Water stress intensified the relation of seed color with lignan content and seed yield components in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.)

This study aimed to investigate the effect of yellow and brown seed coat color of flax on lignan content, seed yield, and yield components under two contrasting environments of non-stress and water stress conditions. The water stress environment intensified the discrimination between the two seed color groups as the yellow seeded families had lower values for seed yield components under the water stress. Heritability and the genetic advance for seed yield were significantly higher in brown-seeded families than those of yellow-seeded ones at water stress conditions. Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) as the chief lignan in flaxseed was more abundant in yellow-seeded families under the non-stress environment but under water stress conditions, it increased in brown seeded families and exceeded from yellow ones. Considering that the brown and yellow seed color families were full sibs and shared a similar genetic background but differed in seed color, it is concluded that a considerable interaction exists between the flax seed color and moisture stress concerning its effect on seed yield and yield components and also the seed SDG content. Brown-seeded genotypes are probably preferred for cultivation under water stress conditions for better exploitation of flax agronomic and nutritional potentials.

Responses of Seed Yield Components to the Field Practices for Regulating Seed Yield of Smooth Bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.)

Agronomic practices improve seed yield by regulating seed yield components, and the relationship between seed yield and seed yield components is still unclear in smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis). To optimize seed production and yield in smooth bromegrass, a five-year field trial was designed with split-split-plot to study the combined effects of row spacing (30, 45, 60, and 75 cm), phosphorus (0, 60, 90, and 120 kg P ha−1) and nitrogen (0 and 100 kg N ha−1) on seed yield and seed yield components including fertile tillers m−2 (FTs), spikelets per fertile tiller (SFT), florets per spikelet (FS), and seeds per spikelet (SS). The results showed that FTs as a key factor had a positive effect to seed yield with the biggest pathway coefficient, while SS had a negative effect. Meanwhile, an interaction effect between FTs and SS was observed. FS and SS were increased with phosphorus application under the condition of sufficient nitrogen. In addition, sufficient precipitation at the non-growing season resulted in more FTs in the next year in rain-fed regions. Therefore, the optimum seed yield of smooth bromegrass can be obtained with row spacing (45 cm), nitrogen (100 kg N ha−1), and phosphorus application (60 kg P ha−1).

Review of seed yield components and pollination conditions in red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) seed production

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is an important forage legume grown in many of the temperate regions around the world. In order to evaluate possible causes for the low seed yield in particular in tetraploid red clover, we surveyed 71 studies of red clover seed production published from 1948 to 2019, reviewing seed yield components, pollination and reproductive traits. Seed yield components are recorded to contribute to and improve our understanding of the complex processes leading to the red clover seed yield. However, the measurement approaches varied largely among the studies, depending on whether the seed yield components are directly measured or calculated. Red clover seed production is dependent on insect pollen transfer. However, much uncertainty of pollination and reproductive success remains. Pollination conditions were often neglected: one third of the papers did not mention pollination conditions. The information that connects pollination and seed set are lacking, very few studies measured traits in floral morphology, ovule fertilisation and seed maturation. We suggest that consistent and comprehensive evaluation of pollination and reproductive success are required to improve our understanding of reasons for the low seed yield in red clover and hence the possibilities for future improvement.

Crambe: Seed Yield and Quality in Response to Nitrogen and Sulfur—A Case Study in Northeastern Poland

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of nitrogen (0, 30, 60, 90, 120 kg ha−1) and sulfur (0, 15, and 30 kg ha−1) fertilization on the morphometric parameters of plants, seed yield components, seed and straw yield, N fertilizer use efficiency (NFUE), and quality of crambe seeds. The experiment had a randomized complete block design, and it was carried out in Bałcyny (northeastern Poland) in 2017–2019. In northeastern Poland, the average seed yields ranged from 0.96 to 1.64–1.82 Mg ha−1 (hulled seeds). Seed yield increased significantly in response to 120 kg N ha−1 and 15 kg S ha−1. The NFUE of crambe decreased by 28% with a rise in N rate. Hulled crambe seeds accumulated 324–394 g kg−1 DM of crude fat, 208–238 g kg−1 DM of total protein, and 118–137 g kg−1 DM of crude fiber. Nitrogen fertilization decreased the crude fat content (by 6%), and it increased the total protein content (by 11%) and the crude fiber content (by 14%) of crambe seeds. Sulfur fertilization increased crude fat content (by 4–5%) without inducing significant differences in the total protein content and the crude fat content of seeds.

Effect of Fertilizer Types and Rates on The Production of Moringa (Moringa Oleifera) In Ogbomoso

Purpose: An experiment was conducted to study the effect of fertilizer types and rates on the production of moringa in Ogbomoso on the Teaching and Research Farm of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, in 2012 and 2013 planting seasons.Methodology: The experimental design was randomized complete block design with 3 replicates. Nine treatments were used. The treatments were no fertilizer, 400 kg/ha NPK, 600 kg /ha NPK, 800 kg/ha NPK, 1000 kg/ha NPK, 2.5 t/ha tithonia compost, 5.0 t/ha tithonia compost, 7.5 t/ha tithonia compost and 10.0 t/ha tithonia compost. The land was prepared by ploughing and harrowing after the pre cropping soil sampling to determine the physical and chemical properties of the soil. Data collected were plant height, number of leave/plants, dry matter yield, fruit and seed yield components, biomass proximate and elemental compositions. The analyses of variance done were on the data collected and means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (P <0.05).Results: Vegetative growth of moringa was better enhanced by the application of 1000 kg/ha NPK, as it produced the tallest plant height and the greatest number of leaves/plants which is followed by the 10.0 t/ha tithonia compost. The fertilizer application had significant effect on the seed and fruit yield of moringa. 1000kg/ha of NPK gave the highest seed and fruit yield components such as fruit set, number of fruits per plant and 100 seed weight. The application of 10.0 t/ha tithonia compost had highest proximate and nutrient composition in moringa leaves production.Unique contribution to theory, policy and practice: In conclusion, the application of 10.0 t/ha tithonia compost produce a comparable result as 1000 kg/ha NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer and may be used as alternate to NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer in the production of moringa. Hence 1000kg of NPK/ha or 10.0 tons tithonia compost/ha were recommended for moringa biomass and seed production in Ogbomoso

Response of Growth and Productivity of Cowpea Plants to Nano Mixture of Micronutrients Under Different Potassium Sulphate Fertilizer Rates

The response of cowpea cv. Cream 7 growth and productivity to potassium fertilization mixed with or without Nano mixture of micronutrients were studied during the summer of 2017 and 2018 seasons at Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Egypt. The experiment aimed to assessed the effect of potassium fertilization levels (0.0, 24, 48 and 72 kg K2O/Fed), Nano mixture of micronutrients rate (0.0, 0.50, 1.0 and 2.0 g/l) and their interactions on growth, seed yield, macronutrients concentration in shoot and seeds and seed quality of cowpea plants. Source of potassium levels was potassium sulphate (48-52% K2O). The used Nano mixture of micronutrients called "Magrow NanoMix" and it contained Fe (6%), Zn (6%), B (2%), Mn (5%), Cu (1%) and Mo (0.1%). These treatments arranged in a split-plot design with three replicates. The results referred to that fertilizing cowpea plants with potassium at 72 kgK2O/Fed. significantly increased cowpea growth (plant height, branch and leaf numbers per plant as well as branch, leaf and total dry weights/plant), yield components(pod diameter and length, hundred seeds weight, pod number/plant and seed yield/ plant and /Fed.) as well as chemical constituents (N, P and K percentages in each leaves and seeds as well as total carbohydrates and protein percentages in seeds, also, total chlorophyll content (SPAD) in cowpea leaves compared with control and the lowest levels under study. The same trend was achieved by using the highest rate of Nano mixture of micronutrients (2g/l) regarding the increase in most of abovementioned parameters of growth, yield and chemical constituents of cowpea compared with unsprayed plants (control). In general, application of potassium fertilization at 72kg K2O/ Fed. as soil application with Nano- mixture of micronutrients at 2g/l rate as foliar spray was recorded the best treatments for increasing all cowpea growth and seed yield components as well as N, P, K and carbohydrates percentage in seeds such as compared with control treatment (without using mineral potassium or Nano mixture of micronutrients) in growing season.

INFLUENCE OF VARIETY, SELF-POLLINATION AND CROSS-POLLINATION ON SEED YIELD COMPONENTS IN BIRD’S-FOOT TREFOIL

The article gives an analysis of the influence of variety, self-pollination, cross-pollination on the seed yield components in bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.).The test results are designed for further planning of breeding work with this crop and finding sources of self-compatibility.The research was carried out in 2019, in the breeding greenhouse of the Federal Williams Research Center of Forage Production and Agroecology.We organized greenhouse experiment. Plants were grown in 3 l vessels. Soil fertility and acidity were moderate. 40 genotypes of varieties Smolenskiy 1 (Smolensk State Agricultural Experimental Station named after A.N. Engelhardt) and Izis (Research and Practical Center of National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus for Arable Farming) were analyzed. After self-pollination of flowers, the infructescense decreased by more than 15 times, the number, weight, and plumpness of seeds, decreased by more than 30 times.The average number of seeds in a bean decreased by 2 times. The average weight of 1 seed decreased by 8.5%. The average bean length decreased by 0.7 cm. The difference between plumpness of seeds from Izis genotypes and Smolensky 1 genotypes after self-pollination is statistically significant. No genotypes with high self-compatibility were found. It is necessary to continue the search for this hereditary feature among genotypes of various eco-geographical origin. To create inbred lines, it is necessary to increase the number of self-pollinated flowers. To facilitate the manual pollination of the flowers of bird’s-foot trefoil, a technique should be developed.

Cowpea yield and quality after application of desiccating herbicides

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pre-harvest desiccant herbicides on the yield and the physiological and technological quality of cowpea seeds after harvest and after storage. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with four replications. A split-plot design (6 × 2) was composed of the desiccant herbicides flumioxazin (30 g ai.ha-1), glufosinate ammonium (500 g ai.ha-1), paraquat (400 g ai.ha-1), saflufenacil (70 g ai.ha-1), and carfentrazone (24 g ai.ha-1) and an untreated control, as well as two seed evaluation periods, at harvest and six months after h arvest. Desiccants were applied at the R5 stage. The desiccants affected the yield, classification, color, and physiological quality of seeds of ‘BRS Guariba’. The glufosinate ammonium and paraquat herbicides compromised seed physiological quality. Flumioxazin did not affect seed yield components, color, and physiological quality. Storage at 20 °C for six months affected seed physiological quality.