scholarly journals Field Evaluation of CRISPR-Driven Jointless Pedicel Fresh-Market Tomatoes

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1957
Author(s):  
Tong Geon Lee ◽  
Samuel F. Hutton

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-driven traits are commonly introduced into tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) in less than a year. Although CRISPR technology is highly suitable for rapid incorporation of new traits into plants with superior breeding backgrounds, the usefulness of these traits must be demonstrated prior to large-scale distribution of any new variety possessing them. The jointless pedicel trait is crucial for stem-free harvest of tomato fruits and is therefore an essential requirement for developing low-labor tomato varieties. We aimed to evaluate the effect of CRISPR-driven jointless pedicel trait on the yield and horticultural traits of fresh-market tomatoes. We conducted field trials during three consecutive seasons using three related genotypes of two elite fresh-market tomatoes, namely a jointed pedicel tomato, a CRISPR-driven jointless pedicel mutant of the jointed pedicel tomato, and a conventionally-bred jointless pedicel near isogenic line (NIL) to the jointed pedicel tomato. Field evaluations confirmed that the total and medium-, large-, or extra-large-size fruit yields of the CRISPR-driven mutants were not statistically different for those corresponding to their backgrounds and that the fruit yield stratified by fruit size might be varied under different growth conditions. We did not observe any negative correlation between the genotype and the fruit/abscission joint detachment force for any of the genotypes under study.

1995 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. 854-860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry C. Kelly' ◽  
Yao-Chi Lu ◽  
Aref A. Abdul-Baki ◽  
John R. Teasdale

Concern for the environment has focussed attention on the need for environmentally sound, yet economically profitable, farming practices. A hairy vetch (Vicia villosa L. Roth.) organic mulch system for fresh-market tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) production provides environmental benefits by enhancing the soil and reducing the need for fertilizer and herbicide inputs and is more profitable than conventional practices. Tomato field trials over 3 years at the Beltsville (Md.) Agricultural Research Center compared the hairy vetch mulch system with black polyethylene mulch and bare ground (no mulch). Using partial budget analysis in a farm context, the hairy vetch mulch treatment was more profitable in all years under all market and yield adjustment scenarios. The vetch mulch system also was the preferred system for a risk-averse grower, according to a safety-first criterion. The combination of environmental benefits and the economic benefits to the grower make the hairy vetch mulch system an attractive alternative for producing fresh-market tomatoes in the Mid-Atlantic and parts of northeastern United States.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-139
Author(s):  
P.M. Pratheesh Kumar

Mulberry is cultivated throughout India as a host plant of silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) reared for commercial production of silk. The quality of silk produced depends largely on the quality of leaf fed to silkworm. Various mulberry diseases limit quality and quantity of silk production affecting the economic return to the farmers. Among these, root rot caused by a group of fungi is a severe threat for mulberry leaf production, especially in southern states of India due to large scale mortality and enormous crop loss. Though many fungi are isolated from the infected root, Fusarium solani is the one frequently found associated with the disease. Chemical control with fungicides is not advisable due the environmental concern and toxicity to the soil and silkworm. Thus, recently a broad spectrum environment friendly formulation viz., Rotfix has been developed by the Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute, Mysore and recommended after limited on-farm and field trials. However its efficiency has not been evaluated at the farmers’ level in large scale. The present study has been conducted to evaluate the effect of Rot-fix in large scale in four southern states of India. The Rot-fix has been applied to the infected plants and their recovery has been studied. There was a high recovery (86.76-91.96%) of the infected plants after application of Rot-fix. Though the leaf yield was significantly (P<0.01) lower (2.48%) in the recovered plants in first crop, by the second crop the plants were recovered completely and started giving yield the statistically on par with untreated healthy plants. The study therefore recommends the use of Rot-fix in large scale for control of root rot disease of mulberry.


Author(s):  
D.J. Barker ◽  
J.A. Baars

Grasslands Wana cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) has potential for use in hill country, especially dry hill country. Although Wana can have slow spring growth it is usually more productive in summer and autumn. Prior to large-scale field evaluation, strategies for incorporating significant areas of new species into farming systems can be evaluated with a farm-system model. The objective of this work was to use the farm-system model, Stockpol, to investigate the influence of 0, 33, 66, or 100% of a farm sown to Wana, on bull beef or breeding ewe enterprise productivity. Three scenarios, in which annual herbage dry matter production from Wana was -14%, +13%, and +41% relative to resident pasture controls, were identified from field trials and tested with the model. A strong relationship between annual production and stocking rate was found, with a lesser influence from seasonal distribution of production. 'The system model was a useful tool to compare these pastures, and highlighted deficiencies in our knowledge of cocksfoot. Keywords: Dactylis glomerata, farm system, Grasslands Wana, hill country, model, seasonal pasture production


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1407
Author(s):  
Courtney A. Weber

Annual plasticulture production of strawberries promises superior weed control, fruit quality and yields. However, strawberry varieties adapted for perennial, matted-row production and local markets in cold climate regions have not been widely tested for adaptation to an annual production cycle. Productivity of seven short-day varieties developed for matted-row and/or annual production was examined in an annual plasticulture system in two consecutive trials in central NY (lat. 42.87° N, long. 76.99° W) harvested in 2013 and 2014. ‘Flavorfest’ demonstrated good performance in Trial 1 with high yield (390 g/plant) and large fruit size (13.9 g mean berry weight). ‘Jewel’ was shown to be well adapted to the annual plasticulture system with consistently high yields (330 and 390 g/plant) that equaled or surpassed other varieties and had moderate fruit size. ‘Chandler’ performed similarly to previous trials conducted in warmer regions with yield (340 g/plant) and fruit size (9.8 g mean berry weight) similar to ‘Jewel’. ‘Clancy’ yielded less but was consistent from year to year. The late season varieties Seneca and Ovation showed marked variability between years, possibly due to drastically different temperatures during flowering and fruit development in Trial 1 compared to Trial 2. High temperatures in Trial 1 likely caused higher early fruit yield, a compressed season and a precipitous decline in fruit size in the later season, thus reducing yield in the late season. Survival after a second dormant period was poor resulting in a small second harvest and reduced fruit size. Overall, the system demonstrated many of the expected benefits but may be more sensitive to weather conditions in the region. While many varieties developed for matted-row production may work well in an annual plasticulture system, not all varieties are equally adapted. Performance of each variety should be determined independently before large scale adoption by growers.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1610
Author(s):  
Branka Vinterhalter ◽  
Nevena Banjac ◽  
Dragan Vinterhalter ◽  
Dijana Krstić-Milošević

The hairy root clones of Gentiana dinarica cl-B, cl-D, cl-3, and cl-14 were cultivated in parallel in diverse simple bioreactors, including temporary immersion systems RITA® (TIS RITA®), bubble column bioreactors (BCB), and Erlenmeyer flasks (EF), and evaluated for biomass production and xanthone content. The obtained results showed that TIS RITA® and BCB containing ½ MS medium with 4% sucrose provided equally good growth conditions in which the majority of the clones displayed the higher percentage of dry matter (DM%), and xanthones norswertianin-1-O-primeveroside (nor-1-O-prim) and norswertianin production than those cultivated in EF. Thin and well branched hairy root clone cl-B grown in BCB for 7 weeks was superior regarding all growth parameters tested, including growth index (19.97), dry weight (2.88 g), and DM% (25.70%) compared to all other clones. Cl-B cultured in TIS RITA® contained the highest amount of nor-1-O-prim (56.82 mg per vessel). In BCB with constant aeration, cl-B accumulated the highest norswertianin content reaching 18.08 mg/vessel. The optimized conditions for cultivation of selected G. dinarica hairy root clones in highly aerated TIS RITA® and BCB systems contribute to the development of bioreactor technology designed for the large scale commercial production of xanthones nor-1-O-prim and norswertianin.


1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 745 ◽  
Author(s):  
PA Taylor ◽  
SP Flett ◽  
RFde Boer ◽  
D Marshall

The period of susceptibility of potato tubers to powdery scab (Spongospora subterranea) was studied by inoculating potato plants with spores, or by watering plants in infested soil, at different stages of plant development in greenhouse conditions. Maximum susceptibility began about 1 week before the stage when 50% of stolons had swollen to at least 5-mm diameter (tuber set), and ended 3-4 weeks later. With holding irrigation water during this period reduced the severity of powdery scab by 65-75% in field experiments in 1981-82 and 1982-83, but had no apparent effect on disease severity in 3 out of 6 large-scale field trials during 1984-85.


2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy L. Klocko ◽  
Richard Meilan ◽  
Rosalind R. James ◽  
Venkatesh Viswanath ◽  
Cathleen Ma ◽  
...  

The stability and value of transgenic pest resistance for promoting tree growth are poorly understood. These data are essential for determining if such trees could be beneficial to commercial growers in the face of substantial regulatory and marketing costs. We investigated growth and insect resistance in hybrid poplar expressing the cry3Aa transgene in two field trials. An initial screening of 502 trees comprising 51 transgenic gene insertion events in four clonal backgrounds (Populus trichocarpa × Populus deltoides, clones 24-305, 50-197, and 198-434; and P. deltoides × Populus nigra, clone OP-367) resulted in transgenic trees with greatly reduced insect damage. A large-scale study of 402 trees from nine insertion events in clone OP-367, conducted over two growing seasons, demonstrated reduced tree damage and significantly increased volume growth (mean 14%). Quantification of Cry3Aa protein indicated high levels of expression, which continued after 14 years of annual or biannual coppice in a clone bank. With integrated management, the cry3Aa gene appears to be a highly effective tool for protecting against leaf beetle damage and improving yields from poplar plantations.


1985 ◽  
pp. 179-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. McQuaid ◽  
B. Roebuck ◽  
D. G. Wilde

1986 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 237-251
Author(s):  
R.J. Hill ◽  
T. Kroft ◽  
M. Zuker ◽  
I.C. Smith

A method is described, based on the phagocytosis of colloidal ferrite particles, which gives highly synchronous populations of Tetrahymena thermophila. To ensure a successful synchrony, the cell culture doubling time, the limits of the phagocytic period and the distribution of cell stages must first be determined. Once these parameters are known, synchrony can be achieved under a variety of growth conditions and with cultures ranging in volume from a few millilitres to 12 litres or more. The main advantages of the method are that the apparatus required is simple, large volumes of cells can be handled easily, and the synchronous populations can be prepared within a few hours. In principle, the method should be applicable to any cell population in which phagocytosis occurs discontinuously over the cell cycle.


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