Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences | Vol. 12, No. 5, May 2026 | pp. 78–83

DOI: 10.46882/2026.AAAS.120501

Research Article

Title: Using Silicon Foliar Sprays to Suppress Powdery Mildew and Improve Fruit Quality in Vitis vinifera

Names of Authors: Russo, A. E.¹, Bianchi, F. S.¹, and Marini, G.²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. ²Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), Rome, Italy.

Abstract: Powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe necator limits vineyard productivity and grape quality across Mediterranean processing zones. Widespread reliance on copper and sulfur sprays causes negative environmental accumulations in topsoil layers. This field investigation evaluated alternative applications of potassium silicate sprays (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% concentrations) across 'Chardonnay' grapevine plots (Vitis vinifera). Foliar treatments were applied at 14-day intervals from pre-bloom until berry veraison. Disease severity indexes on leaves and clusters fell by 68.4% and 72.5% respectively in the 1.5% silicon treatment zone compared to untreated control blocks. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that silicon accumulated within epidermal cell walls, building mechanical leaf barriers that restricted fungal germ tube penetrations. Concurrently, treated grape juice samples contained higher total anthocyanins and soluble solids. Yeast assimilable nitrogen contents rose by 18.5%, indicating high fermentative potential. These findings show that silicon foliar applications can replace traditional chemical options inside integrated pest management strategies.

Keywords: Viticulture; Disease resistance; Silicon accumulation; Fungal pathogen suppression; Grape juice quality; Sustainable crop protection.

Manuscript Timeline: Received January 05, 2026; Revised March 02, 2026; Accepted April 08, 2026; Published May 15, 2026.

Citation: Russo, A. E., Bianchi, F. S., and Marini, G. (2026). Using Silicon Foliar Sprays to Suppress Powdery Mildew and Improve Fruit Quality in Vitis vinifera. Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, 12(5), pp. 78–83.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences | Vol. 12, No. 4, April 2026 | pp. 72–77

DOI: 10.46882/2026.AAAS.120402

Research Article

Title: Aquaponics System Optimization: Evaluating Fish-to-Plant Ratios on Water Quality and Yield of Lactuca sativa

Names of Authors: Nielsen, K. B.¹, Hansen, T. M.¹, and Sorensen, J. L.²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Environmental Technology, Technological Institute of Denmark, Aarhus, Denmark. ²Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Silkeborg, Denmark.

Abstract: Recirculating aquaponic loops present viable alternatives for urban food systems by co-culturing Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) alongside lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Balancing nutrient generation with vegetative uptake remains critical to prevent phytotoxicity or system imbalances. This experiment tested three distinct fish-to-plant biomass feeding ratios (fifteen, thirty, and forty-five grams of fish feed/square meter of plant space/day) inside a deep-water-culture configuration over a 60-day tracking period. Total ammonia-nitrogen, nitrite, and nitrate levels were logged every 48 hours. The 30 g/m²/day ratio achieved optimal nutrient homeostasis, keeping toxic un-ionized ammonia concentrations below 0.05 mg/L while providing sufficient nitrate accumulation (64.2 mg/L) for leafy growth. Under this layout, lettuce head biomass averaged 245 ± 12 g, showing no symptoms of iron or magnesium deficiencies. Crop growth index parameters matched or outperformed conventional hydroponic control treatments. Increasing inputs to 45 g/m²/day caused sharp accumulations of organic solids, overloading biofilter capacities and lowering dissolved oxygen profiles below safe thresholds.

Keywords: Recirculating aquaculture; Hydroponics; Nitrogen conversion; Biomass balance; Tilapia farming; Leafy green production.

Manuscript Timeline: Received December 10, 2025; Revised February 12, 2026; Accepted March 15, 2026; Published April 22, 2026.

Citation: Nielsen, K. B., Hansen, T. M., and Sorensen, J. L. (2026). Aquaponics System Optimization: Evaluating Fish-to-Plant Ratios on Water Quality and Yield of Lactuca sativa. Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, 12(4), pp. 72–77.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences | Vol. 12, No. 4, April 2026 | pp. 66–71

DOI: 10.46882/2026.AAAS.120401

Research Article

Title: Physiological Responses and Yield Stability of Cicer arietinum Genotypes Under Extreme Terminal Heat Stress

Names of Authors: Joshi, V. K.¹, Sharma, R. P.¹, and Reddy, M. S.²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, India. ²Department of Genetics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India.

Abstract: High ambient temperatures during reproductive growth phases accelerate flower abortion and reduce seed size in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties. This investigation tracked the physiological adaptations and yield configurations of 12 distinct chickpea genotypes subjected to terminal heat stress conditions (greater than 35 degrees Celsius) in a semi-arid zone. Stomatal conductance, membrane stability index (MSI), and pollen viability percentages were verified at peak anthesis. The heat-tolerant genotype 'ICCV-10512' maintained a high pollen germination capacity of 78.4% and an MSI value of 68.2% under stress conditions, contrasting with susceptible lines where pollen viability fell below 32.5%. Leaf temperature depression metrics revealed that tolerant lines utilized high transpiration-mediated cooling to offset ambient thermal spikes. Ultimate seed yield correlated positively with pod retention rates per plant (r = 0.76). Genotype 'ICCV-10512' achieved an overall yield performance of 1.84 ± 0.12 tons/ha, representing high yield stability across unpredictable environments. These validated biomarkers help accelerate targeted parental selection steps in climate-resilient food legume breeding pipelines.

Keywords: Pulses; Thermal tolerance; Pollen viability; Cell membrane integrity; Transpiration cooling; Legume physiology.

Manuscript Timeline: Received December 02, 2025; Revised February 05, 2026; Accepted March 10, 2026; Published April 14, 2026.

Citation: Joshi, V. K., Sharma, R. P., and Reddy, M. S. (2026). Physiological Responses and Yield Stability of Cicer arietinum Genotypes Under Extreme Terminal Heat Stress. Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, 12(4), pp. 66–71.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences | Vol. 12, No. 3, March 2026 | pp. 61–65

DOI: 10.46882/2026.AAAS.120302

Short Communication

Title: Cryopreservation Optimization of Solanum tuberosum Shoot Tips via Droplet-Vitrification Protocols

Names of Authors: Zavala, E. R.¹, Mendoza, L. A.¹, and Castillo, B. N.²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru. ²Department of Biotechnology, National Agrarian University La Molina, Lima, Peru.

Abstract: Long-term conservation of clonal potato genetic assets requires highly reproducible cryopreservation strategies that maintain cellular structural integrity. This work optimized a droplet-vitrification protocol for shoot tips extracted from three economically critical Solanum tuberosum cultivars. Explants were systematically pre-cultured on sucrose-enriched mediums (0.3 to 0.7 M) before exposure to plant vitrification solution 2 (PVS2) for varying durations (20, 40, 60, and 80 minutes) at 0 degrees Celsius. Treated shoot tips were placed on aluminum foil strips and immersed directly into liquid nitrogen. Maximum post-thaw regeneration percentages reached 76.5% for the 'Unica' cultivar when exposed to PVS2 treatment for exactly 60 minutes. Shorter exposure phases caused incomplete cell dehydration, inducing intracellular ice crystallization damage, whereas 80-minute protocols produced chemical toxicity symptoms. Histological evaluations verified that surviving cell matrices within the meristematic dome retained full morphogenetic competence, transitioning into rooted plantlets within 21 days without showing phenotypic abnormalities.

Keywords: Plant germplasm; Ex situ conservation; Vitrification solution; Meristem tissue; Potato breeding; Clonal repository.

Manuscript Timeline: Received November 18, 2025; Revised January 12, 2026; Accepted February 14, 2026; Published March 18, 2026.

Citation: Zavala, E. R., Mendoza, L. A., and Castillo, B. N. (2026). Cryopreservation Optimization of Solanum tuberosum Shoot Tips via Droplet-Vitrification Protocols. Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, 12(3), pp. 61–65.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences | Vol. 12, No. 3, March 2026 | pp. 55–60

DOI: 10.46882/2026.AAAS.120301

Research Article

Title: Machine Learning Models for Predicting Soil Organic Matter Dynamics in Regenerative Agroecosystems

Names of Authors: O'Connor, L. M.¹, Gallagher, P. S.¹, and Kennedy, T. R.²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. ²Teagasc Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, Wexford, Ireland.

Abstract: Accurately mapping soil organic matter (SOM) fractions is necessary to validate carbon tracking within regenerative agricultural frameworks. This study evaluated the performance of three machine learning algorithms—Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Gradient Boosting Machines (GBM)—to predict topsoil SOM dynamics using multi-temporal satellite imagery and topographic indices. Field samples were collected from 120 temperate pasture plots showing diverse management histories, including multi-species swards and rotational adaptive grazing. The RF model out-performed alternative configurations, yielding a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.84 and a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.32%. Important predictive parameters included the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) extracted during early spring growth alongside the topographic wetness index. Model validations verified that converting traditional monoculture ryegrass pastures into multi-species swards increased SOM accumulation by an average of 1.24 ± 0.15% over a five-year monitoring cycle. This automated digital pipeline lowers verification costs for carbon credit markets while maintaining regional accuracy metrics.

Keywords: Predictive agrotechnology; Random forest; Soil carbon verification; Multi-species swards; Digital soil mapping; Remote sensing.

Manuscript Timeline: Received November 15, 2025; Revised January 08, 2026; Accepted February 10, 2026; Published March 12, 2026.

Citation: O'Connor, L. M., Gallagher, P. S., and Kennedy, T. R. (2026). Machine Learning Models for Predicting Soil Organic Matter Dynamics in Regenerative Agroecosystems. Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, 12(3), pp. 55–60.

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences | Vol. 12, No. 2, February 2026 | pp. 17–22

DOI: 10.46882/2026.AAAS.120204

Research Article

Title: Optimization of Smart Irrigation Scheduling in Solanum lycopersicum Using IoT-Enabled Soil Moisture Sensors

Names of Authors: Dupont, L. M.¹, Rossi, G.², and Müller, H.³

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Agricultural Engineering, INRAE, Montpellier, France. ²Department of Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. ³Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Hohenheim University, Stuttgart, Germany.

Abstract: Precision water distribution models are crucial for mitigating regional agricultural water allocation stresses. This investigation developed and evaluated an automated Internet of Things (IoT) sensor deployment network for irrigation scheduling in greenhouse Solanum lycopersicum crops. Continuous monitoring arrays utilized capacitive soil moisture probes calibrated across distinct substrate horizons alongside microclimate data integration. Automated valves actuated irrigation events when volumetric water content dropped below a target baseline of 22%. Compared to historical calendar-based drip cycles, the IoT responsive framework reduced water consumption metrics by 31.4% without inducing physiological wilting or leaf stomatal closure. Marketable tomato production remained statistically equivalent, yielding 14.2 kg/m², while Water Use Efficiency (WUE) grew from 42.6 kg/m³ to 61.8 kg/m³. Physicochemical evaluations of the fruits indicated a 15.6% increase in total soluble solids (Brix levels) and enhanced ascorbic acid content under precision regulated deficit setups. The operational deployment verified that smart automated frameworks reduce labor input requirements and prevent localized root-zone hypoxia.

Keywords: Precision agriculture; IoT telemetry; Water resource automation; Tomato cultivation; Deficit irrigation; Horticultural technology.

Manuscript Timeline: Received October 24, 2025; Revised December 18, 2025; Accepted January 16, 2026; Published February 21, 2026.

Citation: Dupont, L. M., Rossi, G., and Müller, H. (2026). Optimization of Smart Irrigation Scheduling in Solanum lycopersicum Using IoT-Enabled Soil Moisture Sensors. Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, 12(2), pp. 17–22.