crop development Articles
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A survey of factors involved in crop maturity
The time necessary for crops to successfully complete reproduction is species and environment dependent. Lifecycles can be completed in a few weeks or take several years depending on the plant species. Crop development is divided into phenophases that are affected primarily by light and temperature changes, interacting with phytohormones. Some species are influenced more by light and others by ...
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Living the promise? The role of the private sector in enabling small-scale farmers to benefit from agro-biotech
Biotechnology and transgenetic crops (tGMOs) hold great promises as part of integrated solutions for poor and small-scale farmers. The private sector, which to date controls most releases of tGMOs globally, has combined philanthropy and commercialisation to this end. Yet few benefits have materialised. This narrative paper surveys and provides a framework for how multinational companies transfer ...
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Changing intellectual property regimes: implications for developing country agriculture
The revolutions in biotechnology and intellectual property protection began in the developed world. The USA led the global transformation of intellectual property protection, and has been the leader in commercialisation of biotechnology in agriculture. Now all members of the World Trade Organization are committed to offer intellectual property protections for agriculture. Will the benefits of ...
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Transgenic crops, EU precaution, and developing countries
Agricultural biotechnologies have the potential to offer higher incomes for farmers in developing countries and lower-priced and better-quality food, feed and fibre. That potential is being heavily compromised, however, because of strict regulatory systems in the European Union and elsewhere governing transgenically modified (GM) crops. This paper examines why the EU has taken the extreme ...
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Are genetically modified (GM) crops a commercial risk for Africa?
What risks might Africa face if it decided to plant genetically modified (GM) agricultural crops? A rough calculation based on current export profiles for one sampling of eastern and southern African countries suggests that the commercial export risks incurred outside of Africa would be quite small. Most of Africa's exports of goods that might be considered GM currently go to other African ...
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A GM subsistence crop in Africa: the case of Bt white maize in South Africa
The Republic of South Africa (RSA) is the first developing country to plant genetically modified staple food – Bt white maize. The following paper describes the development and spread of Bt maize in RSA that started in 1998. After that, based on surveys of 33 large commercial Bt maize farmers and 368 smallholders in 2001/2, it shows that Bt maize gives higher yields for both groups and reduces ...
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Bt-cotton and production risk: panel data estimates
The farm-level success of Bt-cotton in developing countries is well documented. However, the literature has only recently begun to recognise the importance of accounting for the effects of the technology on production risk, in addition to the mean effect estimated by previous studies. The risk effects of the technology are likely very important to smallholder farmers in the developing world due ...
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The GMO experience in North and South America
This paper surveys the level and distribution of economic impacts of GMOs in the Americas from 1996–2004. Key institutional factors influencing GMO diffusion are discussed. In 2004 the Americas accounted for 94% of world GMO area. Diffusion has been concentrated; four countries, four crops and two traits account for the vast majority of area. The economic benefits of the diffusion of GMOs have ...
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Introduction: Global actors, markets and rules driving the diffusion of genetically modified (GM) crops in developing countries
The theme of this special issue – genetically modified (GM) crops – goes to the heart of the process of globalisation, technology and development. This introductory essay explains how this new technology is being driven by the actors (multinational corporations), markets (large global markets) and rules (intellectual property) of globalisation. But it is also shaped by the other national and ...
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The economic impact of transgenic crops in developing countries: a note on the methods
A vast literature has accumulated since crop varieties with transgenic resistance to insects and herbicide tolerance were released to farmers in 1996 and 1997. A comparatively minor segment of this literature consists of studies conducted by agricultural economists to measure the farm-level impact of transgenic crop varieties, the size and distribution of the economic benefits from adopting them ...
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Assessment of aquacrop, cropsyst, and WOFOST models in the simulation of sunflower growth under different water regimes
This work compares the performance of AquaCrop, a crop simulation model developed by FAO, with that of two well established models, CropSyst and WOFOST, in simulating sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) growth under different water regimes in a Mediterranean environment. The models differ in the level of complexity describing crop development, in the main growth modules driving the simulation of ...
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Validation of molecular markers associated with net blotch resistance and their utilization in barley breeding
With the advancement of molecular marker technology and computer software, mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) for complex traits in agricultural crops is frequent; however, exploitation of these QTL in practical breeding programs is limited. Here we report the validation of molecular markers linked to net blotch resistance QTL and their utilization in a barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) breeding ...
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An analysis of Bt corn's benefits and risks for national and regional policymakers considering Bt corn adoption
This paper examines important factors for policymakers to consider when making a decision to adopt Bt corn planting and commercialisation, by analysing the market, environmental, and health benefits and risks of Bt corn as well as current regulatory policies that may affect trade. Bt corn, genetically modified to produce a pesticidal protein, has benefits that include improved yield, decreased ...
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Agronomic performance of different pea cultivars under various sowing periods and contrasting soil structures
Yield variability of spring pea (Pisum sativum L.) in farmers' fields is mainly due to soil compaction at sowing and abiotic stresses during the reproductive period. Winter peas flower earlier, and thus should be less sensitive to abiotic stress at the end of the cycle, but because of their sensitivity to frost they must be sown late in autumn when soils are very wet. Pea breeders are working on ...
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How to Help Grapevines Recover after a Difficult Frost Period
100% : this is the percentage of a vineyard that can be damaged by frost Cold snaps and frosts have hit many orchards and vineyards these last few weeks in France. High yield reduction will be expected due to these cold waves, occurring after weeks of heat and crop development. During dormancy, grapevines can support temperatures as low as -15°C. However, as soon as the vines bud, they ...
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Agricultural innovation and biotechnology development towards sustainable goals: can we make it more pro-poor?
Agriculture continues to change – driven by innovation and new technology. Genetics and breeding have revolutionised agricultural systems, and the 'Green Revolution', based on higher yielding varieties of dwarf wheat and rice, is arguably the greatest achievement in food crop development. Gene technologies now offer additional opportunities, where new traits improving crop protection ...
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Positive genetic correlation between forage yield and fiber of smooth Bromegrass
Voluntary intake potential of a forage crop is generally considered to be the most important feed characteristic regulating animal performance. Efforts to develop forage crops with reduced bulk volume, measured by neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration, have been associated with reduced plant fitness. The objective of this study was to evaluate a second cycle of divergent selection for NDF ...
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Agrobiotechnology choices in developing countries
Today's agrobiotechnology revolution - especially the move toward transgenic or genetically modified (GM) crops - is being researched, commercialised, and (hotly) debated mostly in Europe, the USA, and elsewhere within the rich industrial world. Yet it is in the developing countries where the greatest human and environmental promise - or peril - of this new technology may lie. This paper argues ...
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The future of lighting by focusing on DLI and PSS value
To what extent can a grower produce efficiently more? By measuring several aspects on a daily basis and making adjustments when necessary. The knowledge among both growers and researchers is growing, and with it, the certainty and the quality of the harvest are increasing. Think of recent developments such as lighting according to the DLI (Daily Light Integral) concept instead of the classic ...
By Oreon
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Understanding Chill in Pistachios
A Microclimate and Chill Accumulation Case Study Chill is required for leaf and flower bud development in many fruit and nut trees. "Industry research has determined a lack of sufficient hours below 45° F affects the nut crop that develops in the spring. There can be poor fruit bud development, delayed or strung out bloom and poor overlap with pollinators". The ability to set a crop can be ...
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