The disclosure provides a method of screening tobacco germplasm for resistance to Alternaria alternata by ripening seedling leaves. The method includes ripening seedling leaves, spray inoculation, disease induction, and evaluation of disease resistance. Dense planting, fertilizer control, and potassium increment were used to forcibly ripening seedling leaves. A hospitable environment was simulated to induce disease in the ripened leaves. These treatments reduce differences in leaf maturity and avoid environmental changes. The technique of the disclosure provides greater accuracy and repeatability than the current technique of screening brown spot resistance, and offers the advantages of simple operation, reduced cost, space requirement, and labor intensity, high selection efficiency, and an accurate screening of tobacco phenotypes with resistance to brown spot, etc., used for large-scale screening of tobacco varieties with resistance to brown spot.

Provided herein are agents, compositions, and methods for agricultural use, e.g., for altering the level, activity, or metabolism of one or more microorganisms resident in a host nematode or arthropod (e.g., honeybee or silkworm), the alteration resulting in an increase in the fitness of the host. The invention features a composition that includes an agent (e.g., phage, peptide, small molecule, antibiotic, or combinations thereof) that can alter the host's microbiota in a manner that is beneficial to the host. By promoting favorable microbial levels, microbial activity, microbial metabolism, and/or microbial diversity, the agents described herein may be used to increase the fitness of a variety of beneficial nematodes or arthropods, such as bees and silkworms, utilized in agriculture and commerce.

Provided herein are agents, compositions, and methods for agricultural use, e.g., for altering the level, activity, or metabolism of one or more microorganisms resident in a host nematode or arthropod (e.g., honeybee or silkworm), the alteration resulting in an increase in the fitness of the host. The invention features a composition that includes an agent (e.g., phage, peptide, small molecule, antibiotic, or combinations thereof) that can alter the host's microbiota in a manner that is beneficial to the host. By promoting favorable microbial levels, microbial activity, microbial metabolism, and/or microbial diversity, the agents described herein may be used to increase the fitness of a variety of beneficial nematodes or arthropods, such as bees and silkworms, utilized in agriculture and commerce.

A closed loop system for growing vegetation is provided. The closed loop system includes at least a first transport conveyor and a second transport conveyor. Each of the first and second transport conveyors includes a front end opposite a rear end. The present invention further includes at least a first transfer conveyor. A lighting system is positioned to emit light towards the first transport conveyor and a second transport conveyor. The present invention further includes at least one terrace structure. The first transport conveyor transports at least one terrace structure from the front end to the rear end, the first transfer conveyor transfers the at least one terrace structure from rear end of the first transport conveyor to the front end of the second transport conveyor and the second transport conveyor transports the at least one terrace structure from the front end to the rear end.

A hydroponic system (1) using seawater, wherein seawater (W1) is used for hydroponic cultivation of salt-tolerant plants, including a water supply pump (21) that pumps up, from the sea (S), seawater (W1) having a salinity, a bacteria content and an unwanted matter content are less than or equal to predetermined threshold values; a water tub (30) that stores seawater (W1) pumped up by the water supply pump (21) and accommodates salt-tolerant plants (P) to be cultivated; and a filter (27) that removes bacteria and unwanted matter from the seawater (W1) obtained from the sea (S); wherein the seawater (W1) from which the bacteria and the unwanted matter have been removed by the filter (27) is fed to the water tub (30).

A hydroponic system (1) using seawater, wherein seawater (W1) is used for hydroponic cultivation of salt-tolerant plants, including a water supply pump (21) that pumps up, from the sea (S), seawater (W1) having a salinity, a bacteria content and an unwanted matter content are less than or equal to predetermined threshold values; a water tub (30) that stores seawater (W1) pumped up by the water supply pump (21) and accommodates salt-tolerant plants (P) to be cultivated; and a filter (27) that removes bacteria and unwanted matter from the seawater (W1) obtained from the sea (S); wherein the seawater (W1) from which the bacteria and the unwanted matter have been removed by the filter (27) is fed to the water tub (30).

A closed-loop, bioregenerative water purification system including a gravity-independent anaerobic membrane bioreactor capable of operating in the presence and absence of gravity, the bioreactor including an anaerobic bioreactor, a first membrane filtration unit, and a second membrane filtration unit, wherein the anaerobic bioreactor is configured to receive organic waste and hygiene water as inputs and break them down into constituent components using anaerobic microbes, wherein the first membrane filtration unit is configured to receive effluent output from the anaerobic bioreactor, return concentrate to the anaerobic bioreactor, and output permeate to the second membrane filtration unit, and wherein the second membrane filtration unit is configured to receive the permeate output from the first membrane filtration unit, separate biogas from the permeate, and output nutrient-rich water.

A closed-loop, bioregenerative water purification system including a gravity-independent anaerobic membrane bioreactor capable of operating in the presence and absence of gravity, the bioreactor including an anaerobic bioreactor, a first membrane filtration unit, and a second membrane filtration unit, wherein the anaerobic bioreactor is configured to receive organic waste and hygiene water as inputs and break them down into constituent components using anaerobic microbes, wherein the first membrane filtration unit is configured to receive effluent output from the anaerobic bioreactor, return concentrate to the anaerobic bioreactor, and output permeate to the second membrane filtration unit, and wherein the second membrane filtration unit is configured to receive the permeate output from the first membrane filtration unit, separate biogas from the permeate, and output nutrient-rich water.

A man-made vitreous fibre (MMVF) plant growth substrate is provided. The substrate has properties including a volume of 3 to 20 litres, two layers of differing density, and the use of an organic binder selected from formaldehyde free binders. This is found to provide a substrate which allows excellent control of the water and/or nutrient contents within the substrate when used for plant growth.

A man-made vitreous fibre (MMVF) plant growth substrate is provided. The substrate has properties including a volume of 3 to 20 litres, two layers of differing density, and the use of an organic binder selected from formaldehyde free binders. This is found to provide a substrate which allows excellent control of the water and/or nutrient contents within the substrate when used for plant growth.