive impact on growth parameters and yield of barley cultivars including plant height, spike length, weight and number, peduncle length, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight and grain yield, comparing to uninoculated control plants under salinity stress. Inoculation of barley cultivars with bacteria ameliorated the negative effects of salinity and resulted in increase in growth and yield. Besides, as the salinity levels increased, growth and yield of barley cultivars decreased; however, cultivars showed different responses to salt stress. This study demonstrates the vital role of rhizobacteria containing ACC deaminase for increasing salt tolerance and consequently improving the growth and yield of barley plants under salinity stress
Comparison of different classical and molecular methods for identifying self-incompatibility in two olive cultivars
Get PDFAim of study: To determine compatibility relationships and select suitable pollinizers for two olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars (‘Amygdalolia’ and ‘Konservalia’).Area of study: The Kazeroun Olive Research Station, Fars, Iran.Material and methods: Emasculated flowers from ‘Amygdalolia’ and ‘Konservalia’ cultivars were treated with self-pollination, open-pollination, and cross-pollination with pollen from cultivars such as ‘Dacal’, ‘Amygdalolia’,‘Konservalia’, ‘Koroniki’, and ‘Manzanilla’. Controlled pollination, pollen tube growth, and molecular analysis were employed.Main results: Controlled pollination, pollen tube growth, and molecular analysis showed that cross-pollination was beneficial for ‘Amygdalolia’ compared to self-pollination. The results showed that this cultivar is self-incompatible, and its best pollinator is the ‘Dacal’ cultivar. Experiment results indicated that ‘Konservalia’ behaves as a self-compatible cultivar. The highest fruit percentage and higher pollen tube growth rates were found in self-pollination treatments. Molecular attempts to isolate candidates for sporophytic self-incompatibility (SSI) led the researchers to analyze the expression of SRK and SLG genes.Research highlights: The results indicated an antagonist transcriptional expression pattern in the flowers of ‘Amygdalolia’, classified as a self-incompatible cultivar, and ‘Konservalia’, classified as a self-compatible cultivar, for the SRK and SLG genes
Recurrent inconsistencies in publications that involve Maguire’s germination rate formula
Get PDFAim of study: The objective of this study was to present statistical information pertaining to recurrent inconsistencies found in the literature of the last 25 years that involve calculation of the GR and the errors that this may entail when interpreting the seed vigor of different botanical materials.Materiales y métodos: After filtering articles that did not present numerical results or in which the application of Maguire's formula was not clearly indicated, a total of 124 papers were ultimately used in this study.Main results: Germination rate (GR) represents the potential of seeds to germinate and, along with germination percentage (GP), are the two most important measurements when evaluating seed quality. The correct calculation of GR allows the seeds classification according to their vigor and capacity to produce healthy seedlings, so it is very important to rely on the adequate mathematical formula for this purpose. According to the formula developed by Maguire, this parameter is calculated by the sum of values obtained when dividing the GP at different times (i.e. daily) by the total time elapsed since the start of the test. We have found from the relevant literature that different authors have been using different ways of applying the formula, which makes it difficult to directly compare the results.Research highlights: A total of 54.8 % of the papers reviewed, belonging mainly to the theme of forestry, presented objectionable application of the formula. Publication of this warning may help to reduce the occurrence of this situation in the future.Keywords. Germination percentage, germination speed, Maguire’s formula, seed vigor
Remote sensing for the Spanish forests in the 21st century: a review of advances, needs, and opportunities
Get PDFForest ecosystems provide a host of services and societal benefits, including carbon storage, habitat for fauna, recreation, and provision of wood or non-wood products. In a context of complex demands on forest resources, identifying priorities for biodiversity and carbon budgets require accurate tools with sufficient temporal frequency. Moreover, understanding long term forest dynamics is necessary for sustainable planning and management. Remote sensing (RS) is a powerful means for analysis, synthesis and report, providing insights and contributing to inform decisions upon forest ecosystems. In this communication we review current applications of RS techniques in Spanish forests, examining possible trends, needs, and opportunities offered by RS in a forestry context. Currently, wall-to-wall optical and LiDAR data are extensively used for a wide range of applications—many times in combination—whilst radar or hyperspectral data are rarely used in the analysis of Spanish forests. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) carrying visible and infrared sensors are gaining ground in acquisition of data locally and at small scale, particularly for health assessments. Forest fire identification and characterization are prevalent applications at the landscape scale, whereas structural assessments are the most widespread analyses carried out at limited extents. Unparalleled opportunities are offered by the availability of diverse RS data like those provided by the European Copernicus programme and recent satellite LiDAR launches, processing capacity, and synergies with other ancillary sources to produce information of our forests. Overall, we live in times of unprecedented opportunities for monitoring forest ecosystems with a growing support from RS technologies
Effects of altitude on density and biometric properties of hornbeam wood (Carpinus betulus)
Get PDFAim of the study: This study aimed to investigate the effect of altitude difference on the wood dry density, fiber dimensions, and morphological properties of hornbeam wood (Carpinus betulus L.).Area of study: The study area was located in the province of Mazandaran, north of Iran.Material and method: 18 mature trees were randomly selected and harvested at six altitude levels (300, 500, 700, 900, 1100, and 1300 m) in the north of Iran. The clear test samples were prepared at diameter at breast height (DBH) to measure the wood dry density, fiber length, fiber diameter, cell wall thickness, Runkel coefficients, flexibility coefficients, and slenderness coefficients. Further analyses included the relationships between the wood properties and site conditions (temperature, precipitation, crown canopy, and understory herb layer) as well as tree’s main dimensions (tree height and the DBH).Main results: The results indicated significant effects of altitude variations on the studied properties. The pattern variations of wood properties were very regular at different levels of height. The average fiber length and fiber diameter decreased while the wood dry density and cell wall thickness increased with increasing the altitude levels. The average values of wood dry density, fiber length, fiber diameter, cell wall thickness, slenderness coefficients, flexibility coefficients, and Runkel coefficients of hornbeam wood were 698 kg/m3, 1.42mm, 25.58 µm, 5.72µm, 55.55, 54.04%, and 0.93, respectively, in the above six altitudes. Pearson matrix correlation showed that there were significant relationships between temperature, crown canopy, tree height and DBH with the studied wood properties (except the slenderness coefficients).Research highlights: The hornbeams grown at altitudes above 900-1300 m were not suitable for pulp and paper production due to relatively higher Runkel coefficients, the lower flexibility coefficients, as well as smaller fiber length than other altitude levels.Additional Keywords: Carpinus betulus; altitude variation; density; fiber dimensions; morphological properties.Abbreviations used: WDD (wood dry density); FL (fiber length); FD (fiber diameter), CWT (cell wall thickness); FC (flexibility coefficient); RC (Runkel coefficients); SC (slenderness coefficient)