Effect of Paclobutrazol on the Physiology and Biochemistry of Ophiopogon japonicus

Ophiopogon japonicus is a commonly used Chinese medicine with multiple pharmacological effects. To increase the yield of O. japonicus, paclobutrazol is widely used during the cultivation, and residues of paclobutrazol cause undesired side effects of O. japonicus. In this study, the effect of different concentrations of paclobutrazol on O. japonicus was investigated, and the final residual amount of paclobutrazol in the plant sample was determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS); cell morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The inhibitory effect of paclobutrazol on plant height and the stimulatory effect on root elongation were concentration-dependent from 0.6 to 11.3 g/L, reaching a maximum of about 28% and 67%, respectively. However, when the concentration was 22.5 g/L, these effects were significantly weakened, and the same trend was observed for the tuber root weight. Paclobutrazol caused the cell wall of O. japonicus to thicken, making the cells smaller and more densely arranged. Paclobutrazol also inhibited bacterial growth, irrespective of the concentration. Considering the residual concentration after application and the effects on growth, the application of 1.3 g/L or 2.8 g/L paclobutrazol can increase the accumulation of effective ingredients while promoting production, reducing application costs, and maximizing farmers’ profit.

Character changes and Transcriptomic analysis of a cassava sexual Tetraploid

Background Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important food crop known for its high starch content. Polyploid breeding is effective in its genetic improvement, and use of 2n gametes in sexual polyploid breeding is one of the potential methods for cassava breeding and improvement. In our study, the cassava sexual tetraploid (ST), which carries numerous valuable traits, was successfully generated by hybridizing 2n female gametes SC5 (♀) and 2n male gametes SC10 (♂). However, the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. To understand these underlying molecular mechanisms behind the phenotypic alterations and heterosis in ST plants, we investigated the differences in gene expression between polyploids and diploids by determining the transcriptomes of the ST plant and its parents during the tuber root enlargement period. We also compared the characters and transcriptomes of the ST plant with its parents. Results The ST plant was superior in plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, petiole length, plant weight, and root weight than the parent plants, except the leaf number, which was lower. The number of starch granules was higher in the roots of ST plants than those in the parent plants after five months (tuber root enlargement period), which could be due to a higher leaf net photosynthetic rate leading to early filling of starch granules. Based on transcriptome analysis, we identified 2934 and 3171 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the ST plant as compared to its female and male parents, respectively. Pathway enrichment analyses revealed that flavonoid biosynthesis and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis were significantly enriched in the ST plants, which might contribute to the colors of petiole (purple-red), root epidermis (dark brown), and tuber starch accumulation, respectively. Conclusions After sexual polyploidization, the phenotype of ST has changed significantly in comparison to their diploid parents, mainly manifest as enlarged biomass, yield, early starch filling, deep colored petiole and root epidermis. The tetraploid plants were also mature early due to early starch grain filling. Owing to enriched flavonoid biosynthesis and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, they are possibly resistant to adversity stresses and provide better yield, respectively.

The results of root crop cleaner experimental research

This article contains the results of the experimental research on the quantity of root tubers let through to the creasing rollers through the clearance between the worm screw and the feeding transporter working branch in the combined root crop cleaner. It also describes the experimental set and the technique used for dummy tuber root transportation research, with the size of root tubers 0.05; 0.1; 0.15 and 0.2 m in diameter. The experimental research has been held basing on the PFE 24 type planned experiment realisation. The variable factors were transporter speed (variation extremes of 1.2…1.8 m/s), worm pitch (variation extremes of 0.5…0.7 m), clearance gap between the worm screw and transporter (variation extremes of 0.05…0.1m), worm screw angle speed (variation extremes of 7…15 rad/s). The work provides the regression equations that characterize the dependency of the amount or tubers being let through the worm screw to the creasing rollers from the size characteristics of fodder beet root tubers. A graphic dependency analysis has been held and it set the root crop cleaner parameter and work modes best for the maximum quantity of root tubers ran through the device.

Study on tuberization of Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch.

Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. is an herbal plant, which belongs to the Srcophulariaceae family, containing the main active ingredients such as catalpol and verbacoside in its root tubers. In traditional medicine, R. glutinosa tubers have been used in the fresh or dried tuber root or the prepared rehamannia root. They not only possess the comprehensive pharmacological actions in the blood system, endocrine system but also used mainly for anti-tumor treament, immune-enhancement, anti-diabetes, treament for concretion in the urinary tract, etc. R. glutinosa is naturally distributed in China, Korea and Japan. This species was introduced into Viet Nam since 1958 and then planted widely in many the Northern plain and midland provinces. In Vietnam, R. glutinosa produces flowers without seeds, therefore the plant has been mainly propagated by slicing tubers. In this work, we investigated the effect of some plant hormones and sucrose contents on the ability to producing microtubers of R. glutinosa. Experiments were establishmented on the 1/4 MS medium supplemented with 50g/L sucrose. Results showed that auxin (IBA, NAA) had no effect on the in vitro tuber formation of R. glutinosa. The efficiency of using the single BAP or PP333 was low. The highest in vitro tuberization rate of R. glutinosa obtained on the medium supplemented with the combination of BAP (1.0 mg/L) and PP333 (0.3 mg/L), reached 83.33% and the number of tubers/plant was 5.58. The optimal sucrose concentration for increasing the diameter and weight of microtubers was 70 g/L. 100% of plants with tuber-roots survived in the nursery and thrived on the field

Production and profitability of yacon grown in different spatial arrangements

The interest in yacon has generated a demand for information that may enhance the production system. Among them are the studies on the different spatial arrangements of planting spacing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the production and yield of yacon cultivated in different arrangements, varying the spaces between the lines and the plants. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design, being the parcels composed by three spacing between lines (0.80, 1.0 and 1.20 meters) and the subplots by three spacing between plants within the lines (0.40, 0.50 and 0.60 meters), distributed in 9 treatments with four replications. At harvest time, evaluations on the accumulation of dry mass in the plant and tuber root production data (number, weight, total productivity, and per class) were made. Profitability indicators were estimated (Gross Income, Operational Profit and Benefit-Cost ratio). The arrangements of 0.80 x 0.40 m and 1.00 x 0.50 m produced higher tuberous roots yield (37.5 and 39.8 t ha-1, respectively), but the arrangement 1.00 x 0. 50 m had a higher profit (US$ 13,854.91) and a better benefit-cost ratio (4.9), which is the most indicted.

On-Farm Evaluation of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Varieties Under Acidic Soil of North-East Region in Bangladesh

An on-farm trial with four orange fleshed sweet potato varieties viz. BARI Mishti Alu-4, BARI Mishti Alu-8, BARI Mishti Alu-12, BARI Mishti Alu-13 including local check (Muli Alu) were evaluated at farming system research and development (FSRD) site, Jalalpur, Sylhet, Bangladesh during rabi season for two consecutive years (2016-2017 & 2017-2018) under Surma‐Kushiyara Floodplain of Bangladesh. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six dispersed replications. The results revealed that the genotypes varied considerably in tuber root yields and yield attributing characters. Considering the average tuber root yield performance orange fleshed sweet potato varieties performed better than local variety (Muli Alu). However, among the varieties under studied BARI Mishti Alu-12 produced higher roots yield (40.63 t ha-1) than the other tested varieties. Considering economic return, the highest gross margin (Tk. 5,65,110 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (5.50:1.00) was also obtained from sweet potato var. BARI Mishti Alu-12 and the lowest returnfrom var. BARI Mishti Alu-4 with benefit cost ratio of 3.54. Though the local cultivar (Muli Alu) produced lower root yields but it provided considerable gross margin (Tk.3,76,240 )and BCR (3.99:1.00 ) which closed to BARI Mishti Alu-12. It is due to higher demand of local cultivar with high price in the local market. Therefore, the genotypes BARI Mishti Alu-12 and local cultivar (Muli Alu) were found suitable for their better growth and yield under the acidic soils Bangladesh Agron. J. 2018, 21(2): 59-65

Influence of harvest time and agricultural year in yield components of table cassava cultivars

Agricultural year and harvesting season may interfere with yield and post-harvest performance of table cassava cultivars, with consequences for their commercialization and net profit. The objective of this work was to quantify the effects of harvesting season and agricultural year on yield performance of table cassava cultivars and their correlations. Planting was carried out in September in two consecutive years near Londrina city, PR, in a Clay-textured Oxisols red eutrophric. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications, consisting of seven harvesting times (8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 months after planting) for each agricultural year. The table cassava cultivars used were: Catarina Amarela, Catarina Branca, Mato Grosso, Pretona, IAPAR 19-Pioneira and IAC 576-70. The following agronomic characteristics were evaluated: number of roots per plant, length, diameter and yield of tuberous roots, as well as the following post-harvest characteristics: net yield and peeling time per kg of each cassava genotype. The cultivars, harvesting time and agricultural year affected the yield and post-harvest characteristics. ‘IAPAR 19-Pioneira’ presented a larger number of roots per plant (9.9) and peeling time (224.8 seconds.kg-1), but lower yield % (66.2%) and diameter of tuberous roots (4.0 cm), regardless of harvest time and year of planting. 'Catarina Amarela', 'Catarina Branca', 'IAC 576-70' and 'Pretona' provided higher yields, diameters and reduced peeling times. The root mean diameter is one of the characteristics that can be used as a selection criterion in a table cassava genetic breeding program: the larger the root mean diameter the larger are tuber root yield and percentage of weight of the tradable part of the roots, and the lower is the time of peeling.

Karakterisasi Plasma Nutfah Ubi Jalar Berdaging Umbi Predominan Ungu

<p>Characterization of Sweet Potato with Purple Flash Predominant Color. Sweet potato is a source of energy which is available in the form of sugar and carbohydrate. It is also sources of various vitamins and minerals which are essential for human health, such as calcium, ferro, vitamin A and C. Effort have to be made to diverse the use of sweet potato as fungsional food focus on size and its nutrition value, especially the use of anthocyanin for health. Data of characteristic of dry weight, shape, and flesh of sweet potato predominant color, leaf color and shape were collected from sweet potato planted in Cibadak and from the catalog of food crops genetic resources. Ten accessions which have predominant color number 9 (strongly pigmented with anthocyanin) or secondary color purple were selected for anthocyanin measurement using spectrometer. There was no correlation between dry weight and tuber root shape and anthocyanin content. On the other hand, predomint color of flesh tuber root had correlation with anthocyanin content, the darker the purple color the higher anthocyanin content, ranged from 508.45 to 645.37 ppm.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Abstrak</strong></p><p>Ubi jalar merupakan bahan pangan sumber energi dalam bentuk gula dan karbohidrat. Umbi ini mengandung vitamin dan mineral yang dibutuhkan oleh tubuh, seperti kalsium, zat besi, vitamin A maupun C. Upaya penganekaragaman pemanfaatan ubi jalar sebagai pangan fungsional perlu mempertimbangkan hubungan antara ukuran umbi dengan kadar nutrisi, khususnya pemanfaatan kandungan antosianin bagi kesehatan. Data karakteristik bobot bahan kering dan bentuk umbi plasma nutfah ubi jalar diperoleh dari katalog plasma nutfah tanaman pangan dan dari pertanaman koleksi ubi jalar di Cibadak. Sebanyak 10 aksesi ubi jalar berdaging umbi warna predominan ungu atau warna sekunder daging umbi ungu dipilih untuk dianalisis kadar antosianinnya dengan menggunakan spektrometer. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengevaluasi karateristik beberapa plasma nutfah ubi jalar berdaging umbi warna ungu koleksi Balai Besar Penelitian dan Pengembangan Bioteknologi dan Sumberdaya Genetik Pertanian. Tidak terdapat korelasi antara bobot kering dengan bentuk umbi dan besarnya kandungan antosianin. Semakin pekat warna ungu daging umbi semakin tinggi kadar antosianinnya. Beberapa aksesi lokal mempunyai kandungan antosianin yang tinggi, yaitu antara 508,45-645,37 ppm.</p>

STUDI ETNOFARMASI TUMBUHAN BERKHASIAT OBAT PADA SUKU BUTON DI KECAMATAN BINONGKO, KABUPATEN WAKATOBI, SULAWESI TENGGARA

Herbal plant ethno pharmacy study in Butonse has been coducted from January to april2014 in Binongko Sub-districtm Wakatobi Regency of South East Sulawesi. This research aimed tofind out various species and plant organs used, kinds of diseases healed, and the way to use the herbalplants by Butonese in Binongko Sub-district. This was a descripive research using qualitativemethod.The sample was taken through snowball technique with 17 informans by using questiomnaire.Based on the research result, it was obtained 53 species of plants and divided into 35 families thatused as medicine.The most used plants were family of Euphorbiaceae of 6 species. It was found 3kinds of unique plants used such as tali putri, daun picah, and kayu kuda. The organs used were leaf,fruit, stem, tuber, root, rhozome. Latex, flower, stem skin, and wood skin. The most used plant’sorgan was the leaves of 56%. The wey is by boiling, pounding, chewing, squeezing, slicing, smearing,burning, dropping, soaking, consuming directly, gratting, attachng, and having smoke. The most wayused is by boiling and pounding for 34% each.