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Combining visual interpretation and image segmentation to derive canopy cover index from high resolution satellite imagery in functionally diverse coniferous forests
Get PDFForest canopy cover is one of the most significant structural parameters of the forest stand that can be estimated using of aerial and satellite remote sensing. Even though sub-pixel analysis can be used to estimate the index on low-resolution imagery, high-resolution imagery provides more accurate details on forest canopy variability for ecological and forestry applications. However, the high variability of the images demands a more advanced approach to canopy cover measurement than the visual interpretation of single images or stereo pairs. These traditional methods are inefficient and limited in providing a comprehensive and accurate canopy cover assessment. An improvement of the method could involve classifying high spatial resolution images, separating and extracting the areas corresponding to canopy gaps, and generating canopy cover maps. This study offers valuable insights and reveals key differences between three methods for estimating canopy cover: ground measurements, visual photo interpretation and automatic extraction from classified images using pixel and object-based methods. The texture analysis approach was used for separating the “shadow” objects corresponding to gaps in the canopy from the shades cast on the lower trees. The sample plot-based visual interpretation of the images revealed comparable results between ground and satellite image canopy cover values (correlation coefficient of 0.74 for all plots), with lower correlations (r = 0.39) for uneven-aged stands. The results encourage the use of the texture analysis method, with satisfying accuracy (forest canopy cover differences of maximum 0.06 between ground, photo interpreted and extracted datasets). The method could be further integrated with complementary data like LIDAR or hyperspectral images
Essential oil constituents and secondary metabolites of Mentha viridis under tissue culture technique using violet visible light emitting diodes (LEDs)
Get PDFThis study aimed to propagate the valuable medicinal plant Mentha viridis through in vitro culture of nodal segments measuring approximately 1-1.5 cm. Two different types of light-emitting diode (LED) systems were used to apply three different concentrations of two different cytokinins: 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and thidiazuron (TDZ) at 0, 1, or 2 mg/L. The LED systems were white as a control and violet, which is a 1:1 ratio of red and blue light. After a 30-day incubation period, the results revealed significant improvements in the survival rate and the number of shoots per explant across the various treatment groups. With MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L TDZ and illuminated by white and violet LEDs, the highest values were obtained, yielding survival rates of 93.3% and 13.3 shoots per explant, respectively. Moreover, the treatment involving 2 mg/L TDZ under violet LEDs illumination exhibited superior outcomes in terms of leaf count per explant, callus formation, and callus size. Notably, no callus formation was observed in response to BAP treatments. All treatments resulted in a significant increase in antioxidant enzyme activity and the accumulation of various compounds, such as anthocyanin, ascorbic acid, phenols, flavonoids, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase, when compared to the control in a broader context, the levels of IAA, kinetin, and zeatin increased, while GA3 and ABA decreased in response to the applied treatments, as compared to the control. Additionally, ten compounds were consistently found in all treatments by GC/MS analysis of the micro-propagated Mentha, with carvone accounting for the highest proportion (43.5%) and being the predominant component. Among all treatments, nodal segments that were exposed to violet LEDs and grown on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L TDZ had the highest carvone content
Enhancing quality characteristics and controlling gray mold disease caused by Botrytis cinerea in strawberries fruits using various edible abiotic coatings
Get PDFThe study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of chitosan, potassium silicate, and calcium chloride as edible abiotic coatings in controlling the postharvest gray mold disease of strawberries caused by Botrytis cinerea, reducing the use of chemical fungicides and managing fruit decay. Two pure isolates of B. cinerea were extracted from strawberry fruits of cv. ‘Festival’, identified based on morphological features, and their rDNA sequences were sequenced using BLAST and phylogenetic analysis, showing 98.9-100% equivalence. The ITS sequences have been deposited in Gene Bank and assigned accession numbers MT708074 and MT704983. In vitro, all treatments inhibited linear growth of both isolates, with chitosan and potassium silicate were the most effective against the two isolates. In vivo test showed a significant decrease in gray mold incidence and severity. The study revealed that potassium silicate significantly reduced disease incidence in strawberry fruit cultivars ‘Fortuna’ and ‘Festival’ from Qalyubia governorate, while chitosan achieved the greatest reduction in disease severity in samples from Beheira governorate. Both treatments increased the total phenolic and peroxidase activity. The study found that application of potassium silicate and chitosan to strawberry fruit in ‘Fortuna’ and ‘Festival’, resulted in higher sugar and ascorbic acid content, increased fruit firmness, and decreased respiration rate, suggesting that these treatments could potentially reduce postharvest decay and enhance fresh strawberry fruit quality
Limitations in the growth and development of chayote (Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw., due to habitat change
Get PDFSeveral soil minerals have not been considered in the expansion of chayote cultivation with and without biotic and abiotic stress, despite being an essential and necessary element in plant growth and development. The objective of this study was to describe the changes that occur in the growth of Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. under the influence of agroclimatic conditions different from those of its center of origin, such as temperature, light, and soil types. The study was carried out in three production localities in Veracruz, Mexico in one year equivalent to two productive seasons. Physiological variables were recorded under field and cultivated conditions in three different agroclimatic conditions in the Mesophilic Cloud Forest (MNF), Medium Sub-evergreen Forest (MBS) and Seasonal Dry Forest (SSE). It was found that the calcium (Ca2+) concentration and pH value of the soils of the three regions. X-ray analysis showed the formation of crystals in leaf, petiole and stem tissue, consisting mainly of phosphorus, calcium and silicon. Leaf area showed burns and leaf necrosis in soils with high Ca2+ content. Chlorophyll content and CO2 assimilation rate were lower in plants grown under MSF and SDF conditions compared to CMF. Environmental temperature, altitude, precipitation, pH, chlorophylls, as well as Ca2+, Mg, organic matter, N, Fe, Zn and Mn, were variables that help to explain the limitations of S. edule development in the crop expansion sites. The results can be considered as a reference and avoid failures due to displacement of S. edule to limiting agroclimatic conditions
Response of maize to soil applied ZnSO4 and ZnEDTA
Get PDFIn this study the fertilizing effect of ZnEDTA (zinc ethylenediaminetetraacetate), and ZnSO4ּ 7H2O (ZnSO4ּ) (zinc sulphate heptahydrate) was compared on calcareous loam soil. A pot experiment was set up with maize (Zea mays L. var. ‘P37N01’). Plants were treated with basic NPK doses and with Zn at increasing rates: 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10 mg kg-1 Zn in ZnEDTA and in ZnSO4 form, respectively. The ZnEDTA and ZnSO4 treatments increased the dry matter production compared to control by an average of 16%. Applying 2.5 mg kg-1 Zn, shoot Zn uptake was 1.3-fold greater by plants treated with ZnEDTA, than that of treated with ZnSO4. In the case of higher rates (5.0 mg kg-1 Zn and 10 mg kg-1 Zn), Zn uptake from ZnEDTA was approximately twice as much as that of ZnSO4. This result confirms that ZnEDTA as Zn complex is more effective than ZnSO4 on calcareous soil. The increasing ZnEDTA and ZnSO4 doses enhanced the soil’s initial diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) Zn concentration to 1.8, 3.0, 6.3 mg kg-1 and 1.9, 3.5, and 6.5 mg kg-1, respectively. Contrary to our expectations, DTPA soil extractant was not able to indicate the difference in Zn availability between soils treated with ZnEDTA and ZnSO4. During the experiment, 0.6-1.7% of the added Zn doses were absorbed by the plants, and 48-59% of it could be measured back in the form of DTPA-Zn for both Zn fertilizers, the other half of the added Zn presumably converted to less available Zn forms
Survey on nitrogenase evolution by considering the importance of nitrogenase, its structure, and mechanism of nitrogenase
Get PDFNitrogenase is a complicated enzyme that actives the ATP-dependent reduction of dinitrogen (N2) to ammonia (NH3). The aim of this manuscript is to review the nitrogenase evolution with considering nitrogenase, structure of nitrogenase, action mechanism of nitrogenase and oxygen sensitive mechanism of nitrogenase. The searches focused on publications from 1980 to February 2023, using PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Scopus databases. In the term of evolution, the nitrogen cycle has experienced highly changes; at the beginning of life and suggested the exact anoxic scenario, the comparatively sufficient ammonium was possibly used in an assimilation/mineralization cycle by protocellular organisms. The main nif gene products which are active in nitrogen fixation are nifH, nifD, nifK, nifT, nifY/nafY, nifE, nifN, nifX, nifU, nifS, nifV, nifW, nifZ, nifM, nifF, nifL, nifA, nifB, fdxN, nifQ, and nifJ. The main vnf gene products which are active in nitrogen fixation are vnfA, vnfE, vnfN, vnfX, vnfH, vnfFd, vnfD, vnfG, vnfK, and vnfY. Oxygen can be either detrimental or beneficial for diazotrophs in organisms suitable for an aerobic catabolism, and it supports the production of a substrate for nitrogenase (ATP), but it can also impede the activity and suppress the synthesis of this enzyme.
Nutraceutical and antioxidant potential of selected wild edible plants from the cold-arid desert of Ladakh, India
Get PDFLadakh’s wild edible plant species (WEPs) provide a vital source of food, nutrition, and medicine to the region’s indigenous populations. However, WEPs’ nutritional and antioxidant properties are missing in the region. The current study examined the nutritional values, total phenolic, total flavonoid, and antioxidant capabilities of 11 WEPs from the cold-arid region of Ladakh, India. Lactucata tatarica had the greatest carbohydrate content (36.48 ± 0.15 mg g-1Dw) among 11 wild edible plant species. Malva verticillata had a greater glucose concentration (292.74 ± 0.01 ng g-1Dw), and Urtica hyperborea had higher protein and vitamin C levels (38.07 ± 2.44 and 49.95 ± 1.18 mg g-1Dw, respectively). The plant samples collected were also shown to have high total phenolic, flavonoid, and antioxidant capabilities. Our findings revealed that these species should be promoted as a natural source of nutraceuticals, with the potential to supplement the diets of locals. To boost food availability in a location noted for its intense weather conditions and short vegetative period, an agroforestry system that promotes sustainable use and increases the output of these species is critical
Mitigating negative impact of salinity on berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) by foliar application of salicylic acid
Get PDFSalicylic acid (SA) is a plant growth regulator known to take part in defense responses against different types of stresses, including salt stress. In this study, the role of foliar applied SA in improving the growth of berseem variety ‘Anmol’ under salt stress was examined. Plants were sown in plastic pots in the sand. Plants were treated with different concentrations of salinity (0, 60 mM and 120 mM NaCl) and salicylic acid (0, 100 mg L-1 and 150 mg L-1) was applied as a foliar spray. Salinity stress significantly reduced root and shoot fresh and dry weight, root and shoot length, photosynthetic pigments including Chl. a, b, a/b, total soluble proteins, total amino acids and uptake of K+ and Ca2+ ions in root and shoot tissues. Exogenous application of salicylic acid improved growth traits including shoot length, shoot fresh weight, root length, root fresh and weight, shoot dry weight, pigments contents (Chl. a, a/b and carotenoids). Total soluble protein and amino acid contents, activities of antioxidants peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were also enhanced by the foliar spray of SA under saline and non-saline conditions. SA played a crucial role in lowering Na+ and Cl− ions content in shoot and root tissues while enhancing the uptake of K+ and Ca2+ ions. The study revealed that 100 mg L-1 SA treatment significantly influenced several plant parameters, including shoot length (8 cm), root length 6.7 cm, chlorophyll (1.2 mg/g FW), total soluble proteins (0.8 mg/g FW) and total amino acids (2.5 mg/g FW), SOD (1.22 U/mg protein), CAT (1.75 U/mg FW), potassium ions (29 mg/g DW), and calcium ions (43 mg/g DW) during salinity stress. Therefore, field use of SA (100 mg L-1) is recommended to enhance the growth of berseem and other fodder crops in saline soils
Protective role of endophytic fungi and salicylic acid as therapeutic nutrients to improve immune responses of tomato plants against fusarial wilt disease
Get PDFThe exacerbation of climatic changes helped to increase the risk of plant diseases in the world. Based on this concept, we suggest Endophytic fungi (EF) and Salicylic acid (SA) alternatives to reduce the spread of Fusarium wilt disease, which is one of the most important agricultural crops globally. Therefore, this study aims to isolate endophytic fungi and test their ability to stimulate plant resistance against Fusarium wilt disease and study the possibility of combining these isolates with salicylic acid as a therapeutic nutrient for tomato plants. Two fungal endophytes were isolated from Vigna unguiculata seeds (VUS) and identified as Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus tubingensis according to morphological and molecular identification. Under pot circumstances, the influence of these two fungal endophytes as tomato fusarial wilt depressants and as plant stimulants was evaluated. The combination of A. oryzae and A. tubingensis exhibited a simultaneous efficacy of 80% in conferring protection against Fusarium wilt, while simultaneously resulting in a notable decreasing diseases index to 16.66%. Treatment of infected plants with A. oryzae and A. tubingensis (single or mixed) and salicylic acid not only deterioration influence of Fusarium wilt on plant fitness, but also showed a significant improvement in the levels of photosynthetic pigments, sugars, proteins and phenols, and enhancement in the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The analysis of variability among endophytic fungi revealed the presence of 17 distinct bands exhibiting polymorphism, accounting for approximately 35.294% of the observed genetic variation. In conclusion, endophytic A. oryzae and A. tubingensis work well as stimuli for tomato plant growth and as a means of boosting the plants’ resistance to Fusarium wilt. Further, A. oryzae and A. tubingensis act synergistically with SA toward improving plant growth and fusarial wilt disease resistance
Investigation of resistance using STMS markers against Ascochyta blight in the chickpea varieties
Get PDFChickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), a prominent legume plant, is an important agricultural plant that is widely grown both in Türkiye and around the world. Ascochyta blight, caused by the fungal phytopathogen Ascochyta rabiei, is one of the major causative agents responsible for yield reductions across the spectrum of chickpea diseases. The impact of diseases varies depending on crops, countries, seasons and cropping systems, and yield loss data collected under well-defined conditions is limited. It is noteworthy that this pathogen shows significant genetic diversity in Türkiye's agricultural environment. In light of this, this study aimed to conduct a research to determine the resistant/tolerant and susceptible genotypes of 34 certificated chickpea varieties grown in different regions of Türkiye by using Sequence Tagged Microsatellite Site (STMS) markers that are related to the genes that provide resistance against Ascochyta blight. The results obtained in this study showed that the primers Ta2, Ta146 and Ts54 used as STMS markers have distinctive features in providing highly effective results in the detection of resistant/tolerant and susceptible varieties of Ascochyta blight