The Texas High Plains (THP) is a major cotton-producing region facing challenges from continuous cotton monoculture, which has increased weed pressure and reduced system sustainability. Over 90% of cotton acreage relies on herbicides, accelerating the evolution of herbicide-resistant weed development. Declining Ogallala Aquifer water levels and erratic rainfall further stress the system, highlighting the need for diversified, drought-resilient cropping systems. Sorghum, known for its drought tolerance and allelopathic properties, offers an effective rotational crop to suppress weeds and improve water-use efficiency. This study evaluated the effects of sorghum–cotton rotation on weed dynamics, crop growth, and yield. A two-year field experiment (2024–2025) was conducted at the Quaker Research Farm, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, using a split-plot design with crop rotations [sorghum–cotton (S–C), sorghum–sorghum (S–S), and cotton–cotton (C–C)] as main plots and weed management treatments (weeded and unweeded) as subplots, with four replications. Results showed that the C–C system had 41% higher weed density and 57% greater early-season biomass than S–C; cotton growth improved in S–C with 17–22% taller plants and 36–90% more biomass compared to cotton monoculture. Under weeded conditions, lint yield increased by 53% and seed yield by 30% compared with cotton monoculture. Under unweeded conditions, yields were 21% to 41% greater in the S–C system due to lower weed density, biomass and reduced competition. Overall, integrating sorghum into cotton-based systems reduced weed pressure, increased cotton plant height and biomass, improved lint and seed yield, and minimized yield losses under limited weed control, supporting more sustainable production in the THP.
Seaweed-derived biostimulants are promising tools for improving crop performance and fruit quality in sustainable horticulture. This study evaluated the effects of foliar application of a liquid Sargassum spp. extract on the commercial quality, nutraceutical attributes, and antioxidant response of melon fruit (Cucumis melo L. cv. ‘Cruiser’). Four extract concentrations (0, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5%, v/v) were applied in a randomized complete block design with six replications. Compared with the control, the 1.5% treatment increased (p ≤ 0.05) fruit firmness (33.5%), total soluble solids (25.4%), flesh thickness (16.5%), and ascorbic acid content (51.2%). Total phenolic and flavonoid contents also increased by 22.9% and 22.4%, respectively (p ≤ 0.05). Antioxidant enzyme activities increased in a concentration-dependent manner (p ≤ 0.05), highlighted by a 207.1% increase in catalase activity at 4.5% with catalase. In contrast, the highest concentration reduced carbohydrate content by 49.3% (p ≤ 0.05), while fruit yield remained unaffected (p > 0.05). Overall, 1.5% provided the best balance between commercial and nutraceutical quality while avoiding the adverse biochemical responses observed at 4.5%. These findings suggest the potential use of Sargassum spp. extract as a biostimulant for sustainable melon production under the conditions of this study.
The genus Agastache comprises aromatic and medicinal plants of increasing interest for the diversification of high-value crops. Among them, Agastache foeniculum (Pursh) Kuntze and Agastache mexicana Lint. et Epling represent two contrasting yet complementary models of multipurpose medicinal and aromatic species. This review critically compares both species with respect to taxonomy, origin, domestication, agronomic performance, phytochemical diversity, biological activities, quality standardization, safety, regulatory status, and industrial applications. Current evidence indicates that A. foeniculum is well adapted to temperate cultivation systems and represents a valuable source of essential oils and polyphenol-rich biomass, whereas A. mexicana offers considerable potential for the development of standardized nutraceutical, cosmetic, and phytopharmaceutical products. Nevertheless, the broader commercialization of both species remains constrained by pronounced chemotype variability, limited multi-site agronomic validation, insufficient clinical evidence, safety concerns associated with certain volatile constituents, and an evolving regulatory framework. The available evidence underscores the need to move beyond descriptive studies toward integrated crop development strategies that combine metabolomics-based chemotype classification, genomic and transcriptomic analyses, breeding for stable and safe phytochemical profiles, polyploidy-assisted improvement, climate-smart cultivation practices, and standardized post-harvest processing. Collectively, these approaches will facilitate the sustainable exploitation of both species and support their transition from promising medicinal and aromatic plants to commercially viable, high-value multipurpose crops for sustainable agriculture.
Salinity is a major constraint on rice production, and reliable screening methods are needed to identify germplasm with favorable responses across different stress levels. This study evaluated seedling-stage salinity responses in 210 rice accessions exposed to 0, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75% NaCl under hydroponic conditions. Total length, shoot length, root length, dry weight, and visual salt-injury score were measured, and accession-specific regression coefficients were calculated to quantify concentration-dependent responses. Increasing NaCl concentrations progressively reduced all growth traits and increased visible injury. At 0.75% NaCl, total length, shoot length, root length, and dry weight decreased by 38.8, 34.3, 49.4, and 43.6%, respectively, relative to the control. Root length showed the greatest proportional reduction among the growth traits. The mean regression coefficients were −2.48 for total length, −2.03 for shoot length, −2.84 for root length, −2.31 for dry weight, and 3.25 for salt-injury score, revealing substantial variation among accessions. Principal component analysis of the five response coefficients retained two principal components that together explained 66.20% of the total variation. PC1 mainly represented overall growth maintenance, whereas PC2 reflected root-growth maintenance and slower progression of visible injury. Hierarchical clustering of PC1 and PC2 scores produced an exploratory three-group classification consisting of 29 relatively sensitive, 107 intermediate-response, and 74 relatively tolerant accessions. Although internal validation favored a broader two-group structure, the three-group solution was useful for describing contrasting multivariate response profiles. The reference accessions IR29 and Pokkali were assigned to the relatively sensitive and relatively tolerant groups, respectively. Several additional accessions from diverse origins and genetic backgrounds were included in the relatively tolerant group. These accessions should be regarded as putative seedling-stage salt-tolerance candidates requiring further physiological, reproductive-stage, and field validation. Overall, the combined use of regression analysis, principal component analysis, and hierarchical clustering provided a practical framework for characterizing salinity-response variation in a large rice germplasm panel.
This study evaluated the long-term effects of soil tillage systems on weed dynamics and maize (Zea mays L.) yield in the Transylvanian Plain, Romania, over an eight-year period (2018–2025). A long-term field experiment was established under a split-plot design with four tillage systems: conventional tillage (CS), minimum tillage with chisel (MTC), minimum tillage with disk (MTD) and no-tillage (NT). Results indicated that reduced soil disturbance significantly increased total weed density, with a clear shift in community structure toward perennial species under conservation tillage systems. Weed infestation ranged from 8 to 9 plants m−2 in CS to 18–25 plants m−2 in NT. Maize yield showed a progressive decline with decreasing tillage intensity, from 7283 kg ha−1 in CS to 4725 kg ha−1 in NT. ANOVA results confirmed highly significant effects of tillage system (F = 2451.15; p < 0.001) and year (F = 79.62; p < 0.001), as well as a significant tillage × year interaction (F = 2.15; p < 0.05), indicating temporal variability in treatment responses under changing climatic conditions. Under the specific pedoclimatic conditions of the Transylvanian Plain, reduced tillage systems showed lower maize productivity compared with conventional tillage, indicating that the balance between soil conservation and yield performance depends on local environmental and management conditions.
This study investigated the vigor and molecular responses of soybean (Glycine max) seedlings belonging to cultivars from various maturity groups under simulated abiotic stress. Seeds and seedlings were subjected to varying concentrations of NaCl (150-300 mM) and PEG-6000 (20-30%), during long-term (12 days) and short-term (72 h) treatments, to evaluate the impact of salinity and drought on seedling viability and gene expression. Molecular analysis via qRT-PCR focused on the transcriptional profiles of the auxin transmembrane influx carrier LAX6, the vacuolar pyrophosphatase H+-PP-ase, and the stress protein kinase StrK2. The data indicated a dose-dependent correlation between stress intensity and developmental inhibition; increased concentrations of stress agents generally resulted in delayed germination and reduced survival rates. Certain soybean genotypes exhibited a robust transcriptional response, characterized by a several-fold increase in the expression of all studied genes following stress induction. These findings suggest that soybean abiotic stress responses may be influenced by a complex interaction between stress severity, exposure duration, genotype specificity and the maturity group.
This study investigated the epidemiology and incidence of citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) disease in citron (Citrus medica L.) under varying field conditions. This research specifically aimed to quantify disease severity, assess populations of the primary vector, the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri), and identify potential alternative host plants sustaining the vector and the pathogen. Field surveys were executed across three sites characterised by distinct elevations and management practices. Site-level soil nutrient profiles exhibited moderate acidity (pH 4.67-5.74) and significant differences in organic matter and nitrogen. These findings suggest that localised deficiencies in calcium and boron may exacerbate disease severity, contributing to the varied epidemiological patterns observed across sites. Analysis revealed that both HLB disease severity and D. citri population density were significantly influenced by altitude, field condition, and orchard management. The low-elevation site (860 m above sea level (ASL)), characterised by poor maintenance, exhibited the highest mean psyllid populations (averaging 13 individuals per sticky trap per day) and the most severe disease symptoms. Conversely, the high-elevation site (1674 m ASL) displayed significantly lower infection rates and healthier tree conditions. Symptomatic citron trees across all sites consistently exhibited characteristic HLB foliar and fruit symptoms (blotchy mottle and lopsided fruits). Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) successfully detected the causal agent, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), in symptomatic citron samples from all locations, with the highest relative fold-change (2-Delta Delta Ct = 4628.24). Crucially, multiple developmental stages of D. citri were observed infesting the common weed Bidens pilosa. Furthermore, qPCR confirmed the presence of CLas DNA within the B. pilosa tissue itself (2-Delta Delta Ct = 210.84). This finding constitutes the first field-based evidence that B. pilosa can serve as a novel alternative host that supports both the D. citri vector and the CLas pathogen. These results establish citron as a highly susceptible host and identify B. pilosa as a new, critical epidemiological link in the HLB transmission cycle, thereby underscoring the necessity for integrated, landscape-level disease management strategies.
Coffee plantations are highly vulnerable to climatic factors. In this regard, the vulnerability of coffee agroecosystems to extreme hydrometeorological events has been underexplored. This research proposes a method to assess coffee plantations’ vulnerability to five phenomena that have led to disaster declarations in the municipalities where they are cultivated: extreme rainfall, tropical cyclones, floods, snow and low temperatures, and drought. This study considered coffee production, local climate information, hydrometeorological records, and environmental protection actions, spanning 22 years in the eastern state of Veracruz, Mexico. All data were normalized and evaluated for three production values: harvested area ratio, yield, and volume. The Exposition accounted for the number of events, correlating production data with phenomena to assess sensitivity, while the adaptive capacity was assessed by considering environmental protection actions. The results indicated that the most frequent phenomena were extreme rainfall, followed by tropical cyclones, snow and low temperatures, droughts, and floods. However, tropical cyclones accounted for the highest number of vulnerabilities, and drought caused the highest level of vulnerabilities. Snow and cold temperatures reduced vulnerabilities, and floods have non-statistical effects. In general, coffee agroecosystems have a low vulnerability index (6.21 on a scale of 15) due to their location within the local forest.
Adventitious rooting remains a major constraint for the clonal propagation of Coffea arabica, limiting the large-scale multiplication of elite genotypes. This study evaluated the effects of genotype, auxin treatment, and their interaction on adventitious rooting and basal callus formation in coffee cuttings under controlled nursery conditions, while morphophysiological traits were assessed as complementary indicators of cutting performance. A completely randomized 3 × 3 factorial design was used, including three hybrids (H3, Excelencia, and Milenio) and three plant growth regulator (PGR) treatments: control, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and a commercial auxin formulation (RH; NAA + IBA). Rooting probability and root number were significantly affected by PGR treatment, whereas the longest root length was influenced by hybrid, PGR treatment, and their interaction. Model-estimated rooting probability increased from 4.76% in the control to 17.05% under IBA and 35.73% under RH. Similarly, the estimated number of roots per cutting increased from 0.14 in the control to 0.99 under IBA and 1.85 under RH. Although the hybrid × PGR interaction was not significant for rooting probability, the highest observed rooting percentage was recorded in H3 under RH (52.38%), followed by Milenio under RH (33.33%). For the longest root length, the strongest responses were observed under RH, particularly in Milenio (71.15 mm) and H3 (70.08 mm). Callus formation varied among treatments, but its association with rooting performance was weak and inconsistent. Morphophysiological traits provided complementary information on cutting status but were not interpreted as direct mechanistic drivers of rooting. These findings indicate that adventitious rooting in C. arabica was more closely associated with genotype-dependent responsiveness to exogenous auxin than with the extent of callus formation. However, anatomical studies are needed to determine the developmental origin of root primordia and their possible relationship with callus tissue.
The increasing pressure on water resources has stimulated the use of treated wastewater in agricultural irrigation, although its effects on plant development remain uncertain. This study evaluated the effects of wastewater treatments and irrigation depths on the morphophysiological development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). A split-plot experiment was conducted with crop cycles in the main plots and a factorial arrangement in the subplots, consisting of five water sources and five irrigation depths (50% to 150% ETc), with three replications. Seven variables were evaluated, including growth traits and water productivity. Irrigation depth significantly affected all variables (p <= 0.01) and was the main driver of vegetative growth, increasing shoot fresh mass, stem diameter, and plant height. In contrast, water sources showed smaller effects. Water productivity decreased with increasing irrigation depth and showed weak correlations with other variables (r <= 0.468). Machine learning models achieved moderate accuracy for irrigation depth prediction (approximate to 55%), with confusion among adjacent classes, indicating detection of a gradient rather than precise classification. Prediction of water sources was low (<30%), confirming limited morphological differentiation. Plant height and stem diameter were the most informative variables. These results indicate that irrigation management has a stronger influence on lettuce growth than water source.
We evaluated a multi-output neural network framework for jointly analyzing maize grain yield (GY) and root lodging percentage (LP) using above-ground morphological traits measured under defined environmental conditions. To address model robustness, the multi-output neural network was compared with linear regression, elastic net, random forest, and XGBoost using repeated five-fold cross-validation, an 80/20 holdout split, and independent year-wise validation. Under repeated cross-validation, XGBoost provided the strongest average predictive performance for both traits, with R2 values of 0.57 for GY and 0.67 for LP. The multi-output neural network showed moderate performance, with R2 values of 0.49 for GY and 0.57 for LP. Final holdout performance for the neural network for GY and LP was R2 = 0.64 and R2 = 0.92, respectively. Year-wise validation showed weak temporal transferability because the two seasons differed not only in environmental conditions, but also in lodging mechanism. Repeated permutation importance identified ear width (EW), kernel row number (RNE), thousand kernel mass (KM1000), and kernel number per ear (KNE) as important predictors of GY, while LP prediction was most strongly associated with internode major diameter (IDmajor), ear length (EL), and the number of green leaves (NGL). Across both permutation importance and SHAP, only RNE and NGL were consistently shared between GY and LP. Supplementary ALE diagnostics indicated that RNE showed increasing model-estimated effects for both predicted GY and LP, whereas NGL showed a positive association with predicted GY but a decreasing or nonlinear association with predicted LP. These results show that joint modeling can support exploratory trait interpretation, but the predictive relationships remain environment-specific and should not be interpreted as causal or broadly transferable without further multi-environment validation.
Improving the productivity and stability of winter wheat under increasingly variable climatic conditions remains a major challenge for sustainable agriculture. This study evaluated the effects of pre-sowing seed treatment with a microbial preparation (Nando BioExpert) and a biostimulant (Vitazyme), applied individually and in combination, on crop establishment, yield components, and grain yield of winter wheat under unstable moisture conditions in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. A three-year field experiment demonstrated that both treatments positively influenced plant growth, while their combined application produced a pronounced synergistic effect. Seed treatment enhanced plant establishment, increasing plant density at emergence from 242 plants m-2 in the control to 372 plants m-2 under the combined treatment. This improvement contributed to increased stand-level productive tiller density per unit area. Consequently, grain yield was consistently improved across years, with the combined treatment producing the highest average yield (6.04 t ha-1), corresponding to a 37% increase relative to the control. The results indicate enhanced winter wheat resilience to environmental stress under biological seed treatment. Overall, integrating microbial inoculants with biostimulants represents an effective strategy for improving winter wheat productivity under moisture-limited conditions and supports the transition toward sustainable and resource-efficient crop production systems.
Camelina sativa sprouts were investigated as a source of glucosinolates (GLSs), and their modulation in response to germination time and elicitor treatments was evaluated. Total GLS content significantly decreased during sprouting, from 21.18 µmol/g DW in seeds to 0.75 µmol/g DW at 24 days, with 5-day-old sprouts selected as the optimal harvest stage, with 8.82 ± 0.08 µmol g−1 DW. HPLC analysis identified three major aliphatic GLSs (GLS9, GLS10, GLS11), with GLS10 being the most abundant. Prior to treatment, tolerance assays showed that glucose (75 mM) and DL-methionine (2.5 mM) significantly increased total GLS content, whereas sulfur supplementation had no effect. Genotype-dependent responses were observed among Calena, Alan, and Pearl sprouts. Two-way ANOVA revealed a significant interaction between genotype and elicitor for total GLS content. Glucose and DL-methionine enhanced GLS accumulation in a cultivar-specific manner, with DL-methionine being more effective in Pearl, while Calena and Alan were more responsive to glucose. Sulfur treatments did not induce GLS accumulation in any genotype or condition tested. At the individual compound level, GLS9 was consistently increased by both elicitors, whereas GLS10 and GLS11 showed genotype and treatment-specific responses. Overall, these findings highlight the potential to increase the total GLS content in camelina sprouts through targeted elicitation and cultivar selection. By optimizing elicitor type, concentration, and timing, camelina sprouts could become a richer source of bioactive compounds.
Potatoes are a crop of great importance for global food security, and their industrialization requires certain postharvest quality characteristics that are affected by cultivation practices. Unlike previous studies that focused on single agronomic factors or genotype effects, to increase knowledge, this work evaluates the interaction between planting method (bag vs. soil) and cultivation condition (greenhouse vs. open field) on postharvest and frying quality of the high-altitude variety 'Diacol Capiro'. A completely randomized design was used with four treatments arranged in a 2 & times; 2 factorial layout, where the first factor was the planting method (in bags or in soil) and the second factor was the cultivation conditions (in a greenhouse or in an open field). Tubers grown in a greenhouse, especially with planting in bags, showed greater starch retention, higher firmness, lower soluble solids content, and less mass loss during storage. The starch content varied significantly among treatments, reaching a maximum of 6.9% after 35 days of storage. The specific gravity of the fried potatoes was higher in greenhouse-grown tubers (1.080) than in those planted in the open field (1.070), with values close to the industrial standard (>1.080). The skin luminosity decreased by 16.2% during storage, while the b* parameter of the flesh (yellow color) was higher in tubers from greenhouse planting. Overall, 'Diacol Capiro' tubers grown in a greenhouse with planting in bags showed better postharvest attributes and greater potential for frying quality.
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) contain a diverse range of primary and secondary metabolites that determine their nutritional, storage, and defense characteristics. There has been an increasing number of metabolomics-based studies in potato breeding and stress assessments recently; however, there remains a lack of comprehensive studies addressing metabolite variation using multiple analytical techniques. Metabolomics offers valuable insights into these variations by enabling the identification of key metabolic markers, and the combined use of multiple analytical techniques on the same sample allows for broader metabolite coverage. This review provides an integrated understanding of how primary and secondary metabolism is influenced by environmental and developmental conditions across potato organs as characterized by various analytical techniques. Unlike existing reviews, this manuscript provides a critical evaluation of studies examining the effects of cultivation systems and potato plant developmental stages on primary metabolites across different organs while also emphasizing the role of newly characterized secondary metabolites in stress responses and offering a comparative assessment of extraction techniques. Metabolomic approaches assess the combined effects of multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and through the integration of multi-omics datasets, enabled by the rapid advancement of bioinformatics tools, they enhance our understanding of potato physiology and support improved crop management and breeding strategies.
The increasing need to reduce agrochemicals has intensified the search for sustainable alternatives in crop production. Insect frass, a by-product of insect rearing, has recently emerged as a promising organic fertilizer. In the present study, the effects of Tenebrio molitor frass (TMF) on plant growth and productivity were evaluated in three vegetable crops, cucumber (cv. Aisopos), pepper (cv. Lamuyo), and lettuce (cv. Paris Island), under greenhouse conditions. Experimental plants were grown in pots under two substrate fertility levels (fertilized and non-fertilized peat, hereafter referred to as “rich” and “poor” soil) and received TMF at two rates (1% and 2% w/w), applied either once or twice. Plant height and weight, fruit number and weight, and total production per plant were recorded. TMF application, applied as a soil amendment, enhanced plant growth and yield of the treated plants compared to the control, although the magnitude and consistency of the response varied among crops, soil types, and measured parameters. A clear dose-dependent response was not observed, as the 2% rate did not consistently outperform the 1% rate. Likewise, splitting the same total amount of TMF into two applications did not significantly improve plant performance. The response to the TMF application varied among crops in terms of growth and yield parameters. Lettuce recorded the strongest response, while cucumber and pepper exhibited more moderate improvements. Notably, TMF significantly increased growth and productivity even at the lowest application rates under poor soil conditions. These findings demonstrate that TMF is a promising low-input organic fertilizer under the tested conditions and highlight the importance of optimizing application rate and strategy for sustainable vegetable production.
Research has advanced in the development of precision seed metering devices to ensure proper seed distribution at high speeds. However, little is known about the effect of increasing seeding speed, as well as seeding at different inclinations of the tractor-seeder unit, on the integrity and physiological quality of soybean seeds. This study aimed to identify the effect of travel speeds (5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 km h-1) combined with three longitudinal inclinations of a pneumatic seed metering device (-11 degrees, 0 degrees, and 11 degrees), simulating field conditions, on the distribution and integrity of soybean seeds. We used a 5 & times; 3 factorial design was used with an additional control treatment in which the seeds did not pass through the metering device. The variables evaluated included the percentage of spacing between individual seeds, germination, mechanical damage (tetrazolium test), and seedling emergence. The results demonstrated that increasing the speed did not prevent the spacing between individual seeds from falling below the minimum limit of 90% for pneumatic seed metering devices. The treatments did not affect germination compared to the control. Sowing on a slope caused the greatest mechanical damage to soybean seeds. All treatments significantly reduced plant emergence, except when the pneumatic metering device operated at an incline of 0 degrees at 9 km h-1.
In this study, the growth of tomatoes, basil, lettuce and courgette in aeroponic versus traditional soil-based cultivation revealed key differences in mineral nutrient content, antioxidant molecules, and antioxidant activity. The aeroponic system yielded comparable or higher concentrations of P (in basil), K (in lettuce and basil), Ca and Mg (in all species), Fe (in tomatoes), Mn (in basil, courgette and tomatoes), and Cu and Zn (in courgette). Aeroponic cultivation enhanced or maintained the antioxidant content, with the highest flavonoid levels in basil (75.84 mg QE g−1 DW), followed by lettuce (65.97 mg QE g−1 DW). Consistent with these findings, total antioxidant activity assays were highest in aeroponically grown basil (91.27 ARA%). However, responses varied by crop and maturity stage: DPPH radical-scavenging activity was greater in soil-grown lettuce (92.30 ARA%), while FRAP values were highest in basil in both aeroponic and soil-grown cultures (197.02 and 195.3 mg FeSO4 g−1 DW, respectively). However, the interspecific differences indicate that aeroponic systems cannot be applied uniformly; rather, each species could maximize productivity and quality under appropriate conditions. Overall, aeroponic cultivation proved to be a resource-efficient and sustainable alternative to conventional soil farming, providing comparable or superior nutritional quality and reducing water consumption.
Mung bean sprouts are widely consumed for their nutritional value; however, the temporal dynamics of their key nutrients and bioactive compounds during germination remain underexplored, limiting evidence-based strategies for optimizing harvest time and cultivar selection. This study investigated the accumulation patterns of crude protein, crude starch, vitamin C, total polyphenols, total flavonoids, D-chiro-inositol, vitexin, and isovitexin in two new cultivars (Zhonglv 26 and Zhonglv 27) over a 168 h germination period. Our results revealed that germination consistently enhances protein, vitamin C, polyphenols, flavonoids, and D-chiro-inositol, while reducing starch, vitexin, and isovitexin. Notably, each nutrient reached its maximum at distinct time points—polyphenols at 132–144 h, flavonoids and D-chiro-inositol at 156 h, and protein and vitamin C at 168 h—enabling tailored harvest schedules for specific nutritional goals. Among the cultivars, Zhonglv 27 exhibited higher levels of most measured components, suggesting it may be a more suitable candidate for sprout production aimed at bioactive compound enrichment. These findings establish a time-resolved nutritional framework and may offer useful guidance for producing sprouts with enhanced bioactive content, potentially contributing to the development of value-added sprout products.
This study evaluated the agronomic and bromatological characteristics of green maize grown under different cover crops and developmental stages of the no-till system (NTS) in the Brazilian Cerrado. A randomized block design with a 6 × 3 factorial arrangement and four replications was used. Six cover crops were evaluated: Brachiaria (B), Pearl millet (PM), Sunn hemp (SH), and mixtures B + SH, B + PM, and PM + SH. Three NTS stages were assessed: initial (1 year, NTS1), transition (8 years, NTS8), and consolidation (20 years, NTS20). Evaluated variables included cover crop dry matter (DM), green maize ear yield with husk (EYH), shucked ear yield (SEY), straw yield (SY), grain yield per ear (GYE), and grain bromatological characteristics: pH, moisture (HU), ash (AS), lipids (LIP), protein (PTN), carbohydrates (CHE), total titratable acidity (TTA), total soluble solids (TSS), and ascorbic acid (AA). SH and the PM + SH mixture produced the highest DM across the NTS stages. Cover crop residues did not affect green maize yield attributes, whereas progression through NTS stages increased SEY, EYH, and GYE. Bromatological quality was mostly unaffected by cover crops, except for moisture and TSS, while NTS stages influenced pH, moisture, LIP, PTN, TTA, TSS, and AA. The integrated use of cover crops, either as sole crops or intercropping systems, associated with long-term no-till adoption, contributes to increased biomass production and improved grain quality attributes of green maize under Cerrado conditions.
