Topic Review
Integrated Disease Management of Cannabis at Stock Cultivation Stage
The increased cultivation of high THC-containing Cannabis sativa L. (cannabis), particularly in greenhouses, has resulted in a greater incidence of diseases and molds that can negatively affect the growth and quality of the crop. Among them, the most important diseases are root rots (Fusarium and Pythium spp.), bud rot (Botrytis cinerea), powdery mildew (Golovinomyces ambrosiae), cannabis stunt disease (caused by hop latent viroid), and a range of microbes that reduce post-harvest quality. An integrated management approach to reduce the impact of these diseases/microbes requires combining different approaches that target the reproduction, spread, and survival of the associated pathogens, many of which can occur on the same plant simultaneously. These approaches will be discussed in the context of developing an integrated plan to manage the important pathogens of greenhouse-grown cannabis at different stages of plant development. These stages include the maintenance of stock plants, propagation through cuttings, vegetative growth of plants, and flowering. The cultivation of cannabis genotypes with tolerance or resistance to various pathogens is a very important approach, as well as the maintenance of pathogen-free stock plants. 
  • 60
  • 25 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Temperatures and Light Effect on Dormancy
Dormancy is defined as the sum of processes that create a situation wherein embryonic tissues are unable to grow, even under environmental conditions that generally favor growth and development. The effects of temperature to break dormancy, from work done on peach, can be summarized as follows: Effective temperatures are between −2 °C and 13 °C, and the most effective being 4–8 °C with reduced efficiency at higher and lower temperatures. Moderate temperatures between 13 °C and 16 °C that will not break dormancy alone, when occurring in a daily cycle after previous chilling, enhance the effect of chilling. On the other hand, temperatures higher than 18 °C in a daily cycle will nullify former chilling. This negative effect of high temperatures increases the longer the duration and the higher the temperature. However, when cycles are longer than a day, the chilling effect is final and cannot be nullified by high temperatures. Apart from the effects of temperature on dormancy, light effects on dormancy in peach trials had also been detected Clearly, the dormant vegetative buds perceive light signals and react to light during dormancy and bud breaks. On the other hand, flower buds in peach were found to be non-responsive to light. Dormancy in vegetative buds is induced by short days. During endodormancy, the limitation of light and even total darkness enhance bud breaks in spring, compared to buds receiving natural light. But darkness in spring will prevent vegetative bud break even following sufficient chilling during winter.  So, there is an analogy between chilling and darkness.
  • 50
  • 22 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Lignocellulolytic Microorganisms in Cereal Crop Residue Decomposition
The global escalation in cereal production, essential to meet growing population demands, simultaneously augments the generation of cereal crop residues, estimated annually at approximately 3107 × 106 Mg/year. Among different crop residue management approaches, returning them to the soil can be essential for various ecological benefits, including nutrient recycling and soil carbon sequestration. However, the recalcitrant characteristics of cereal crop residues pose significant challenges in their management, particularly in the decomposition rate. Microorganisms employ a range of mechanisms, such as the utilization of different enzymes that work in combination, to initiate oxidative attacks on plant litter. Consequently, this serves to reduce the recalcitrance of the lignocellulosic material, hence facilitating subsequent action by depolymerizing enzymes. Both fungi and bacteria have received increased attention for their ability to secrete a diverse range of lignocellulolytic enzymes.
  • 63
  • 13 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Antioxidant Activities of Mentha spp. Essential Oils
Plant essential oils (EOs) are produced predominantly using steam distillation, but can also be generated using fermentation, crushing, extraction, hydrolysis, and airing. EOs are used extensively in cosmetics in many different aspects as perfumes, in antiseptic applications, and in domestic cleaning products. The essential oils of Mentha (the Lamiaceae family) have been extensively studied for their biological actions.
  • 59
  • 13 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Plant Biostimulants
Modern agriculture is being challenged by deteriorating edaphoclimatic conditions and increasing anthropogenic pressure. This necessitates the development of innovative crop production systems that can sustainably meet the demands of a growing world population while minimizing the environmental impact. The use of plant biostimulants is gaining ground as a safe and ecologically sound approach to improving crop yields.
  • 57
  • 12 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Pharmacological Properties of Gentiopicroside In Vivo
Gentiopicroside (GPS) is a leading component of several plant species from the Gentianaceae botanical family. As a compound with plenty of biological activities and a component of herbal drugs, GPS has an important role in the regulation of physiological processes in humans. The results of recently published scientific studies underline a meaningful role of this molecule as an active factor in metabolic pathways and mechanisms, which may have an influence in the treatment of different diseases, including digestive tract disorders, malignant changes, neurological disorders, microbial infections, bone formation disorders, inflammatory conditions, and others.
  • 127
  • 06 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Heat Stress Tolerance in Cowpea
Heat stress is often described as a condition of high temperatures that are sufficient to cause permanent damage to plant processes, including shortening the time for photosynthetic contribution to seed production. Heat stress on most plants can impact functions through the direct effects of high tissue temperature or the indirect consequences of the high evaporative demand accompanying hot weather. Understanding the impact of heat stress is crucial for plant breeding because it relates to key adaptive, biochemical, morphological, physiological, and reproductive processes. Despite its ability to thrive in high-temperature environments, cowpea productivity can be hampered by heat stress, particularly when night air temperatures exceed 17 °C. The crop’s germplasm pool potentially possesses significant genetic variability that can be harnessed to breed for heat-tolerant varieties. 
  • 83
  • 06 Mar 2024
Topic Review
R–AVR Pairs and Interplay in Rice Blast Resistance
Rice is a vital component in the diets of many people worldwide, supplying necessary calories for subsistence. Nevertheless, the yield of this crucial agricultural crop is consistently hindered by a range of biotic stresses. Out of these, rice blast, claused mainly by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, poses a significant menace to worldwide rice cultivation as well as yield. Substantial progress has been achieved in the development of efficient ways to manage rice blast disease. These procedures entail using a variety of rice genetic resources to find, map, clone, and functionally validate individual resistance (R) genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that provide long-lasting resistance to rice blast disease. Moreover, the replication and practical confirmation of homologous avirulence (Avr) genes in various M. oryzae strains have been crucial in comprehending the fundamental molecular mechanisms of host–pathogen interactions.
  • 69
  • 04 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Jasmonate
Temperature is a critical environmental factor that plays a vital role in plant growth and development. Temperatures below or above the optimum ranges lead to cold or heat stress, respectively. Temperature stress retards plant growth and development, and it reduces crop yields. Jasmonates (JAs) are a class of oxylipin phytohormones that play various roles in growth, development, and stress response.
  • 129
  • 04 Mar 2024
Topic Review
7-Methyljuglone in Tuberculosis Treatment
7-Methyljuglone (7-MJ) is a pure compound isolated from the roots of Euclea natalensis A. DC., a shrub indigenous to South Africa. It exhibits significant promise as a potential treatment for the highly communicable disease tuberculosis (TB), owing to its effective antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 
  • 75
  • 01 Mar 2024
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