Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Volume:24 Issue: 1, Jan 2022

The purpose of this study was to identify determinants of Eco-Innovations (EI) in agricultural production cooperatives in Iran. Qualitative and quantitative methods were applied to the research. The qualitative section included semi-structured interviews, face-to-face interviews, and brainstorming sessions, and the quantitative section included descriptive statistical and spatial and Bayesian probit models to estimate the model of research. SPSS and MATLAB software was used in this study. SPSS software was used to describe the variables, explain the types of EIs and their effects and comparison of adopters and non- adopters, and MATLAB software was used for the estimation of the model. The data of 300 members of agricultural production cooperatives in Khouzestan Province, Iran, were collected based on random sampling, in 2020 summer. The research examined the different types of EIs. For comparison of adopter and non-adopter characteristics, a t-test and Mann-Whitney test (MW) were used. The results of the t-test showed that there was a significant difference between age, income, crop yield, and farm size for adopters and non-adopters of EI. The Mann Whitney U test (MW) showed significant difference between farmers’ education level, EI awareness, attitude toward EI, EI knowledge, willingness to creativity, being risk oriented, and access to information of adopters and non-adopters of EI. Based on the results obtained from the spatial models, with a probability of 99%, both models were significant. Based on the results of the estimation of spatial models, the independent variables and the spatial autoregressive coefficient had significant role on adoption of EI. For practical implications, it can be said that cooperative members, when adopting the EIs, can use the proposed model that is appropriate to their field of work. This study conducted a critical review before specifically recommending how cooperatives become eco-innovators.

Food security in developing countries faces new challenges these days. Scientific developments and biotechnological applications such as transgenic products are of particular importance due to their principal impact on key contexts such as food production. If transgenic products are a potential solution to the worldchr('39')s challenges, authorities need to know and understand the core of societychr('39')s responses to scientific innovations and their products. This paper expands the body of knowledge by examining the predictors of transgenic product consumption by mediating the role of food integrity. The study population included 681 faculty members of Shiraz University in Iran. The sample size was estimated at 140 faculties using the stratified random sampling method, based on the Cochran formula. The results of applying path analysis showed a good fit of the variables entered in the conceptual model (RMSEA= 0.068). The explaining power of variables in the model respectively include attitude to transgenic product, environmental concerns, trust, and ethical norms. Results of this investigation could be effective in providing practical solutions in social issues such as enhanced attitude to the transgenic product with cultural mechanisms, emphasis on ethical norms, and trust-building in the academic community. These factors, based on public awareness of human involvement in food systems, can be improved by planning and presentation by researchers from relevant business and executive organizations. Based on these findings, providing factors that ensure the health of people could reduce the level of concern about the issues of food integrity and lead to the ideal level of acceptance and consumption of transgenic products.

The present research aimed to investigate the mediating role of the rural entrepreneurial ecosystem in linking the pluriactive rice farmerschr('39') motives to pluriactivity consequences in the Haraz Watershed in a descriptive-correlational study conducted through a survey technique. A sample of 182 pluriactive rice farmers in the Haraz Watershed participated in the study. The results of descriptive statistics showed that in both pull and push motive variables, the means were higher than the medium level. However, concerning the variables of rural entrepreneurship ecosystem and pluriactivity consequences, the means were lower than the medium level. In path analysis, the direct effects of the independent variables showed that the pull motive and rural entrepreneurial ecosystem had a significant and positive effect on the consequences of pluriactivity, while these consequences were not affected by the push variable significantly. The indirect effects of the independent variables revealed that the push motive had a significant and positive effect on the rural entrepreneurial ecosystem. However, the pull motive had no significant impact on the rural entrepreneurial ecosystem. The study has practical implications for institutions related to rural development, in general, and institutions related to rural business development, in particular. The latter institutions, especially educational and extensional centers in public and private sectors that are involved in rural regions, could encourage rice farmers to establish and develop their business based on their motives.

This study was done to integrate Total Quality Management (TQM) and Supply Chain Management (SCM) in a unified framework to study improving the employee service quality of rural cooperative companies and obtaining an important tool for competition in future management. All employees of rural cooperative companies of Tehran Province were selected as a statistical population (N= 500). The stratified sampling method (n= 217) was used. To collect information, the questionnaire for SCM and TQM was developed based on an extensive literature review, and its reliability and validity was verified by experts, pilot test, and various statistical techniques. According to the proposed conceptual framework, the direct and indirect impact of the variables was investigated by the Path Analysis in the LISREL software. The results showed that there was a positive significant relationship between dimensions of SCM and TQM. The results of path analysis show the direct impact of all aspects of TQM on internal integration and the effect of “support and leadership of the top management of the organization”, “strategic planning”, and “customer focus”. Also, based on the research results, the management support and “support and leadership of the top management of the organization”, strategic planning, and customer focus have an indirect effect on internal integration. Overall, our findings reveal that building SCM and TQM by strengthening the effect of each other is an effective way to achieve services quality among the employees of rural cooperatives in Tehran Province.

Tamilnadu is one of the leading turmeric producing states in India. The turmeric productivity of the state has been declining for the last three years. Many small-scale farmers start shifting turmeric cultivation to other crops due to various reasons that need to be explored. The study has identified the reasons for this shifting among the small-scale farmers where the invading gets doing. Data for this study have been collected from 50 farmers randomly selected from Kanjikoil Village of Erode district using a pre-tested interview schedule. The study reveals that the major causes of shifting turmeric cultivation to other crops are competitive producers from other states (90%), lowering of selling price (88%), lack of technological usage (66%), postharvest losses (72%), higher labour and operation cost (70%), and lack of knowledge on pest control (70%). Based on the results, the feasible recommendations are derived to enhance the turmeric crop growth in the state.

Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) as a management strategy for plant parasitic nematode is a state of resistance increased after a previous infection of plant to a biotic pathogen. Induction of SAR is accompanied by local and systemic enhancement of Salicylic Acid (SA). SA increase in plant is concomitant with PR1 expression. We examined the effect of three chemicals including SA, Abscisic Acid (ABA), and DL-β-Amino-n-Butyric Acid (BABA) on the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita on tomato plants. The expression of PR1 genes and 9-Cis-Epoxycarotenoid Dioxygenase (NCED) as markers for SAR and ABA-related activity genes was investigated in growth chamber conditions. Results showed that all elicitors reduced the population of nematode as compared to the control. Shoot length, shoot fresh and dry weight of nematode infected tomatoes pre-treated with BABA increased by 20, 25, and 8 % and number of eggs, galls, egg masses and reproduction factor decreased by 33, 18, 18, and 20%, respectively. All elicitors increased the expression of PR1 and NCED genes in nematode infected tomato. These data suggest that SA, BABA and ABA activate similar defenses in tomato plants, which is partly SA- and ABA-related. SA, BABA, and ABA pretreated tomatoes infected with M. incognita trigger a SAR-response and lead to the control of the nematode under controlled conditions.

Farmers of the coastal region in Bangladesh are vulnerable to various climatic hazards that affect agricultural productivity and livelihoods. This study investigated the yield gap, risk attitude, and poverty status of Aman rice farmers and also assessed the relationship among them in the climate-vulnerable southern coastal areas of Bangladesh. This study selected 125 Aman rice farmers using a simple random sampling technique to estimate three types of yield gaps. Risk attitude was calculated using the safety-first model, and the Foster–Greer–Thorbecke model was employed to estimate poverty status. Results revealed a significant amount of yield gaps in Aman rice production, while farmers had opportunities to increase their production through the optimal use and scientific management of inputs. The yield gaps are reflected in the farmers’ risk aversion attitude, with the majority of farmers being highly risk-averse. The study also revealed that half of the sampled farmers were poor, with a poverty gap of 15%. However, an increased number of non-poor was revealed due to a reduction both in yield gaps and farmers’ risk-aversion attitudes. Therefore, the study suggests limiting the yield gap to manage farmers’ risk-aversion attitudes, which would also facilitate improving their poverty situation.

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) is considered an important crop in the region of Caborca, Sonora, due to its high production and its natural antioxidant (phenolic compounds) content. The use and effect of natural antioxidants on Refined soybean oil (RBD) were evaluated by the Oxidative Stability Index (OSI) using the Rancimat Method. Asparagus phenolic compounds were extracted with 95: 5 (v: v) ethanol: water. The antioxidant activity of the hydroalcoholic extract obtained was compared to Tertiary Butyl Hydroquinone (TBHQ) and to a mix of tocopherols in soybean oil free of synthetic antioxidants, which complied with the chemical properties and composition of pure edible soybean oil. The total phenol content in asparagus extract was similar to what was reported in other fruit and asparagus in various countries. The soybean’s oil with higher concentrations of asparagus ethanol extract than 0.3% (w/w) showed statistically higher induction times (P< 0.05) than natural (tocopherols) and synthetic antioxidants (TBHQ) at the tested concentrations, which strongly supports the concept of using asparagus as a source of natural antioxidants.

Worldwide, Iran is the first producer of pistachio, which is one of the most economically important agricultural products for this country. Idiocerus stali Fieber (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is one of the most important pests of this plant. Adults and nymphs pest feed on leaf tissues and fruit clusters, and they cause damage by sucking the sap. This pest has one generation per year. In this research, population fluctuations of the pistachio leafhopper associated to the temperature and humidity changes and its spatial distribution, using both statistical and geostatistical methods were studied in 2018-2019. The spatial distribution of all life stages in both years was cumulative according to Iwao model, whereas considering Taylorchr('39')s power law model it was cumulative in 2018 and random in 2019. Considering coefficientschr('39') values, both models of Taylorchr('39')s power law (R2= 0.93) and Iwao model (R2= 0.92) are appropriate for estimating the type of spatial distribution for this pest, however, Taylor model showed a better data fitting. Concerning geostatistics models, Kriging interpolation method was more accurate than Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) and it was used to produce pest distribution maps. The movement process of adults, nymphs, and the sites of laying areas per week was precisely determined. Hence, contamination foci can be identified and used to apply appropriate management methods at the right time at a low cost.

A pot experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement and 3 replications. The treatments consisted of genotype (15 sea beet genotypes and two cultivated beets of one susceptible and one tolerant to stress), and salinity (four NaCl concentrations including 0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mM) on the 35-days-old beet seedlings for 55 days. The following parameters and traits were recorded: activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase, malone dialdehyde, di-tyrosine, di-hydroxy guanosine, proline, and total soluble sugars. The results showed a highly significant effect of salinity treatments on the traits studied. Moreover, with increasing stress intensity, the effects of salinity on these traits increased. At least five genotypes of sea beet were clearly superior than the cultivated beet for producing a lower constitutive level of MDA, DT and 8-OH-dG destruction biomarkers, but higher activities of SOD, CAT and GPX enzymes, and proline, total soluble sugars, and glycine betaine contents were recorded under salt stress conditions. These results strongly suggest that the wild salt-tolerant sea beet possess distinct advantages over the sugar beet counterparts for protection mechanism against oxidative damage by maintaining a higher inherited and induced activity of enzymatic/ non-enzymatic antioxidant activities. Therefore, it can be concluded that under salt stress, sea beet has a significant potential for the physiological/biochemical variation in salinity tolerance, which can be exploited for improving salinity tolerance in sugar beet cultivars.

Salt-induced changes in the accumulation pattern of seed proteins were studied in salt-sensitive (MI-48) and tolerant (CSR-10) rice lines. An increase in seed protein content was observed with progress in seed development from 4 to 12 Days After Flowering (DAF) and up to maturity at each salinity level (4, 7, and 10 dS m-1). However, a 10-21, and 14-30% reduction in seed protein was noted when compared at a given developmental stage at all the salinity levels in ‘CSR-10’ and ‘MI-48,’ respectively. Among the four seed protein fractions, the proportion of glutelins revealed an increase (5-9%) in mature seeds of ‘CSR-10’ with a decrease (11-13%) in ‘MI-48’ under increasing salinity levels. Prolamins exhibited a reverse trend in both lines. Albumins and globulins revealed a decreased proportion in chr('39')CSR-10chr('39') but an increase in chr('39')MI-48chr('39') only at 10 dS m-1 at a given developmental stage. In ‘CSR-10’, the accumulation pattern of the glutelin [Molecular weight (Mr.) 36-40.5 and 19-21.5 kDa] and prolamin (13 kDa) polypeptides was seen similar at the control, 4, and 7 dS m-1 except for the higher concentration of these at later two. At 10 dSm-1, a contradictory pattern of accumulation of these polypeptides was observed. In ‘MI-48’, a completely different trend (earlier and faster accumulation) of the above-mentioned polypeptides was seen at 4 and 7 dS m-1 in comparison to the control from early stages. Prolamin polypeptide (13 kDa) showed a continuous decrease in its concentration at all the salinity levels; more pronounced at 10 dSm-1. Therefore, both lines revealed a different mechanism in response to a given salinity condition.

The use of diversity implies knowing characteristics and traits of interest in genetic resources. In forages, the ability to produce seeds is essential to the persistence of cultivars in livestock systems. To study the floral variability and seed yield, 17 genotypes of Chloris gayana Kunth and 14 genotypes of Cenchrus ciliaris L. were evaluated. These genotypes were characterized considering floral morphology and total seed yield parameters. A randomized complete block design with four replications was used. In C. gayana, accessions 7757, 6631, 981 and 7757 presented the highest (P< 0.05) Number of Inflorescences per Plant (NIP, 26.43), number of Spikes per Inflorescence (S/I, 10.73), Weight of Thousand Seeds (WTS, 0.52 g) and Total Seed Production (TSP, 235.69 kg ha-1), respectively. In C. ciliaris, accessions 15687 (28.67) and 1098 (24.33) presented the highest values (P< 0.05) for NIP. Accessions 777 (151.33) and 6642 (150.67) had the highest (P< 0.05) Number of Seeds by Inflorescences (NSI) and genotypes 6652 (0.238 g), 15687 (0.207 g), 16660 (0.215 g) had the highest (P< 0.05) Weight of one Hundred Seeds (WHS). Finally, accessions 6652 (210.93) and 1098 (188.55) had the highest (P< 0.05) TSP. The genotypes of C. gayana and C. ciliaris indicated an important morphology variation. Likewise, higher seed production, which is associated with genetic variability, can be an attribute to be considered during the selection of materials in forage breeding programs, as a complement to traditional evaluation characteristics.

In this study, heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd) contents of five Brassicaceae species grown in four different locations in Turkey were determined, mapped, and interpreted. Spatial analyses of the collected data were conducted in GIS, and thematic maps for average heavy metal accumulations including root, stem, and leaf of each species was developed. The biomonitoring potentials of species was assessed based on the statistical analyses results of the different localities. The heavy metal deposition characteristics of the plants showed differences. The most accumulated heavy metal was Zn, while Cd was the least accumulated. Capsella bursa-pastoris had the highest Cr and Cu accumulation compared to other species. Lepidium draba, on the other hand, accumulated Pb and Zn at most. Sisymbrium loeselii had the highest Cd accumulation compared to the other species. The results of the present study have indicated that Lepidium draba (Zn and Pb), Capsella bursa-pastoris (Cr and Cu) and Sisymbrium loeselii (Cd) can be safely used for biomonitoring studies.

To study salinity tolerance of 15 basil accessions widely distributed across Iran, they were grown under two salt levels including control (no NaCl) and 40 mM NaCl (Hoagland nutrient solutions with EC of 1.1 and 5.5 dS m-1, respectively). The studied parameters included morphological characteristics and chlorophyll a fluorescence transient (OJIP) measurements. According to the results, the accessions were categorized into three clusters under the salt stress. Salinity had significant effects on morphological and growth parameters in all basil plants. Compared to the control, NaCl decreased plant height. The number of leaves in Khash, Zabol, and Orumiyeh accessions was more than the others. Both salt and accession caused a decrease up to 43% in leaf fresh weight, emphasizing the major role of accession when salinity was applied. Salinity influenced negatively the biomass yield in basil plants. These decreases varied from 19 to 45% depending on the accessions. Salt treatment of basil plants decreased photosystem II activity, as evaluated from chlorophyll fluorescence data. The parameters that were most affected by salt treatment were maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (FV/FM) and calculated Performance Index (PIABS). Overall, among the studied basil accessions, genotype Ardabil had superior tolerance to salt stress. Furthermore, the most of accessions can be used for studying the mechanism of salinity tolerance in basil plant.

Salinity stress is one of the most important environmental stresses that decrease crop growth and yield. Barley is an important crop known as the salt-tolerant plant in cereals. In this study, the salt stress-responsive root transcriptome of tolerant (Afzal) and susceptible (Yusef) cultivars was investigated. The sequencing of mRNA transcripts (termed RNA-Seq) was performed using the Illumina HiSeq platform after filtering for RNA with 3chr('39') polyadenylated tails to include only mRNA. The Tuxedo pipeline was used to identify the altered expression of transcripts. Sequencing results showed that, after initial trimming of the reads, more than 20 million reads (92%) remained for all samples, of which 88% were aligned with the barley genome. Bioinformatics analysis showed the altered genes expressions in various processes such as membrane antiporter and transporter activity, an antioxidant, wide range of kinase and phosphatase cascades, internal signal transduction, metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids, binding processes, response to plant hormones, catalytic activity, and cell wall organization. Gene network analysis revealed that key genes, including proteins involved in systemic acquired resistance, peroxidase family proteins, cyclin-dependent protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol kinase, auxin-carrying proteins, mannose 6 phosphate isomerase, helicases and transcription factors play an important role in salt tolerance. These data can be used as a valuable source in future studies for genetic manipulation of barley and development of salinity tolerant cultivars.

Chickpea is an important pulse crop of India, but its productivity is quite low due to several biotic and abiotic stresses. Low seed vigor is one of the issues that occur due to changes in different biochemical properties during improper storage condition. To overcome the biochemical activity during storage, seed priming is a promising strategy. In the present study, two nanopriming agents viz., Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) were evaluated for biochemical activity (Peroxidase activity, alpha amylase activity, total soluble sugar, total protein) of chickpea at 2, 4, 6 and 9 months storage period after priming for 1, 2, and 6 hours. Result showed increased activity of Peroxidase (POX) with increase of storage time, but the rate of increase was comparatively low when seeds were nanoprimed with ZnONPs. Similarly, alpha amylase activity and protein content were recorded highest and Total Soluble Sugar (TSS) was found lowest in ZnONPs primed seed. Out of the different priming times, 6 hrs was found to be the best at 9 months of storage with positive effect on biochemical parameters. Among the biotic stresses, disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri has been considered as a destructive one, which causes yield loss up to 10% every year. To overcome the biotic stress and enhance the storage life, chickpea seeds were primed with ZnONPs and AgNPS at 100 ppm alone and in combination with each other. We found positive effect on seed germination (%), plant growth, and yield attributing parameter and negative effect on per disease incidence of F. oxysporum f.sp. ciceri.

Fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora bacteria, is one of the well-known plant diseases in the world including major diseases of the fruit trees, especially apples and pears. In recent years, due to chemical nature of the pesticides damaging human health and environment, the importance of biological control is considered as alternative measure to manage plant diseases. To investigate the possibility of biological control of the pathogens, healthy foliar samples of apple, pear, and quince trees were collected from different regions of Kerman Province, Iran, and then, biocontrol activity of antagonist agents was evaluated under laboratory conditions. On the basis of the results, some of the antagonists could decrease the symptoms of the disease by 14.28-79.59%. Laboratory evaluation included investigating the disease severity in immature pears, biocontrol activity of antagonist agents in the plate assay, inhibitory siderophore production, biofilm formation capacity, drought stress tolerance, and silver nanoparticle synthesis capability, which showed that these antagonist agents could potentially control the disease. Among the 9 well-performed antagonistic isolates from apples and pears, Vr87 isolate was selected. The studies were confirmed by amplifying part of 16S rDNA region of the isolate, using specific primers. By comparing the results on the NCBI website, the selected isolate was identified as Enterobacter sp. genus. Among all selected isolates as successful factors in controlling fire blight pathogen, including isolated isolates and isolates in the collection of Vali-e-Asr University, Bacillus subtilis strain BsVRU1 in the Vali-e-Asr University collection, with 73.5% inhibition, had higher inhibitory power than the other antagonist isolates against the pathogen of fire blight disease.