Seed Breaking Dormancy Technique and Growth of Screw Tree (Helicteres isora Linn.) seedlings

Screw tree is a shrub from family Malvaceae that has many benefits in pharmacy. Screw tree seed has very hard seed coat, so the seed must be treated before germination. The aim of this research was to assess the characteristic of fruit and seeds, effect of seed breaking dormancy, and effect of NPK fertilizer dosage on the growth of screw tree (Helicteres isora) seedlings. The results indicated that screw tree fruits belong to dry fruits with capsule form and has 5 follicles that has different direction. Screw tree seed is orthodox type that has 9 ̶ 36 seeds in one follicle with triangle and square shape. Germination technique in laboratory with soaking the seeds in hot water 100oC until the water cool for 48 hours treatment produced the best germination amounting to 65.0%. Germination technique in green house with soaking the seeds in hot water 100oC until the water cool for 24 hours treatment was the best germination amounting to 77.0%. Seedlings fertilized with 1 g NPK doses increased screw tree growth in diameter parameter of 6.35 mm and shoot-root ratio parameter of 3.9 compared to control.

Seed Breaking Dormancy Technique and Growth of Screw Tree (Helicteres isora Linn.) Seedlings

Screw tree is a shrub from family Malvaceae that has many benefits in pharmacy. Screw tree seed has very hard seed coat, so the seed must be treated before germination. The aim of this research was to assess the characteristic of fruit and seeds, effect of seed breaking dormancy, and effect of NPK fertilizer dosage on the growth of screw tree (Helicteres isora) seedlings. The results indicated that screw tree fruits belong to dry fruits with capsule form and has 5 follicles that has different direction. Screw tree seed is orthodox type that has 9 ̶ 36 seeds in one follicle with triangle and square shape. Germination technique in laboratory with soaking the seeds in hot water 100oC until the water cool for 48 hours treatment produced the best germination amounting to 65.0%. Germination technique in green house with soaking the seeds in hot water 100oC until the water cool for 24 hours treatment was the best germination amounting to 77.0%. Seedlings fertilized with 1 g NPK doses increased screw tree growth in diameter parameter of 6.35 mm and shoot-root ratio parameter of 3.9 compared to control.

Nitrogen uptake and macronutrients distribution in mango trees (cv. Keitt) under three N fertigation treatments

We assessed the effects of N concentration in the irrigation water on nutrient uptake and distribution in leaves and fruit of mango cv. Keitt grown in a lysimeter for four years. We applied three treatments: N1, no N fertilization (less than 2 mg/L in the tap water); N2, 10 mg/L N; N3, 20 mg/L N. Deficient N conditions (N1) generated low vegetative yield, high fruit:leaf ratio, high photosynthetic activity, high leaf P and K concentrations, and high sugar content along with low acidity in the fruit. Excess N concentration (N3) induced vegetative growth, and reduced fruit yield and gas-exchange characteristics. The calculated annual nitrogen uptake heavily depended on the nitrogen supply (N1-26 g/tree; N2-196 g/tree; N3- 185 g/tree). Fruits were the major N sink being 0.82, 0.26 and 0.05 from the total annual N supplied. The N quantities accumulated in N1 fruits during the reproductive season (May-August), were above the N quantities supplied via fertigation, suggesting that N reserve in the vegetative tissues supplied the fruits high N demand. The finding shows the importance of adequate nitrogen supply to mango trees and the dangers of excessive fertilization.

Orchard Management and Landscape Context Mediate the Floral Microbiome of Pear

Crop-associated microbiota are key factors affecting host health and productivity. Most crops are grown within heterogeneous landscapes, and interactions between management practices and landscape context often affect plant and animal biodiversity in agroecosystems. However, whether these same factors typically affect crop-associated microbiota is less clear. Here, we assessed whether orchard management strategies and landscape context affected bacterial and fungal communities in pear (Pyrus communis) flowers. We found that bacteria and fungi responded differently to management schemes. Organically-certified orchards had higher fungal diversity in flowers than conventional or bio-based integrated pest management (IPM) orchards, but organic orchards had the lowest bacterial diversity. Orchard management scheme also best predicted the distribution of several important bacterial and fungal genera that either cause or suppress disease, with organic and bio-based IPM best explaining the distributions of bacterial and fungal genera, respectively. Moreover, patterns of bacterial and fungal diversity were affected by interactions between management, landscape context, and climate. When examining the similarity of bacterial and fungal communities across sites, both abundance- and taxa-related turnover were mediated primarily by orchard management scheme and landscape context, and specifically the amount of land in cultivation. Our study reveals local- and landscape-level drivers of floral microbiome structure in a major fruit crop, providing insights that can inform microbiome management to promote host health and high-yielding quality fruit. IMPORTANCE. In tree fruits, proper crop management during bloom is essential for producing disease-free fruit. Tree fruits are often grown in heterogeneous landscapes; however, few studies have assessed whether landscape context and crop management affect the floral microbiome, which plays a critical role in shaping plant health and disease tolerance. Such work is key for identification of tactics and/or contexts where beneficial microbes proliferate, and pathogenic microbes are limited. Here, we characterize the floral microbiome of pear crops in Washington State, USA, where major production occurs in inter-mountain valleys and basins with variable elevation and microclimates. Our results show that both local- (crop management) and landscape-level (habitat types and climate) factors affect floral microbiota, but in disparate ways for each kingdom. More broadly, these findings can potentially inform microbiome management in orchards for promotion of host health and high-quality yields.

Opportunities and Possibilities of Developing an Advanced Precision Spraying System for Tree Fruits

Reducing risk from pesticide applications has been gaining serious attention in the last few decades due to the significant damage to human health, environment, and ecosystems. Pesticide applications are an essential part of current agriculture, enhancing cultivated crop productivity and quality and preventing losses of up to 45% of the world food supply. However, inappropriate and excessive use of pesticides is a major rising concern. Precision spraying addresses these concerns by precisely and efficiently applying pesticides to the target area and substantially reducing pesticide usage while maintaining efficacy at preventing crop losses. This review provides a systematic summary of current technologies used for precision spraying in tree fruits and highlights their potential, briefly discusses factors affecting spraying parameters, and concludes with possible solutions to reduce excessive agrochemical uses. We conclude there is a critical need for appropriate sensing techniques that can accurately detect the target. In addition, air jet velocity, travel speed, wind speed and direction, droplet size, and canopy characteristics need to be considered for successful droplet deposition by the spraying system. Assessment of terrain is important when field elevation has significant variability. Control of airflow during spraying is another important parameter that needs to be considered. Incorporation of these variables in precision spraying systems will optimize spray decisions and help reduce excessive agrochemical applications.

Orchard Management and Landscape Context Mediate the Floral Microbiome of Pear

ABSTRACTCrop-associated microbiota are key factors affecting host health and productivity. Most crops are grown within heterogeneous landscapes, and interactions between management practices and landscape context often affect plant and animal biodiversity in agroecosystems. However, whether these same factors typically affect crop-associated microbiota is less clear. Here, we assessed whether orchard management strategies and landscape context affected bacterial and fungal communities in pear (Pyrus communis) flowers. We found that bacteria and fungi responded differently to management schemes. Organically-certified orchards had higher fungal diversity in flowers than conventional or bio-based integrated pest management (IPM) orchards, but organic orchards had the lowest bacterial diversity. Orchard management scheme also best predicted the distribution of several important bacterial and fungal genera that either cause or suppress disease, with organic and bio-based IPM best explaining the distributions of bacterial and fungal genera, respectively. Moreover, patterns of bacterial and fungal diversity were affected by interactions between management, landscape context, and climate. When examining the similarity of bacterial and fungal communities across sites, both abundance- and taxa-related turnover were mediated primarily by orchard management scheme and landscape context, and specifically the amount of land in cultivation. Our study reveals local- and landscape-level drivers of floral microbiome structure in a major fruit crop, providing insights that can inform microbiome management to promote host health and high-yielding quality fruit.IMPORTANCEIn tree fruits, proper crop management during bloom is essential for producing disease-free fruit. Tree fruits are often grown in heterogeneous landscapes; however, few studies have assessed whether landscape context and crop management affect the floral microbiome, which plays a critical role in shaping plant health and disease tolerance. Such work is key for identification of tactics and/or contexts where beneficial microbes proliferate, and pathogenic microbes are limited. Here, we characterize the floral microbiome of pear crops in Washington State, USA, where major production occurs in inter-mountain valleys and basins with variable elevation and microclimates. Our results show that both local (crop management) and landscape (habitat types and climate) level factors affect floral microbiota, but in disparate ways for each kingdom, suggesting a need for unique management strategies for each group. More broadly, these findings can potentially inform microbiome management in orchards for promotion of host health and high-quality yields.

Magia manei în cultura populară din Maramureș

"The magic of manna in the folk culture of Maramureş Based on our direct field research, we have dedicated this study to a very rich chapter of magic, that of manna (abundance), as it appears in the folk culture of Maramureş. In the first part we analyzed the concept of the manna in the Romanian and the universal folk culture, but also the categories of rites through which the magic of the abundance is performed. We reserved the investigation part to the rites of defense, conservation and magical stimulation of the fields production. In this chapter we have focused on the rites that are practiced at certain times considered by people to be critical : the beginning of ploughing and sewing. We have reserved due space to the study of the rites related to the abundance of the fields in the spring customs, which represent a large category, then in the rites within the winter customs. A large of our research was dedicated to the rites related to the defense and magical stimulation of animal products abundance. In this chapter too, we focused on the rites dedicated to critical moments: taking out the sheep, climbing the sheep in the mountains, the first milking. In our research, we have dealt extensively with the categories of rites related to the defense and stimulation of cow milk production. A chapter of our study approaches the magical practices of stimulating tree fruits abundance, some preserved in traditional customs such as the threat to the barren tree. In this chapter we analyzed reminiscences of the stimulation of the manna of the trees in the old carols, such as ""White apple flowers"". Another chapter of our research is dedicated to the rites of stimulating the abundance of poultry products. A complex chapter is devoted to the rites of taking away the manna of milking animals. I have reserved an equally extensive chapter to the rites of getting back the manna of milking animals, at the end of the research. Keywords: manna, rite, animal, custom, tree "

Quality of Italian tomatoes grown with different forms of calcium application

Tomato is one of the most consumed vegetables in the world. This work aimed to evaluate post-harvest quality of Italian Saladete tomatoes grown in a protected environment, with different ways of calcium application, in the Middle São Francisco Valley. Consisting of five Italian tomato hybrids (Anjico, Gabrielle, Liberty, Ty 2006 and Shanty), and three different ways of calcium application (T0 without application of calcium; T1 application of calcium in the opening flower, and T2 weekly application of calcium in the fruit). Poductivity, average fruit mass, incidence of apical rot, fruit firmness, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (AT), and pH, were analized. The experimental design used was a completely randomized block design in a factorial scheme (five cultivars x three ways of calcium application), with three repetition and using two central plants as useful plot for analysis, except for fruit firmness that was carried out in a completely randomized design, using tree fruits per analysis. According to the results obtained, hybrids of Italian saladete tomatoes behaved in a satisfactory manner, therefore it is recommended to cultivate hybrids of Italian saladete tomatoes in the Middle São Francisco Valley, mainly hybrid Anjico. Calcium application way did not interfere with post-harvest attributes.