Journal Description
Agronomy
Agronomy
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on agronomy and agroecology published monthly online by MDPI. The Spanish Society of Plant Physiology (SEFV) is affiliated with Agronomy and their members receive discounts on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubAg, AGRIS, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Agronomy) / CiteScore - Q1 (Agronomy and Crop Science)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 15.8 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.4 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Companion journals for Agronomy include: Seeds, Agrochemicals, Grasses and Crops.
Impact Factor:
3.7 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
4.0 (2022)
Latest Articles
The Impact of Microplastic Concentration and Particle Size on the Germination and Seedling Growth of Pisum sativum L.
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 923; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050923 (registering DOI) - 27 Apr 2024
Abstract
Hydroponic experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of varying particle sizes (5 μm, 0.1 μm, and 0.08 μm) and concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/L) of polystyrene plastic microspheres (PS-MPs) on the germination and growth of P. sativum
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Hydroponic experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of varying particle sizes (5 μm, 0.1 μm, and 0.08 μm) and concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/L) of polystyrene plastic microspheres (PS-MPs) on the germination and growth of P. sativum seeds in order to investigate the effects of the microplastic environment on crop seed germination and seedling growth. The findings demonstrated that PS-MPs significantly harmed P. sativum seed germination. Specifically, low concentrations or high particle sizes weakened or promoted P. sativum seed germination, indicating varying susceptibilities to PS-MP treatment at different particle sizes. The strongest inhibitory effect on growth was observed under small particle size (0.08 μm) and high concentration (2000 mg/L). Stress had less of an impact on P. sativum in environments with low concentrations of PS-MPs, but in environments with medium and high concentrations, physiological and biochemical indicators like germination rate, stem length, and root length were significantly impacted. Furthermore, the particle size and concentration of PS-MPs had an impact on the growth effect of P. sativum seedlings. The indices of P. sativum seed germination were significantly impacted by the particle size of PS-MPs, despite the fact that PS-MP concentration was low. When the concentration of PS-MPs is low, the effects of varying PS-MP particle sizes on seed germination and root length are as follows: 0.1 μm > 5 μm > 0.08 μm. The concentration of PS-MPs had a significant impact on how it affected the buildup of dry matter and photosynthetic pigment.
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(This article belongs to the Section Plant-Crop Biology and Biochemistry)
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Analysis of Microbial Diversity in Rhizosphere Soil of Panax notoginseng under Different Water and Microbial Fertilizer Conditions
by
Leilei Yao, Lei Kong, Qiliang Yang, Hongjuan Nian and Jiaping Liang
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 922; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050922 (registering DOI) - 27 Apr 2024
Abstract
Panax notoginseng is a highly regarded medicinal plant that has obstacles associated with continuous cropping. Understanding soil microorganisms is crucial, as they play a major role in this regard. However, soil microorganisms are affected by multiple factors; therefore, we need to conduct more
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Panax notoginseng is a highly regarded medicinal plant that has obstacles associated with continuous cropping. Understanding soil microorganisms is crucial, as they play a major role in this regard. However, soil microorganisms are affected by multiple factors; therefore, we need to conduct more in-depth research. This study investigated the combined effects of irrigation and microbial fertilizer treatments (J1F1, J1F2, J2F1, J2F2, J3F1, J3F2, and CK) on the diversity of bacterial and fungal microbial communities in the rhizosphere of Panax notoginseng. The bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq. The results showed that, without microbial fertilizer (CK), the microbial community abundance and diversity were significantly lower than in the other treatments; moreover, among the microbial fertilizer treatments, the microbial abundance in F1 was higher than that in F2. Under the same microbial fertilizer application, the incidence rate of Panax notoginseng root rot was J2 > J1 > J3, and the yield of Panax notoginseng was J3 > J2 > J1. Under the same irrigation conditions, the incidence rate of Panax notoginseng root rot was F1 > F2, and the yield of Panax notoginseng was F2 > F1. This study provides important guidance for Panax notoginseng plant microbiota and sustainable agriculture.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
Open AccessArticle
Yield, Protein Content and Water-Related Physiologies of Spring Wheat Affected by Fertilizer System and Weather Conditions
by
Felicia Chețan, Diana Hirișcău, Teodor Rusu, Marius Bărdaș, Cornel Chețan, Alina Șimon and Paula Ioana Moraru
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050921 (registering DOI) - 27 Apr 2024
Abstract
Technological and climatic factors significantly influence the expression of quality and quantity properties of spring wheat. This study aims to quantify the effects of weather conditions and fertilizer systems on spring wheat yield, quality (protein content), and physiological indicators (leaf vapor pressure deficit,
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Technological and climatic factors significantly influence the expression of quality and quantity properties of spring wheat. This study aims to quantify the effects of weather conditions and fertilizer systems on spring wheat yield, quality (protein content), and physiological indicators (leaf vapor pressure deficit, evapotranspiration, surface temperature of the flag leaf) and to identify a suitable spring wheat genotype for the Transylvanian Plain. The experimental factors were: Y represents the year (Y1, 2019; Y2, 2020); F represents the fertilizer variant (F1, a single rate of fertilization: 36 kg ha−1 of nitrogen; F2, two rates of fertilization: 36 kg ha−1 of nitrogen + 72 kg ha−1 of nitrogen; F3, two rates of fertilization: 36 kg ha−1 of nitrogen + 105 kg ha−1 of nitrogen); and S represents the genotype (S1, Pădureni; S2, Granny; S3, Triso; S4, Taisa; S5, Ciprian; and S6, Lennox). This multifactorial experiment with three factors was conducted on Phaeozem soil. Regardless of weather conditions, fertilization with N100–110 at the head swollen sheath (stage 10, Feeks Growth Scale for Wheat) is deemed the most suitable variant because it yields an average grain yield of 5000 kg ha−1 of good quality (13.84% protein) with a considerable flag leaf area (29 cm2) where physiological processes can optimally support the well-being of the spring wheat plants. Beyond this level of fertilization, the average grain yield tends to plateau, but the protein content considerably increases by 13–23%, depending on the genotype. High yields were achieved in the Lennox and Triso genotypes.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring the Potential for Crop Productivity by Applying Novel Agrochemicals, including Fertilizers, Biochar, Biostimulants, and Plant Nutrition Regulators)
Open AccessArticle
Oligonychus perseae (Tetranychidae) Invasion in the Canary Islands: History, Management and Current Situation
by
Eduardo Torres, Carlos Álvarez-Acosta, Francisco Ferragut and Estrella Marina Hernández-Suárez
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 920; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050920 (registering DOI) - 27 Apr 2024
Abstract
Avocado production has boomed worldwide in recent years, and Spain, including the Canary Islands, has been no exception. The number of avocado growers in the region has increased significantly as growers recognize the potential of this crop. However, several species of spider mites
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Avocado production has boomed worldwide in recent years, and Spain, including the Canary Islands, has been no exception. The number of avocado growers in the region has increased significantly as growers recognize the potential of this crop. However, several species of spider mites (Tetranychidae) pose a risk to this crop, with the genus Oligonychus being the most diverse and having the greatest economic impact. In particular, Oligonychus perseae (Tuttle, Baker and Abbatiello) has been reported as the one mainly responsible for the economic damage in major avocado-producing regions worldwide. In this paper, we aim to present an overview of the studies conducted and the measures implemented to mitigate the impact of O. perseae after its arrival in the Canary Islands. Our objective is to provide a detailed description of the current status of this pest (O. perseae), with special attention to its situation 17 years after its first appearance in avocado crops in the Canary Islands. In doing so, we aim to provide valuable insights and knowledge to understand and manage better the challenges posed by O. perseae in this region.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment, Monitoring and Control of Agricultural Pests)
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Open AccessArticle
Optimizing Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Enhances Rice Yield, Dry Matter, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency
by
Xiaoe He, Haijun Zhu, Ailong Shi and Xuehua Wang
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 919; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050919 (registering DOI) - 27 Apr 2024
Abstract
Optimizing nitrogen fertilizer management can effectively improve soil ecology, promote agricultural production, and increase the income of farmers and workers. Nitrogen fertilizer is an important factor in the growth and development of rice, and it is important to find out the optimal amount
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Optimizing nitrogen fertilizer management can effectively improve soil ecology, promote agricultural production, and increase the income of farmers and workers. Nitrogen fertilizer is an important factor in the growth and development of rice, and it is important to find out the optimal amount and frequency of fertilizer application for the super-hybrid early rice ‘Zhu LiangYou 819’ in Hunan Province, to give full play to its high quality and high yield characteristics. Various N fertilizer application frequencies (P1, basal–tiller fertilizer = 5:5; P2, basal–tiller–spike fertilizer = 4:3:3; P3, basal–tiller–spike–grain fertilizer = 4:3:2:1) and N application amounts (N1, 90 kg ha−1; N2, 150 kg ha−1; N3, 210 kg ha−1) were applied to the hybrid rice ZLY819. The results show that, under the same frequency of N application, ZLY819 had the highest yield, agronomic efficiency, and physiological utilization rate of N fertilizer with the N2 treatment, averaging 7.53 t ha−1, 18.10 kg kg−1, and 34.34%, respectively, with the yield under N2 being 19.38% higher than that under N1. For the same amount of N application, the yield, agronomic efficiency, partial factor productivity of N (PFPN), N contribution to seed, and N use efficiency (NUE) increased with an increase in the frequency of N application, mainly in the order of P3 > P2 > P1, whereby the yield of P3 was 10.11% higher than that of P1. According to the regression equation, the yield is higher when the amount of nitrogen application is 202.15 kg ha−1 and the fertilization frequency is four times. Appropriate N fertilizer management (P3N2) improved the rice growth characteristics, dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate, dry matter transport rate, dry matter contribution rate, and NUE, thus promoting an increase in the rice yield and efficient use of nitrogen.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fertigation Effects on Water and Nutrient Use Efficiency for Agro-Crop Plants)
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Impact of Hood Steaming on Tuber Vitality of Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)
by
Jeroen Feys, Sander De Ryck, Clara Sciffer, Dirk Reheul, Joos Latré, Danny Callens and Benny De Cauwer
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 918; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050918 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Cyperus esculentus is a hard-to-control, destructive perennial weed propagating and spreading through rhizomes and tubers. Currently, a combination of mechanical, cultural, and chemical measures sustained over time is required for satisfactory control of arable crops. Hood steaming is a promising thermal technique for
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Cyperus esculentus is a hard-to-control, destructive perennial weed propagating and spreading through rhizomes and tubers. Currently, a combination of mechanical, cultural, and chemical measures sustained over time is required for satisfactory control of arable crops. Hood steaming is a promising thermal technique for rapid depletion of the soil tuber bank. The effect of hood steaming on C. esculentus tuber vitality was investigated using a dose–response experiment on two localities in Belgium. Steaming was performed for five durations (2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 min). Moreover, the effects of tuber burial depth (5, 15, and 25 cm), genetic C. esculentus clone (three different clones), and pedohydrological parameters (sandy and sandy, loamy soil) on hood steaming efficacy were determined. Additionally, the heat sensitivity of genetically diverse C. esculentus tubers was investigated in a laboratory incubator experiment in which incubation temperature and duration varied. To control tubers at depths of 5, 15, and 25 cm, treatment durations of 8, 16, and 32 min were required, respectively. In general, clones producing large tubers showed lower heat sensitivity. As pedohydrological parameters may affect heat transfer into the soil, they may affect steaming efficacy as well. To obtain complete control of C. esculentus tubers, soil temperature should be 50 °C or more for at least 42 min. Hood steaming is a highly suitable alternative technique for a rapid and strong depletion of the soil tuber bank in small well-delineated C. esculentus patches.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Weed Science and Weed Management)
Open AccessArticle
Calibration and Evaluation of the SIMPLE Crop Growth Model Applied to the Common Bean under Irrigation
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Miguel Servín-Palestina, Irineo López-Cruz, Jorge A. Zegbe, Agustín Ruiz-García, Raquel Salazar-Moreno and José Ángel Cid-Ríos
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 917; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050917 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Bean production is at risk due to climate change, declining water resources, and inadequate crop management. To address these challenges, dynamic models that predict crop growth and development can be used as fundamental tools to generate basic and applied knowledge such as production
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Bean production is at risk due to climate change, declining water resources, and inadequate crop management. To address these challenges, dynamic models that predict crop growth and development can be used as fundamental tools to generate basic and applied knowledge such as production management and decision support. This study aimed to calibrate and evaluate the SIMPLE model under irrigation conditions for a semi-arid region in north-central Mexico and to simulate thermal time, biomass (Bio), and grain yield (GY) of common beans cv. ‘Pinto Saltillo’ using experimental data from four crop evapotranspiration treatments (ETct) (I50, I75, I100, and I125) applied during the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons. Both experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Model calibration was carried out by posing and solving an optimization problem with the differential-evolution algorithm with 2020 experimental data, while the evaluation was performed with 2021 experimental data. For Bio, calibration values had a root-mean-square error and Nash and Sutcliffe’s efficiency of < 0.58 t ha−1 and > 0.93, respectively, while the corresponding evaluation values were < 1.80 t ha−1 and > 0.89, respectively. The I50 and I100 ETct had better fit for calibration, while I50 and I75 had better fit in the evaluation. On average, the model fitted for the predicted GY values had estimation errors of 37% and 22% for the calibration and evaluation procedures, respectively. Therefore, an empirical model was proposed to estimate the harvest index (HI), which produced, on average, a relative error of 6.9% for the bean-GY estimation. The SIMPLE model was able to predict bean biomass under irrigated conditions for these semi-arid regions of Mexico. Also, the use of both crop Bio and transpiration simulated by the SIMPLE model to calculate the HI significantly improved GY prediction under ETct. However, the harvest index needs to be validated under other irrigation levels and field experiments in different locations to strengthen the proposed model and design different GY scenarios under water restrictions for irrigation due to climate change.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Predictions and Estimations in Agricultural Production under a Changing Climate—Volume II)
Open AccessArticle
Fertilising Maize with Bio-Based Mineral Fertilisers Gives Similar Growth to Conventional Fertilisers and Does Not Alter Soil Microbiome
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Marcia Barquero, Cinta Cazador, Noemí Ortiz-Liébana, Maurizio Zotti, Javier Brañas and Fernando González-Andrés
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 916; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050916 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
The production of mineral fertilisers relies heavily on mineral deposits that are becoming depleted or is based on processes that are highly energy demanding. In this context, and in line with the circular economy and the European Green Deal, the recovery of nitrogen
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The production of mineral fertilisers relies heavily on mineral deposits that are becoming depleted or is based on processes that are highly energy demanding. In this context, and in line with the circular economy and the European Green Deal, the recovery of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) from organic wastes using chemical technologies is an important strategy to produce secondary raw materials for incorporation into mineral fertilisers, partially replacing the traditional sources of N, P, and K. However, there are very few studies on the agronomic and environmental effects of such substitution. The aim of this work was to evaluate plant growth under microcosm conditions and the effect on the soil microbiome of mineral fertilisers in which part of the N, P, or K content comes from bio-based materials (BBMFs), namely ash, struvite, and a patented chemical process. The crop was maize, and a metataxonomic approach was used to assess the effect on the soil microbiome. The BBMF treatments were compared with a control treated with a conventional mineral fertiliser. The conventional fertiliser performed significantly better than the bio-based fertilisers in terms of maize biomass production at the first sampling point 60 days after sowing (DAS), but at the last sampling point, 90 DAS, the BBMFs showed comparable or even better biomass production than the conventional one. This suggests that BBMFs may have a slightly slower nutrient release rate. The use of fertiliser, whether conventional or BBMF, resulted in a significant increase in microbiome biodiversity (Shannon index), while it did not affect species richness. Interestingly, the use of fertilisers modulated the composition of the bacterial community, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacterial taxa considered to be plant-growth-promoting bacteria, without significant differences between the conventional mineral fertilisers and the BBMFs. The predominance of PGPRs in the rhizosphere of crops when BBMFs are used could be part of the reason why BBMFs perform similarly or even better than conventional fertilisers, even if the rate of nutrient release is slower. This hypothesis will be tested in future field trials. Thus, BBMFs are an interesting option to make the food chain more sustainable.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
Open AccessArticle
Comparison of Morphological, Physiological, and Related Gene Expression Responses to Drought Stress in Five Camellia vietnamensis Cultivars
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Shuaishuai Shen, Wuping Yan, Shuao Xie, Jing Yu, Guanglong Yao, Ya Liu, Dongmei Yang, Yougen Wu and Huageng Yang
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 915; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050915 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
The main production area of Camellia vietnamensis (C. vietnamensis) is in the low mountain and hilly areas of southern China. The low survival rate of seedlings caused by drought is one of the main obstacles restricting the development of the C.
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The main production area of Camellia vietnamensis (C. vietnamensis) is in the low mountain and hilly areas of southern China. The low survival rate of seedlings caused by drought is one of the main obstacles restricting the development of the C. vietnamensis industry. An exploration of the key adaptation mechanism of C. vietnamensis to drought stress is important in order to improve its drought resistance. We conducted a study on the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and drought resistance-related genes of five C. vietnamensis cultivars grown in Hainan province under varying degrees of drought stress. The results indicate that drought stress can lead to a decrease in the relative water content and photosynthetic capacity of C. vietnamensis leaves. Compared with the control, the drought damage index, malondialdehyde, relative electrical conductivity, soluble protein, soluble sugar and proline contents of the five C. vietnamensis cultivars increased with drought-stress duration and degree. With increasing drought-stress intensity, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the content of related metabolites (total polyphenols, total flavonoids, tea saponins) gradually increased, and the expression levels of phenylpropanoid pathway-related genes (Cv4CL1, CvCAD1, CvCAD2, CvPOX1, CvPOX2, CvPOX3) were upregulated. Based on the results of the drought tolerance coefficients, principal component analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis, we classified five C. vietnamensis cultivars into drought-tolerant cultivars (‘Haida 1’); moderately drought-tolerant cultivars (‘Haida 4’ and ‘Wanhai 4’); and drought-sensitive cultivars (‘Wanhai 3’ and ‘Wanhai 1’). The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the promotion and cultivation of C. vietnamensis and the selection of drought-resistant cultivars.
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(This article belongs to the Section Crop Breeding and Genetics)
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Effects of Different N Fertilizer Doses on Phenology, Photosynthetic Fluorescence, and Yield of Quinoa
by
Yan Deng, Yan Zheng, Jingying Lu, Zeyun Guo, Xiaojing Sun, Li Zhao, Hongxia Guo, Liguang Zhang and Chuangyun Wang
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 914; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050914 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is gaining recognition as a pseudocereal due to its nutritional attributes and adaptability to challenging conditions and marginal soils. However, understanding the optimal fertilization for quinoa growth remains a challenge. This study investigates the effects of nitrogen fertilization
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Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is gaining recognition as a pseudocereal due to its nutritional attributes and adaptability to challenging conditions and marginal soils. However, understanding the optimal fertilization for quinoa growth remains a challenge. This study investigates the effects of nitrogen fertilization (0, 90, 120, and 150 kg using urea) on quinoa phenology, growth, and photosynthesis in the Loess Plateau region of China, a critical area facing soil erosion and ecological degradation. The results showed that nitrogen fertilization significantly influenced quinoa phenology, prompting early flowering and shorter growth at an optimum rate of 120 kg ha−1. Nitrogen application enhanced growth traits such as plant height, stem diameter, and chlorophyll content, particularly at the heading and flowering stages. Photosynthesis-related parameters, including net photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and intercellular CO2 concentration, were affected by nitrogen application, with higher values observed at 120 kg ha−1. Non-photochemical quenching was significantly increased by nitrogen application, indicating the efficient dissipation of excess energy. The study demonstrated a positive correlation between grain yield and growth traits, photosynthesis-related traits, and chlorophyll content. In conclusion, quinoa yield could be significantly improved at the Loess Plateau region under rainfed conditions by an optimal nitrogen fertilizer rate of 120 kg ha−1, which reduces the growth duration while increasing photosynthesis traits.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agroecology Innovation: Achieving System Resilience)
Open AccessArticle
Complete Plastomes of Ten Rorippa Species (Brassicaceae): Comparative Analysis and Phylogenetic Relationships
by
Ting Ren, Lulu Xun, Yun Jia and Bin Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 913; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050913 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
The genus Rorippa belongs to the family Brassicaceae, and its members usually have high medicinal value. The genus consists of approximately 75 species and mainly grows in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring in every continent except Antarctica. The taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of Rorippa
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The genus Rorippa belongs to the family Brassicaceae, and its members usually have high medicinal value. The genus consists of approximately 75 species and mainly grows in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring in every continent except Antarctica. The taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of Rorippa are still unsettled, largely due to complex morphological variations in Rorippa, which were caused by frequent hybridization events. Here, we sequenced four complete plastid genomes of Rorippa species by Illumina paired-end sequencing. The four new plastid genomes of Rorippa ranged in total size from 154,671 bp for R. palustris to 154,894 bp for R. sylvestris. There are 130 genes in the four plastomes, embodying 8 rRNA, 37 tRNA, and 85 protein-coding genes. Combining with six published plastid genomes, we carried on comparative and phylogenetic analyses. We found that the ten Rorippa plastid genomes were conservative in gene number and order, total size, genomic structure, codon usage, long repeat sequence, and SSR. Fourteen mutational hotspot regions could be selected as candidate DNA barcoding to distinguish Rorippa plants. The phylogenetic trees clearly identified that ten Rorippa species displayed monophyletic relationships within the tribe Cardamineae based on plastomes and nrDNA ITS sequences. However, there are significant cytonuclear discordances in the interspecific relationships within Rorippa, as well as the intergeneric relationships between Rorippa and its related genera. We inferred that the cytonuclear discordance is most likely a result of interspecific hybridization within Rorippa, as well as intergeneric hybridization with its related genera. These plastid genomes can offer precious information for studies of species authentication, evolutionary history, and the phylogeny of Rorippa.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recognition and Utilization of Natural Genetic Resources for Advances in Plant Biology through Genomics and Biotechnology Volume II)
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Agronomic Biofortification of Fodder Maize (Zea mays L.) with Zn for Improving Herbage Productivity and Its Quality
by
Balwinder Kumar, Hari Ram and Jeff Schoenau
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 912; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050912 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Zinc (Zn) deficiency in soils not only reduces the productivity of forage crops, but also results in inadequate dietary zinc intake for livestock. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different rates and methods of applying ZnSO4 to
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Zinc (Zn) deficiency in soils not only reduces the productivity of forage crops, but also results in inadequate dietary zinc intake for livestock. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different rates and methods of applying ZnSO4 to both soil and foliage on the yield and quality of fodder maize grown in a sandy loam soil testing low in DTPA-extractable Zn. A 2-year field experiment was conducted with six treatments including control, foliar application of 0.3% ZnSO4 at 30 days after sowing (DAS) (F1), foliar application of 0.3% ZnSO4 at 30 and 40 DAS (F2), soil application of 16 kg ha−1 ZnSO4 (S16) and a combination of both soil and foliar ZnSO4 application (S16 + F1 and S16 + F2). Increase in green herbage yield by 25%, dry matter yield by 47% and Zn content by 79% was observed under S16 + F2 treatment over the control. Zinc application improved N, K, Cu and crude protein content of herbage significantly over the control. Thus, the study shows that significant improvement in growth parameters, herbage yield and quality of maize can be achieved with soil Zn application + two foliar sprays of ZnSO4 at 30 and 40 DAS, thereby ensuring availability of improved fodder Zn to the livestock.
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(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
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Open AccessArticle
Transcriptome Analysis and Validation of Anthracnose Resistance Genes in Walnut Varieties
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Xiuzhen Li, Yuman Wang, Long Zhao, Wenxuan Ding, Sudan Chen, Xueqiang Li and Peijie Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 911; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050911 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Anthracnose is extremely detrimental to walnut production, because it seriously affects its yield. Therefore, this study aimed to identify anthracnose resistance genes in walnuts, to lay the foundation for cultivating novel anthracnose-resistant walnut varieties. In this study, the fruits of walnut varieties “Qinyou
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Anthracnose is extremely detrimental to walnut production, because it seriously affects its yield. Therefore, this study aimed to identify anthracnose resistance genes in walnuts, to lay the foundation for cultivating novel anthracnose-resistant walnut varieties. In this study, the fruits of walnut varieties “Qinyou 1” and “Qinyou 2”, exhibiting relatively weak resistance to anthracnose, were used for transcriptome sequencing and identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Thereafter, we used a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to verify the reliability of the transcriptome data using the walnut varieties Qinyou 1, Qinyou 2, Qinyou 3, Liaohe 1, and Diamond 1. We identified 6326 DEGs post-infection in Qinyou 1, of which 3065 were upregulated and 3261 were downregulated. We also found 2055 DEGs (969 upregulated and 1086 downregulated genes) in the two varieties, after 6 days of anthracnose infection. Based on GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of the transcriptome data, we noted that the DEGs were primarily involved in metabolic processes, cell composition, cell structure, catalytic activity, and binding activity. Furthermore, KEGG functional enrichment analysis showed that the amino acid biosynthesis pathway and plant–pathogen interaction may be activated under anthracnose infection. We also noted that the expression levels of anthracnose resistance genes in different walnut varieties were significantly different. Thus, the findings of this study provide important genetic resources and molecular markers for the cultivation of novel anthracnose-resistant walnut varieties.
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(This article belongs to the Section Crop Breeding and Genetics)
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Detection of Gannan Navel Orange Ripeness in Natural Environment Based on YOLOv5-NMM
by
Binbin Zhou, Kaijun Wu and Ming Chen
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 910; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050910 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
In order to achieve fast and accurate detection of Gannan navel orange fruits with different ripeness levels in a natural environment under all-weather scenarios and then to realise automated harvesting of Gannan navel oranges, this paper proposes a YOLOv5-NMM (YOLOv5 with Navel orange
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In order to achieve fast and accurate detection of Gannan navel orange fruits with different ripeness levels in a natural environment under all-weather scenarios and then to realise automated harvesting of Gannan navel oranges, this paper proposes a YOLOv5-NMM (YOLOv5 with Navel orange Measure Model) object detection model based on the improvement in the original YOLOv5 model. Based on the changes in the phenotypic characteristics of navel oranges and the Chinese national standard GB/T 21488-2008, the maturity of Gannan navel oranges is tested. And it addresses and improves the problems of occlusion, dense distribution, small target size, rainy days, and light changes in the detection of navel orange fruits. Firstly, a new detection head of 160 × 160 feature maps is constructed in the detection layer to improve the multi-scale target detection layer of YOLOv5 and to increase the detection accuracy of the different maturity levels of Gannan navel oranges of small sizes. Secondly, a convolutional block attention module is incorporated in its backbone layer to capture the correlations between features in different dimensions to improve the perceptual ability of the model. Then, the weighted bidirectional feature pyramid network structure is integrated into the Neck layer to improve the fusion efficiency of the network on the feature maps and reduce the amount of computation. Lastly, in order to reduce the loss of the target of the Gannan Navel Orange due to occlusion and overlapping, the detection frame is used to remove redundancy using the Soft-NMS algorithm to remove redundant candidate frames. The results show that the accuracy rate, recall rate, and average accuracy of the improved YOLOv5-NMM model are 93.2%, 89.6%, and 94.2%, respectively, and the number of parameters is only 7.2 M. Compared with the mainstream network models, such as Faster R-CNN, YOLOv3, the original model of YOLOv5, and YOLOv7-tiny, it is superior in terms of the accuracy rate, recall rate, and average accuracy mean, and also performs well in terms of the detection rate and memory occupation. This study shows that the YOLOv5-NMM model can effectively identify and detect the ripeness of Gannan navel oranges in natural environments, which provides an effective exploration of the automated harvesting of Gannan navel orange fruits.
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(This article belongs to the Section Precision and Digital Agriculture)
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Open AccessEditorial
Introduction to Special Issue on “The System of Rice Intensification (SRI)—Contributions to Agricultural Sustainability”
by
Norman Uphoff
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 909; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050909 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
The ideas and methods that constitute the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) were first synthesized in Madagascar by Henri de Laulanié in the early 1980s [...]
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) Contributions to Agricultural Sustainability-II)
Open AccessArticle
Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of Plasma Membrane H+-ATPases Associated with Waterlogging in Prunus persica (L.) Batsch
by
Yuyan Zhang, Qinsi Mao, Xin Guo, Ruijuan Ma, Mingliang Yu, Jianlan Xu and Shaolei Guo
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 908; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050908 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Plant plasma membrane H+-ATPase is a transport protein that is generally located on the plasma membrane and generates energy by hydrolyzing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to pump hydrogen ions (H+) in the cytoplasm out of the cell against a concentration
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Plant plasma membrane H+-ATPase is a transport protein that is generally located on the plasma membrane and generates energy by hydrolyzing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to pump hydrogen ions (H+) in the cytoplasm out of the cell against a concentration gradient. The plasma membrane H+-ATPases in plants are encoded by a multigene family and potentially play a fundamental role in regulating plant responses to various abiotic stresses, thus contributing to plant adaptation under adverse conditions. To understand the characteristics of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase family in peach (Prunus persica), this study analyzed the plasma membrane H+-ATPase family genes in peach. The results showed that there were 27 members of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase family in peach with amino acid sequences ranging from 943 to 1327. Subcellular localization showed that 23 of the 27 members were located on the cell membrane, and the phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that peach plasma membrane H+-ATPase members were divided into five groups. There were four genes with tandem repeat relationships, and six plasma membrane H+-ATPase genes were differentially expressed after 5 days of flooding and under non-flooding conditions based on the RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analyses. This study also investigated the characteristics and possible functions of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase family members in peach. The results provide theoretical support for further studies on their biological functions in peach.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop and Vegetable Physiology under Environmental Stresses)
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Open AccessArticle
Eastern Gamagrass Responds Inconsistently to Nitrogen Application in Long-Established Stands and within Diverse Ecotypes
by
James R. Kiniry, Amber S. Williams, Jacqueline Jacot, Sumin Kim and Merilynn C. Schantz
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 907; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050907 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) is a highly productive, highly palatable native grass tolerant to both drought and flooding. It has frequently shown great response to nitrogen (N) applications, but the responses of southern native ecotypes in upland and bottomland sites have
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Eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) is a highly productive, highly palatable native grass tolerant to both drought and flooding. It has frequently shown great response to nitrogen (N) applications, but the responses of southern native ecotypes in upland and bottomland sites have yet to be reported. The objectives were to measure the responses of long-established eastern gamagrass with different N application rates in two bottomland hay pastures and two upland grazed sites, and to measure the N responses for six diverse ecotypes in a common garden. A randomized block design was used with ecotype as the main block and fertilizer rate as the subplot. In the long-established sites, 75 N peak yields were not statistically different to those of 0 N, while upland yields across the season were consistently higher for 150 N but varied for the bottomland. The common garden ecotypes had no significant difference in yield between treatments when averaged across years. Roaring Springs showed the most consistent and greatest benefit to additional N, more than doubling the dry weight of the control. All remaining ecotypes, however, had more modest responses. Eastern gamagrass responds inconsistently to applications of 75 N, whereas most applications of 150 N generally result in higher yield, though significant increases are not guaranteed.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Response of Grassland Ecosystem to Nutrient Additions)
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Evaluation of the Best Management Practices for Reducing Phosphorus Load in a Watershed in Terms of Cost and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
by
Dae Seong Jeong, Joon Ha Kim, Jin Hwi Kim and Yongeun Park
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 906; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050906 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Effective management of water quality in watersheds is crucial because it is directly linked to the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems. In conventional watershed management, best management practices (BMPs) have been instrumental in addressing deteriorating water quality issues caused by non-point source pollution. Greenhouse
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Effective management of water quality in watersheds is crucial because it is directly linked to the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems. In conventional watershed management, best management practices (BMPs) have been instrumental in addressing deteriorating water quality issues caused by non-point source pollution. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have emerged as a global concern, necessitating immediate and diverse environmental actions to mitigate their impacts. This study aims to explore BMPs that maximize total phosphorus (TP) load removal efficiencies, while minimizing costs and GHG emissions within watersheds, using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm III (NSGA-III). The Yeongsan River Watershed between 2012 and 2021 was selected as the study area. Hydrological and BMP data were analyzed. Applying identical BMPs to the watershed showed that the BMPs with high TP removal efficiency may not be effective in terms of cost and GHG emissions. Therefore, the optimal combination of BMPs for the Yeongsan River Watershed was determined using NSGA-III considering TP removal efficiency, cost, and GHG emissions. This study is the first to consider GHG emissions at the watershed level when applying BMPs and is expected to contribute to the development of BMP implementation incorporating GHG emissions.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Net-Zero Emissions for Sustainable Food Production and Land Management)
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Open AccessCommunication
Comparative Analysis of Biodegradable Mulches on Soil Bacterial Community and Pepper Cultivation
by
Tuo Jin, Lin Li, Kewei Peng, Wei Li, Decai Jin, Wu Chen and Jianwei Peng
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 905; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050905 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Biodegradable mulch films (BMFs) are becoming increasingly popular in agricultural practices. However, research on the ecological impact of biodegradable mulch films on pepper–soil systems is still scarce. To compare the differential effects of BMFs and polyethylene (PE) mulch on soil chemical properties, soil
[...] Read more.
Biodegradable mulch films (BMFs) are becoming increasingly popular in agricultural practices. However, research on the ecological impact of biodegradable mulch films on pepper–soil systems is still scarce. To compare the differential effects of BMFs and polyethylene (PE) mulch on soil chemical properties, soil bacterial community composition, and pepper cultivation, a study was conducted encompassing eight distinct treatments. These treatments included three varieties of polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) combined with polylactic acid (PLA) mulches: PP-JL, PP-SD, and PP-SH; a black polypropylene carbonate mulch (PPC-BK); a brown PPC mulch (PPC-BR); a polyethylene (PE) mulch; straw mulching (NCK); and an uncovered control (PCK). After applying mulches for 129 days, most PPC and PBAT + PLA films had reached the rupture phase, whereas the PE film was still in the induction phase. Pepper yield was obviously higher in all mulched treatments (4830 kg hm−1) than in the un-mulched control (3290 kg hm−1), especially the BMF PP-JL treatment, which showed the most notable improvements in yield. Although BMF treatments maintained a lower soil temperature than the PE film mulch, they were still higher than the un-mulched control. Furthermore, the soil bacterial community composition and ecological network were not markedly affected by different mulching conditions. However, the PP-SH treatment significantly increased the abundance of Pseudomonas, Nitrosomonas, and Streptomyces genera. Moreover, Lactobacillus and Gp16 were substantially more abundant in the PPC-black (BK) and PPC-brown (BR) treatments compared to the PE mulching treatment. This study could provide valuable insights into the ecological benefits of BMFs in pepper cultivation. However, as our experiments were conducted for only one season, it is imperative to undertake long-term experiments across consecutive seasons and years for a thorough understanding and comprehensive study.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Mulching on Crop Production and Farmland Environment)
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Compatibility of Native Strains of Beauveria peruviensis and Metarhizium sp. as Strategy for Biological Control of Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei, Ferrari)
by
Manuel Oliva-Cruz, Jeisy M. Servan Bardales, Santos Triunfo Leiva-Espinoza, Carlos Oliva-Cruz, Lizette Daniana Mendez-Fasabi and Lily Juarez-Contreras
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 904; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050904 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024
Abstract
Coffee is a crop of global importance, and it is especially important in countries such as Peru. However, the presence of the pest Hypothenemus hampei represents a significant challenge with a notable economic impact. This study addresses this challenge using entomopathogenic fungi such
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Coffee is a crop of global importance, and it is especially important in countries such as Peru. However, the presence of the pest Hypothenemus hampei represents a significant challenge with a notable economic impact. This study addresses this challenge using entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria peruviensis and Metarhizium sp. The compatibility of three strains of Beauveria peruviensis (F5, P19, and P4) and seven strains of Metarhizium sp. (MMR-M1, LLM-M2, MHR-M4, PMR-M12, MMR-M15, TOR-M16, and GOR-M18) was evaluated for approximately 2 months. A total of 14 treatments were designed, each consisting of one strain of B. peruviensis and one strain of Metarhizium sp. The Skott–Knott test (p ≤ 0.05) revealed that strain LLM-M2 (Metarhizium sp. strain) had the highest conidial production (3.75 × 107 conidia/mL). Except for T6 (MMR-M1/F5), which showed a mutual growth type interaction (type A), all other strain combinations showed a type B interaction (mutual inhibition by contact or separation between colony margins (<2 mm)). The combination with the highest germination rate was T10 (MHR-M4/F5) at 89%. In addition, the pathogenicity of the combined strains was evaluated, showing a direct correlation with mortality and mycosis development in the coffee berry borer in treatments T1 (PMR-M12/P19), T10 (MHR-M4/F5), and T11 (MMR-M15/P19), reaching 100% mortality at 72 h with grade 4 mycosis. Regarding mycelial growth, treatments T1 (PMR-M12/P19), T4 (MMR-M1/P19), and T12 (GOR-M18/P19) reached the highest percentages, between 85.8% and 83.10% at 240 h. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using native strains of B. peruviensis and Metarhizium sp. as a biocontrol strategy against the coffee berry borer in the Amazon department, presenting them as an alternative to traditional chemical methods.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Pest and Disease Management)
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