The localization of cuticular wax (CW) on the leaf epidermis and its interaction with the physiological mechanisms of three edible aroids, Alocasia, Colocasia, and Xanthosoma, were assessed. CW in the leaf tissues was visualized using scanning electron microscopy, which was higher in Colocasia (10.61 mg·dm⁻²) and Xanthosoma (11.36 mg·dm⁻²) than in Alocasia (1.36 mg·dm⁻²). Colocasia CW exhibited superhydrophobic properties with a higher static contact angle (CA) (>150°) than Xanthosoma (99.0°) and Alocasia (128.7°). The higher CW in Colocasia and Xanthosoma resulted in better leaf chlorophyll stability, moisture retention ability, and cellular membrane integrity compared to Alocasia. CW acted as a protecting barrier against deleterious solar radiation in terms of sun protection factor (SPF). The glossy appearance of wax crystals in the Alocasia leaf cuticles resulted in higher SPF. Overall, Colocasia CW highly influenced the qualitative and protective mechanisms of the leaf. Our study sheds light on the pivotal role of CW in the physiological properties of aroid leaves, which would be useful for the selection of wax-rich plants for augmenting future breeding strategies. The information would also be useful for further exploration of the industrial potential of superhydrophobic wax crystals obtained from edible aroids.

Utilizing yield, profitability, and environmental sustainability in terms of soil quality as the goal variables, we created a methodological protocol for a thorough assessment of nutrient management (NM) technologies for feasibility and optimized fenugreek production employing organic sources of nutrients in the acid soil of Northeast India. Five organic nutrient management technologies were tried and tested comprising T₁: absolute control; T₂: 2.5 t ha⁻¹ vermicompost (VC) + 250 kg ha⁻¹ lime; T₃: 5 t ha⁻¹ farmyard manure (FYM) + 250 kg ha⁻¹ lime; T₄: 10 t ha⁻¹ FYM + 250 kg ha⁻¹ lime; and T₅: 5 t ha⁻¹ VC + 250 kg ha⁻¹ lime with four replications laid out in a randomized block design for two consecutive growing seasons during 2018–2020. Results indicated that across the differential levels of organic amendments (treatments) employed, the addition of maximum doses of VC and FYM, in general, excelled over the other treatments concerning fenugreek seed yield, its yield attributes, soil properties, and better economic returns. Thus, the overall findings elucidated that the addition of higher doses of organic amendments (VC and FYM) can sustainably improve fenugreek productivity, soil properties, and economic returns for fenugreek growers in the acid soil of Northeast India.

The healthy mature seed cormels of 10 diverse genotypes of taro were subjected to 10Gy γ-irradiation. The mutant populations were evaluated for Phytophthora leaf blight disease under in vitro and in vivo disease conditions along with their non-irradiated mother genotypes. The results revealed that variability (range and standard deviation) in mutant populations were more than their mother populations. Under invitroPhytophthora leaf blight conditions, the blight incidence such as spot diameter and number of sporangia produced was minimized with γ-irradiation as compared to the non-irradiated leaf samples. It indicated that γ-rays suppressed the growth of Phytophthora spores in the leaf tissues of taro. The genotypes TSL and Duradim showed resistance consistently against leaf blight both under irradiated and non-irradiated conditions. The disease incidence was also minimized in the tested susceptible lines under γ-irradiation under artificial epiphytotic conditions. The yield reduction due to blight infestation in irradiated plants was lower, compared with the non-irradiated plants. Association of desirable mutations with undesirable mutations led to the problem of linkage drag as these cannot be separated because of vegetative propagation. γ-irradiation in high yielding susceptible lines such as Telia and Satasankha Local may help in inducing resistance against leaf blight with no/low yield loss due to infestation of Phytopthoracolocasiae.