AGRO - KNOWLEDGE JOURNAL

The effect of different systems of growing tomatoes in a protected area on morphological properties and business results

Vojin D. Cvijanović — 2024-03-01

We are witnessing negative consequences caused by the use of synthetic crop protection products and fertilizers in food production. Interest in the indoor farming of certain plant species has grown significantly. Organic and integrated farming imply the use of natural products, while limiting or completely eliminating the use of synthetic resources. The goal of the research is to study different farming systems in two types of tomatoes and their effect on the variability of certain tomato properties (the number of formed flower trusses, number of fruits per flower truss, and tomato yield). Furthermore, the gross margin of tomato production was calculated. Factor A comprised of different systems of agricultural production: integrated and organic. Factor B comprised two types of tomatoes (cherry and beef). The experiment was set up in a modern indoor space, in controlled microclimate conditions in randomized block design in four replications. The organic system of farming highly significantly affected the studied parameters. The reason for this was the use of a modern growing technology and the approach to the farming itself.

Morphological diversity of onion genetic resources at the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia

Lovro Sinkovič — 2024-03-01

Onion is an important vegetable crop grown for its pungent bulbs and aromatic leaves. Onion genetic resources collected in the Slovenian Plant Gene Bank at the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia were evaluated for the first time using various morphometric traits. Using the prescribed descriptors (UPOV, CPVO) for Allium cepa spp., a collection of 61 onion accessions and varieties grown in the experimental fields of the Infrastructure Centre Jablje in 2022 was described. For each onion genetic resource, a total of thirteen quantitative (numerical) and qualitative descriptors were evaluated on the bulbs: bulb size, bulb height, bulb diameter, ratio height/diameter, position of maximum diameter, width of the neck, shape in longitudinal section, shape of stem end, shape of root end, base colour of dry skin, intensity of base colour of dry skin, coloration of epidermis of fleshy scales, and dry matter content. The results showed significant differences between onions in the collection in terms of bulb size (73.7 ± 26.0 g), bulb height (46.3 ± 14.2 mm), bulb diameter (36.7 ± 6.8 mm), bulb shape (predominant transverse medium elliptic), and colour of dry skin (brown, pink, red, purple). The highest coefficients of variation were observed for bulb size (35.3%) and height/ diameter ratio (32.6%) and the lowest for dry matter content (8.6%). The data obtained and the variability of the traits studied indicate that these onion accessions require further genetic analysis to identify the best candidates for future breeding programmes.

Assessment of seed viability of Oryza sativa L. accessions in long-term storage after more than a decade

Ivo Mitrushev — 2024-03-01

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the seed viability of 16 Oryza sativa L. accessions including valuable endangered landraces, a breeder’s line, and an advanced/improved cultivar after 13-14 years of long-term storage. Preservation of seed samples has been conducted ex-situ at low temperatures (-18°C). The germination test (germination energy and total germination) was carried out according to ISTA methods and Kameswara (2006). Furthermore, the following variables were examined: the germination index, root length, shoot length, root-to-shoot length ratio, total seedling length, and seed vigour index. The Pearson correlation coefficient was computed to assess the linear relationship between the vigour index and seedling length. All the sixteen accessions have had a high total germination rate, in the range of 89-100%, hence there is no need for their regeneration. The germination energy and total germination showed statistically significant differences for two rice accessions at P-0.05 and P-0.01. The seed showing a high vigour index produced seedlings with higher growth rates. The Pearson correlation of the vigour index and seedling length was found to be very highly positive and statistically significant (r=0.99, p<0.001). Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that rice as a botanical species retains high seed viability during the long-term conservation, although there are individual differences between the accessions which are due to the genetic constitution of each genotype.

Physicochemical and sensory parameters of black locust and chestnut honey quality

Lejla Biber — 2024-03-01

Black locust honey is produced from nectar collected from the Robinia tree (Robinia pseudoacacia). It has light yellow colour, very light and neutral fragrance, and smells of acacia blossom. It has a medium-sweet to very sweet taste, which is fairly to very long-lasting. Its aroma lasts for a short time and it slowly crystallizes. Chestnut honey is produced from nectar or collected from the sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa). Honey is dark brown with a red tint colour, dark colour depends on the region and year, and its aroma is very distinctive with extremely characteristic bitter taste. It rarely crystallizes. This paper presents the characteristics of quality black locust and chestnut honey produced in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period 2012-2015. The study included 31 samples of honey. Laboratory testing of black locust and chestnut honey were carried out in accordance with the rules of the Ordinance on Honey and other Bee Products (Official Gazette of B&H, No. 37/09) and the EU Directive 2001/110/EC; CODEX STAN 12-1981. Indicators of quality (water content, electrical conductivity, total acidity, pH, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and colour) and sensory properties of honey were determined. It was found that patterns of black locust and chestnut honey classified according to years showed certain variability in the physicochemical and sensory characteristics.

Functional responses of larval instars of Cryptolaemus Montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to the Cochineal Scale, Dactylopius Opuntiae (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae)

Mohamed El Aalaoui — 2024-03-01

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is native to Australia and commonly known as ‘cochineal destroyer’. This predator has been introduced in many countries worldwide for biological control of many scale pest species including the cochineal of cactus pear, Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae). The functional responses of larval instars of C. montrouzieri on D. opuntiae (Cockerell) adult females were evaluated under laboratory conditions at 26°C and 12:12 (L:D) h. All larval instars of the predator were first starved for 12 h, then placed individually in Petri dishes (14.5 cm in diameter) with different densities (5, 10, 15, 20, 25) of D. opuntiae females for 24 h. The logistic regression for larval instars of the predator had a negative and significant linear parameter (P1) indicating a type II functional response. Attack rates (0.010, 0.028, 0.042, and 0.052) and handling times (11.945, 6.834, 4.878, and 3.971 hours) for first to fourth instar larvae, respectively, which were estimated using the Holling’s disc equation. This study provides a better understanding of the functional response of C. montrouzieri larval instars to D. opuntiae, which may be useful for effective use of C. montrouzieri in the management of the cactus pear cochineal infestations.

The role of photosynthetic pigments in the leaf of maize inbred lines in improving photosynthetic efficiency

Čedomir Radenović — 2024-03-01

Methods of absorption and Raman spectroscopy were applied in this study to analyze functions and amounts of photosynthetic pigments in the leaf of maize inbred lines (M1-3-3Sdms, ZPPL186, and ZPPL225). Absorption spectroscopy was used to determine the dynamics of biosynthesis of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids. Raman spectroscopy was used to present the dynamics of biosynthesis of carotenoids and other compounds in terms of origin and kinetic form of the formation of spectra with all spectral bands. Organic molecules and compounds causing the formation of certain spectral bands in the Raman spectrum (carotenoids, phosphates, glycogen, amid III, and others) were determined. Conformational and functional changes of photosynthetic pigments in the leaves of the maize inbred lines, which occur due to changes in the ratio (quotient), were analyzed. The ratios (quotients) obtained indicate different contributions of valence oscillations of their chemical bonds, which inevitably alter the conformation of molecules and compounds. The results presented for the overall study point to minor biogenic differences among the maize inbred lines under study.

Spatial assessment of the soil organic carbon content under different types of land use in the Ohrid valley

Duško Mukaetov — 2024-03-01

Spatial assessment of key soil properties is a basic prerequisite for the evidence-based decision making and sustainable use and management of soil. The aim of this work was to estimate the spatial distribution of SOC under different types of land use, by the means of Digital Soil Mapping techniques. A site-specific soil data collection for the Ohrid valley was integrated with continuous and discrete datasets of environmental covariates, serving as predictors. The selected test area outlines the variability of factors influencing the SOC content and spatial distribution. Soil sampling locations were randomly distributed within a predefined mesh with a 1-sq.km spatial resolution and further stratified to outline different types of land use within each mash square. Soil samples were collected from 93 locations at three depths, each 20 cm apart, covering the total area of 10 thousand ha of arable land, forestland, and land under natural vegetation. A set of additional environmental dataset was collected, namely the soil map, land use map, geology map, digital terrain model and its derivatives, satellite images, climate data, as well as a set of indices NDVI, SAVI, BI etc., developed from the remote sensing datasets. Multiple linear regression was used for evaluating the regression pattern between the environmental predictors and the target variable. To estimate spatial variability, several regression tree methods were used. The results obtained using this approach have given a better spatial overview of the most vulnerable areas regarding SOC depletion. Out of 21 locations examined, the content of soil organic carbon in the top layer (0-20 cm.) of forestland was on average 6.81%, while at 22 locations examined under grassland, the average content was 4.07%. The arable land, which is under continuous human impact, had the lowest content of SOC of 2.5% under field crops and 2.61% under perennials.