Unravelling trait-mediated effects of genotype and companion planting system on oilseed rape performance

Salinity strengthens plant–pollinator mutualism through leaf physiological status in grafted tomatoes

The interaction between rootstock-mediated leaf Na and nutrient concentrations, and the subsequent impact on Fv/Fm and unbalanced C/N are major traits associated with plant growth, yield, and bumblebees’ pollinating activity under salinity. Soil and water salinization compromises crop yield by reducing plant growth and reproductive fitness through altering source-sink activities, which in turn, affects pollination ecosystem services. However, while pollination services are barely considered as crop breeding targets, little is known about how stress-induced changes in plants affect pollinators’ nutritional landscape and their foraging decisions. To address this gap, visually assessed pollination activity of managed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) was monitored in a tomato commercial cultivar (Solanum lycopersicum L. Mill) grafted onto 26 experimental rootstocks, and related to agronomic and leaf/flower physiological traits under optimal (control) and saline (75 mM NaCl) conditions. Rootstock and salinity generated variability in agronomic (biomass, fruit yield and quality) and physiological (leaf and flower ionomics, chlorophyll fluorescence) traits, as well as in pollinator foraging behavior (flowers visited and preference). Based on a correlation analysis, the environmental pressure imposed by salinity strengthened plant–pollinator mutualistic interactions since rootstock-mediated fruit yield and plant vigor were associated not only with the leaf nutrient (C, N, P, K, Ca, S, Zn) and Fv/Fm status, but also with bumblebees’ activity. Leaf Na concentration emerged as the strongest negative factor associated with plant growth, physiology and yield as well as with pollinator activity, while flower abortion was more closely linked to leaf C, N and P status rather than Na levels in flowers. The results suggest that pollinator foraging decisions under salinity may reflect the plant physiological status and C/N balance, supporting a potential role for pollinators as ecosystem phenotypers for plant selection and breeding under environmental pressure.

SURVIVAL, VEGETATIVE DEVELOPMENT, AND REPRODUCTIVE RESPONSE OF TOMATO PLANTS UNDER INTEGRATED AGROECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN OPEN-FIELD AND GREENHOUSE CONDITIONS

Morphological Relationships among Plant Architecture, Yield Components, and Seed Quality of Safflower under different Irrigation Intervals

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a drought-tolerant oilseed crop with considerable potential for sustainable production in water-limited environments. This study evaluated the effects of irrigation interval and cultivar on growth, yield, biomass partitioning, seed quality, and trait relationships of two safflower cultivars (Giza and Dongla) under Sudanese conditions. A factorial experiment was conducted using three irrigation intervals (7, 14, and 21 days). Growth, yield components, biomass, harvest index, and seed quality traits were measured, and Pearson's correlation analysis was used to examine relationships among agronomic traits. Significant varietal effects (P < 0.05) were observed for several growth and yield-component traits. Giza produced significantly taller plants and greater dry matter, whereas Dongla produced significantly more heads per plant and exhibited a higher harvest index, reflecting contrasting growth and assimilate partitioning strategies. Irrigation interval significantly affected some vegetative growth traits, but had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on seed yield, harvest index, or seed quality. Likewise, although the 7-day irrigation interval produced the highest numerical seed yield, this difference was not statistically significant. Correlation analysis showed that plant height and leaf area were positively associated with seed production, whereas branch number promoted head formation but exhibited trade-offs with vegetative growth. Seed yield was more closely associated with harvest index than with total biomass, highlighting the importance of assimilate partitioning for productivity. These findings demonstrate that safflower can maintain yield and seed quality under moderate deficit irrigation, indicating that irrigation intervals of up to 21 days can reduce irrigation frequency without significant yield penalties. The results also support variety-specific cultivar selection, with Giza better suited for biomass production and Dongla for efficient reproductive allocation under water-limited conditions in Sudan.

Agroecological management strategies influence growth, chlorophyll content, and reproductive performance of tomato plants under open-field and greenhouse conditions

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a crop of high agricultural importance, whose performance in agroecological systems depends on the interaction between management strategies and environmental conditions. This study aimed to evaluate vegetative growth, relative chlorophyll content, and reproductive performance of tomato plants subjected to different agroecological management strategies under open-field and greenhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with five treatments: control, Trichoderma asperellum, silicon, sulfur, and an integrated protocol, with five replications in each cultivation system. Plant height, stem diameter, SPAD index, flowering, fruiting, and qualitative harvest observations were evaluated. The results showed that the integrated protocol promoted greater vegetative vigor, higher chlorophyll content, and improved reproductive performance in both cultivation environments. Open-field conditions favored vegetative growth, whereas the greenhouse environment imposed microclimatic limitations, although fruits harvested under protected conditions showed better quality. It is concluded that integrated agroecological management strategies contribute to greater physiological and reproductive stability of tomato plants, with their effectiveness being strongly influenced by the cultivation environment.

Genetic interactions among flowering loci influence phenology, vigour, and yield in chickpea

Flowering time and vegetative vigour are central adaptive traits in chickpea, shaping the balance between stress escape, biomass accumulation, and yield. Major phenology loci have been identified in this species, including ELF3a, CaLG3b and a cluster of FT homologues on chromosome 3 (CaLG3a), but their individual and interactive contributions to field adaptation remain unclear. Here, we developed near-isogenic lines (NILs) to dissect these loci under controlled conditions and across eight field environments in Southern and Western Australia. In a phytotron, NILs revealed strong photoperiod dependence: ELF3a suppressed flowering under short days, while early alleles at CaLG3b and the FT cluster promoted flowering under long days, with additive effects across loci. In the field, allelic substitutions consistently shifted phenology by a few days or nodes but rarely conferred direct yield benefits. Yield responses were variable and environment-dependent, with one NIL pair exhibiting a consistent penalty in environments with yields above 255 g m− 2. In contrast, canopy traits showed clearer divergence between NIL pairs, aligning with pleiotropic effects of the FT cluster. These results highlight the utility of NILs for attributing modest but adaptive phenological shifts to defined genomic regions, and suggest that the primary breeding value of these loci lies in fine-tuning crop development to local stress patterns rather than delivering robust yield gains. Stacking early and late alleles may offer breeders a genetic tool to broaden adaptive flexibility, while yield improvement will likely require integration with physiological traits related to resource capture, efficiency and higher reproductive allocation.

Cropping systems effect on the agronomic performance of neglected legumes under rainfed conditions

Cropping systems are critical in modifying micro-environments, improving land-use efficiency, and enhancing crop adaptability to marginal conditions. However, the interaction between cropping systems and the performance of neglected legumes under rainfed conditions remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of cropping systems on the agronomic performance of neglected legumes in rainfed environments. Field trials were conducted over two consecutive summer growing seasons (November 2022-January 2023 and November 2023-January 2024) using a split-plot randomized complete block design with three replications. Phenological traits (emergence, flowering, podding and senescence), yield components (pods per plant, pod mass, seeds per pod, 100-seed weight and grain yield), and land equivalent ratio (LER) were recorded and analyzed using GenStat ® and principal component analysis. Results revealed significant effects of cropping system, cultivar, season, and their interactions ( P ≤ 0.05). Intercropping enhanced early emergence and accelerated reproductive development in legumes Bambara groundnut, cowpea, and common bean, while pigeon pea showed reduced establishment under sole cropping. Pod and seed production, pod mass, 100-seed weight, and grain yield increased under intercropping. Cowpea and Bambara groundnut exhibited stable responses across seasons, whereas common bean and pigeon pea showed variability, highlighting the importance of genotype and species-specific compatibility with intercrop designs. LER consistently exceeded 1.0 under intercropping, indicating superior land-use efficiency. These findings demonstrate the potential of intercropping to enhance the productivity and resilience of neglected legumes in smallholder rainfed systems. Strategic selection of species with complementary phenology and growth dynamics is essential for maximizing interspecific interactions and system performance.