A method for cultivating functional crops using nano organic germanium and nano organic selenium, includes performing irrigation or foliar fertilization on plants of the crops with nanoscaled organic germanium and nanoscaled organic selenium, which are prepared in nanoscale sizes by performing one or two or more selected from a method of applying physical energy (heat or pressure) to organic germanium and organic selenium, a method of applying electrical explosive energy, and a chemical bonding process, at least twice at the time when the plants of the crops are most vigorously grown and developed and at the time of maturation to bear fruit, wherein the prepared nanoscaled organic germanium and nanoscaled organic selenium are one-component materials which are dispersed in water as a solvent in a nanoscale state.

Disclosed implementations for improving crop yield in arid environments. Implementations include a method comprising selecting a cover crop adapted to absorb one or more of atmospheric or soil moisture for storage in an underground portion of the cover crop, and planting the selected cover crop in a particular tract of land at a first time instance. The method additionally includes controllably terminating growth of the cover crop at a second time instance, subsequent to the first time instance, to initiate a decay phase of the cover crop to cause transfer of the moisture absorbed in the underground portion of the cover crop to soil of the tract of land, and planting a primary crop in the tract of land at a third time instance, the primary crop absorbing from the soil at least some of the moisture released during the decay phase of the cover crop.

Disclosed implementations for improving crop yield in arid environments. Implementations include a method comprising selecting a cover crop adapted to absorb one or more of atmospheric or soil moisture for storage in an underground portion of the cover crop, and planting the selected cover crop in a particular tract of land at a first time instance. The method additionally includes controllably terminating growth of the cover crop at a second time instance, subsequent to the first time instance, to initiate a decay phase of the cover crop to cause transfer of the moisture absorbed in the underground portion of the cover crop to soil of the tract of land, and planting a primary crop in the tract of land at a third time instance, the primary crop absorbing from the soil at least some of the moisture released during the decay phase of the cover crop.

A method of detecting a potato virus in a crop image depicting at least one potato plant includes storing the crop image in a memory, identifying a first region of the crop image depicting potato plant leaves, identifying a plurality of edges within the first region, determining whether an image segment of the crop image within the first region satisfies one or more leaf creasing criteria symptomatic of leaf creasing caused by the virus based on the edges that are located within the image segment, determining whether the image segment satisfies one or more color criteria symptomatic of discoloration caused by the virus, and determining whether the segment displays symptoms of potato virus based on whether the image segment satisfies one or more of the leaf creasing criteria and the color criteria. A system and computer readable medium are also disclosed.

A method of detecting a potato virus in a crop image depicting at least one potato plant includes storing the crop image in a memory, identifying a first region of the crop image depicting potato plant leaves, identifying a plurality of edges within the first region, determining whether an image segment of the crop image within the first region satisfies one or more leaf creasing criteria symptomatic of leaf creasing caused by the virus based on the edges that are located within the image segment, determining whether the image segment satisfies one or more color criteria symptomatic of discoloration caused by the virus, and determining whether the segment displays symptoms of potato virus based on whether the image segment satisfies one or more of the leaf creasing criteria and the color criteria. A system and computer readable medium are also disclosed.

The invention relates to the field of seed germination and growing of plants. A composition comprising a clay, an inert material, optionally a fibrous material, and a fourth component is provided, characterized in that said fourth component comprises a cation selected from the group consisting of Al, Zr and Ti and an anion selected from the group consisting of oxyhydroxide, oxychloride, nitrate, sulfate, chloride, hydroxide and alkoxide, and wherein the concentration of said fourth component ranges from 0.1 to 70 percent by weight (w %), preferably 0.5-25 w %, more preferably 1-10 w %, of the total weight of the clay, the inert material, and optionally the fibrous material, together.

A method and system of improving the growth of plants belonging to the family Solanaceae by providing a plant nutrient solution about the plant roots and a gas mixture circulating about the plant shoot; by selecting the gas mixture and plant nutrient solution temperature independently of the other; and providing a plant nutrient solution to gas mixture temperature differential of approximately at least approximately 10° F. during different phases of plant development. The method and system improves plant development to improve a desired plant organ for industrial, scientific, and medical purposes. A method of improving the growth and development of Solanaceae plants by providing a shoot-to-root temperature differential to treat or prevent infection by a plant pathogen and/or infestation by pests.

An agricultural yield pod or agricultural yield pad with holed root membrane overlay. The agricultural yield pod encloses soil and vegetation in the soil. The top of the agricultural yield pod is closed except for at least one water and nutrition port and at least one vegetation growth port (or neck). The trunk of the vegetation passes through the at least one vegetation growth port (or neck). The agricultural yield pad is closed by the holed root membrane overlay and contains soil and vegetation in the soil. The trunk of the vegetation passes through the holes in the holed root membrane overlay. Root direction channels 38 may be beneath the overlay.

This invention relates to methods and materials for providing a benefit to a plant by associating the plant with a complex endophyte comprising a host fungus further comprising a component bacterium, including benefits to a plant derived from a seed or other plant element treated with a complex endophyte. For example, this invention provides purified complex endophytes, purified complex endophyte components such as bacteria or fungi, synthetic combinations comprising said complex endophytes and/or components, and methods of making and using the same.

The present invention relates to a sprout inhibitor for potato and a method of inhibiting sprout formation in tubers. More particularly, the present invention relates to acetolactate synthase (ALS) herbicide as tuber sprout inhibitor. The present invention further provides compositions comprising acetolactate synthase (ALS) as anti-sprouting agent.