Diethyl Aminoethyl Hexanoate Increase Relay Strip Intercropping Soybean Grain by Optimizing Photosynthesis Aera and Delaying Leaf Senescence

Insufficient and unbalanced biomass supply inhibited soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield formation in the maize-soybean relay strip intercropping (IS) and monoculture soybean (SS). A field experiment was conducted to explore the soybean yield increase mechanism of DA-6 in IS and SS treatments. In this 2-year experiment, compact maize “Denghai 605” and shade-tolerant soybean “Nandou 25” were selected as cultivated materials. DA-6 with four concentrations, i.e., 0 mg/L (CK), 40 mg/L (D40), 60 mg/L (D60), and 80 mg/L (D80), were sprayed on soybean leaves at the beginning of flowering stage of soybean. Results showed that DA-6 treatments significantly (p < 0.05) increased soybean grain yield, and the yield increase ratio was higher in IS than SS. The leaf area index values and net photosynthesis rate of IS peaked at D60 and were increased by 32.2–49.3% and 24.1–27.2% compared with the corresponding CK. Similarly, DA-6 treatments increased the aboveground dry matter and the amount of soybean dry matter accumulation from the R1 stage to the R8 stage (VDMT) and highest at D60 both in IS and SS. D60 increased the VDMT by 29.0–47.1% in IS and 20.7–29.2% in SS. The TRG at D60 ranged 72.4–77.6% in IS and 61.4–62.5% in SS. The MDA content at D60 treatment was decreased by 38.3% in IS and 25.8% in SS. The active grain-filling day in IS was about 7 days longer than in SS. In D60 treatment, the Vmean and Vmax increased by 6.5% and 6.5% in IS and 5.7% and 4.3% in SS compared with the corresponding CK. Although the pod number and hundred-grain weight were significantly (p < 0.05) increased by DA-6 treatments, the grains per pod were maintained stable. The pod number and hundred-grain weight were increased by 30.1–36.8% and 4.5–6.7% in IS and 6.3–13% and 3.6–5.6% in SS. Thus, the grain yield at D60 was increased by 36.7–38.4% in IS and 21.7–26.6% in SS. DA-6 treatments significantly (p < 0.05) increased soybean grain yield and peaked D60 treatments both in IS and SS.

Estimates of Heritability and Genetic Advance for Yield Components of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) under Drought Stress Conditions

The study was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farms, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria. Five Cowpea genotypes (FUAMPEA-1, IT99K-573-1-1, SAMPEA-16, SAMPEA-8, BIU LOCAL) were crossed and advanced to F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 populations using bi-parental mating design. The six generations were evaluated in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Significant test of the mean performances among the entries showed significant differences among the generations for the characters studied. Wide ranges of narrow sense heritability (18 to 79%), broad sense heritability (21 to 92%) and genetic advance (5.7 to 24.1%) were obtained for characters studied. Broad and narrow sense heritability as well as genetic advance was moderate to high for most of the characters studied such as days to 50% flowering, plant height, days to pod maturity, number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant, hundred seed weight, root length and grain yield for the three sets of cowpea crosses. The results also revealed the possibility of exploitation for grain yield and drought tolerance in the crosses studied.

Identification of Finely Mapped Quantitative Trait Locus and Candidate Gene Mining for the Three-Seeded Pod Trait in Soybean

The three-seeded pod number is an important trait that positively influences soybean yield. Soybean variety with increased three-seeded pod number contributes to the seed number/plant and higher yield. The candidate genes of the three-seeded pod may be the key for improving soybean yield. In this study, identification and validation of candidate genes for three-seeded pod has been carried out. First, a total of 36 quantitative trait locus (QTL) were detected from the investigation of recombinant inbred lines including 147 individuals derived from a cross between Charleston and Dongning 594 cultivars. Five consensus QTLs were integrated. Second, an introgressed line CSSL-182 carrying the target segment for the trait from the donor parent was selected to verify the consensus QTL based on its phenotype. Third, a secondary group was constructed by backcrossing with CSSL-182, and two QTLs were confirmed. There were a total of 162 genes in the two QTLs. The mining of candidate genes resulted in the annotation of eight genes with functions related to pod and seed sets. Finally, haplotype analysis and quantitative reverse transcriptase real-time PCR were carried to verify the candidate genes. Four of these genes had different haplotypes in the resource group, and the differences in the phenotype were highly significant. Moreover, the differences in the expression of the four genes during pod and seed development were also significant. These four genes were probably related to the development process underlying the three-seeded pod in soybean. Herein, we discuss the past and present studies related to the three-seeded pod trait in soybean.

Physiology, Growth, and Productivity of Spring–Summer Black Gram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) as Influenced by Heat and Moisture Stresses in Different Dates of Sowing and Nutrient Management Conditions

Heat and soil moisture stress account for serious abiotic constraint in black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) production during spring–summer under Gangetic plains of Eastern India. Concurrence of these two can bring about early completion of phenophases that hampers normal metabolism of legumes by disrupting their defense mechanism, leading to poor seed set. The field experiment was conducted with two different sowing dates as the main plot, soil application of cobalt (Co) as subplots and foliar sprays of potassium (K) and boron (B) either alone or in combination as sub–sub plot treatment in a split–split plot design during spring–summer seasons of 2020 and 2021 with black gram (variety: Pant U 31). The study was aimed at evaluating the impact of sowing time and nutrients application alleviating adversities of abiotic stress during reproductive development of black gram. The March first week sown crop took significantly higher days to complete its life cycle compared to March third week sown one (82.0 vs. 78.2 and 81.8 vs. 78.8). This in turn relatively allowed a broader window for leaf area expansion, flowering, and seed filling in the first crop compared to the second one leading to the attainment of superior yield in the normal sown crop during the consecutive years. Crop growth rate (CGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), pod number per plant, seed yield, and harvest index were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) with soil Co @ 4 kg ha−1 and foliar 1.25% K + 0.2% B applications through stress mitigation by stimulating chlorophyll biosynthesis, nitrate reductase activity, proline accumulation, and cell membrane stability, irrespective of the years. Fluctuations in per plant pod number explained about 96 and 94% variations in seed yield through linear regressions in respective years. Optimum sowing date along with soil Co application combined with foliar K+B sprays manifested immense potential to achieve higher black gram production. In addition, this nutrient schedule proved to be efficient enough to promote satisfactory growth and optimum seed yield of late sown blackgram through relief of stress during the spring–summer season.

Growing Condition and Varietal Impact on Growth Performance and Yield of Yard Long Bean (Vigna unguiculata) Varieties Cultivated under Tropical Climate

Background: Yard-long bean is one of the exporting crops of Fiji, with approximately half a ton exported annually. Lack of information on the varietal performance under the field condition walls the ability of farmers to choose a suitable variety for higher production under different growing conditions. Therefore, this study aims to identify a higher-yielding variety of yard-long bean that performs to the maximum under the tropical climate of Fiji. Methods: Three varieties of yard-long bean were selected based on their availability and were planted under three different growing conditions. The data on the chlorophyll content, stem girth, plant height, pod number, pod length and pod weight were collected and analyzed. Result: The experiment results indicate that the JS15P variety of yard long bean had significantly the highest leaf chlorophyll content in Trial 1 and Trial 2; however, no significant differences were observed in Trial 3 among the three varieties. No significant differences were observed in the stem girth among the three varieties. As for the plant height, the JS15P variety had significantly the highest among the other two varieties. The results also indicated that the JS15P variety of yard-long bean had significantly the highest yield in all three trials; therefore, the JS15P variety of yard-long bean is highly recommended to farmers in Fiji or those cultivating crops under tropical climatic conditions.

Development of Brassica Napus L. Ogu-INRA CMS Restorers Using Recurrent Full-Sib Selection.

The Ogu-INRA CMS system in canola and rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) uses a cytological variant of the radish- (Raphanus sativus L.) derived Ogu CMS pollination control system introduced through interspecific introgression. The restorers (R-lines) contain an introgression that is associated with poor agronomic performance due to a large undesired segment of the radish chromosome that was introgressed along with the Rfo gene. The introgression contains pentatricopeptide (PPR) motif repeats that confer fertility restoration abilities to the R-lines. The objective of this research was to test the hypothesis that multiple cycles of intermating will result in R-lines with improved agronomic performance. A base population was developed by designing five R-line by R-line crosses. Twelve plants from each initial cross were grown and chain-crossed at random, without selection, other than the presence of the Rfo gene. Twelve flowers from each plant were crossed and the remainder of the plant was selfed. Three intermating crossing cycles (C0, C1 and C2) were completed and each was selfed three times for evaluation. Total pod number, seeds per pod, a visual pod rating, thousand seed weight and yield were evaluated. The visual pod rating showed a positive correlation with seeds per pod. Improvements for all traits were found at C0 and C1 when compared to the best parent. Individual families from two of the crosses showed a yield increase of over 78 % from the best parent. This suggests that improvements in yield components can be obtained from intermating R-lines.

Effect of biostimulant on yield characters of common bean cultivars under Southwestern Goiás conditions

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of biostimulant positioning on common bean cultivars in the southwestern Goiás conditions. The experiment was conducted in the municipality of Mineiros-GO. The experimental design was a randomized block in factorial 6x3, corresponding to the positioning of the Triplus® biostimulator (R5, R5 + R8 and water) in six common bean cultivars (BRS Campeiro, BRS Esteio, BRS Estilo, BRS Marfim, BRS Notavel and BRS Perola) in 4 replicates. The following productive attributes were evaluated: number of pod, number total of grains, number of commercial grains, number of non-commercial grains, mass of commercial grains, thousand grains mass. There was a significant interaction between cultivar x biostimulant as well as the factors alone. At the end of the experiment, it was concluded that the positioning of the biostimulant via foliar in the R5 phenological phase provided the highest yields for all common bean cultivars, especially BRS Estilo (43.87 sc ha-1) and BRS Notavel (43.02 sc ha-1). Biostimulant applications at stage R5 promoted the best results for number of non-commercial grains, mass of commercial grains, thousand grains mass. In the three stratifications used in the dendrogram, it was possible to form two groups of genotypes. Number total of grains, number of commercial grains and number of pod positively correlate with yield.

Repellant Effect of Urine Insecticides Spray and NPK (15:15:15) Compound Fertilizer Application on the Growth and Yield of watermelon (Citrullu lonatus Thumb)

A field study conducted to investigate the Repellent effects urine insecticide spray and NPK(15:15:15) compound fertilizer on the growth and yield of watermelon (Citrullus Lonatus Thumb) in forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, (FRIN) experimental plot at Agbede, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State. Four regimes of Urine insecticide spray and four rate of NPK compound fertilizer application were factorially combined and laid out in a completely randomized block design (CRBD) with three replication. Urine insecticide spray and fertilizer application did not affect the period of flowering and poddring significantly (P> 0.05). NPK compound fertilizer application significantly (P< 0.05) increase the number and length of main vines, pod number and yield while Vines insecticide spray significantly (P< 0.05) increase the length of the main virus and yield. In the rate of application, 200kg/ha NPK was optimum and this recommended for watermelon cultivation. Twice spray regimes of urine insecticide was recommended for watermelon cultivation.

Yield of Spring Grown Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under Different Doses of Soil Applied Phosphorus in An Agroecology of Semi-arid Highlands with Mediterranean Climate

Background: This study was carried out to determine the effects of different phosphorus doses on the flowering, yield and yield components of spring grown chickpea crop under the ecological conditions of Siirt province in the experimental field of Siirt University, Faculty of Agriculture, Field Crops Department during two seasons in 2018 and 2019. Methods: The study was carried out in randomized complete blocks design with three replications. Before planting, 140 kg ha-1 of DAP fertilizer (18.46.0) was spreaded and incorporated into the soil with a rake. Following emergence of plants, TSP fertilizer (0.42.0) was spreaded to the plots at doses of 0, 30, 60, 90 kg ha-1 P2O5 into the mellow humid soil. Result: All observed parameters were effected from phosphorus application doses. Based on different P doses, two years’ average plant height, first pod height; main branch number, flower number per plant, pod number per plant, grain number per plant, 100 grain weight and grain yield values were determined as 51,25-55,91 cm; 29,17-35,98 cm; 2,10-2,97 piece plant-1; 39,00-57,86 piece plant-1; 18,87-27,92 piece plant-1; 18,00-27,33 piece plant-1; 29,92-33,41 g and 969-1565 kg ha-1, respectively. Highest values for all parameters were obtained from 60 kg ha-1 P2O5 but further dose (60 kg ha-1 P2O5) resulted with reduction from top values for all parameters.

Inter-Relationship between Seed Yield and Some Morphological and Biochemical Traits in Lentil (Lens culinaris L.)

Correlation Study with Path analysis was performed on 29 Lentil Genotypes to determine direct and indirect effect of some morphological as well as Biochemical parameters on Yield. Following traits were studied: Root Nodule number, Nodule weight, Primary Root Length, Secondary root numbers, Root Fresh and Dry weight, Plant Height, Pods per plant, Days to 50% Flowering, 100 seed weight, Leaf chlorophyll content, Seed Carbohydrate with Starch content, Seed Protein content and Yield. Considering both genetic Advance and GCV, it was observed that selection for the following characters viz. Plant Height, Pods per plant, Days to 50% flowering, 100 seed weight, Seed Protein content & Yield will be rewarding. Seed Yield per plant showed significantly Positive correlation with the following traits: 100 Seed weight, Pod number per plant, Plant height and seed starch. Negative association with yield was found for Days to 50% flowering. Path coefficient study revealed that there was a strong positive direct effect of 100 seed weight and Pod no. per plant along with Leaf Chlorophyll content on Yield. Hence, direct selection only for Pods number and 100 seed weight will be rewarding as these characters also gave higher heritability % along with high Genetic advance. Plant height gave strong negative direct effect on yield, but it gave a positive correlation due to high indirect effect in association with pod number. It may be due to short winter span of West Bengal which results into forced maturity of the crops. So short plants with higher pod numbers will be desirable for higher yield in short winter span condition.