Plant Science Today

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif seasons of 2019 and 2020 at the Crop Research Centre, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology (SVPUAT), Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate the effect of crop establishment and weed management on weed suppression and productivity of Basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.). The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with th…

Raikia, which is a pole type French bean native to southern Odisha and recently notified as IC 632961 by CHES (ICAR-IIHR), is rich in nutrients but is underutilised because of low agronomical research. Scientific information on optimising phosphorus fertilisation and beneficial microorganisms on improving the productivity and profitability of this indigenous legume is scarce. The present study wa…

A field experiment was conducted in a split-plot design and replicated thrice. The treatments comprised 5 cropping systems as the main plot, viz. C1: rice - wheat - fallow, C2: rice - wheat - green gram, C3: rice - maize - dhaincha, C4: rice - maize + potato - dhaincha, C5: rice - maize + green pea - dhaincha and moisture regimes I1 - IW/CPE = 0.6, I2 - IW/CPE = 0.8, I3 - IW/CPE = 1 as sub plot. …

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.), belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, is cultivated as both a vegetable and medicinal herb in Asia and Africa. Genetic diversity is crucial for agricultural growth and ecological adaptability, particularly as hybrid crops may threaten regional variations. Advanced breeding techniques offer significant advantages over traditional methods, enabling faster and…

Essential oils (EO) derived from mint (Mentha spp.) have high commercial value and are experiencing increasing global demand across the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. This review synthesises the recent advances in biotechnological and agronomic strategies for enhancing the EO yield and quality of mint and evaluates the potential of integrating these approaches for sustainable, resi…

Space breeding is an emerging approach that integrates space science with plant breeding to generate novel genetic variation for crop improvement. It is a relatively novel agricultural frontier and technique, harnesses the unique conditions of the extra-terrestrial environment to accelerate crop improvement. This multidisciplinary approach exposes seeds to space conditions like microgravity, cosm…

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) is a nutritionally rich and economically important tropical fruit crop that plays a vital role in supporting small and marginal farmers. This study focuses on the production trends, cultivation practices, post-harvest challenges and value addition opportunities of jackfruit in the Panruti region of Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu. Primary data were collect…

A field study was conducted during kharif 2024 at Biswanath College of Agriculture, Assam, to evaluate the effects of sowing dates on insect pest dynamics in maize to improve pest management. Eight insect pests were recorded, with Spodoptera frugiperda as the dominant species. Peak populations of S. frugiperda (3.25 larvae per plant), Rhopalosiphum maidis (72.75 aphids per leaf) and Monolepta sig…

Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) are generally accepted to be key in enhancing the sustainability, productivity and resilience of agricultural systems. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of inequality that limits women's access to important resources, including land, technology, markets and opportunities in decision-making. This paper represents a synthesis of the GESI literature in th…

Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman) is a major pest of onion, capable of causing substantial yield losses (up to 90 %) through foliar damage and transmission of Iris yellow spot virus, while also predisposing plants to secondary infections such as purple blotch. Host plant resistance, mediated through antixenosis, antibiosis and tolerance mechanisms, represents a durable and sustainable managem…

Groundwater depletion presents a significant threat to agricultural sustainability in Haryana, one of India’s most intensively cultivated states. This study investigates the socioeconomic and environmental consequences of declining groundwater levels by assessing their effects on the cost of cultivating rice and wheat, irrigation-related capital investments, rural migration and key ecological out…

A field experiment was conducted at the Vegetable Research Farm of the Horticulture Garden, Bihar Agricultural College, Sabour, Bhagalpur, to assess the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in pointed gourd genotypes. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design (RBD) with three replications, comprising 25 genotypes. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant d…

Geographical indications (GIs) tags are types of certifications that identify products with unique characteristics and qualities linked to their geographical origin. This review article investigates consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for GI products in India, which is gaining importance with the rapid growth of GI registration in the country. Through an extensive review of the lite…

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a globally vital legume whose yield and nutritional quality are severely threatened by escalating abiotic stresses, particularly drought, soil salinity and extreme temperatures. To mitigate these challenges sustainably and reduce reliance on synthetic agrochemicals, plant biostimulants have emerged as effective, eco-friendly inputs, including microbial inoculant…

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a staple cereal crop with global significance due to its high yield potential and adaptability. Hybrid breeding remains a key strategy for enhancing productivity, which relies on identifying parental lines with superior combining ability. In this study, 15 maize inbred lines were crossed with three testers in a line × tester design during kharif, 2021 and the resulting 45 c…

Broad beans are one of the most important but neglected vegetable crops with excellent nutritional properties. The potential of broad beans can be utilised by developing improved cultivars with higher yields. There is a need to explore the available genetic diversity of broad beans and utilise them in improvement programs to promote their widespread adoption. The current study included 22 genotyp…

Agricultural farms are prone to pesticide contamination, with handling and disposal occurring before and after each spray. These activities, which result in point-source contamination, are the main cause of soil and water pollution (surface and groundwater). Farm contamination by pesticides is bioremediated through a system called a biobed. The study aims to evaluate the effects of physicochemica…

Data is not just information; it’s the bloodstream of the hyper-connected digital ecosystem. Anchored in this premise, part 1 of this review series, entitled “big data genesis,” unveiled the digital behemoth by tracing the historical evolution of data from rudimentary records to the era of planetary-scale digital generation. It revealed how the data has transitioned from passive documentation int…

The goal of the current study was to assess how well Uttar Pradesh farming households engaged in an integrated crop and animal production system use agricultural resources. The primary goal of research carried out in 2024 was to assess how best to allocate crop resources using Sen's multi-objective programming (MOP) technique to maximise revenue, create jobs and reduce input consumption in Sultan…

Root system architecture (RSA) plays a fundamental role in determining crop performance under water-limited conditions by regulating soil water uptake efficiency and plant adaptation. Key traits, such as root depth, growth angle, branching patterns and hydraulic characteristics, influence the spatial distribution and functional capacity of roots to access moisture within heterogeneous soil enviro…