The non-edible parts of Moringa oleifera, such as stems, branches or leaf petioles, have often been discarded while the leaves are consumed as a vegetable or are used to produce organic fertilizer. This study aimed to determine the optimal conditions for producing Moringa organic fertilizer (MOF) from previously unused parts and to compare these fertilizers with cow manure and bio-organic fertilizer. Seventy kilograms of the unused Moringa parts were blended with fifty kilograms of manure, 0.2 kilogram of Trichoderma-based product and two kilograms of superphosphate. The mixture was incubated at different intervals, including 5, 7 or 9 weeks. Next, the effects of MOF on the growth, yield, ascorbic acid content and Brix of lettuce and mustard spinach were also determined and compared with other organic fertilizers (cow manure and bio-organic fertilizer). Results of the study revealed that 25 tons per ha of MOF were significantly superior to those treated with cow manure and bio-organic fertilizer in the case of vegetable yields. Further, 7 weeks of MOF incubation was found suitable to produce an optimal yield during the various incubation period. These results suggested that the Moringa non-edible parts can make organic fertilizer and enhance growth, yield, and leafy vegetable production.

Biofertilizers produced from organic materials help to promote the growth, and yield quality of crops and is more environmentally friendly than chemical fertilizers. Moringa oleifera is a leafy vegetable whose leaves are also used to make biofertilizers. The use of moringa non-edible parts in biofertilizer preparation remains under-explored. In this study, a procedure to produce moringa foliar biofertilizer (MFB) from non-edible parts was developed. The effect of composting time (3 to 4 months) on the quality of MFB was investigated, and four-month incubation was found suitable for biofertilizers yield with the highest nitrogen content and optimal pH. Furthermore, the influences of MFB doses (20 to 100 mL per Litre) on the growth of lettuce and mustard spinach were studied. The yield of these leafy vegetables was the highest at 100 mL per Litre of MFB spray. Finally, MFB was compared with other commercial foliar sprays, including chitosan fertilizer and seaweed fertilizer. Each foliar treatment was applied every five days until five days before harvest. Plant height, the number of leaves, canopy diameter, leaf area index, actual yield, ascorbic acid content, and Brix were found to be similar in lettuce sprayed with MFB, chitosan, and seaweed fertilizers. In conclusion, the application of MFB promoted the growth and yield of mustard spinach.

Nghiên cứu này được thực hiện nhằm đánh giá một số đặc điểm về nông sinh học, năng suất, giá trị thương phẩm của hạt gạo và khả năng chống chịu sâu bệnh của một số giống mới được tuyển chọn. Các giống được thử nghiệm là 3 giống mới được chọn tạo tại Viện Công nghệ sinh học, Đại học Huế là TD1, TD2, TD3, giống địa phương gạo đỏ ARI và giống đối chứng là giống Khang dân. Các thí nghiệm được bố trí theo khối hoàn toàn ngẫu nhiên (RCBD), mỗi giống được trồng với 3 lần nhắc lại, dưới điều kiện thời tiết của vụ Đông – Xuân 2019, tại viện Công nghệ sinh học, Đại học Huế. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy các giống khảo nghiệm có khả năng sinh trưởng và phát triển ổn định, cho năng suất khá và khả năng năng chống chịu sâu bệnh tốt. Giống TD3 đạt năng suất lúa (65,63 tạ/ha) tương đương so với giống đối chứng. Tỷ lệ gạo nguyên của các giống tuyển chọn cao hơn hẳn so với tỷ lệ gạo nguyên của giống đối chứng. Một số giống như TD1, TD3 và ARI có thể cho chất lượng cơm nấu tốt hơn giống đối chứng.

Plants which contain unisexual flowers are subjected to genetic degradation and yield capacity reduction due to the easily cross-pollination. Sponge gourd, one of species of the Cucurbitaceae which is predominantly cross-pollinating, is cultivated to widely use as vegetable in Vietnamese daily meals. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the growth potential and fruit quality including fruit aroma of sponge gourd inbred lines. Pure line selection has been performed using self-pollinated method, so that sponge gourd lines would be recovered with high yielding and aroma and thereby recommended for further crop system in Thua Thien Hue province, Central Vietnam. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications during the winter-spring season in 2017. Agronomical data were observed and analyzed on seven inbred lines (1-MN1, 1-MN2, 5-MN1, 7-MN1, 13-MN2, 15-MN1 and 15-MN2) derived from B29 accession (GBVN006904). The results indicated that inbred lines 13-MN2, 1-MN2 and 15-MN1 attained more highly fruit weight and yield compared to the others. Four inbred lines consisting of 5-MN1, 7-MN1, 15-MN1 and 15-MN2 still retained the light aroma after boiling. The inbred lines 1-MN2, 7-MN1, 13-MN2 and 15-MN1 are considered for appropriately using in breeding program of new luffa.

In the present study, we evaluated the effects of intermittent low temperature storage (ILTS) following cold imbibition of Eustoma seeds as a low-cost method. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the total number of cold storage days and the lengths of ILTS cycles for seedlings on the subsequent growth and flowering of three cultivars with different susceptibilities to rosetting: 'Nancy', 'Exe Lavender', and 'Bolero White'. Before sowing, the seeds were imbibed with water at 10°C under a dark condition for 35 days. A cycle of 6D/6D (6 days in a refrigerator kept at 10°C in the dark/6 days in a greenhouse kept at a high ambient temperature) was repeated 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 times to attain 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 days of cold storage (DCS), respectively. Using a cycle of 6D/6D at least one time (6 DCS) increased the bolting and flowering percentages and accelerated the bolting date by 6-10 days and the flowering date by 4-9 days in 'Nancy', a high-rosetting cultivar. The percentage of harvesting was above 80% only in seedlings subjected to 24 and 30 DCS in ILTS. In addition, under equal 30 DCS of ILTS, cycles of 3D/3D × 10 times, 6D/6D × 5 times, and 15D/15D × 2 times were investigated by exposing the seedlings to a high ambient temperature for 3, 6, and 15 days and then transferring them to a refrigerator (10°C) for 3, 6, and 15 days, respectively. ILTS cycles of 3D/3D and 6D/6D resulted in earlier bolting and flowering dates than cycles of 15D/15D. The cycle of 15D/15D resulted in a lower percentage of marketable harvesting and an increased number of nodes to the first flower. These results suggest that applying ILTS with a cycle of 6D/6D at least four times can be an efficient method to promote the bolting and flowering of Eustoma without applying air conditioning to the entire greenhouse.

Abstract:The agronomical characteristics of 14 induced pepper accessions from Korea were evaluated in spring-summer in 2015 at Thua Thien Hue in order to select pepper lines having high yield and good adaptation under local conditions for introducing new cultivar to enhance plant productivity and quality. Most of the accessions showed growth duration suitable to cropping pattern in Thua Thien Hue. Large variation in agronomical characteristics, such as plant height, number of leaves and branches, stem and flower color and fruit shape were observed among these induced pepper accessions. Plant height of all induced pepper accessions was higher than control check, ranging from 49.2 cm to 105.0 cm. YT2-1 had the highest fruit set rate (80.38%). All pepper accessions had higher yield compared with the control check (1.42 tons/ha), ranging from 3.71 tons/ha (YT4-1) to 28.34 tons/ha (YT4-3). YT1-2 had good characteristics and good quality. YT1-1 showed high resistance to insects and diseases. These accessions are potentially useful for breeding programme.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) cultivation is gaining popularity among Vietnamese farmers. Two separate experiments were conducted from January to April 2018 in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Four levels of each factor were included in the experiments: 0, 20, 40, and 60 kg/ha for nitrogen and 11, 13, 16, and 20 plants/m2 for the density. The nitrogen fertilizer (up to 60 kg/ha) substantially affects the leaf area, diameters of stem plant, receptacle and flower head, and cut flower vase life. Low plant density works well on plant height, leaf number, width and length at the flowering stage, with the largest head diameter (17.2 cm) at the 13 plants/m2 density. Based on the results of both growth ability and economic efficiency, we suggested applying N at 60 kg/ha and planting at 16 plants/m2 density for growing F1 cut sunflowers in Thua Thien Hue province.

The four F1 hybrid tomato lines (CT2011, CW2011, TS2011 and CLN2011) and two commercial F1 hybrid tomato cultivars used as control (TN52 and TN561) were evaluated for yield and yield components. The efforts were made to minimize reliance on the import of hybrid seed. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in spring-summer season 2015. Data were recorded on five plants for each replication. The results indicated that all of F1 tomato hybrid lines grew well under Thua Thien Hue condition. CT2011 had the highest plant height, followed by TS2011 and CLN2011. CT2011 is a cherry type and obtained the highest percentage of fruit setting (82.87%) and the highest of Brix (4.97). This line also had high yield (70.91 tons/ha). TN52 had the highest yield (80.69 tons/ha) among the processing tomato lines, and TN561 had the biggest fruit (90.1 g). All of F1 hybrid tomato lines had high resistant level to late blight and bacterial wilt diseases.