Australian Journal of Crop Science   AJCS

Effects of agricultural practices and fungicides on the management postharvest anthracnose and stem-end rot of mango

Diógenes da Cruz Batista, Miguel Alves-Júnior, Luiz Augusto Martins Peruch, Maria Angélica Guimarães Barbosa

Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Semiárido, BR-428, Km 152, Zip Code 56302-970 Petrolina, Pernambuco State, Brazil
Pará Federal University, Cel. José Porfírio Street, 2515, São Sebastião, Zip Code 68372-040 Altamira, Pará State, Brazil
Epagri Sede / DEMC, Zip Code 88034-901 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil

Abstract
Anthracnose and stem-end rot are the main postharvest mango diseases in the Brazilian Northeast. In order to determine the incidence and prevalence of these diseases, near ripe (stage 3) Tommy Atkins fruits were collected from thirty orchards, aged 10 to 12 years old. Inspections and records regarding agricultural practices were undertaken in order to characterize the orchards and evaluate the risk of diseases. Additionally, three experiments were conducted to evaluate different fungicides. Fruits were harvested in Tommy Atkins orchards sprayed with different fungicides and disease incidences were evaluated for two weeks. General averages of incidence and prevalence of stem-end rot were 14.44% and 86.67% respectively, while those of anthracnose were 5.55% and 36.67%. Pearson’s chi-squared test identified a significant association between management practices and the occurrence of diseases. The risk of producing diseased fruits is larger in orchards that do not remove residues beneath or above the canopy or diseased panicles and do not adopt good agricultural practices. For orchards that do not adopt good agricultural practices, the relative risk was a 3.82 times higher chance of producing diseased fruits compared to those that adopt good agricultural practices. The fungicides that exhibited efficiency in disease control were pyraclostrobin (0.10 g/L), copper oxychloride (1.60 g/L) and tetraconazole (0.10 g/L). According to the results, in order to control anthracnose and stem-end rot in mangos, producers should spray the orchards with pyraclostrobin, copper oxychloride and tetraconazole fungicides, remove malformed panicles and diseased residues above and beneath the canopy.

Pages 677-683 | Full Text PDF|doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.09.p3910
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Foliar application of kinetin modulates the cannabinoid content and transcriptome of Cannabis sativa L.

Canhui Deng, Shan Wu, Xiangfan Jin, Zemao Yang, Qing Tang, Zhigang Dai, Chaohua Cheng*, Ying Xu, Xiaoyu Zhang, Jianguang Su*

Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, 348 XianJiahu West Road, Changsha, 410082, PR China
Yulutang Health Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd, 708D, Floor 7, No. 55, Dong'anmen Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100000, PR China

Abstract
Cannabis sativa is highly cultivated owing to its secondary metabolites, especially cannabinoids, which possess several medicinal effects. This study aims to examine the effect of foliar application of kinetin (KT) on the growth, cannabinoid content, and transcriptome of C. sativa at the flowering stage. A pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse under a 16h/8h light/dark cycle for growing, and the photoperiod was adjusted to 10h/14h to induce flowering. The plant was sprayed with 0, 20, 40, and 100 mg/L KT every 2 days for a total of six times. Phenotypic parameters (fresh weight, cannabinoid content, and enzyme activity) and metabolome were analyzed. Foliar application of 20 and 40 mg/L of KT increased the growth and cannabinoid content of C. sativa, particularly that of cannabidiol. Similarly, treatment with 20 mg/L of KT increased the Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolcontent to 0.24% is below the legal value of 0.30% in North American countries. Plants treated with 20 and 40 mg/L of KT showed decreased activities of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase. KEGG pathway analysis showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the KT-treated cannabis were mainly enriched in 12 pathways, including sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis, linoleic acid metabolism, flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and other secondary metabolic pathways; 14DEGs (including eight upregulated and six downregulated genes) were enriched in sesquiterpene and triterpene biosynthesis pathways. Overall, these findings showed that KT plays a significant role in regulating terpenoid biosynthesis and the cannabinoid content of C. sativa.

Pages 684-692 | Full Text PDF| doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.09.p3919
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Investigation of freezing temperature and time to improve resistant starch content and quality of pure mung bean starch vermicelli

Tien Phung Nguyen, Pinthip Rumpagaporn, Sirichai Songsermpong*

Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Department of Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Vinh Long University of Technology Education, Vinh Long, 85110, Vietnam

Abstract
Mung bean vermicelli is one of the commonly consumed styles of noodles because of its convenience in Asian countries as well as being a good source of resistant starch (RS). It was hypothesized that suitable freezing conditions could produce mung bean vermicelli with a greater RS content and good cooking quality compared to the commercially available product. Therefore, this study investigated the optimum freezing conditions to increase the RS content in mung bean vermicelli. After extrusion, boiling, and cooling, the drained vermicelli was incubated at 4 C for 1 h 30 min before using different freezing conditions by varying the processing temperature (-5, -10, -15, or -20 C) and time (6, 12, 18, or 20 h for each temperature).The highest RS content was observed in dried mung bean vermicelli (12.83% at -10 C for 18 h; V1018), whereas the commercial vermicelli had the lowest RS content (9.73%). The cooking time, water absorption, volume increase, and resistant starch content of cooked V1018 were higher with values of 12.69 min, 502.97%, 19.13% and 7.32%, respectively, than those of the commercial vermicelli (8.56 min, 347.34%, 15.19% and 5.58%, respectively). Furthermore, the cooking loss, tensile strength, and elasticity of V1018 were 1.08%, 0.0101 N, and 11.96 mm, respectively, which were lower than for the commercial vermicelli (1.96%, 1.16-folds, and 2.16-folds, respectively). The color of dried V1018 vermicelli had more lightness, redness, and yellowness, while the cooked V1018 vermicelli had more lightness, greenness, and blueness than the respective commercial products. Hence, incubating at 4 C for 1 h 30 min, followed by freezing at -10 C for 18 h was recommended to produce pure mung bean starch vermicelli with a high resistant starch content and good quality.

Pages 693-698 | Full Text PDF| doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.09.p3925
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Effect of microwave drying on physical and sensory properties of instant mung bean vermicelli

Tien Phung Nguyen, Sirichai Songsermpong*

Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Department of Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Vinh Long University of Technology Education, Vinh Long, 85110, Vietnam

Abstract
Mung bean vermicelli is manufactured from mung bean starch by mixing, extruding, boiling, cooling, freezing, defrosting and sun drying. However, the end product requires a long rehydration time. Hence, this study investigated microwave drying technology to reduce the rehydration time. Instant mung bean vermicelli was dried in a continuous microwave dryer at 50 Hz, 60 Hz, and 70 Hz with different numbers of rounds. The dried mung bean vermicelli was analyzed for its physical and sensory properties. The experimental design involved 3 treatments (50 Hz, 60 Hz, 70 Hz) with 3 replications of each treatment (3x3). The results indicated that drying at 70 Hz for 16 rounds produced instant vermicelli that had a very good porous structure and good cooking quality. The vermicelli dried at 70 Hz, 60 Hz, and 50 Hz rehydrated within 2.79, 2.81 and 3.05 min, respectively. Compared to a commercial product, the color of the microwaved vermicelli was greater in lightness (L*), greenness (a*), and blueness (b*). There were no significant differences in tensile strength among the 60Hz and 70Hz treatments and the commercial product; however, the elasticity of the microwaved vermicelli samples was lower than for the commercial product. Notably, the overall acceptability scores for the microwaved dried vermicelli at 70 Hz and for the commercial product were the same (7.03 score based on a 9-point hedonic scale). In conclusion, continuous microwave drying technology at 70 Hz was recommended for instant mung bean vermicelli production due to its short drying (18.88 min) and rehydration (2.76 min) times and its good quality with a high level of acceptability.

Pages 699-706 | Full Text PDF| doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.09.p3930
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Study of vigor and esterase activity under NaCl stress deciphering overlap between gametophyte and sporophyte in annual Medicago species

Djilali Moulai*, Abdelnasser Bakhti

Rhizobium Biotechnology and Plant Improvement Laboratory, Biology Department, Faculty of Nature Science and Life, University of Oran 1.Ahmed Benbella, BP 1524 ELM_Naouer 31000, Oran. Algeria
Laboratory of Geomatic ecology and environment, Agronomy Department, Faculty of Nature Science and Life, University of Mascara Mustapha Stambouli, BP 305 Route de Mamounia, 29000 Mascara, Algeria

Abstract
To study the overlapping of gene expression between sporophyte and gametophyte phases, three annual species of the Medicago genus; M. truncatula, M. ciliaris and M. aculeata were used. First, we measured the germination rate of seeds and pollen grains as well as the length of young seedlings and the length of the pollen tubes under different levels of NaCl concentrations (0 mM, 68 mM, 102 mM and 136 mM). Afterwards, we measured the biochemical activity of plants based on electrophoresis of esterase enzymatic activity under salt stress treatments. The results showed that genotype M.acl4 of M. aculeate species is the most tolerant in the two stages, while the genotypes M.cil 1 and M.trur1 are the most sensitive of M. ciliaris and M. truncatula species, respectively. The separation of the esterase activities by electrophoresis revealed four bands with quantitative and qualitative changes in relation to stress in the same sensitive genotype M.cil1 of M. ciliaris species. The presence of a correlation between measured traits like vigor, as well as the connection between esterase profiles during periods of salt stress in both the sporophyte and gametophyte stages, may unveil a shared pattern of gene expression.

Pages 707-714 | Full Text PDF| doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.09.p3943
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Does brassinosteroid mitigate salt stress in sorghum?

Maurílio Rosa Benício, Yago César Rodrigues Morais, Eliane Aparecida Silveira Ferreira , Letícia Silva e Carvalho , Fábio Santos Matos

Postgraduate Program in Plant Production, State University of Goiás, Ipameri unit, Brazil, Rodovia GO 330 Km 241, Ring Road, ZIP Code 75780-000, Ipameri, Brazil

Abstract
The objective of the present study was to assess the mitigating effect of brassinosteroid regulator plant on damages caused by salt stress in sorghum. The experiment was carried out in pots containing 5 kg of substrate, on benches in a greenhouse covered with transparent plastic film and with a 50% shade screen on the sides. A completely randomized design with four replications was used, in a 2×5 factorial arrangement consisted of application and non-application of brassinosteroids at concentration of 0.1 mg L-1 applied at the 30, 37, and 45 days after emergence (DAE) and five salinity levels of the irrigation water (electrical conductivities of 0, 2, 4, 8, and 16 dS m-1). The plants were irrigated with water from the public supplying system up to 45 DAE and, then, with brackish water up to 60 (DAE), when they were evaluated. Our results indicate that Brassinosteroids mitigated damages caused by salt stress by increasing the Ca to Na ratio. Sorghum is moderately resistant to salt stress by presenting a sodium extrusion mechanism activated by calcium. Further studies with longer exposure time to salt stress are recommended for a more thorough understanding and recommendation of the use of brackish water in sorghum crops.

Pages 715-720 | Full Text PDF| doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.09.p3946
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Importance of brassinosteroids for mitigating water stress in sorghum

Ana Caroline Dias de Souza, Bruna Stefhane Santos Reis, Diego Fernandes Bacin, Lucas Robson de Oliveira, Wanderson Silva dos Santos, Larissa Pacheco Borges, Nathália Carvalho Cardoso, Fábio Santos Matos*

Postgraduate Program in Plant Production, State University of Goiás, Ipameri unit, Brazil, Rodovia GO 330 Km 241, Ring Road, ZIP Code 75780-000, Ipameri, Brazil

Abstract
The objective of the present study was to assess the mitigating effect of brassinosteroids on water stress caused by different water supplies (water deficit and excess water) in sorghum. The experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of the State University of Goias, South Campus, in Ipameri, GO, Brazil. A completely randomized design was used, in a 2×5 factorial arrangement with 4 replications. The plants were grown under five water supplies (25%, 50%, 100%, 200%, and 400% of the evapotranspiration) and treatments with and without brassinosteroid (0.1 mg L-1) application at 30.0 mL plant-1, carried out in three moments (at 45, 47, and 49 days after emergence). The tests conducted in pots limited the root system growth by the volume of the container, but despite these conditions, sorghum plants treated with brassinosteroids presented higher root system development and plant height, denoting that the brassinosteroids have the potential for mitigation of water deficit at field level. The main mechanism of tolerance to drought of sorghum is its high stomatal sensitivity, which rapidly reduces transpiration and minimizes the plant dehydration under water deficit.

Pages 721-726 | Full Text PDF| doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.09.p3950
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Growth and yield of soybean plants under water deficit and application of foliar fertilizer

Brenner Cabalheiro dos Santos, Marcelo Caixeta Silva, Nathália Carvalho Cardoso, Matheus Felipe Alves Costa Troncha, Robson José Ferreira Júnior, Luiz Gustavo de Oliveira Caixeta, Larissa Pacheco Borges, Fábio Santos Matos*

Plant Production Physiology Research Group, State University of Goiás, Ipameri unit, Brazil, Rodovia GO 330 Km 241, Ring Road, ZIP Code 75780-000, Ipameri, Brazil

Abstract
The objective of this work was to assess the effects of a commercial foliar fertilizer (H2 Protector; H2 Agrosciences, Orizona, Brazil) on growth and yield of soybean plants grown under water deficit. The experiment was conducted for 105 days from November 2021 to February 2022 in a greenhouse at the State University of Goiás, in Ipameri, GO, Brazil. A completely randomized design was used, with a 2×5 factorial arrangement and three replications. The first factor consisted of foliar fertilizer rates (0 and 300 mL ha-1), and the second factor consisted of water depths applied to the plants (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, and 125% of the daily evapotranspiration). Morphological variables and agronomic components of the crop were analyzed at 60 and 90 days after emergence. Water deficit at the R5 reproduction stage limits the growth and yield of soybean plants. The important results found for vegetative and reproductive growth of plants treated with the foliar fertilizer were due to the greater number of leaves and transpiration of these plants, even under water deficit, denoting a higher photosynthetic potential. The foliar fertilizer did not mitigate water deficit effects on soybean plants grown in pots, but denoted potential for mitigation of damages in the field.

Pages 727-734 | Full Text PDF| doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.09.p3965
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Artificial neural networks based on segmented model for adaptability and stability evaluation of soybean genotypes

Wagner Faria Barbosa, Thais do Prado Hashimoto, Éder Matsuo, Ana Carolina Campana Nascimento, Camila Ferreira Azevedo, André Ricardo Gomes Bezerra, Moysés Nascimento*

Universidade Federal de Viçosa - Campus Viçosa, Departamento de Estatística, 36570-900, Viçosa, MG, Brasil
Universidade Federal de Viçosa - Campus Viçosa, Departamento de Biologia Geral, 36570-900, Viçosa, MG, Brasil
Universidade Federal de Viçosa - Campus Rio Paranaíba, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, 38810-000, Rio Paranaíba, MG, Brasil
Limagrain Brasil S.A., Jataí, GO, Brasil

Abstract
Unlike models based on simple linear regressions, segmented models can better assess the adaptability and stability of genotypes, demonstrating a nonlinear response pattern over environmental variation. However, these methods can be under statistical limitations, such as the Type Error II increase and biased estimates. Therefore, this work aimed to transpose the concepts of adaptability and stability from the statistical analysis of a segmented model to the discriminatory potential of an artificial neural network (ANN) and use it to classify soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) genotypes. An ANN training was carried out with the grain yield of 7,200 soybean genotypes simulated in 15 different environments. The ANN topology chosen was the one that had less than 1% of error in the testing phase with 1,800 simulated genotypes. A total of 9,000 simulated soybean genotypes were previously arranged in 18 different classes, which represented the combination of nine classes of adaptability by the Verma and collaborators (VCM) method and two classes of stability (invariability concept) by the Finlay & Wilkinson (FW) method. Finally, the grain production of ten real soybean genotypes was inputted into the ANN-trained model, and the classification regarding adaptability and stability was obtained. There was 90% agreement between the ANN and VCM analyses regarding the adaptability classification and 20% regarding stability. With the methods presented in this work, it was demonstrated that the potential of using ANNs to assess the adaptability of genotypes is strong. In addition, since stability was introduced in the ANN as a different concept from that used to classify the genotypes by the statistical method, such classification needs to be reviewed and further improved.

Pages 735-740 | Full Text PDF| doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.09.p3986
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How agrometeorological and water deficit variations influence the growth and yield of sugarcane

Derblai Casaroli*, Ieda Del’Arco Sanches, Dayanna Teodoro Quirino, Adão Wagner Pêgo Evangelista, José Alves Júnior, Rilner Alves Flores, Marcio Mesquita, Rafael Battisti

University Federal of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil

Abstract
Edaphoclimatic variables play a crucial role in shaping both the growth and yield of sugarcane. This study aimed to evaluate the intricate relationships among plant variables, agrometeorological factors, and water stress conditions in three successive crop cycles of sugarcane (cane plant, ratoon 1, and ratoon 2). The investigated plant variables included stem height, stalk diameter, number of tillers, leaf area, leaf area index, and stalk fresh yield, alongside growth rates (growth/time). Concurrently, climate variables, such as air temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed, solar and net radiation, reference evapotranspiration, and degree-days, were monitored. Additionally, water stress parameters, including water deficit and water surplus, were quantified. Statistical models were skillfully fitted (r2 > 0.90) to the biometric data, employing thermal time as a critical determinant. Surprisingly, no adverse agrometeorological or soil moisture conditions, as indicated in the literature, were detected when growth rates started to decline. This suggests that other unmeasured stress factors may have influenced the plants during that period. The analysis of the ratio between actual and maximum crop evapotranspiration (ETa/ETc) revealed the most pronounced sensitivity to water deficit during the vegetative growth phase (phase III). Moreover, the study identified that growth achieved satisfactory levels when at least 60% of the maximum crop evapotranspiration was met during the initial phases. A comprehensive cluster analysis encompassing height, leaf area, leaf area index, relative air humidity, soil moisture, and actual evapotranspiration rates provided valuable insights into the interrelated dynamics of these variables. Furthermore, a significant exponential reduction in yield was observed as the number of harvests increased. This decline in yield was attributed to the combined effects of 50% of biometric variables, 63% of agrometeorological variables, and 50% of water stress variables, all of which exhibited negative correlations with yield. Approximately 82%, 63%, and 71% of the correlations among biometric, agrometeorological, and water stress variables, respectively, were strong or very strong (r ≥ 0.70). As a result, this study highlights that: i) estimating sugarcane growth and tracking its developmental stages can be accomplished by employing appropriate models based on thermal time; ii) most biometric measurements exhibit correlations of r < 0.70 with agrometeorological variables; iii) an integrated understanding of biometric, agrometeorological, and water stress variables can effectively explain the observed reductions in sugarcane yield.

Pages 741-752 | Full Text PDF| doi: 10.21475/ajcs.23.17.09.p3999