Effects of Boron Application and Gamma Ray Irradiation On Yield of Sugar Beet (Beta Vulgaris L.) Grown in Sandy Soil

Effects of boron as an essential nutrient for sugar beet along with gamma irradiation was traced under field conditions. Data demonstrated that the fresh and dry root yields of sugar beet significantly increased with the increase either gamma dose or boron levels comparing to the non-irradiated and born-untreated plants. It seems that root dry weight tended to increase gradually with increasing gamma dose 0 to 100 Gy, then tended to decrease with 200 Gy dose but it still increased with gradual increases of boron levels. In this regard, the best value of root dry weight was achieved with 100 Gy dose interacted with 2.40 kg/ ha of boron addition. On the other hand, plants exposed to 50 Gy and treated with 2.40 kg/ ha reflected the highest shoot dry matter yield compared to other treatments. Relatively, this treatment increased shoot dry weight by about one fold, two folds and near to two folds for the same sequence. Behavior of NPK uptake by shoots has the same trend. Plants irradiated with 100 Gy together with 2.40 kg boric acid ha-1 yielded the highest total soluble solids (TSS%) and produced the best per cent of sucrose. Bangladesh J. Bot. 50(4): 1041-1049, 2021 (December)

Light Spectrum Variably Affects the Acclimatization of Grafted Watermelon Seedlings While Maintaining Fruit Quality

In many countries of Europe and Eastern Asia, watermelon production is mainly based on the use of grafted seedlings. Upon grafting, seedlings undergo a period of healing where artificial lighting is provided by light-emitting diodes in controlled chambers in order to accelerate and improve the healing process. The objective of our study was to test the effect of light quality on the final product (i.e., seedlings ready for transplanting) in the nursery, as well as to evaluate the possible implications on fruit quality after field cultivation. Narrow-band blue (B) and red (R) wavelengths, 64–36% R-B (36B), 76–24% R-B (24B), 88–12% R-B (12B), and 83–12% R-B plus 5% far-red (12B+FR) wavelengths were tested. 12B+FR enhanced the root dry weight, root architecture, and maximum photosynthetic rate, while RB combinations generally showed better root system development with increased blue portion. R light induced inferior root dry weight and quality indices (root/shoot and shoot–dry–weight/length ratios), lower gas exchange parameters, and chlorophyll content, but high shoot length and leaf area. B light led to inferior root architecture, lower stem diameter, leaf area, and maximum photosynthetic rate. Both R and B wavelengths showed decreased concentration of macronutrients and trace elements. After field cultivation, fruit quality (i.e., morphology and color), and valuable nutritive characteristics (i.e., phenolics, carotenoids, lycopene, antioxidants) maintained high quality irrespective of light treatments. Overall, 12B+FR performed well in almost all qualitative parameters including the morphology, the root development, and photosynthesis, while also maintaining high fruit quality.

Response Two Strawberry Cultivars (Fragaria X Ananassa Duch.) for Foliar Application of Two Organic Fertilizers

This study was undertaken during the seasons of 2019-2020. The xperiment examines the impact of Humic acid and Seaweed extract at three concentrations on growth, flowering and yield as a foliar spray and their interactions on growth, chemical composition, production and quality of strawberry at two strawberry cultivars (Fragaria X ananassa Duch.) Albion and Rubygem.The results showed that the higher leaf dry weight, root dry weight, number of flowers, yield per plant, with Rubygem, higher value of Nitrogen % in leaf, phosphorus %, anthocyanin (Mg/100g F.Wt.) observed for Rubygem. As well as the higher value of root dry weight (g. plant -1), yield per plant (g. Plant-1) Nitrogen % in leaf recorded with Humic acid, treatment. Moreover, the combined treatment between organic fertilizers and two strawberry cultivars exhibited the significant effect in root dry weight (g. plant-1), Nitrogen % in leaf, phosphorus (%), number of flowers, yield per plant (g. plant-1) and anthocyanin (Mg/100g F.Wt.). As well as the combination between organic fertilizers and concentrations and organic fertilizers, two strawberry cultivars and concentrations had significantly effect in all the studied traits.

Study of Coefficient of Variation, Heritability and Genetic Advance for Different Traits of Rice Genotypes Grown under Aerobic Condition

The field experiments with thirty genotypes were conducted during June to October month of kharif, 2018 and kharif, 2019, to assess extent of variability under aerobic condition. The genotypes were sown under dry direct seeded condition using randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Each genotype was sown in single row of 5 m length with spacing of 20 cm between rows and 15 cm between plants. Data recorded for 22 characters including different morphological and quality traits from 5 randomly selected plants of each replication and mean data used for analysis. ANOVA revealed that the mean sum of squares were highly significant difference for most of the traits. The value of PCV was higher than GCV for all the twenty-two characters. However, maximum GCV and PCV were observed for root dry weight plant-1 (31.44% and 32.17%) followed grain yield plant-1 (29.97% and 31.03%), root volume (28.62% and 29.20%), root fresh weight plant-1 (28.51% and 29.08%), biological yield plant-1 (21.86% 22.50%) and number of grains panicle-1 (20.55% and 21.37%). Rest of the traits showed moderate and low GCV and PCV. High heritability and genetic advance were recorded for the traits viz., leaf length, number of tillers plant-1, number of grains panicle-1, 1000 seed weight, root length, root volume, root fresh weight plant-1, root dry weight plant-1, kernel length-breadth ratio, grain yield plant-1, biological yield plant-1 and harvest index. The information regarding different variability will provide direction to select high yielding genotypes under aerobic condition.

Eight cycles of half-sib family recurrent selection to improve rubber yield in russian dandelion

Russian dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz) produces natural rubber which can complement the world’s supply of this strategic commodity, derived mainly from the Para rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). Four cycles of half-sib family recurrent selection conducted previously in russian dandelion improved rubber yield nearly 50%. The objectives of this research were to continue selection for four additional cycles and evaluate progress from eight generations of breeding, and assess the potential for future gains. Rubber yield increased from 0.205 to 0.378 g/plant from Cycle 0 (C0) to C8, representing an 84% improvement, or 10% per cycle. Increases from C0 to C4 were similar to those from C4 to C8. Root dry weight did not increase from selection and improved yield only resulted from enhancing rubber percentage which changed from 4.35 to 7.62%. Selection response has not plateaued and phenotypic variation has not decreased, indicating continued gains can occur with additional breeding.

PERTUMBUHAN TANAMAN SERAIWANGI (Cymbopogon nardus L) PADA BEBERAPA DOSIS KOMPOS KULIT KOPI

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of giving coffee husk compost on the growth of citronella (Cymbopogon nardus L.) plants. This research was conducted in Kuala Tungkal, Tungkal Ilir District, West Tanjung Jabung Regency, Jambi Province, from December 2020 to March 2021. Analysis of compost nutrients was carried out at the Laboratory of the Jambi Agricultural Technology Research Center and measurements of root wet weight, shoot dry weight and root dry weight were carried out at the Basic Laboratory of Batanghari University Jambi. This research was conducted using a randomized environmental design (CRD) and treatment design for coffee husk compost which consisted of 4 levels of treatment, namely k0 : 3 kg of soil media without treatment (control), k1 : 15 g of coffee husk compost + 2,985 g of soil media, k2 : 22.5 g coffee husk compost + 2.977.5 g soil media, and k3 : 30 g coffee husk compost + 2.970 g soil media. The results of the analysis showed that the application of coffee husk compost had a significant effect on the parameters of root wet weight, shoot dry weight and pH of the growing media but had no significant effect on the parameters of the number of tillers, number of leaves, root dry weight and root crown ratio

The relationship between characteristics of root morphology and grain filling in wheat under drought stress

Drought is a common yield limiting factor in wheat production and has become a significant threat to global food security. Root system is the organ responsible for water uptake from soil and root growth is closely associated with yield and quality of wheat. However, the relationship between morphological and structural characteristics of root growth and caryopsis enrichment in wheat under drought stress is unclear. In this study, two wheat cultivars (YM13 and YN19) were treated with drought from flowering to caryopsis maturity stage. The changes in morphological structure of roots and characteristics of endosperm enrichment were investigated. Drought stress significantly reduced the root length, plant height, root dry weight and aboveground parts dry weight, whereas the root-shoot ratio of YM13 and YN19 increased by 17.65% and 8.33% under drought stress, respectively. The spike length, spike weight, grains number per spike and 1,000-grains weight of mature wheat also significantly declined under drought stress. Meanwhile, the cross section structure of roots was changed with the enlargement of vascular cylinder and dense distribution of xylem vessels under drought stress. Additionally, drought stress affected the substance enrichment in wheat caryopses, decreasing starch accumulation and increasing protein accumulation of endosperm. Correlation analysis suggested that the root length was closely correlated with the relative areas of amyloplast (0.51) and protein body (0.70), and drought stress increased the correlation coefficient (0.79 and 0.78, respectively). While the root dry weight had a significantly positive correlation with the plant height and aboveground parts dry weight. The results can provide theoretical basis for root architecture optimization, water-saving and high-yield cultivation and quality improvement in wheat.

Co-inoculation With Tropical Strains of Azospirillum and Bacillus Is More Efficient Than Single Inoculation for Improving Plant Growth and Nutrient Uptake in Maize.

Usage of Bacillus and Azospirillum as new eco-friendly microbial consortium inoculants is a strategy to increase plant growth and crop yield by improving nutrient availability in agricultural systems. In this study, we designed a multispecies inoculum containing B. thuringiensis (strain B116), B. subtillis (strain B2084) and Azospirillum brasilense (strains A1626 and A2142) to investigate their individual or co-inoculated ability to solubilize and mineralize phosphate, produce indole acetic acid (IAA) and their effect on maize growth promotion in hydroponics and in a non-sterile soil. All strains showed significant IAA production, P mineralization (sodium phytate) and Ca-P, Fe-P (tricalcium phosphate and iron phosphate, respectively) solubilization. In hydroponics, co-inoculation with A1626 x A2142, B2084 x A2142, B2084 x A1626 resulted in higher root total length, total surface area, and surface area of roots with diameter between 0 and 1 mm than other treatments with single inoculant, except B2084. In a greenhouse experiment, maize inoculated with the two Azospirillum strains exhibited enhanced shoot dry weight, shoot P and K content, root dry weight, root N and K content and acid and alkaline phosphatase activities than the other treatments. There was a significant correlation between soil P and P shoot, alkaline phosphatase and P shoot and between acid phosphatase and root dry weight. It may be concluded that co-inoculations are most effective than single inoculants strains, mainly between two selected Azospirillum strains. Thus, they could have synergistic interactions during maize growth, and be useful in the formulation of inoculants to improve the cropping systems sustainable.

Root-shoot growth and time to transplant of different lettuce genotypes during nursery

Although vegetable nursery growers decide on plug sizes based on the types, production time and schedule of the crops to grow, they usually choose individual small cell sizes because these allow short plant-raising periods and reduced costs. However, larger plugs produce a finished plant after transplant in a shorter period of time than smaller plugs. Nursery growers end the propagation period when roots take up the plug cell and plantlets can be removed from the plug tray without damage. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of three plug-cell sizes and a single BAP application (100 mg L-1) on the shoot and root growth and time to transplant of different lettuce genotypes. Nursery decreased as plug cell volume increased and with the single BAP spray. A novelty result was that the transplant dates were assigned when the marginal root dry weight accumulation decreased, i.e., based on objective rather than on subjective observations. The significant leaf area and dry weight accumulation found could be explained by growth parameters such as the rate of leaf appearance, the relative rate of leaf area expansion, the relative growth rate, the net assimilation rate and the partition coefficient from root: shoot allometries. Highlights Root restriction due to small plugs in transplant trays delay lettuce transplant. Exogenous cytokinin (BAP) overcame root restriction and decreased time to transplant. Time to transplant can be addressed on an objective basis: it were assigned when the marginal root dry weight accumulation decreased.