The increasing adoption of UAV-based spraying systems to deliver precise and uniform agrochemical applications is necessitating the optimization of operational parameters such as height and nozzle type to enhance efficacy and minimize the environmental impact. This study evaluated the influence of nozzle types (N-1, N-2, N-3, and N-4) and UAV heights (2 m, 2.5 m, and 3 m) on critical spraying parameters including volume median diameter (VMD), droplet density (DD), crop canopy coverage area (CA%), and swath width (SW) across different canopy positions. Statistical analysis using ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc tests revealed significant differences (p<0.05) in the deposition patterns across the nozzle types and heights. Among the configurations tested, nozzle N-3 at a height of 2.5 m above the crop canopy achieved the highest canopy coverage (93.5%), with an optimal volume median diameter (417.3 μm), ensuring an effective and uniform deposition across the canopy positions. Droplet density was highest at the middle canopy position (605.5 droplets/cm²) for the nozzle N-2 at 2 m, while the bottom canopy showed the most variability across the nozzle types and heights. Laboratory nozzle characterization validated these results, along with maintaining the consistency of the droplet size classification within the ASABE standards. This study demonstrates that the UAV height and nozzle type can significantly influence spraying efficiency, thus providing actionable insights for optimizing UAV-based spraying systems. These findings are particularly relevant for improving sustainable agricultural practices in Northern India, where UAV-based spraying can maximize resource efficiency and minimize environmental risks, even for smallholder farmers.

Monkey kola is a common name given to the edible wild relatives of West African kolanut. These are neglected and underutilized indigenous tropical fruit species growing in the West and Central African forests. Knowledge on the nutrient and antinutrient composition of the fruits is highly inadequate. In this study, mature fruits of two wild monkey kola species (Cola pachycarpa and Cola lepidota) were air-dried, milled, and stored in air-tight containers. They were evaluated for phytochemical, proximate, vitamin and mineral compositions. The nutrient compositions were determined using standard AOAC methods. Gravimetric and spectrophotometric methods were used for antinutrient determinations. The two species of monkey kola were found to be rich in both nutrients and antinutrients. However, there were significant (p < 0.05) differences in the proximate, mineral, and vitamin compositions of the two varieties. Cola lepidota was richer in moisture, protein, fat, phosphorus, iron, and zinc, while Cola pachycarpa was richer in ash content, crude fiber, magnesium, potassium, sodium, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E. Regarding phytochemicals, Cola lepidota was richer in alkaloids, while Cola pachycarpa was richer in flavonoids. However, there were no significant (p>0.05) differences between the two monkey kola species in their saponin, tannin, and phytate compositions. The abundance of a wide variety of minerals, vitamins, and other bioactive compounds in both kola species justifies their wide consumption by natives in regions where they grow. The fruits of these species should be fully exploited for their potential health benefits.

Introduction: Salinity is a major environmental issue that negatively impacts agricultural productivity and food security. A promising strategy for mitigating salt stress is the use of biostimulants that enhance plant tolerance to this abiotic stress. Grape pomace, an abundant agro-industrial byproduct, contains bioactive compounds that can be utilized as biostimulants.

Methods: This study examines the impact of grape pomace extract on the germination of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) seeds under both normal and salt stress conditions. Various concentrations of the extract were evaluated to determine their effects on key germination parameters, including germination percentage, Timson's germination index, germination uniformity coefficient, mean germination time, coefficient of velocity of germination, relative seed germination, relative root growth, and the overall germination index.

Results: Characterization of the grape pomace extract revealed a high content of bioactive secondary metabolites. At low concentrations, the extract significantly improved all germination parameters in both tomato and cucumber under normal and salt stress conditions, indicating a pronounced biostimulant effect across both species. However, higher concentrations exhibited phytotoxic effects, negatively impacting seed germination.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential of grape pomace extract as an eco-friendly biostimulant when applied at the optimal concentrations.

Bangladesh has a wealth of Capsicum species, which has led to the development of a large
number of hot chili landraces. Information on their genetic diversity, conservation status andpotential use is lacking. It is possible to introduce new varieties as there is
plenty of favorable environments for chili cultivation and high demand for hot chili. To
generate useful information toward the sustainable use, management and conservation of these
species, evaluation of diversity, sustainability and productivity of 50 chili genotypes from
home and abroad was carried out. Among them, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI)-released varieties were used as a reference. A one-factor experiment with three
replications following RCBD was conudcted. The results indicated that most of the genotypes demonstrated
satisfactory performance in yield. Few genotypes did not perform well, so all the genotypes
are needed to identify genetic variation and evaluate chemical components to detect a higher
level of sustainability.

A controlled pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of seed priming on physiological traits, growth, and yield components of four durum wheat (Triticum durum) varieties—Hourani, Umqais, Sham 1, and Maru 1—under drought stress imposed during the tillering and anthesis stages. Four seed treatments were applied prior to sowing: hydropriming with distilled water, osmopriming with polyethylene glycol (PEG), osmopriming with 1.5% calcium chloride (CaCl₂), and an untreated control. Seeds were primed for 12 hours at 24 °C. Drought stress was simulated by withholding irrigation for seven days during each respective stage, and plants exposed to drought stress were compared to well-watered controls. The experimental layout followed a 4 × 4 × 3 factorial design within a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates. Under anthesis-stage drought, seed priming significantly improved key physiological parameters, including the transpiration rate (+29%), total chlorophyll content (+1.7%), and relative water content (RWC, +3.5%), relative to the tillering stage. Conversely, drought stress reduced these parameters by 18.6%, 6.5%, and 12.1%, respectively. Osmopriming with PEG led to a 35% higher transpiration rate and 4.9% greater RWC compared to hydropriming during anthesis. In terms of agronomic performance, the PEG and CaCl₂ osmopriming treatments significantly enhanced both growth and yield metrics over hydropriming. Notably, Sham 1 exhibited the highest grain yield increase (82.7%) under PEG priming, while Hourani showed the most severe yield reduction (67.8%) under anthesis-stage drought. In conclusion, seed priming, particularly with PEG or CaCl₂, substantially enhanced durum wheat’s physiological resilience and productivity under drought, with the most pronounced effects observed during anthesis. This suggests that seed priming is a promising strategy for improving drought tolerance in durum wheat cultivated under water-limited conditions.

This study aimed to screen lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains with potent xanthine oxidase (XOD)-inhibitory activity for potential application in reducing uric acid levels in poultry. A two-tiered approach was employed. First, we performed in vitro screening: The XOD inhibition rates of cell-free extracts (CFEs) from 26 LAB strains were determined. Four high-performing strains (A2, A6, SC, SN) were subsequently evaluated for the inhibition rates of their cell-free supernatants (CFSs). Further in vitro characterization included assessing their tolerance to artificial gastrointestinal fluids and antibiotic susceptibility profiling against 21 antimicrobials. The strains were identified via 16S rDNA sequencing. Subsequently, an in vivo safety study was conducted: mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of bacterial suspensions (10¹⁰ CFU/mL) for two weeks, with the incidence of mortality and organ lesions monitored. In vitro, the CFEs of strains A2, A6, SC, and SN exhibited XOD inhibition rates of 23.41%, 27.45%, 24.47%, and 27.23%, respectively, while their CFSs showed rates of 14.26%, 17.02%, 22.34%, and 19.57%. All four strains demonstrated high gastrointestinal tolerance, maintaining viable counts of above 10⁸ CFU/mL post-digestion. They were sensitive to key antibiotics like cephalosporins, macrolides, and penicillins. Molecular identification classified them as Lactobacillus paracasei (A2), Lactobacillus plantarum (A6), Lactobacillus brevis (SC), and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (SN). Critically, the in vivo safety assay revealed no mortality or organ lesions in mice treated with any of the four strains. Four LAB strains with potent in vitro XOD-inhibitory activity and proven in vivo safety were obtained, offering promising candidates for probiotic control of avian hyperuricemia.

Climate change presents increasing challenges for tropical agriculture, especially for crops such as common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), which are highly sensitive to thermal stress. This study evaluates the effects of moderate warming on the root system structure and symbioses of two local varieties, Matambú and Guaymí, grown under humid tropical conditions in Costa Rica. Field experiments were conducted using open-top chambers (OTCs) to simulate a passive temperature increase of approximately +2 °C above ambient conditions. The experimental setup comprised twelve plots (six OTCs and six controls), with destructive root sampling after harvesting the pods. Root biomass, depth, number of nodules, and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization were quantified. Preliminary results indicated that Matambú exhibited a 28% increase in root biomass under OTC conditions (5.4 ± 0.3 g/plant) compared to controls (4.2 ± 0.2 g/plant), while Guaymí showed a smaller increase of 12%. Root depth in Matambú increased from 19.5 ± 1.1 cm (control) to 24.7 ± 1.3 cm (OTC), suggesting a heat-induced root elongation strategy. Additionally, Matambú plants under warming formed, on average, 38.2 ± 3.1 nodules per plant, versus 27.4 ± 2.8 in control, with AM colonization rates of 64 ± 5% vs. 51 ± 4%, respectively. In contrast, Guaymí displayed lower nodulation and mycorrhizal response. These findings suggest that Matambú may possess enhanced adaptive traits for coping with moderate thermal stress, particularly in terms of root architecture and beneficial microbial interactions. The results underscore the importance of conserving and promoting resilient local genotypes for sustainable agriculture under future climate scenarios.

Introduction: Drought stress poses a major risk to global agriculture, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions with low crop yields. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.), an underappreciated but nutritionally important crop, suffers from yield and quality reductions in response to water scarcity. Grafting has emerged as a practical technique for enhancing drought tolerance by fusing sturdy rootstocks with high-yielding scions. Furthermore, light quality directly affects stress adaptation by modulating plant physiological, biochemical, and proteomic responses. Thus, this study's goal is to maximize drought-resistant rootstock performance under various light spectrums.

Materials and Results: Two okra genotypes, NS 7772 and NS 7774, were evaluated in this study under drought stress and under two different light spectra: 100% white light and red–blue–white (R:B:W) LED. The improved drought tolerance of NS-7774 was demonstrated by infrared thermographic pictures, which showed a lower canopy temperature, an increased relative water content, decreased oxidative damage (MDA), and increased antioxidant enzyme activity. Thylakoidal proteomic profiling and 2D-SDS-PAGE demonstrated improved metabolic stability, demonstrating that NS 7774 under R:B:W retained photosynthetic protein complexes and produced stress-responsive polypeptides. SEM-EDAX provided additional confirmation of nutrient retention under stress. Multivariate analysis revealed that antioxidant activity, protein, and chlorophyll are all significant components that support resilience.

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that, when combined with spectrum light alteration, grafting can significantly boost okra's tolerance to drought. Because of its remarkable performance under R:B:W light, NS 7774 may be cultivated in drought-prone locations.

Salinity poses a major challenge to agriculture, especially in arid environments such as those found in Algeria, by significantly reducing crop yield. This study investigates the use of native Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria to improve the growth and stress tolerance of durum wheat (Triticum durum L.) under saline conditions. A bacterial isolate, designated BSSM27, was recovered from saline soils and assessed for key biofertilizer traits, including indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, siderophore secretion, ammonium generation, and phosphate solubilization. Its biocontrol potential was also evaluated through antagonism against Fusarium spp.

Wheat seeds were inoculated with this strain and grown in pots filled with sandy soil from the Oued Souf region in Southern Algeria. Plants were irrigated with bacterial suspensions under different salinity levels (0, 0.1 M, and 0.2 M NaCl). Inoculated plants showed enhanced germination, increased shoot and root biomass, and a higher number of lateral roots compared to non-inoculated controls. Physiological assessments revealed improved chlorophyll content, relative water content, and membrane stability. Moreover, lower levels of proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) indicated reduced oxidative stress. Hormonal profiling demonstrated a favorable balance, with reduced abscisic acid (ABA) and elevated IAA levels, supporting improved growth under stress.

These results highlight the multifunctional role of native PGPR in promoting plant growth and mitigating salinity stress through nutrient mobilization, hormonal regulation, and physiological enhancement. The use of such bio-inoculants represents a sustainable and environmentally friendly strategy for improving crop performance in saline soils.

Curcuma longa (Turmeric) is a remarkable plant widely used in Ayurvedic medicine, pharmacology, culinary practices, and cosmetic production. Its primary bioactive compound, curcumin, a potent polyphenol, possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and neuroprotective properties. It acts as a remedy for various chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders. Turmeric is valued as a natural colorant and preservative in agriculture and the food industry. This study aims to investigate the in vitro propagation of turmeric, offering a scalable solution for high-quality plant production. Rhizome buds were surface-sterilized using 10% and 15% Clorox solutions with exposure times of 10 and 15 minutes. Initially, the buds were placed in sealed culture containers filled with sterilized coir dust. Each rhizome produced more than eight buds simultaneously, allowing for reuse. Out of 120 replicates, the most effective sterilization protocol was 10% Clorox for 10 minutes, yielding 81% contamination-free cultures. The results were statistically significant under a two-factor Completely Randomized Design (P < 0.05). Healthy buds were subcultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with BAP (1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 mg/L) and NAA (0.5 mg/L) to induce shooting and rooting. The optimal response was observed with 2.0 mg/L BAP with 0.5 mg/L NAA, resulting in an average of 9 shoots (6.5 cm in length) and 11 roots (7 cm in length) per explant within 8 weeks. The results were statistically significant under a completely randomized design (p < 0.05). Statistical analysis was performed using the SAS software, employing ANOVA, with mean separation conducted through Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The optimized protocol developed through this study offers a reliable, efficient, and reproducible method for the rapid multiplication and conservation of elite turmeric varieties, producing over 50 in vitro derived plantlets from each rhizome bud. This represents a significant advancement for commercial-scale propagation and germplasm preservation.