Horizon e-Publishing Group (HePG): E-Journals
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Exploring root system architecture and its importance in solanaceous vegetables: A review
Get PDFThe root system architecture (RSA) in solanaceous vegetables has become an exciting area of research, uncovering complex networks essential for plant development, nutrient absorption, and resistance. This review delves into the comprehensive scope of research surrounding roots, shedding light on their dynamic nature and implications for agricultural practices. The Solanaceae family comprises of various vegetables, including tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplants, each with distinct root systems. Innovative methodologies have uncovered the complex and adaptive nature of these root systems. Roots of solanaceous vegetables have plasticity, reflecting their capacity to adjust to soil conditions, nutrient availability, and stressors. From the taproot structures in potatoes to the fibrous nature of tomato roots, this review synthesizes findings to elucidate the mechanisms behind root development and responses to environmental stimuli. Furthermore, the symbiotic associations between solanaceous crop roots and soil microorganisms have attracted significant interest. Understanding the intricate interactions between root exudates, microbial communities, and nutrient cycling opens avenues for sustainable agriculture, emphasizing the role of root architecture in fostering beneficial soil ecosystems. The implications of many research studies on RSA extend beyond academic interest and play a role in improving crop productivity. Understanding root system architecture enables breeders and agronomists to create cultivars with superior root characteristics, hence enhancing crop output, water-use efficiency, and resilience to abiotic challenges. Nonetheless, certain gaps persist, requiring additional investigation. A deeper investigation into the molecular mechanisms governing root development in solanaceous vegetables, particularly under changing climate scenarios is important for future research
Combining ability analysis for fruit yield and related traits in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) using Line × Tester mating design
Get PDFBrinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is a significant vegetable crop, widely cultivated and consumed in almost every household across India. Enhancing fruit production per unit area requires a focus on key traits such as early maturity, enhanced plant vigor and increased fruit yield. Consequently, crop breeding programs emphasize the development and commercialization of brinjal hybrids tailored to regional needs. Effective crop improvement hinges on selecting suitable parental lines and employing precise crossing techniques to generate hybrids with desirable agronomic traits. The present study was conducted to assess the combining ability for fruit yield and related traits in brinjal. The experiment was carried out during the Kharif season of 2023 and the summer season of 2024 at the Vegetable Research Centre, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India. A randomized block design (RBD) with three replications was utilized. The study involved 30 hybrid combinations derived from 13 brinjal genotypes, employing a line × tester mating design with 10 lines and 3 testers. Results indicated that among the parental genotypes, PBGL-5 (88.11), PBGL-7 (85.02) and Swarna Abhinav (67.80) demonstrated high general combining ability (GCA) for fruit yield and related traits. Among the hybrid combinations, Pusa Kaushal × Pant Samrat (153.16), Pusa Ankur × Kashi Uttam (126.37) and PBGL-5 × Pant Rituraj (116.77) exhibited superior specific combining ability (SCA) effects. These results highlight the potential of the identified parents and hybrids as promising genetic resources for future breeding programs aimed at hybrid development and yield enhancement. In conclusion, the identified genotypes and crosses with favorable GCA and SCA effects can serve as valuable candidates for breeding programs to develop high-yielding, region-specific brinjal hybrids. This study underscores the importance of systematic parental selection and hybrid evaluation in advancing brinjal crop improvement initiatives
Edible coatings: Classification, applications and innovations in food preservation
Get PDFThe health of every individual heavily depends on the consumption of fruits. Although fruits are exceptionally healthy, their perishable characteristics pose difficulties for prolonged storage. Ineffective post-harvest techniques can impede the supply chain, leading to considerable losses for producers. Therefore, there is an urgent need to reduce post-harvest losses to enhance agricultural productivity. Conventional post-harvest treatments involving synthetic chemicals are increasingly being recognized for their potential negative impacts on human health. In response, the use of bio-based edible coatings derived from plant materials is gaining significant attention and encouragement. Edible coatings effectively extend the shelf life of fruits by controlling oxidation, moisture loss and gas exchange. Coatings enriched with bioactive materials create an additional protective layer that slows down respiration rates, thereby prolonging the freshness of the fruits. This review provides an abridged overview of edible coatings, discussing their applications and classifications and concludes by emphasizing chitosan as one of the most effective compounds. Additionally, the review explores innovative materials and nanotechnology-based edible coatings, along with their application techniques for various fruits. These advancements aim to address supply chain challenges and enhance food security
Chitosan-based biodegradable packaging: Enhancing the shelf life and quality of Jasminum sambac L. flowers
Get PDFA study evaluated the effectiveness of chitosan-based biopolymer films as an alternative packaging material for enhancing the post-harvest quality and shelf life of jasmine (Jasminum sambac L.) flowers during export. Chitosan-tween 80 and chitosan-glycerol films were prepared using the solvent-casting method and characterized for their physical and chemical properties, including surface morphology, UV absorbance and thermal stability. The packaging effects were compared against conventional films, aluminium-foil-lined boxes with gel ice and untreated flowers in a Completely Randomized Design with 5 treatments and 4 replications. Visual and physiological parameters were evaluated over 3 days, including freshness index, flower opening index, colour retention, fragrance index, moisture content, physiological loss in weight and shelf life. The results indicated that chitosan-glycerol films exhibited superior properties, extending the shelf life to 4.16 days compared to 2.7 days in the control, offering a sustainable and cost-effective packaging solution for the floriculture industry
Synthesis and characterization of groundnut shell carbon nanosheets for treating greywater: A step towards a circular economy
Get PDFCarbon nanostructured materials, such as nanosheets, can be synthetically produced from various natural waste sources through carbonization and activation. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) is a well-known agent for creatingporous structures and refining the micro or nanostructure of carbon. This study explores the effect of KOH, in both its solute and solid forms, on the production of carbon from groundnut shells. Using KOH activation and thermal treatment, carbon nanosheets were synthesized from groundnut shells. The surface microstructure and individual carbon nanosheets showed significant changes when treated with solute KOH compared to solid KOH. This highlights that treatment with solute KOH is an efficient and cost-effective method for carbon nanosheet production. A column study revealed that using groundnut shell carbon nanosheets (GSCNS) to treat sewage wastewater resulted in a reduction in BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) from 393 mg L-1 to 112.23 mg L-1 (71.5%) and COD (chemical oxygen demand) from 512.70 mg L-1 to 125 mg L-1 (75.6%). Additionally, groundnut shell-derived carbon nanosheets (GSCN) treatment led to a 40-60% reduction in the cations and anions in sewage wastewater. This studyemphasizes the effective utilization of groundnut shell-derived carbon nanosheets as an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution for wastewater treatment, addressing the environmental challenges of untreated sewagedischarge in underdeveloped and developing regions
Morpho-taxonomical notes on some Rhizophydium species (Rhizophydiaceae, Rhizophydiales) of North India
Get PDFIn the present study, seven chytrid species from the genus Rhizophydium, specifically Rhizophydium annulatum, R. coronum, R. condylosum, R. elyense, R. keratinophilum, R. sphaerotheca and R. utriculare were collected from north India and are briefly described. The descriptions are accompanied by photographs illustrating their morphological and taxonomical characteristics. Notably, R. annulatum, R. elyense and R. utriculare represent the first records of these species in the Indian mycobiota
Comparative metabolic profiling of resistant and susceptible mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) genotypes to elucidate the defense response against mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) disease
Get PDFMungbean Yellow Mosaic Virus (MYMV) disease significantly impacts mungbean crop productivity, with the losses ranging from 10 to 100 percent. Developing host plant resistance offers a sustainable solution to mitigate this challenge. The metabolic changes underlying resistance to MYMV remain primarily unexplored in mungbean. The present study used nontargeted metabolomic profiling to analyze the comparative metabolic changes in resistant and susceptible genotypes upon disease incidence. The methanol extract of leaf samples collected from MYMV disease resistant (GAM 5) and susceptible (ADT 3) genotypes upon occurrence of MYMV disease were subjected to gas chromatography – mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) analysis. Metabolic profiling resulted in the identification of 40 and 49 metabolites in resistant and susceptible genotypes, respectively. The fold change analysis revealed that 12 metabolites showed significant differences in the abundance level between resistant and susceptible genotypes. Out of 12, nine metabolites were significantly up-regulated in the resistant genotype compared to the susceptible genotype. For all the up-regulated metabolites except Erythrodiol, their role in plant-pathogen interaction was identified as either antimicrobial (ethylene glycol, chlorogenic acid, trifolin), antiviral activity (diphenyl sulfone, 2-amino oxazole), antifeedant (betulin), changes in the specific biochemical and structural property (xylose) or involvement in signaling cascade (oleic acid). These metabolites act as a metabolic biomarker; their interaction with specific molecular targets associated with MYMV infection can be further examined and utilized to rapidly develop MYMV-resistant cultivars in mungbean
Unravelling the biochemical and phytochemical responses of sapota (Manilkara zapota L.) P. Royen cv. DHS-1 on foliar feeding of plant growth regulators
Get PDFFoliar application of plant growth regulators (PGRs) is one of tactic for plant nourishment which directly enhances nutrient uptake, leading to a more balanced nutrient supply and improved accumulation in plant ultimately improving quality and yield. The current research covers to see the response of biochemical and phytochemical parameters of sapota cv. DHS-1; to the pre-harvest spray of the PGR i.e. naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) (50 and 100 ppm), 2-chloro-4-pyridyl) N\u27-phenyl urea (5 and 7.5 ppm), salicylic acid (SA) (150 and 300 ppm) and homo brassinolide (10 and 15 ppm); sprayed at flowering, pea stage and marble stage of plant growth. Treatments were imposed on 24-years-old, uniformly grown, sapota trees, planted at 10m x 10m spacing, at Central Horticultural Experiment Station, (ICAR-IIHR), Bhubaneswar during 2022 and 2023. In general, application of PGRs were foundaffecting the fruit quality significantly over control. However, application of NAA and CPPU performed better at higher dose. The treatment NAA at 100 ppm resulted in highest total soluble solids (°Brix), TSS: acid, ascorbic acid content, sugar content and minimum titratable acidity (%). Further, application of NAA at 100 ppm found to be most effective in boosting total flavonoids content, total phenol content and antioxidant activity. The possible correlations among these parameters were discussed which showed that the bio-active compounds such as vitamin C, phenol and flavonoid contributed towards the anti-oxidant capacity of fruit. Therefore, application of PGRs showed to effectively augment fruit quality by improving both biochemical and phytochemical properties when compared to control
Nickel induced exposure analysis for toxic changes in growth and antioxidative enzymes in sesban eliciting biochemical sensitivity
Get PDFNickel (Ni) exposure in plants leads to severe toxicity problems, with effects varying depending on its exposure concentration. The present pot culture investigation assesses the phytotoxic effects of different Nickel (Ni) concentrations on various biochemical parameters of Sesbania. The study involves applying Nickel at 50, 100, 200, and 300 ppm along with a control group at 0 ppm for 30 days. Results revealed retarded growth, reduced pigment content, and enhanced antioxidative enzyme activity as nickel concentration increased. Exposure to Ni (100 ppm) and above severely affects seed germination, plant growth, and biomass production. Furthermore, relative phytotoxicity was evident from a 15% reduced germination rate and a fall in germination index from 10 to 8.5. The seedling vigour index was drastically reduced from 960 (control) to 93.5(300 ppm Ni). In addition to these, plant growth retardation was striking with root length stunted by 70% and shoot length by 50% in response to Ni (300 ppm). Chlorophyll and carotenoid contents decreased by nearly 50% with the 300-ppm nickel treatment. Although protein levels and antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase and peroxidase) showed a stimulatory response to 100 and 200 ppm Ni treatments, both suffered a sharp decline due to toxic stress at 300 ppm Ni. This study explicitly highlights the harmful effects of high doses of Ni, highlighting the sensitivity of various morphometric and biochemical parameters to Ni toxicity. These findings highlights the need to mitigate environmental contamination and adopt measures to protect plant health
Screening for drought stress tolerance in traditional mango (Mangifera indica L.): biochemical and physiological approaches
Get PDFThis study assessed the ability of 34 mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) accessions and one control to tolerate drought by measuring several physiological and biochemical characteristics. There were notable variations in the relative water content among the accessions. KLM37, PTA01, and ALA23 had the highest values, suggesting that they had higher drought tolerance. Furthermore, KLM37, ALA15, and PTA01 exhibited the greatest saturated water content (SWC), indicating improved water retention during periods of drought. The analysis of specific leaf area (SLA) showed significant differences among the accessions studied. KLM37, ALA23, KLM12, and PTA01 exhibited the greatest SLA values. The accessions also showed a significant increase in epicuticular wax content (EWC). This indicates that they have improved drought adaptation by reducing water loss. The accessions exhibited an increased cell membrane stability index (CMSI), which further demonstrates their ability to withstand drought stress. The biochemical markers revealed that ALA27, ALA23, and KLM37 exhibited a noteworthy increase in proline concentration, suggesting their capacity for drought tolerance. PTA01, TVM02, and ALA27 exhibited high chlorophyll concentrations, indicating enhanced photosynthetic efficiency in drought conditions. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that RWC, CMSI, and EWC are the primary characteristics that contribute to drought tolerance. PC1 accounts for 76.913% of the overall variation. The levels of proline and chlorophyll had a significant impact on the second principal component (PC2), explaining 10.556% of the variation. A drought study conducted as part of abiotic stress tolerance thus identified several mango accessions with superior drought tolerance traits, particularly KLM37, PTA01, ALA23, and KLM12. These mango accessions are promising candidates for breeding programs aimed at improving drought resilience in mangoes