Harmful viruses on stone fruit crops and sanitation methods

Relevance. Viral diseases can significantly reduce the yield of stone fruit crops. More than 30 viruses have been characterized on stone fruits crops, among which the most harmful are Plum pox virus (PPV), Prunus dwarf virus (PDV), Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV), Cherry leaf roll spot virus (CLRV), Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV). Viral diseases monitoring is essential for controlling the viruses prevalence and choosing a control strategy. In the absence of healthy plants of a certain variety, health improvement is carried out using laboratory methods, including thermotherapy. Sanitation methods need to be improved in relation to the culture characteristics and the virus type. Of considerable interest is the development of techniques that reduce the viruses concentration when growing stone fruit trees in the field.Methods. During 2016–2020 using the ELISA (“Loewe” diagnostic kits) diagnostics of viruses on varieties and clonal rootstocks of cherry, sweet cherry and plum (660 plants) was carried out in the conditions of the Moscow region. For plant health in 2019–2021 used thermotherapy for 3 months. To study the effect of Pharmayod (“Farmbiomed”) on viruses in open ground, 24 plum plants of 5 varieties were treated with this drug at a concentration of 0.3 ml/l.Results. The total prevalence of viruses on cherries varieties was 44%, sweet cherries — 40%, plums — 59%, on clonal rootstocks — 46, 55 and 56% respectively. The highest incidence of PNRSV and PDV viruses has been established. Cherry plants of 11 varieties, free from the main harmful viruses, 4 varieties of sweet cherries, 12 varieties of plums and 9 forms of clonal rootstocks were revealed. The use of the Pharmayod on plum trees in the open field contributed to a decrease in the infection index of the studied viruses. Plum plants in a heat chamber were characterized by a higher survival rate and growth parameters in comparison with cherry and sweet cherry. After the completion of thermotherapy, a significant decrease in the index of infection in plants was noted.

Banana and Mango Value Chains

Fruit crops are high-value agricultural crops and are mostly managed by individual farmers in India unlike in the West where large private corporations are involved in production and exports of fruit crops. India’s fruits production increased significantly from 28.6 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 1991–92 to 96.8 MMT in 2018–19. Among fruits, mango and bananas are the most important crops with 50% share in fruits acreage as well as value dominated by mango.

Grapes and Pomegranate Value Chains

Horticulture has grown in size and importance within the agriculture landscape of the country. Horticulture production doubled from 191 million tonnes in 2006–07 to nearly 300 million tonnes in 2016–17. In fact, by 2015–16, production of horticulture crops was higher than that of food grains. Further, production of fruit crops as a proportion of horticulture crops increased from 29.5% in 2001–02 to 31.5% in 2015–16.

Prospects of Passiflora incarnata L. introduction in the forest-steppe of Ukraine

The information about the fruit and medicinal plant passion fruit flesh-red (Passiflora incarnata L.) is given as a potential introducer of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine and a species that should replenish the research collection of subtropical fruit crops of the open ground of the Khorol Botanical Garden. The botanical description, bioecological characteristics, nutritional and medicinal properties and the proposed agricultural cultivation techniques are given.

Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of the Anthocyanin and Proanthocyanin Regulatory Networks in Red Walnut Natural Hybrid Progeny Leaves

BackgroundWalnuts are one of the most important dry fruit crops worldwide, typically exhibiting green leaves and yellow–brown or gray–yellow seed coats. A specific walnut type, red walnut ‘RW-1’, with red leaves and seed coats was selected as the plant material because of its higher anthocyanin and proanthocyanin (PA) contents. Anthocyanins and PAs coprise important secondary defense methods for plants to respond to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, few studies have focused on the molecular mechanism of anthocyanin biosynthesis in walnuts.ResultsFrom the results of widely targeted metabolome and anthocyanidin detection analysis, 395 substances, including 4 PAs and 26 anthocyanins, were identified from the red-leaf walnuts of RW-1 natural hybrid progenies (SR) and the green-leaf walnuts of RW-1 natural hybrid progenies (SG). Among these, all anthocyanin types in SR were significantly upregulated compared with SG. Additionally, delphinidin 3-O-galactoside, cyanidin 3-O-galactoside, delphinidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-glucoside were identified as the primary components of anthocyanidins because of their higher contents. Nine anthocyanidins, malvidin 3-O-galactoside, malvidin 3-O-arabinoside, cyanidin 3-O-(6-O-malonyl-beta-D-glucoside), delphinidin 3-O-glucoside, delphinidin 3,5-O-diglucoside (Delphin), peonidin 3-O-(6-O-malonyl-beta-D-glucoside), petunidin 3-O-(6-O-malonyl-beta-D-glucoside), petunidin 3-O-arabinoside and pelargonidin 3-O-(6-O-malonyl-beta-D-glucoside), were detected only in the SR walnuts. For PAs, proanthocyanin C1 was upregulated in SR compared with SG, while proanthocyanin B1 and proanthocyanin B3 were upregulated in SR-1 and SR-3 but downregulated in SR-2 compared with the controls. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis demonstrated that the expression of structural genes (C4H, F3H, F3’5’H, UFGTs, LAR and ANR), four MYBs and six WD40s in the anthocyanin and PA biosynthetic pathways were significantly higher in the SR walnut.ConclusionsOur results provide valuable information on anthocyanin and PA metabolites and candidate genes in anthocyanin and PA biosynthesis, which provides new insights into anthocyanin and PA biosynthesis in walnuts.

A Novel Path Planning Optimization Algorithm Based on Particle Swarm Optimization for UAVs for Bird Monitoring and Repelling

Bird damage to fruit crops causes significant monetary losses to farmers annually. The application of traditional bird repelling methods such as bird cannons and tree netting become inefficient in the long run, requiring high maintenance and reducing mobility. Due to their versatility, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) can be beneficial to solve this problem. However, due to their low battery capacity that equals low flight duration, it is necessary to evolve path planning optimization. A novel path planning optimization algorithm of UAVs based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is presented in this paper. This path planning optimization algorithm aims to manage the drone’s distance and flight time, applying optimization and randomness techniques to overcome the disadvantages of the traditional systems. The proposed algorithm’s performance was tested in three study cases: two of them in simulation to test the variation of each parameter and one in the field to test the influence on battery management and height influence. All cases were tested in the three possible situations: same incidence rate, different rates, and different rates with no bird damage to fruit crops. The field tests were also essential to understand the algorithm’s behavior of the path planning algorithm in the UAV, showing that there is less efficiency with fewer points of interest, but this does not correlate with the flight time. In addition, there is no association between the maximum horizontal speed and the flight time, which means that the function to calculate the total distance for path planning needs to be adjusted. Thus, the proposed algorithm presents promising results with an outstanding reduced average error in the total distance for the path planning obtained and low execution time, being suited for this and other applications.

Deciphering Resistance to Root-Knot Nematodes in Prunus for Rootstock Breeding: Sources, Genetics and Characterization of the Ma Locus

Root-knot nematode (RKN) species are predominant pests of crops, attacking stone fruit crops Prunus spp. under Mediterranean climate conditions worldwide. Natural resistance for rootstock breeding is a control method that is gaining interest as an alternative to the highly toxic nematicides. This review first reports an outline of the root-knot nematodes parasitizing stone fruit crops and the Prunus species and rootstocks. It then describes the main sources of resistance detected among the Prunus germplasm and focuses on the major resistance genes identified and their characteristics (spectrum, durability, histological mechanism, effect of temperature, interaction with other pests and diseases, etc.). In peach, besides the RMia reference gene, the new genes PkMi and Mf, also located on chromosome 2, need to be characterized regarding their spectrum and relationship. The two other Prunus reference genes, Ma from plum (complete spectrum) and RMja from almond (more restricted spectrum), are orthologs that belong to a TIR-NB-LRR (TNL) cluster on chromosome 7. The review finally summarizes the positional cloning of the Ma gene and the characterization of its unique TNL structure, encompassing a five-times repeated post-LRR domain. Deciphering how this structure is functionally involved in Ma’s remarkable biological properties is a real challenge for the future.

Soil Suitability for Growing Horticultural Crops in Kanamadi South Sub-Watershed of Karnataka

The suitability of the land resources in the watershed for various crops is necessary to choose the right crop and variety suitable for the area. In carrying out this assessment, the specific land requirements of a crop are compared with the characteristics of land resource mapped in the sub- watershed with this objective investigation was carried to assess land suitability for growing horticultural crops in Kanamadi South sub-watershed of Vijayapura district of Karnataka. The soil survey was conducted using 1:7920 scale, LISS IV satellite imagery. The soils were shallow to deep with clay loam to clay in texture. The soils were low in nitrogen and organic carbon, low to medium in phosphorus and sulphur, medium to high in potassium. Iron, copper, zinc and manganese were sufficient. Land suitability evaluation revealed that soils were moderately suitable for growing fruits such as guava (73.75% TGA), pomegranate (70.73% TGA), sapota (85.65% TGA). In case of flowers, major part of the study area was marginally suitable for crops such asrose (65.26% TGA) and jasmine (91.72% TGA). Around 11.55 per cent of the area was evaluated as unsuitable for growing fruit crops. The consideration of depth and nutrient status of soil in sub-watershed area is ideal to grow the horticultural crops like fruit crops with soil conservation measures to obtain food sustainability and nutrition level of people living the study area.

THE SUMMANG SALAK MARRIAGE HELD BY HINDU KAHARINGAN DAYAKS IN SOUTH BARITO

<span>Marriage is an inner and outer bond between a man and a woman who will get married. It must get permission from both parents. It also happens on </span><em>Summang Salak </em><span>marriage. Along with the development of the era, </span><em>Summang Salak </em><span>is almost extinct and it has never been done again by the Hindu Kaharingan Dayaks of South Barito. It is because this kind of marriage is considered bad and needs to be avoided. In addition, it contradicts traditional and religious norms. </span><em>Summang Salak </em><span>is a marriage that results from being pregnant outside of marriage and they have a very close family lineage. It used to be very popular among Dayaks because they believed that it would have an impact, both on the descendant and on the people around it. There would be penalty for those who violated and made problems. They were fined and carried out some rituals to purify the area so that everyone would be free from obstacles and calamities. There are four things happened if </span><em>Summang Salak </em><span>is carried out without some customary processes and rituals, such as (1) being attacked by </span><em>sarit sampat </em><span>or disease outbreaks, (2) being hit by various disasters, (3) rice fields or agriculture are wiped out by pests on a large scale, resulting in crop failure and (4) fruit crops will not be ripe (</span><em>ore walang</em><span>) properly. </span>

One of the approaches to modeling the process of insect development to improve the effectiveness of protective measures of fruit crops

Protection of fruit crops from pests is one of the most important tasks of gardening. In turn, the use of protective measures has both positive and negative sides, which makes the issue of improving their effectiveness one of the main ones. Having data on the estimated number of pests and the dates of the beginning of their development phases, it is possible to increase efficiency by choosing the optimal exposure measure and drawing up a more accurate schedule of protective measures. One way to determine such parameters is to use simulation. The article presents one of the approaches to constructing a mathematical model of the insect development process, which is used to build a software simulation model that allows to increase the effectiveness of protective measures of fruit crops. The article describes what is the essence of the modeled process. A mathematical model and methods for determining its parameters are presented. The required initial data for modeling are defined.