The effect of chemical weed control on growth parameters and biomass of caraway (Carum carvi L.)

B.Sc. María Muñoz

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Legumes are valuable source of proteins for more than 400 million people in the tropics. In 2007-2017, CIAT’s Bean Program has developed 20 successful genotypes of Fe and Zn biofortified beans via its banner program HarvestPlus, which have high potential to combat the so-called hidden hunger originating from insufficient amount of micronutrients in the diet. CIAT’s iron biofortified beans have been shown to significantly improve haemoglobin levels and lead to overall improvement in health. However, efforts are required to further improve yields of biofortified beans, especially in a limiting environment. While nitrogen (N) limitations are generally overcome by symbiotic N fixation of rhizobia (R), the amount of fixed N2 vary greatly, being site-dependent and influenced by a wide range of factors. Similarly, the efficiency of the uptake of other nutrients often depends on symbiotic relationship between plant roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) which transfer nutrients to plants in exchange for carbohydrates. Furthermore, the relationship between both rhizobium, mycorrhiza and host plant is genetically influenced and require further investigation. The healthier plant status helps plants mitigate negative cultivation constraints (pH, low nitrogen, low phosphorus, drought, heat, fungal diseases, etc.). Rhizobia and AMF co-inoculation (RAMF) play an important role in the uptake of micronutrients (Zn) and can significantly improve plant health and the resistance to stress and pathogens. However, little is known about the rhizobia-mycorrhiza-legume (RAMFL) relationships in bean growing systems. In addition, RAMF consortia should be high competitive with resident native RAMF strains. Thus testing whether high yielding bean germplasms (and others) associate with specific RAMF strain combinations is worthy especially in terms of near-future climate changes and availability of fertilizers. The objectives of the MSc thesis should be designing targeted greenhouse experiments aiming at screening the most efficient rhizobial and mycorrhizal strains with the highest compatibility with biofortified beans from the CIAT’s collection.

Keywords

Rhizobia, Mycorrhiza, Bean, Nutrient, Limitation

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 23. 4. 2021

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Nikola Teutscherová, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme:
Tropical Crop Management and Ecology