Horizon e-Publishing Group (HePG): E-Journals
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Genetic evaluation of plant water status, physiological and biochemical traits for abiotic stress tolerance in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in cotton cultures
No full textThe frequency of drought and heat stress events has increased due to global climate change, posing a significant threat to current and future cotton production. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of adaptation to heat and drought stress is essential for improving cotton resilience. Three TNAU pre-release cotton cultures (TVH002, TVH003 and TVH007) and a check variety (KC3) were subjected to drought and heat stress at two growth stages: squaring and flowering. Plants were exposed to 45 % Pot Capacity (PC) under drought stress conditions and Ambient temperature + 5 °C under heat stress condition respectively. TVH002 exhibited the highest drought tolerance, while the flowering stage was more susceptible to drought than the squaring stage. Genetic analysis revealed that Excised Leaf Water Loss (ELWL) and Relative Water Content (RWC) exhibited high heritability, along with large genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation. These traits can serve as reliable indicators for drought screening in cotton breeding programs. Proline accumulation showed the highest heritability (0.81), followed by antioxidant enzyme activity (0.77) and ELWL (0.72), indicating strong genetic control. Traits with high heritability and low GCV-PCV differences, such as proline accumulation and relative water content, are ideal for selection in breeding programs for drought and heat stress tolerance
Validation of soil moisture sensors in automated irrigation system and performance evaluation in maize
No full textA research work was conducted at the Agricultural College & Research Insti tute, Coimbatore, during the summer and winter seasons of 2023. It com prised two experiments. The first experiment evaluated five soil moisture sensors—Tensiometer, Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR), Theta Probe, Capacitance Sensor, and Watermark Sensor—against gravimetric soil mois ture measurements. The TDR sensor demonstrated the highest accuracy, with soil moisture readings closely matching gravimetric values at depths of 15 cm, 30 cm, and 45 cm. The second experiment assessed maize water re quirements under seven treatments: Tensiometer (T1), Soil Moisture Sensor (T2), Gravimetric Method (T3), Penman-Monteith Method (T4), Thornthwaite Method (T5), SEBAL Method (T6), and Conventional Method (T7). Results showed that sensor-based irrigation enhanced maize growth parameters, including plant height (214.8 cm and 217.8 cm), leaf number (16.4 and 16.2), dry matter production (17413 kg ha-1 and 17324 kg ha-1), and reduced time for tasseling (53.9 days and 53.2 days) and silking (61.2 days and 61.4 days), compared to conventional irrigation over the two seasons. Soil moisture sensor-based irrigation in maize achieved the highest water productivity (1.4 kg m-3 in summer and winter) and water use efficiency (13.6 and 14.0 kg ha-1 mm-1). The study concluded that sensor-based irrigation, particularly with TDR sensors, is effective for automating irrigation and improving water use efficiency. The accuracy of in-situ measurement using sensors and ten siometers surpassed the empirical Penman-Monteith and Thornthwaite Methods and satellite-derived SEBAL method, reinforcing the reliability of sensors in automated irrigation models resulting in water saving and in creased productivity. These findings significantly contribute to global water resource management by promoting efficient water use, reducing wastage, and addressing the challenges of water scarcity. Additionally, they advance precision agriculture by enabling site-specific irrigation practices, optimiz ing crop yield, and enhancing resource sustainability
Deciphering heat stress tolerance indices for identifying terminal heat-tolerant bread wheat genotypes
No full textHigh temperatures during the grain-filling period are a significant constraint in wheat production. Effective selection criteria help plant breeders utilize genetic variation more efficiently, improving stress tolerance in wheat. This study intends to investigate bread wheat genotypes\u27 heat stress tolerance indices to identify and select heat stress-tolerant wheat genotypes. This study assessed 48 bread wheat genotypes during the wheat growing seasons 2021 and 2022 under both optimum and heat stress conditions. Twelve different stress indices were calculated, followed by correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis and Multi-Trait Genotype-Ideotype Distance Index (MGIDI) analysis, all performed using the stress indices. Analysis of variance results showed that genotypes differed significantly for each stress index examined in the study. The significant drop in average grain yield across all genotypes under stress compared to optimal conditions indicates a considerable effect of heat stress on grain production. The results of the correlation, PCA and MGIDI analyses revealed that mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP), harmonic mean (HM) and mean relative performance (MRP) were key discriminating indices in explaining heat stress tolerance among 48 wheat genotypes. Principal component, cluster analysis and MGIDI results were used to draw the inference that GS/2019-20/6046, GS-2018- 19/1007, HPYT-2019-20/416, SAWYT-2018-19/309 and GS/2019-20/5042 show high yielding indices and are suitable under heat stress environment. Thus, the mentioned genotypes hold promise for cultivation in high-temperature environments or as genetic reservoirs for integrating genetic variants into wheat genotypes, enhancing their resilience to heat stress
Antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials of Matricaria pubescens from the southeastern Morocco
No full textThis study explores the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Matricaria pubescens (Desf) Schultz, an aromatic plant traditionally used in Moroccan medicine. Collected from Errachidia, extracts were prepared using water, methanol and petroleum ether to assess polyphenol, flavonoid and tannin contents. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated via DPPH, ABTS and RPC assays, while antimicrobial activity was tested against six microbial strains using disc diffusion and microdilution methods. The methanolic extract exhibited the highest bioactivity, with inhibition zones of 16 mm (Staphylococcus aureus), 18 mm (Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii), 10 mm (Escherichia coli), 12 mm (Salmonella abony), 14 mm (Candida albicans) and 12 mm (Trichophyton rubrum). Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii and Staphylococcus aureus were the most sensitive (MIC: 1.87 and 3.75 mg/mL), while antifungal activity was observed against Candida albicans (7.5 mg/mL) and Trichophyton rubrum (15 mg/mL). These findings highlight the significant antimicrobial potential of M. pubescens, reinforcing its pharmaceutical value and encouraging further investigation into its bioactive compounds
Insecticidal potential of cinnamon oil against cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne Fabricius) and rice moth (Corcyra cephalonica Stainton) infesting stored products
No full textGrain storage leads to significant losses due to insect pests, degrades grain quality and increases the risk of mould infestations. The cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne) and the rice moth (Corcyra cephalonica) are cosmopolitan pests that attack various dried plant products, including grains like rice, sorghum, maize and cotton seed. In organic grain storage, synthetic pesticides are prohibited due to their toxicity. As an alternative, essential oils from aromatic plants have shown promise. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) oil, particularly, has demonstrated insecticidal properties against stored insect pests. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of cinnamon oil against L. serricorne and C. cephalonica adults. Cinnamon oil was extracted from cinnamon bark and analyzed using GC–MS, identifying (E)- Cinnamaldehyde (51.16 %), acetic acid and cinnamyl ester (9.67 %) as the primary compounds. The contact toxicity of the cinnamon oil was tested against adult L. serricorne and C. cephalonica at concentrations ranging from 80 to 400 µL/cm². The results showed that higher oil concentrations and longer exposure durations significantly increased toxicity. The LC50 values for L. serricorne were 260.65, 149.15 and 98.67 µL/cm² after 24, 48 and 72 hrs, respectively. For C. cephalonica, the LC50 values were 285.60, 160.08 and 109.33 µL/cm² at the same time intervals. The LT50 values at 400 µL/cm² were 20.34 hrs for L. serricorne and 21.43 hrs for C. cephalonica. Cinnamon oil proved highly effective, suggesting its potential as a botanical insecticide for managing these pests with minimal environmental impact
Nematicidal potential of rhizobacteria against Meloidogyne graminicola in the rice-wheat cropping system
No full textThe rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) is one of the most important cropping sequences for food self-security. In this RWCS, rice root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne graminicola is an emerging problem. To manage this nematode, the rhizospheric bacteria were isolated from three treatments using three media, NA, Kings’ B and TSA (Rice - Wheat - Crotalaria; Rice - Wheat - Mungbean; Rice - Wheat - Fallow) followed by RWCS. Out of six isolated bacteria, four bacteria showed the antagonist potential against M. graminicola. In vitro conditions, the bacteria isolated from fallow showed up to 31 % J2s mortality, 55-61 % in mungbean and 54-96 % in Crotalaria. The isolate, SRB7 showed 100 % juvenile mortality and 98.6 % hatching inhibition; finally, the isolates followed a pattern of SRB7 > SRB13 > SRB9 > SRB6 > SRB2 > SRB9. The bacterial isolates, SRB7 and SRB13, performed better than others in the attraction and penetration test. Through molecular characterization by 16s rRNA sequencing, the isolates SRB7, SRB13, SRB9 and SRBS6 were identified as B. subtilis (OL716087), B. cereus (OL716088), B. megaterium (OM816754) and Pseudomonas stutzeri (OL716089) in the soil collected from long-term RWCS fields. In the case of the pot study, these isolates decrease the nematode infestation by 83 % and increase plant growth by 82 % over the control. In the case of the pot study, these isolates decrease the nematode infestation by around 50 to 80 % over the control. The plant defence enzymes, PO, PPO and PAL activity reached a maximum on the sixth day and started to decrease. The long-term incorporation of green manure crop Crotalaria and mung bean in RWCS increases the beneficial soil microbes, suppressing the M. graminicola population and increasing the yield in the rice-wheat cropping system
Enhancing yield and quality of ney poovan banana through bunch feeding with nutrients and growth regulators
No full textNey Poovan, a banana variety renowned for its distinct taste and nutritional value, often suffers from yield and quality limitations due to poor nutrient management. This study aimed to overcome this issue by investigating the influence of bunch-feeding treatments with nutrients and growth regulators on the yield and quality of Ney Poovan. The specific objectives were to study the effects of bunch feeding on yield and to evaluate its impact on fruit quality. A field experiment was conducted at the Grapes Research Station, Royappanpatti, Theni, in a randomized block design with 10 treatments. These included growth regulators, nutrients, their combinations and a control. The biometric and quality parameters showed that treatment T? performed significantly better than the control. This treatment significantly improved key parameters, including higher bunch weight (12.65 kg), finger length (10.81 cm), yield (28.69 t/ha), total soluble solids (23.94 ?Brix) and reduced titratable acidity (0.22%), while also enhancing shelf life (7.51 days), pulp-to-peel ratio (7.01), TSS (23.94 ?Brix) and ascorbic acid content (3.46 mg/100 g). Enhanced fruit development due to T9 treatment underscores its potential as an effective bunch-feeding strategy. These findings highlight the potential of Treatment T9 as a sustainable strategy for enhancing banana production
A review on adaptive water management for climate-resilient rice: Mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
No full textRice production is essential for global food security and socio-economic development, as it is a staple food for many people. However, low water-use efficiency/water productivity is noticed due to the high water input in the traditional transplanted rice ecosystem with stagnant water. On the other hand, climate change affects the hydrological cycle through precipitation, causing increasing water demand and major threats to the sustainability of rice cultivation and food security for the growing population. A significant need is to find out the balance between water conservation practices and their influence on greenhouse (GHG) emissions, mainly methane. This review gives insight into a comprehensive analysis of sustainable rice production systems that improve water productivity while reducing GHG emissions, a crucial gap in existing research. To overcome this, we evaluate key strategies like aerobic rice, alternate wetting and drying (AWD), direct-seeded rice (DSR), drip-irrigated rice, a system of rice intensification (SRI) and Internet of Things (IoT) based smart irrigation, highlighting the potential water use efficiency and reducing carbon footprints. Notably, we spotlight low methane-emitting rice cultivars and drought resistance right cultivars as promising low-emission rice cultivation solutions. Additionally, this article underscores the adoption of simulation models on water productivity and seasonal GHG emissions in rice. This review provides valuable insight for policymakers and researchers to optimize rice production under changing climatic conditions. This review underscores the need for effective water management practices to enhance food security while reducing environmental impacts
Organic farming: A strategy for a sustainable and secure food system
No full textThe growing human population presents a global challenge in providing adequate food, shelter and a healthy lifestyle. Sustainable food production and environmental stewardship are essential for addressing food security and environmental preservation. Organic farming is gaining popularity due to its perceived safety, health and ecological benefits. However, there are differing viewpoints on its role in sustainability. Despite advances in agricultural productivity and the use of GMOs, hunger persists in the poorest countries. This review aims to answer whether organic farming is the future of sustainable agriculture to address the world\u27s growing food needs. The Green Revolution has led to increased agricultural output and income, but it has also led to lower-quality food and environmental degradation due to chemical use. Health concerns, such as hormone imbalances and cancers, have been raised due to these practices. Organic farming, which avoids artificial inputs and uses biological control methods, has gained momentum in developed nations. It promotes ecological restoration, plant, animal and soil health and improves biodiversity. Sustainable agriculture should support both the economy and the environment
Cutting-edge genetic techniques for optimizing eggplant (Solanum melongena) cultivar performance
No full textBrinjal (Solanum melongena L.), a crucial solanaceous vegetable crop, faces significant challenges from biotic stressors like pests and diseases, as well as abiotic stressors such as drought and salinity. Conventional breeding methods are limited in effectively addressing these complex traits. Nevertheless, advancements in molecular breeding, genetic engineering and tissue culture techniques have revolutionized brinjal improvement. Marker-assisted selection (MAS) has enabled the identification and incorporation of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with resistance to bacterial wilt, shoot and fruit borer and enhanced yield attributes. Genetic engineering approaches, such as the development of Bt brinjal, have provided effective pest resistance while minimizing pesticide dependency. Tissue culture methods, including anther culture, have facilitated the rapid development of double haploid (DH) lines with improved fruit quality and tolerance to low temperatures. These biotechnological tools present promising solutions to mitigate stress factors while improving yield, quality and sustainability in brinjal cultivation. Future research should focus on integrating CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing with MAS to accelerate trait-specific improvements and utilize wild relatives for novel gene introgression