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Management of Plant Genetic Resources Oriented to Environmentally Friendly, Sustainable Agriculture

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainability, Biodiversity and Conservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 14115

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Radu E. Sestras

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Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Calea Manastur, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: genetics and plant breeding; sustainable agriculture; horticulture; forestry; biostatistics; biodiversity
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Prof. Dr. Oscar Vicente

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Institute for the Conservation and Improvement of Valencian Agrodiversity (COMAV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Interests: climate change; plant biotechnology; plant reproduction; abiotic stress; plant stress physiology; halophytes; drought; salinity; stress tolerance; biostimulants
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Prof. Dr. Adriana F. Sestras

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Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: biodiversity; biostatistics; ecology; fruit quality; genetics and plant breeding; horticulture; trees
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Prof. Dr. Monica Boscaiu

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Mediterranean Agroforestry Institute, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Interests: plant ecology; abiotic stress responses; ecology of seed germination; halophytes; stress-tolerant crops
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Given that the world’s population has exceeded 7.8 billion and has been forecasted to reach ca. 10 billion by 2050, food security and the preservation of living resources are becoming paramount concerns for scientists, politicians, and administrative decision-makers worldwide, as well as for every sensible inhabitant of the planet. Agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater—70% of global resources—and more and more water will be needed to produce enough food if we maintain our present agricultural practices. Freshwater and other global resources that are required to provide food for the world’s population and support the life on the planet are limited and are being depleted at an unprecedented rate. Agriculture is one of the major causes of this situation because of its negative influence on the Earth’s climate and resources. Indeed, agriculture has a huge impact on the environment, increasing in parallel with the increase of the global population, with its negative contribution to climate change, deforestation, water scarcity, land degradation, pollution, the salinization of irrigated farmland, desertification, greenhouse gas emissions and the greenhouse effect, the reduction of biodiversity and other unfavorable effects. Over the last few years, intense debates have addressed these controversial issues and have attempted to find viable solutions for the future, in the frame of environmentally friendly, sustainable agriculture. This Special Issue of Sustainability focuses on the desired, efficient and optimum conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources to ensure sustainable agriculture in the coming years. Therefore, in this Special Issue, we expect contributions related to the conservation of germplasm, genetic enhancement, plant breeding and the management of plant resources, agricultural practices and technical improvements oriented to the promotion of sustainable, ecological agriculture, with beneficial consequences for the environment and human health but also, more widely, for the future of the planet.

Prof. Dr. Radu E. Sestras
Prof. Dr. Oscar Vicente
Prof. Dr. Adriana F. Sestras
Prof. Dr. Monica Boscaiu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

plant genetic resources
environmental changes
abiotic and biotic factors
genetic enhancement
conservation of germplasm
plant breeding and management of plant resources
disease and pest resistance or tolerance
modern cultivars
anthropogenic land-use change
agricultural practices and technical improvements
sustainable food systems
sustainable agriculture

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 8359 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Essential Oils of Three Aromatic Plant Species as Natural Herbicides for Environmentally Friendly Agriculture

by Manel Bellache, Natalia Torres-Pagan, Mercedes Verdeguer, Leila Allal Benfekih, Oscar Vicente, Radu E. Sestras, Adriana F. Sestras and Monica Boscaiu

Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3596; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14063596 - 18 Mar 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2643

Abstract

Natural herbicides based on essential oils (EOs) extracted from aromatic plants are gaining relevance in contemporary agriculture. Due to their allelopathic properties, they have an inhibitory effect on the germination and growth of different species, having, in general, the advantage of high specificity. For this reason, the analysis of the effects of these natural compounds on noxious weeds is continuously increasing. In the present study, three commercial EOs extracted from Mentha piperita L., Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. and Santolina chamaecyparissus L. were tested on two invasive weeds with an increasing presence in southern Europe, Erigeron bonariensis L. and Araujia sericifera Brot. Five concentrations (0.125, 0.25, 0.50, 1 and 2 µL mL^–1) were tested in a randomized manner for each essential oil and five replicates with 20 seeds each for E. bonariensis and 10 replicates with 10 seeds each for A. sericifera. Two higher concentrations of 4 and 8 μL mL^–1 of the three EOs were applied with irrigation on the plants of the two species at the vegetative growth stage. The number of replicas for each treatment and species was 7. The results obtained confirmed the significant inhibitory effects on seed germination and early seedling development, especially in E. bonariensis; of the three EOs, peppermint had the strongest effect, completely preventing germination in both species. Multivariate analysis, performed on several morphological traits scored after one month of treatment in young plants, showed a different pattern: the highest inhibition was recorded in A. sericifera and the greatest reduction in growth in the treatment with the highest dose of Santolina EO. The results obtained revealed the efficacy of these natural compounds and the specificity of their toxicity according to the species and stage of development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Plant Genetic Resources Oriented to Environmentally Friendly, Sustainable Agriculture)

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13 pages, 445 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Fertilization with Urea and Inhibitors on Growth, Yield and CBD Concentration of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)

by Ioanna Kakabouki, Angeliki Kousta, Antigolena Folina, Stella Karydogianni, Charikleia Zisi, Varvara Kouneli and Panayiota Papastylianou

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 2157; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13042157 - 17 Feb 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5305

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during 2019 in two different locations in Greece (Athens and Farsala) to evaluate the effect of urea and urea fertilization with inhibitors on the agronomic yield and quality characteristics of two cannabis varieties (Cannabis sativa L.), “Uso31”and “Fedora 17”. The experimental design was split-plot with four different fertilization treatments—control, Urea (U), urea with Urease Inhibitor (UI), and urea with Nitrification Inhibitor (NI) and urease inhibitor (UI). The significance of differences between treatments was estimated by using Tukey’s test with a significance level of p = 0.05. The plant height was significantly affected by the different fertilizations and different varieties as well as by the two locations. The maximum plant height was 197 cm for “Fedora 17”in Farsala. The seed yield was higher forthe urea with inhibitors treatment in both varieties. The Cannabidiol (CBD) content was significantly affected by the fertilization—it was higher in urea with inhibitors in “Uso31”and “Fedora 17” treatments. The lowest CBD content value was 1.29% (control) and the highest was 1.69% (urea NI + UI). In conclusion, in both varieties, it seems that urea with inhibitors has a positive effect on their growth, as well as on the increase in cannabidiol (CBD) content. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Plant Genetic Resources Oriented to Environmentally Friendly, Sustainable Agriculture)

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18 pages, 1769 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fruit Quality Properties of Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Genetic Resources in Montenegro

by Vučeta Jaćimović, Mirjana Adakalić, Sezai Ercisli, Djina Božović and Geza Bujdoso

Sustainability 2020, 12(23), 9963; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12239963 - 28 Nov 2020

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 2905

Abstract

Centuries-old generative reproduction, relatively favourable agro-ecological conditions, natural selection, and anthropogenic roles have significantly influenced the formation of a rich, heterogeneous population of common walnuts in Montenegro. This variability can be exploited by applying a positive selection of genotypes that would have good ecological adaptability and high economic value and that would not lag behind walnut varieties originating from other countries. The paper presents the results of studying 20 selected walnut genotypes from the continental part of Montenegro in a three-year period. Šeinovo variety and the Rasna selection were used as standard. The most important biological and pomological properties were investigated based on the international walnut descriptor. The basic criteria on which the selection approach was based were: late vegetation initiation, earlier date of end of vegetation, well kernel ratio, ease of kernel removal from the shell, shell texture that should be less rough, protecting the kernel, tasty kernel, light coloured kernel, and good chemical composition of the kernel. Genotypes had fruit weight between 8.43 and 13.84 g, kernel weight between 4.20 and 6.54 g, kernel ratio between 39.20 and 52.25%, oil content between 62.04 and 67.23%, and protein content between 13.91 and 19.04%. Most of the selected genotypes have the late time of leaf bud burst, and from that point of view, the BP44 and BP42 genotypes that the leafing on May 5 and 6 are especially interesting, due to avoidance of late frost. The walnut is adapted to the existing agro-ecological conditions over a long period of successful growth in this region, and most genotypes finish their vegetation earlier and are prepared to enter the period of winter dormancy. Genotypes BP09 and AN29 with their properties surpass the worldwide recognized Šeinovo, and in this region, highly valued selection Rasna. BP48 and BP50 genotypes also deserve attention due to the quality of the fruit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Plant Genetic Resources Oriented to Environmentally Friendly, Sustainable Agriculture)

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14 pages, 724 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance of Six Genotypes of Tritordeum Compare to Bread Wheat under East Mediterranean Condition

by Ioanna Kakabouki, Dimitrios F. Beslemes, Evangelia L. Tigka, Antigolena Folina, Stella Karydogianni, Charikleia Zisi and Panagiota Papastylianou

Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9700; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12229700 - 20 Nov 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1853

Abstract

Four advanced tritordeum lines were studied and compared to two commercial varieties of tritordeum and wheat cultivars in yield and quality features, in Greece. For this purpose, a two-year experiment was established in the Greek territory. The field experiment was set up in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with blocks, with different lines and varieties. Head emergence was calculated based on Growing Degree Days (GDDs), which was significantly affected by the year. The significance of differences between treatments was estimated by using Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) test with significance level p = 0.05. The weight of 1000 seeds of the two commercial varieties differed from the equivalent weight of 1000 seeds of tritordeum lines, approximately 1 g. Yield was significantly affected by lines/varieties and year. Compared to tritordeum yield, wheat yield marked the highest values. This difference was almost 2 kg ha⁻¹. Gluten content was significantly affected by lines/varieties. The highest gluten content was firstly noticed at wheat GENESIS (34.2%) variety and secondly at tritordeum Aucan (33.2%) variety. Protein was higher in tritordeum lines HT-1704 (15.5%), HT-1707 (15.1%) and Aucan variety (15.2%) during the first experimental year. Tritordeum seems to have significant adaptability to dry conditions in Greece and significant yields compared to the existing commercial varieties and bread wheat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Plant Genetic Resources Oriented to Environmentally Friendly, Sustainable Agriculture)

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