Biostimulant Application Enhances Fruit Setting in Eggplant—An Insight into the Biology of Flowering

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is a warm climate crop. Its cultivation extends to temperate regions where low temperatures can affect the course of the generative phase, which is primarily sensitive to abiotic stress. The novelty of the present investigation consisted of characterising the heterostyly, pollination, and fertilisation biology of eggplants in field cultivations, which provided a basis for explaining the effect of a protective biostimulant on these processes. We aimed to investigate the flowering biology of three eggplant hybrids treated with Göemar BM-86®, containing Ascophylum nodosum extract, to determine the crucial mechanisms behind the increased flowering and fruit set efficiency and the final effect of increased yield. The flower phenotype (long, medium or short styled), fruit setting, and the number of seeds per fruit were recorded during the two vegetation periods. The numbers of pollen tubes and fertilised ovules in ovaries were evaluated during the generative stage of development to characterise the course of pollination and fertilisation for all types of flowers depending on the cultivar and biostimulant treatment. The expression of heterostyly depended on the eggplant genotype, age of the plant, fruit load, and biostimulant treatment. Domination by long-styled flowers was observed, amounting to 41%, 42%, and 55% of all flowers of “Epic” F1, “Flavine” F1, and “Gascona” F1, respectively. This flower phenotype contained the highest number of pollen tubes in the style and the highest number of fertilised ovules. The biostimulant had a positive effect on the flower and fruit set numbers, as well as on the pollination efficiency in all genotypes. Ascophylum nodosum extract could be used as an efficient stimulator of flowering and fruit setting for eggplant hybrids in field conditions in a temperate climatic zone.

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Pollination, fertilization and fruit formation in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2008.014 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 107-113 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Agnieszka Sękara ◽

Monika Bieniasz

Keyword(s):

Cross Sections ◽

Fruit Set ◽

Solanum Melongena ◽

Spatial Separation ◽

Pollen Tubes ◽

Diffi Cult ◽

Fruit Setting ◽

Fruit Formation ◽

Number Of Seeds ◽

Pollination And Fertilization

The aim of the investigations was to determine the regularity of pollination and fertilization as dependent on the phenotype of flower in eggplant. The experiment was conducted in 2005 and 2006 at the Agricultural University in Kraków, Poland. The object of the investigations was eggplant (<i>Solanum melongena</i> L.) 'Epic F<sub>1</sub>', grown in the open field. Flower phenotype (long-, medium- or short-styled), fruit setting and the number of seeds per fruit were recorded on experimental plants during the flowering period. The number of pollen tubes in the middle of the style and the number on fertilized ovules in ovaries were evaluated for all types of flowers. The course of pollination was different in particular types of eggplant flowers. Differences concerned only the number of pollen tubes and fertilized ovules of short, medium- and long-styled flowers and the number of seeds in the fruit. There was not observed any incompatibility in the growth on pollen tubes in the styles of all types of eggplant flowers. Stereomicroscopy observations of cross sections of the ovaries do not show differences in the formation and position of the ovules on the placenta. Short-styled flowers were characterized by significantly lower pollination and fruit set efficiency and they produced fruits with a significantly lower number of seeds. The low number of pollen tubes, fertilized ovules and seeds can be a straight consequence of the morphology of short-styled flowers: small-sized stigmas and spatial separation of anther pores and stigmas, which makes pollination diffi cult.

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Do s genes or deleterious recessives control late-acting self-incompatibility in Handroanthus heptaphyllus (Bignoniaceae)? A diallel study with four full sib progeny arrays

Annals of Botany ◽

10.1093/aob/mcab031 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marta B Bianchi ◽

Thomas R Meagher ◽

Peter E Gibbs

Keyword(s):

Genetic Control ◽

Inbreeding Depression ◽

Fruit Set ◽

Genetic Model ◽

Pollen Tubes ◽

Self Incompatibility ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Partial Embryo ◽

Ovule Penetration ◽

S Genes

Abstract Background and Aims Genetically controlled self-incompatibility (SI) mechanisms constrain selfing and thus have contributed to the evolutionary diversity of flowering plants. In homomorphic gametophytic SI (GSI) and homomorphic sporophytic SI (SSI), genetic control is usually by a single multi-allelic locus S. Both GSI and SSI prevent self pollen tubes reaching the ovary and so are pre-zygotic in action. In contrast, in taxa with late-acting self-incompatibility (LSI), rejection is often post-zygotic, since self-pollen tubes grow to the ovary where fertilization may occur prior to floral abscission. Alternatively, lack of self fruit set could be due to early-acting inbreeding depression (EID). The aim of our study was to investigate mechanisms underlying lack of selfed fruit set in Handroanthus heptaphyllus in order to assess the likelihood of LSI versus EID. Methods We employed four full sib diallels to study the genetic control of LSI in Handroanthus heptaphyllus using a precociously flowering variant. We also used fluorescence microscopy to study the incidence of ovule penetration by pollen tubes in pistils that abscised following pollination or initiated fruits. Key Results All diallels showed reciprocally cross-incompatible full-sibs (RCI), reciprocally cross compatible full-sibs (RCC), and non-reciprocally compatible full-sibs (NRC) in almost equal proportions. There was no significant difference between the incidence of ovule penetrations in abscised pistils following self- and cross-incompatible pollinations, but those in successful cross pollinations were around twofold greater. Conclusions A genetic model postulating a single S locus with four s alleles, one of which, in the maternal parent, is dominant to the other three, will produce RCI, RCC and NRC situations each at 33 %, consistent with our diallel results. We favour this simple genetic control over an early-acting inbreeding depression (EID) explanation since none of our pollinations, successful or unsuccessful, resulted in partial embryo development, as would be expected under a whole genome EID effect.

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Interplay between cofactors and transcription factors in hematopoiesis and hematological malignancies

Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy ◽

10.1038/s41392-020-00422-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zi Wang ◽

Pan Wang ◽

Yanan Li ◽

Hongling Peng ◽

Yu Zhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Transcription Factors ◽

Hematological Malignancies ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽

Hematologic Disorders ◽

Cell Lineages ◽

Stage Of Development ◽

Transcription Complexes ◽

Insight Into

AbstractHematopoiesis requires finely tuned regulation of gene expression at each stage of development. The regulation of gene transcription involves not only individual transcription factors (TFs) but also transcription complexes (TCs) composed of transcription factor(s) and multisubunit cofactors. In their normal compositions, TCs orchestrate lineage-specific patterns of gene expression and ensure the production of the correct proportions of individual cell lineages during hematopoiesis. The integration of posttranslational and conformational modifications in the chromatin landscape, nucleosomes, histones and interacting components via the cofactor–TF interplay is critical to optimal TF activity. Mutations or translocations of cofactor genes are expected to alter cofactor–TF interactions, which may be causative for the pathogenesis of various hematologic disorders. Blocking TF oncogenic activity in hematologic disorders through targeting cofactors in aberrant complexes has been an exciting therapeutic strategy. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the models and functions of cofactor–TF interplay in physiological hematopoiesis and highlight their implications in the etiology of hematological malignancies. This review presents a deep insight into the physiological and pathological implications of transcription machinery in the blood system.

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The Epidemiology of Powdery Mildew on Concord Grapes

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto.2001.91.10.948 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 91 (10) ◽

pp. 948-955 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

David M. Gadoury ◽

Robert C. Seem ◽

Andrea Ficke ◽

Wayne F. Wilcox

Keyword(s):

Powdery Mildew ◽

Fruit Set ◽

Disease Incidence ◽

The United States ◽

Seasonal Development ◽

Peak Period ◽

Late Season ◽

Stage Of Development ◽

Concord Grapes ◽

Moderately Resistant

Vitis labruscana ‘Concord’ is a grape cultivar widely grown in the United States for processing into juice and other grape products. Concord grapes are sporadically but sometimes severely damaged by the grape powdery mildew pathogen, Uncinula necator. Although the foliage is often reported to be moderately resistant to powdery mildew, severe fruit infection occurs in some years. We observed the seasonal development of powdery mildew on leaves, rachises, and berries of unsprayed Concord grapevines. Inoculations of flower and fruit clusters revealed a brief period of berry susceptibility and a protracted period of rachis susceptibility. The rachis remained highly susceptible to infection, and the severity of rachis infection increased throughout the growing season until the rachis formed a periderm shortly before harvest. In contrast, berries were nearly immune to infection within 2 weeks after fruit set. Rachis and berry infections were detected before the disease was observed on foliage, and the incidence of rachis and berry infection often exceeded disease incidence observed on foliage until after fruit acquired substantial ontogenic resistance. Excellent control of fruit infection, and adequate control of leaf infection, was achieved by two fungicide applications targeted at the peak period of fruit susceptibility. Although Concord is thought to be moderately resistant to powdery mildew, the rachis is highly susceptible, and may be the avenue by which prebloom infections make their way onto the developing fruit. Late-season infection of the rachis neither spread to the fruit, nor did it cause fruit to drop prematurely, and may be of little economic consequence on fruit destined for processing. Although fruit of V. vinifera cultivars have been reported to remain susceptible to infection until berry sugar levels reach 8 to 15%, Concord fruit become nearly immune to infection nearly 6 weeks before this stage of development. Because powdery mildew does not become conspicuous on foliage until late summer, it is generally regarded as a late-season problem on Concord grapes, and previous management programs have reflected this belief. However, the greatest contribution to control of fruit infection is due to fungicides applied during the peak period of fruit susceptibility, from bloom until shortly after fruit set, long before the disease is observed on foliage.

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Are Exclusion Fences Effective in Protecting Threatened Plants?

10.21203/rs.3.rs-428654/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Juan Lorite ◽

Carlos Salazar-Mendías ◽

Roza Pawlak ◽

Eva Cañadas

Keyword(s):

Habitat Structure ◽

Fruit Set ◽

Population Level ◽

Target Species ◽

Human Pressure ◽

Threatened Plants ◽

Case Evaluation ◽

Individual Size ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Management Issues

Abstract Overgrazing stands out as threat factors on biodiversity, being especially harmful in the Mediterranean, due to strong human pressure and an accelerated climate change acting synergistically. Fencing is one of the most used tools in conservation biology to tackle this problem. Advantages of fences are usually fast, intuitive, and easy to evaluate. However, disadvantages could also arise (increasing interspecific competition, disturbing habitat structure, limiting pollination, reducing dispersion). Together with management issues (maintenance, conflicts with stakeholders, and pulling effect). Effectiveness of fencing for conservation has been frequently assessed for animals, while it is almost a neglected topic in plants. We evaluated the outcome of fencing three threatened and narrow-endemic plants. Selected 5 populations were only partly fenced, which allowed comparing different variables inside and outside the fence. For evaluating the fencing effects, we sampled several habitats (vegetation cover, composition, density of target species), and target-species features (individual size, neighbouring species, and fruit-set). Fencing had strong effects on the habitat and on target-species individuals, showing contrasting responses at species and population level. Particularly, for Erodium cazorlanum, fence had a positive effect in one case, and negative in another. In Hormathophylla baetica effect was positive in all populations. Finally, fencing negatively affected Solenanthus reverchonii by increasing competition and limiting seed-dispersal. Fencing outcome was different in assessed species, highlighting the need to a case-by-case evaluation to determine the net balance (pros vs. cons), also its suitability and most favourable option (i.e. permanent vs. temporary fences).

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Business Analytics and Its Role in Managing the Competitiveness of an Enterprise

Central Ukrainian Scientific Bulletin. Economic Sciences ◽

10.32515/2663-1636.2020.5(38).214-220 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 214-220

Author(s):

Bohdan Dmitrishin ◽

◽

Maksym Boroviy ◽

Keyword(s):

Adaptive Systems ◽

Full Potential ◽

Business Analytics ◽

Business Decision ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

Stage Of Development ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

Business Analysis ◽

Enterprise Competitiveness ◽

Positive Effect

The purpose of the article is to develop the methodological foundations of business analytics as a necessary component in the competitiveness management system of a modern enterprise. The article is devoted to solving the problem of relations business analytics (in particular business decision support systems) and systemic characteristics of enterprise competitiveness management. Substantiation of factors influencing the formation of the competitiveness of an enterprise becomes significant at this stage of development of the national economy. The publication summarizes the tasks, principles and goals of business analytics. The relations between business analytics and enterprise competitiveness is defined and structured. Business analytics aims to simplify the work of the company as much as possible, increasing the profitability of sales and minimizing losses, which will certainly have a positive effect on the competitiveness of an enterprise. It is noted that the qualitative improvement of the range and intellectual potential of an enterprise has a positive effect on the competitiveness of manufactured goods (services), personnel of an enterprise. Factors influencing the competitiveness of an enterprise are established and substantiated. The types of relations between business strategy and business analytics are analyzed. The significance and necessity of conducting business analysis for making managerial decisions are revealed. The tools of a business analyst in a rapidly changing environment are proposed. Ukrainian enterprises are recommended to use not static, but strategically-oriented adaptive systems of competitiveness management, based on the widespread use of business process modeling and business intelligence tools. Further research should be focused on the implementation of modern methods of business analytics in enterprises, taking into account the experience of the most developed countries, conducting a comparative analysis of business analysis tools to reveal their full potential, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages.

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Effect of Pedestrian Penalty on Pedestrian Behavior in Qatar

10.29117/quarfe.2021.0205 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Omar Khaled Ghonim ◽

Deepti Muley ◽

Mohamed Kharbeche ◽

Yousef Mohamed ◽

Ahmed Madkoor

Keyword(s):

Behavior Changes ◽

Actual Behavior ◽

Crash Data ◽

Before And After ◽

Twitter Account ◽

The Law ◽

Future Work ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Before And After Study ◽

Insight Into

Crashes involving pedestrians are a major concern for authorities in many developed and developing countries. To refrain pedestrians from illegal or unsafe road behavior, authorities introduced three pedestrian penalties in the State of Qatar from August 2019. This paper assesses the awareness, perception, and adaptive intentions of the new amendment to the pedestrians’ law. A questionnaire survey, designed in three languages, was distributed online using Qatar University contacts and Twitter account of the General Directorate of Traffic at the Ministry of Interior, State of Qatar. A sample of 521 complete responses was obtained and used for statistical analysis. The results indicated that only 32 % of the respondents were aware of the law amendment before taking this survey. Further, the higher score for perception, adaptive intentions and awareness showed that the respondents were aware of the risks and the law amendment will have a positive effect on their behavior on road as pedestrians. The outcomes of the analysis show the efficacy of the law amendment. However, the actual behavior changes need to be studied by analyzing the pedestrian crash data and conducting a before and after study. Moreover, the study of the effects on pedestrians’ behavior, through empirical observations, is proposed to get insight into actual behaviors after law amendment as a part of future work on the topic.

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Eco-labelling brand strategy

European Business Review ◽

10.1108/ebr-06-2013-0090 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 305-329 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Sihem Dekhili ◽

Mohamed Akli Achabou

Keyword(s):

Interaction Effect ◽

Consumer Preference ◽

Third Party ◽

Future Research ◽

Brand Strategy ◽

Content Type ◽

Branded Product ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Practical Implications ◽

Insight Into

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore consumers’ preference for responsible labels in the specific case of well-known brands. The research examines the propensity of consumers to consider self-declarations carried out by the company itself in comparison with independent certifications organised by an external third party. Design/methodology/approach – An empirical study involving 134 French consumers by means of a conjoint analysis method was conducted, and the case of Nespresso coffee was tested. Findings – The results show that self-declaration (Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality) positively influences consumer preference. Moreover, this positive effect is equivalent to that of independent certification (Fair Trade Max Havelaar). Research limitations/implications – This study’s contribution gives a better insight into the consumers’ response to eco-labelling. It suggests the existence of an interaction effect between the brand and the responsible label. But, a future research needs to be conducted to gain better understanding of this interaction effect. Practical implications – The results suggest that a strategy of promoting a well-known branded product based on self-declaration would be effective. They offer additional insights to managers on the eco-labels’ efficiency. Originality/value – Contrary to the literature which suggests the superiority of the effect of certifications organised by a third party, this research shows that this finding is not valuable in the case of a well-known brand. Self-declaration may be preferred by consumers in the same way as independent certification. This research is one of the rare research to stress the need to consider brand when exploring eco-labelling issue.

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How Sports Sponsorship Influences a Sponsor’s Financial Performance: A Case Study from the Korea Baseball Organization

Sport Marketing Quarterly ◽

10.32731/smq.304.1221.06 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Hyun-Min Kim ◽

Woon-Kyung Song ◽

Sanghak Lee

Keyword(s):

Financial Performance ◽

Stock Returns ◽

Abnormal Returns ◽

Positive Influence ◽

Cumulative Abnormal Returns ◽

Abnormal Stock Returns ◽

Korea Baseball Organization ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Insight Into

This study aims to examine the effects of sponsorship on the sponsor’s financial performance. Th is study investigates return on sponsorship (ROS) with a quantitative analysis. Nexen Tire’s title sponsorship agreement with the Heroes baseball club in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in 2010 is studied. The positive effect of sponsorship on the sponsor’s Tobin’s q is confirmed by comparing the non-sponsorship period (2000‒2009) with the sponsorship period (2010‒2018). It is also shown from an event study that the sponsor experiences negative abnormal stock returns on the news of the sponsorship agreement, though this was not found to be statistically significant. Still, when the sponsee enters the postseason, positive cumulative abnormal returns are observed, particularly significant 10 days before the postseason games. Th is study confirms the positive influence of sponsorship on the sponsor’s financial performance and, with evidence from South Korea, provides insight into Asian markets in need of research. Th e results suggest that 10 days before a postseason game would be an ideal time to leverage marketing and activate a sponsorship strategy.

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Drivers of intention to use Murabaha financing: religiosity as moderator

Journal of Islamic Marketing ◽

10.1108/jima-07-2019-0147 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Naqeeb Ullah Atal ◽

Mohammad Iranmanesh ◽

Fathyah Hashim ◽

Behzad Foroughi

Keyword(s):

Social Influence ◽

Reasoned Action ◽

Intention To Use ◽

Content Type ◽

The Impact ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Moderating Role ◽

Insight Into ◽

Religious Obligation

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of Muslims’ attitude and intention towards Murabaha financing by considering religiosity as a moderator. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected through a survey of 373 Muslims in Afghanistan and were analysed using the partial least squares technique. Findings The results showed that social influence and religious obligation have a positive effect on attitude towards Murabaha financing. Furthermore, social influence and attitude have a positive effect on the intention to use Murabaha financing. Religiosity moderates negatively the impact of social influence on attitude towards Murabaha financing. Practical implications Managers and marketers of Islamic banks may benefit from the findings of this study, which provide insight into the factors that should be considered to promote Murabaha financing. Originality/value The findings contribute to the literature on Islamic financing products by demonstrating the drivers of attitude towards and intention to use Murabaha financing. The study also extends the literature by testing the moderating role of religiosity. Furthermore, the study extends the theory of reasoned action in the context of Islamic financing by introducing religious obligation as a potential driver of attitude and religiosity as a moderator.

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