Increasing the amount of micronutrients in diets across the world is crucial to improving world health. Numerous methods can accomplish this such as the biofortification of food through biotechnology, conventional breeding, and agronomic approaches. Of these, biofortification methods, conventional breeding, and agronomic approaches are currently globally accepted and, therefore, should be the primary

Leaves from Olea europaea represent one of the main by-products of the olive oil industry, containing a plethora of bioactive compounds with several promising activities for human health. An organic solvent-free extraction method was developed for the recovery of olive leaf phenols, which obtained an extract containing oleuropein in high amounts. A comparison of various extraction media is reported

Irrigation and nitrogen (N) are two crucial factors affecting perennial grass seed production. To investigate the effects of irrigation and N rate on seed yield (SY), yield components, and water use efficiency (WUE) of Cleistogenes songorica (Roshevitz) Ohwi, an ecologically significant perennial grass, a four-year (2016–2019) field trial was conducted in an arid region of northwestern China. Two irrigation

Increasing environmental pollution causes the search for new methods of purification. Currently, the remediation potential of nanoparticles is increasingly being studied. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of data on the impact of these compounds on living organisms, including plants. This study was designed to test the effects of nanoFER 25 and nanoFER 25S iron on Lolium westerwoldicum Breakw. After

Pot marigold is a valuable medicinal plant with great decorative value. Three combinations of light (white (W)—170 μmol m−2 s−1, white + blue (W+B)—230 μmol m−2 s−1, white + red (W+R)—230 μmol m−2 s−1) were used to analyse the influence of a diversified light spectrum on the morphological traits and flowering of Calendula officinalis L. “Radio”. The effect of foliar treatment of the plants with 6-benzyladenine

Several agronomic factors, including planting density, affect plant growth and final yield. New soil suffers from severe fertility shortage and crop productivity. Potassium humate (KH) application improves soil fertility and plant performance under new soil conditions. Therefore, this investigation was performed in two seasons of 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 to study the impact of KH application at the

The reduction of nitrogen (N) fertilizer during the rice growing season is an important practice in rice production and is ecologically beneficial. Will different N reduction stages affect rice yields and NUE? The timing of the reduction in N-efficient varieties (NEVs) is yet to be identified, especially under moderate N rate applications. We investigated the effectiveness of various N reduction stages

With the growing demand for quality food in the world, there is a new ambition to produce high-quality apples seeking reduced cultivation costs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of agrotechnological tools on the quality of cv. Rubin apples during the harvest. The apple tree (Malus domestica Borkh.) cv. Rubin was grafted on dwarfing rootstocks P60, planted in single rows spaced 1

The production of white wines with the presence of grape skins is a historical technique used in different regions with winemaking tradition. However, the current trend is to maintain the presence of grape skins during white wine making only during the pre-fermentation phase in order to enrich and give greater complexity to the sensory profile of the wines. Given these precedents, this study is the

The species belonging to the genus Echinochloa represent the main weeds in rice fields worldwide. Heavy soils are especially appropriate for this crop that is often grown in monoculture. A drought period in 2012 impeded farmers from sowing rice in some parts of the region of Aragon (northeastern Spain) and, unusually, they seeded alternative crops such as winter cereal, fescue (Festuca arundinacea)

In 2002, a survey carried out in rice paddies in the Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state reported the occurrence of nine species of jointvetch (Aeschynomene). Due to their semi-aquatic habit, some species adapted to irrigated rice fields, which led to their being considered the worst broadleaf weed in RS. Although farmers have successfully implemented weed management practices, Aeschynomene plants have reportedly

The desert locust has been a notorious pest since ancient times. A population upsurge hit Pakistan in 2019 and caused tremendous damage to agriculture and livelihoods. To take advantage of this ongoing upsurge, we conducted a field study to verify whether locust collection could be an interesting control method to protect crops in the event of an invasion, as well as an accepted food resource for poor

Rye is one of the most commonly used sources of elite genes in wheat improvement programs. Due to the high collinearity of the genomes of both cereal species, it is possible to obtain interspecific chromosomal translocations and substitution lines. Rye chromatin is used to transfer numerous genes for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses into the wheat genome. Introgression has also resulted in

Castor (Ricinus communis L.), known as castor oil plant or castor bean, is a non-edible oilseed crop. In the present study, the genetic diversity among 54 samples (3 wild and 51 cultivated) collected worldwide was evaluated using inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. A total of 9 ISSR primers produced 83 high-resolution bands with 61 (74.53%) as

The aim of the work described here was to understand the pedogeochemical signature of five rare earth elements (REEs; Ce, Nd, La, Y, and Sc) in vineyard soils in Campo de Calatrava (a unique territory with calcareous, volcanic and metamorphic rocks). The mean contents in surface horizons of Ce, Nd, La, Y, and Sc were 65.7, 32.0, 35.5, 18.8, and 13.9 mg·kg–1, respectively. In subsurface horizons the

This study compares yield, nutritive value, and kernel properties of whole plant corn (WPC) harvested before and after a light frost in short growing season areas. Six corn hybrids grown in two years at three locations within Alberta (Canada) were harvested before or after the first frost. Samples of WPC were analyzed for dry matter (DM) content, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration, starch

Powdery mildew, net blotch, scald, spot blotch, barley stripe, and leaf rust are important foliar fungal pathogens of barley. Fungal leaf pathogens negatively affect the yield and quality in barley plant. Virulence changes, which can occur in various ways, may render resistant plants to susceptible ones. Factors such as mutation, population size and random genetic drift, gene and genotype flow, reproduction

Salinization is a key soil degradation process. An estimated 20% of total cultivated lands and 33% of irrigated agricultural lands worldwide are affected by high salinity. Much research has investigated the influence of salt (mainly NaCl) on plants, but very little is known about how this is related to natural salinity and osmotic stress. Therefore, our study was conducted to determine the osmotic

Canopy nitrogen (N) status relates strongly to canopy chlorophyll content and the strength of green color. Proximal photograph by RGB camera was used to select green features that has the po­tential to assess N content at leaf of plant as a function of its the greenness. We proposed the development of it as a tool for sensing nitrogen content in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum). Image processing algorithm

The main purpose of this study was to examine the impact of different phosphorus (P) fertilizers and organic manures alone and in combination with Bacillus sp. MN-54 on growth, yield, nutrient uptake, chlorophyll (SPAD value) and crude proteins content of chickpea. The simple manure (SM), processed manure (PM), single super phosphate (SSP), and rock phosphate (RP) were applied individually and in different

This study aimed to determine the effects of plant species on the biological parameters of Tetranychus urticae Koch and the time of mite infestation on plant physiology in Ocimum basilicum L., Melissa officinalis L. and Salvia officinalis L. Mite infestation induced various levels of oxidative stress depending on plant species and the duration of infestation. Host plants affected T. urticae life table

Since the advent of Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, Florida’s citrus production has dropped by 70%. HLB-affected trees decline rapidly under high pH growing conditions. Limited nutrient availability at high soil pH has been speculated to be the cause of such rapid decline in HLB-affected trees; however, such decline is not observed in healthy citrus trees. Therefore, the objective of this study was to

Mass-flowering crops, such as oilseed rape (OSR; Brassica napus), provide pulses of nectar and pollen, helping to support pollinators and their pollination services in agricultural landscapes. Despite their value to declining pollinators, varietal in-field OSR testing focusses on agronomic traits, with floral resources being largely overlooked. OSR has a high varietal turnover, and consequently, floral

Excessive nitrogen (N) application rates and serious over-exploitation of groundwater under farmer practice threatens the sustainable use of resources in the North China Plain (NCP). Crop canopy structure affects light distribution between leaves, which is important to determine crop growth. A field experiment conducted from October 2016 to June 2019 in the NCP was designed to examine whether optimum

Kernza intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) is the first commercially developed perennial grain crop in North America, with multiple environmental and economic benefits. One of the major challenges for adoption of this dual-use forage and grain crop is the decline in grain yield in subsequent harvest years. Post-harvest management practices (e.g., chopping, burning, chemical, and mechanical

Sorghum is the fifth most important cereal crop world-wide and feeds millions of people in the Sahel. However, it often faces early-stage water deficit due to false onsets of rainy seasons resulting in production decrease. Therefore, developing early drought tolerant material becomes a necessity but requires a good knowledge of adaptation mechanisms, which remains to be elucidated. The present study

The rapid development of greenhouse horticulture has brought about a dramatic increase in the nitrate pollution of aquifers. The optimization of nitrogen application is an important tool to minimize nitrogen losses. The objective of this research was to assess the effect of different fertigation strategies, based on the reduction of the nitrogen applied and the use of a percentage of NH4+ as a nitrogen

Cultivation of energy crops is a part of modern agriculture. In particular, maize (Zea mays L.) is widely grown in central Europe. However, in terms of erosion risk and high demands on fertilization and protection against diseases and pests, its growing is not environmentally friendly. Therefore, possibilities of utilization of other more environmentally friendly energy crops have been examined at

Fungi from the genus Trichoderma have a worldwide distribution and are commonly found in agricultural lands. Further, it has been described as a non-virulent and symbiont microorganism that can contribute to minimize the pernicious effects of pathogens. In the present work we have isolated Trichoderma spp. from bark of grapevine in different orchards in order to determine the influence of fungicide

Although eco-innovation in the agri-food sector is receiving increasing attention, the heterogeneity of firms operating in the sector encourages the development of specific sub-sectoral studies to define specific strategies. In this regard, the main goal of the present study is to evaluate the drivers of eco-innovation in the olive oil production sector. Our empirical method relies on data from Spanish

In modern days, rapid urbanisation, climatic abnormalities, water scarcity and quality degradation vis-à-vis the increasing demand for food to feed the growing population necessitate a more efficient agriculture production system. In this context, farming with zeolites, hydrated naturally occurring aluminosilicates found in sedimentary rocks, which are ubiquitous and environment friendly, has attracted

Cultivation of salt-tolerant crops help to face to irreversible global salinization of freshwater and soils. In New-Caledonia, three halophytes are candidates for saline crops, Salsola australis R.Br., Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort and Enchylaena tomentosa R.Br. Their success and quality depend yet on availabilities of salinity and essential nutrients in agrosystems. So, we investigated effects of three

The global demand for plant biomass to provide bioenergy and heat is continuously increasing because of a growing interest among many industrialized and developing countries towards climate sound and renewable energy supply. The exacerbation of land-use conflicts proliferates social-ecological demands on future bioenergy cropping systems. Perennial herbaceous wild plant mixtures (WPMs) represent an

Mexico is the leading exporter of mangos worldwide, and ‘Ataulfo’ is one of the most popular cultivars. However, their production has dramatically dropped in recent years due to the high incidence of nubbins. One of the possible causes is the presence of a delayed self-incompatibility found in this cultivar; thus, proximity to compatible cultivars may help to reduce this incidence. Nevertheless, there

Earthworm activity is a key factor in creating soil aggregates, but introduced organic matter and abiotic factors are also equally important. The purpose of this study was to investigate the stability of aggregates made by earthworms in soils with organic additives. Additionally, the two aggregate stability measurement methods were compared: (i) the wet-sieve method and (ii) the laser diffraction method

Note: In lieu of an abstract, this is an excerpt from the first page. The sustainability of reducing light in apple orchards under well-watered [...]

Climate change has become a significant factor in crop production in the 21st century for many countries. To turn losses into profit, adaptation measures are needed, which are based on the analysis and forecast of economically valuable characteristics of crops. The field trial data were analyzed for 764 oat accessions from the global germplasm collection by the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of

Attenuators of salt-stress favor the use of effluents, being a low-cost organic product. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of vermicompost leachate (VL) added to shrimp-culture effluent on seeds and seedlings of Salicornia bigelovii (Torr.) under salt-stress, evaluating germination, water relations variables, and biomass. Seeds were irrigated with distilled water (DW) (CE: 0.0027 dS m−1)

Avoidance of intensive rice cultivation (IRC) and soil amendments are potential practices to enhance soil properties. There is only limited information on the effects of reduced IRC and its mixture with compost or silicate fertilizer (Si) on the soil nematode community in salt–affected soils. This study aimed to assess the shifts of soil nematode community by reducing a rice crop from triple rice system

Modern agriculture promotes non-inversion, ploughless tillage systems, and simplified plant cultivation methods. Environmentally friendly plant production technologies must nevertheless guarantee high yields of good quality. In the years 2017/18–2019/20, studies were carried out in which it was assumed that these conditions could be met by strip soil tillage with simultaneous application of fertilisers

The European dairy industry generates large volumes of wastewater from milk and dairy food processing. Removal of phosphorus (P) by complexing with metal (e.g., aluminium, calcium) cations in P rich sludge is a potential P source for agricultural reuse and P recycling. However, there is a significant knowledge gap concerning the plant availability of this complexed P in comparison to conventional mineral

Weeds represent a significant problem in Thailand’s sugarcane production. The various cycles of sugarcane cultivation result in degrees of weed severity in which each species requires a different weed control method, the most popular of which is the post-emergence herbicide method. However, sugarcane farmers often use incorrect rates, and operators’ safety is missing or applications are not selective

The present investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of Chitosan-Indole Butyric Acid (IBA) in the seed of Salicornia bigelovii under field conditions in Sonora, Mexico. During two vegetative cycles (2018/2019–2019/2020), cuttings of S. bigelovii were treated with 100 and 50% Chitosan from shrimp exoskeletons and indole butyric acid at 0.937 and 1.25 g·kg−1 and placed in basins under conditions of

Oleaster-leafed pear (Pyrus elaeagrifolia Pall. subsp. elaeagrifolia) fruits are used for food and dietary supplements in Turkey, and seedlings are used as rootstock for pear cultivars. Information on the effect of genotypes on oleaster-leafed pear fruit characteristics is needed in order to optimize production of quality food and dietary supplements. The characteristics of oleaster-leafed pear fruits

A transgenic winter triticale line expressing the uidA gene, encoding β-glucuronidase, was used to assess the pollen flow in field experiments over two consecutive vegetation seasons in central Poland. The experimental design included two variants of mixed transgenic and non-transgenic lines. Pollen grains were collected using passive traps located at 0, 10, 30, 60 and 85 meters from the transgenic

Management zones (MZs) are delineated areas within an agricultural field with relatively homogenous soil properties, and therefore similar crop fertility requirements. Consequently, such MZs can often be used for site-specific management of crop production inputs. This study evaluated the effectiveness of four classification methods for delineating MZs in an 8-ha commercial potato field located in

Reflectance spectroscopy for soil property prediction is a non-invasive, fast, and cost-effective alternative to the standard laboratory analytical procedures. Soil spectroscopy has been under study for decades now with limited application outside research. The recent advancement in precision agriculture and the need for the spatial assessment of soil properties have raised interest in this technique

High-density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) molecular markers are widely used to assess the genetic variability of plant varieties and cultivars, which is nowadays recognized as an important source of well-adapted alleles for environmental stresses. In our study, the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of a collection of 265 accessions of eight tetraploid Triticumturgidum L. subspecies

Note: In lieu of an abstract, this is an excerpt from the first page. Plants are well known for being a major source of natural compounds, many of them generally considered of biological interest for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial or anti-cancerogenic properties [...]

Climate warming increases the water needs of plants. The aim of this study was to estimate the water needs of grapevines in central Poland. Water needs were calculated using the crop coefficients method. Reference evapotranspiration was assessed by the Blaney–Criddle’s equation, modified for climate conditions in Poland. Crop coefficients were assumed according to the Doorenbos and Pruitt method. Water

The purpose of this study was to assess the suitability of the Romanian Albanus hybrid of Sorghum bicolor as a potential functional food ingredient. Ultrasound-assisted extraction in different solvents, together with spectrophotometric and chromatographic methods, was used to monitor the variation in total phenolic and flavonoid content and the antioxidant activity of raw sorghum grains before and

Nitrogen (N) management remains a global challenge for the sustainability of diversified farming systems. Field crops are often over-supplied with nitrogen by farmers aiming to high productivity. Although the increase of nitrogen rates leads in many instances to high yields, degree of effectiveness for nitrogen use remains low. Urease and nitrification inhibitors are technologies which have been present

The main reason for the development of the yield gap in crop production is the inefficient management of nitrogen (N). The nitrogen gap (NG) cannot be ameliorated without an indication and quantification of soil characteristics that limit N uptake by a crop plant. The insufficient supply of N to a plant during its cardinal stages of yield formation is a result of two major-variabilities. The first

Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) is a major viral disease adversely affecting cassava production in Africa and Asia. Genomic regions conferring resistance to the disease have been mapped in African cassava germplasm through biparental quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and genome-wide association studies. To facilitate the utilization of these markers in breeding pipelines to support selections, proof-of-concept

Zinc finger homeodomain (ZF-HD) transcription factors play significant roles in plant growth and responses to environmental stresses. In this study, 32 ZF-HD genes identified in the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) genome were divided into six groups according to phylogenetic analysis with Arabidopsis and tomato ZF-HD members. An examination of gene structures and conserved motifs revealed the relatively

Introducing smart and sustainable tools for climate change adaptation and mitigation is a major need to support agriculture’s productivity potential. We assessed the effects of the processed gypsum seed dressing SOP® COCUS MAIZE+ (SCM), combined with a gradient of N fertilization rates (i.e. 0 %, 70 % equal to 160 kg N ha-1, and 100 % equal to 230 kg N ha-1) in maize (Zea mays L.), on: (i) grain yield

In the search for more efficient production systems, many changes have occurred in the strawberry production sector. Planting density is one of the management techniques that most interferes with the quality of fruits and production aspects. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different planting densities on the photosynthetic characteristics, fruit quality, and production of the strawberry

Lead (Pb) is one of the major environmental heavy metal pollutants, known as being neither essential nor beneficial for any living organisms, and which is detrimental to plant fitness, growth, and productivity, as well as human health. This study investigated the changes in the morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties of rice cultivars exposed to lead (Pb). Therefore, soil was contaminated

Waste exogenous organic matter, including spent mushroom substrate (SMS) and chicken manure (CM), can be used as the basis of a soil-improving cropping system in sustainable agriculture. However, there is—as yet—a lack of information about important quality indicators such as the fungal community relative abundance, structure and biodiversity in soils treated with these additives. In this study, the

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are strong toxic compounds mainly released to the environment during combustion of fossil fuels, and have strong toxic effects on living organisms, with soil being one of their main reservoirs. High PAH levels in soils can interfere with plant growth and biomass production, causing several losses of diversity. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the co-inoculation