Foliar applied calcium chloride alleviated drought stress in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) by improving growth and yield contributing traits and antioxidant activity.

Drought-induced stress presents a substantial threat as it disrupts the normal growth of cereal crops and leads to decreased yields. The persistent occurrence of drought conditions significantly impacts the growth and development of pearl millet. This study aimed to explore how calcium chloride (CaCl2) regulates the growth of pearl millet when it faces a lack of water.

Boron seed coating combined with seed inoculation with boron tolerant bacteria ( sp. MN-54) and maize stalk biochar improved growth and productivity of maize ( L.) on saline soil.

Salinity exerts significant negative impacts on growth and productivity of crop plants and numerous management practices are used to improve crop performance under saline environments. Micronutrients, plant growth promoting bacteria and biochar are known to improve crop productivity under stressful environments. Maize ( L.

Weed infestation and productivity of wheat crop sown in various cropping systems under conventional and conservation tillage.

Introduction: Climate change, pest infestation, and soil degradation are significantly reducing wheat ( L.) yield. Wheat is cultivated in rice-wheat and cotton-wheat cropping systems and escalating global population is exerting substantial pressure on the efficiency of these systems.

The Influence of Different Crop Mulches on Weed Infestation, Soil Properties and Productivity of Wheat under Conventional and Conservation Production Systems.

Pakistan and other South Asian countries rely on wheat for human nutrition. However, wheat yield is declining in the region due to several biotic and abiotic constraints. Weeds are among the major factors responsible for yield decrease and farmers manage them by intensive tillage practices.

Impact of different mulching treatments on weed flora and productivity of maize (Zea mays L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

The concerns on weed control through herbicides are increasing due to their negative impacts on environment and human health. Therefore, alternative weed management methods are inevitable for sustainable crop production and lowering the negative consequences of herbicides. Mulching is an environment-friendly weed management approach capable of substituting herbicides to significant extent.

The impact of boron seed priming on seedling establishment, growth, and grain biofortification of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) in yermosols.

Boron-deficiency in Yermosols is among the major constraints to mungbean productivity and grain biofortification in Pakistan. However, agronomic strategies such as boron (B) seed priming have potential to improve mungbean yield and grain biofortification. Moreover, deficiency to toxicity range for B is very narrow; therefore, it is pre-requisite to optimize its dose before field evaluation.

The Impact of Different Weed Management Systems on Weed Flora and Dry Biomass Production of Barley Grown under Various Barley-Based Cropping Systems.

Weeds are among the major issues responsible for reduction in yield and profit in any crop production system. Herbicides are the easiest and quickest solution of weeds; however, their frequent use exert negative consequences on environment, human health, and results in the evolution of herbicide-resistant weed species. Due to these reasons, alternative weed management methods that are less harmful to environment and human health are needed.

The impact of horse purslane (Trianthema portulacastrum L.) infestation on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] productivity in northern irrigated plains of Pakistan.

Horse purslane (Trianthema portulacstrum L.) is an important weed of soybean crop capable of causing significant yield reduction. Therefore, this study assessed the impact of horse purslane and other weeds' infestation on the productivity of soybean.

Foliar application of seed water extract of Nigella sativa improved maize growth in cadmium-contaminated soil.

Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread heavy metal, which commonly exert negative impacts on agricultural soils and living organisms. Foliar application of seed water extract of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) can mitigate the adverse impacts of Cd-toxicity in plants through its rich antioxidants.

Effects of water and fertilizer coupling on the physiological characteristics and growth of rabbiteye blueberry.

Understanding the impact of irrigation and fertilizer on rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium virgatum) physiology is necessary for its precision planting. Here, we applied varied irrigation and fertilizer under completely randomized experimental design to see its impact on the physiological characteristics and bush growth of rabbiteye blueberries. A comprehensive evaluation of the membership function was used to establish the best water-fertilizer coupling regimes.

Zinc biofortification potential of diverse mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] genotypes under field conditions.

Zinc (Zn) is an important micronutrient for crop plants and essential for human health. The Zn-deficiency is an important malnutrition problem known globally. Biofortified foods could overcome Zn deficiency in humans.

Exogenous application of black cumin () seed extract improves maize growth under chromium (Cr) stress.

Accumulation of non-essential heavy metals like chromium (Cr) is among major abiotic stresses, which adversely affect crop growth. Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is the most dangerous form negatively affecting the growth and productivity of crops. This study evaluated the role of black cumin extracts (BCE) in improving growth and productivity of maize genotypes under different concentrations of Cr(VI).

The impact of different weed management strategies on weed flora of wheat-based cropping systems.

The world population will rise in future, which would demand more wheat production to fulfil dietary needs of wheat-dependent population of the world. Food security in wheat-dependent regions will greatly rely on wheat productivity. Weed infestation is a major constraint reducing wheat productivity globally.

The fingerprints of climate warming on cereal crops phenology and adaptation options.

Growth and development of cereal crops are linked to weather, day length and growing degree-days (GDDs) which make them responsive to the specific environments in specific seasons. Global temperature is rising due to human activities such as burning of fossil fuels and clearance of woodlands for building construction. The rise in temperature disrupts crop growth and development.

The influence of transgenic (Bt) and non-transgenic (non-Bt) cotton mulches on weed dynamics, soil properties and productivity of different winter crops.

The introduction of transgenic cotton (Bt-cotton) for controlling bollworms has resulted in increased production; however, the residual effects of mulches from Bt-cotton are poorly understood. Therefore, the current study evaluated the impact of Bt and non-Bt cotton mulches on soil properties, weed dynamics and yield of winter crops sown after cotton. Three different winter crops, i.

Soil applied boron (B) improves growth, yield and fiber quality traits of cotton grown on calcareous saline soil.

Boron (B) is required during all growth stages of cotton crop, especially during boll formation. However, Typic Haplocambid soils of cotton growing belt in Pakistan are B-deficient, which results in low yield and economic returns. Foliar application of B improves cotton productivity; however, information is limited on the role of soil applied B in improving cotton growth and yield.

Calmodulin-binding transcription activator (CAMTA) genes family: Genome-wide survey and phylogenetic analysis in flax (Linum usitatissimum).

Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is a member of family linaceae with annual growth habit. It is included among those crops which were domesticated very early and has been used in development related studies as a model plant. In plants, Calmodulin-binding transcription activators (CAMTAs) comprise a unique set of Calmodulin-binding proteins.

Terminal drought and heat stress alter physiological and biochemical attributes in flag leaf of bread wheat.

Heat stress along with low water availability at reproductive stage (terminal growth phase of wheat crop) is major contributing factor towards less wheat production in tropics and sub-tropics. Flag leaf plays a pivotal role in assimilate partitioning and stress tolerance of wheat during terminal growth phase. However, limited is known about biochemical response of flag leaf to combined and individual heat and drought stress during terminal growth phase.

Correction: Iron application improves yield, economic returns and grain-Fe concentration of mungbean.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

ACC-deaminase producing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and biochar mitigate adverse effects of drought stress on maize growth.

Availability of good quality irrigation water is a big challenge in arid and semi arid regions of the world. Drought stress results in poor plant growth and low yield; however, the rhizobacteria, capable of producing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)-deaminase are likely to improve crop growth and productivity under drought stress. Similarly, biochar could also ameliorate the negative impacts of drought stress.

Iron application improves yield, economic returns and grain-Fe concentration of mungbean.

Malnutrition is among the biggest threats being faced globally, and Pakistan is among the countries having high malnutrition rate. Pulses grown in Pakistan have lower amounts of micronutrients, especially iron (Fe) in grains compared to developed world. Biofortification, -a process of integrating nutrients into food crops-, provides a sustainable and economic way of increasing minerals/micronutrients' concentration in staple crops.

Efficacy of fertilizing method for different potash sources in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) nutrition under arid climatic conditions.

Precise choice of potassium (K) source and application method does matter for its cost-effectiveness. This study was aimed to evaluate the best source and method of K fertilizer application to improve cotton productivity and profitability under an arid climate. Three different K sources (KNO3, K2SO4 and KCl) were applied at 100 kg ha-1 by four methods, i.

Evaluation of physiological markers for assessing drought tolerance and yield potential in bread wheat.

Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) has been recognized as a valuable phenotyping tool in wheat breeding. However, technical expertise and analysis cost restrict its large-scale use. We examined the associations of ash content (AC), minerals content (Ca, K, Mg, Fe and Mn) and leaf chlorophyll content () with grain Δ and grain yield (GY) to assess their potential as substitute to grain Δ.

Lead toxicity in plants: Impacts and remediation.

Lead (Pb) is the second most toxic heavy metal after arsenic (As), which has no role in biological systems. Pb toxicity causes a range of damages to plants from germination to yield formation; however, its toxicity is both time and concentration dependent. Its exposure at higher rates disturbs the plant water and nutritional relations and causes oxidative damages to plants.