Sappan wood plants are one of the medicinal plants in Indonesia. Considering the potential of Sappan wood plants in the health and industrial sectors, special cultivation techniques are required to ensure that Sappan wood plants can grow with a large stem diameter. A large stem diameter can be achieved by using the appropriate planting distance. The right planting distance requires land with sufficient organic content. This research aims to determine the optimum planting distance and the appropriate type of organic material to produce Sappan wood plants with a large diameter. The experimental design used was a Split Plot Design, with planting distance (J) as the main plot and organic fertilizer (P) as the sub-plot. The planting distance factor levels were J1 = 1m x 1m, J2 = 2mx2m cm, J3 = 3m x3m. The organic fertilizer factor levels were P1 = Cow Manure Fertilizer, P2 = Chicken Manure Fertilizer, and P3 = Sheep Manure Fertilizer. The results showed an interaction between the planting distance treatment and the use of manure fertilizer on the parameters of stem diameter and soil pH of Sappan wood plants at 3 MAP (months after planting). The planting distance treatment independently influenced the results, with a 1m x 1m planting distance providing the best results for plant height and stem diameter. In general, the application of different types of manure did not significantly affect the growth of Sappan wood plants.

Due to the scarcity of fresh water in dry areas, including Egypt, emphasis has been placed on the importance of studying non-traditional water sources as an alternative source of irrigation. Therefore, this research aimed at investigating the impact of saline agricultural drainage water, drip irrigation and organic mulching using rice straw on maize water productivity under Egypt’s arid condition. The field experiment included sixteen treatments during two seasons, 2022 and 2023. Irrigation systems were [Furrow irrigation system (FIS) and drip irrigation system (DIS)] while saline agricultural drainage water strategies were [FW (0.55 dS/m), SW1 (1.35 dS/m), SW2 (3 dS/m) and SW3 (5 dS/m)] represented as sub main plot and organic mulching using rice straw (OMRS) was also investigated. The highest MY values were achieved with DIS with FW and also with irrigation with salty agricultural drainage water, with the necessity of using organic mulches of rice straw. The highest MY values were achieved as a result of achieving the best water-salt balance within the root propagation zone. The highest values were 10.89 t/ha with FW and there were no significant differences between them and the values of 10.83 t/ha when irrigated with saline agricultural drainage water for 2022 and the similar results were achieved during the 2023 season. Based on the above, SW1 can be used directly without mixing with FW1 if the ability of the grown plant to tolerate the level of salinity concentration, with the necessity of using organic mulches. The SALTMED model simulated reasonably well the soil moisture and soil salinity as well as maize yield and for all treatments, with R2 of 0.87, 0.98 and 0.96, respectively.

Weed management during land preparation is a pivotal concern in agriculture. A viable alternative for weed control in the context of corn cultivation involves employing herbicides within the no-tillage system. Potassium salts formulated with the active ingredient glyphosate allow more effective absorption of glyphosate into the leaves This study aimed to determine the effectiveness and obtain a dose of Potassium Glyphosate 660 g/L herbicide in controlling weeds in corn cultivation with the no-tillage system. The research was conducted from January to May 2023 at the Experimental Garden of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Padjadjaran, West Java, Indonesia. The experiment used a randomized block design (RBD) with 6 treatments and 4 replications. The treatment consisted of no-tillage with a dose of herbicide with the active ingredient Potassium Glyphosate 660 g/L dose of 1.0 L/ha, 1.5 L/ha, 2.0 L/ha, 2.5 L/ha, 3.0 L/ha, and a control (Perfect Tillage). The application of herbicide with the active ingredient Potassium Glyphosate 660 g/L was carried out once, namely 14 days before corn planting. The experimental results showed that the herbicide with the active ingredient Potassium Glyphosate 660 g/L starting at a dose of 2.0 L/ha – 3.0 L/ha was effective in controlling weeds Imperata cylindrica, Bidens pilosa, Alternanthera sessilis, Ageratum conyzoides, and Borreria alata and other weeds (Mimosa invisa, Cyperus rotundus, Synedrella nodiflora, Axonopus compressus) up to 4 weeks after planting without causing a phytotoxic effect on corn planting and preparation for planting corn and increasing the growth and yield of corn plants.

Weeds negatively affect the production of hybrid maize by competing for essential resources such as nutrients, water, and sunlight. Using a combination of herbicides has the potential to broaden the range of controlled weed species and prevent the development of herbicide resistance in weeds. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a herbicide blend containing Atrazine (265 g/L) and Nicosulfuron (35 g/L) in managing weed in hybrid maize crops. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Padjadjaran University, located in Jatinangor, Sumedang Regency, West Java, Indonesia. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design comprising of seven treatments and four replications each. The treatments included different doses of Atrazine (265 g/L) and Nicosulfuron (35 g/L) at 1.0 l/ha, 1.5 l/ha, 2.0 l/ha, 2.5 l/ha, 3.0 l/ha, as well as manual weeding and control. The results showed that herbicide combination of Atrazine (265 g/L) and Nicosulfuron (35 g/L) at a dose of 1.0 L/ha to 3 L/ha was effective in controlling the growth of the dominant weed Bidens pilosa, Ageratum conyzoides, Synedrella nodiflora, Richardia brasiliensis, Eleusine indica, Digitaria ciliaris, and total weed on hybrid maize cultivation up to six weeks after treatment. During this observation period, there were no toxicity indications to maize plants, indicating the absence of phytotoxicity.

Roselle is a potential crop in Vietnam due to its wide adaptation and many uses. In Thua Thien Hue province – Central Vietnam, the roselle has been grown widely at Phong Dien district. However, local people were growing on their experience and mainly using inorganic fertilizers, which had affected the crop yield partly. In order to towards environmentally friendly and contribute to completing the growing process to expand the safe material area for roselle, the experiments were carried out during 2021 and 2022 to evaluate the effects of microbial organic fertilizer doses and planting density on the growth, development and yield of roselle. The experiment consisted of twelve treatments, with three doses of microbial organic fertilizer (0, 0.5, 1.5 tons/ha) and four planting densities (21000, 24000, 28000, 33000 plants/ha), arranged in a split-plot design with three replications for each treatment. The results showed that in the 0.5 tons/ha of microbial organic fertilizer application treatment and planted at 33000 plants/ha had the highest yield per plant in both crops (568.04 and 590.04 g/plant), with yields of 20.98 and 20.56 tons/ha, respectively. Therefore, it could be recommended to use that amount of microbial organic fertilizer and plant density in the process of growing roselle in Thua Thien Hue and similar ecological regions.

The effect of different levels of Benzyl adenine (BA) and Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) on in vitro regeneration of Spunta and Mondial potato cultivars were studied, in addition, the effect of different levels of colchicine administered either as part of MS media (0.0, 10 μ M, 100 μ M and 1 mM) or by soaking potato buds (0.0, 1, 2 and 3 mM) on in vitro regeneration of two potato cultivars was studied in the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, An-Najah National University, Tulkarm, Palestine. Higher shoot number was obtained when BA at 1 and 2 ppm were combined with 0.5 ppm NAA or without NAA, with variation between the two cultivars. Root number was significantly affected with the hormone levels, higher root number per bud in Spunta cultivar was obtained when NAA was utilized exclusively at 1 and 0.5 ppm respectively, however with Mondial cultivar, the higher number was observed at 1 ppm NAA. Significant effect of colchicine on shoot multiplication in both cultivars was observed, higher average shoot number for both cultivars (3.25 and 3.07) was recorded when higher level of colchicine ( 1mM and 100 μ M) was added to the media for “Spunta’ and “Mondial” respectively. When potato buds were soaked in colchicine, no significant effect on regeneration ability of the two cultivars was observed. Our results indicated a positive effect of colchicine on in vitro regeneration of two potato cultivars, therefore, protocols of polypolidization of potato through in vitro culture could be implemented.

Mushroom cultivation in Bangladesh has been on the rise, however, their nutrient and heavy metal content is not well investigated. Herein, prevalent cultivars and strains of five mushroom species (Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus sajor-caju, Pleurotus citrinopileatus, Auricularia auricula and Ganoderma lucidum) were analyzed for their nutritional values (total ash, lipid, crude fiber, protein and carbohydrates) as well as metal concentrations using standard methods. This study was conducted at the Laboratory of the Biochemistry Department at Sher-e Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January to December 2022. The proximate composition of mushrooms varied from 2.67–11.57%, 2.05-3.81%, 15.52-22.61%, 6.1-12.71% and 46.01-57.85% for total ash, lipid, crude fiber, protein and carbohydrates, respectively. The highest values of Fe, Mn, Zn, P, Ca, Mg, K, S and N were 315.87, 19.14, 267.96, 2.92, 1.07, 0.44, 4.62, 0.78 and 3.06 μg/g, respectively. Remarkably, the highest amounts of heavy metals, Pb (5.65 μg/g) and Cd (0.22 μg/g) were found in Pleurotus citrinopileatus, while Cr (3.22 μg/g) and Ni (1.65 μg/g) were found in a variety of Pleurotus ostreatus. The findings revealed that heavy metal concentrations in two mushroom varieties exceeded the maximum permissible limit recommended by WHO/FAO. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive analysis comparing the nutritional value and metal content of popular mushroom species of Bangladesh.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the premier vegetables in the world and is widely cultivated. As it is a relatively short-duration crop with a high yield, it is economically attractive, and the area under cultivation is increasing. Many studies showed when plants are associated with Pseudomonas, the growth parameter of plants promote because of suppressing pathogenic micro-organisms, and plants become resistant to disease. This study was conducted to isolate and identify a Pseudomonas bacterium from a tomato field in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Therefore, the molecular study was conducted in 2022 at the University of Limpopo to identify the bacterium associated with tomato filed from South Africa's soils using 16S rDNA marker. The DNA was extracted using the Chelex method. The bacterium was identified as Pseudomonas fragi. The Nblast analysis showed South African P. fragi has 96% similarity with a strain from Italy (MG972899). Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood placed this species with those molecularly identified as P. fragi in the same clade with highly supported (100) bootstrap values. In conclusion, this species was identified using 16S rDNA; however, other DNA markers are recommended for a better understanding of P. fragi phylogeny.

Fruit rot disease caused by Aspergillus sp. is a post-harvest disease in citrus. Yeast has the potential as a biocontrol agent against airborne pathogens. This study aimed at testing the potential of yeast Aureobasidium pullulans Dmg 11 DEP, Rhodoturula minuta Dmg 16 BEP, and Candida tropicalis Lm 13 BE in controlling fruit rot disease caused by Aspergillus sp. on dekopon orange. The experimental stages consisted of testing the potential of yeast in suppressing Aspergillus sp. with five treatments and four replications and in vivo six treatments and four replications on dekopon oranges using a completely randomized design (CRD). The study was conducted at the Plant Protection Biotechnology Laboratory, Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia, from January to July 2022. Antagonism and interaction tests were conducted in vitro by dual culture method by placing the Aspergillus sp. alongside the yeast (A. pullulans Dmg 11 DEP, R. minuta Dmg 16 BEP and C. tropicalis Lm 13 BE). Observations were made on the yeast effect on the growth of Aspergillus sp. and suppression of Aspergillus sp. rot disease in dekopon orange fruit. The test results showed that the yeast isolate could inhibit the growth of Aspergillus sp. in vitro with a 22.5-42.2% inhibition percentage in the dual culture test and 30.89-46.89% in the volatile compound production test. The yeast also suppressed the incidence of Aspergillus rot disease with an inhibition percentage of 21.06-51.98%. Aureobasidium pullulans Dmg 11 DEP recorded the highest percentage inhibition (51.98%) of Aspergillus sp.

The difficult forest conditions of the Volgograd region determine the relevance of research in the field of agroforestry. For the selection and use of tree species in plantations during the arrangement of agricultural land, it is necessary to identify the structural and functional features of the leaves, which are reliable indicators of the mechanism of plant adaptation to stress factors. The experiment was set up during June to September 2022 under field and laboratory conditions with the participation of the dendrological collections of the Nizhnevolzhskaya station for tree species breeding, a branch of the Federal Scientific Center for Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (50°078ʹN, 45°370ʹE). The objects of research are shrubs of different geographical origin: Berberis vulgaris L., Berberis heteropoda Schrenk., Ligustrum vulgare L., Cotinus coggygria Scop., Mahonia aquifolium Nutt., Corylus avellana L. and Ribes aureum Pursh. An optical method was used to assess the permeability of the epidermis of native mature leaves of the middle tier of the crown. The dynamics and variation of the content of photosynthetic pigments has been established. In Ligustrum vulgare, Mahonia aquifolium and Cotinus coggygria, a higher content of chlorophylls and a smaller number of palisade mesophyll cells were found than in heliophytes. The species specificity of the structural features of the palisade mesophyll, taking into account the ecological groups of shrubs, was revealed, as well as a positive correlation between the number of cells and the amount of chlorophyll of the palisade mesophyll in Cotinus coggygria (0.87) and Ribes aureum (0.85), Corylus avellana (0.63). The conducted studies allow obtaining new data on the adaptive capabilities of shrubs under the action of stress factors for their selection and further practical application in the field of agroforestry.