Australian Journal of Crop Science   AJCS

The application of a biostimulant based on Ascophyllum nodosum, fulvic acid and nutrients mitigates water deficit in soybean

Johny de Souza Silva*, Rafael Santiago da Costa, Carlos Yago Araujo Campelo Rodrigues, Bruna Alves da Silva, Tomil Ricardo Maia de Sousa, Flávio Barcellos Cardoso, Rosilene Oliveira Mesquista

Department of Phytotechnics, Federal University of Ceará, Pici Campus-Block 805, 60356-000, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
Fertilizers Heringer, Paulínia, SP, Brazil

Abstract
This study was intended to assess the effects of a biostimulant based on Ascophyllum nodosum and fulvic acid in the mitigation of water deficit in soybean plants. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2 x 4 + 1 factorial scheme (two application times, four proportions of biostimulant, and a control. 65 days after sowing, plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, gas exchange, photosynthetic pigments, membrane damage, and dry masses were measured. The proportion of 0.250 kg per/ha before the imposition of water deficit positively increased growth, gas exchange variables, and the relative chlorophyll index (p < 0.05). Leaf water potential was less negative (p < 0.05) when applying the proportion of 0.100 kg ha-1 before or 0.250 kg per/ha after water deficit. The damage was reduced when 0.250 to 0.500 kg ha-1 was applied before the imposition of water deficit (p < 0.05). The biostimulant mitigated the effects of water stress on soybean, mainly when applied before the imposition of stress.

Pages 539-548 | Full Text PDF| Supplementary Data PDF| doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.07.p3715
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Organic cultivation of mint under different amounts of hairy woodrose (Merremia aegyptia L.) and harvesting times

Paulo César Ferreira Linhares*, Alany Moisa Bezerra de Almeida, Patricio Borges Maracajá, Lunara de Sousa Alves, Aline Carla de Medeiros, Janilson Pinheiro de Assis, Roberto Pequeno de Sousa, Joaquim Odilon Pereira, Maiele Leandro da Silva, Natalia Fernandes de Oliveira Alves, Maria Elisa da Costa Souza, Domingos Severino de Souza Junior, Thiago Jardelino Dias, Antônia Vilma de Andrade Ferreira Amâncio, Eudes de Almeida Cardoso

Federal Rural Semi-Arid University, Department of Agronomic and Forestry Sciences, Leader of the Jitirana Research Group, Mossoró-RN, 59625-900, Brazil
Agroindustrial Systems, member of the jitirana research group, Mossoró-RN, 59625-900, UFERSA, Brazil
Researcher at the National Institute of the Semi-Arid, National Institute of the Semi-Arid, Campina Grande, PB, 58434700, Brazil
Plant Science and member of the Jitirana research group
The Federal University of Campina Grande, PB, Brasil
Federal Rural Semi-Arid University, Department of Agronomic and Forestry Sciences, Leader of the Jitirana Research Group, Mossoró-RN, 59625-900, Brazil
The State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, 79200000 - Aquidauana, MS – Brasil
The Federal Rural Semi-Arid University and member of the Jitirana research group.
Federal University of Paraiba, Campus Areia, Areia-PB, 58397-000, Brazil

Abstract
This experiment was conducted to evaluate the possibility of organic cultivation of mint under different amounts of hairy woodrose and harvesting times. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks with the treatments arranged in 4 x 3 factorial scheme with three replicates. The first factor consisted of four amounts of hairy woodrose (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kg m-2 of dry beds) and the second factor, corresponded to three harvest bunches (30; 60 and 90 days after transplanting). The cultivar "Mentha piperita" was used as mint crop. The evaluated characteristics were the following: biomass height, biomass production, number of sauces, dry mass, oil content and yield. There was interaction between the factors-treatments for yield, number of bunches and oil content. The best productive performance of the mint was obtained in the amount of 1.0 kg/m2 of hairy woodrose incorporated into the soil at 60 days after mint transplanting (AMT). Hairy woodrose proved to be efficient as a green manuring in the mint crop.

Pages 549-555 | Full Text PDF|  doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.07.p3801
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Digitaria insularis: cross-resistance between ACCase inhibitors and multiple resistance to glyphosate

Fabrício Krzyzaniak, Leandro Paiola Albrecht, Alfredo Junior Paiola Albrecht*

Farm Consultoria & Investigación Agronómica, Ciudad del Este, Paraguay
Federal University of Paraná, Palotina, Paraná, Brazil

Abstract
Sourgrass (Digitaria insularis [L.] Mez ex Ekman) is a problematic weed with special attention to its damage and herbicide resistance in Brazil and Paraguay. Considering the complexity of management and failure in control approaches, the goal of the present study was to monitor and investigate herbicide resistance in D. insularis. Furthermore, we specifically analyze a case with multiple resistance in Paraguay. In this sense, studies were carried out for the development of dose-response curves. The results showed resistance of D. insularis to ACCase- and EPSPs-inhibiting herbicides in Paraguay, in which the resistance to ACCase inhibitors involves the chemical groups aryloxyphenoxypropionates and cyclohexanediones. This is probably the first case of resistance observed in the world. It is necessary to apply good practices in the set of integrated weed management. These practices should be accessed as quickly and effectively as possible, serving as a lesson for more proactive and less reactive actions in production systems.

Pages 556-562 | Full Text PDF| doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.07.p3849
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Phenological aspects and physiological quality of seeds of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth.

João Luciano de Andrade Melo Junior*, Luan Danilo Ferreira de Andrade Melo, Mileny dos Santos de Souza, Reinaldo de Alencar Paes, César Auguste Badji, Vanuze Costa de Oliveira, Adriana Guimarães Duarte, Ivanildo Claudino da Silva, Jaqueline Figueredo de Oliveira Costa, Larisse Araújo de Abreu, Keven Willian Sarmento Galdino da Silva

Phytotechnics Laboratory, Campus of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences (CECA), Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), located in the municipality of Rio Largo, AL, Brazil
Applied Entomology Laboratory, Federal University of Agreste of Pernambuco (UFAPE), located in the municipality of Garanhuns, PE, Brazil

Abstract
Producing forest species in regions with limiting water conditions is still a challenge to be overcome. Thus, it is necessary and urgent to develop research that measure the influence of water stress on the growth, development and propagation capacity of species. Given the above, the objective of this work was to determine the influence of rainfall pulses on reproductive phenophases, production and vigor of seeds of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. Biweekly flowering and fruiting phenophases were recorded in selected plants in the field, and later these observations were correlated with climatic data from the region. Already the evaluation of the physiological potential was carried out through a germination test in five lots of seeds harvested from the trees of the phenophases study. Generally, it was observed that the sabiá (M. caesalpiniifolia) produced seeds between the first half of April and the second half of June, and in the second half of August and the first half of September 2021. The reproductive phenology of the sabiá depends on the extension and frequency of rainfall pulses. The pulse extension was favorable to the physiological potential of the seeds as the germination ranged from 85 to 96%. Therefore, M. caesalpiniifolia has its phenology and productive potential influenced by precipitation pulses.

Pages 563-569 | Full Text PDF| doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.07.p3887
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Regionalization of an agricultural area by means of multivariate data and their relationship with soybean productivity

Rodrigo Lorbieski*, Luciana Pagliosa Carvalho Guedes, Miguel Angel Uribe-Opazo, Franciele Buss Frescki Kestring

State University of Western Paraná (UNIOESTE), Cascavel, PR, Brazil

Abstract
Regionalization of an agricultural area by dividing it into different clusters is an important strategy in the precision agriculture scope. Multivariate and spatial data are common in the design of these divisions. This paper sought to characterize regional differences in the area under study through different subsets of variables formed by soil physical-chemical variables and vegetative indices, in an agricultural area for four soybean harvest years in the period from 2013/2014 to 2016/2017. To such end, three subsets were generated comprised by these variables, which presented spatial dependence and were grouped according to their characteristics. By means of decision trees, it was identified which of these variables exerted the most influence on subdivision of the area. The multivariate and non-parametric spatial clustering technique was used to generate the clusters. Finally, by means of maps and boxplots, the spatial relationships between these variables and soybean productivity were evaluated. There was variation across the harvest years in relation to the subset of variables that determined the best design of the different clusters. The regional differences determined by the different variables used in the study showed no relationship with soybean productivity, which presented spatial homogeneity in its data for the harvest years evaluated. This approach is recommended when there is high spatial variability of factors that exert impacts on productivity, advising on using both soil physical-chemical variables and the vegetative indices to explain the causes of soybean productivity spatial variability.

Pages 570-580 | Full Text PDF| Supplementary Data PDF| doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.07.p3895
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Cucumber and salinity

Bayan Al-Momany, Saeid Abu-Romman

Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman 11733, Jordan
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt 19117, Jordan

Abstract
Salinity is becoming more expanded globally. Soil salinity imposes a great challenge for vegetable-crops production in arid and semiarid regions. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is the fourth most important vegetable crop worldwide. In this review, we discuss the complex network of effects, and the ways cucumber responds to salinity. Salt stress inhibits almost all growth phases and yield components of cucumber. Accumulation of Na+ and/or Cl- ions in cucumber tissues disturbs the absorption of other ions causing ionic imbalance which affect stomatal opening. Nevertheless, high levels of NaCl in soil inhibit water uptake in the root medium exposing cucumber to osmotic stress. Osmotic stress broadly interrupts metabolic pathways by altering enzymatic activity. Both, ionic and osmotic stresses induce ROS amassing in cucumber tissues. ROS directly constrain photosynthesis by decreasing levels of total chlorophyll and degrading PSII as well as corrupting thylakoid membranes. Ultimately, NaCl-induced stress inhibits cucumber seed germination, roots and shoots growth and development, fruit quality and yield production.

Pages 581-590 | Full Text PDF| doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.07.p3915

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Effect of geographical origin on yield and secondary metabolite content of extracts of Moroccan Juniperus thurifera

Khalid Benhssaine, Jamal Aabdousse*, Nora Salim, Ilias Oussif, M’hamed Ramchoun, Mohamed Elhabty, Younes Abbas, Hicham Berrougui

Polyvalent team in research and development, Department of Biology and Geology, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Beni Mellal, Sultan Moulay Slimane University Beni Mellal, BP 592, 23000 Beni Mellal, Morocco
Environmental, Ecological and Agro-industrial Engineering Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Sulatn Moulay Slimane University Beni Mellal, BP 523, 23000 Beni Mellal, Morocco
Biotechnology and sustainable development of natural resources team, Department of Biology and Geology, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Beni Mellal, Sulatn Moulay Slimane University Beni Mellal, BP592, 23000 Beni Mellal, Morocco

Abstract
The thuriferous juniper (Juniperus thurifera) is an important species in the Mediterranean region due to its ecological and economic values. It plays a significant role in preventing soil erosion and desertification, as well as being used in traditional medicine and as a source of essential oils for various industries. In addition, its extracts are considered as a source of bioactive compounds with various pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. However in Morocco, it is considered as one of the undervalued and least preserved species. Its stands continue to be vigorously degraded. The present work aims to study the effect of the origin on the yield, the phenolic compounds, flavonoids and tannins contents and the antioxidant activity of the leaves extracts of this species. In order to accomplish this study, we carried out the extraction by soxhlet from the leaves of J. thurifera, coming from three geographical origins, using two solvents (hexane and ethanol). Then the dosage of different compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins) and the evaluation of the antioxidant activity were carried out. The results show a significant variability between the samples coming from three different biogeographical zones, namely: the Eastern, Central and Western High Atlas in terms of yield and levels of polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins. This allowed to demonstrate the effect of geographical origin and the interaction between environmental conditions and genotype on the production of secondary metabolites. In fact, we found that the Midelt population has a good yield in ethanolic extracts (9.41% ± 0.59) and hexane 6.57% ± 0.29. Furthermore, the El Haouz population is the richest in polyphenols in ethanolic extracts (191.30 ± 4.27 mg GAE /g Extract), as well as it has an important reducing potential (IC50 = 0.98 ± 0.05 mg/ml). These results can be exploited as bioindicators in all programs of valorization and conservation of Moroccan Juniperus thurifera.

Pages 591-599 | Full Text PDF| doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.07.p3926

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Foundation and validation of diagnosis and recommendation integrated system norms for evaluating nutrient status of pineapple plants (Ananas comosus L.)

Ly Ngoc Thanh Xuan, Tran Kim Anh, Le Thi Hong Diep, Tran Thi Bich Van, Le Thi My Thu, Nguyen Quoc Khuong

Experimental and Practical Area, An Giang University, An Giang, Vietnam, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 
Faculty of Crop Science, College of Agriculture, Can Tho University, Can Tho 94000, Vietnam

Abstract
This study aimed to (i) establish the diagnosis and recommendation of integrated system (DRIS) norms for the evaluation of nutrient status in pineapple plants and (ii) validate the reliability of DRIS norms. Eighty-six leaf samples at +1 (E leaf) and +3 (D leaf) positions were collected from 86 pineapple fields cultivated in acid sulfate soils at the leaf development stage. Results indicated that DRIS norms established for pineapple included 22 and 30 pairs of nutrient ratios at E and D leaf positions, respectively. The validation for the reliability showed that founded DRIS norms were reliable and suitable for assessing the nutrients status of pineapple. Based on the fertilizer omission plot technique, DRIS indices of N, Ca, and Mg in the treatments without N, Ca, or Mg fertilizer, respectively, were less excessive than those in the treatment with full NPKCaMg fertilization at both leaf positions, meaning that the DRIS norm is reliable. Both leaf positions can be used to diagnose N, K, Ca, and Mg nutrients status.

Pages 600-607 | Full Text PDF| Supplementary Data PDF| doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.07.p3936