Scientific Journals of INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria)
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Optimal germination conditions for monitoring seed viability in wild populations of fescues
Full text linkAim of study: Germination assays are vital in the management of material preserved in germplasm banks. The rules published by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) are generally those followed in such assays. In wild species, seed dormancy and inter-population variability increase the difficulty in estimating seed viability. The aim of the present work was to determine the germination requirements of the seeds from different wild populations of pasture grasses species.Area of study: Northwestern SpainMaterial and methods: Seeds from eight wild populations of different species of Festuca, all from northwestern Spain, were studied. Germination assays were performed under constant and alternating temperature conditions. Treatments for removing seed dormancy (cold stratification and gibberellic acid application) were also applied. A full parametric time-to event model was used for data analysis.Main results: In general, the optimum environmental temperature for germination was around 15°C for the populations of Festuca group ovina, F. gr. rubra and F. gigantea; temperatures of 20-30ºC had a negative effect. All the examined populations, except that of tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum), showed non-deep physiological dormancy at suboptimal germination temperatures, but this was breakable by the application of gibberellic acid and by cold stratification.Research highlights: There are clear inter- and intra-specific differences in germination requirements that might be associated with place of origin. The ISTA germination assay recommendations for wild members of fescues may not be the most appropriate
An individual-tree linear mixed-effects model for predicting the basal area increment of major forest species in Southern Europe
Full text linkAims of the study. Assessment of growth is essential to support sustainability of forest management and forest policies. The objective of the study was to develop a species-specific model to predict the annual increment of tree basal area through variables recorded by forest surveys, to assess forest growth directly or in the context of more complex forest growth and yield simulation models.Area of the study. Italy.Material and methods. Data on 34638 trees of 31 different forest species collected in 5162 plots of the Italian National Forest Inventory were used; the data were recorded between 2004 and 2006. To account for the hierarchical structure of the data due to trees nested within plots, a two-level mixed-effects modelling approach was used.Main results. The final result is an individual-tree linear mixed-effects model with species as dummy variables. Tree size is the main predictor, but the model also integrates geographical and topographic predictors and includes competition. The model fitting is good (McFadden’s Pseudo-R2 0.536), and the variance of the random effect at the plot level is significant (intra-class correlation coefficient 0.512). Compared to the ordinary least squares regression, the mixed-effects model allowed reducing the mean absolute error of estimates in the plots by 64.5% in average.Research highlights. A single tree-level model for predicting the basal area increment of different species was developed using forest inventory data. The data used for the modelling cover 31 species and a great variety of growing conditions, and the model seems suitable to be applied in the wider context of Southern Europe. Keywords: Tree growth; forest growth modelling; forest inventory; hierarchical data structure; Italy.Abbreviations used: BA - basal area; BAI – five-year periodic basal area increment; BALT - basal area of trees larger than the subject tree; BASPratio - ratio of subject tree species basal area to stand basal area; BASTratio - ratio of subject tree basal area to stand basal area; CRATIO - crown ratio; DBH – diameter at breast height ; DBH0– diameter at breast height corresponding to five years before the survey year; DBHt– diameter at breast height measured in the survey year; DI5 - five-year, inside bark, DBH increment; HDOM - dominant height; LULUCF - Land Use, Land Use Changes and Forestry; ME - mean error; MAE - mean absolute error; MPD - mean percent deviation; MPSE - mean percent standard error; NFI(s) - National Forest Inventory/ies; OLS - ordinary least squares regression; RMSE - root mean squared error; UNFCCC - United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change
Factors affecting energy consumption and productivity in greenhouses
Full text linkAim of study: To investigate the impact factors affecting the greenhouse environment on energy consumption and productivity.Area of study: Alborz province of Iran during the period 2018–2020.Material and methods: In this study, 18 active units of greenhouse owners in Alborz province of Iran that had necessary standards were identified. Then, upper and lower amplitudes of the variables affecting productivity and energy consumption in greenhouses were calculated using a type-2 fuzzy neural network, Matlab 2017 software. Area, temperature, energy exchange, environmental evapotranspiration and relative humidity were studied as indicators.Main results: With each unit of temperature, energy consumption and productivity increased by 0.737% and 0.741%, respectively; with each unit of energy exchange, they increased by 0.813% and 0.696%, respectively; with each unit of evaporation and transpiration of the environment, they increased by 0.593% and 0.869%, respectively; and with each unit of humidity, they increased by 0.398% and 0.509%, respectively.Research highlights: The factors affecting the greenhouse environment such as area, temperature, evapotranspiration and relative humidity had a significant effect on productivity in studying greenhouses and therefore increasing their productivity. According to the results, the model’s ability in energy consumption was better than that for energy efficiency prediction. Also, greenhouse ranking was done by FAHP method
Effect of plant growth regulators on two different types of eggplant flowers regarding style length and fruit setting
Full text linkAim of study: (i) to explore differences between eggplant flowers capable of setting fruit including long (LGs) and medium style flowers (MEs) and those which suffer from severe problems with fertility and fruit setting including short style ones (SRTs); (ii) to study the effect of plant growth regulators on floral morphology and fruit setting.
Area of study: Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran, 2017 and 2018.
Material and methods: First the floral morphology and initial fruit setting of 13 eggplant genotypes from Iran were investigated. Then the differences between LGs and SRTs of two genotypes were explored. Finally, the effect of 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and spermidine (Spd) on floral morphology and initial and final fruit setting of these two genotypes was determined.
Main results: Results showed SRTs were not capable of fruit setting. Compared to SRTs, LGs had larger central canals, higher protein, total sugar, reducing sugar and K concentrations, as well as longer polar axis and pollen tubes and greater pollen viability. Although 1.5 mM Spd and 20 mg L-1 NAA resulted in increasing of LGs and MEs, and also total initial fruit set, surprisingly, no significant differences were observed in the final yield and final fruit set between the control and these treatments.
Researching highlights: Since the rate of fruit dropping was higher in those treatments compared to the control, plants with more SRTs likely regulate their final load by abscising their flowers, and plants with more LGs regulate them by abscising their fruits
Prioritization of olive breeding objectives in Spain: Analysis of a producers and researchers survey
Full text linkAim of study: Trait prioritization of potential olive (Olea europaea L.) breeding objectives has been evaluated in this work from two surveys to researchers working on olive and olive producers / orchard managers.Area of study: Olive growing area in Andalusia (South of Spain)Material and methods: Twenty-five breeding objectives were associated to plant growth, fructification, oil content and composition, resistance to pest and disease and tolerance to soil and climatic conditions. Two assessment methods were applied (ranking and rating), showing similar results in both the researchers and producers surveys.Main results: Higher productivity was the objective with the highest score, followed by Verticillium wilt resistance and higher oil content. After them, tolerance to water stress and resistance to Xylella fastidiosa were among the preferred objectives. Conversely, the least preferred objectives were late harvesting, high fruit size and tolerance to water lodging and calcareous soils. In the producers’ survey, results have been consistent among the different types of orchards and farmers’ characteristics. It is also interesting to notice that more than 50% of the producers expressed their willingness to orchard enlargement or renewal in the three coming years and 25% of them would change the olive cultivar. They would be willing to pay an average 43% overprice for new cultivar fulfilling their requirements and 75% would support the use of genetic modified olives.Research highlights: These results should be considered to analyze the scope of current breeding programs and define the main criteria to be considered for future works aiming at developing new olive cultivars
Active-passive and passive-passive configurations of combined tillage implements for improved tillage and tractive performance: A review
Full text linkProper selection of energy-efficient agricultural machinery helps to reduce drudgery, increase cropping intensity and reduce time required for field preparation. With conventional tillage implements, multiple passes are required to obtain desired seedbed which increase soil compaction due to repeated movement of tractor in field. With combined tillage implements two or more tillage implements are combined to reduce time and fuel energy required for seedbed preparation. In this paper, various researches on active-passive and passive-passive configurations of combined tillage implements have been discussed along with their working principles. It was found that these were associated with less draft, specific energy, and tire slippage compared to conventional implements which provides a sound basis for using them with suitable engine power to improve the power utilization of tractors. Hence, use of these implements could help to reduce soil compaction, labour, fuel cost as well as save time in preparing seedbed. More analytical studies and classical approaches are needed to predict energy requirements of these implements from the knowledge of individual energy requirements of conventional implements to help in proper matching of tractor-implement and also to develop decision support systems. Considering their promising outcomes, they will emerge as effective tools to improve agricultural mechanization
Collaboration for social innovation in the agri-food system in Latin America and the Caribbean
Full text linkAim of study: This study reviews the state of the art of collaboration for social innovation in food and rural systems. The analysis focuses on cooperation by farms and agro-industry companies. The purpose is to identify not only the state of the art of this research topic but also the main authors, the countries where these studies are conducted and the dynamics of research networks in relation to these topics.
Area of study: Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
Material and methods: The Web of Science database was used to search for articles containing the terms ‘cooperation’, ‘networks’, ‘innovation’, ‘social’, ‘rural’ and ‘LAC’. Using VOSviewer network creation and analysis software, maps of citations, co-authorship, co-citations and co-occurrence of key-words were created and analysed. Content analysis was then performed. Finally, the research areas that the authors of the analysed articles consider to be of interest for future research were identified.
Main results: The results reveal that researchers from Latin America and other regions, especially Europe and the English-speaking world, are showing a growing interest in collaborative systems for development and social innovation in LAC.
Research highlights: The analysis enables further progress to be made in identifying the main drivers of collaboration in the LAC rural sector. These main drivers include social innovation, knowledge, sustainable management and social capital
Short Communication: Timing of resin-tapping operations in maritime pine forests in Northern Spain
Full text linkAim of study: To optimize the timing of resin-tapping activities for maximizing the economic efficiency of resin tapping in Atlantic maritime pine forests.
Area of study: Northern Spain.
Material and methods: We conducted three small experiments in a mature maritime pine forest aimed to test: i) the impact of groove frequency on resin production, ii) the effect of previous grooves as a driver of temporal patterns of resin production along the seasons and iii) the impact of previous tapping on resin production in the following campaign.
Main results: The resin produced decreased as groove frequency decreased, but the reduction was low. Considering that the number of trees that a worker can tap increases with more spaced grooves, higher tapping efficiency can be achieved with monthly grooves. Previous tapping increased resin yield during the following campaign but resin production was not affected by the previous grooves during the current tapping campaign.
Research highlights: Responses to wounding seem to require time to be effective and temporal patterns of resin production appear to be driven by weather conditions alone.
Keywords: resin yield; Pinus pinaster; seasonality; induced responses; wounding
Inhibitory action of Lippia gracilis Schauer essential oil on pathogenic bacteria and its effects as a growth promoter on quail
Full text linkAim of the study: To examine the in vitro sensitivity of Salmonella sp. and Escherichia coli strains to the microbial activity of Lippia gracilis Schauer essential oil (LGSEO) and to determine the optimal level of LGSEO as a growth promoter in diets for Japanese quail up to 35 days of age.Area of study: São Cristovão, Sergipe, Brazil.Material and methods: A total of 504 female Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) at an initial average body weights of 6.80±0.10 g was allotted to one of six treatments (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 mg/kg of LGSEO and a diet containing 500 mg/kg of bacitracin methylene disalicylate) in 7 replicates, using 12 birds per experimental unit.Main results: In the age period of 21 to 35 days, feed intake declined linearly (p=0.04) and feed efficiency improved (p<0.01), whereas no changes were observed in production performance (p>0.05). The estimated (p=0.01) maximum relative weights of proventriculus and pancreas were obtained at the LGSEO inclusion levels of 196.5 and 251 mg/kg, respectively. Inclusion of 100 to 300 mg/kg of LGSEO in the diet reduced the total Salmonella sp. bacterial count.Research highlights: The use of 196.5 mg/kg of LGSEO in the diet of Japanese quail improved production performance and organ development and demonstrated potential antimicrobial capacity against Salmonella sp. bacteria. Due its pharmacological composition, LGSEO can potentially substitute to antimicrobials, because contains thymol and carvacrol as main active constituents
Economic and social impacts of the biodiesel industry: Assessment and policy implications in Spain
Full text linkAim of study: This study evaluates, through the input-output (I-O) methodology, the economic and social impacts (Gross Value Added –GVA– and job creation) of the national biodiesel industry on the Spanish economy in the recent past (between 2005 and 2018). These impacts are also simulated for different scenarios, for an average year following a trend from the past, based on different hypotheses on biodiesel production, trade balance and national production of raw materials. The aim is to guide decision-makers in the planning and design of regulations with implications in the domains of energy, economy and employment.Area of study: Spain.Material and methods: I-O methodology.Main results: The contribution of the biodiesel sector to GVA and job creation in Spain was very high during the construction phase of the biodiesel industry. However, this has been very limited during the operational phase, mainly due to imports of biodiesel and raw material, from Indonesia and Argentina. The economic and social impacts of this industry would be greater if higher amounts of domestic raw materials were used.Research highlights: The results justify public support for the operation of existing biodiesel plants in Spain in order to increase gross domestic product and employment, including the further implementation of specific measures to encourage domestic production. Policy measures to increase the use of national raw materials could include promoting rapeseed as an ideal cereal rotation in Spain and establishing contracting systems that guarantee farmers' profitability