Yield Reductions of Wheat Cultivar Obora (UTIQUE96/FLAG-1) due to Russian Wheat Aphid (Diuraphis noxia) Infestation under Field Conditions at Selected Districts of West Showa Zone, Ethiopia

Background: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an important cereal crop as being consumed as staple food in the world as well as in Ethiopia. The production of wheat in Ethiopia decreased due to the incidence of insect pests. Out of insects’ pests the Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia) is the recent one that causes yield loss either directly or indirectly. Methods: The experiment was carried out at selected districts of West Showa zone, Ethiopia during off cropping season 2019 to evaluate the yield reduction in wheat crop due to the invasion of Russian wheat aphids. Malamar, Dimethoate, neem seeds, leaves, Beaveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae were used in form of spray. Result: However, Malamar and Dimethoate highly significantly lowered the population of Diuraphis noxia. The combination of Beaveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopleae significantly lowered the population of Russian wheat aphid. The combination of Neem leaf and Neem seeds, as well as Beaveria bassiana, proved to be effective against Russian wheat aphid yet they were protected and sound against the environments. Malamar showed the maximum decrease in Diuraphis noxia populations followed by Dimethoate, the combination of Beaveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopleae.

Determinants of Inorganic Fertilizer Use Intensity on Cereal Crop among Smallholder Farmers: The Case of Toke Kutaye District, West Shewa Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

The study was aimed to analysis determinants of inorganic fertilizer use intensity on cereal crops among small holders in Toke Kutaye District, West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia. Correctional data were collected from 156 respondents using two stage random sampling methods. Data analyses were carried out using descriptive statistics and Double hurdle model. Result of the first hurdle reveals that out of twelve explanatory variables Sex ,Education, Off/non-farm income, Land size and Improved seed were determine positively whereas Age and Distance from nearest market determine small holders use of inorganic fertilizer negatively. The result of second stage of double hurdle model indicate that, out of twelve explanatory variables Sex, family size and Land size were positively affect extent (intensity) of inorganic fertilizer use whereas Age and Distance of household from nearest market determine use intensity negatively. Therefore, these results implied that there is a room to increase inorganic fertilizer use intensity on cereal crop productions. Hence, Farmers capacity to purchase this input beginning from lower income farmers to model farmers should be acknowledged; and should be designed the means to address those who have no ability to use inorganic fertilizer in their own farm through diverse development interventions.

Assessment of the relationship of yield and its contributing traits in wheat

Wheat is an essential source of nutrition for humans and an important cereal crop of Pakistan due to its widespread use as food. To fulfill the nutrition needs of boosted population, crop yield must be improved. In this perspective, we conducted the experiment reported in this paper to achieve correlation and path coefficient attributes given by yield-related traits. Our study enables to understand the association and contribution of nine traits toward grain production. The genetic material was comprised of seven parents and twelve F1 hybrids. Correlation analysis showed that grain yield per spike, thousand grain weight, spike length, and number of tillers per plant have positive and significant correlation with grain yield per plant, at both genotypic and phenotypic level. Path coefficient analysis revealed that direct effects of number of tillers per plant, grain yield per spike, and spike length were positive. This data persuaded that selection based on these traits could be useful for breeding purposes to higher grain yield.

Alterations in the Transcriptome of Rye Plants Following the Microdochium nivale Infection: Identification of Resistance/Susceptibility-Related Reactions Based on RNA-Seq Analysis

Microdochium nivale is a progressive and devastating phytopathogen that causes different types of cereal crop and grass diseases that are poorly characterized at the molecular level. Although rye (Secale cereale L.) is one of the most resistant crops to most of the phytopathogens, it is severely damaged by M. nivale. The recent high-quality chromosome-scale assembly of rye genome has improved whole-genome studies of this crop. In the present work, the first transcriptome study of the M. nivale-infected crop plant (rye) with the detailed functional gene classification was carried out, along with the physiological verification of the RNA-Seq data. The results revealed plant reactions that contributed to their resistance or susceptibility to M. nivale. Phytohormone abscisic acid was shown to promote plant tolerance to M. nivale. Flavonoids were proposed to contribute to plant resistance to this pathogen. The upregulation of plant lipase encoding genes and the induction of lipase activity in M. nivale-infected plants revealed in our study were presumed to play an important role in plant susceptibility to the studied phytopathogen. Our work disclosed important aspects of plant-M. nivale interactions, outlined the directions for future studies on poorly characterized plant diseases caused by this phytopathogen, and provided new opportunities to improve cereals breeding and food security strategies.

Combined Application of Compost, Zeolite and a Raised Bed Planting Method Alleviate Salinity Stress and Improve Cereal Crop Productivity in Arid Regions

Soil salinity and climate change have a negative impact on global food production and security, especially in arid regions with limited water resources. Despite the importance of planting methods, irrigation, and soil amendments in improving crop yield, their combined impact on saline soil properties and cereal crop yield is unknown. Therefore, the current study investigated the combined effect of soil amendments (i.e., compost, C and zeolite, Z) and planting methods such as raised bed (M1) and conventional (M2), and different fractions of leaching requirements from irrigation water, such as 5% (L1) and 10% (L2), on the soil physio-chemical properties and wheat and maize productivity in an arid region. The combined application of C + Z, L2, and M1 decreased soil salinity (EC) and sodicity (ESP) after wheat production by 37.4 and 28.0%, respectively, and significantly decreased by these factors by 41.0 and 43.0% after a maize growing season. Accordingly, wheat and maize yield increased by 16.0% and 35.0%, respectively under such a combination of treatments, when compared to crops grown on unamended soil, irrigated with lower leaching fraction and planted using conventional methods. This demonstrates the significance of using a combination of organic and inorganic amendments, appropriate leaching requirements and the raised bed planting method as an environmentally friendly approach to reclaiming saline soils and improving cereal crop production, which is required for global food security.

ADOPTION OF IMPROVED FARM PRACTICES IN MAIZE BY THE FARMERS OF NUAPADA DISTRICT OF ODISHA

Maize (Zea Mays L.) is considered as a unique cereal crop for its diversified use and suitability under various cropping systems. In India it is the third largest cereal crop in terms of acreage. The present study was conducted in Khariar block of Nuapada district of Odisha. Descriptive research design was followed, since the present study is fact-finding and present description of the respondents as well as the area. There are 117 villages in the selected block out of that 12 villages were selected through Random sampling based on existence of Maize cultivation. From the above analysis, it was concluded that majority (85.00%) of respondents were male. Majority (45.00%) of the respondents belonged to both the age group of (20-35) years and (36-55) years. Majority (80.00%) of respondents were married. Majority (70.00%) of respondents were having annual income more than 51,000. Majority (35.00%) of respondents were having education qualification up to High School. Majority (60.00%) of respondents were having land holding of 1-2 hectare. Majority (75.00%) of respondents were occupation Maize Farming and other crops farming collectively. Majority (80.00%) of respondents were having joint family. Majority (65.00%) of respondents were having family size of more than 5 members. Majority (45.00%) of respondents were having semi-cemented house. Majority (40.00%) of respondents were having social participation in Farmers Society. Majority (65.00%) of respondents daily used mobile. Majority (70.00%) of respondents were having maize farming experience up to 1-20 years. Majority (45.00%) of respondents were having medium level knowledge regarding Maize Cultivation Practices. Majority the adoption of Improved Production Technology of Maize was found to be high that is 75.00 percent. According to the response from the respondents, non-performance of visit by agricultural personnel time to time ranked I for constraints faced by the respondents, Lack of hybrid seed ranked II, Lack of credit facility at time ranked III, Lack of proper resources and capital ranked IV and so on. According to the suggestions received from the respondents, Hybrid seed should be available in time, Credit should be available earlier and timely, Availability of fertilizers and other inputs should be in time, Technical advice and training should be given at right time and so on.

Improvement in Salinity Tolerance in Rice Using Biotechnology

Rice has been amongst the most important cereal crop on earth, or more correctly the second most staple diet of people after wheat. The statement is self-explanatory to the demand of rice worldwide and the supply. But with increasing population, the demand of rice is also undoubtedly increasing. The increase in supply is though held back by many factors that adversely affect the growth of a healthy rice crop. One of these factors is salinity. Rice being a glycophyte has very low tolerance to salt, and salt stress results in a damaged yield. However, rice has its own mechanisms for salt tolerance to a certain level, the knowledge of which scientists have put in use to develop the few improvements in rice varieties providing them with better tolerance. Though these improvements have faced many challenges themselves, science still strives to make further achievements. This study aims to highlight the mechanisms rice use to tolerate salt up to a certain level and how they are affected by salinity at levels above that. It also aims to enumerate the methods biotechnology has developed in the past years to improve the varieties, the advantages they have had, the increase in yield they have shown and the challenges they have had to face. Also, it includes if there are any further developments undergoing and the future scope of salinity tolerance increase in rice, with the help of biotechnology.

The Response of Iranian Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Accessions to 2,4-D Drift

One of the most widely used auxinic herbicides in southern Iran’s cereal crop fields is 2,4-D; however, the concurrent growing season of off-season melons in this region potentially leads to herbicide drift from cereal fields to the melon fields. To study the response of some Iranian wild melon accessions to three simulated drift rates of 2,4-D, including 112.1, 11.2, and 3.7 g ae ha−1, a field experiment was conducted during 2019 and 2020 growing seasons. It was found that by increasing the herbicide rate from 3.7 to 112.1 g ae ha−1, the level of visual injury increased in all accessions. However, significant variation in herbicide tolerance was observed among different melon accessions. The MEL-R1 was the most tolerant accession with only 20% injury, while MEL-D8 displayed very high injury rate (ca. 90%) as assessed at 6 weeks after treatment during 2019. The accession MEL-S3 was the most tolerant to 2,4-D drift rates (20% injury) at 6 weeks after treatment during 2020. There was no significant difference between the accessions MEL-R1 and MEL-S3 in terms of their response to 2,4-D treatment during both years of the study, as these accessions fully recovered from injury over 6 weeks after herbicide treatment. In addition, only these two accessions were able to produce yield after the application of 2,4-D at the highest rate tested (112.1 g ae ha−1). Therefore, the melon accessions MEL-R1 and MEL-S3 could be recommended for cultivation and even for breeding programs in order to develop 2,4-D-tolerant commercial cultivars in regions where this herbicide is commonly used in cereal crop production adjacent to the melon fields.