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2 pages, 211 KiB

Open AccessAbstract

Evaluating the Effect of Biochar on Nutrient Leaching and Rice Growth in Disturbed and Undisturbed Soil Columns

by Chenda Lai, Nachhy Ly, Veasna Touch, Sarith Hin, Pascal Podwojewski, Pinnara Ket, Pascal Jouquet, Aurore Degré and Vannak Ann

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12497 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 837

Abstract

Soil fertilization is one of the top rice crop production issues. Nutrient leaching in rice crop production, leading to lower plant uptake and low yield, poses a challenge for Cambodian farmers and is becoming a key concern for the environment. Carbonized organic waste, [...] Read more.

Soil fertilization is one of the top rice crop production issues. Nutrient leaching in rice crop production, leading to lower plant uptake and low yield, poses a challenge for Cambodian farmers and is becoming a key concern for the environment. Carbonized organic waste, called biochar, is known as a potentially valuable input to enhance soil properties. It has been introduced in many regions. A soil column-based experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of biochar on the leaching of N and P and rice growth in link with soil structure. Two types of columns were built, using disturbed and undisturbed soil. Four rates of nutrient input including chemical fertilizer, chemical fertilizer + 2 t/ha of biochar, chemical fertilizer + 4 t/ha of biochar, and control were applied to the plantation of rice cultivar (locally named Sen-Pidor) in both conditions. Leachate (NH₄-N, NO₃-N, and PO₄³⁻) and rice growth were collected at 7-day intervals, while the grain yield and biomass of plant were collected at the mature stage. Our primary results showed that the leachate and rice growth were not significantly different between both conditions. However, the leaching of NH₄-N and NO₃-N in the column with chemical fertilizer + 4 t/ha of biochar was lower than the column with chemical fertilizer, while PO₄³⁻ leaching was the same measured from both rates. Remarkably, the plant height was the highest under the disturbed condition with chemical fertilizer + 2 t/ha of biochar, whereas under the undisturbed condition it was the highest with chemical fertilizer + 4 t/ha. In addition, biochar amendment at the rate of 4 t/ha enhanced rice yield by 32.17% in comparison with the column using chemical fertilizer, and by 52.77% in comparison with the control. Additionally, biochar amendment at the rate of 4 t/ha had a great impact on the biomass of plants compared to the column without biochar contact. Our results indicate that biochar amendment has the potential to minimize N leaching, but not P leaching, while enhancing rice yield and biomass of plant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

2 pages, 186 KiB

Open AccessAbstract

Assessment of the Effect of Outer Membrane Vesicles of Endophytic Bacteria on the Growth and Physiological Response of Arabidopsis thaliana

by Małgorzata Pawlik, Małgorzata Rudnicka, Iryna Bondaruk, Katarzyna Kasperkiewicz, Magdalena Noszczyńska, Monika Malicka, Piotr Siupka and Zofia Piotrowska-Seget

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12507 - 15 Apr 2022

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Abstract

The world faces the challenge of producing a sufficient amount of food for the constantly growing human population in a sustainable manner. It means the usage of pesticides and fertilizers with minimized adverse effects on the environment and the wide application of beneficial [...] Read more.

The world faces the challenge of producing a sufficient amount of food for the constantly growing human population in a sustainable manner. It means the usage of pesticides and fertilizers with minimized adverse effects on the environment and the wide application of beneficial microorganisms. Bacteria produce outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) that might affect plant development. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of OMVs on the Arabidopsis thaliana condition. The experiments were conducted with endophytic bacteria. To obtain OMVs, specific protocols for their isolation have been developed. OMVs’ morphology, size, and surface charge have been studied with the use of SEM and TEM. The OMVs were added to the surface of sterilized seeds of A. thaliana that were grown on Murashige and Skoog agar medium for 14–21 days. To assess the impact of OMVs on plants, the rate of seeds germination, biomass, and the length of the shoots and roots were measured. Moreover, the level of oxidative stress and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes in the plants were evaluated. The experiments conducted so far have shown that OMVs produced by tested strains had a great ability to induce the germination and growth of seedlings. The OMVs that originated from the tested bacteria differently influenced the length of plant roots. Serratia sp. OMVs inhibited the growth of A. thaliana seedlings, whereas OMVs released by Pseudomonas sp. stimulated it. Furthermore, OMVs produced by both bacterial strains had a great effect on the activity of oxidative plant enzymes. The knowledge concerning plant response to OMVs is limited. Therefore, the preliminary studies seem to be important to obtain knowledge that may be applicable in the development of new natural compounds that can be used as plant growth stimulators. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

Other

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6 pages, 760 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Distinguishing Pickled and Fresh Cucumber Slices Using Digital Image Processing and Machine Learning

by Ewa Ropelewska, Kadir Sabanci and Muhammet Fatih Aslan

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12477 - 15 Apr 2022

Viewed by 1451

Abstract

In the case of cucumber, postharvest challenges may focus on preserving the high quality and extending the shelf-life of the fruit. Digital image analysis provides objective information about the quality of food products and the changes in their properties as a result of [...] Read more.

In the case of cucumber, postharvest challenges may focus on preserving the high quality and extending the shelf-life of the fruit. Digital image analysis provides objective information about the quality of food products and the changes in their properties as a result of postharvest processing. This study aimed to develop discriminative models for distinguishing the pickled and fresh cucumbers based on the texture parameters of slice images. The textures were extracted from slice images that were converted to individual color channels, L, a, b, R, G, B, X, Y, and Z. The obtained results prove the effects of the preservation on the image features of the cucumber flesh. Including selected textures in the discriminative models allowed for the complete differentiation of the preserved and fresh samples. The application of digital image processing enabled the evaluation of changes in the flesh of cucumber subjected to postharvest preservation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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6 pages, 278 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Assessment of an Organic Vineyard as a Strategic Multifactorial Node in the Conservation of Natural Resources in an Intermountain Territory of the Sonoran Desert, Mexico

by Héctor Tecumshé Mojica-Zárate

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12495 - 15 Apr 2022

Viewed by 647

Abstract

Grape cultivation in Sonora, Mexico is one of the most notable in the world, but it is restricted to certain areas and uses a conventional production approach. The objective of this work is to evidence the development of the establishment of an organic [...] Read more.

Grape cultivation in Sonora, Mexico is one of the most notable in the world, but it is restricted to certain areas and uses a conventional production approach. The objective of this work is to evidence the development of the establishment of an organic vineyard as a novel cultivation pattern in an agrosystem of the intermontane valley of the Sonoran Desert, Mexico, from its endogenous variables and its link with the surrounding environment, to an integrated approach between the organic and the sustainable. The approach is conducted by conceptualizing the vineyard as a Strategic Multifactorial Node (SMN) with ecological influence towards its immediate environment, evaluated from endogenous variables of the vineyard itself and those linked to the agrosystem of direct influence. To measure the degree of influence between the vineyard and the surrounding ecosystems, sustainability values between 0 and 1 were assigned, derived from the activities and conditions included in SDGs 13 and 15. Among the vineyard’s results, a percentage of weed cover equal to 96% stands out, as well as the presence of entomofauna and avifauna in a ratio of 78:22. In the component exogenous to the vineyard, that is, the degree of sustainable influence for the elements of the adjacent desert agrosystem, resulted in 0.98 for Soil Conservation Areas; 0.79 for edaphic organic matter, 0.97 for maintenance of water, and 0.96 for soil microorganisms. SMN promoted lateral conservation of the water-soil binomial, limited erosion, decreased soil loss, and increased soil fertilization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

6 pages, 883 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Evaluation of the Effect of Postharvest Lacto-Fermentation on Radish Using Innovative Discriminative Models Based on Textures of Images

by Ewa Ropelewska and Afshin Azizi

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12478 - 15 Apr 2022

Viewed by 646

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in the textures of slice images of radish subjected to lacto-fermentation. The models developed for individual color channels of images and color spaces RGB, Lab, YUV, and XYZ were used to distinguish between [...] Read more.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in the textures of slice images of radish subjected to lacto-fermentation. The models developed for individual color channels of images and color spaces RGB, Lab, YUV, and XYZ were used to distinguish between fresh and lacto-fermented radishes. The discrimination accuracy reached 100% in the case of models built for each color space and color channels B, b, Z, and U. In these cases, the values of TP Rate, Precision, F-Measure, ROC Area, and PRC Area were equal to 1.000. The usefulness of image analysis for the evaluation of the postharvest processing of radish was proven. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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6 pages, 241 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

The Effects of Biostimulant Application on Growth Parameters of Lettuce Plants Grown under Deficit Irrigation Conditions

by Christina Chaski and Spyridon A. Petropoulos

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12499 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1223

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the potential ameliorative effects of biostimulant application on lettuce plants grown under deficit irrigation conditions. For this purpose, we evaluated the effect of five biostimulant products with a varied composition (e.g., seaweed extracts + [...] Read more.

The aim of the present study was to examine the potential ameliorative effects of biostimulant application on lettuce plants grown under deficit irrigation conditions. For this purpose, we evaluated the effect of five biostimulant products with a varied composition (e.g., seaweed extracts + macronutrients + amino acids (SW); humic + fulvic acids (HF); Si + Ca (SiC); Si (Si); vegetable proteins + amino acids (VP)) and the control treatment (no biostimulant added (NB)) on field-grown lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L.: Romaine type cv. Doris) under deficit irrigation conditions (Control treatment: rain-fed plants; I1: 50% of field capacity; I2: 100% of field capacity). The growth parameters tested were plant weight (aerial part), number of leaves, fresh and dry weight of leaves, plant height, leaf area index (LAI) and specific leaf area (SLA), and SPAD index. Our results indicate that the biostimulant with seaweed extracts + macronutrients + amino acids (SW) combined with deficient irrigation (I1) presented the highest values in terms of plant weight, leaf weight, LAI, as well as the chlorophyll content in lettuce plants. According to the SPAD values, the biostimulant treatments performed higher values of chlorophyll in the case of the rain-fed plants compared to those that were fully irrigated (I2). In addition, the Si treatment presented the higher plant height under deficit irrigation (I1) as well as the greatest number of leaves. In general, all of the biostimulants showed a better response to deficit irrigation and to rain-fed plants compared to those with full irrigation in almost all of the measurements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

6 pages, 280 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

The Effects of Fertilization Regime on the Growth Parameters and Bioactive Properties of Pot-Grown Cichorium spinosum L. Plants

by Nikolaos Polyzos, Beatriz Paschoalinotto, Maria Compocholi, Maria Inês Dias, Lillian Barros and Spyridon A. Petropoulos

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12502 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 662

Abstract

Cichorium spinosum L. is a wild edible species found mostly in coastal areas of the Mediterranean basin. In this experiment, seven fertilization treatments varying in the amounts of N/P/K were applied via nutrient solution feeding in pot-grown C. spinosum plants, namely, 100:100:100 (C111), [...] Read more.

Cichorium spinosum L. is a wild edible species found mostly in coastal areas of the Mediterranean basin. In this experiment, seven fertilization treatments varying in the amounts of N/P/K were applied via nutrient solution feeding in pot-grown C. spinosum plants, namely, 100:100:100 (C111), 200:100:100 (C211), 200:200:200 (C222), 300:100:100 (C311), 300:200:200 (C322), and 300:300:300 (C333) ppm ratios of N/P/K, and control where no fertilizers were added (C0). The growth parameters tested included the number and the fresh and dry weight of leaves, SPAD index, leaf area index (LAI), and specific leaf area (SLA). Bioactive parameters, including antioxidant (OxHLIA and TBARS assays), anti-inflammatory (RAW 264.7 cell line), and cytotoxic (PLP2, AGS, CaCo2, VERO, and MCF7 cell lines) parameters, were examined in aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of leaves. Fertilizer treatments benefited the growth parameters of spiny chicory, while the highest antioxidant activity was recorded for the C222 and C311 treatments. The application of fertilizers on C. spinosum plants had positive effects on plant growth, chemical composition, and bioactive properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

5 pages, 258 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

The Effect of Fertilization Regime on Growth Parameters of Sonchus oleraceus and Two Genotypes of Portulaca oleracea

by Ángel Carrascosa, José Antonio Pascual, Margarita Ros, Spyridon Petropoulos and María del Mar Alguacil

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12515 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 757

Abstract

Wild edible plants of the Mediterranean represent an extraordinary food source and are basic ingredients in the “Mediterranean diet”. However, there is a scarcity of information about their commercial interest or cultivation practices. This study was conducted to evaluate how different amounts of [...] Read more.

Wild edible plants of the Mediterranean represent an extraordinary food source and are basic ingredients in the “Mediterranean diet”. However, there is a scarcity of information about their commercial interest or cultivation practices. This study was conducted to evaluate how different amounts of inorganic and organic fertilization affected the plant growth parameters of Sonchus oleraceus and Portulaca oleracea. The experiment was performed in greenhouse conditions in pots containing soil, sand and vermiculite in a volume ratio of 1-1-1 for 12 weeks. The control treatment had no fertilization; the inorganic fertilization (N-P-K) was 100 mL of 100-100-100 mg L⁻¹; 300-100-100 mg L⁻¹; 600-100-100 mg L⁻¹; 300-200-100 mg L⁻¹; 300-300-100 mg L⁻¹; 300-200-200 mg L⁻¹; 300-200-300 mg L⁻¹; and 100 mL of the organic compost extract to reach same equivalence as 300 mg L⁻¹ of N and 100 mL of the organic compost extract + P inorg (equivalent to 300 mg L⁻¹ of N and 200 mg L⁻¹ of P). All treatments were applied weekly. All treatments assayed showed significantly higher leaf and stem weights compared to the control treatment; the highest values were recorded for the treatment of 600-100-100 in both plant species (S. oleraceus and P. oleracea). Treatment (600-100-100) showed a significantly higher N content, but not P and K contents, than the rest of the treatments. The plant nutrient contents of Mg, Fe, S and Ca did not differ among the tested fertilization regimes. The soil nutrient contents (N, P, K, Fe, Ca) showed no differences between treatments. We conclude that nitrogen had a main role in improving the plant growth parameters and yield in both wild plant species, the beneficial effect depending on the doses and origin (inorganic or organic) of the fertilizer applied. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

6 pages, 1125 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Amino Acid Treatments Induce Adventitious Root Formation in Two Different Genotypes of Campanula portenschlagiana

by Tábata Bergonci and Ivan A. Paponov

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12498 - 15 Apr 2022

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Abstract

Campanula portenschlagiana is an ornamental plant vegetatively propagated from mother plants’ shoot explants. In this study, we worked with two different genotypes of C. portenschlagiana, Deep Blue Ocean and White Ocean. We found different root abilities between the two genotypes, where Deep [...] Read more.

Campanula portenschlagiana is an ornamental plant vegetatively propagated from mother plants’ shoot explants. In this study, we worked with two different genotypes of C. portenschlagiana, Deep Blue Ocean and White Ocean. We found different root abilities between the two genotypes, where Deep Blue Ocean showed a higher percentage of rooted explants when compared with the White Ocean genotype. Plant hormone analyses showed that Deep Blue Ocean has a higher amount of endogenous auxins when compared with the White Ocean genotype. In the White Ocean genotype, L-glutamate and L-tryptophan treatments increased the percentage of rooted explants by 80% and 40% compared with in the control, respectively. L-glutamate and L-tryptophan treatments increased the root biomass of the Deep Blue Ocean genotype. Taken together, our results showed that the amino acids L-glutamate and L-tryptophan could be required in adventitious root formation in C. portenschlagiana. Furthermore, the differences between genotypes can be partially explained by endogenous hormone concentration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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6 pages, 456 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Assessment of Calcium Content in Pear Fruits under Storage after CaCl₂ Applications during Pre- and Post-Harvest Phases

by Cláudia Campos Pessoa, Ana Coelho Marques, Ana Rita F. Coelho, Diana Daccak, Inês Carmo Luís, José C. Ramalho, Paula Scotti Campos, Isabel P. Pais, José N. Semedo, Maria Manuela Silva, Paulo Legoinha, Fernando H. Reboredo, Manuela Simões, Maria Fernanda Pessoa and Fernando C. Lidon

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12481 - 15 Apr 2022

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Abstract

Post-harvest systems are crucial for fruit conservation, since they minimize the waste of such perishable food and allow its marketability to consumers during the year. This study thus aimed to assess the calcium values in stored fruits, previously sprayed and/or immersed in CaCl [...] Read more.

Post-harvest systems are crucial for fruit conservation, since they minimize the waste of such perishable food and allow its marketability to consumers during the year. This study thus aimed to assess the calcium values in stored fruits, previously sprayed and/or immersed in CaCl₂, and the possible implications for quality. Fruits previously sprayed with different concentrations of calcium chloride (0–8 kg·ha⁻¹ CaCl₂) during the productive cycle (pre-harvest phase) were separated into two groups at harvest. One group was immediately stored in conservation chambers, while the second group was immersed in 1.3% CaCl₂ (for 10 min at room temperature) in the post-harvest stage. After 4 months of storage, the calcium content was evaluated with X-ray fluorescence analysis, and quality parameters, such as total soluble solids, malic acid, hardness and colorimetric parameters of the pulp were also monitored. Overall, the calcium content in stored fruits with post-harvest bath was superior, but the fruits with the exclusive application of CaCl₂ during the pre-harvest phase were superior to the respective control. Furthermore, treatment T2 (corresponding to the highest concentration of CaCl₂ during pre-harvest, up to 8 kg·ha⁻¹) presented the lowest total soluble solids values. The highest value of malic acid prevailed in fruits with no application of CaCl₂, while it also presented the lowest value of hardness. No significant differences were observed for the colorimetric parameters of pulps. In conclusion, the pre-harvest workflow used for this study increased the calcium content in fruits at harvest, but the post-harvest immersion can be used in addition to pre-harvest treatments to avoid fruit quality decay. The calcium applications did not compromise the fruits’ marketability to consumers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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3 pages, 205 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

The Response of Drought-Stressed Green Pea (Pisum sativum L.) to Boron Nanoparticle Application

by Rūta Sutulienė, Lina Ragelienė and Jurga Miliauskienė

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12516 - 15 Apr 2022

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Abstract

Maintaining pea-growing areas is becoming increasingly difficult because they are highly sensitive to environmental stresses, especially drought. Green peas (Pisum sativum L.) are a very important source of amino acids in the diet of humans, poultry, and livestock nutrition, as well as [...] Read more.

Maintaining pea-growing areas is becoming increasingly difficult because they are highly sensitive to environmental stresses, especially drought. Green peas (Pisum sativum L.) are a very important source of amino acids in the diet of humans, poultry, and livestock nutrition, as well as in crop rotation. To reduce the potential adverse effects of drought on peas, this study aimed to investigate the effects of different concentrations of boron nanoparticles (B NPs) on plants via different routes of exposure: through leaves spraying and root watering. The research was carried out in a greenhouse, 10 green pea seeds (‘Respect’) were sown in 10 L vegetative pots and were thinned up to 7 plants per pot after germination. When the peas reached the 39 BBCH growth stage (had 9 or more visibly extended internodes) they were foliar sprayed to full wetness (ca. 14 ± 0.5 mL plant⁻¹) or watered (100 ± 1 mL per pot) with suspensions containing different concentrations of B NPs: 0 (watered or sprayed with distilled water), 0.0125, 0.025, and 0.05 mg mL⁻¹ During the 10-day drought period, low substrate moisture (30%) was maintained for peas exposed to B NPs, other plants (controls) were grown under normal substrate moisture (80%). At the end of the experiment, peas were harvested to assess the interactive effects of B NPs and drought on plants growth and enzymatic (SOD, GR, APX) and non-enzymatic (TPC, FRAP) antioxidants activity. The results showed that foliar spraying or watering at a concentration of 0.05 mg L⁻¹ B NPs had a strong positive effect on pea leaf area, shoot height, fresh biomass, root length, and the number of nodules when plants grown in drought conditions. Positive effects on the activity of enzymatic (SOD, GR, APX) and non-enzymatic (TPC, FRAP) antioxidants in the pea plant were found. In general B NPs protected green peas from the adverse effects of drought stress if the appropriate concentration and application to the plant were selected. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

6 pages, 825 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Fertilization with ZnO and ZnSO₄: Mineral Analyses in Vitis vinifera Grapes cv. Fernão Pires

by Diana Daccak, Ana Rita F. Coelho, Cláudia Campos Pessoa, Inês Carmo Luís, Ana Coelho Marques, José C. Ramalho, Paula Scotti Campos, Isabel P. Pais, José N. Semedo, Maria Manuela Silva, Paulo Legoinha, Manuela Simões, Fernando H. Reboredo, Maria Fernanda Pessoa and Fernando C. Lidon

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12512 - 15 Apr 2022

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Abstract

Nutrition of the world population has become a concern, making research for strategies to enhance crop production necessary. Thus, the study of nutrients and the interactions between them is highly necessary since they are important for plant physiology and influence the growth of [...] Read more.

Nutrition of the world population has become a concern, making research for strategies to enhance crop production necessary. Thus, the study of nutrients and the interactions between them is highly necessary since they are important for plant physiology and influence the growth of crops. Zinc is an essential micronutrient required for the normal function of plants. Its deficiency is associated with losses in yield and nutritional quality. Vine, being a crop susceptible to Zn deficits, is among the most cultivated fruit plants in the world. In this study, the reactions of the variety Vitis Vinifera Fernão Pires, located in a field in Palmela, Portugal (N 38°35′41.467″ W 8°50′44.535″), to three foliar sprays of ZnO and ZnSO₄ with concentrations of 150 g ha⁻¹ and 450 g ha⁻¹ were studied. Using an X-ray fluorescence analyzer (XRF), the mineral content of the grapes and leaves was determined, which showed increases in the content of Zn. It was found that the highest concentration (450 g ha⁻¹) of ZnSO₄ and ZnO, led to increases of 1.3 and 1.9-fold, respectively, compared to the control (untreated plants). Importantly, XRF analysis confirmed that the K and P contents of ZnO and ZnSO₄-treated plants are similar to controls, indicating that there are no significant antagonistic and/or synergistic effects. Furthermore, to study the conditions of nutrient availability in the soil, parameters such as pH, organic matter and humidity were evaluated. This work showed that fertilization with ZnSO₄ and ZnO was effective in increasing the concentration of Zn, without negatively affecting the contents of the crucial nutrients K and P, which is important to improve crop quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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6 pages, 226 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Spent Cultivation Substrate (SCS) Management in Circular Farming Systems

by Agnieszka Jasinska, Ketil Stoknes and Michal Roszak

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12484 - 15 Apr 2022

Viewed by 756

Abstract

A spent cultivation substrate (SCS) is a growing medium which remains after the cultivation of mushrooms (SMS) or vegetables (SGS); for many years, it was considered to be a problematic waste product from farming. However, in the recent transition to sustainable, circular farming [...] Read more.

A spent cultivation substrate (SCS) is a growing medium which remains after the cultivation of mushrooms (SMS) or vegetables (SGS); for many years, it was considered to be a problematic waste product from farming. However, in the recent transition to sustainable, circular farming systems, it is seen as a valuable product which can be recycled. The SMS was characterized by a high organic matter content, low bulk density, high pH and soluble salt contents, and rich in macro- and micro-elements, with their contents generally decreasing in following order: K, Ca, Na, Mg, Mn, Fe, Si, Se, and Mo. The contents of heavy metals were acceptable for both SMS and SGS. SGS could potentially be used in horticulture for subsequent greenhouse vegetable cultivation, if composted/co-composted with additional waste products due to its high mineral salt content and to eliminate potential pests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

7 pages, 1401 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Germination, Growth and Yield Responses of Eggplant and Okra Grown on Anthill and Termite Mound Soils

by Braima Sinneh Turay, Allieu Mohamed Bah, Denis Magnus Ken Amara, Vandi Ibrahim Kallon and Sheku Alfred Kanu

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12496 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1143

Abstract

Determining the physicochemical properties of anthill and termite mound soils and their combinations with ordinary top soil and the assessment of their effects on the germination, growth and yield performance of eggplant and okra under screenhouse conditions, were the goals of this study. [...] Read more.

Determining the physicochemical properties of anthill and termite mound soils and their combinations with ordinary top soil and the assessment of their effects on the germination, growth and yield performance of eggplant and okra under screenhouse conditions, were the goals of this study. The six soil treatments used are as follows: (I) pure anthill soil (AHS), (II) pure termite mound soil (TMS), (III) top soil (control) (TS), (IV) anthill +top soil (AHS + TS), (V) termite mound +top soil (TMS + TS), and (VI) anthill + termite mound soils (AHS + TMS). The physicochemical properties of these treatments were analyzed. A standard seed-germination experiment arranged in a completely randomized block design (30 seeds per treatment per tested crop) was carried out in a screenhouse. For the growth experiment, a pot experiment arranged on top of tables using a completely randomized design (CRD) was carried out in the screenhouse and the growth and yield were determined at seven (eggplant) and eight (okra) weeks. The results show that all treatments are acidic with pH, ranging from 3.3 to 4.5. The treatment containing anthill and anthill soils had higher EC (µS/CM), organic carbon (%), nitrogen (%), and phosphorus (%) compared to the control (top soil). Treatment had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on the germination indices of eggplant and okra. Enhanced seed germination was obtained with eggplant and okra seeds sown in ordinary top soil amended with anthill soil compared to the control. The growth and yield of eggplant and okra were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by treatment. Generally, eggplant and okra grown using anthill soils (alone or mixed) had taller plants, bigger stem girth and leaf area, and a higher number of leaves per plant compared to those grown on top soil. Eggplant and okra grown on anthill and termite mound soils and their combinations with ordinary top soils had heavier fresh whole plant and root biomass compared to the control. It can be concluded that these results indicate that anthill and termite mound soils can serve as cheap alternative sources of nutrients for the cultivation of common vegetables by smallholder farmers in southern Sierra Leone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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7 pages, 973 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Monitorization of Mineral Content and Location after 3 Months of Storage of Naturally Enriched Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) with Calcium

by Ana Rita F. Coelho, Cláudia Campos Pessoa, Diana Daccak, Inês Carmo Luís, Ana Coelho Marques, Maria Manuela Silva, Manuela Simões, Fernando H. Reboredo, Maria F. Pessoa, Paulo Legoinha, Mauro Guerra, Roberta G. Leitão, José C. Ramalho, Paula Scotti Campos, Isabel P. Pais, José N. Semedo and Fernando C. Lidon

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12511 - 15 Apr 2022

Viewed by 594

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important staple food crops and one of the most consumed food crops worldwide. As such, it is a suitable food matrix for biofortification studies, namely, with Ca, as it is an essential mineral [...] Read more.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important staple food crops and one of the most consumed food crops worldwide. As such, it is a suitable food matrix for biofortification studies, namely, with Ca, as it is an essential mineral for plant growth and development, it being required for several structural issues. In this context, this study aimed to monitor the mineral content and location of Ca and other essential minerals (K, P, S, Fe, and Zn) and assess some quality parameters (color of the pulp, total soluble solid, and dry weigh content) in tubers of Solanum tuberosum L. (Agria variety), after three months of storage, submitted to a Ca biofortification process with four foliar sprays with three concentrations of calcium nitrate (0.5, 2, and 4 kg·ha⁻¹) and two concentrations of calcium chloride (3 and 6 kg·ha⁻¹). It was found out that, in most treatments, Ca, K, P, S, Fe, and Zn have higher contents in the epidermis region and that control tubers showed a lower dry weight content compared to the biofortified ones. Moreover, after three months of storage, naturally enriched tubers maintain a preferential accumulation of Ca in the epidermis region (as seen in the harvest) and showed a decrease in the dry weight content in the control and biofortified tubers (compared to the harvest data). Additionally, no significant differences were observed in the colorimetric parameters of the pulp tubers and in the total soluble solid content, presenting similar data to the harvest ones. In conclusion, the storage process of biofortified tubers affected a quality parameter—dry weight content—that is relevant for industrial processing and a criterion for potato tubers classification. In this context, only the Ca(NO₃)₂ 2 kg·ha⁻¹ and CaCl₂ 3 and 6 kg·ha⁻¹ treatments were suitable for industrial processing after 3 months under storage conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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6 pages, 840 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Bioactivity of Monoterpene Alcohols as an Indicator of Biopesticidal Essential Oils against the Root Knot Nematode Meloidogyne ethiopica

by Jorge M. S. Faria, Leidy Rusinque, Cláudia S. L. Vicente and Maria L. Inácio

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12485 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1099

Abstract

The application of pesticides remains one of the most efficient control methods for phytophagous parasites in crops. Essential oils (EOs) are complex mixtures of highly active compounds that can be used as biopesticides against plant parasitic nematodes. In the present work, the antinematodal [...] Read more.

The application of pesticides remains one of the most efficient control methods for phytophagous parasites in crops. Essential oils (EOs) are complex mixtures of highly active compounds that can be used as biopesticides against plant parasitic nematodes. In the present work, the antinematodal activity of the monoterpene alcohols geraniol, linalool, menthol or α-terpineol, which are generally found in high amounts in EOs of some aromatic and medicinal plants, was analyzed on the root knot nematode Meloidogyne ethiopica. Geraniol showed intense and lasting antinematodal activity, suggesting that EOs rich in this compound can be used in the development of nematicidal biopesticides to integrate sustainable pest management strategies against this pest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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6 pages, 585 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Mineral Interaction in Biofortified Tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) with Magnesium

by Ana Rita F. Coelho, Inês Carmo Luís, Ana Coelho Marques, Cláudia Campos Pessoa, Diana Daccak, Maria Manuela Silva, Manuela Simões, Fernando H. Reboredo, Maria F. Pessoa, Paulo Legoinha, Carlos Galhano, Mariana Regato, José Regato, João Dias, Nuno Beja, Idália Guerreiro, José C. Ramalho, Paula Scotti Campos, Isabel P. Pais, José N. Semedo and Fernando C. Lidon Show full author list Hide full author list

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12509 - 15 Apr 2022

Viewed by 835

Abstract

Magnesium is considered an essential nutrient for humans, where about 60% of Mg plays an important role in skeletal development. However, its deficiency can trigger several health pathologies (namely, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, hypertension, and type-2 diabetes). In plants, Mg is especially important, being [...] Read more.

Magnesium is considered an essential nutrient for humans, where about 60% of Mg plays an important role in skeletal development. However, its deficiency can trigger several health pathologies (namely, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, hypertension, and type-2 diabetes). In plants, Mg is especially important, being involved in protein synthesis and correlated with chlorophyll pigments. Its deficiency can compromise photosynthesis and can also lead to shorter roots and necrotic zones in leaves. Mineral deficiency (namely, Mg) in plants can lead to a global problem considering the increase in human population and the need to produce more food that nutritionally meets human needs, being necessary to adopt new technology and approaches. In this context, this study aimed to understand the mineral interactions with Mg biofortification in Lycopersicum esculentum (H1534 variety). Biofortification was promoted during the life cycle of the culture throughout six leaf applications with four concentrations (4%, 8%, 12%, and 16%) of MgSO4, equivalent to 702, 1404, 2106, and 2808 g.ha⁻¹. At harvest, 4% MgSO₄ treatment showed the highest content of Mg and P and the lowest content of Fe and Zn. Additionally, the highest treatment showed the lowest content of Mg and, on the other hand, the highest content of Fe. In conclusion, despite the synergistic and antagonistic relationships between minerals in the different concentrations of Mg applied, there were no significant changes in total soluble solids content in the fruits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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4 pages, 356 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Monitoring of Leaf and Berry Diseases of Strawberry

by Svitlana Mykhailenko, Maya Dzham, Olga Shevchuk and Oksana Afanasieva

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12492 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 718

Abstract

Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) plants are valuable for the high taste, nutritional, medicinal and dietary properties of their fruits. Strawberries are the first to open the season of fresh berries. They are especially rich in sugars, organic acids, pectin, vitamins and mineral [...] Read more.

Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) plants are valuable for the high taste, nutritional, medicinal and dietary properties of their fruits. Strawberries are the first to open the season of fresh berries. They are especially rich in sugars, organic acids, pectin, vitamins and mineral elements. The total area of strawberry plantations in Ukraine, according to the State Statistics Service, is 8200 ha. The average yield reaches 6.9 tons/ha. In order to develop an effective disease protection system, it is necessary to detect and diagnose disease in time. An assessment of disease spread and severity was conducted in 2020–2021 in the Right Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The most common diseases were gray mold (Botrytis cinerea Pers.), leaf scorch (Diplocarpon earlianum (Ellis and Everh.) F.A. Wolf), powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis (Wallr.) U. Braun and S. Takam.), black spot (Colletotricum acutatum J.H. Simmonds), white leaf spot (Ramularia grevilleana (Tul. and C. Tul. ex Oudem.) Jørst.). On strawberry plantations, diseases appeared in the following order: gray mold, white leaf spot, powdery mildew, black spot, leaf scorch. The most spread out and the most harmful were gray mold, white leaf spot and leaf scorch. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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4 pages, 383 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Which Color Is Better? Efficiency of Color Traps for Monitoring of Black Plum Sawfly

by Igor Shevchuk and Olga Shevchuk

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12490 - 15 Apr 2022

Viewed by 515

Abstract

Black plum sawfly (Hoplocampa minuta Christ. (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae)) is one of the dominant pests of plum in Ukraine, causing significant damage and yield losses. Monitoring based on pheromone and color traps is widespread in integrated protection systems. Data on the dynamics and [...] Read more.

Black plum sawfly (Hoplocampa minuta Christ. (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae)) is one of the dominant pests of plum in Ukraine, causing significant damage and yield losses. Monitoring based on pheromone and color traps is widespread in integrated protection systems. Data on the dynamics and location of the population of the pest in the agrobiocenosis allow to determine the feasibility, scale and optimal timing of treatments, tactics and means of control. The investigation was carried out in a conventionally managed plum orchard of the Institute of Horticulture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine. Sticky traps of different colors (white, blue, yellow, red and green) were used. The flight period lasted from 17 to 34 days. White traps provided the highest trapping efficiency during the flight period of the plum sawfly. The proportions of insects caught by yellow and blue traps decreased 4 times, and red and green traps 9 times compared to white ones. At the peak of the sawfly’s flight the efficiency of white traps increased. The average densities of sawflies during the flight period were: for white traps—89 imago per trap, yellow—10 imago per trap, red—4 imago per trap, blue—10 imago per trap, green—12 imago per trap. The density of the sawfly population depended on meteorological conditions, in particular on the humidity and temperature of the soil and air. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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5 pages, 538 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

GPS-GIS-Based Soil Fertility Maps of Shahada Tahsil of Nandurbar District (M.S.)

by Bharat Chaudhari, Vilas N. Patil and Javesh Patil

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12486 - 15 Apr 2022

Viewed by 1140

Abstract

GPS and GIS techniques, i.e.,the global positioningsystem and geographical information system, are widely utilized to delineate fertility maps of macro- and micronutrients. Soil samples collected with GPS data can help in making critical decisions on nutrient management. Thematic soil fertility maps require the [...] Read more.

GPS and GIS techniques, i.e.,the global positioningsystem and geographical information system, are widely utilized to delineate fertility maps of macro- and micronutrients. Soil samples collected with GPS data can help in making critical decisions on nutrient management. Thematic soil fertility maps require the collection of soil samples using GPS technology. It is extremely important in agriculture for future soil nutrient monitoring in various locations/villages. Nandurbar district is located between 21.228° N and 74.1422° E North Latitude and East Longitude. Nandurbar district comprises six tahsils; out of these, the Shahada tahsil, which is located between 21.5429691° N and 74.44691462° E, is considered for this study. Micronutrient depletion has become a serious limitation for soil productivity and sustainability due to the acceptance of high-yielding cultivars and intensive cropping, as well as a move toward the use of high NPK fertilizers. The sampling of soil was carried out using the random sampling method, i.e., five random soil samples per village. The total soil samples collected from Shahada tahsil were 588 from a total of 118 villages. Latitude and longitude were recorded using a GPS instrument from soil sampling areas in Shahada. The soils were collected at a depth of 0 to 22.5 cm from farmers’ fields. The number of samples collected from Shahada tahsil was 588. All the precautions were followed while processing the soil samples in the laboratory. Standard procedures, such as pH (1:2.5), electrical conductivity (EC) (1:2.5), and organic carbon in percentage, were used to analyze soil samples. The GPS-GIS-based fertility maps of Shahada tahsil in Nandurbar district (M.S.) were prepared by using Arc-4 software. Most soil in Shahada tahsil is medium black to deep black cotton soil which belongs to the soil order inceptisol and vertisol, and the topographic condition is flat; therefore, the main crops grown in this study area are sugarcane, cotton, chilli, papaya, maize, wheat, and gram. The cultivated soils of Shahada tahsil were saline to alkaline in reaction. The soils of Shahada tahsil were moderately saline according to their electrical conductivity. The EC of soils ranged between 0.06 and 2.90 dSm⁻¹ with an average value of 0.60 dSm⁻¹. The average value of organic carbon in Shahada areas was 0.57 g kg⁻¹. These data and fertility maps will be helpful in planning and maintaining the fertility, productivity, and quality of growing crops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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6 pages, 2263 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Plants as Natural Organic Coagulant Powders for Winery Wastewater Treatment

by Nuno Jorge, Ana R. Teixeira, Leonilde Marchão, Marco S. Lucas and José A. Peres

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12487 - 15 Apr 2022

Viewed by 583

Abstract

The horticulture development of several plants, such as Acacia dealbata Link. (pollen), Quercus ilex L. (acorn skin), Quercus ilex L. (peeled acorn), Platanus × acerifólia (Aiton) Willd. (seeds) and Tanacetum vulgare L. (seeds), in organic coagulant powder (OCP), was utilised to treat [...] Read more.

The horticulture development of several plants, such as Acacia dealbata Link. (pollen), Quercus ilex L. (acorn skin), Quercus ilex L. (peeled acorn), Platanus × acerifólia (Aiton) Willd. (seeds) and Tanacetum vulgare L. (seeds), in organic coagulant powder (OCP), was utilised to treat winery wastewater (WW) through a coagulation–flocculation–decantation process (CFD). The plants were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which showed the presence of protein, lipids and carbohydrates. The CFD results demonstrated that application of Acacia dealbata Link. (pollen) achieved similar turbidity, total suspended solids and chemical oxygen demand removal (97.6%, 94.7% and 46.6%) than aluminium sulfate (99.5, 95.3 and 43.5), with the advantage of low sludge production (66 mL/L) and low aluminium leaching concentration (0.10 mg Al/L). In conclusion, OCPs are a promising technology in horticulture development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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7 pages, 1068 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Raman Spectroscopy as a Useful Tool for Tentative Identification of Nutritional Ingredients and Distinction of Allium Species

by Sandra Vuković, Đorđe Moravčević, Jelica Gvozdanović-Varga, Aleksandar Ž. Kostić, Ana Vujošević, Sofija Kilibarda and Ilinka Pećinar

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12480 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1065

Abstract

Our study aimed to carry out the nutritional characterization and discrimination of Allium fistulosum, A. nutans, A. odorum, A. schoenoprasum, A. ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum, and A. sativum var. sagittatum samples grown in Serbia. Samples were recorded using an [...] Read more.

Our study aimed to carry out the nutritional characterization and discrimination of Allium fistulosum, A. nutans, A. odorum, A. schoenoprasum, A. ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum, and A. sativum var. sagittatum samples grown in Serbia. Samples were recorded using an XploRA MicroRaman spectrometer at a 532 nm wavelength, spectra were preprocessed using Spectragryph, and PCA was performed by PAST software. According to the vibrational spectra, Allium samples are rich in carbohydrates, mostly polysaccharides, plant pigments, and proteins, while the minor constituents are pectic acid and pectin. A multivariate analysis based on PCA was applied in order to differentiate between the chemical compositions of six Allium samples. The score plot suggests the existence of two groups of objects along the PC1 axis, and the variables with the highest positive contribution along the PC1 axis corresponded to chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, carbohydrates, and proteins. According to PC2, the most influential parameters indicated a similar carbohydrate composition and the predominance of carotenoid constituents in the other group of samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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7 pages, 2796 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Information System for Detecting Strawberry Fruit Locations and Ripeness Conditions in a Farm

by Tianchen Liu, Nikhil Chopra and Jayesh Samtani

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12488 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 687

Abstract

Many strawberry growers in some areas of the United States rely on customers to pick the fruits during the peak harvest months. Unfavorable weather conditions such as high humidity and excessive rainfall can quickly promote fruit rot and diseases. This study establishes an [...] Read more.

Many strawberry growers in some areas of the United States rely on customers to pick the fruits during the peak harvest months. Unfavorable weather conditions such as high humidity and excessive rainfall can quickly promote fruit rot and diseases. This study establishes an elementary farm information system to demonstrate timely information on the farm and fruit conditions (ripe, unripe) to the growers. The information system processes a video clip or a sequence of images from a camera to provide a map which can be viewed to estimate quantities of strawberries at different stages of ripeness. The farm map is built by state-of-the-art vision-based simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) techniques, which can generate the map and track the motion trajectory using image features. In addition, the input images pass through a semantic segmentation process using a learning-based approach to identify the conditions. A set of labeled images first trains an encoder-decoder neural network model. Then, the trained model is used to determine the fruit conditions from the incoming images. Finally, the fruit in different conditions is estimated using the segmentation results and demonstrated in the system. Generating this information can aid the growers’ decision-making process. Specifically, it can help farm labor direct traffic to specific strawberry locations within a farm where fruits need to be picked, or where berries need to be removed. The obtained system can help reduce farm revenue loss and promote sustainable crop production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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7 pages, 922 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Antioxidants Were Efficient in Reducing Browning and Increasing the Shelf Life in Minimally Processed Arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancroft)

by Aline Priscilla Gomes da Silva, Jaqueline Visioni Tezotto-Uliana, Thais Helena de Araujo, William Gustavo Sganzerla and Ricardo Alfredo Kluge

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12489 - 15 Apr 2022

Viewed by 808

Abstract

Arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancroft) is a nutritional crop with high energy value and good digestibility. However, this plant has a short shelf life due to excessive weight loss, browning, and disease incidence. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the [...] Read more.

Arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancroft) is a nutritional crop with high energy value and good digestibility. However, this plant has a short shelf life due to excessive weight loss, browning, and disease incidence. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of antioxidant compounds in the preservation of minimally processed arracacha during storage. The roots were harvested, sanitized, and cut into 10 mm slices (±1 mm). The slices were subjected to treatments with citric acid (CA) 1%, ascorbic acid (AA) 1%, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) 1%, and distilled water (control). Weight loss, color parameters (L*, a*, and b*), visual appearance, pH, total soluble solids, total sugars, polyphenoloxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) were analyzed. Hence, the samples were discriminated by multivariate analysis to determine the effect of antioxidants during the storage time. The results showed that antioxidants controlled the fresh mass loss of arracacha. On the sixth day of storage, arracachas treated with EDTA had the highest b* and L* color parameters, indicating that they were more yellow and brighter when compared with the other treatments. The visual notes (appearance and decay) for the antioxidant treatments were better than the control (without antioxidants). The influence of antioxidants on PPO and POD enzyme activity was very similar, and both enzymes showed high activity for the control treatment (2-fold higher than the samples with antioxidants). Using the multivariate approach, samples were discriminated mainly into two groups. The first major group corresponded to the initial day of the experiment, and the second major group was associated with the last day of storage. The appearance and color parameters were the most crucial factors for sample discrimination in the first group, while for the second group, PAL, weight loss, and sugars were the variables responsible for the multivariate discrimination. In conclusion, the use of EDTA is the most indicated antioxidant to delay the browning reactions and increase the shelf life of minimally processed arracacha. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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8 pages, 1241 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

LED Lighting in Vertical Farming Systems Enhances Bioactive Compounds and Productivity of Vegetables Crops

by Cinthia Nájera, Victor M. Gallegos-Cedillo, Margarita Ros and José Antonio Pascual

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12514 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3385

Abstract

One of the greatest challenges of modern agriculture is to produce more with less, to produce healthier, safer food under sustainable systems. This includes a focus on increasing the efficiency of finite resources such as water and nutrients and increasing the sustainable productivity [...] Read more.

One of the greatest challenges of modern agriculture is to produce more with less, to produce healthier, safer food under sustainable systems. This includes a focus on increasing the efficiency of finite resources such as water and nutrients and increasing the sustainable productivity of crops under innovative systems with LED lights on soilless cultures. The aim of this research was to perform a bibliometric analysis on the benefits of vertical farming production systems on the nutraceutical quality parameters of horticultural crops. Additionally, the main parameters used to evaluate the quality and productivity of crops were identified. The methodology and results were analysed over a period of 5 years using the different quality parameters of lighting-LED as the main light source. The main plant species studied were lettuce, cabbage, cucumber, and spinach. The results showed that use of 16 h light photoperiods increased nutritional compounds such as antioxidants, phenols, and total sugar concentration, but in general a moderately positive effect on plant growth and development was observed. The most used light intensities were between the range of 150 and 300 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹, and the specific spectrum-LED peaks between 450–495 nm (blue) and 620–700 nm (red). Therefore, the use of LED lights on vertical farming systems as an alternative to increase the nutritional parameters of horticultural plants is a viable option as, in a short period of time and without geographical differentiation, it contributes to the production of nutraceutical compounds. It also contributes to a reduction of natural resource use such as water, as one hundred percent of the research was carried out on crops that utilized hydroponic systems, which have the capacity to reuse water and nutrients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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6 pages, 595 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Performance of Gradient Boosting Learning Algorithm for Crop Stress Identification in Greenhouse Cultivation

by Angeliki Elvanidi and Nikolaos Katsoulas

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12508 - 15 Apr 2022

Viewed by 690

Abstract

Greenhouse cultivation is one of the most crucial circular economy systems in agriculture that allows maximum production with less cultivation area, minimum inputs, and low environmental impact. The data generated in high-tech and sophisticated greenhouse operations are provided by a variety of different [...] Read more.

Greenhouse cultivation is one of the most crucial circular economy systems in agriculture that allows maximum production with less cultivation area, minimum inputs, and low environmental impact. The data generated in high-tech and sophisticated greenhouse operations are provided by a variety of different sensors that enable a better understanding of the operational environment. In this study, a learning algorithm, the gradient boosting machine, was tested using the generated database in order to estimate different types of stress in tomato crops. The examined model performed qualitative classification of the data, depending on the type of stress (such as no stress, water stress, and cold stress). For the comparison, a 10-fold cross-validation strategy on the 10,763 samples from the training set was selected. The dataset was divided in two parts, one for training validation (80%; 8610) and a second for testing (20%; 2152). The cross-validation process was repeated 50 times. Among the data entries used to build the model, the leaf temperature was one of the highest in the feature importance with a ratio of 0.51. According to the results, the gradient boosting algorithm defined all the cases with high accuracy. Particularly, the model correctly identified all 372 samples of the cold stress plants, 1305 out of 1321 samples of the no stress plants, and 431 out of 452 samples of the water stress plants. In these results, the model preserved 98% accuracy in the testing performance and more than 98% accuracy in the validation performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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6 pages, 266 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Can Natural Fortification Increase Fe and Zn Content in Organically Grown Tomatoes?

by Ana Rita F. Coelho, Diana Daccak, Inês Carmo Luís, Ana Coelho Marques, Cláudia Campos Pessoa, Maria Manuela Silva, Manuela Simões, Fernando H. Reboredo, Maria F. Pessoa, Paulo Legoinha, José C. Ramalho, Paula Scotti Campos, Isabel P. Pais, José N. Semedo and Fernando C. Lidon

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12504 - 15 Apr 2022

Viewed by 734

Abstract

Natural fortification can be used to increase the mineral content of the edible part of plants. In horticultural crops, foliar fertilization is used extensively, being a way to provide nutrients through leaves (a faster way compared to soil applications). Moreover, Fe and Zn [...] Read more.

Natural fortification can be used to increase the mineral content of the edible part of plants. In horticultural crops, foliar fertilization is used extensively, being a way to provide nutrients through leaves (a faster way compared to soil applications). Moreover, Fe and Zn are two important nutrients for plant growth and development, despite the low kinetic mobility. As such, considering the importance of Fe and Zn in plants and the fact that tomato is one of the most consumed horticultural crops worldwide, this study aimed to verify whether, in the middle of a biofortification process (after two foliar applications), Fe and Zn content in tomatoes of Solanum lycopersicum (beef heart variety, also known as Coeur de Boeuf) organically grown can improve. The experimental field was selected and the protocols for tomato growth were followed in accordance with the organic production mode. Two foliar applications were carried out during the production cycle, with a mix of two products of Fe and Zn (Zitrilon–15% and Maxiblend) with two concentrations (treatment 1 and treatment 2, corresponding to a mix of Ziltrilon and Maxiblend of 0.40 and 1 kg·ha⁻¹ and 1.20 and 4 kg·ha⁻¹). Through X-ray fluorescence using a XRF analyzer under He atmosphere, leaves of tomatoes submitted to the biofortification process showed an increase of 76.9% of Fe content and double Zn content, in treatment 2. However, treatment 1 only showed increases in Zn content (by 75.5% compared to control). Regarding tomato fruits, treatment 2 showed an increase of 7% of Zn content, relative to control content. Naturally enriched tomatoes with Fe and Zn showed minor changes in colorimetric parameters (chroma and hue) and no significant differences in L parameter (brightness/luminosity), relative to control. Additionally, biofortification did not affect the tomatoes’ height and diameter at this stage of development, varying between 75.7–84.3 mm and 76.7–93.3 mm, respectively. In conclusion, two foliar sprays of Fe and Zn can improve tomato and leaf content under organic production practices without triggering toxicity to the plants or affecting tomatoes height and diameter, and only minor changes in color parameters were presented (CieLab scale). Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

10 pages, 289 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Shading Net and Grafting Reduce Losses by Environmental Stresses during Vegetables Production and Storage

by Zoran S. Ilić, Lidija Milenković, Ljubomir Šunić and Elazar Fallik

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12506 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 911

Abstract

The aim of this review is to summarize our recently reported findings on the use of preharvest treatments (shade nets), applied either directly or in combination with other techniques (grafting) in order to minimize physiological disorders and maximize and maintain the phytochemical content [...] Read more.

The aim of this review is to summarize our recently reported findings on the use of preharvest treatments (shade nets), applied either directly or in combination with other techniques (grafting) in order to minimize physiological disorders and maximize and maintain the phytochemical content of vegetables. The use of coloured nets for shading vegetables to protect against stress (intense solar radiation, heat stress, drought, drying winds and hailstorms) during the summer months is an effective and inexpensive method, and it provides plant protection and altered microclimate and modified intensity and quality of light. Moreover, the use of coloured nets supports a more intensive vegetative growth, longer vegetation and increased yield, and it reduces a number of physiological disorders while improving the morphological and nutritional quality of vegetables. Under colour nets, tomato plants provided fruits with thicker pericarp, firmness, a higher content of lycopene, a lower percent of physiological disorders and better tolerance to transport and storage. Shade-grown plants generally have higher total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, an increase in the total yield and a decrease in physiological disorders accompanied with an increase in the content of total phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Grafting can increase yield and fruit size and improve or reduce external and/or internal fruit quality and retained better postharvest quality compared to the fruits from non-grafted plants. Further investigations using shade nets alone or in combination with grafting are needed to ensure the use of adequate strategies for managing plant growth of different plant species with limited physiological disorders for increased marketable yield and for maintaining quality during storage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

7 pages, 2724 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Integrated Multitrophic Aquaponics—A Promising Strategy for Cycling Plant Nutrients and Minimizing Water Consumption

by Nora Ibáñez Otazua, María Blázquez Sánchez, Oscar Ruiz Yarritu, Idoia Unzueta Balmaseda, Ahmed Mohamed Aboseif, Nevine M. Abou Shabana, Mostafa Korany S. Taha and Ashraf Mohamed Abdelsamee Goda

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12493 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 967

Abstract

The integration of aquatic animals and horticultural production through aquaponics has been recently studied and endorsed by scientists as a real, sustainable solution to optimize the reuse of nutrient and water resources in food production. The present study (HortiMED H2020 PRIMA Project-Grant Number [...] Read more.

The integration of aquatic animals and horticultural production through aquaponics has been recently studied and endorsed by scientists as a real, sustainable solution to optimize the reuse of nutrient and water resources in food production. The present study (HortiMED H2020 PRIMA Project-Grant Number 1915), conducted in three plastic greenhouses at El-Kanater Research Station in Egypt, has gone one step beyond aquaponics by evaluating the feasibility of combining integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) with hydroponic horticultural production using the nutrient film technique (NFT) and floating raft systems (FRS) to maximize nutrient cycling resulting from cultured aquatic animals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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10 pages, 1158 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Postharvest Quality and Storability of Organically versus Conventionally Grown Tomatoes: A Comparative Approach

by Alisha Pradhan and Mupparapu Srijaya

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12513 - 15 Apr 2022

Viewed by 970

Abstract

In various parts of India, tomatoes are grown using eco-friendly indigenous organic manures prepared from cow products for sustainable food production by small and marginal farmers. The main objective of the study was to compare the postharvest quality characteristics and storability between organically [...] Read more.

In various parts of India, tomatoes are grown using eco-friendly indigenous organic manures prepared from cow products for sustainable food production by small and marginal farmers. The main objective of the study was to compare the postharvest quality characteristics and storability between organically grown tomatoes using indigenous organic manures and those grown conventionally. The organic (OT) and conventional (CT) tomatoes procured from selected farms were observed for 28 days under ambient and refrigerated storage conditions. The postharvest quality characteristics and storability of tomatoes were assessed at intervals of 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days and observed till senescence. Physiological loss of weight (PLW), total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), pH, colour, lycopene, ascorbic acid content, respiration rate, and microbial stability were assessed to determine the postharvest quality and storability of OT and CT respectively. The study revealed that organic tomatoes stored in refrigerated conditions had a lower physiological loss of weight (2.78%), respiration rate (27.61 µL CO₂ g⁻¹ h⁻¹), and loss in firmness (27.14%) compared to conventional tomatoes indicating a higher storability and delayed senescence. The titratable acidity showed a decreasing trend while pH increased significantly for both samples stored under ambient and refrigerated conditions. A slower rate of increment in redness and chroma values was observed for OT at refrigerated storage conditions compared to ambient temperature. Ascorbic acid content was also found to be significantly higher in OT (23.53 mg/100 g) compared to CT (13.85 mg/100 g). Additionally, the result showed increased lycopene content in CT during storage compared to OT. The microbial study revealed that total aerobic mesophilic count and yeasts–molds were highest in CT on the 28th day of storage. Therefore, the study revealed that OT under refrigerated storage conditions had superior postharvest quality, storability and longevity compared to CT, which may be due to the sustained release of nutrients and useful elements from liquid organic manures and their uptake by plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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7 pages, 447 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Biological Activities of Phenolics in Different Parts of Local Cultivar of Globe Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus, var. scolymus L.)

by Mahmoudi Souhila and Mahmoudi Nacéra

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12510 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 735

Abstract

Different parts of Cynara cardunculus, var. scolymus L., have been used in traditional medicine to treat various disorders and as a coagulant in cheese making. In this work, phenolics from different parts of globe artichoke of the local cultivar “Violet d’Alger” (outer [...] Read more.

Different parts of Cynara cardunculus, var. scolymus L., have been used in traditional medicine to treat various disorders and as a coagulant in cheese making. In this work, phenolics from different parts of globe artichoke of the local cultivar “Violet d’Alger” (outer and inner bracts, stem, choke, and heart) were extracted by the Soxhlet method and partially purified. The extraction yield and purification yield were determined, and phenolic compounds were analyzed by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Thin-layer chromatography was performed and the antioxidant activity by 2,2-diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^.) scavenging assay was achieved. Antibacterial and antifungal activities were estimated against the following bacteria and fungi: Bacillus subtilis, Geobacillus stearothermophilus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Candida albicans. Results showed that all extracts had considerable amounts of phenolics with a concentration-dependent antioxidant activity and an effectiveness against bacterial and fungal strains. Among the different parts of globe artichoke, the choke exhibited the highest phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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8 pages, 994 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

The Contribution of Impact Damage to the Quality Changes of Stored Banana Fruit

by Mai Al-Dairi, Pankaj B. Pathare and Adil Al-Mahdouri

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12483 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1044

Abstract

Loss in fresh fruit mainly occurs due to their susceptibility to mechanical damage during the postharvest supply chain. Mechanical damage can reduce the quality of fresh produce during handling, especially if not consumed directly, which is a critical food safety challenge and economic [...] Read more.

Loss in fresh fruit mainly occurs due to their susceptibility to mechanical damage during the postharvest supply chain. Mechanical damage can reduce the quality of fresh produce during handling, especially if not consumed directly, which is a critical food safety challenge and economic issue. Therefore, food security and agricultural efficiency requires vital action to minimize such losses. Possible mitigation includes reducing the occurrence of damage by investigating the effects of the application of external forces during the handling of fresh fruit. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the local banana quality changes affected by impact energy and forces resulting from simulated handling practices during storage at three different temperature conditions for 12 days. By using the pendulum technique, local banana fruit were damaged by low (0.074 ± 0.003 J), medium (0.160 ± 0.008 J), and high (0.27 ± 0.016 J) impact forces. Fruit from each impact energy level were divided into groups and stored at 5 °C, 13 °C, and 22 °C. The changes in weight loss, firmness, and color (lightness (L*) and redness (a*)) were evaluated. The rate of transpiration was also determined. The study results showed a gradual reduction in weight loss percent in high, medium, and low impact bruised bananas under all storage conditions. The highest recorded weight loss percent was found in high impact (0.27 ± 0.016 J) injured banana fruit (19.55%) stored at 22 °C after 12 days of storage. Storage at 22 °C and damage from the highest impact energy accelerated the increment of the transpiration rate (2.031 mg kg⁻¹ s⁻¹) of banana fruit on day 12 of storage. Furthermore, high impact bruising and storage at ambient temperature condition resulted in 76.69% firmness reduction in banana fruit after 12 days of storage. Storage at 13 °C showed the fewest changes in visual properties, such as color, of impacted bananas. The color parameters (lightness and redness) were statistically influenced (p < 0.05) by impact level, storage temperatures, and storage duration. Chilling injuries were highly observed after day 4 of storage in banana fruit stored at 5 °C in all damaged fruit. Two of the most critical factors that reduced the incidence of severe damage due to mechanical damage were: (1) storage management, and (2) increasing people’s awareness about the main mechanism of this problem and how to reduce it. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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6 pages, 834 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Chemical Characterization of Different Colored Tomatoes: Application of Biochemical and Spectroscopic Tools

by Ivana Petrović, Milena Marjanović, Ilinka Pećinar, Slađana Savić, Zorica Jovanović and Radmila Stikić

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12482 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1119

Abstract

Traditional crop varieties are useful sources of desirable characteristics for developing new cultivars with improved nutritive and sensory attributes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fruit-quality parameters in three traditional tomato genotypes: pink, yellow and dark colors. The results showed [...] Read more.

Traditional crop varieties are useful sources of desirable characteristics for developing new cultivars with improved nutritive and sensory attributes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fruit-quality parameters in three traditional tomato genotypes: pink, yellow and dark colors. The results showed that yellow-colored tomatoes had the highest TSS/TTA ratio and antioxidative activity, but the lowest content of lycopene and β-carotene. The genotypic differences in the carotenoid components were also confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. The advantage of the yellow-tomato genotype related to fruit-quality compounds compared to the other genotypes indicated its potential in a breeding program. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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7 pages, 235 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

The Stimulatory Effects of Humic Substances and Microbial Inoculants on Cropping Performance of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Lalit in Meadow Orcharding System

by Ashwini Narasimhaiah, Pramod Kumar, Ajay Kumar Joshi, Naveen Chand Sharma, Rajesh Kaushal, Nivedita Sharma, Nisha Sharma and Simran Saini

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12503 - 15 Apr 2022

Viewed by 784

Abstract

Foliar application of humic acid along with bio-inoculants in 4-year-old inarched guava cv. Lalit in meadow orcharding system was carried out. Foliar application of humic acid @ 30 and 60 mL/L at bud burst to flowering stage and bio-inoculants (Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB) [...] Read more.

Foliar application of humic acid along with bio-inoculants in 4-year-old inarched guava cv. Lalit in meadow orcharding system was carried out. Foliar application of humic acid @ 30 and 60 mL/L at bud burst to flowering stage and bio-inoculants (Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB) @ 10 mL/plant + Azotobacter chroococcum@ 10 g/plant, and PGPR @ 25 mL/plant + AM fungi @ 25 g/plant) in rhizosphere along with @ 90 and 80 percent of the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) of NPK (360:740:200 g/tree) was carried out. Application of humic acid applied at 60 mL/L along with PSB and A. chroococcum at 10 mL/plant beside 80 per cent of RDF-NPK inferred positive impact on growth traits throughout the winter season. This combination recorded vital increase in percent fruit set with reduced fruit drop. Fruit yield was 2.9 times higher over control. Fruit quality with this conjoint application also improved. Soil microflora recorded as actinomycetes, A. chroococcum, PSB and AM fungi were improved. This combination also exhibited significant increase in leaf N, P and K contents in the meadow geometry plant–soil interface. Maximum cumulative variance of 97.9 percent in PCA based on the Eigenvalue (>1) was recorded. Maximum total cumulative variance for vegetative growth characteristics, flowering and yield contributing traits in guava under meadow plantations were observed in PC4. Our findings emphasized the promising effects of humic acid and bio-inoculants on improvement of growth, nutrient profiling and biological activity at reduced application of NPK. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

7 pages, 1248 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Biological Amendments Improved Survival, Growth Traits, and Microbial Properties of Air-Layered Litchi chinensis Sonn. cv. Early Large Red Saplings

by Pramod Kumar, Ajay Kumar Joshi, Suman Lata, Bhupesh Kumar Gupta and Nisha Sharma

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12491 - 15 Apr 2022

Viewed by 696

Abstract

Biological amendments, namely Pseudomonas florescence, Azotobacter chroococcum, K mobilizers, and AM fungi, were expedited during an air-layering operation on litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.). Twenty-five-year healthy progeny of mother plants were maintained for the air-layering operation. The treatments comprised the following combinations: [...] Read more.

Biological amendments, namely Pseudomonas florescence, Azotobacter chroococcum, K mobilizers, and AM fungi, were expedited during an air-layering operation on litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.). Twenty-five-year healthy progeny of mother plants were maintained for the air-layering operation. The treatments comprised the following combinations: T1, litchi orchard soil + sand (1:1); T2, sand + AM fungi + Azotobacter chroococcum (1:2:1); T3, sand + Pseudomonasflorescence + K mobilizers (1:1:1); T4, AM fungi + K mobilizers (1:1); T5, P. florescence + A. chroococcum + K mobilizers (1:1:1); T6, sand + P. florescence (1:2); and T7, uninoculated control. Treatment T2 significantly improved the survival rate, plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf area, and total leaf chlorophyll of the saplings. The microbial biomass of A. chroococcumPseudomonas, K mobilizers, and AM fungi tremendously increased. The soil–enzyme activity in the rhizosphere increased, which indicated better P nutrition. The study indicated that biological amendments inoculation can be a promising technology to improve the survival rate to produce elite litchi planting material. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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6 pages, 557 KiB

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Exploring the Involvement of the Alternative Respiratory Pathway in Pisum sativum L. Seed Germination

by Lénia Rodrigues, Ricardo Claudino, Steven P. C. Groot, Pierre Hohmann, Amaia Nogales, Lee D. Hansen and Hélia Cardoso

Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 16(1), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECHo2022-12500 - 15 Apr 2022

Viewed by 784

Abstract

Organic agriculture, recognized as a more sustainable agricultural system, strongly depends on the use of highly resilient genotypes. Seed resilience, with increased tolerance to germination that provide vigorous seedlings under environmental stresses, currently represents one of the most important agronomical traits. Seed germination [...] Read more.

Organic agriculture, recognized as a more sustainable agricultural system, strongly depends on the use of highly resilient genotypes. Seed resilience, with increased tolerance to germination that provide vigorous seedlings under environmental stresses, currently represents one of the most important agronomical traits. Seed germination involves the activation of several metabolic pathways, including cellular respiration. Alternative oxidase (AOX), a key enzyme in the alternative respiratory pathway, plays a crucial role in regulating cell reprogramming by controlling metabolic transitions related to the cellular redox state and the variable carbon balance. The involvement of the alternative respiratory pathway during germination was explored by analysis of PsAOX gene/protein expression. Seeds of four Pisum sativum L. cultivars (‘Respect-1′, ‘S134′, ‘G78′, and ‘S91′) were imbibed in sterile tap water for 16 h and metabolic parameters were measured by calorespirometry (heat and CO₂ emission rates) in a multi-cell differential scanning calorimeter in isothermal mode at 25 °C. The involvement of PsAOX was evaluated by transcript quantification (PsAOX1, PsAOX2a, and PsAOX2b) through RT-qPCR, and by analyzing PsAOX expression through Western blot. The results demonstrate that cv. ‘S91′, characterized by a low germination rate, exhibited the lowest metabolic heat and CO₂ emission rate. However, contrary to expectations, PsAOX transcript accumulation and PsAOX protein expression were significantly higher for ‘S91′ than for the other cultivars. These results indicate that higher levels of PsAOX (transcript and protein) could be linked to lower metabolic rates for embryo growth when seed germination is compromised. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Horticulturae)

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