Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) is an important tuber crop. However, Jerusalem artichoke seeds contain high levels of starch and lipid, making the extraction of high-quality RNA extremely difficult and the gene expression analysis challenging. This study was aimed to improve existing methods for extracting total RNA from Jerusalem artichoke dry seeds and to assess the applicabilit...

Because grain is highly digestible, maize hybrids for silage production are generally chosen based on their The nutritive value of forage maize (Zea mays L.) may be improved grain yield. However, the stalk portion of the maize through genetic selection for increased rate of fiber digestion or decreased indigestible fiber concentration. To identify sources of genetic plant contains 50% or more o...

As one of the three most important cereal species, maize is grown in a range of environments, and is a basic food grain in many areas and several cultures. This paper examines water use efficiency (WUE) in maize through a review of literatures on the topic. It then examines strategies to improve WUE, through plant breeding, biotechnology and changes to agronomic practice. In breeding for improv...

Arenosols in the Brazilian Cerrado are increasingly being used for agricultural production, particularly maize. These sandy soils are characterized by low soil organic matter, low available nutrients, and poor water-holding capacity. For this reason, adding biochar as a soil amendment could lead to improved water and nutrient retention. A greenhouse experiment was carried out using twelve bioch...

Salinity is the leading abiotic stress hampering maize ( Zea mays L.) growth throughout the world, especially in Pakistan. During salinity stress, the endogenous ethylene level in plants increases, which retards proper root growth and consequent shoot growth of the plants. However, certain bacteria contain the enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, which converts 1-aminocyclo...

This study aimed to assess the effects of three plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and chitosan either singly or in combination on maize seeds germination and growth and nutrient uptake. Maize seeds were treated with chitosan and bacterial solution. The germination and growth tests were carried out in square Petri dishes and plastic pots. The combination chitosan-A. lipoferum-P. fluore...

The use ofgenetically modified (GM) feed for animal production is expected to increase in the future. But acceptance of such feeds is being debated in the society. The question whether the process of genetic modification could have unintended effects on feed quality or nutrient composition of the grain is of great practical relevance. In addition, recent studies showed that native plant-DNA-fra...