Agronomy

14 pages, 1491 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Strategic Management Approach to Reduce Pepper Weevil Damage to Jalapeño Pepper Plants with Conventional and Biorational Insecticides

by Naga Mani Kanchupati, Dakshina R. Seal, Bruce Schaffer and Oscar E. Liburd

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010131 - 7 Jan 2025

Abstract

The pepper weevil (Anthonomus eugenii) is a major pest that causes significant economic damage to several species and cultivars of pepper, including jalapeño (Capsicum annuum var. jalapeño). Protecting pepper crops from this pest often necessitates the use of chemical insecticides. To [...] Read more.

The pepper weevil (Anthonomus eugenii) is a major pest that causes significant economic damage to several species and cultivars of pepper, including jalapeño (Capsicum annuum var. jalapeño). Protecting pepper crops from this pest often necessitates the use of chemical insecticides. To enhance control measures and mitigate the risk of insecticide resistance in the pepper weevil, this study focused on determining the optimal timing and application intervals of thiamethoxam and isocycloseram and assessed the effectiveness of rotating these pesticides with biorational insecticides. The effectiveness of various spray intervals for thiamethoxam and isocycloseram, starting at the bloom stage and one week post-bloom, was also assessed on the management of pepper weevils. The spray intervals for each insecticide included foliar applications weekly, every two weeks, every three weeks initiated at the blooming stage, and every two weeks beginning one week after blooming. The application of thiamethoxam and isocycloseram starting at bloom at one-week (7.3 ± 0.9 and 0.6 ± 0.4) and two-week (7.3 ± 0.9 and 0.7 ± 0.2) intervals significantly reduced the number of pepper weevil-infested buds compared to the untreated control (18.3 ± 2.5 and 1.7 ± 0.2). Isocycloseram starting at bloom and rotated with azadirachtin + pyrethrins as well as isocycloseram rotated with azadirachtin + pyrethrins and thiamethoxam on a weekly basis had the lowest number of pepper weevil-infested buds, flowers, and fruits and higher marketable yield. These findings suggest that adopting foliar applications weekly or every two weeks starting at bloom, as well as the rotation of thiamethoxam and isocycloseram with biorational insecticides, can effectively reduce pepper weevil infestation and increase pepper yield. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pest and Disease Management)

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16 pages, 6126 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanistic Insights into Phosphorus Efficiency and Shoot P Concentration in Chinese Cabbage

by Ruifang Zhang, Saisai Hou, Chi Zhang, Hong Wang and Xinxin Wang

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010130 - 7 Jan 2025

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is vital for the growth of crops, and its absorption efficiency is closely linked to the traits of the plants. Further research is needed to understand how vegetable crops adjust to changes in P availability and how their root morphology and [...] Read more.

Phosphorus (P) is vital for the growth of crops, and its absorption efficiency is closely linked to the traits of the plants. Further research is needed to understand how vegetable crops adjust to changes in P availability and how their root morphology and physiology are affected by high P levels in the shoots. In this study, eight Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa pekinensis) genotypes were grown in a culture room under 0, 25, 50, 100, 150, 300, 600, 900, and 1200 mg kg⁻¹ concentrations of P to evaluate root responses in order to define various adaptive strategies in relation to P acquisition. We selected high-PE and low-PE Chinese cabbage in order to identify how different P efficiency groups responded to P supply and shoot P concentration. P supply level and shoot P concentration significantly affected growth. With the increase in the P supply level, the growth variable characteristics of Chinese cabbage first increased and then decreased or increased first and then stabilized. But it was found that P300 was the most suitable level for Chinese cabbage growth. At the same P supply level, high-PE cabbages had higher shoot dry weight and P absorption capacity, stronger root traits, and higher plasticity as compared to low-PE cabbages. The optimal shoot P concentration is 2.1 mg g⁻¹ and 1.7 mg g⁻¹ for low- and high-PE cabbages, respectively. The root morphological traits performed greatly when the shoot P concentration was at the optimal concentration. The low-PE cabbages had greater shoot growth traits, and high-PE cabbages had higher root dry weight and P absorption. This study offers valuable insights to improve P management by analyzing the relationships between soil P dynamics and root processes in the cultivation of Chinese cabbage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Horticultural and Floricultural Crops)

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14 pages, 3710 KiB

Open AccessArticle

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Editing of a NODULATION SIGNALING PATHWAY 1 Homolog Alters the Production of Strigolactones in Sunflower Roots

by Maria A. Lebedeva, Maria S. Gancheva, Maksim R. Losev, Sofia V. Sokornova, Oleg S. Yuzikhin, Anna A. Krutikova, Kirill V. Plemyashov and Lyudmila A. Lutova

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 129; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010129 - 7 Jan 2025

Abstract

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is specifically infected by an obligatory root parasitic plant Orobanche cumana Wallr. (sunflower broomrape), which causes significant losses of sunflower yield. Breeding of sunflower varieties resistant to broomrape is an important challenge for agriculture. However, the selection of [...] Read more.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is specifically infected by an obligatory root parasitic plant Orobanche cumana Wallr. (sunflower broomrape), which causes significant losses of sunflower yield. Breeding of sunflower varieties resistant to broomrape is an important challenge for agriculture. However, the selection of new resistant sunflower varieties was accompanied by the emergence of new virulent races of broomrape, which overcame the effect of resistance genes. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying the resistance to broomrape in sunflowers should facilitate the development of new sunflower varieties with complex resistance to broomrape using genome editing technology. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in sunflower hairy roots for a specific knock-out of the gene encoding a GRAS transcription factor (HaNSP1a), acting as a possible regulator of strigolactone biosynthesis, a class of phytohormones known to induce the germination of broomrape seeds. According to HPLC-IT-TOF/MS analysis, the levels of orobanchol were decreased in the genetically modified roots with knock-out of the HaNSP1a gene, whereas, in contrast, 5-deoxystrigol levels were increased in the roots with HaNSP1a knock-out, suggesting the role of HaNSP1a in the regulation of the strigolactone biosynthetic pathway. The experimental approach described here could be used in further studies to test the effect of gene knock-out on the development of resistance to O. cumana in sunflowers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Crop Breeding and Genetics)

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22 pages, 13437 KiB

Open AccessArticle

CSGD-YOLO: A Corn Seed Germination Status Detection Model Based on YOLOv8n

by Wenbin Sun, Meihan Xu, Kang Xu, Dongquan Chen, Jianhua Wang, Ranbing Yang, Quanquan Chen and Songmei Yang

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010128 - 7 Jan 2025

Abstract

Seed quality testing is crucial for ensuring food security and stability. To accurately detect the germination status of corn seeds during the paper medium germination test, this study proposes a corn seed germination status detection model based on YOLO v8n (CSGD-YOLO). Initially, to [...] Read more.

Seed quality testing is crucial for ensuring food security and stability. To accurately detect the germination status of corn seeds during the paper medium germination test, this study proposes a corn seed germination status detection model based on YOLO v8n (CSGD-YOLO). Initially, to alleviate the complexity encountered in conventional models, a lightweight spatial pyramid pooling fast (L-SPPF) structure is engineered to enhance the representation of features. Simultaneously, a detection module dubbed Ghost_Detection, leveraging the GhostConv architecture, is devised to boost detection efficiency while simultaneously reducing parameter counts and computational overhead. Additionally, during the downsampling process of the backbone network, a downsampling module based on receptive field attention convolution(RFAConv) is designed to boost the model’s focus on areas of interest. This study further proposes a new module named C2f-UIB-iAFF based on the faster implementation of cross-stage partial bottleneck with two convolutions(C2f), universal inverted bottleneck (UIB), and iterative attention feature fusion(iAFF) to replace the original C2f in YOLOv8, streamlining model complexity and augmenting the feature fusion prowess of the residual structure. Experiments conducted on the collected corn seed germination dataset show that CSGD-YOLO requires only 1.91M parameters and 5.21G floating-point operations(FLOPs). The detection precision(P), recall(R), mAP₀.₅, and mAP₀._50:0.₉₅ achieved are 89.44%, 88.82%, 92.99%, and 80.38%. Compared with the YOLO v8n, CSGD-YOLO improves performance in terms of accuracy, model size, parameter number, and floating-point operation counts by 1.39, 1.43, 1.77, and 2.95 percentage points, respectively. Therefore, CSGD-YOLO outperforms existing mainstream target detection models in detection performance and model complexity, making it suitable for detecting corn seed germination status and providing a reference for rapid germination rate detection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Precision and Digital Agriculture)

20 pages, 10570 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Solving Phosphorus Fertilization-Related Drip Irrigation Emitter Clogging by Adding Mn²⁺

by Tianyu Xu, Sanlin Bao, Qiuyue Yu and Yu Gao

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010127 - 7 Jan 2025

Abstract

Drip irrigation with a fertilizer application could effectively alleviate the soil pollution caused by excessive phosphorus fertilizer. Phosphate fertilizer was dissolved in water and produced a chemical reaction with the ions in irrigation water. The new precipitates were generated, which caused more severe [...] Read more.

Drip irrigation with a fertilizer application could effectively alleviate the soil pollution caused by excessive phosphorus fertilizer. Phosphate fertilizer was dissolved in water and produced a chemical reaction with the ions in irrigation water. The new precipitates were generated, which caused more severe and complex blockage of drip irrigation emitters. Songhua River water was selected as the irrigation water. The experiment investigated the effects of three types of phosphorus fertilizers (urea phosphate, UP; potassium dihydrogen phosphate, PDP; ammonium polyphosphate, APP) and the concentrations (0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 g/L) on the blockage of drip irrigation emitter. The results showed that three types of phosphorus fertilizers intensified the degree of blockage compared with no fertilization, the order from small to large being UP < PDP < APP. The degree of blockage was directly proportional to the concentration of phosphate fertilizer. The system discharge variation ratio (Dra) under UP, PDP, and APP treatments decreased by an average of 6.2~27.7%, 13.8~33.8%, and 21.5~44.6%, respectively. The Christiansen coefficient of uniformity (CU) decreased by an average of 5.9~23.5%, 10.3~27.9%, and 19.1~38.2%. The UP was superior to PDP and APP from the perspective of drip irrigation evaluation indicators. The main reason was that UP reduced the pH value of the water source and inhibited the generation of carbonates. The APP was unable to lower the pH value and had the most serious blockage. The APP was coupled with three concentrations of Mn²⁺ (1, 2, and 3 mg/L) for drip irrigation, which could optimize the blockage problem and explore the efficacy of Mn²⁺. The 2 mg/L Mn²⁺ could maximize the drip irrigation efficiency of the APP. The average increase in Dra and CU was 24.57% and 18.54% macroscopically. Mn²⁺ could alter the lattice parameters of carbonates and had a certain impact on their size and morphological distribution on a microscopic level. The results showed that fertilization with UP at a concentration of 0.2 g/L did not significantly exacerbate clogging. The drip irrigation effect of Songhua River water combined with 0.2 g/L concentration UP was the best. Moreover, 2 mg/L of Mn²⁺ was proposed to alleviate the clogging characteristics of APP4. This study could provide reference for improving the efficiency of the Songhua River drip irrigation system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Saving in Irrigated Agriculture: Series II)

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19 pages, 3457 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cross-Stressful Adaptation to Drought and High Salinity Is Related to Variable Antioxidant Defense, Proline Metabolism, and Dehydrin b Expression in White Clover

by Yao Ling, Duo Wang, Yan Peng, Dandan Peng and Zhou Li

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010126 - 7 Jan 2025

Abstract

A previous exposure to drought priming (DP) or salt priming (SP) could significantly improve future tolerance to both the same and different abiotic stresses, which is an effective mitigation strategy for plants to adapt to changing environmental conditions. If the type of stress [...] Read more.

A previous exposure to drought priming (DP) or salt priming (SP) could significantly improve future tolerance to both the same and different abiotic stresses, which is an effective mitigation strategy for plants to adapt to changing environmental conditions. If the type of stress priming is different from subsequent abiotic stress, this indicates that plants are trained to acquire cross tolerance. The objective of this study was to explore DP-regulated cross tolerance to salt stress and SP-induced cross tolerance to drought associated with changes in growth, antioxidant defense, proline metabolism, and the expression of the dehydration-responsive gene Dehydrin b involved in the stabilization of membrane systems, cryoprotection of intracellular proteins, and enhancement in water retention capacity in white clover (Trifolium repens). Plants were pretreated by initial DP or SP and then subjected to subsequent salt stress or drought stress for 10 days, respectively. The results demonstrated that DP significantly increased number of roots during subsequent salt stress, whereas SP significantly improved stem length, root length, and number of roots under drought stress, which indicated that the SP exhibited more pronounced and positive effects on mitigating subsequent drought-induced growth retardant. Both salt stress and drought resulted in significant increases in electrolyte leakage and contents of superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and malonaldehyde due to reduced superoxide dismutase, peroxide, and catalase, as well as key enzyme activities in the ascorbate–glutathione cycle. SP or DP could significantly enhance these enzyme activities to alleviate subsequent drought- or salt-induced oxidative damage. SP or DP also significantly improved the accumulation of proline contributing to better water homeostasis by promoting biosynthetic enzyme activities (Δ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase and aminotransferase) and restricting proline dehydrogenase activity for proline degradation under drought or salt stress, respectively. In addition, SP significantly up-regulated the expression of dehydrin b under drought stress, but DP failed to induce the expression of dehydrin b in response to subsequent salt stress. The current findings proved that the pre-exposure of white clover plants to DP or SP could effectively mitigate the negative effects of subsequent salt stress or drought related to some common and different pathways. Plants pretreated by initial DP or SP exhibited better adaption to subsequent different stress by regulating growth, physiological, metabolic, and transcriptional changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms of Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Grass Species)

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13 pages, 1025 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Models for Describing Photosynthetic Light–Response Curves and Estimating Parameters in Rice Leaves at Various Canopy Positions

by Yangjie Guo and Yuping Lv

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010125 - 6 Jan 2025

Abstract

The photosynthetic light–response (P_n/I) curve is a crucial tool for accurately estimating photosynthetic parameters. However, selecting the most suitable model from numerous available light–response models is still difficult because of the complex canopy structure. This study aimed to [...] Read more.

The photosynthetic light–response (P_n/I) curve is a crucial tool for accurately estimating photosynthetic parameters. However, selecting the most suitable model from numerous available light–response models is still difficult because of the complex canopy structure. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of different models, including the rectangular hyperbolic model (RHM), non-rectangular hyperbolic model (NRHM), exponential model (EM), and modified rectangular hyperbolic model (MRHM), in modeling P_n/I curves and estimating photosynthetic parameters for rice leaves at various canopy positions. The results showed that the NRHM demonstrated the highest accuracy, and the EM was identified as the most ideal in estimating P_n. The RHM consistently overestimated the maximum net photosynthetic rate (P_nmax), apparent quantum efficiency (α), dark respiration rate (R_d), and light compensation point (LCP) while underestimating light saturation point (LSP) for all rice leaves. The NRHM overestimated P_nmax, underestimated LSP, and accurately estimated LCP for all leaves, and overestimated α and R_d for top leaves but performed well for lower leaves. The EM excelled in estimating P_nmax and LSP for all leaves and performed well in estimating α for the top third and fourth leaves, R_d for the top four leaves, and LCP for the top six leaves. The MRHM was effective in estimating P_nmax but consistently overestimated α, R_d, and LSP for all leaves. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Farming Sustainability)

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14 pages, 2449 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Grazing Intensity on Microbial Diversity at Different Soil Depths in Desert Steppe Soils

by Yuxin Wang, Xin Ju, Qian Wu and Guodong Han

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010124 - 6 Jan 2025

Abstract

This study examines the influence of grazing intensity on soil microbial communities in a desert steppe ecosystem. Soil samples were collected from three depths (0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, and 20–30 cm) under varying grazing intensities: control (CK), light (LG), moderate (MG), and heavy [...] Read more.

This study examines the influence of grazing intensity on soil microbial communities in a desert steppe ecosystem. Soil samples were collected from three depths (0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, and 20–30 cm) under varying grazing intensities: control (CK), light (LG), moderate (MG), and heavy grazing (HG). Key soil physicochemical properties and plant characteristics were analyzed alongside microbial diversity and community composition, which were assessed by identifying amplicon sequence variants and by conducting linear discriminant analysis effect size. The results showed that grazing intensity significantly impacted soil moisture, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and phosphorus levels, with a notable decrease in plant cover and microbial diversity under heavy grazing. CK and LG treatments supported higher microbial diversity, especially in surface layers, while heavy grazing was associated with a shift in community composition toward stress-tolerant taxa like Acidobacteriota and Blastocatella. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis revealed differences in microbial community structure between soil depths, with the effects of grazing diminishing with depth. These findings highlight the critical role of sustainable grazing practices in maintaining soil health and microbial diversity, with implications for the long-term resilience of desert steppe ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Utilization and Management of Grassland Ecosystems)

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15 pages, 3524 KiB

Open AccessPerspective

Electric Discharge-Generating Devices Developed for Pathogen, Insect Pest, and Weed Management: Current Status and Future Directions

by Shin-ichi Kusakari and Hideyoshi Toyoda

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010123 - 6 Jan 2025

Abstract

Electrostatic techniques have introduced innovative approaches to devise efficient tools for pest control across various categories, encompassing pathogens, insects, and weeds. The focus on electric discharge technology has proven pivotal in establishing effective methods with simple device structures, enabling cost-effective fabrication using readily [...] Read more.

Electrostatic techniques have introduced innovative approaches to devise efficient tools for pest control across various categories, encompassing pathogens, insects, and weeds. The focus on electric discharge technology has proven pivotal in establishing effective methods with simple device structures, enabling cost-effective fabrication using readily available materials. The electric discharge-generating devices can be assembled using commonplace conductor materials, such as ordinary metal nets linked to a voltage booster and a grounded electric wire. The strategic pairing of charged and grounded conductors at specific intervals generates an electric field, leading the charged conductor to initiate a corona discharge in the surrounding space. As the applied voltage increases, the corona discharge intensifies and may eventually result in an arc discharge due to the breakdown of air when the voltage surpasses the insulation resistance limit. The utilization of corona and arc discharges plays a crucial role in these techniques, with the corona-discharging stage creating (1) negative ions to stick to pests, which can then be captured with a positively charged pole, (2) ozone gas to sterilize plant hydroponic solutions, and (3) plasma streams to exterminate fungal colonies on leaves, and the arc-discharging stage projecting electric sparks to zap and kill pests. These electric discharge phenomena have been harnessed to develop reliable devices capable of managing pests across diverse classes. In this review, we elucidate past achievements and challenges in device development, providing insights into the current status of research. Additionally, we discuss the future directions of research in this field, outlining potential avenues for further exploration and improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Pathogen, Insect Pest, and Weed Control in Field and Greenhouse Cropping Systems—2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 5492 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Simulation and Test of Key Decorticating Components of Spiral Ramie Decorticator

by Wenlong Zheng, Lan Ma, Jiajie Liu, Bo Yan, Yiping Duan, Sixun Chen, Jiangnan Lyu and Wei Xiang

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010122 - 6 Jan 2025

Abstract

Ramie is a valuable natural fiber resource. The fabric made of ramie fiber has distinctive natural characteristics, and its products are widely favored in the international market. Because the cellulose fiber in ramie is closely adhered by a viscous material composed of pectin, [...] Read more.

Ramie is a valuable natural fiber resource. The fabric made of ramie fiber has distinctive natural characteristics, and its products are widely favored in the international market. Because the cellulose fiber in ramie is closely adhered by a viscous material composed of pectin, hemicellulose, and lignin, mechanical stripping and processing is needed to obtain primary ramie fiber for downstream use. To address the production challenges posed by high labor intensity and the scarcity of small, direct-feeding ramie decorticators in hilly and mountainous regions, this study designed and optimized a spiral ramie decortication component that integrated functions of ramie stalk crushing, xylem removal, outer shell scraping, and phloem separating and throwing. The three-dimensional model of the ramie stripping component was crafted with SolidWorks software, and subsequent modal analysis and dynamic simulation studies were conducted using Abaqus software. The Box–Behnken experimental design method was used to construct a mathematical model describing the effects of the decorticating drum rotation speed and the decorticating gap on the fiber percentage of fresh stalk, and the optimal operating parameters were determined accordingly. The research findings indicated that the component’s initial ten natural frequencies span from 234.41 to 431.70 Hz, which do not overlap with the external excitation frequencies, thus ensuring that no resonance phenomenon occurs during the operation process, meeting the design requirements for the ramie decortication operation. Under dynamic load conditions, the ramie decorticator can efficiently perform the task of ramie fiber decortication, and the stress and strain experienced by the device meet the established design specifications; by optimizing operating parameters, the optimal operating conditions were determined to be the speed of feeding and crushing parts (SFCP) of 100 r/min, the speed of separating and throwing parts (SSTP) of 400 r/min, the gap of feeding and crushing parts (GFCP) of 8 mm, and the gap of separating and throwing parts (GSTP) of 0 mm. Experimental results indicated that under this optimal parameter combination, the fiber percentage of fresh stalk of the spiral ramie decorticator can reach 5.03%, with a relative error of less than 3% compared to the theoretical model prediction value, thus confirming the accuracy of the model prediction. This study establishes a robust technical basis for the development of a convenient decortication technology for ramie fibers. However, this technique is more suitable for small growers, especially in hilly areas, to achieve large-scale applications, schemes must be reevaluated based on production efficiency. Full article

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15 pages, 28079 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Verification of the Introgression of Narenga porphyrocoma Germplasm into Saccharum officinarum Using Molecular Markers and GISH Analysis

by Gang Wang, Wei Zhang, Yuanxia Qin, Qingdan Wu, Qinggan Liang, Jiantao Wu, Shengren Sun, Zhuqing Wang, Yuxing An, Jianqiang Wang, Qinnan Wang and Hailong Chang

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010121 - 6 Jan 2025

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), a critical crop for sugar and bioenergy production, faces challenges in genetic improvement due to limited genetic diversity from selective breeding. Expanding genetic resources through intergeneric hybridization, particularly with Narenga porphyrocoma, offers a promising avenue to introduce traits [...] Read more.

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), a critical crop for sugar and bioenergy production, faces challenges in genetic improvement due to limited genetic diversity from selective breeding. Expanding genetic resources through intergeneric hybridization, particularly with Narenga porphyrocoma, offers a promising avenue to introduce traits like stress resistance and high biomass productivity. However, verifying true hybrids remains challenging with traditional morphological methods. This study employed tetra-primer ARMS-PCR and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) to accurately identify intergeneric hybrids between S. officinarum and N. porphyrocoma. Species-specific primers were designed based on SNPs in the nrDNA-ITS region for ARMS-PCR, enabling effective differentiation of parental and hybrid genotypes, while GISH confirmed the chromosomal composition of hybrids, revealing an n + n inheritance pattern. The results demonstrated the potential of N. porphyrocoma to improve sugarcane’s tillering and leaf length, although sucrose content was lower in hybrids, suggesting the need for further breeding efforts. This study uniquely contributes to sugarcane breeding by providing an effective method for hybrid verification and laying a foundation for incorporating beneficial N. porphyrocoma genes into sugarcane cultivars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Crop Breeding and Genetics)

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18 pages, 5467 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Stem and Leaf Segmentation and Phenotypic Parameter Extraction of Tomato Seedlings Based on 3D Point

by Xuemei Liang, Wenbo Yu, Li Qin, Jianfeng Wang, Peng Jia, Qi Liu, Xiaoyu Lei and Minglai Yang

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010120 - 5 Jan 2025

Abstract

High-throughput measurements of phenotypic parameters in plants generate substantial data, significantly improving agricultural production optimization and breeding efficiency. However, these measurements face several challenges, including environmental variability, sample heterogeneity, and complex data processing. This study presents a method applicable to stem and leaf [...] Read more.

High-throughput measurements of phenotypic parameters in plants generate substantial data, significantly improving agricultural production optimization and breeding efficiency. However, these measurements face several challenges, including environmental variability, sample heterogeneity, and complex data processing. This study presents a method applicable to stem and leaf segmentation and parameter extraction during the tomato seedling stage, utilizing three-dimensional point clouds. Focusing on tomato seedlings, data was captured using a depth camera to create point cloud models. The RANSAC, region-growing, and greedy projection triangulation algorithms were employed to extract phenotypic parameters such as plant height, stem thickness, leaf area, and leaf inclination angle. The results showed strong correlations, with coefficients of determination for manually measured parameters versus extracted 3D point cloud parameters being 0.920, 0.725, 0.905, and 0.917, respectively. The root-mean-square errors were 0.643, 0.168, 1.921, and 4.513, with absolute percentage errors of 3.804%, 5.052%, 5.509%, and 7.332%. These findings highlight a robust relationship between manual measurements and the extracted parameters, establishing a technical foundation for high-throughput automated phenotypic parameter extraction in tomato seedlings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Precision and Digital Agriculture)

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20 pages, 2818 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effective Combination of Advancing Transplantation Date with High-Yielding Cultivars for Paddy Rice Could Increase the Yield Potential Under Climate Warming in China

by He Zhang, Guangsheng Zhou and Qijin He

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010119 - 5 Jan 2025

Abstract

Climate change will have a significant impact on agricultural productivity. Rice is one of the main grains in the world, the stability of its production and supply is directly related to global food security. Based on field observation data from 2000 to 2012 [...] Read more.

Climate change will have a significant impact on agricultural productivity. Rice is one of the main grains in the world, the stability of its production and supply is directly related to global food security. Based on field observation data from 2000 to 2012 and a biophysical process-oriented CERES-Rice crop model at three typical sites, we investigated the effects of cultivar improvement, different transplanting dates and their interactions on rice yield potential in the major paddy rice production areas of China. Rice planting systems were optimized with an optimal combination of varieties and transplanting dates, and their adaptability under future climate conditions (climate projections from five global climate models under four typical concentration path scenarios) was assessed. The results showed that cultivar improvement could increase the rice yield potential by 18.0–41.4%. The appropriate transplanting date might increase the yield potential of the existing rice by 1.9–6.7%. The advance in the transplanting date combined with the application of high-yielding cultivars would prolong the growth period of rice and increase the rice yield potential by 26.3–51.8%. An effective combination of the transplanting date and cultivar is an efficient approach to increase the yield potential of rice. The results provided an important reference and choice for the scientific management of and yield increase in rice in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Agroecology Innovation: Achieving System Resilience)

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16 pages, 2187 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Piriformospora indica Enhances Rice Blast Resistance and Plant Growth

by Manegdebwaoga Arthur Fabrice Kabore, Guanpeng Huang, Changqing Feng, Shuhong Wu, Jiayi Guo, Guofeng Wu, Yiqiong Sun, Samuel Tareke Woldegiorgis, Yufang Ai, Lina Zhang, Wei Liu and Huaqin He

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010118 - 4 Jan 2025

Abstract

Rice blast disease, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae), is a significant threat to global rice production. Conventional methods for disease management face limitations, emphasizing the importance of sustainable alternatives. In this study, two rice cultivars with different blast resistance abilities, [...] Read more.

Rice blast disease, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae), is a significant threat to global rice production. Conventional methods for disease management face limitations, emphasizing the importance of sustainable alternatives. In this study, two rice cultivars with different blast resistance abilities, the susceptible variety CO39 and the resistant variety Pi4b, were used as materials to study the effects of Piriformospora indica (Pi) on the resistance to M. oryzae infection and rice growth. The in vitro tests revealed no direct antagonistic interaction between Pi and M. oryzae. However, the in vivo experiments showed that Pi promoted plant growth by increasing root and shoot length, chlorophyll content, and nitrogen uptake, particularly in CO39 during pathogen infection. Pi inoculation also significantly reduced disease severity, which was indicated by smaller lesion areas and shorter lesion lengths in both cultivars but a more pronounced effect in CO39. This occurred due to the decreasing levels of MDA and the modulating activity of antioxidant enzymes in Pi-inoculated rice plants. At the early stage of M. oryzae infection, the expression of the ethylene signaling gene OsEIN2 and the gibberellin biosynthesis gene OsGA20ox1 in Pi-inoculated CO39 decreased but significantly increased in both rice cultivars at the later stage. The reverse was found for the pathogenesis-related (PR) genes OsPR10 and OsPBZ1 and the blast-resistant genes OsBRG1, OsBRG2, and OsBRW1, suggesting early growth suppression for rice resilience to blast followed by a later shift back to growth. Meanwhile, Pi inoculation increased OsCesA9 expression in rice to strengthen cell walls and establish the primary defense barrier against M. oryzae and upregulated the expression of OsNPR1 without a significant difference in CO39 but downregulated it in Pi4b to activate PR genes to enhance plant resistance. In summary, these results underscore the potential of Pi as a sustainable biological control agent for rice blast disease, which is particularly beneficial for blast-susceptible rice cultivars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pest and Disease Management)

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17 pages, 6207 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Analysis of the PLATZ Gene Family in Oryza Genus: Evolution, Expression During Inflorescence Development and Stress Responses

by Hongwei Chen, Xiufang Ma, Guilan Lv, Zheng Wang, Lili Wang, Bowen Yan, Wenqi Shang, Xianju Wang, Zuobin Ma and Wenjing Zheng

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010117 - 4 Jan 2025

Abstract

The PLATZ gene family, known for its pivotal roles in regulating plant growth, development, and stress responses, is of great significance in rice biology and crop improvement efforts. In this study, we undertook a comprehensive identification and analysis of the PLATZ gene family [...] Read more.

The PLATZ gene family, known for its pivotal roles in regulating plant growth, development, and stress responses, is of great significance in rice biology and crop improvement efforts. In this study, we undertook a comprehensive identification and analysis of the PLATZ gene family across 10 Oryza genus species, including both cultivated and wild rice varieties. A total of 144 PLATZ genes were identified, demonstrating their widespread distribution. Phylogenetic analysis revealed six distinct groups among these genes, with high sequence similarity among members indicating a common evolutionary origin and potential functional conservation. Further analysis of conserved motifs, domains, and promoter regions provided insights into the transcriptional regulation and potential functions of PLATZ genes. Notably, expression profiling showed differential expression patterns of specific PLATZ genes, such as OsPLATZ7, OsPLATZ9, and OsPLATZ11, under various abiotic stress conditions and hormone treatments, highlighting their important roles in stress adaptation and hormone signaling. Additionally, the consistently high expression of OsPLATZ9 across multiple tissues suggests its involvement in multiple developmental processes. Overall, this study provides a detailed characterization of the PLATZ gene family in rice, laying the foundation for future functional studies and potential applications in agricultural biotechnology. Full article

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23 pages, 4476 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Split Application of Potassium Reduces Rice Chalkiness by Regulating Starch Accumulation Process Under High Temperatures

by Xinyue Zhang, Youfa Li, Junjie Dong, Yuanze Sun and Haowei Fu

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010116 - 4 Jan 2025

Abstract

Chalkiness in rice is adversely affected by high temperatures during the flowering and grain-filling stages. Potassium (K) is essential for improving grain quality and heat resilience. The effects of split application K fertilizer on rice chalkiness under high temperatures during the flowering and [...] Read more.

Chalkiness in rice is adversely affected by high temperatures during the flowering and grain-filling stages. Potassium (K) is essential for improving grain quality and heat resilience. The effects of split application K fertilizer on rice chalkiness under high temperatures during the flowering and grain-filling stages were investigated in this study. Four treatments, including ambient temperatures with basal K fertilizer (AT-K1), high temperatures with basal K fertilizer (HT-K1), high temperatures with 70% K pre-transplanting and 30% K at the heading stage (HT-K2), and high temperatures with 30% K pre-transplanting and 70% K at the heading stage (HT-K3), were conducted. The results revealed that the chalky grain rate and chalkiness degree were reduced by 9.2–13.72% and 12.16–19.91%, respectively, by the split application of K fertilizer through effectively modulating the sucrose-to-starch conversion process in the rice grains, relative to the single basal application of K fertilizer under high temperatures. Specifically, the split application of K fertilizer reduced the enzymatic activities of SuSy, ADPGase, and SBE by 3.17–34.20% at 5–10 DAA, and GBSS and SSS by 6.48–13.50% at 5 DAA, but enhanced them by 5.50–54.90% from 15 DAA and 2.07–97.10% from 10 DAA. Similarly, the gene expression levels of enzymes involved in this process were decreased by 3.52–24.12% at 5 DAA but increased by 8.61–30.00% at 20 DAA by the split application of K fertilizer. This modulation led to a retardation in the excessive accumulation of starch during the early grain-filling stage but a higher starch accumulation rate during the middle and later stages, combined with a longer duration of starch accumulation, ultimately resulting in higher starch accumulation and reduced rice chalkiness. These results suggest that the application of K fertilizer during the heading stage is effective in compensating the deterioration of rice chalkiness by high temperatures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant-Crop Biology and Biochemistry)

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13 pages, 9527 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil CH₄, CO₂, and N₂O Emissions and Their Global Warming Potential in Agricultural Peatlands

by Yao Shi, Xiaowei Wei, Lianxi Sheng and Xuechen Yang

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010115 - 4 Jan 2025

Abstract

Globally, 14–20% of peatlands are affected by agricultural activities, which account for about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions from farmlands. However, how agricultural activities such as nitrogen fertilization affect peatlands’ CH₄, CO₂ and N₂O emission patterns and [...] Read more.

Globally, 14–20% of peatlands are affected by agricultural activities, which account for about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions from farmlands. However, how agricultural activities such as nitrogen fertilization affect peatlands’ CH₄, CO₂ and N₂O emission patterns and their resulting warming effects needs to be improved and complemented. Here, we elucidate the characterization of CH₄, CO₂ and N₂O emissions from the soil surface and different depths of the soil profile during the growing season of agricultural peatlands for over 50 years and the mechanisms of their resulting global warming potential (GWP) impact through field monitoring and molecular techniques. The 100-year GWP of peatlands increased by 1200% with N fertilization of 260 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. At the soil surface, N fertilization increased CO₂ and N₂O emissions by 111% and 2600%, respectively, although CH₄ emissions decreased by 87%. In the soil profile, N fertilization had a significant effect on CO₂ from 0 to 60 cm, resulting in an increase in CO₂ concentrations of 14–132%, whereas the top 30 cm of soil was the zone of significant N fertilization effects, with CH₄ concentrations decreasing by 49–95% and N₂O concentrations increasing by 22–26%. Elevated soil pH and NH₄⁺ were the key environmental factors influencing CH₄, CO₂ and N₂O emissions and their resulting increase in GWP. These results suggest that agricultural N fertilization led to a change in the contributor to the GWP of peatlands from CH₄ to N₂O, especially in the top 30 cm of soil. This study helps to provide theoretical support for the development of effective peatland management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Carbon and Its Role in Soil Carbon Sequestration)

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15 pages, 6152 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Biomass Materials and Nitrogen Application on the Composition of the Microbial Community in Moderately Saline Soils

by Chunyan Yin, Hu Liu, Ju Zhao, Liang Feng, Shuchun Guo, Yu Li and Xiaoqi Li

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010114 - 4 Jan 2025

Abstract

[Objective] Soil microorganisms are the most active parts in soil and are sensitive to soil additives. This study aimed to clarify the impacts of the addition of biomass materials (corn straw and biochar) and nitrogen application on the compositions of the soil microbial [...] Read more.

[Objective] Soil microorganisms are the most active parts in soil and are sensitive to soil additives. This study aimed to clarify the impacts of the addition of biomass materials (corn straw and biochar) and nitrogen application on the compositions of the soil microbial community in moderately saline soils (salt content was 0.4%). [Method] Indoor constant-temperature cultivation experiments were conducted to study the effects of biomass materials and nitrogen application on the microbial diversity and community structure in moderately saline soils. This experiment had a two-way factorial design, with the biomass materials and nitrogen application rates as the treatments. The biomass materials included no addition of biomass materials as a control (C0), corn straw (C1, 0.64 g/pot), and biochar (C2, 0.85 g/pot), and the nitrogen application rates included 0 g N (N0), 0.015 g N (N1), and 0.03 g N (N2). There were nine treatments, as follows: C0N0, C0N1, C0N2, C1N0, C1N1, C1N2, C2N0, C2N1, and C2N2. [Results] (1) The different biomass materials and nitrogen application levels significantly influenced the α-diversity and composition of the bacterial community. At the initial stage of cultivation, the soil bacterial diversity was relatively high, and it significantly decreased after 35 days of cultivation. Moreover, the improvement of the bacterial community structure by the biochar treatment was better than that of corn straw. After 35 days of cultivation, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes in the soil significantly increased, while the relative abundance of Gemmatimonadete, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Patescibacteria significantly decreased. Ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and nitrate reductase were the main environmental factors affecting the bacterial community. (2) The different biomass materials and nitrogen treatments significantly affected the richness of the fungal communities. The fungal richness index significantly increased after adding the corn straw and biochar treatments, and the addition of corn straw promoted an increase in the beneficial bacterial abundance in the moderately saline soil. Soil nitrate reductase and ammonium nitrogen were the main environmental factors affecting the fungal community. [Conclusions] In summary, biomass materials and nitrogen application can effectively increase the diversity of soil microbial communities and optimize the structure of microbial communities, thereby ameliorating the ecosystem health of moderately saline soil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)

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21 pages, 2556 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Uniqueness and Pomological Diversity Among the Apple Accessions Maintained Within the Croatian National Clonal Germplasm Repository

by Danijel Čiček, Almira Konjić, Martina Skendrović Babojelić, Predrag Vujević, Silvio Šimon and Fuad Gaši

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010113 - 4 Jan 2025

Abstract

In the Croatian apple germplasm, there are, presumably, unique genotypes that have not yet been documented in reference molecular databases. Due to similarities between accessions, incorrect names are often used, which creates a problem in the identification of accessions. Overall, 169 apple accessions [...] Read more.

In the Croatian apple germplasm, there are, presumably, unique genotypes that have not yet been documented in reference molecular databases. Due to similarities between accessions, incorrect names are often used, which creates a problem in the identification of accessions. Overall, 169 apple accessions and 11 reference cultivars from the largest ex situ apple collection in the Republic of Croatia were investigated within this study. The examined accessions have been genotyped using SSR markers. In order to assess the advantage of a high-resolution marker system, such as SNPs, compared to low-resolution markers, such as SSRs, a subset of 23 unique apple accessions and eight reference cultivars were genotyped using the 480K Affymetrix Axiom SNP array. Results obtained through the use of two marker systems revealed 26 synonyms, 40 duplicates, 13 mislabeling accessions, 45 accessions with confirmed identity (known cultivars), and 45 unique accessions, as well as the true identity of a large number of accessions, currently maintained at the Croatian National Apple Germplasm Bank. In order to investigate the pomological variability of unique apples, a three-year study was carried out on eleven pomological traits. The researched germplasm shows an exceptional diversity of pomological properties. Many of the accessions can be considered unique, and the results of the pomological characterization indicated that this germplasm contains valuable traits of interest for future breeding programs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Crop Breeding and Genetics)

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