Breeding for higher yield, early maturity, wider adaptability and waterlogging tolerance in soybean (Glycine max L.): A case study

Breeding for higher yield and wider adaptability are major objectives of soybean crop improvement. In the present study, 68 advanced breeding lines along with seven best checks were evaluated for yield and attributing traits by following group balanced block design. Three blocks were constituted based on the maturity duration of the breeding lines. High genetic variability for the twelve quantitative traits was found within and across the three blocks. Several genotypes were found to outperform check varieties for yield and attributing traits. During the same crop season, one of the promising entries, NRC 128,was evaluated across seven locations for its wider adaptability and it has shown stable performance in Northern plain Zone with > 20% higher yield superiority over best check PS 1347. However, it produced 9.8% yield superiority over best check in Eastern Zone. Screening for waterlogging tolerance under artificial conditions revealed that NRC 128 was on par with the tolerant variety JS 97–52. Based on the yield superiority, wider adaptability and waterlogging tolerance, NRC 128 was released and notified by Central Varietal Release Committee (CVRC) of India, for its cultivation across Eastern and Northern Plain Zones of India.

Spatial and temporal variations of precipitation during 1979–2015 in Jinan City, China

The spatiotemporal variation of precipitation significantly affects regional hydrological processes and the management of water resources worldwide, indirectly contributing to an aggravation in the frequency and intensity of extreme events, especially in urban areas. To analyze the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of precipitation during 1979–2015 in Jinan City, the China Meteorological Forcing Dataset and 12 precipitation-related indices are adopted and analyzed by using Mann–Kendall trend test, Sen's slope estimator and Pettitt test in this study. The results show that: (1) the annual mean precipitation (AMP) shows a gradual increasing trend from the northern plain area to the southern mountainous area; (2) the heaviest summer precipitation occurs in the southern part of downtown with a high frequency, resulting in the drastic amplification of urban rainstorm flood disasters; (3) the spatial distributions of most indices show a gradual increasing trend from the northern plain area to the southern mountainous area, while consecutive dry days show the opposite tendency; and (4) most indices roughly show similar spatiotemporal variation characteristics with AMP, i.e., decreases in southwestern area, but increases in the eastern mountainous region and the north plain area, exhibiting an overall increasing trend at the 1% significance level.

Branding potential of spas in the Northern Plain and the Mid-Transdanubian Regions

Based on both primary and secondary research in our article we examined the brand elements of the main baths of the NorthernPlain Region (Szolnok Liget Thermal and Experience Bath, Nyiregyháza Aquarius Experience Bath, a Hajdúszoboszló Hungarospa Plc. and the Debrecen Aquaticum Mediterranean Experience bath ) and the Mid-Transdanubian Region (Komárom Medical bath, Agárd Thermal and Medical Bath, Pápa Castle Garden Bath) and worked out their brand systems. We also examined and analysed the possibilities and process of branding. According to their brand elements we established three categories for the baths: Established brands, Developing brands and Brandable baths.

The study of environment-conscious attitudes in the food-industry companies of the Northern-Plain Region

that the world of business, profit and work is not a hermetically closed area, but is in interaction with its closer and wider surroundings, ultimately with society and the natural environment.The affectedness of each sector and company varies. To be able to tackle these problems, first and foremost the commitment of companies towards environmentally conscious attitude is necessary, which can form as a result of inner obligation or outer pressure. Thus companies will be concerned to measure and quantify the environmental effects of all activities.Some of the companies have already given their votes for environment-protection. Both internationally and at home it seems that the responsible leaders of more and more companies build social, human rights and environmental protection considerations in the objects and values of the company apart from profit maximization.In my thesis I present the data gathered from a questionnaire survey carried out with food-industry companies in the Northern-Plain Region. The aim of the survey was to evaluate the commitment of companies towards environmental protection via solid data. The fact that more than half of the respondents found the positive effects of environmental protection of little importance and that environmental protection was the last among the aims of some companies reflected greatly in the following outcomes.