Article
Agronomy
Thomas C. Sparks, Robert J. Bryant
Summary: Natural products (NPs) have been a significant source and inspiration for developing novel crop protection compounds, with NPs, their derivatives, and compounds inspired by NPs accounting for 17% of all crop protection compounds. The impact of NPs on the discovery of new modes of action and innovation in crop protection compounds has been consistent over the past 70 years. NPs have had the largest impact on insecticides compared to fungicides and herbicides.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhandong Cai, Peiqi Xian, Yanbo Cheng, Yuan Yang, Yakun Zhang, Zihang He, Chuwen Xiong, Zhibin Guo, Zhicheng Chen, Huiqian Jiang, Qibin Ma, Hai Nian, Liangfa Ge
Summary: In this study, the researchers identified the GmFATA1B gene as the gene responsible for regulating seed oil content and composition in soybean. They found that nine extra amino acids in the conserved region of GmFATA1B impair its function, leading to changes in seed oil content and composition. By overexpressing the functional GmFATA1B gene in Arabidopsis thaliana, they were able to increase the total oil content and the content of oleic acid and linoleic acid in seeds. This research uncovers a previously unknown locus underlying variation in seed oil content in soybean and provides a foundation for improving seed oil content and composition in soybean.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Maxence Gerard, Emily Baird, Tom Breeze, Christophe Dominik, Denis Michez
Summary: In the context of rapid global change, understanding the impact of environmental stressors on phenotypic variation is crucial. This study assessed the effects of environmental drivers and agricultural intensification on two important pollinator species. The results showed that phenotypic traits can shift in a short period of time after exposure to new field conditions. Latitude and grassland cover were found to partially explain the wing modifications.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Hem Bahadur Katuwal, Jeevan Rai, Kyle Tomlinson, Bhagawat Rimal, Hari Prasad Sharma, Hem Sagar Baral, Alice C. Hughes, Rui-Chang Quan
Summary: Farmland birds are declining globally due to anthropogenic activities, with particularly few studies in Asian agricultural landscapes. This study examines the effects of seasonal variation, cropping practice, crop type, landscape heterogeneity, and the number of houses and trees on farmland bird richness and abundance in lowland Nepal.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Berengere Decouard, Marlene Bailly, Martine Rigault, Anne Marmagne, Mustapha Arkoun, Fabienne Soulay, Jose Caius, Christine Paysant-Le Roux, Said Louahlia, Cedric Jacquard, Qassim Esmaeel, Fabien Chardon, Celine Masclaux-Daubresse, Alia Dellagi
Summary: Due to its genetic diversity and resilience, barley is valuable for agroecological transition and reducing nitrogen fertilizer inputs. Studying the diversity of a North African barley collection under limited or ample nitrogen supply, as well as physiological traits, provides important insights into its response to nitrogen limitation during early developmental stages.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Giovanni Tamburini, Ilaria Laterza, Davide Nardi, Alberto Mele, Nicola Mori, Massimiliano Pasini, Davide Scaccini, Alberto Pozzebon, Lorenzo Marini
Summary: The brown marmorated stink bug, a highly polyphagous and invasive species, is a serious pest in fruit orchards worldwide. This study found that landscapes with more semi-natural habitats and vineyards, and fewer annual crops, had higher abundance of stink bug juveniles. The composition of agricultural landscapes plays a key role in the dynamics of this pest in agroecosystems.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Georgia C. Eizenga, HyunJung Kim, Janelle K. H. Jung, Anthony J. Greenberg, Jeremy D. Edwards, Maria Elizabeth B. Naredo, Maria Celeste N. Banaticla-Hilario, Sandra E. Harrington, Yuxin Shi, Jennifer A. Kimball, Lisa A. Harper, Kenneth L. McNally, Susan R. McCouch
Summary: Crop wild relatives, such as the Oryza rufipogon species complex, serve as valuable genetic resources for breeding. This study focused on genotype-by-sequencing and phenotypic characterization of 240 diverse ORSC accessions, identifying core groups suitable for domestication studies. The research also highlighted the potential of a subset of accessions with high O. sativa admixture as a pre-breeding pool for introducing novel variation into elite breeding lines.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Zheng Cai, Min Li, Fan Zhang, You-Zhi Li, Wan-Ting Ye, Xian-Wei Fan
Summary: This study investigates the influence of lignin variation on starch accumulation, composition, and processing properties in cassava storage roots. It is found that lignin content is negatively correlated with starch content and composition, as well as affecting the pasting properties of cassava. Raman spectroscopy is shown to be a useful tool for lignin detection in cassava. Overall, lignin content has a negative impact on starch formation, composition, and pasting profiles in cassava.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Xiaolin Yang, Xinnan Jin, Qingquan Chu, Steven Pacenka, Tammo S. Steenhuis
Summary: This study examined the trends and spatial distributions of cotton evapotranspiration and irrigation requirements in the North China Plain using historical climate data. The results showed a significant decrease in cotton evapotranspiration over the past five decades, with changes in effective rainfall and irrigation demands. Irrigation contributed 25% of cotton evapotranspiration, highlighting the impact of climate change on water requirements for cotton irrigation scheduling.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Hisashi Kato-Noguchi
Summary: Pueraria montana var. lobata, originally from East Asia, has been introduced to many countries but unfortunately became a harmful weed species. It threatens the native flora and fauna, affects the concentration of carbon and nitrogen, and increases pollutants in the atmosphere. Its fast growth, thick canopy structure, and adaptability contribute to its invasiveness. This review article focuses on the invasive mechanisms of P. montana and its defense functions against natural enemies and pathogens.
Article
Optics
Atul Kumar
Summary: A comparative performance analysis of selenium composition variation was conducted in Cu2ZnSn(SXSe1-X)(4), obtaining optimal stoichiometry for highest efficiency. Selenium substitution enhances chalcogenide opto-electronic properties and improves device performance, resulting in higher efficiency for CZTSSe devices compared to pure sulphide CZTS devices.
Article
Agronomy
Saliya Gurusinghe, K. M. Shamsul Haque, Paul A. Weston, William B. Brown, Leslie A. Weston
Summary: The use of competitive crops in successional rotations has been shown to reduce the growth and establishment of annual weeds by depleting the weed seedbank. Rotational treatments, such as dual-purpose cereals or a canola break-crop along with cereals, were effective in suppressing weed propagule numbers. Rotational selection is an important and cost-effective tool in integrated weed management systems when applied over multiple growing seasons.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nishan Bhattarai, Adrienne Pollack, David B. Lobell, Ram Fishman, Balwinder Singh, Aaditya Dar, Meha Jain
Summary: India relies on groundwater irrigation to produce staple grain crops, but overexploitation of aquifers has negative impacts on crop production, especially for wheat, rice, and maize in the winter season. Eliminating energy subsidies for groundwater pumping may not change farmers' crop choice, but could encourage the adoption of increased water conservation efforts.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Sofia Stirling, Juan E. Diaz, Jose L. Repetto, Marcelo Pla, Jose M. Arroyo, Cecilia Cajarville
Summary: The growth stage significantly influences the chemical composition, silage fermentation quality, and in situ ruminal degradability of whole-crop oat. As maturity advances, crop yield increases while crude protein and water-soluble carbohydrates content decrease.
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Rajan Shrestha, Curtis B. Adams, Waltram Ravelombola, Jennifer MacMillan, Calvin Trostle, Srinivasulu Ale, Philip Hinson
Summary: The study found that different guar genotypes have varying nodule numbers and nodule masses, with nodule mass being correlated with plant nitrogen content and most biomass parameters. Stem diameter may serve as an indirect, high-throughput selection trait for increased nodulation, and branch number and stem diameter, important agronomic traits, exhibit wide phenotypic variability and high heritability.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2021)