Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Climate Change Challenges in Temperate and Sub-Tropical Fruit Tree Cultivation
In the last few years, the world has experienced the impacts of climate change, such as elevated mean annual temperature, extreme weather events, drought, etc. Among living organisms, perennial plant species are the ones mostly exposed to climate change impacts, as they may experience different extreme events within the same year, such as flooding during some periods and drought in summer months, extremely low temperatures in winter but excessively high temperatures in summer, etc. Climate change affects a range of physiological functions of temperate fruit and nut tree species, such as their phenophases, bud dormancy release and vernalization, pollination and fruit set, fruit growth and quality, as well as bud sprouting and growth initiation. Besides these, the impact of climate change on pests, diseases, and weeds may generate significant negative interactions with tree physiology, threatening food production, food safety, and human welfare. In the present manuscript, a general aspect of climate change impacts on fruits’ and nut trees’ physiological functions is described and commented on.
  • 615
  • 27 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Types and General Role of Organic Amendments
Salinity and metal stress are significant abiotic factors that negatively influence plant growth and development. These factors lead to diminished agricultural yields on a global scale. Organic amendments have emerged as a potential solution for mitigating the adverse effects of salinity and metal stress on plants. When plants experience these stresses, they produce reactive oxygen species, which can impair protein synthesis and damage cellular membranes. Organic amendments, including biochar, vermicompost, green manure, and farmyard manure, have been shown to facilitate soil nitrogen uptake, an essential component for protein synthesis, and enhance various plant processes such as metabolism, protein accumulation, and antioxidant activities. Researchers have observed that the application of organic amendments improves plant stress tolerance, plant growth, and yield.
  • 55
  • 19 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Phosphorus HotSpots in Crop Plants on the Farm
Phosphorus resources, both in phosphate rocks and in the soil, are limited. However, effective food production is not possible without the use of P fertilizers. Recognizing and eliminating or at least ameliorating factors (hot spots) that interfere with the uptake and use of phosphorus (P) by crop plants is of key importance for effective use of both P and nitrogen (N) on the farm. Plants have developed many adaptation mechanisms to their environment, i.e., soil low in available phosphorus. The most important ones include the secretion of organic compounds into the rhizosphere and the association of plant roots with microorganisms. A classic example is mycorrhiza. These mechanisms can be used by the farmer to sequentially select plants in the crop rotation. The uptake of inorganic P (Pi) by plants from the soil is reduced by environmental (temperature and water) and soil factors (low content of available phosphorus, soil acidity, soil compaction). These factors are responsible for the growth and size of the root system. Mitigating these negative effects improves the efficiency of phosphorus uptake from the soil. The second group of critical factors, limiting both root growth and availability of phosphorus, can be effectively controlled using simple measures (for example, lime).
  • 89
  • 07 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Articulating Organic Agriculture and Sustainable Development in Serbia
With the greening of agriculture, there is a need to better link the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and organic agriculture in developing countries. However, in Serbia, there is a huge gap between the potential of their implementation and the actual situation. The restricted development of organic agriculture in Serbia stems from the undeveloped awareness of consumers, slower acceptance of alternative agricultural systems and the volatility of mainstream conventional agricultural production. The integration of organic agriculture into the largest conceptual and strategic frameworks, such as the SDGs, can offer a true transformation of local food systems and could result in positive feedback to the environment and society.
  • 88
  • 07 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Mangrove Swamp Rice Production in Guinea-Bissau
Rice (Oryza sativa L. and O. glaberrima) is one of the most important staple foods on the Asian, African, and American continents. The rice crop grows primarily in the humid and seasonally dry tropics of the world, in most cases with irrigation or freshwater harvesting systems. The mangrove swamp rice production (MSRP) refers to rice cultivation in former mangrove soils that have been anthropogenically modified for rice production in west Africa.
  • 110
  • 07 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Research Progress of the Wheat × Maize System
Chromosome elimination resulting in haploids is achieved by rapid loss of chromosomes from one parent during the zygote stage and is an important procedure to produce doubled haploid (DH) lines in plants. During crosses between an emasculated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) as pollen donors, the complete loss of maize chromosomes results in wheat haploid embryos. Through embryo rescue and chromosome doubling processes, pure lines with stable traits can be quickly obtained. The technique is called the “Wheat × Maize System”.
  • 69
  • 05 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Basic Concepts and Technologies of Smart Agriculture
Smart agriculture (SA) entails the exploitation of data to optimize agricultural systems. The distinction from precision agriculture may seem minor, but is crucial, as it defines the next revolution within agricultural and digital industries. The focus of SA is on data exploitation; this requires access to data, data analysis, and the application of the results over multiple (ideally, all) farm or ranch operations.
  • 62
  • 29 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Macadamia Decline Management
Macadamia decline poses a serious economic threat to the macadamia industry. It exhibits either a slow decline due to infection by Kretzschmaria clavus or Ganoderma lucidum, or a quick decline caused by pathogens like Phytophthora spp., Lasiodiplodia spp., Neofusiccocum spp., Nectria rugulosa, Xylaria arbuscula, Phellinus gilvus, Acremonium recifei, and Rosellinia spp. Chemical strategies, resistant cultivars, and agronomic measures have been widely adopted to control macadamia decline, but effective biological control measures have rarely been applied.
  • 86
  • 28 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Benefits of Organic Farming
Organic farming, which is deeply rooted in traditional agricultural practices, has witnessed a profound evolution over the last century. Transitioning from a grassroots initiative resisting the industrialization of agriculture to a global industry, organic farming now plays a pivotal role in addressing contemporary challenges related to environmental health, sustainability, and food safety. 
  • 154
  • 27 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Remote Sensing Applied on the Agriculture
Agricultural remote sensing technology has made great progress. The availability of sensors capable of detecting electromagnetic energy and/or heat emitted by targets improves the pre-harvest process and therefore becomes an indispensable tool in the post-harvest phase. The use of sensors in the field and post-harvest processes allows for accurate real-time monitoring of operations and grain quality, enabling decision-making supported by computer tools such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence algorithms. This way, grain producers can get ahead, track and reduce losses, and maintain grain quality from field to consumer.
  • 112
  • 20 Feb 2024
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