Search Results (75)

Sugarcane requires high doses of phosphorus to achieve high productivity. However, not all the phosphorus applied to crops is utilized. Therefore, it is believed that some remaining phosphorus can meet the nutrient demand of the ratoon crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of mineral fertilization with triple superphosphate (TSP) and organic fertilization with poultry litter (PL), applied to plant cane and the first ratoon, on the quality of second ratoon sugarcane. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with a 5 × 5 factorial scheme with four replications. The treatments consisted of five TSP doses (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg ha⁻¹) and five PL doses (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 t ha⁻¹). Fertilization with TSP and PL applied in the two preceding cycles promoted an increase in plant height, stalk diameter, number of tillers, and productivity in the second ratoon. The doses of triple superphosphate and chicken litter applied in cycles preceding the second ratoon were able to increase the agronomic performance of the genotype IACSP95-5094. However, the highest subsequent combined doses of triple superphosphate and chicken litter resulted in a 27% increase in stalk productivity. In general, the preceding doses of chicken litter showed greater potential to enhance the technological attributes. Full article

In this study, a method for creating networked macropores through tillage using Eisenia fetida attracted by food sources derived from decomposing straw was proposed. The effects of Eisenia fetida activity and corn stalk addition, as well as the synergistic effects of Bacillus subtilis, on macropore formation were systematically studied. A 3D visualization technique was used to render the pore network model. When compared with undisturbed soil, the results demonstrate that cultivation using earthworms attracted by food sources from decomposing straw creates a soil pore structure with the most significant effect. The 3D porosity of the soil increased 6.90-fold, its average pore volume increased 5.49-fold, and its equivalent diameter increased 4.88-fold. Cylindrical pores, which accounted for the largest proportion (4.38%), had a channel radius of 1–5 mm and comprised approximately 86.7% of all macropores. The channel length increased by 28.5%, the average roundness decreased by 2.5%, and the average coordination number increased by 33.3%. The macroporous network structure formed by these earthworm-generated pores was more beneficial for improving the structure of phaeozem, offering technical support for the field application of earthworm farming. Full article

With the rapid development of renewable energy, the co-combustion of Zhundong coal and biomass has attracted more and more attention. However, the high content of alkali metals in Zhundong coal and biomass leads to serious slagging and fouling in the co-combustion process. In this study, cotton straw was selected for co-combustion with Zhundong coal. The ash deposition model was established according to the melting ration calculated by Factsage, and the ash deposition characteristics during the co-combustion of Zhundong coal and cotton stalks in the actual boiler were explored by Fluent. The results showed that the K₂O content in ash increased from 0.31% to 9.31% with the increase in the blending ratio, while the contents of other components had no significant changes. In addition, with the increase in the blending ratio, the ash deposition rate increased from 0.00327 kg/(m²·s) to 0.00581 kg/(m²·s), an increase of 77.6%. The reduction in the tangential circle diameter obviously alleviated the ash deposition on the wall. When the tangential circle diameter was reduced to 400 mm, the ash deposition rate was 0.00207 kg/(m²·s), which was 37.6% lower than the original condition. Full article

Saccharum spontaneum serves as an essential genetic resource for sugarcane improvement. Traditional breeding methods, characterized by slow selection and limited germplasm exploitation, often lead to suboptimal progeny performance. In this study, we revised the utilization strategy by initially hybridizing several S. spontaneum clones, followed by intercrossing their F1 progeny to establish a heterogeneous ‘polymeric’ population, which was then subjected to ‘nobilization’. A natural Saccharum spontaneum (S0) plant was used as the parent to create a hybrid (S1) containing two S. spontaneum bloodlines. The agronomic traits of S1 were compared, leading to the identification of three superior hybrids. These hybrids were then crossed in a complete diallel design, resulting in six crosses. Significant genetic variation was observed for the agronomic traits. Compared with S0, the plant height in S1 increased by 31.5%, and by 32.22% in S2. The stem diameter in S1 increased by 38.71%, and by 51.61% in S2. The single stem weight increased by 125% in S1 and 150% in S2. Other yield traits also showed varying degrees of improvement. A correlation analysis indicated that the plant height, stalk diameter, single stalk weight, and leaf width were significantly positively correlated with yield, and the leaf width with brix. There was no significant correlation between the millable stalks and yield. This study successfully developed a novel S. spontaneum hybrid with significantly improved agronomic traits, enhancing the genetic foundation of S. spontaneum germplasm for nobilization breeding programs. These findings provide a valuable germplasm base for developing high-performance sugarcane varieties, improving the utilization of S. spontaneum. Full article

Studying fruit genetic trends, heterosis, and growth traits in pear hybrid progeny provides the foundation for variety breeding. The aim of this research is to reveal the trait performance of the hybrid progeny of Chinese white pear and Western pear and provide a theoretical basis for other breeders to predict the trait performance of their hybrid progeny when selecting Eastern pear and Western pear as parents. Our research team constructed a ‘Yuluxiang’ × ‘Xianghongli’ interspecific hybrid population in 2015, and in 2023, we conducted a two-year investigation of 16 traits in 140 hybrid progeny, including 11 fruit traits and 5 growth traits, and analyzed and compared the genetic variation and heterosis of traits, as well as the correlation between various traits. The results showed that the hybrid progeny was widely segregated for single fruit weight (FW), soluble solid (SS) content, and titratable acid (TA) content and conformed to a normal distribution, with quantitative genetic traits under polygenic control. The highest two-year coefficients of variation for TA were 54.42% in 2023 and 39.17% in 2024. A genetic trend of decreasing FW was observed, which was greatly influenced by the male sex. The ratio of soft soluble flesh to crispy flesh was 1:1, and the gene controlling this trait may be a quality trait controlled by a single gene. The traits that showed transgressive heterosis for two years included fruit longitudinal diameter (FLoD), fruit shape index (FSI), and TA, and those that showed negative heterosis included FW, SS, leaf longitudinal diameter (LLoD), and leaf lateral diameter (LLaD). Correlation analysis indicated that the progeny of crosses in this combination, which had red fruit skin, may also present red early flowering color (EFC) and young leaf color (YLC), reddish brown annual branch color (ABC), and lower FSI, fruit stalk length (FSL), LLaD, and TA. Thus, at the seedling stage, individuals with red-colored fruit may be screened by observing the color of young leaves and young stems and the lateral diameter of the leaves. Principal component analysis showed that among the 16 traits included in six principal components, peel color (PC), FLoD, 2024SS, fruit tape (FT), and FSI were the main factors causing differences in fruit phenotypes. This study systematically elucidated the genetic trends of agronomic traits in pears and will provide a theoretical basis for the selection of parents and early selection of hybrid progeny in pear hybrid breeding. Full article

Integrated aquaculture–agriculture systems (IAASs) offer a sustainable approach to mitigating soil salinity by utilizing aquaculture effluents for irrigation. This study evaluates the growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and red tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) under varying salinity conditions and investigates their effluents on intercropped wheat and sugar beet. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with seven treatments: control (chemical fertilizers dissolved in freshwater) and brackish water effluents from Nile tilapia and red tilapia at salinities of 5 ppt and 10 ppt as monocultures or mixed polycultures. Fish growth parameters were assessed, while wheat and sugar beet morphological and yield traits were monitored. Statistical analyses, including correlation and principal component analysis, were performed. Red tilapia outperformed Nile tilapia at 10 ppt salinity, achieving the highest final weight (174.52 ± 0.01 g/fish) and weight gain (165.78 ± 0.01 g/fish), while the mixed polyculture at 10 ppt exhibited optimal feed conversion (FCR: 1.32 ± 0.01). Wheat growth and yield traits (plant height, stalk diameter, and panicle weight) declined significantly under salinity stress, with 10 ppt treatments reducing plant height by ~57% compared to the control. Conversely, sugar beet demonstrated resilience, with total soluble solids (TSS) increasing by 20–30% under salinity. The mixed effluent partially mitigated salinity effects on wheat at 5 ppt but not at 10 ppt. This study highlights the potential of IAAS in saline environments, demonstrating red tilapia’s adaptability and sugar beet’s resilience to salinity stress. In contrast, wheat suffered significant reductions in growth and yield. Full article

Bivalves use byssal threads for attachment and locomotion, periodically shedding and regenerating them. In the winged pearl oyster Pteria penguin—known for its strong byssus and its role in the pearl industry—shedding may occur when the byssal stalk reaches a critical size, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study investigated whether artificial manipulation of the byssus (via trimming) could stimulate thread production and promote shedding in adult P. penguin from two size groups. Byssal threads attached to the substrate were trimmed every 3–5 days over a 30-day period and compared to untrimmed controls. Oysters with trimmed byssus produced significantly more threads, with smaller individuals outperforming larger ones in both thread count and byssal stalk diameter. Moreover, small oysters exhibited a higher frequency of complete byssal shedding. These findings suggest that trimming stimulates thread production and accelerates stalk thickening, potentially triggering shedding due to spatial constraints at the attachment site. This response appears to reflect an adaptive mechanism for maintaining effective attachment and may help explain how mechanical or environmental cues influence byssal dynamics. Understanding this process offers new insight into the behavioral and physiological plasticity of P. penguin, with potential applications in pearl oyster management and aquaculture. Full article

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is one of the oldest annual fiber crops cultivated throughout human history. Addressing the challenges encountered during the harvesting of hemp for seed and fiber purposes requires further investigation. Studies are also needed to determine plant characteristics in terms of both variety and gender. This study aimed to determine the physico-mechanical properties of hemp plants. The stems of male and female hemp plants were divided into three sections along their length: lower, middle, and upper regions. Samples measuring 25.4 mm in length were collected from each section, and measurements of thickness and inner and outer diameter were conducted. The same samples were subjected to axial and lateral compression tests to determine load, elongation, and energy values. According to the results, the thickness of hemp ranged from 2.347 mm to 2.628 mm, the inner diameter varied between 3.986 mm and 4.452 mm, while the outer diameter ranged from 8.861 mm to 9.708 mm. The results showed that male hemp plants have an increase in thickness and inner and outer diameter values from the lower to the upper region compared to female hemp plants. The compressive loads in the axial and lateral directions were found to be higher in male hemp plants compared to female hemp plants. Moreover, elongation and energy requirements during axial and lateral compressions showed trends consistent with the load values across the stem samples. This study determined that the results of axial and lateral compression applied at three different positions (lower, middle, and upper) on male and female hemp stalks varied significantly based on both sex and position. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aim of the study was to prospectively assess the impact of certain parameters of pituitary morphology assessed with the use of magnetic resonance imaging on the occurrence of hormonal disorders in patients with primary partial empty sella (PES) or primary empty sella (ES). Methods: Forty-three patients were divided into two groups: group 1—patients with PES (n = 20); group 2—patients with ES (n = 23). Results: Patients with ES were characterized by larger both the transverse (14.8 ± 2.9 mm vs. 17.2 ± 2.9 mm, p = 0.016) and anteroposterior (AP) diameters of the pituitary (11.4 ± 1.4 mm vs. 13.2 ± 1.9 mm, p = 0.003), a smaller craniocaudal (CC) diameter (3.9 ± 0.62 mm vs. 2.2 ± 0.6 mm, p = 0.001), and a lower pituitary volume (332.8 ± 107.6 mm³ vs. 243.5 ± 70.9 mm³, p = 0.001). Moreover, an AP infundibular displacement was more common in patients with ES (7 [35%] vs. 16 [69.6%]., p = 0.023). Despite the fact that secondary adrenocortical insufficiency was shown to be significantly more common and ACTH levels to be significantly lower (27.5 ± 13.2 pg/mL vs. 21.8 ± 17.6 pg/mL, p = 0.039) in patients with ES (0 [0%] vs. 3 [13.4%], p = 0.046), univariate logistic regression did not reveal any significant associations of pituitary diameters, pituitary volume, or pituitary stalk displacement with endocrine disorders, such as secondary adrenocortical insufficiency or hyperprolactinemia, which was confirmed with multivariate logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and arterial hypertension. Conclusions: Radiologically assessed CC, AP, and transverse pituitary diameters, pituitary volume, or pituitary stalk displacement in patients with PES or ES have no bearing on the rates of hormonal disorders. Nonetheless, certain hormonal disorders may be more common in patients with ES, which suggests a need for hormone-level assessments in this population. Full article

Fusarium stalk rot (FSR), a devastating soil-borne disease caused by Fusarium species, severely threatens global maize production through yield losses and mycotoxin contamination. Bacillus subtilis, a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR), has shown potential as a biocontrol agent against soil-borne pathogens, but its efficacy and mechanisms against maize FSR remain poorly understood. In this study, an identified strain of B. subtilis A3 was introduced to study its biological control potential against corn stalk rot. The bacteriostatic stability of the biocontrol strain was assessed, revealing that its inhibitory activity against F. graminearum remained consistent over five consecutive generations, indicating robust bacteriostatic stability. The strain also exhibited inhibitory effects on F. verticilliodes, F. proliferalum, and other pathogenic fungi, demonstrating it has broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Indoor experiments showed that treatment with the biocontrol strain significantly increased plant height, stem diameter, and fresh weight, indicating a positive impact on corn growth. Additionally, the biocontrol strain A3 markedly reduced the lesion length of corn stalk rot, confirming its efficacy in controlling the disease. Field trials demonstrated that the growth of the A3-coated corn seeds was better than the control seeds, the control effect of FSR disease was 45.75%, and the yield increase was 3.6%. Microscopic observations revealed that the biocontrol strain A3 caused the hyphal tips of F. graminearum to swell and exhibit a beaded morphology, inhibiting normal growth. The volatile substances produced by A3 also showed significant antibacterial activity, with the antibacterial spectrum aligning with that of the biocontrol strain. Using headspace solid-phase microextraction and GC-MS, various antibacterial compounds were identified in the volatile substances. Analysis of root-associated microorganisms indicated that A3 significantly changed the microbial community composition. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that A3-treated plants had fewer edges and lower negative correlations among bacterial communities. This study establishes the strong biocontrol potential of B. subtilis A3 against Fusarium stalk rot in corn, demonstrating its robust bacteriostatic stability, broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, positive impact on plant growth, and significant disease control efficacy, while also revealing its ability to alter root-associated microbial communities. These findings provide a foundation for further research into the mechanism of B. subtilis and its application in field biological control. Full article

The study assessed the yield and quality as well as the energy potential of biomass from stalks and pomace of four grape varieties, Riesling, Chardonnay, Zweigelt, and Merlot Vitis vinifera L., grown in temperate climate conditions. The research is innovative because the evaluation of the energy potential of biomass originating from Vitis vinifera L. has not been carried out so far in the northern wine-growing regions. Field studies were conducted in 2023 in the Experimental Vineyard of the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, located in southeastern Poland. Biometric yield assessment showed that Chardonnay vines were characterized by the lowest mass of clusters and peduncles, number of berries in the cluster, berry diameter, and peduncle size, and at the same time the highest berry mass among the assessed biotypes. Merlot clusters were characterized by the highest mass of clusters and the largest peduncles. Riesling had the most berries in the cluster, the heaviest peduncles, and the highest share of peduncles in the cluster mass (8.99%). For grape pomace, the LHV values range from 15.98 MJ kg⁻¹ for the Chardonnay variety to 16.91 MJ kg⁻¹ for Riesling, while for peduncles, these values range from 15.11 MJ·kg⁻¹ for Merlot and Riesling to 15.26 MJ kg⁻¹ for Chardonnay. The differences in pollutant emissions are more pronounced between grapevine varieties than between types of biomass (pomace vs. peduncles). The greatest variation among varieties was observed for carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in the pomace category, while the smallest differences were noted for sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions. Total gas emissions were highest for Zweigelt pomace (7.72 Nm³ kg⁻¹) and lowest for Merlot (6.99 Nm³ kg⁻¹), while for stalks, Chardonnay had the highest values (6.77 Nm³ kg⁻¹) and Merlot the lowest (7.32 Nm³ kg⁻¹). The largest variation among varieties was observed in the pomace category. These results indicate differences in exhaust gas emissions for different plant parts and grape varieties, which are relevant for optimizing production processes and ensuring sustainable development. Full article

The maize tassel represents one of the most pivotal organs dictating maize yield and quality. Investigating its phenotypic information constitutes an exceedingly crucial task within the realm of breeding work, given that an optimal tassel structure is fundamental for attaining high maize yields. High-throughput phenotyping technologies furnish significant tools to augment the efficiency of analyzing maize tassel phenotypic information. Towards this end, we engineered a fully automated multi-angle digital imaging apparatus dedicated to maize tassels. This device was employed to capture images of tassels from 1227 inbred maize lines falling under three genotype classifications (NSS, TST, and SS). By leveraging the 3D reconstruction algorithm SFM (Structure from Motion), we promptly obtained point clouds of the maize tassels. Subsequently, we harnessed the TreeQSM algorithm, which is custom-designed for extracting tree topological structures, to extract 11 archetypal structural phenotypic parameters of the maize tassels. These encompassed main spike diameter, crown height, main spike length, stem length, stem diameter, the number of branches, total branch length, average crown diameter, maximum crown diameter, convex hull volume, and crown area. Finally, we compared the GFC (Gaussian Fuzzy Clustering algorithm) used in this study with commonly used algorithms, such as RF (Random Forest), SVM (Support Vector Machine), and BPNN (BP Neural Network), as well as k-Means, HCM (Hierarchical), and FCM (Fuzzy C-Means). We then conducted a correlation analysis between the extracted phenotypic parameters of the maize tassel structure and the genotypes of the maize materials. The research results showed that the Gaussian Fuzzy Clustering algorithm was the optimal choice for clustering maize genotypes. Specifically, its classification accuracies for the Non-Stiff Stalk (NSS) genotype and the Tropical and Subtropical (TST) genotype reached 67.7% and 78.5%, respectively. Moreover, among the materials with different maize genotypes, the number of branches, the total branch length, and the main spike length were the three indicators with the highest variability, while the crown volume, the average crown diameter, and the crown area were the three indicators with the lowest variability. This not only provided an important reference for the in-depth exploration of the variability of the phenotypic parameters of maize tassels but also opened up a new approach for screening breeding materials. Full article

The plant growth regulator EDAH, a combination of ethephon and diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate, has been shown to reduce maize lodging and increase crop yield under monoculture systems. However, its effectiveness under intercropping conditions remains uncertain. This study presents findings from a three-year (2020–2022) experiment that investigated the effects of EDAH application on maize and peanut yields, as well as lodging rates, within a maize/peanut intercropping system. The experimental setup included four treatments: sole maize without EDAH, sole peanut without EDAH, intercropped maize and peanut without EDAH, and intercropped maize and peanut with EDAH. Results across the three years revealed that foliar application of EDAH significantly increased maize yield by 13.6% and peanut yield by 28.3%, compared to the non-EDAH treatment in the intercropping system. Moreover, the land-equivalent ratio improved by 13.4%, indicating better land use efficiency. Maize lodging in the intercropping system with EDAH decreased by 48.7%. Additionally, EDAH-treated maize in the intercropping system exhibited a 12.1% reduction in plant height and a 27.7% reduction in ear height compared to untreated maize. The internodes 1–5 of EDAH-treated intercropped maize were 1.93–7.80 cm shorter, while the basal internode diameter increased by 3.30 to 4.90 cm. These morphological changes contributed to improved stalk strength, as evidenced by increases in stalk crush strength, rind penetration strength, and bending strength, which together improved maize lodging resistance. Collectively, these results suggest that the application of EDAH is a promising measure to reduce maize lodging and increase overall crop productivity in maize/peanut intercropping systems. Full article

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the second most produced vegetable globally, playing a significant role in national and international economies. This crop is highly sensitive to water deficit and thermal stress, which directly affect yield and fruit quality. Foliar application of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) may be a possible strategy to minimize the effects of these abiotic stresses. This research aimed to determine: (a) the effects of different water replacement levels (WRLs) and photoprotector strategies (Ps) applied to the canopy on production and harvest quality of tomato fruit, (b) thermal responses—Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) and soil temperature and (c) crop water productivity (WP_c). The research was conducted at the University of São Paulo (USP/ESALQ), Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The experimental design adopted was randomized blocks, with four blocks and nine treatments, totaling 36 plots. The treatments were arranged in a 3 × 3 factorial scheme, with three WRLs (70, 100 and 130% of the required irrigation depth) and three photoprotector strategies (without photoprotector, with photoprotector and with photoprotector + adjuvant). Biometric and thermal responses, productivity, harvest quality and WP_c were determined. The highest plant height and stalk diameter values were found in the treatment with photoprotector and adjuvant, with an average of 0.98 m and 0.0130 m, respectively. For the variables soil temperature, CWSI and tomato productivity, no significant differences were observed. The general average productivity obtained was 77.9 Mg ha⁻¹. The highest WP_c values were found in the WRL 70 treatments, with an average of 23.6 kg m⁻³. No significant differences were observed for pulp firmness. The highest average value of soluble solids was observed in the treatments with photoprotector (4.8 °Brix) and the highest average value of titratable acidity was observed in the WRL 130 treatments (0.36%). Therefore, deficit irrigation resulted in water savings without compromising tomato productivity and the application of photoprotector and adjuvant increased tomato quality. Full article

Drought is the major abiotic constraint affecting sugarcane productivity and quality worldwide. This obstacle may be alleviated through sugarcane genotypes demonstrating good water use efficiency (WUE) performance. This study aims to investigate the WUE characteristics of various sugarcane genotypes under different soil water availability levels. Plant and ratoon field experiments were conducted using a split-plot randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plots were assigned three types of irrigation: (1) rainfed conditions (RF), (2) field capacity conditions (FC), and (3) half-available water (½ AW). The subplots consisted of six sugarcane genotypes with varying levels of drought resistance, i.e., KK3, UT13, Kps01-12, KKU99-03, KKU99-02, and UT12. Data on yield, stalk numbers, stalk diameter, height, and WUE were collected throughout the crop cycle for both plant and ratoon crops. For the plant crop, the net photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and leaf area index (LAI) were recorded during the crop period. In both plant and ratoon crops, the WUE in the RF treatment was lower than in the FC and ½ AW treatments during the drought stress period 4 months after planting (MAP). In the recovery phase, the WUE in the ½ AW treatment fell between the FC and RF treatments. The RF treatment exhibited the lowest WUE compared to the other two water regime treatments at the maturity stage. The drought-resistant genotypes KK3 and UT13 maintained high WUE values throughout both the drought and recovery periods and exhibited outstanding LAIs at 4 and 6 MAP. A significant relationship existed between WUE and LAI during these periods. Moreover, WUE was positively correlated with cane yields and yield components, such as stalk weight, shoot diameter, and height, during recovery and tiller number and height during ripening. Therefore, WUE and LAI are efficient parameters for supporting and maintaining growth and yield during water deficit and recovery phases under rainfed conditions. Full article