Trichoderma juruarense sp. nov. (Hypocreaceae) a new fungal species from sediments of the Amazonian Juruá River with agricultural potential

The species of Trichoderma are the most common fungi to be used as biocontrol agents, and their metabolic arsenal has a wide variety of applications that places this genus among those with the potential to provide biotechnological products. The ubiquitous nature of Trichoderma has favored a rapid increase in the number of described species, and significant efforts have been made towards the taxonomy of Trichoderma in order to improve the accuracy of identification. During a study of cultivable microbiota from the Juruá River, Amazon, Brazil. Isolates with morphological characteristics of the genus Trichoderma were screened for their capacity to control phytopathogens. A total of five Trichoderma isolates were identified using morphological data combined with phylogenetic analysis of the ITS region, and partial sequences of TEF and RPB2. Trichoderma juruarense sp. nov. form a monophyletic clade that is closely related to T. cyanodichotomus, a species that occupies an unresolved position in the Trichoderma taxonomy. T. cyanodichotomus and T. juruarense sp. nov. present an intracellular blue-green pigment in potato dextrose agar (PDA) and differ in conidia and chlamydospores sizes. These data support the proposition of a new species, named here as Trichoderma juruarense. The holotype of T. juruarense INPA0108 presents in vitro inhibition against phytopathogens, such as Colletotrichum siamense (50%), Corynespora cassiicola (43%), Fusarium decemcellulare (61%) and Sclerotium rolfsii (51%), which demonstrates desirable traits that warrant further studies on plant protection. In addition, T. cyanodichotomus and T. juruarense formed a new clade based on the sequence data of the RPB2 gene.

Development of climate smart agriculture in Africa.

Climate change, food system complexity and changing international demands are creating new realities, challenges and opportunities. In this respect, unlocking Africa's agricultural potential is both a vital and a daunting aspiration to achieve commitments to the climate and development of the visionary and optimistic framework of Agenda 2063. In response to these challenges and drivers, climate smart agriculture (CSA) was promoted by governments and international organizations to functionally contribute to reducing vulnerability and increasing adaptation to climate change while ensuring sustainable progress in living standards, value chains and mitigation capacities of farming systems. Remarkable benefits in terms of increased productivity and performances of farming systems, enhanced farmers' resilience, environment and value chain sustainability, and developments of CSA in Africa and lock-in barriers exclusion are under way. These are because of investment in policy formulation and planning, approaches, alliances, incentives, capacity development, research, knowledge sharing, networking and engagement in bold regional and local initiatives. Side benefits from CSA are numerous for Africans in general and for producers and growers in particular. They include poverty alleviation through green growth, just and ethical transformation, gender equity and empowerment, shared prosperity and entrepreneurship via innovation. Overall, investing in CSA and particularly in Conservation Agriculture may greatly enhance a country's strategic thinking and capacity to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Model of state support for organic farming of Kazakhstan in the context of creation of international regulatory framework for the industry

The paper evaluates the status and prospects for a wider market capacity of organic foods and items. The paper analyzes regulatory framework for organic market in Kazakhstan. The paper describes the conditions for the development of the organic market. The transformation of global food market structures has influenced the organic farming. Demand for organic products has been growing rapidly. Whereas the European Union has put in place at the time an effective system for regulating organic production, the EAEU, CIS, and SCO countries can see this production taking shape only now. It is argued that Kazakhstan is harnessing its agricultural potential only partially, including organic food production. The paper proves that the development of green farming entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan will enable agricultural organizations, aided by the measures of state support, to form a new niche in the market for organic products and expand the supply of organic products in the world market. New approaches are proposed for the first time in regard to formulating regulations, model laws, and recommendations of international unions.

A simple approach towards estimating solar irradiance

Solar radiation is or vital interest in characterizing an area with respect to its agricultural potential. However, these are not readily available for a large network. An attempt. has been made to deduce solar irradiance from climatic data, such as temperature range. Based on daily data of Pune for 1986-90, a relationship has been developed between atmospheric transmittance and the daily range of air temperature. The model developed has been tested on independent data and found to give fairly accurate estimation of solar irradiance. Nearly 70% of the variation in daily solar radiation could be explained by this simple method. The effect of solar irradiance on microclimate has also been discussed. The model developed has been tested for Hyderabad and Calcutta and found to give encouraging results.

Agroclimatic classification for assessment Of the crop potential of Karnataka

To plan cropping pattern and to bring out agricultural potential of a region, it is essential that the agro climatic classification is made on an objective and rational basis. Such an attempt has been made in this paper by devising an index called Water Availability Index (WAI). This index takes into account the distribution of the minimum water required by the crop. It utilizes the most probable number of the wet weeks for three threshold values of weekly rainfall and probability of dry spells of more than three weeks. The methodology developed is applied to dry farming tracts of Karnataka State. Using these information along with the information of the soil types and water requirement of different crops, cropping pattern can be assessed in each agro climatic zone, so that optimum use of the available moisture is made in stabilizing the crop production in the State.

Penicillium Amapaense sp. nov. Exilicaulis Section and New Records of Penicillium Labradorum in Brazil Isolated from Amazon River Sediments with Potential Applications in Agriculture and Biotechnology

The genus Penicillium is recognized for its ability to produce bioactive molecules with a wide range of biotechnological applications. Currently, the genus is distributed in 28 sections, with more than 50 species in the Exilicaulis section. Representative species of this section are responsible for the production of antimicrobial compounds, but they can also produce genotoxic compounds that affect commercial mushroom production or cause disease in immunosuppressed animals. In the present study, based on morphological characters such as the length of the conidia, phialides and stipes, as well as sequence analysis of the ITS region and partial sequence of CAM, TUB2 and RPB2 loci, we describe a new fungal species denominated Penicillium amapaense and report for the first time the occurrence of Penicillium labrodorum in Brazil, both of which were isolated from sediments of the Amazon River. The isolates obtained in this study for each species were submitted to antibiosis assays against 12 phytopathogenic fungi that affect important agricultural crops in Brazil and showed inhibition of 11 out of 12 of them. The production of amylase, cellulase and siderophore as well phosphate solubilization was also detected. Metabolomic analysis indicates the ability of P. labrodorum and Penicillium amapaense sp nov. to produce polyketides such as known curvularins and anthraquinones. In addition to these, unknown compounds were also detected. These results indicate the biotechnological and agricultural potential of P. labradorum and P. amapaense.

Determinanty zróżnicowania regionalnego cen gruntów rolnych w Polsce

The aim of the research presented in this article was an attempt to explain the regional differentiation of arable land prices in 2018 in terms of natural and economic conditions, resulting both from factors characterizing the size, structure and quality of land, as well as the level of economic development and agricultural potential of individual voivodeships. The research used qualitative and quantitative analysis of Polish Statistical Office data. The results of the analysis carried out confirmed the regional differentiation of natural and economic conditions as well as the level of prices and rents on the agricultural land market in Poland. The variables explaining the differentiation in land prices include indicators characterizing the quality of the agricultural land resource, its profitability and the agricultural potential of a given region.