Research

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16 pages, 4062 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy and Differential Physiological–Biochemical Response of Biostimulants in Green Beans Subjected to Moderate and Severe Water Stress

by Karla I. Hernández-Figueroa, Esteban Sánchez, Carlos A. Ramírez-Estrada, Julio C. Anchondo-Páez, Damaris L. Ojeda-Barrios and Sandra Pérez-Álvarez

Crops 2024, 4(1), 27-42; https://doi.org/10.3390/crops4010003 - 12 Jan 2024

Viewed by 711

Abstract

Water stress is one of the main factors affecting the development of agricultural crops. An innovative alternative to improve tolerance to water stress is the application of biostimulants. In the present study, the efficacy and physiological and biochemical responses of different biostimulants were [...] Read more.

Water stress is one of the main factors affecting the development of agricultural crops. An innovative alternative to improve tolerance to water stress is the application of biostimulants. In the present study, the efficacy and physiological and biochemical responses of different biostimulants were evaluated in beans under moderate and severe stress. The treatments consisted of three types of irrigation: FC100, without water stress; FC75, irrigation reduced by 25% (moderate water stress); and FC50, irrigation reduced by 50% (severe water stress). In the treatments with water deficits, foliar biostimulants were applied: zinc oxide nanoparticles plus chitosan, Codasil^®, Osmoplant^®, Stimplex^® and salicylic acid. Foliar application of ZnO + chitosan nanoparticles benefited biomass accumulation and yield under moderate water stress (FC75) and Codasil^® and Osmoplant^® under severe water stress (FC50). Proline, free sugars and gas exchange were higher with the application of ZnO + chitosan nanoparticles under moderate water stress and with Codasil^® and Osmoplant^® under severe water stress. Depending on the severity of water stress, ZnO + chitosan nanoparticles, Codasil^® and Osmoplant^® are viable products to increase tolerance in green bean cv. Strike plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Drought Stress on Nutrient Management in Crop Plant Production)

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13 pages, 1571 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Crop Rotation and Tillage on Winter Wheat Growth and Yield under Cold Dryland Conditions

by Ramin Lotfi and Mohammad Pessarakli

Crops 2023, 3(2), 88-100; https://doi.org/10.3390/crops3020009 - 30 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1573

Abstract

To investigate responses of two winter wheat genotypes under different crop management systems (rotation and tillage), a split–split plot experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications during 4 years in Maragheh, Iran. Three crop rotation treatments [...] Read more.

To investigate responses of two winter wheat genotypes under different crop management systems (rotation and tillage), a split–split plot experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications during 4 years in Maragheh, Iran. Three crop rotation treatments [vetch–wheat (V–W), chickpea–wheat (C–W), and safflower–wheat (S–W)] were considered in main plots, three tillage treatments (conventional-tillage (CT), minimum-tillage (MT), and no-tillage (NT)) were located in subplots, and two winter dryland wheat genotypes (Baran and Azar2) were allocated in sub-sub plots. Results indicated that soil moisture content in NT was greater than that in MT and CT. The highest relative water content (RWC), normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration rate (E) were obtained from the Baran genotype in the V–W rotation under NT. In the last year of the experiment, rainfall productivity in NT treatment improved by 32%, compared to CT. The Baran genotype had higher rainfall productivity in both MT and NT treatments with 0.71 and 0.70 kg m⁻³, respectively. Crop water requirement was not affected by crop rotation or tillage treatments. Maximum grain yields in V–W, C–W, and S–W rotations were recorded as 2231, 2105, and 1991 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. With increasing soil moisture storage and improving rainfall productivity under full implementation of conservation agriculture components (after 4 years), grain yield of Baran and Azar2 improved in NT compared to that of CT by about 6–9% and 6–14%, respectively. Therefore, the application of V–W rotation with NT in cold dryland areas is recommended for developing of conservation agriculture system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Drought Stress on Nutrient Management in Crop Plant Production)

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10 pages, 1598 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Meteorological Factors on Grain Yield of Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica Beauv.) under Different Water Supply Conditions

by Wenying Zhang, Bianyin Wang, Binhui Liu, Zhaoyang Chen, Guanli Lu, Caihong Bai and Yaoxiang Ge

Crops 2023, 3(1), 53-62; https://doi.org/10.3390/crops3010006 - 16 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1551

Abstract

Meteorological factors have significant impacts on crop yield. To account for the impact of meteorological factors on foxtail millet (Setaria italica Beauv.) production in different water conditions, a total of 38 collected varieties were grown in nine seasons from 2011 to 2020 [...] Read more.

Meteorological factors have significant impacts on crop yield. To account for the impact of meteorological factors on foxtail millet (Setaria italica Beauv.) production in different water conditions, a total of 38 collected varieties were grown in nine seasons from 2011 to 2020 (except 2016) under well-watered (WW) and water-stressed (WS) conditions. The results showed that there was a large seasonal variation in GY; the variation ranged from 4.92 t ha⁻¹ to 6.95 t ha⁻¹ under the WW treatment and from 3.50 t ha⁻¹ to 5.77 t ha⁻¹ under the WS treatment. The impacts of meteorological factors on foxtail millet under the WW and WS treatments were different; sunshine duration during the whole stage, vegetative stage and reproductive stage had the greatest impact under the WW treatment, while under the WS treatment, sunshine duration and the diurnal temperature range during the whole stage and reproductive stage were the greatest impact factors on grain yield. This work could help us in high-yield foxtail millet cultivation and breeding. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Drought Stress on Nutrient Management in Crop Plant Production)

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10 pages, 1240 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Plant Growth and Yield Response to Salinity Stress of Rice Grown under the Application of Different Nitrogen Levels and Bacillus pumilus Strain TUAT-1

by Khin Thuzar Win, Aung Zaw Oo and Tadashi Yokoyama

Crops 2022, 2(4), 435-444; https://doi.org/10.3390/crops2040031 - 11 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2071

Abstract

Rice is an important food crop, and its production is significantly affected by salt stress under the changing climate. Soil-inhabiting microbial inoculants as well as efficient nitrogen (N) nutrition may have ameliorative effects on rice growth and yield under salt stress. However, the [...] Read more.

Rice is an important food crop, and its production is significantly affected by salt stress under the changing climate. Soil-inhabiting microbial inoculants as well as efficient nitrogen (N) nutrition may have ameliorative effects on rice growth and yield under salt stress. However, the effects of the interaction between N application and microbial inoculants on the growth and grain yield of rice under salt stress is not yet fully understood. This study aimed to clarify whether the use of the Bacillus pumilus strain TUAT-1 biofertilizer, along with the right amount of N fertilizer, would alleviate salt stress in lowland rice production. We applied the Bacillus pumilus strain TUAT-1 as a biofertilizer in combination with different rates of N fertilizer: control (0% N), 2.64 g (NH₄)₂SO₄ per nursery tray (100% N: the farmer-recommended amount), and 3.96 g (NH₄)₂SO₄ per nursery tray (150% N). Salinity (100 mM of NaCl) was applied at the heading stage of rice plants in pot culture in the greenhouse, and the growth and yield components were accessed at harvest. In the nursery phase, the application of the biofertilizer TUAT-1 significantly increased seedling vigor and the root development of 21-day-old seedlings. Salinity stress at the heading stage significantly reduced chlorophyll content, panicle number, straw biomass, and grain yield; however, either the application of N alone or in combination with TUAT-1 ameliorated the salinity-related reduction in grain yield and yield component parameters. Plants receiving a high amount of N fertilizer (150% N) showed similar straw biomass and grain yield with or without TUAT-1 inoculation, regardless of saline or non-saline conditions. In both saline and control conditions, straw biomass and grain yield were higher in the plants inoculated with TUAT-1 than in those without TUAT-1. Specifically, the combined application of TUAT-1 and the farmer-recommended N level (100% N) led to an increase of 8% in straw biomass and 15% in grain yield under saline stress when compared with their respective plants without TUAT-1. Straw biomass and grain yield were similar in the (un-inoculated) plants grown under normal conditions and TUAT-1 + 100% N under salinity treatments, because TUAT-1 enhanced root development, which may promote soil nutrient uptake. Our results indicated that combined nursery application of TUAT-1 biofertilizer and 100% N fertilizer rate has the potential to boost the capacity of this bacteria to increase seedling vigor, which subsequently ameliorated the salt-induced reduction in the grain and straw yield. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Drought Stress on Nutrient Management in Crop Plant Production)

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17 pages, 2653 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Overexpression of ONAC054 Improves Drought Stress Tolerance and Grain Yield in Rice

by Yasuhito Sakuraba and Nam-Chon Paek

Crops 2022, 2(4), 390-406; https://doi.org/10.3390/crops2040027 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1601

Abstract

Drought stress negatively affects plant growth and development, thus reducing plant productivity. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying drought stress responses is essential for crop improvement. The plant-specific NAM/ATAF1,2/CUC2 (NAC) transcription factors play important roles in the drought stress response. Here, we show [...] Read more.

Drought stress negatively affects plant growth and development, thus reducing plant productivity. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying drought stress responses is essential for crop improvement. The plant-specific NAM/ATAF1,2/CUC2 (NAC) transcription factors play important roles in the drought stress response. Here, we show that rice (Oryza sativa) ONAC054, a membrane-bound NAC transcription factor, is involved in the drought stress response. We found that onac054 mutants were sensitive, whereas ONAC054-overexpressing (ONAC054-OX) plants were tolerant to drought stress. Under drought stress conditions, several genes associated with abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis and signaling were downregulated in onac054 mutants but upregulated in ONAC054-OX plants. Among these genes, the TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR ABA REGULATION 1 (TRAB1), which encodes an ABA-inducible bZIP transcription factor, was directly activated by ONAC054. On the other hand, the expression of ONAC054 was directly activated by several ABA-responsive elements (ABRE)-binding factors (ABFs) in an ABA-dependent manner, indicating that ONAC054 acts as an enhancer of ABA-induced drought stress tolerance. Additionally, the overexpression of ONAC054 in rice greatly improved grain yield under drought stress conditions, indicating that the overexpression of ONAC054 could facilitate the improvement of drought stress tolerance in rice and other crops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Drought Stress on Nutrient Management in Crop Plant Production)

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17 pages, 1380 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tolerance and Adaptability of Tomato Genotypes to Saline Irrigation

by Carlos Eduardo Da Silva Oliveira, Tiago Zoz, Arshad Jalal, Eduardo Pradi Vendruscolo, Thiago Assis Rodrigues Nogueira, Arun Dilipkumar Jani and Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho

Crops 2022, 2(3), 306-322; https://doi.org/10.3390/crops2030022 - 29 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2099

Abstract

High salt concentration in irrigation water is often a limiting factor to tomato production in Brazil. However, there is limited information available regarding the tolerance of tomato genotypes to saline irrigation. An experiment was conducted in a protected environment using a randomized block [...] Read more.

High salt concentration in irrigation water is often a limiting factor to tomato production in Brazil. However, there is limited information available regarding the tolerance of tomato genotypes to saline irrigation. An experiment was conducted in a protected environment using a randomized block design with four replications. Treatments consisted of 12 tomato genotypes cultivated in an environment with varying levels of salt stress. Moderate and severe salt stress affected plant height, transversal and longitudinal diameter of fruit, fresh mass, yield, and number of tomato fruit per plant. Cluster analysis, stability, and adaptability provided the best estimates to identify the most adaptable genotype to saline stress, with the genotypes Maestrina, Onix, Pizzadoro, and Shanty being the best adapted to moderate and severe saline stress conditions. The genotypes Maestrina, Onix, Pizzadoro, and Shanty were identified as most adaptable to and stable under salt stress. Sodium absorption increased as irrigation salinity increased. In addition, P, K, and Ca concentration decreased under salt stress, which caused damage to all yield components and plant nutrition. The genotype Onix was more tolerant to the effects of moderate saline irrigation, while the genotypes Sheena, Sperare, Santa Clara, IPA 6, and Dominador had lower losses under severe salt stress conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Drought Stress on Nutrient Management in Crop Plant Production)

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12 pages, 1439 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Breaking Seed Dormancy of Jaltomata procumbens (Cav.) J. L. Gentry Seeds with the Use of KNO₃

by Ignacio Darío Flores-Sánchez, Manuel Sandoval-Villa and Ebandro Uscanga-Mortera

Crops 2022, 2(2), 99-110; https://doi.org/10.3390/crops2020008 - 07 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2629

Abstract

Jaltomata procumbens (Cav.) J. L. Gentry presents seed dormancy mechanisms in its two populations, erect and decumbent, that make its germination and obtaining of plants difficult. Potassium nitrate (KNO₃) is used as a seed germination promoter by soaking in an osmotic [...] Read more.

Jaltomata procumbens (Cav.) J. L. Gentry presents seed dormancy mechanisms in its two populations, erect and decumbent, that make its germination and obtaining of plants difficult. Potassium nitrate (KNO₃) is used as a seed germination promoter by soaking in an osmotic solution. The objective was to break the dormancy of Jaltomata seeds by evaluating KNO₃. Treatments included: 2 populations (erect and decumbent), 2 soaking times (4 and 6 days) in 2 concentrations of KNO₃ solution (0.1% and 0.2%) and in distilled water used as a control. Days of germination including starting (DGS) and ending (DGE), energy period (EP), germination energy (GE), germination percentage (GP) and rate (GR) were measured. The erect population presented a more uniform germination and a lower number of DGS and DGE as well as 100% germination with the highest GR (2.56 seeds day⁻¹). No statistical differences were observed between KNO₃ and control; however, the positive effect of the KNO₃ and 4 days of soaking on the germinated seed was observed. The decumbent population exhibited a more variable germination; however, the same trend of the solution type and soaking days was observed, reaching 93.1 GP. Considering the economic and accessibility aspects of substances that promote germination on J. procumbens, distilled water imbibition and KNO₃ are recommended to accelerate the germination process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Drought Stress on Nutrient Management in Crop Plant Production)

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Review

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9 pages, 1547 KiB

Open AccessReview

Adaptation of Legume Seeds to Waterlogging at Germination

by Edi Wiraguna

Crops 2022, 2(2), 111-119; https://doi.org/10.3390/crops2020009 - 20 Apr 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2659

Abstract

Legume seeds are often sown on standing rice crops a few weeks before rice harvest (relay cropping). Seeds cannot germinate in waterlogged soil under relay sowing as oxygen is depleted. However, seeds may survive under soil waterlogging if the seeds can initiate anaerobic [...] Read more.

Legume seeds are often sown on standing rice crops a few weeks before rice harvest (relay cropping). Seeds cannot germinate in waterlogged soil under relay sowing as oxygen is depleted. However, seeds may survive under soil waterlogging if the seeds can initiate anaerobic respiration, have a large seed reserve such as carbohydrates, perform a slow water uptake during imbibition and are small in size. An example of a seed crop that can initiate anaerobic respiration is rice. The seed embryo of rice can use an alcoholic fermentation pathway from carbohydrates to produce enough energy to germinate. In legumes, seeds with a slow imbibition rate were more waterlogging tolerant than seeds with a rapid rate. This is likely due to seeds with low imbibition rates having less electrolyte leakage than seeds with a rapid imbibition rate during germination under waterlogging. A small amount of oxygen may remain on the surface of waterlogged soil. Small seeds can use the small amount of oxygen on the surface of waterlogged soil to germinate. However, large seeds often fail to use the oxygen on the surface of waterlogged soil to germinate because only a small part of large seeds remain on the surface of waterlogged soil. Therefore, small seeds are more adapted to soil waterlogging than large seeds under relay cropping. This review is focused on the physiological adaptation of legume seeds under low oxygen concentration during soil waterlogging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Drought Stress on Nutrient Management in Crop Plant Production)

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