Suneeporn Suwanmaneepong

This study investigated the genetics of resistance to Pepper yellow leaf curl virus (PepYLCTHV) in advanced lines of chili peppers (Capsicum annuum) and generated new chili pepper populations resistant to PepYLCTHV disease. Experiments were conducted in three phases between May 2020 and October 2024 at three locations in Thailand. Three crosses were developed, involving PepYLCTHV-resistant (PEP6) and susceptible Jindanil 80 (JD), PP0437-7506, and Yodsonkeam 80 (YS) parents; PEP 6 was used as a common male parent. The segregation of resistant and susceptible plants was studied in F₂, F₃ and F₅ generations, and yield components of selected F₅ lines were recorded and analyzed. The parental line PEP6 exhibited a segregation ratio of resistant (R) to susceptible (S) plant (1R:1.5S), while PP0437-7506 fit a 1R:15S ratio. The F₁ generations were completely susceptible, confirming that resistance is a recessive trait. The resistant-to-susceptible ratio from F₂ to F₅ generations was increased, suggesting that advanced-generation selection for resistance is effective. The population of YS/PEP6 showed an increase in resistance across generations, with ratios changing from 1R:15S in the F₂ to 1R:1S in the F₅. These results suggest that resistance to PepYLCTHV was under the control of multiple recessive genes. Evaluations of new breeding lines regarding disease severity and index (DI%) confirmed that the resistant parent PEP6 had low disease severity (1.1) and DI% (22%). In contrast, commercial and local varieties were highly susceptible. Two promising F₅ lines, PF2 and PF8, derived from PEP6 developed during this study, displayed high levels of resistance with low DI% values of 24.67% and 18.67%, respectively. These lines are improved sources of PepYLCTHV-resistant chili pepper for further evaluation and direct release as PepYLCTHV disease-resistant cultivars in the Thai market segment and could be used as an improved source of resistance for breeding programs.

The accurate monitoring of body temperature is critical to poultry health and welfare. Rectal thermometry, the conventionally employed method, is invasive and stressful. Infrared thermography (IRT) offers a non-invasive alternative, but its accuracy may be influenced by body size and camera-to-object distance. This study evaluated the efficiency of thermal imaging compared with rectal thermometry in measuring chicken body temperature, with a focus on the effects of body size and measurement distance. A cross-sectional, repeated-measures design was applied to ninety clinically healthy Buff Sussex chickens (n = 30 per size group: small, medium, and large). Each bird was imaged from three distances (50, 75, and 100 cm) by using a thermal camera (FLIR C5^®), with rectal temperature (Omron MC-246^®) serving as the reference, so that a total of 270 paired observations were analyzed. Agreement was assessed using Bland–Altman bias and limits of agreement (LOAs), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), Pearson correlation (r), and Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). The results showed that rectal temperatures were consistent with the normal physiological range reported for healthy chickens (40.43–41.95 °C) and that thermal imaging showed systematic underestimation, particularly in small birds (bias of up to −2.65 °C and RMSE of 2.72 °C at 100 cm) and medium-sized birds (bias of −0.73 to −1.39 °C), with weak concordance (CCC ≤ 0.16). Measurements in large birds demonstrated the smallest bias (−0.76 to +0.16 °C), lower errors (MAE of 0.73–0.89 °C), and stronger correlations (r = 0.56–0.71), indicating more reliable agreement. Distance influenced accuracy, with underestimation increasing at 75–100 cm, especially in smaller birds. Therefore, thermal imaging cannot fully replace rectal thermometry for individual-level assessment in chickens due to systematic underestimation, especially in small birds and at greater distances. However, it shows promise as a rapid, non-invasive flock-level screening tool in larger chickens when used at optimal distances (50–75 cm). The integration of thermal imaging into precision livestock farming and future farm models may enhance welfare-friendly, automated health monitoring in poultry systems.

This study aimed to 1) evaluate the training results of farmers who participated in the project to promote the production of safe herbs and vegetables from toxic substances by comparing their knowledge levels before and after the training, 2) study the implementation of the knowledge from the training, and 3) evaluate the satisfaction of farmers who participated in the project. Data were collected using a questionnaire from 60 farmers who participated in the project, which were in 4 project implementation areas in Samut Prakan Province. Descriptive statistics and T-test were analyzed at a statistical significance level of .01 to compare the knowledge levels of farmers before and after participating in the training activities. The results of the study found that farmers had a high level of knowledge before the training at 50.00 percent and their knowledge increased to 81.67 percent after the training. The mean of knowledge increased significantly from the mean before training at 13.15 to the mean after training at 16.85 (p < .01), that is from 13.15 to 16.85 (p < .01). Farmers applied the knowledge the most in terms of harvesting and post-harvest management (80.00%). Farmers who participated in the training project expressed high satisfaction (mean 4.33), indicating that the knowledge transfer to farmers who participated in the project to promote the production of safe herbs and vegetables from toxic substances in Samut Prakan Province was successful and relevant agencies should expand the training activities to other areas.

This study examined the factors influencing information exchange among durian farmers in Rayong Province, Thailand, regarding high-quality production practices. A survey of 54 farmers, equally distributed by gender, revealed an average age of 44.52 years, with most being married and holding at least a bachelor’s degree. The majority cultivated Monthong durian on plots of five rai or larger and had over five years of experience. Farmers applied their knowledge of water and maintenance systems, among other practices. The study findings revealed that motivation levels correlated with the farmers’ propensity to share information. Factors influencing information exchange, ranked from the highest to the lowest average value, were knowledge promotion and development (x̄ = 4.24), marketing (x̄ = 4.00), along with social relations and acceptance (x̄ = 3.46), resulting in a high overall level (x̄ = 3.90). Multiple regression analysis revealed traditional water management wisdom as the sole significant predictor of information-sharing behavior among the 11 variables tested, influencing both knowledge promotion (β = 0.573, p = 0.002) and marketing information sharing (β = 0.467, p = 0.011). Demographic characteristics, farming practices, and other production knowledge had no significant impact on farmers' sharing motivations.

The results of the study revealed that farmers who did not use the Magik Growth durian wrapping bag innovation had total costs of 37,647.48 baht per rai, resulting in an average yield of 1,420.41 kilograms per rai and a net profit of 164,999.25 baht per rai. In contrast, farmers who used the Magik Growth durian wrapping innovation had total costs of 48,724.58 baht per rai, leading to an average yield of 1,420.83 kilograms per rai and a net profit of 195,068.58 baht per rai. There was a significant difference of 0.01 in the average yield between those using and not using the Magik Growth durian wrapping innovation. Fixed costs and break-even yield also showed a statistically significant difference at 0.05. However, total costs, variable costs, production factors, product prices, net profit, and prices showed no statistically significant difference.

The majority of farmers who used the web-based learning system were male, aged 38.45 years, had lower than a bachelor’s degree, cultivated durian planting areas of more than five rai, had more than five years of experience in durian planting, accessed a learning channel on durian production through an application, frequently accessed media less than five times per day, and spent an average of less than five hours per day accessing online media. Farmers' opinions indicated that benefits and applications had the highest impact on web-based learning adoption (x̄ = 4.56), followed by content (x̄ = 4.41), design (x̄ = 4.40), and efficiency (x̄ = 4.26). Multiple regression analysis revealed that media access frequency (β = 0.29) and durian growing experience (β = 0.20) significantly predicted farmers' perceptions of design factors. These same variables strongly influenced content factors, with access frequency (β = 1.60) and growing experience (β = 0.78) as significant predictors. For usability factors, only education level emerged as significant (β = 0.18), while no demographic characteristics significantly influenced farmers' perceptions of WBL benefits and applications.

The findings revealed that the majority of durian consumers were women. The average age was 36.97 years old. The majority were married and had a bachelor’s degree or higher. Most consumers worked for non-government businesses and earned an average monthly income of less than 20,000 Thai baht, living in a shared household of less than five people. The study found that the marketing mix factors found to be important to the decision to buy quality durian at the highest level consisted of price (mean = 4.35), product (mean = 4.33), service process (mean = 4.31), people (mean = 4.21), physical evidence (mean = 4.20), promotion (mean = 4.20), and place (mean = 4.14), respectively. Multiple regression analysis revealed that three key factors significantly influenced consumer purchasing decisions. From demographic variables, education level showed a significant negative relationship (β = -0.147, p = 0.038) and household size demonstrated a significant positive relationship (β = 0.153, p = 0.026). Among the marketing mix variables, only price emerged as a statistically significant predictor (β = 0.209, p = 0.049).

The alternate wetting and drying (AWD) as water-saving technology aligns with the good agricultural practices (GAP) principles, particularly in the environmental management of water conservation. Thus, GAP adopters as farmer groups are seen as viable AWD adopters in the initial stages of scaling out the adoption in Thailand. However, the understanding of integrating AWD as water-saving management among GAP adopters remains scant. Using the case of rice GAP farmers in Thailand, the study found a higher probability of adoption intention among GAP compared to non-GAP. AWD perceived advantage, knowledge, and the suitability of rice farms for AWD adoption trials are positively associated with higher adoption intention. While higher fixed cost lowers the probability of adoption, variable cost is positively associated with higher adoption intention in the short-run production decision. In order to scale out the adoption of AWD, farmers’ understanding of the safe and proper application of AWD, together with assistance for crop insurance in the case of crop failure, will be crucial. Risks connected with the adoption decision continue to be the biggest barrier to adoption, especially among small-scale farmers.

Organic production has gained increased attention worldwide because of its sustainable way of producing food crops apart from its significant contribution to agricultural development. While some policies and programs encourage rice farmers to adopt organic farming, its uptake is far less than expected, particularly in the rural areas of Thailand. Hence, this study attempts to explain rice farmers’ adoption intention towards organic rice farming, drawing insights from the diffusion of innovations theory, and incorporating consumer information as an important alternative information source. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 201 community enterprise farmers using a purposive sampling technique. Results found that farmers have a generally high-level perception towards consumer information items. These items were further explored using binary logistic regression with the commonly used adoption factors. Results revealed that education level, seed input source, buying price, training attendance, and credit access significantly impacted farmers’ adoption intention. Although farmers have a generally high level of agreement towards consumer information, this factor does not affect their adoption. The findings provide critical insights to the community enterprise and policymakers to fully understand community enterprise farmers’ adoption motives and devise targeted strategies to promote widespread adoption of organic rice farming.