Nomenclatural standards of raspberry cultivars bred in the Altai

This article is devoted to designing nomeclatural standars and herbarium vouchers of raspberry cultivars bred in the M.A. Lisavenko Research Institute of Horticulture for Siberia. The article presents nomeclatural standards of cultivars ‘Barnaul’skaya’, ‘Blesk’, ‘Dobraya’, ‘Zoren’ka Altaya’, ‘Illyuziya’, ‘Kredo’ and ‘Rubinovaya’. The work has been performed according to the rules and recommendations outlined in the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants and guidelines developed for the vegetatively propagated plants. The material for nomenclatural standards should be collected with assistance of either the cultivar author, a representative of the institution owning the cultivar, or an expert in these cultivars. Therefore, material of the cultivars in question was picked with assistance of N.D. Yagovtseva, a representative of the Lisavenko Institute and author of two cultivars ‘Blesk’ and ‘Dobraya’. Nomenclatural standards contain two herbarium sheets with parts of one plant collected at the same time: the first sheet holds the middle third of a primocane and a leaf from this part, while the second one displays the middle third of a floricane and a lateral branch with fruits. Also, the specimens were supplied with photos of fruits taken before herbarization. The nomenclature standards have been deposited with the Herbarium of cultivated plants, their wild relatives, and weeds (WIR).

International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. Division II: Chapters I, II

International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. Division II: Chapters I, II / I.G. Chukhina, S.R. Miftakhova, V.I. Dorofeуev (transl.). Transl. of: «International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. Ed. 9. Scripta Horticulturae. 2016;18:I-XVII+1-190».

Integrating Ambient Intelligence Technologies for Empowering Agriculture

This work blends the domain of Precision Agriculture with the prevalent paradigm of Ambient Intelligence, so as to enhance the interaction between farmers and Intelligent Environments, and support their various daily agricultural activities, aspiring to improve the quality and quantity of cultivated plants. In this paper, two systems are presented, namely the Intelligent Greenhouse and the AmI seedbed, targeting a wide range of agricultural activities, starting from planting the seeds, caring for each individual sprouted plant up to their transplantation in the greenhouse, where the provision for the entire plantation lasts until the harvesting period.

Spring Precipitation Deficiency in Poland and Its Temporal and Spatial Variability in the Context of Agricultural Needs

Deficient precipitation (dPr) in the growing season, especially in critical periods, affects plant condition and determines the quality and quantity of obtained yields. Knowledge about the variability and distribution of dPr is essential to mitigate its effect on agricultural soils and on crop and livestock production. The goal of the work is to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of spring precipitation deficiency and also to indicate the zones of risk and variability of its occurrence in Poland. It was assumed that dPr occurred when total monthly precipitation in a given year accounted for ≤75% of the total multi-year mean (1951–2018). In the spring season, the multi-year mean of the area covered by deficient precipitation (ACDP) amounted to 33% and fluctuated between approximately 31% in May and approximately 35% in March. The study distinguished four zones in Poland that vary in terms of the risk and variability of spring precipitation deficiency. The obtained results may be used, for example, to assess the needs for irrigation in the changing climate conditions, to model the growing season and yields of cultivated plants, and to select adaptation measures for agriculture in response to climate change.

Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria Associated with the Nests of the Seed-Harvester Ant, Trichomyrmex Scabriceps

Colonies of seed harvester ants are commonly found in semiarid and arid areas of the world and have been studied for their seed dispersal behaviour. The present study focused on the bacteria associated with the nests of the harvester ant, Trichomyrmex scabriceps, and reveals that ant colonies link the aboveground resources with the belowground microbial communities as they accumulate organic debris in the close vicinity of their nests via their ecosystem engineering activities. Soil samples were collected from the nest chambers and the external debris piles of T. scabriceps colonies, located in managed ecosystems. The nest soil-associated bacteria were examined for their plant growth-promoting abilities via biochemical assays including phosphate solubilization, Indole acetic acid production, siderophore production and physiological assays including biocontrol potential against the soil pathogen, Sclerotium rolfsii. More than 60% of bacteria isolated from the ant nest-associated soil displayed plant-growth promoting ability. Bacillus sp., Azotobacter sp., Klebsiella sp., Comamonas sp., Tsukamurella sp., and Pseudoxanthomonax sp., demonstrated significantly high levels of gnotobiotic growth of the treated chickpea plants. The activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and peroxidase enzymes were higher in plant growth-promoting bacteria treated and pathogen inoculated plants as compared to the control plants lacking the bacteria. Since T. scabriceps colonies often make their nests in the compact soil of unpaved paths of agroecosystems and gardens, these bacteria can act as highly effective biofertilizers and promote growth of the cultivated plants by increasing soil fertility and disease resistance attributes of the plant.

New records in non-native vascular plants of Russian Lapland

The non-native vascular plants of Murmansk Region (European Russia) are under active investigation towards the compilation of the first complete checklist. This work is part of the project 'Flora of Russian Lapland', which ultimately aims at the complete inventory of the taxonomy, distribution and status of vascular plant species in Murmansk Region, based on the comprehensive database of herbarium specimens, field observations and literature. New territory-level records of non-native vascular plants emerged during our inventory of herbarium collections and recent fieldwork. Fourteen species (Anthemis ruthenica, Aruncus dioicus, Bromus commutatus, Chaerophyllum hirsutum, Galega orientalis, Geum aleppicum, Leonurus quinquelobatus, Lepidium densiflorum, Levisticum officinale, Myrrhis odorata, Phleum phleoides, Prunus armeniaca, Rorippa sylvestris, Senecio vernalis) are reported as new to Murmansk Region. The historical occurrences of alien plants appeared in the territory largely as contaminants (of seed or forage). In particular, Rorippa sylvestris and Senecio vernalis arrived with the forage imported during the Second World War. All recent occurrences originated by escape from confinement (ornamental purposes, horticulture, agriculture), reflecting a high diversity of the modern assortment of cultivated plants in commerce and private gardens. Regarding the invasion status, five alien species are considered casual and eight species are treated as locally established or persisting (for uncertain time). Only one species, Galega orientalis, is considered naturalised and capable of further spreading in the territory, although without invasive potential.

The effects of different compositions of growth media on the development of microplants of the Solnechny potato variety

The results of studying the effect of nutrient media of various compositions on the growth of improved micro-plants of potatoes of the Solnechny variety grown under laboratory conditions in vitro are presented. Six compositions of the nutrient medium were studied: standard Murashige-Skuga medium modified for micropropagation (considered as a control), modified Murashige-Skuga medium with a reduced content of mineral components (up to 1/2 and up to 1/3), modified Murashige-Skuga medium with an increased content of agar-agar (10 g/l), modified Murashige-Skuga medium with a reduced content of agar-agar (4 g/l), Murashige-Skuga medium modified with the addition of 3 mg/L giberrellinic acid and 1 mg/L indoliacetic acid. The following parameters of cultivated plants were taken into account: plant length, root presence, number of internodes, total plant mass, leaf mass, root mass, leaf plate surface area. The use of modified nutrient media with a reduced content of mineral components led to an increase in plant length (by 28-30%), stem mass (by 25%) due to leaf mass (by 18%) and stem mass (by 31%) and the total surface area of leaf plates (by 12%). In the variant using a medium with 1/3 mineral components an increase in the mass of the root system was observed (by 20%). When growing plants on a modified nutrient medium with a high content of agar-agar, a decrease in the length of plants (by 6%), a decrease in the mass of the scion (by 12%) due to a decrease in the mass of the stem (by 15%) was observed. Plants grown on a modified nutrient medium with a reduced content of agar-agar were distinguished by a larger mass of the root system (by 10%), scion (by 17%) (due to an increase in leaf mass (by 27%), as well as the total surface area of leaf plates (by 22%). When growth regulators (giberrellin and indoliacetic acid) were added to the modified nutrient medium, a significant increase in plant height (by 70%), a decrease in the mass of the root system (by 50%) and leaves (by 46%), and an increase in the mass of the stem (by 23%) were observed. The total leaf surface area was 28% lower than the control values. For accelerated micropropagation of improved potato plants of the Solnechny variety and preparation of plants for transplanting to aerohydroponic systems in order to produce mini-tubers, the following modified nutrient media are optimal options: with a reduced number of mineral components (1/2 and 1/3) and with a reduced content of agar-agar.

Phytotoxic Effects of Selected Herbal Extracts on the Germination, Growth and Metabolism of Mustard and Oilseed Rape

The use of plants that have high allelopathic potential as natural herbicides in the form of aqueous extracts is gaining popularity in environmentally friendly agriculture. Usually, their effect on the germination and growth of weeds is investigated. However, less attention is paid to the effect of the allelopathic compounds from extracts on cultivated plants. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of herbal extracts that have allelopathic properties on selected physiological and biochemical processes of two plants of great economic importance—white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) and oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera). The extracts were prepared from mountain arnica (Arnica montana L.), ribwort (Plantago lanceolata L.), hypericum (Hypericum perforatum L.), common milfoil (Achillea millefolium L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and sage (Salvia officinalis L.). The germination of white mustard and oilseed rape was most inhibited by the extracts that were prepared from sage and sunflower. Additionally, in the germinating plants, the sunflower extracts increased the membrane permeability, which indicates membrane injuries. The metabolic changes in the plants were monitored using isothermal calorimetry and FT-Raman spectroscopy. The total heat production, which provided information about the metabolic activity of the white mustard and oilseed rape, was decreased the most by the sage extract but generally all of the tested extracts disturbed the shape of the heat emission curves compared to the water control. The impact of the allelopathic compounds that are present in the herbal extracts on the metabolism of the seedlings was clearly visible on the FT-Raman spectra—in the fatty acids and flavonoids range, confirmed using a cluster analysis. In conclusion, the herbal extracts from medicinal plants that have herbicidal activity could be used as a natural herbicide for weed control, but since they may also have negative impacts on cultivated plants, preliminary tests are advisable to find the extract from the species that has the least negative effect on a protected crop.

Mapping Soil Productivity Index on Plantation Land in ATP Jatikerto, Kromengan District, Malang Regency

It is feared that the decline in productivity of plantation crops in Malang Regency, so it is necessary to analyze the soil productivity index at ATP Jatikerto as one of the locations for producing plantation plants. This soil productivity index assessment was presented in the form of a map to make it easier to see the distribution pattern of soil productivity in ATP Jatikerto. The results of the calculation of the productivity index showed that the land potential varied from land with poor to sufficient criteria, namely maize land with an IP (Productivity Index) of 43.27, which is included in the bad IP criteria. In coffee, cocoa, sugarcane, papaya, and citrus fields, they are categorized as moderate with IPs of 50.14, respectively; 45.82; 39.45; 52.26; and 45.82. Actions that can be taken to overcome the problem of decreasing productivity are to carry out regular fertilization, both organic and inorganic, to keep nutrients available for cultivated plants, as well as adding organic matter using litter which not only serves to add nutrients but can also be used as organic mulch to prevent raindrops from falling directly to the ground so that the loss of topsoil can be minimized and increase the population of soil microorganisms. In addition, it can also use bagasse, blotong or manure which can improve the physical condition of the soil by reducing soil density and increasing macropores for better root growth, and ultimately increasing sugarcane yield.

Towards a living agriculture: extension of the notion of agriculture among rural extension agents based on a comprehensive approach to indigenous knowledge in Caldas, Colombia

Agriculture as a business remains the dominant notion among agronomists that work as rural extension agents. Following this vision, their main contribution is to transfer the technical–scientific knowledge for manipulating natural environments to maximize the yield of the communities of cultivated plants. However, it is considered that contrasting one's ideas with those of others -in this case native communities- allows us to recognize, reflexively, the preconceptions themselves. In this framework, the objective of the investigation was to determine how the dominant point of view among agronomists educated within the technical–scientific paradigm changes upon comprehensive interaction with the traditional knowledge. Results derive from analyzing the interviews of rural extension agents who offer their services to native communities in Caldas, Colombia. From the analyses, it can be concluded that, nowadays, agronomists more easily understand that in the local context, agriculture, rather than a business, is a life-producing activity; that elements of nature are subjects that interact and coexist around the reproduction of life rather than objects to manipulate and appropriate; that, in practice, the scientific knowledge adopted is blended with traditional and mystic knowledge, thereby creating a multicultural conservationist practice.