International Journal of Plant & Soil Science
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The Informal Maize Seed Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa: Role of Community Seed Banks and Institutional Support
No full textThe informal seed sector is a non-law regulated system which permits seed production and distribution especially under small scale farmers. Seed security is critical for agricultural sustainability and rural development among smallholder farmers. Like with formal seed sector, activities such as seed production, seed processing and storage are undertaken but in a non-law regulated manner. Estimations advocate that 60-80 percent of the seeds for small scale farmers in sub-Saharan African is saved on farm or obtained through informal system. The informal seed system plays a critical role in maintaining on-farm genetic diversity, local adaptation, and availability to smallholder farmers, while on the other hand, the formal sector drives crop productivity through enhanced high-yielding, certified varieties. This paper reviews the general characteristic of the maize seed sector in sub-Saharan Africa. Further more it seeks to review how community gene banks and institutional support strengthens the informal seed system. The constituted manuscript was generated from the collection and analysis of published data and information
Studies on Effect of Application of Zinc on Yield, Yield Components and Quality of Bhendi (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)
No full textAims: The present study optimizes, the effect of application of zinc on yield and yield components of Bhendi (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench):
Place and Duration of Study: A field experiment on the effect of zinc application on the growth and yield attributes of bhendi (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) was carried out from February to May 2025 in the Eastern (E1) field of the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute, Karaikal.
Methodology: The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 8 treatments and replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of T₁ – Absolute control, T₂ – RDF + FYM @ 40 t ha⁻¹, T₃ – T₂ + Zn-EDTA @ 1.0 kg ha⁻¹ (SA), T₄ – T₂ + Zn-EDTA @ 1.25 kg ha⁻¹ (SA), T₅ – T₂ + ZnSO₄ @ 15 kg ha⁻¹ (SA),T₆ – T₂ + ZnSO₄ @ 20 kg ha⁻¹ (SA), T₇ – T₃ + Zn-EDTA @ 0.1% (FA), T₈ – T₅ + ZnSO₄ @ 0.5% (FA).
Results: Results showed that the integrated application of Zn-EDTA @ 1 kg ha⁻¹ as basal soil application combined with foliar spray of Zn-EDTA @ 0.1% at 30 DAS (along with the recommended dose of fertilizers and FYM) produced the best outcomes for plant growth (plant height: 109.15 cm, number of branches: 2.95, LAI: 1.40), yield traits (fruit length: 16.78 cm, girth: 7.64 cm, fruit weight: 15.01 g, number of fruits: 16.70) and fresh fruit yield (19.33 t ha⁻¹).Quality attributes, namely ascorbic acid (13.51 mg 100 g⁻¹) and crude protein (15.28%), were also highest under this treatment, signifying enhanced nutritional value and the lowest crude fiber (10.37%), confirming improved fruit tenderness from zinc supplementation.
Conclusion: The study conclusively establishes that integrated zinc management, especially chelated zinc applications, boosts bhendi yield, thereby offering a practical recommendation for elevating productivity and profitability of bhendi under intensive cultivation
Differentiating Biological Roles of Some Organic Amendments on Some Parameters for Sandy and Clay Soils Cultivated with Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and Final Yield
No full textLettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was planted in pot tests during 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 years in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) including nine treatments using soils sampled collected from Ismailia and Giza for cultivation. Treatments included usage of potassium humate (KH), vinasse (Vin), and olive mill waste (OMW) as replacements for the recommended mineral fertilizers. Effects of these alternatives on chemical, biological and physical characteristics for both lettuce and soil were studied at harvest. The combination of mineral fertilizer (NPK) with either OMW, Vin or KH in equal quantities (50%) produced the highest yields. As for Giza soil, compared with 100% NPK, the yield increased by 1.7, 1.6 and 1.6 folds using 50% NPK combined with either 50% OMW, Vin or KH, respectively. On the other hand, Ismailia soil either 50% Vin or 50% OMW with 50% NPK achieved yield of 1.8 and 1.65 folds that of 100 % NPK. Addition of 50% OMW or Vin recorded the best mean values of all tested, all parameters and improved plants growth and increased the total yield of curds besides enhancing yield and its components compared to the other treatments or the control and at the same time saved and reduced mineral fertilizer recommendation of Lettuce
Bioremediation of Soil Pollution: An Effective Approach for Sustainable Agriculture
No full textSoil pollution, primarily caused by the excessive use of pesticides, heavy metals, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff, is a significant global environmental challenge. Traditional methods of soil remediation, such as chemical treatments and physical excavation, are costly, disruptive, and environmentally unsustainable. In contrast, bioremediation has emerged as a promising, eco-friendly, and cost-effective solution to restore contaminated soils. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of bioremediation techniques, their mechanisms, applications in agriculture, and their role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, it examines the potential benefits, challenges, and future prospects of bioremediation in addressing soil pollution while ensuring long-term soil health and agricultural productivity
Reaction of Rice Germplasm against Bacterial Blight Disease at Seedling Stage
No full textBacterial Blight (BB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae is one of the most devasting diseases in rice which causes significant yield loss. The present study was conducted at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture Vellanikkara, Kerala to screen rice accessions for BB response. One hundred and fifty rice genotypes along with resistant and susceptible checks were assessed for BB at the seedling stage using the artificial inoculation method and were scored based on IRRI, SES, 2014. Among the 150 rice genotypes screened, 5 genotypes scored resistant (R), 26 moderately resistant (MR), 85 moderately susceptible (MS), and 34 susceptible (S) reaction to BB incidence. Among the tested genotypes, Karuthamodan (1.22%), Pallipuram Pokkali (1.53%), and Tulasi (5.25%) showed minimum disease leaf area percentage for the disease incidence while IET 18318 Sel 2 (40.27%), Japan violet (37.03%), and Erunazhi (35.85%), showed maximum disease leaf area percentage. These results revealed varied disease responses to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae among the rice accessions. The resistant genotypes identified in the study can be used in future breeding programs to develop BB resistant rice varieties thereby enhancing rice production
Genomic Tools in Mustard Breeding for the Enhancement of Yield, Oil Quality and Stress Tolerance
No full textMustard (Brassica species) plays a crucial role in global agriculture due to its high oil content and economic significance. However, challenges such as limited genetic diversity, disease susceptibility, and environmental stressors hinder the potential of mustard crops. Genomic tools have emerged as powerful tools to enhance mustard breeding by improving key traits such as yield, oil quality, and disease resistance. Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS) has been widely applied to select for desirable traits, including oil content and disease resistance, by targeting specific genes like FAD2 and FAD3, which are involved in fatty acid composition. Additionally, Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping has identified genomic regions associated with yield components like seed size, weight, and pod number, facilitating the selection of high-yielding varieties. Genomic Selection (GS) has also accelerated breeding programs by enabling the prediction of complex traits with high accuracy.
Genomic approaches are further improving stress tolerance in mustard, with research focusing on genes related to drought, heat, and salinity resistance. The use of genomics to reduce glucosinolate levels in mustard has also improved seed meal quality, making it more suitable for animal feed. The application of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing holds great potential for modifying genes responsible for oil content, disease resistance, and stress tolerance. As genomic resources for mustard continue to grow, the integration of these tools will revolutionize breeding practices, resulting in faster development of resilient, high-yielding, and high-quality mustard varieties. These advancements will address global agricultural challenges, benefiting both producers and consumers by ensuring a more sustainable and efficient mustard production system
Effect of Brown Manuring on Growth, Physiology and Yield in Direct Wet-Seeded Rice
No full textThis study evaluates the effect of brown manuring on growth parameters, physiological attributes, and yield in direct wet-seeded rice through a field experiment conducted during the rabi season of 2024 at the Instructional South Farm of Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore. The experiment followed a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with ten treatments and three replications, comparing rice alone with different brown manuring treatments. The results indicated no significant differences observed among the treatments at 30 DAS. At 60, 90 DAS and at harvest, the weed-free check (T9) recorded the highest growth parameters viz., plant height (117.2, 141.5 and 139.0 cm), tiller count (26, 33 and 31 tiller hill-1), and dry matter production (4276, 13732 and 23132 kg ha-1), physiological attributes viz., Leaf Area Index (3.65, 5.81 and 3.08), Crop Growth Rate (3.84, 11.60 and 9.08 g m-2 day-1), and Relative Growth Rate (0.0572, 0.0431 and 0.0229 g g-1day-1) and yield were also significantly higher with a grain yield (6046 kg ha-1) and straw yield (10801 kg ha-1), which was statistically on par with T6 (pretilachlor 50% EC at 1.25 L ha-1+ knockdown of dhaincha using 2,4-D 38% EC at 1 kg ha-1 at 30 DAS) over the unweeded control (T10). This study concludes that integrating brown manuring with a post-emergence herbicide effectively suppressed weeds while the decomposed dhaincha residue served as a growth stimulant, ultimately improving crop growth and yield in direct wet-seeded rice
Eco-Friendly Biocontrol through Seed Biopriming and Induced Systemic Resistance against Maydis Leaf Blight of Maize Caused by Bipolaris maydis
No full textThough chemical seed treatment is usual and affluent, using the prevailing beneficial microorganisms in nature eases the detrimental effect of chemicals on nature and also human beings in many possible ways. This study highlights the biocontrol potential of seed biopriming as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical seed treatments for managing Maydis leaf blight caused by Bipolaris maydis. So, seed biopriming is preferable which is a biological seed treatment and involves seed hydration followed by inoculation with useful microorganisms which adds improvement to seeds in terms of viability, vigor indices and germination. Induced systemic resistance (ISR) is a resistance mechanism in plants that is activated by infection with biological agents. In the present study two fungal and two bacterial biocontrol agents used individually and also in combination along with pathogen and control and maximum seed vigour index was found in P. fluorescens + B. subtilis (3644.04). Host defense responses were activated through induced systemic resistance and observed that antioxidant enzymes were higher in P. fluorescens + B. subtilis and T. harzianum colonized seedlings. Total phenols and polyphenol oxidases were higher after 3rd day of pathogen inoculation whereas, peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase were higher after 5th day of pathogen inoculation and superoxide dismutase was activated in transient manner. This clearly depicts that bio-priming enhances the seed vigour, antioxidant enzymes production and accumulation which helps in overcoming the biotic stress tolerance by reducing the infection process of the pathogen during the plant growth through inducing systemic resistance. Induced systemic resistance (ISR) mediated by biocontrol agents was due to the upregulation of defense related enzymes and by the accumulation of phenolic compounds
Exogenous Salicylic Acid Induces Metabolite Production Conferring Foot Rot Resistance in Black Pepper
No full textA study on biochemical factors involved in black pepper defense response against Phytophthora sp. on exogenous application of salicylic acid was carried out in Phytophthora sp. susceptible variety Panniyur 1. Total phenol content and total flavonoid content were studied under different concentration of salicylic acid to know the performed and induced responses. The pathogen was inoculated (soil inoculation) seven days after treatment application and plants were observed for changes at 24, 48 and 72 HAI. Leaves samples were subjected for biochemical analysis. Although total phenolic content remained relatively stable across treatments, the highest levels were observed in plants treated with 1500 ppm SA, while healthy controls exhibited the lowest. A general decline in phenolic content at 48 HAI followed by an increase at 72 HAI was noted. Similarly, flavonoid content showed a decrease at 48 HAI, with a subsequent rise at 72 HAI, with maximum accumulation recorded in plants treated with 1500 ppm SA. Overall, the results suggest that exogenous application of SA enhances phenolic and flavonoid production, thereby strengthening the defense response in black pepper against Phytophthora infection
Key Viruses of Pulses in Australia: General Detection and Management Methods
No full textPulse crops, including chickpeas, lentils, faba beans, field peas etc., are vital to Australia’s agricultural economy, supporting domestic consumption, exports, and sustainable farming through nitrogen fixation. However, viral diseases pose a significant threat, causing substantial yield losses and compromising crop quality. This concise review synthesizes current knowledge on major viruses affecting Australian pulse crops, such as alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV), turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) and other common viruses. It highlights their transmission modes (e.g., aphids, seeds, mechanical), characteristic symptoms (e.g., chlorosis, stunting, leaf deformation), and economic impacts. The review also outlines common detection methods, including serological (ELISA, LFIA) and molecular techniques (RT-PCR, LAMP, HTS), and integrated disease management strategies, such as virus-free seeds, vector control, crop rotation, and resistant cultivars. By consolidating these aspects, this review provides a small look into the viruses of pulse crops in Australia