EFFECT OF SOLID AND LIQUID ORGANIC FERTILIZER ON GROWTH, YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF ROSSELLE (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) IN THE NIGERIAN SAVANNAH

The Study was conducted to evaluate the effect of solid and liquid organic fertilizer on growth and yield of rosselle in 2016 cropping season at Institute of Agricultural Reserve Zaria, Samaru (11011’N 07038E and 686m) and Institute of Horticultural Research Farm Bagauda (12000’N 8031”Em 488m) in Northern Guinea Savannah and Sudan Savannah Ecological Zones of above sea level Nigeria. Treatments consisted of four levels of solid poultry manure (0.0, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0) tons/ha and five levels of liquid organic manure from Grand Total Organic Fertilizer Limited (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.9) litres/ha, which were factorially combined in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Data on growth parameter were collected on plant height (cm), plant dry weight (g), leaf Area index crop growth rate (CGR) Relative Growth Rate (RGR) and Net assimilation rate (NAR) while data on yield parameters like number of calyx per pant, 100 seed weight (g) and calyx yield per hectare kg/ha were collected. Results showed that plant height, plant dry weight(g), 100 seed weight(g) and calyx dry yield kg/ha had a significant increase with application of 2.0 litres/ha of liquid fertilizer than other rates. While application of solid poultry manure at 3.0ton/ha significantly increases plant height, net assimilation rate, leaf area index and calyx dry weight when compared with other rates. From the results obtained, the combination of 2.0 litres/ha liquid organic fertilizer and 3.0 ton/ha solid poultry manure produce the highest calyx yield at both location.

Analysis of Plant Growth and Yield in Varieties of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Grafted onto Different Eggplant Rootstocks

This study aimed to examine plant growth of tomato grafted onto different eggplant rootstocks. We applied a randomized block design comprising twelve treatments with three replicates. Three varieties of tomato—Cervo, Karina, and Timoty—and three rootstocks—Gelatik, EG203 line, and Solanum torvum—were selected for this study. Nongrafted tomato plants of the same varieties were used as controls. The variables recorded were the number of branches, the diameter of scions and rootstocks, root length, and root dry weight at 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks after planting (WAT) and relative growth rate, specific leaf area, and net assimilation rate at 4, 8, and 12 WAT. Grafted tomato plants demonstrated better growth than controls. There was a significant relationship between yield, plant growth parameters, and photosynthetic organs, expressed by higher production, greater scion diameter, longer roots, and increased relative growth rate, leaf area ratio, and net assimilation rate of grafted plants, compared to the controls.

PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF COTTON CULTIVARS IN WEST PAULISTA

Cotton varieties develop differently because they present different physiological characteristics in production environments. This study aimed to know the physiological characteristics of cotton. The experiment was carried out at the São Paulo Agribusiness Technology Agency (APTA), Alta Paulista region. The experimental design used was Entirely Randomized (DIC), with six cotton cultivars: IMA5801B2RF; FM975WS; TMG47B2RF; TMG81WS; FM944GL and IACRDN. Where the following physiological parameters were determined: Assimilation rate CO2, leaf transpiration, stomatal conductance, internal concentration of CO2 in the substomatic chamber and efficient use of water. The cotton varieties showed different physiological characteristics, the IMA5801B2RF variety had the lowest performance, which may reflect low productivity. Further physiological studies are needed to understand the Cotton varieties behavior

Response of Physiological Parameters in Greengram (Vigna radiata L. Wilckzek) cv. GAM-5 to Source Manipulation, Plant Growth Regulators and Chemical

Background: Among the pulse crops mungbean is one of the richest sources of protein. There is great loss in the yield of mungbean due to various reasons may be biotic or abiotic constraints. To overcome the yield loss various physiological activities are studied. Physiological activities of the plant are greatly influenced by the source manipulation, plant growth regulators and chemical in mungbean. In correspondence to this, an experiment was conducted to study the physiological parameters in greengram.Methods: A factorial randomized block design in two respective years, i.e. 2016 and 2017 to study the response of source manipulation (nipping, 25% defoliation and 50% defoliation), plant growth regulators (GA3 and NAA at 25 and 50mg/l respectively) and chemical (Thiourea 500 and 1000mg/l) on the physiological parameters like Crop Growth Rate (CGR), Relative Growth Rate (RGR), Net Assimilation Rate (NAR) and Leaf Area (LA) in greengram at 30, 45, 60 and 75 DAS/harvest at Regional Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Anand. Result: From the obtained results it can be proposed that the physiological parameters like crop growth rate, relative growth rate and net assimilation rate increased with the increasing phase and decreased at harvesting stage. While leaf area increased significantly at each growth phase. The treatment of nipping M2 was noted significantly higher value for CGR i.e., 8.42, 16.17 and 11.48 g/cm2/day/10, for RGR i.e., 0.544, 2.967 and 1.290 g/day, for NAR i.e., 0.466, 2.959 and 1.484 mg/cm2/day and for LA i.e. 96.87, 218.94, 381.88 and 588.78 cm2. While the treatment S2 GA3 25 mg/l was noted significantly higher value for CGR i.e, 8.60, 16.67 and 11.69 g/cm2/day/10, for RGR i.e., 0.568, 2.938 and 1.202 g/day, for NAR i.e., 0.372, 3.043 and 1.529 mg/cm2/day and for LA i.e., 96.61, 224.75, 382.20 and 580.42 cm2 contributing to the higher seed yield under M2 nipping treatment i.e., (1719.7 kg/ha) and S2 treatment i.e., GA3 25 mg/l (1714.1 kg/ha). Thus, GAM-5 had a better source-sink partitioning efficiency.

Effects of Mechanically Transplanting Methods and Planting Densities on Yield and Quality of Nanjing 2728 under Rice-Crayfish Continuous Production System

Rice–crayfish continuous production system offers high economic and ecology benefits, which developed rapidly in China. To investigate the effects of different mechanical transplanting methods and planting densities on rice yield and quality, Nanjing 2728 was used to determine rice growth performance under mechanically transplanted carpet seedling (MTCS) with equal row spacing (30 cm) at five spacings and mechanically transplanted pot seedling (MTPS) with wide and narrow rows (23 + 33 cm) at five spacings. The results showed that MTPS presented significantly higher rice yields than MTCS as more spikelets per panicle. Rice yields of both mechanical transplanting methods first increased and then reduced with decreasing planting density, and its highest value was obtained at 77.9 × 104 seedlings ha−1. Compared with MTCS at the same stage, rice tiller dynamics of MTPS first increased and then decreased. Additionally, its dry matter accumulation per stem at jointing, heading, and maturity stages, leaf area index, photosynthetic potential, crop growth rate, and net assimilation rate were all significantly higher relative to MTCS. For each mechanical transplanting method, dry matter accumulation per panicle, leaf area index, photosynthetic potential, crop growth rate, and net assimilation rate from the sowing to jointing stages declined with decreasing planting density, while dry matter accumulation per stem and net assimilation rate from the heading to maturity stages increased. Compared with MTCS, MTPS significantly improved rice milling and appearance quality, decreasing density was also beneficial to rice milling and appearance quality, while grain content of amylose and protein were not sensitive to both transplanting method and planting density. Consequently, MTPS with 13.8 cm plant spacing is a suitable mechanical transplanting method for Nanjing 2728 to obtain better yield and quality under rice–crayfish continuous production system.

Photosynthetic carbon assimilation and electron transport rate in two symbiont-bearing planktonic foraminifera

<p>Photosymbiosis is one of the important features in planktonic foraminifera. The number of symbiont cells within one host is reported to be well over a few thousand, which means that photosynthesis by photosymbiosis might be a “hot spot” of primary production, especially in oligotrophic oceans. Information of photosynthetic activity of symbionts is also essential when interpreting the geochemical proxies recorded in foraminiferal tests because the microenvironmental condition in the vicinity of foraminifera is greatly affected by rapid biological activities such as photosynthesis and respiration. Recently, active chlorophyll fluorometry is increasingly being used as a useful and instant tool to estimate photosynthesis. However, the carbon assimilation rate is the only direct measure of photosynthetic carbon flow. Therefore, confirming the relationship between the active fluorometry-based photosynthetic rate (electron transport rate, ETR) and carbon assimilation rate (CAR) is required before utilizing ETR to understand the dynamics of carbon in the foraminifera-symbiont system.</p><p>Here, we compared CAR and ETR for two species, <em>Trilobatus sacculifer</em> (dinoflagellate-bearing) and <em>Globigerinella siphonifera</em> Type II (pelagophyte-bearing). CAR was estimated using <sup>14</sup>C‐tracer experiment and ETR was estimated using active fluorometric measurement by fast repetition rate fluorometry.</p><p>The results showed that the CAR and ETR were correlated positively (<em>p</em> << 0.01) for both species. However, the regression slopes of the two species were largely different. The slope, representing the apparent electron requirement for carbon assimilation (e<sup>−</sup>/C), was estimated to 28.5 for<em> T. sacculifer</em> and 101.1 for <em>G. siphonifera</em>. These values were strikingly high. Theoretically, under optimal growth conditions, phototrophs’ e<sup>−</sup>/C should be 4 based on the minimum number of electrons derived from 2 water molecules to generate 1 oxygen molecule. So, we hypothesized that the observed high e<sup>−</sup>/C in the foraminifera-algal consortia is partly attributable to the utilization of unlabeled respiratory carbon (resulting in underestimation of CAR). Considering the theoretical and empirically realistic e<sup>−</sup>/C, we estimated the proportion of the carbon source for photosynthesis. The results showed that a considerable amount of carbon should be derived from the host’s respired CO<sub>2</sub>. The higher contribution of the respired CO<sub>2</sub> was suggested in <em>G. siphonifera</em> than in <em>T. sacculifer</em>.</p><p>From the viewpoint of utilizing test geochemistry such as δ<sup>13</sup>C as paleoceanographic proxies, one should beware that the potential magnitude of the photosynthetic effect can differ between species. This study suggests that in <em>G. siphonifera</em>, photosynthetic carbon incorporation from seawater is smaller, and utilization of the host-derived carbon by symbionts is more efficient, indicating that <em>G. siphonifera</em> would be less susceptible to the alteration of geochemical composition by photosynthesis and respiration. This attempt to couple the ETR and CAR could comprehensively disclose an interesting perspective of these intimate interactions in the photosymbiotic system.</p>

Eco-evolutionary responses of plant communities to drought and rainfall variability

<p>The future Earth is projected to experience elevated rainfall variability, with more frequent and intense droughts, as well as high-rainfall events. Increasing CO<sub>2</sub> concentrations are expected to raise terrestrial gross primary productivity (GPP), whereas water stress is expected to lower GPP. Plant responses to water stress vary strongly with timescale, and plants adapted to different environmental conditions differ in their functional responses. Here, we embed a unified optimality-based theory of stomatal conductance and biochemical acclimation of leaves we have recently developed [Joshi, J. et al. (2020) Towards a unified theory of plant photosynthesis and hydraulics. bioRxiv 2020.12.17.423132] in an eco-evolutionary vegetation-modelling framework, with the goal to investigate emergent functional diversity and associated GPP impacts under different rainfall regimes.</p><p>The model of photosynthesis used here simultaneously predicts the stomatal responses and biochemical acclimation of leaves to atmospheric and soil-moisture conditions. Using three hydraulic traits and two cost parameters, it successfully predicts the simultaneous declines in CO<sub>2</sub> assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, and leaf photosynthetic capacity caused by drying soil. It also correctly predicts the responses of CO<sub>2</sub> assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, leaf water potential, and leaf photosynthetic capacity to vapour pressure deficit, temperature, ambient CO<sub>2</sub>, light intensity, and elevation. Our model therefore captures the synergistic effects of atmospheric and soil drought, as well as of atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> changes, on plant photosynthesis and transpiration.</p><p>We embed this model of photosynthesis and transpiration in a trait-height-patch structured eco-evolutionary vegetation model. This model accounts for allometric carbon allocation, height-structured competition for light, patch-structured successional dynamics, and coevolution of plant functional traits. It predicts functional species mixtures and emergent ecosystem properties under different environmental conditions. Using this model, we investigate the evolution of plant hydraulic strategies under different regimes of drought and rainfall variability. Our approach provides an eco-evolutionarily consistent framework to scale up the responses of plant communities from individual plants to ecosystems to provide ecosystem-level predictions of functional diversity, primary production, and plant water use, and could thus be used for reliable projections of the global carbon and water cycles under future climate scenarios. </p>

Effects of container size and fruit load intensity on tomato under salt stress

<p>Container size and fruit load intensity are two common factors manipulated to regulate plant growth and development. As saline water is increasingly used for irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions, it is important to study effects of container size and fruit load intensity on tomato in both aboveground and belowground parts under salt stress. The experiment was conducted in a net house located in Sede Boqer Campus, Israel. Containers of four sizes (8-, 28-, 48-, and 200L with the same depth but vary in diameters), two salinity levels (1.5- and 7.5 dS m<sup>−1</sup>) and two crop load intensities (0% and 100%) were applied. Gas exchange parameters (i.e., stomatal conductance and CO<sub>2 </sub>assimilation rate), plant growth parameters (i.e., plant height and stem diameter), and root development were monitored periodically. Plant biomass and various root traits were measured at harvest. For aboveground part, results revealed that container size and salinity level significantly influenced gas exchange performance while fruit load intensity had no significant effect. Plants grown in larger containers without salt stress had higher stomatal conductance and CO<sub>2 </sub>assimilation rate. Plant height and stem diameter were significantly greater in plants grown in 200L than those in other containers despite salinity and fruit load levels. Moreover, plants grown in 200L containers exhibited significant increase of 56.3%, 152.9%, and 174.9% respectively in yield compared with those grown in 48-, 28- and 8L under salt stress. The increase magnitudes were greater when there was no salt stress: 109.0%, 430.8%, and 454.0% respectively. For belowground parts, increased container size leads to increased rooting depth. Besides, Minirhizotron data showed that in 200L containers, plants grown under low salinity without fruit developed the greatest total root length. More detailed root data will be presented.  It is concluded that container size has a pronounced effect on physiological behaviours of tomato plants. Therefore, properly increasing container size can alleviate yield reduction under saline irrigation.</p>

The responses of photosynthesis, fruit yield and quality of mini-cucumber to LED-interlighting and grafting

ABSTRACT Supplemental lighting is becoming a common practice for horticultural greenhouse industries, especially at high-latitude countries. However, no scientific reports were found on this topic in tropical climate countries. This study investigates the effects of LED-interlighting and grafting on photosynthetic response and yield and quality of mini cucumber (hybrid Larino). The experiment took place from April to August in a greenhouse located at a Cwa climate type in Piracicaba (SP), Brazil (22°42’S; 47°37’W; 541 m altitude). The experiment was arranged in completely randomized block design composed of three types of seedlings (ungrafted hybrid, hybrid grafted onto rootstock cultivar Keeper and hybrid grafted onto rootstock cultivar Shelper) and two environments related to light condition (LED supplemental light and natural light as control). The LED devices were placed horizontally at 15 cm from the plants and at 1,5 m height from the floor. The LEDs emitted a photon flux of 220 µmol m-2 s-1 by red light (80%) with a peak wavelength of 662 nm and blue light (20%) with a peak wavelength of 452 nm. Lighting was used for 12 h d-1 from 30 days after seedling transplanting until the end of the growth period. The air temperature and relative humidity (RH) were maintained at 23.5±4°C and 72±10% during the light period, respectively. At night, average temperature was 18.6±5°C and the RH was 90±5%. The LED-interlighting treatment increased in 40% the plant CO2 net assimilation rate compared to plants grown under natural light in the greenhouse. Plants grafted onto both rootstocks had higher CO2 net assimilation rate (µmol CO2 m-2 s-1), apparent carboxylation efficiency (µmol CO2 mol air-1) and apparent electron transport rate (µmol electrons m-2 s-1) than non-grafted ones. The early yield increased 11.6% and 24% in response to LED-interlighting and grafting, respectively. The commercial yield also increased with LED light at rate of 13% but did not enhance with grafting. Postharvest quality parameters as titratable acidity, total soluble solids and shelf life were not affected by the LED light supplementation. Our study shows that even in tropical climate conditions LED-interlighting can be used as a tool to improve commercial cucumber production.

Ozone uptake at night is more damaging to plants than equivalent day-time flux

Main conclusion Plants exposed to equivalent ozone fluxes administered during day-time versus night-time exhibited greater losses in biomass at night and this finding is attributed to night-time depletion of cell wall-localised ascorbate. Abstract The present study employed Lactuca sativa and its closest wild relative, L. serriola, to explore the relative sensitivity of plants to ozone-induced oxidative stress during day-time versus night-time. By controlling atmospheric ozone concentration and measuring stomatal conductance, equivalent ozone uptake into leaves was engineered during day and night, and consequences on productivity and net CO2 assimilation rate were determined. Biomass losses attributable to ozone were significantly greater when an equivalent dose of ozone was taken-up by foliage at night compared to the day. Linkages between ozone impacts and ascorbic acid (AA) content, redox status and cellular compartmentation were probed in both species. Leaf AA pools were depleted by exposure of plants to darkness, and then AA levels in the apoplast and symplast were monitored on subsequent transfer of plants to the light. Apoplast AA appeared to be more affected by light–dark transition than the symplast pool. Moreover, equivalent ozone fluxes administered to leaves with contrasting AA levels resulted in contrasting effects on the light-saturated rate of CO2 assimilation (Asat) in both species. Once apoplast AA content recovered to pre-treatment levels, the same ozone flux resulted in no impacts on Asat. The results of the present investigation reveal that plants are significantly more sensitive to equivalent ozone fluxes taken-up at night compared with those during the day and were consistent with diel shifts in apoplast AA content and/or redox status. Furthermore, findings suggest that some thought should be given to weighing regional models of ozone impacts for extraordinary night-time ozone impacts.