Conservation tillage is a primary strategy in dryland farming systems, that can significantly improve water productivity in dryland crops. However, the mechanism of conservation tillage drives optimization of root water uptake and evapotranspiration (ET) components to enhance efficient water utilization is unclear. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was carried out with spring wheat based on a long-term conservation tillage experiment in a semiarid region of Northwestern China to determine root water uptake, quantify evaporation and transpiration, and assess their relationship with yield and water use efficiency (WUE) under different tillage and straw management practices. The treatments were conventional tillage (CT), no tillage with no straw returning (NT), conventional tillage with straw returning (CTS), and no tillage with straw returning (NTS). Stable oxygen isotope (18O) analysis was used to determine root water uptake, evaporation (E) and transpiration (T). The results showed that wheat root absorbed water from greater depths as the growth stages advanced, and water was absorbed from deeper in the soil profile under NTS than other treatments. Transpiration changed greatly as the growth period advanced, with an initial increase, before then decreasing. The maximum transpiration occurred at jointing stage to flowering stage. Compared with CT, NTS, CTS, and NT decreased evaporation (E) and significantly increased transpiration (T) by 21.7%, 13.9%, and 7.2% in two growing seasons, respectively. Therefore, the transpiration to evapotranspiration ratio (T/ET) under NTS, CTS, and NT were 24.7%, 17.0%, and 11.1% higher than CT in two growing seasons, respectively. Our findings demonstrate that conservation tillage not only enhances root water uptake from deeper soil but also optimizes ET components by enhancing T while reducing E, thereby improving WUE in wheat. The integration of no-tillage with straw returning under NTS produced a synergistic effect that further optimized root water uptake and ET components, resulting in the greatest enhancements in both grain yield and WUE. Elucidation of this underlying physical mechanism advances the understanding of efficient water utilization in wheat under conservation tillage, thus providing insights for selecting appropriate conservation tillage in semiarid regions.
‘Pungnong’ is a medium-maturing potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivar developed for single-cropping cultivation. It was bred from a cross between the U.S. cultivar ‘Atlantic’ and the Korean cultivar ‘Gumseo’ in 2007. Superior progenies were selected via generational advancement between 2008 and 2010. The line ‘GWP08-011’ was selected based on stable yield and desirable tuber characteristics in preliminary and advanced yield trials performed during 2011-2012. Regional adaptability trials were conducted at three locations from 2013 to 2015 under the designation ‘Gangwon 1-20’. ‘Pungnong’ produces long-oval tubers with slightly russeted yellow skin, white flesh, and very shallow eyes, leading to excellent tuber appearance. Compared with the standard cultivar ‘Superior’, it exhibited a lower incidence of physiological disorders, whereas its reactions to late blight and potato virus Y were similar. The mean tuber yield was 44.7 t ha-1, exceeding that of ‘Superior’ (34.3 t ha-1). Although ‘Pungnong’ has excellent tuber bulking and high yield potential, adequate pre-sprouting under diffused light and proper drainage management are recommended to ensure uniform emergence and stable production. After a growing test by the Korea Seed and Variety Service, the potato variety was registered for variety protection in January 2018 (Variety Protection No. 6923).
‘Saekso 4’ is a high-yielding, anthocyanin-rich purple corn variety developed by the Gangwon State Agricultural Research and Extension Services for health functional food and processing materials. It was registered for variety protection in 2022. It is bred by crossing the inbred lines ‘HA7’ and ‘HA8’. ‘Saekso 4’ has a silking date of 71 days (2 days earlier than that of ‘Saekso 2’) and exhibits strong lodging resistance with an ear length of 18.6 cm. The grain is a bluish-black semi-flint with purple husks and cobs, making it highly suitable for biomaterial extraction. Notably, its grain yield reaches 832 kg/10a, a 49% increase compared with that of ‘Saekso 2’, exhibiting exceptional high-yielding capacity. Its grain anthocyanin content (170 mg/100 g) and absolute pigment yield were lower than those of ‘Saekso 2’. However, its superior overall productivity ensures a more reliable and consistent material supply for the bio-industry. Adapted to the Gangwon region, this F1 hybrid needs annual seed renewal and proper drainage management to prevent moisture damage. The dissemination of ‘Saekso 4’ is expected to markedly contribute to establishing a stable supply system for domestic green bio-materials and enhancing the incomes of farmers (Registration No. 8985).
AIMS:This study investigated the insecticidal activity of cell-free supernatants (CFS) from 36 Xenorhabdus bacterial strains that produce various compounds that protect insect cadavers from competing organisms. METHODS AND RESULTS:The CFS were tested on Myzus persicae aphids by determining the number of live and dead individuals on the treated leaves over 5 days. The results showed considerable variability in the effects of the different bacterial strains, but CFS from many bacterial strains significantly increased aphid mortality. The strongest insecticidal effects were observed with X. bovienii (strains JAKUT, JAKUBSF, PARIS4), X. budapestensis (CHIN), X. khoisanae (SGI197, NGWA7), X. nematophila (EGY4, EGY2), X. poinarii (FL10.2), and P. luminescens (09.43). For some of these strains, the effect remained detectable even after 75% and 50% dilution, albeit at a lower intensity. Other CFS were less effective in killing aphids, but some of them appeared to inhibit the development of aphids, resulting in lower population increase. CONCLUSION:CFS from certain Xenorhabdus strains show strong insecticidal activity against M. persicae, emphasizing their potential as bio-based pesticides.
Late blight (Phytophthora infestans) is a major disease in potato cultivation, managed primarily with synthetic fungicides. This reliance makes potatoes one of the crops with the highest fungicide load. To reduce chemical dependence and promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM), alternative solutions are needed. This study explores biological control agents (BCAs) and plant resistance inducers (PRIs) as sustainable alternatives. We screened 17 BCAs and 3 PRIs in a detached leaf assay (DLA) and selected the most effective for further trials. The chosen BCAs — Polyversum (Pythium oligandrum), Nvs 2 (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens), TC 4 (Trichoderma atroviride), TC 6 (T. harzianum)—and the PRI ChiProPlant (Chitosan hydrochloride) were tested in greenhouse and field trials across five European countries. In greenhouse trials, ChiProPlant and T. atroviride significantly controlled late blight. Dosage did not affect the efficacy of the BCAs and PRI, but application timing was crucial. Treatments applied 1 and 5 days before inoculation were most effective, while post-inoculation treatments were least effective. Field trials showed that weekly applications of ChiProPlant, Polyversum, and Nvs 2 significantly reduced late blight infection. However, none matched the efficacy of synthetic fungicides. This study highlights the potential of BCAs and PRIs in late blight management but underscores the need for further research to optimize their integration into IPM strategies.
