Carlos David Carretillo Moctezuma, Abraham Francisco Aponte Herrera, José Terrones Salgado
et al.
Calcium (Ca) is essential for tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) fruit quality and for preventing physiological disorders such as blossom-end rot. However, high total soil Ca does not necessarily translate into plant-available Ca due to factors such as soil pH and limited mobility. This study evaluated soil Ca availability and the effect of a chicken manure-based soil amendment on the growth and yield of four tomato genotypes (Pony Express F1, Palomo F1, Toro F1, and Perseo F1) grown on a loam–clay–sand soil containing 4886 ppm Ca. In the first cycle, conducted in a shade house, two Ca application levels (0% and 25% of the crop’s requirement) were tested. The 0% treatment outperformed the 25% treatment regarding yield-related traits, indicating that native soil Ca met crop demand; application of 25% Ca reduced total fruit weight and fruit number by 19.7% and 5.9%, respectively, while the 0% treatment produced 40.8% more first-quality fruits. Perseo F1 (Perseo) produced the highest yield of first-quality fruits (20.61 t ha<sup>−1</sup>), exceeding Pony Express F1 (Pony express), Palomo F1 (Palomo), and Toro F1 (Toro) by 10.8%, 6.6%, and 51.4%, respectively. In a second cycle under open-field conditions, incorporation of the chicken manure amendment significantly enhanced growth and yield: treated plants reached a 0.85 m height 58 days after transplanting, and overall yield increased to 70.08 t ha<sup>−1</sup> compared with 50.30 t ha<sup>−1</sup> in the control (21.9% increase). These results indicate that, while native soil Ca can satisfy crop requirements under the studied conditions, soil amendment under field conditions substantially improves plant performance and commercial yield potential.
Miguel Brilhante, Iain Darbyshire, Maria Cristina Duarte
et al.
ABSTRACT Despite the extensive diversity of African flora, significant gaps remain in taxonomic research and biodiversity conservation, including under‐sampling in highly diverse regions, a shortage of taxonomic expertise, limited financial resources and delays in species descriptions. Type specimens act as effective proxies for tracking the discovery and description of species, providing a historical baseline for assessing taxonomic effort and our understanding of biodiversity. This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of Fabaceae species collected in Mozambique, one of the most diverse and ecologically important plant families in the region. It offers new insights into the taxonomic, spatial and temporal patterns shaping current botanical knowledge through an analysis of Fabaceae type specimens collected in Mozambique. We identified 273 type specimens, including 126 recognised taxa, with a notable proportion of endemism (44 strict‐endemic and 18 near‐endemic taxa) and a predominance of woody growth forms. Nearly 40% of these taxa lack IUCN conservation assessments, highlighting significant information gaps. The findings reveal that collection activity peaked during colonial botanical initiatives, driven by a small group of prolific collectors and influenced by spatial biases towards southern and central provinces. Using generalised linear modelling, we demonstrate that collection locations were significantly affected by elevation, slope, land cover and proximity to roads and harbours, reflecting the interaction between biogeographic patterns and accessibility. By identifying these historical and geographic biases, our study deepens understanding of Mozambique's botanical heritage and provides a crucial baseline for future floristic and conservation efforts in underexplored regions. Furthermore, this research underscores the vital role of herbarium type specimens as scientific resources supporting taxonomic research and conservation planning, emphasising the importance of preserving and digitising these collections to enhance their accessibility and utility.
Agriculture is one of the largest sectors that contribute to the economic growth of countries, including Malaysia. However, plant diseases affect the quality of the harvest and impede farmers’ maximum yield output. Therefore, early detection of diseases in plants is vital to curb infection, reduce food waste, and reduce their carbon footprint. However, many detection methods are complex, require high computational power and time to perform the required analysis and focus only on a particular species or strain of the disease. These requirements would likely deter most users in remote areas or poorer economic states. This paper proposes a convolutional neural network to determine multi-class plant diseases that is memory efficient, has a small trainable parameter number, and is compact enough to work even on mobile devices. The plant images were pre-processed to ensure that they were validated accurately and to minimise overfitting. Then, the proposed convolutional neural network was trained using a publicly available dataset consisting of 54306 images, followed by validation and testing. Finally, the completed model is saved, and the data obtained is transferred to a cloud network using wireless sensor networks. The proposed method obtained 96.87% accuracy with 100 epoch training iterations, rivalling famous architectures such as VGG16 and MobileNetV2. The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of the method for disease detection in multi-crop plants.
Mechanics of engineering. Applied mechanics, Technology
Atiqur Rahman, Md. Hasan Sofiur Rahman, Md. Shakil Uddin
et al.
The impact of epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation on plant phenotypes has expanded the possibilities for crop development. DNA methylation plays a part in the regulation of both the chromatin structure and gene expression, and the enzyme involved, DNA methyltransferase, executes the methylation process within the plant genome. By regulating crucial biological pathways, epigenetic changes actively contribute to the creation of the phenotype. Therefore, epigenome editing may assist in overcoming some of the drawbacks of genome editing, which can have minor off-target consequences and merely facilitate the loss of a gene’s function. These drawbacks include gene knockout, which can have such off-target effects. This review provides examples of several molecular characteristics of DNA methylation, as well as some plant physiological processes that are impacted by these epigenetic changes in the plants. We also discuss how DNA alterations might be used to improve crops and meet the demands of sustainable and environmentally-friendly farming.
Ascorbic acid (AsA) is an antioxidant with significant functions in both plants and animals. Despite its importance, there has been limited research on the molecular basis of AsA production in the fruits of Capsicum annuum L. In this study, we used Illumina transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) technology to explore the candidate genes involved in AsA biosynthesis in Capsicum annuum L. A total of 8272 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by the comparative transcriptome analysis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified two co-expressed modules related to the AsA content (purple and light-cyan modules), and eight interested DEGs related to AsA biosynthesis were selected according to gene annotations in the purple and light-cyan modules. Moreover, we found that the gene GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase (GGP) was related to AsA content, and silencing GGP led to a reduction in the AsA content in fruit. These results demonstrated that GGP is an important gene controlling AsA biosynthesis in the fruit of Capsicum annuum L. In addition, we developed capsanthin/capsorubin synthase as the reporter gene for visual analysis of gene function in mature fruit, enabling us to accurately select silenced tissues and analyze the results of silencing. The findings of this study provide the theoretical basis for future research to elucidate AsA biosynthesis in Capsicum annuum L.
In a nation that adheres to the concept of the separation of powers based on the trias politica principle, the state's authority is divided among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Regarding the judicial branch, it operates with the principle of judicial independence, which is essential for upholding human rights, the rule of law, and justice. To apply this principle, judges are required to perform their duties in accordance with their oath and the law, without any external interference or directives. In Indonesia's legal framework, Article 24, Paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution outlines the exercise of judicial authority by the Supreme Court and various subordinate judicial bodies, including those with general, religious, military, and administrative jurisdiction, as well as the Constitutional Court. This research employs a comparative legal approach, analyzing the legal systems of both Indonesia and Hong Kong to enhance the coherence of national law by evaluating it in relation to another country's legal structure. The findings of this study are as follows: Firstly, the establishment of corruption criminal courts in Indonesia aligns with international agreements such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the Declaration of Human Rights. However, the Indonesian system employs an ad hoc structure and ad hoc judges, which introduce certain vulnerabilities in ensuring the independence of these judges. Secondly, in Hong Kong, the establishment of corruption criminal courts is constitutionally guaranteed and institutionalized. Hong Kong's constitution explicitly prohibits the creation of ad hoc courts, resulting in a permanent and non-ad hoc court structure. As a result, the assurance of judicial independence for judges in Hong Kong is more robust and secure.
Abstract Bats are important for the homeostasis of ecosystems and serve as hosts of various microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, and fungi with pathogenic potential. This study aimed to isolate fungi from biological samples obtained from bats captured in the city of Sinop (state of Mato Grosso, Brazil), where large areas of deforestation exist due to urbanization and agriculture. On the basis of the flow of people and domestic animals, 48 bats were captured in eleven urban forest fragments. The samples were processed and submitted to microbiological cultures, to isolate and to identify the fungal genera. Thirty-four (70.83%) of the captured bats were positive for fungi; 18 (37.5%) and 16 (33.33%) of these bats were female and male, respectively. Penicillium sp., Scopulariopsis sp., Fusarium sp., Aspergillus sp., Alternaria sp., Cryptococcus sp., Trichosporon sp., and Candida sp., which may cause opportunistic infections, were isolated. The bat species with the highest number of fungal isolates was Molossus molossus: 21 isolates (43.8%). According to our results, bats captured in urban forest fragments in Sinop harbor pathogenic fungi, increasing the risk of opportunistic fungal infections in humans and domestic animals.
The Florida Land Value Survey, conducted by the Food and Resource Economics Department at the University of Florida, provides estimates of the value of different types of agricultural land for geographic regions of the state. The survey questionnaire was designed to obtain estimates of the market value for different types of land as of May 2005. Survey respondents included rural appraisers, farm lenders, real estate brokers, farm managers, land investors, county extension agents, personnel from the Farm Services Agency and the Natural Resource Conservation Service, county property appraisers, and other persons who develop and maintain information about rural land values in their areas. Respondents provided 185 usable county reports for the 2005 survey. This document is FE625, one of a series of the Food and Resource Economics Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date January 2006.
FE625/FE625: Strong Nonagricultural Demand Keeps Agricultural Land Values Increasing (2005) (ufl.edu)
Accessibility Summary:
In accordance with Title II regulations this content meets all points of exemption as Archived web content and/or Preexisting conventional electronic documents.
Stephen M. Olson, Eric H. Simonne, William M. Stall
et al.
This document is HS732, Horticultural Sciences Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Published November 2006.
HS732/CV130: Chapter 13. Pepper Production (ufl.edu)
Accessibility Summary:
In accordance with Title II regulations this content meets all points of exemption as Archived web content and/or Preexisting conventional electronic documents.
In this study six different Trichoderma species were isolated form rhizosphere soils of paddy, banana, oil palm, rubber, vegetables and grass land soils. The species are T. harziaum, T. viride, T. koningii, T. asperrelum, and T. parareesei. The morphological study as pigmentation, colony growth and anatomical studies such as, conidiation appearances, size of conidia, conidiophores branching pattern, shapes of phialides, absent or present of chlamydiophores were carried out to identify the species of Trichoderma. The Trchoderma harzianum species were abundant in soil while T. viren was the second highest in the soil. All species showed the antagonistic activity against Fusarium oxysporum. While, T. parareesei showed the highest antagonistic 91.10 % activity against F. oxysporum, reported as best antagonism agent for phytopathogen.
Tekst predstavlja originalnu recenziju knjige “STANJE ŠUMA I ŠUMSKIH ZEMLJIŠTA U BOSNI I HERCEGOVINI, prema drugoj inventuri šuma na velikim površinama (2006 – 2009)”, koju je uradila grupa naučnih radnika Šumarskog fakulteta u Sarajevu: Lojo A., Balić B., Musić J., Višnjić Ć., Vojniković S., Treštić T., Čabaravdić A., Gurda S., Delić S., Imbrahimspahić A., u saradnji sa konsultantom Svjetske banke Hočevar M. Recenziju je uradio Miloš Koprivica 17.06.2015. na osnovu Odluke broj 01/6- 1008/15 koju je donijelo Naučno-nastavno vijeće Šumarskog fakulteta u Sarajevu dana 06. 05. 2015. godine, čime je isti imenovan za recenzenta.
The decisive morphological character of Calamaria linnaei from the Ijen plateau was analyzed in an attempt to evaluate these snakes independently achieved as different populations or whether more likely only cryptic species affected by natural conditions. The evidence was concluded that a cryptic species is very interesting to be regarded as something entirely different. In general, however, the population appears to have more closely related to other congeners populations of the same species. It is suggested that at least temporarily, the C. linnaei population of the Ijen plateau be specifically considered to include in species with high individual variations based on limited geographic boundaries until molecular analysis proves it.
Agricultural sector will be most affected by climate change due to its extensive interaction with the environment. and as a result of changing production conditions, community welfare is changed. This study attempted at understanding the welfare effects of changes in climate parameters on the wheat product. Therefore, the yield functions were initially estimated. Supply, demand and import functions were secondly estimated by Simultaneous equations system. Finally, to study the welfare effects resulting from changes in temperature and precipitation, a price-endogenous mathematical programming model in three different scenarios of climate was used. The results showed that in the case of reducing precipitation with increasing temperature, consumer surplus, producer surplus and therefore society surplus will be reduced . Loss of welfare for consumers are higher than what is for producers.
Aline Costa Ferreira, Viviane F. Silva, José G. de V. Baracuhy
et al.
As reservas de água doce, juntamente com as limitações de lançamento de efluentes no meio ambiente, culminam para a necessidade do uso racional dos recursos hídricos de modo a reduzir os impactos negativos da geração de efluentes. Nesse contexto, o trabalho foi realizado objetivando-se implantar e monitorar eficiência do tratamento da água, para o semiárido, de unidades de produção agrícola controladas UPAC’s utilizando as águas cinzas de uma lavanderia comunitária. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida nas instalações da Lavanderia Pública do Distrito de Ribeira no município de Cabaceiras no Estado da Paraíba. Foram implantadas oito unidades de produção agrícola controlada e os parâmetros analisados das águas cinza coletadas dos pontos de observação das unidades foram: Condutividade Elétrica (CE), pH, e Oxigênio Dissolvido (OD). No sistema foram plantadas duas culturas com destinação à alimentação animal as quais são a mucuna-preta (Mucuna pruriens (L.)) e o capim elefante (Pennisetum purpureum) e uma para consumo humano, o maracujá (Passiflora sp). O tratamento das águas cinzas nas Unidades de Produção Agrícola Controladas promoveu uma diminuição da CE, pH e OD das águas oriundas da lavanderia, tornando uma alternativa viável e sustentável para o tratamento de água de lavanderias como também para produzir alimentos para fins animais e humanos.