Zinc deficiency is major constraint in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) production, affecting crop yields and nutritional quality. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of diverse zinc application strategies on productivity, seed quality, profitability, and zinc use efficiency of diverse lentil genotypes. Factorial experiment was conducted in pot and field settings to evaluate 18 treatment combinations, comprised three lentil genotypes (BARI Masur-3, BARI Masur-5, BARI Masur-8) and six zinc application strategies (soil, foliar, seed priming and their combinations). Treatment T4 (50
Orchids, one of the most diverse and ecologically important plant families, form complex associations with endophytic microorganisms that are vital for their survival, growth, and adaptation. These endophytes, including both fungi and bacteria, inhabit orchid tissues without causing harm and contribute to key physiological processes such as nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance, and disease resistance. This review explores the diversity and ecological roles of orchid-associated endophytes, emphasizing their significance in promoting germination, biomass production, and resilience to environmental stressors. Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) such as Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Burkholderia enhance nutrient uptake and plant defense, offering eco-friendly alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Beyond ecological functions, endophytes show potential in biotechnology for sustainable agriculture, conservation, and novel bioactive compound discovery. Despite advances in molecular tools like metagenomics and next-generation sequencing, challenges persist in fully understanding and utilizing these microbes. This review highlights the need for multidisciplinary collaboration to optimize microbial inoculants, elucidate symbiotic mechanisms, and develop practical applications for conservation and sustainable horticulture. By integrating fundamental research with applied strategies, this work aims to unlock the full potential of orchid-associated endophytes in ecological and commercial domains.
Despite all the efforts made to achieve self-sufficiency in wheat, it has become clear that there are difficulties that have hindered this over the years. In Egypt during the time period (2010-2023), and the future situation until the year 2030, the research used the descriptive and quantitative analysis method, to identify the expected future scenarios for the wheat self-sufficiency rate until the year 2030, and the most prominent research results were: It was revealed from the study of variables related to and influencing The apparent gap in wheat in Egypt, and consequently in the self-sufficiency rate, the most important of which is production and national consumption of the crop, shows that national consumption increases at a growth rate greater than its counterpart in total production, as the average difference of this difference was about 3.98% annually, and thus the annual difference during the study period was about 388 thousand tons. It is expected that there will be a gap of about 14.59 million tons in 2030, and the self-sufficiency rate of wheat in Egypt will reach about 45.96%. The research recommends constantly reconsidering the supply price because of its effects on the self-sufficiency rate, as setting a remunerative indicative price for the farmer before planting the crop will encourage farmers to grow wheat, considering the competition of other wheat crops at the same time of planting, such as beets, clover.
In August 2022, outbreaks of apple fruit rot occurred in orchards flooded by heavy rainfall in Aomori, Japan. An isolate of Phytophthora taken from diseased apple tissue was identified as P. pseudocitrophthora based on morphology and DNA sequences of 12 loci. This isolate formed radiate mycelia, grew at 10–35 °C on potato dextrose agar, and produced papillate or semipapillate sporangia on V8A in the soil extract. In the pathogenicity tests, inoculation of unwounded apple fruits with a zoospore suspension caused rot within 3 days. We propose that P. pseudocitrophthora is a novel causal agent of Phytophthora fruit rot on apples.
This study evaluates the impact of a decision support system (DSS) on the sustainability of potato production in Cyprus. Field experiments were conducted over three consecutive years (2022–2024), comparing conventional farming with smart farming (SF) guided by the DSS. Thirteen sustainability indicators were assessed, revealing clear trade-offs between input-use efficiency and yield stability. While SF significantly reduced input use—fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation water, and labor—average yields declined by 21%. These results provide new evidence on the environmental and economic implications of SF in high-input farming systems, supporting efforts to promote more sustainable agricultural practices in Cyprus and beyond.
