Modern Seed Technology

Satisfying the increasing number of consumer demands for high-quality seeds with enhanced performance is one of the most imperative challenges of modern agriculture. In this view, it is essential to remember that the seed quality of crops does not improve

QTL analysis for genes conferring tolerance to drought stress and damage from UV-B radiation

A mapping experiment has been carried out on the IMB94 recombinant inbred maize population seeking loci that confer tolerance to drought stress, UV-B stress, and the combination of both. The effects of drought, UV-B radiation, and the combination of both on four general traits in maize seedlings were measured under greenhouse conditions and analyzed using QTL Network and Chromoscan software. Trait measurements indicated a seasonal affect on growth which was adjusted for by standardizing trait data by the median of corresponding parental ‘check plants’. Non-adjusted and adjusted QTL Network analyses identified 19 QTLs with 5 epistatic interactions and 6 QTLs with 2 epistatic interactions, respectively while Chromoscan analysis identified 123 single locus QTLs. Results from these analyses suggest that QTLs for drought and UV-B tolerance exist across the entire genome and are somewhat more common than QTLs for tolerance to the combination of both stresses

Evaluation of the Potential Use of a Collagen-Based Protein Hydrolysate as a Plant Multi-Stress Protectant

Protein hydrolysates (PHs) are a class of plant biostimulants used in the agricultural practice to improve crop performance. In this study, we have assessed the capacity of a commercial PH derived from bovine collagen to mitigate drought, hypoxic, and Fe deficiency stress in Zea mays. As for the drought and hypoxic stresses, hydroponically grown plants treated with the PH exhibited an increased growth and absorption area of the roots compared with those treated with inorganic nitrogen. In the case of Fe deficiency, plants supplied with the PH mixed with FeCl3 showed a faster recovery from deficiency compared to plants supplied with FeCl3 alone or with FeEDTA, resulting in higher SPAD values, a greater concentration of Fe in the leaves and modulation in the expression of genes related to Fe. Moreover, through the analysis of circular dichroism spectra, we assessed that the PH interacts with Fe in a dose-dependent manner. Various hypothesis about the mechanisms of action of the collagen-based PH as stress protectant particularly in Fe-deficiency, are discussed

Thermography to explore plant-environment interactions

Review PaperStomatal regulation is a key determinant of plant photosynthesis and water relations, influencing plant survival, adaptation, and growth. Stomata sense the surrounding environment and respond rapidly to abiotic and biotic stresses. Stomatal conductance to water vapour (gs) and/or transpiration (E) are therefore valuable physiological parameters to be monitored in plant and agricultural sciences. However, leaf gas exchange measurements involve contact with leaves and often interfere with leaf functioning. Besides, they are time consuming and are limited by the sampling characteristics (e.g. sample size and/or the high number of samples required). Remote and rapid means to assess gs or E are thus particularly valuable for physiologists, agronomists, and ecologists. Transpiration influences the leaf energy balance and, consequently, leaf temperature (Tleaf). As a result, thermal imaging makes it possible to estimate or quantify gs and E. Thermal imaging has been successfully used in a wide range of conditions and with diverse plant species. The technique can be applied at different scales (e.g. from single seedlings/leaves through whole trees or field crops to regions), providing great potential to study plant–environment interactions and specific phenomena such as abnormal stomatal closure, genotypic variation in stress tolerance, and the impact of different management strategies on crop water status. Nevertheless, environmental variability (e.g. in light intensity, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed) affects the accuracy of thermal imaging measurements. This review presents and discusses the advantages of thermal imaging applications to plant science, agriculture, and ecology, as well as its limitations and possible approaches to minimize them, by highlighting examples from previous and ongoing researchinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Physiological and Molecular Characterization of Crop Resistance to Abiotic Stresses

Abiotic stress represents the main constraint for agriculture, affecting plant growth and productivity worldwide. Yield losses in agriculture will be potentiated in the future by global warming, increasing contamination, and reduced availability of fertile land. The challenge for agriculture of the present and future is that of increasing the food supply for a continuously growing human population under environmental conditions that are deteriorating in many areas of the world. Minimizing the effects of diverse types of abiotic stresses represents a matter of general concern. Research on all topics related to abiotic stress tolerance, from understanding the stress response mechanisms of plants to developing cultivars and crops tolerant to stress, is a priority. This Special Issue is focused on the physiological and molecular characterization of crop resistance to abiotic stresses, including novel research, reviews, and opinion articles covering all aspects of the responses and mechanisms of plant tolerance to abiotic. Contributions on physiological, biochemical, and molecular studies of crop responses to abiotic stresses; the description and role of stress-responsive genes; marker-assisted screening of stress-tolerant genotypes; genetic engineering; and other biotechnological approaches to improve crop tolerance were considered

Plant Proteomic Research 4.0

As an important tool of systems biology, proteomics has enabled a deep understanding of different plant processes and functions. Complemented with genomic data, computational tools, and improved sample preparation strategies, proteomics has an unprecedented opportunity to characterize plant proteoforms in high spatial and temporal resolution. This special issue of Plant Proteomic Research 4.0 captures the recent advancements in proteomics and addresses the current challenges of plant stress response and resilience in the ever-changing climate. It contains 12 articles, including three reviews and nine original research articles. The three reviews deal with pollen phosphoproteomics, starch biosynthesis-related proteins and posttranslational modifications (PTMs) in rice developing seeds, and PTMs of waxy proteins in rice grain. The nine research articles include three related to temperature, two on water stress, two on salt stress, one on fungal pathogen, and the last one on field-grown potato apoplast proteome. The articles reflect the current frontiers of plant proteomics, focusing on themes of environmental stresses, proteoforms/PTMs, crop species, and new development in data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry. They provide readers insights into current technologies, their utility in understanding plant growth and resilience, as well as directions of proteomics in the frontiers of systems biology and synthetic biology

Sensing and Automation Technologies for Ornamental Nursery Crop Production: Current Status and Future Prospects

The ornamental crop industry is an important contributor to the economy in the United States. The industry has been facing challenges due to continuously increasing labor and agricultural input costs. Sensing and automation technologies have been introduced to reduce labor requirements and to ensure efficient management operations. This article reviews current sensing and automation technologies used for ornamental nursery crop production and highlights prospective technologies that can be applied for future applications. Applications of sensors, computer vision, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Internet-of-Things (IoT), and robotic technologies are reviewed. Some advanced technologies, including 3D cameras, enhanced deep learning models, edge computing, radio-frequency identification (RFID), and integrated robotics used for other cropping systems, are also discussed as potential prospects. This review concludes that advanced sensing, AI and robotic technologies are critically needed for the nursery crop industry. Adapting these current and future innovative technologies will benefit growers working towards sustainable ornamental nursery crop production