Evaluation of different sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. moench) varieties for grain yield and related characteristics

Abstract Eight sorghum genotypes were evaluated for grain and other associated traits at Maize and Millets Research Institute, Yousafwala, Sahiwal, Punjab, Pakistan in 2011. The results revealed that sorghum varieties differed significantly for grain yield, fodder yield, plant height and days to 50% flowering. Among the varieties, YSS-9, YSS-10 (Cream) and YSS-17 produced higher grain yield (3433, 3167 and 3100 kg ha -1 , respectively) than other genotypes. Varieties YSS-9 and YSS-10 (Cream) produced higher fodder yield of 15833 and 12000 kg ha -1 , respectively. Sorghum variety YSS-10 (cream) took maximum days (86) to 50% flowering, while variety YSS-98 (control) took minimum 79 days to 50% flowering. Among the tested genotypes, YSS-9 produced higher grain yield as well as fodder yield (stay greener at maturity) than all other genotypes. It has a bold grain size of creamy color which has no tannin contents (anti nutritional factor) and strong root anchor system. So it is concluded that YSS-9 proved as a dual-purpose variety with reasonable grain and fodder yields

Adaptive Neural Network Q-Learning-Based Full Recurrent Adaptive NeuroFuzzy Nonlinear Control Paradigms for Bidirectional-Interlinking Converter in a Grid-Connected Hybrid AC-DC Microgrid

The stability of a hybrid AC-DC microgrid depends mainly upon the bidirectional interlinking converter (BIC), which is responsible for power transfer, power balance, voltage solidity, frequency and transients sanity. The varying generation from renewable resources, fluctuating loads, and bidirectional power flow from the utility grid, charging station, super-capacitor, and batteries produce various stability issues on hybrid microgrids, like net active-reactive power flow on the AC-bus, frequency oscillations, total harmonic distortion (THD), and voltage variations. Therefore, the control of BIC between AC and DC buses in grid-connected hybrid microgrid power systems is of great importance for the quality/smooth operation of power flow, power sharing and stability of the whole power system. In literature, various control schemes are suggested, like conventional droop control, communication-based control, model predictive control, etc., each addressing different stability issues of hybrid AC-DC microgrids. However, model dependence, single-point-failure (SPF), communication vulnerability, complex computations, and complicated multilayer structures motivated the authors to develop online adaptive neural network (NN) Q-learning-based full recurrent adaptive neurofuzzy nonlinear control paradigms for BIC in a grid-connected hybrid AC-DC microgrid. The proposed strategies successfully ensure the following: (i) frequency stabilization, (ii) THD reduction, (iii) voltage normalization and (iv) negligible net active-reactive power flow on the AC-bus. Three novel adaptive NN Q-learning-based full recurrent adaptive neurofuzzy nonlinear control paradigms are proposed for PQ-control of BIC in a grid-connected hybrid AC-DC microgrid. The control schemes are based on NN Q-learning and full recurrent adaptive neurofuzzy identifiers. Hybrid adaptive full recurrent Legendre wavelet-based Neural Network Q-learning-based full recurrent adaptive NeuroFuzzy control, Hybrid adaptive full recurrent Mexican hat wavelet-based Neural Network Q-learning-based full recurrent adaptive NeuroFuzzy control, and Hybrid adaptive full recurrent Morlet wavelet-based Neural Network Q-learning-based full recurrent adaptive NeuroFuzzy control are modeled and tested for the control of BIC. The controllers differ from each other, based on variants used in the antecedent part (Gaussian membership function and B-Spline membership function), and consequent part (Legendre wavelet, Mexican hat wavelet, and Morlet wavelet) of the full recurrent adaptive neurofuzzy identifiers. The performance of the proposed control schemes was validated for various quality and stability parameters, using a simulation testbench in MATLAB/Simulink. The simulation results were bench-marked against an aPID controller, and each proposed control scheme, for a simulation time of a complete solar day

Growth assessment of Tinda gourd (Praecitrullus fistulosu) germplasms

A field experiment was conducted to identify growth pattern and morphological traits of 16 varietal lines of Tinda gourd specie (Praecitrullus fistulosus) germplasms. The field experiment was conducted in olericulture area of Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. One local variety as check with fifteen genotypes of Tinda gourd was grown in Olericulture field. Flat beds technique as growing medium was applied in field for seeds to germinate. Data on germination percentage, days to flowering, male flower ratio, female flower ratio, length of vine in (cm) and tendrils which were taken as phenotypically. Data were analyzed statistically by using method ANOVA and their means were compared by using SE techniques. The maximum Germination percentage (G %), DTF (days to flowering), MF (male flower), FF (female flower) and LV (length of vine) were recorded was L0 (94.00), L0 (54.33), L11 (110.33), L11 (14.33) and L0 (55.33) and the minimum were recorded was L4 (74.00), L11 (35), L3 (80), L7 (9) and L1 (46) cm respectively. Treatments showed different results according to regarding parameters while tendrils were present and coiled

Growth assessment of Tinda gourd (Praecitrullus fistulosu) germplasms

A field experiment was conducted to identify growth pattern and morphological traits of 16 varietal lines of Tinda gourd specie (Praecitrullus fistulosus) germplasms. The field experiment was conducted in olericulture area of Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. One local variety as check with fifteen genotypes of Tinda gourd was grown in Olericulture field. Flat beds technique as growing medium was applied in field for seeds to germinate. Data on germination percentage, days to flowering, male flower ratio, female flower ratio, length of vine in (cm) and tendrils which were taken as phenotypically. Data were analyzed statistically by using method ANOVA and their means were compared by using SE techniques. The maximum Germination percentage (G %), DTF (days to flowering), MF (male flower), FF (female flower) and LV (length of vine) were recorded was L0 (94.00), L0 (54.33), L11 (110.33), L11 (14.33) and L0 (55.33) and the minimum were recorded was L4 (74.00), L11 (35), L3 (80), L7 (9) and L1 (46) cm respectively. Treatments showed different results according to regarding parameters while tendrils were present and coiled

The high-throughput sequencing of small RNAs profiling in wide hybridisation and allopolyploidisation between Brassica rapa and Brassica nigra

Small RNAs play an important role in maintaining the genome reconstruction and stability in the plant. However, little is known regarding the role of small RNAs during the process of wide hybridisation and chromosome doubling. Therefore, the changes in the small RNAs were assessed during the formation of an allodiploid (genome: AB) and its allotetraploid (genome: AABB) between Brassica rapa (♀) and Brassica nigra (♂) in the present study. Here, the experimental methods described in details, RNA-seq data (available at Gene Expression Omnibus database under GSE61872) and analysis published by Ghani et al. [1]. The study showed that small RNAs play an important role in maintaining the genome stability, and regulate gene expression which induces the phenotype variation in the formation of an allotetraploid. This may play an important role in the occurrence of heterosis in the allotetraploid

Effect of vanadium on growth, photosynthesis, reactive oxygen species, antioxidant enzymes, and cell death of rice

Vanadium (V) as minor concentration is present in various plants and extensively found in soils. The current study was established to assess the response of rice seedlings to different V concentrations and also investigated its toxic effect on growth, photosynthetic assimilation, relative chlorophyll content, SPAD index, ion leakage, enzyme activities, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and cell death. The rice seeds were sown in Petri dishes for 8 days, and after that, rice seedlings were grown hydroponically in a climate-controlled growth chamber. After 15 days of V-treatment, antioxidant enzyme activities, H2O2, protein contents, photosynthetic assimilation, relative chlorophyll content, and cell death were determined by utilizing the Spectrophotometer (Lambda 25 UV/VIS Spectrophotometer), and V accumulation (roots and shoots) was determined by GFAAS (GTA 120). The obtained results showed that all V concentrations significantly decreased the biomass (dry and fresh) and root growth as a result of the reduction in total root length, root tips, root fork, root surface area, and root crossing, and V was more accumulated in roots than shoots. Besides this, enzymatic activities were significantly enhanced under V stress. The findings also confirmed that seedling exposed to V stress had lower tolerance indices, photosynthetic activity, and protein contents while the ion leakage was consistently increased by increasing the V concentrations. The viability of plant cells severely damaged in response to high V stress, and H2O2 induction might be responsible for cell death. Generally, all V doses had a drastic effect on enzyme activities and caused cell death of rice plans. Moreover, the current study demonstrated that V ≥ 35 mg L−1 caused damaging effects on rice plants

Role of salicylic acid in heat stress tolerance in tri-genomic brassica napus l.

Tri-genomic Brassica napus L. was developed by the cross between Brassica napus and Brassica nigra. The crop is an important source of vegetable seed oil in Pakistan, after cotton. The low oilseed rape yield is attributed to high temperature in the production zones. Interspecific hybridization using these two species can be helpful to produce heat resistant hybrids. On the other hand, it has been found that foliar application of different plant growth regulators can be used to reduce the heat stress in Brassica. The objective of this study was to test the response of three different tri-genomic hybrids to high temperature stress at seedling stage. Seedlings were foliar sprayed with 0.13 mM salicylic acid (SA) prior to exposure to high temperature at two true leaf stage. The plants were harvested after 30 days of sowing for growth and biochemical analysis. Plants of V38 showed the highest values for all morphological traits and biochemical activities among the three hybrids. In general, plants exposed to the temperature stress exhibited a significant decline in growth, chlorophyll content and enzyme activity. Foliar application of SA significantly improved leaf and root biomass under heat stress. Further, antioxidative enzyme activities significantly increased in response to SA either compared to control or to plants exposed to temperature stress. It is concluded that application of salicylic acid elevated activity of antioxidative enzymes and was helpful in mitigating the detrimental effects of high temperature in oil seed rapeEl rol del ácido salicílico en la tolerancia del estrés térmico en Brassica napus L. trigenómica Brassica napus trigenómica fue desarrollada por el cruce entre Brassica napus y Brassica nigra. El cultivo es una fuente muy importante de aceite vegetal en Pakistán, después del algodón. El rendimiento de la canola es bajo, atribuido a las altas temperaturas en las zonas de producción. El mejoramiento de la hibridación entre las dos especies puede ser útil para producir híbridos resistentes al calor. Por otra parte, se ha encontrado que la aplicación foliar de diferentes reguladores del crecimiento pueden reducir el estrés por calor en Brassica. En el presente estudio se sometieron plántulas de tres híbridos trigenómicos a temperatura de 40 °C. Las plántulas se rociaron con ácido salicílico (AS) 0,13 mM antes de exponerlas al estrés térmico. Las plántulas se cosecharon a los 30 días después de la siembra para la determinación del crecimiento y análisis bioquímicos. Las plantas de V38 mostraron los valores más altos para todos los rasgos morfológicos y actividades bioquímicas entre los tres híbridos estudiados. En general, las plantas expuestas al estrés térmico mostraron una disminución en el crecimiento, el contenido de clorofila y la actividad enzimática. La aplicación foliar de SA mejoró significativamente la biomasa de hojas y raíces. Además, la actividad de las enzimas antioxidantes aumentó significativamente en respuesta al SA, tanto en comparación con el control como con respecto a las plantas expuestas al estrés por temperatura. Se concluye que la aplicación de ácido salicílico elevó la actividad de las enzimas antioxidantes y fue útil para mitigar los efectos perjudiciales de las altas temperaturas en la canola

Optimizing efficacy of turnip growth through foliar application of glutamic acid under saline conditions

Salinity is assumed to be a distressing abiotic factor that mainly disrupts crop quality and yield by impairing plant cell mechanisms. Due to ion accumulation, salinity stress results in lowering growth rate and water uptake. This issue is being solved by the use of several plant growth regulators. Plant growth regulators have been proven to increase plants' ability to withstand against stress. In this study, turnip (purple top cultivar) was subjected to four distinct levels of salt (0, 4, 8, and 12 dS/m), as well as one level of gibberellic acid, in order to assess the function of exogenously applied plant growth regulator glutamic acid (GA) (10 mM). Results revealed that salt stress slowed plant growth and decreased the amount of chlorophyll in turnip leaves. Application of salt alone resulted in a considerable decline in biochemical characteristics. However, in salt-stressed conditions, exogenous application of GA improved the antioxidant activity, chlorophyll contents and plant growth in the turnip leaves. Moreover, results depict that under salt stress vitamin C decreased; however, exogenous application of GA enhanced the Vit. C in turnip plants. Further, the uptake of salt content in turnip roots and leaves was significantly lowered by the application of GA. Additionally, under salt stress; GA dramatically controlled the quantity of phenolic compounds in turnip.Keywords: Brassica rapa, Salinity, Glutamic acid, Morphological and biochemical assay, Reducing and non-reducing suga