The effect of manual flower thinning on vegetative growth, yield, and fruit quality of rainfed 'EarliGrande' peach (Prunus persica L.) trees was investigated during 2023 and 2024. Thinning improved vegetative growth, the number of flowers per shoot, fruit weight and quality. Heavy thinning led to the highest shoot length, number of leaves, fruit weight, and quality with lower yields compared with the control. Light thinning resulted in the highest number of flowers per metre and the lowest decline in yield compared with the control. Net returns for light and heavy thinning were the highest, reaching 'Egyptian Pounds (EGP)' 837.2 and EGP 853.0 per tree in 2023. In 2024, light thinning achieved the highest net return of EGP 1,594.5 per tree, compared with EGP 1,344.9 and EGP 1,253.8 per tree for heavy thinning and control, respectively. We recommend light thinning for optimal results in rainfed peach.
Small-scale farmers in northeastern India, who raise pigs and cattle, depend on bananas as a crucial feed and fodder source. However, limited accessibility and slow propagation rates hinder the consistent supply of planting material. In this study, macropropagation, a cost-effective and farmer-friendly technique, was employed to produce quality banana plantlets with minimal infrastructure and investment. Twenty-five banana genotypes representing diverse genomic groups (AA, AAA, BB, AAB, ABB, ABBB, and Rhodochlamys) native to the northeastern region were evaluated across seasons. Results revealed that AAA and AAB genomes exhibited superior performance, producing the highest number of buds per corm. Within the AAA group, 'Amrit Sagar' recorded the maximum bud production (29.20), followed by 'Borjahaji' (26.20), 'Manjahaji', and 'Bharat Moni' (26.00 each). Among AAB types, 'Malbhog' (29.40) and 'Cheenichampa' (28.60) performed best. These genotypes also produced the highest number of plantlets per corm, with the rainy season outperforming the summer. The findings demonstrate that the climatic conditions of northeastern India favour macropropagation, ensuring a sustainable supply of planting material of cultivated types and biomass from wild types for livestock feed and fodder. Overall, macropropagation proved highly effective for mass multiplication, with shoot production significantly influenced by variety, genomic composition and season.
Soilless cultivation systems in controlled environment agriculture create varying rootzone oxygen conditions, which can impact biomass production. The present study investigates the effect of mild hypoxia and its effect on shoot biomass production, root anatomy and architecture of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) in ebb-flood, deep-water, and aeroponic systems in a greenhouse. After 4-5 weeks, aeroponically grown plants produced greater shoot biomass than those in the ebb-flood system, although root dry weights did not differ significantly. Using optical coherence tomography (OCT), we non-destructively quantified aerenchyma formation, confirming the suitability of OCT for imaging living root tissues. Aerenchyma developed 14-21 days after transplanting and were more extensive in unaerated deep-water systems than in aerated or aeroponic systems. Ethylene emission 20 days after transplanting did not differ between treatments. Thus, basil shows adaptative responses at mild hypoxia, which can lead to yield losses. This emphasises the need to define rootzone oxygen thresholds.
Grafting is the main propagation method used in avocado (Persea americana Mill.) seedling production, and accurate determination of rootstock maturity is essential for its success. While stem diameter measured at 15 cm above the soil (D15) is traditionally used as the maturity indicator, this study explores indirect traits of plant height (PH) and number of leaves (NL) as potential alternatives. We evaluated 88 plants weekly over 14 weeks, recording PH, NL, and D15. A mixed-effects model was used to assess the relationship between PH and NL with D15, and a logistic regression model was applied to predict grafting readiness (defined as D15 >= 6 mm). Both variables had significant effects on D15 and on the probability of readiness, with PH showing higher statistical precision than NL. Model evaluation was performed through residual analysis for the mixed model and ROC curve assessment for the logistic regression, both confirming satisfactory model fit and supporting the reliability of the resulting inferences. These findings support the use of PH and NL as non-invasive indicators of rootstock maturity, potentially reducing costs and simplifying decision-making in nursery operations.
Orchids are regarded as some of the most attractive ornamental plants owing to their diverse floral morphology and striking colours. The regeneration of orchid plantlets via micropropagation serves as a cutting edge approach for the production of orchid plants in large scale. This study focuses on the effects of chitosan as an elicitor in promoting growth and development of a recalcitrant orchid hybrid (Dendrobium Enopi x Dendrobium Pink Lady). Exogenously applied phytohormones, including 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), displayed no apparent effect in inducing proliferation and organogenesis capacity of in vitro protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) cultures. Optimal fresh weight of PLBs, and qualitatively healthy PLBs were obtained in media supplemented with 0.5 mg/L chitosan and 1.0 mg/L NAA. Chitosan is a useful elicitor with highest PLB fresh weight (0.952 g) in media with 0.5 mg/L of chitosan. Chitosan prevailed over other PGRs with regards to organogenesis induction capacity. At a concentration of 0.25 mg/L, chitosan induced the highest shoot formation rate, with 15.69 and 25.29 shoots per explant being induced at the 60th and 100th day, respectively, and the highest rooting capacity at 83.33%, with 5.15 roots per explant, recorded after 180 days.
Salicornia europaea, a green, salty and crunchy succulent vegetable, turns red during senescence because of betacyanin accumulation. However, eating the reddish S. europaea is challenging because of its stiff texture and excessive saltiness. In this study, we aimed to create a fresh, reddish edible S. europaea strain by promoting a rapid synthesis of betacyanin with light irradiation treatments and inhibiting lignification through early harvesting. The colour changed ten days after light irradiation, and the highest a* value and betacyanin contents were observed at the photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFDs) of 600 and 800 & micro;mol.m(-2).s(-1), without any change in Na content. However, stem firmness increased significantly, with accumulation of lignin at the PPFD of 800 & micro;mol.m(-2).s(-1). Thus, exposure to continuous light at the PPFD of 600 & micro;mol.m(-2).s(-1) for ten days in S. europaea can lead to the development of reddish Salicornia shoots, a novel aesthetically pleasant crop with nutritional benefits.
Commercial strawberry (Fragaria & times; ananassa) is valued for its quality attributes and its antioxidant content; however, its rapid softening and microbial susceptibility limit their postharvest quality. This study evaluated chlorine dioxide (ClO2) spray at 3 and 5 ppm on the postharvest physiology and biochemical properties of 'Monterrey' strawberries over 9 days. The 3 ppm treatment effectively mitigated weight loss, maintaining fruit mass between 35 and 40 g on days 3-7, whereas control fruit decreased to 25-30 g. Soluble solid content remained stable across treatments (7-10 degrees Brix). Fruit dimensions exhibited a positive response, with increases of 10-15% in width and 8-12% in height under 3 ppm ClO2. Significant biochemical changes were also observed in ClO2 treatments: total phenolics rose to approximately 600 mg GAE/100 g FW at 5 ppm, with concomitant increases in flavonoids, anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity (FRAP), which improved by 20-30%. Furthermore, ClO2 treatment modulated alpha-mannosidase and beta-acetylhexosaminidase activities in a concentration- and time-dependent manner during postharvest storage. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that ClO2 spray - particularly at 3-5 ppm - enhances fruit retention, preserves antioxidant potential, and downregulates cell wall-degrading enzymes, offering a cost-effective strategy for improving postharvest quality in commercial strawberries.
Vascular occlusion caused by bacterial proliferation is the primary determinant of postharvest quality deterioration in cut flowers. This study investigated the efficacy of nanosilver pretreatment on the vase performance and stem-end bacterial colony dynamics of cut carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus L. 'Master'). Pretreatment with 75 mg L-1 nanosilver for 24 h significantly enhanced vase performance and extended vase life from 8.4 to 12.1 d. The pretreated flowers also demonstrated higher relative fresh weights and hydraulic conductivity than those in the deionised water control. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy both demonstrated that nanosilver pretreatment effectively suppressed bacterial propagation and biofilm formation at the stem ends. Further observations revealed that nanosilver pretreatment reduced exopolysaccharide deposition and inhibited rapid bacterial biofilm formation within 24 h in vitro. High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing revealed Enterobacter, Lactococcus, and Bacillus as the predominant genera (day 0). During subsequent vase-life stages (4 and 8 d), nanosilver pretreatment inhibited plant pathogenic bacteria, while enriching beneficial bacteria. Additionally, nanosilver pretreatment reduced bacterial abundance during the vase life of cut carnations, and altered their microbial community composition dynamics. These findings elucidate the postharvest bacterial ecology of cut flowers treated with nanosilver and contribute to the development of preservation techniques for cut flowers.
Moringa oleifera, a highly valued medicinal plant, rich in bioactive compounds, has low regeneration efficiency that limits its large-scale production. This study evaluated the potential of CNTs to enhance in-vitro micropropagation and secondary metabolites accumulation in M. oleifera. CNTs were incorporated in different concentrations: 20, 50, 80, 100, 120, and 140 mg/L in Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium to assess their impact on seed germination, callus induction, and regeneration. Among all the treatments, 100 mg/L CNTs produced the most significant improvements, yielding the highest fresh (3.08 +/- 0.005 g) and dry (2.1 +/- 0.001 g) biomass of callus. Furthermore, the callus-derived regenerated plants exhibited the highest shoot number (21.0 +/- 0.41), shoot length (12.33 +/- 1 cm), number of leaves (46.66 +/- 0.57 leaves/plant), number of roots (14 +/- 0.21), and longest root length (9.8 +/- 0.61 cm) on 100 mg/L CNTs. Additionally, CNTs-derived calli extracts were examined for biochemical content and phytohormone levels. Among all the used concentrations, 100 mg/L was the best for maximum content production. These findings show that CNTs have affected the levels of important plant hormones and metabolites. This study represents the first attempt to use CNTs for the micropropagation of Moringa in vitro, and it was found that CNTs can promote the biosynthesis of essential plant metabolites, thereby enhancing plant growth.
