A method for improving the robustness of PID control

In this paper, an effective method is proposed for robust proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control that is easily implementable on commonly used equipment such as programmable logic controller (PLC) and programmable automation controller (PAC). The method is based on a two-loop model following control (MFC) system containing a nominal model of the controlled plant and two PID controllers. Basic features exhibited by the MFC structure are presented, and a technique to tune both component controllers is given. The proposed structures have been implemented in a programmable logic controller and tested on control plants with perturbed parameters. Also, the proposed control system has been checked for its performance in cases when the operation of PID controllers is based on fuzzy logic. Tuning rules for the fuzzy controllers in the presented MFC system have been proposed. Results of tests lend support to the view that the proposed control structures may find wide application to robust control of plants with time-varying parameters.     

The Effect of Photoperiod on Necrosis Development,Photosynthetic Efficiency and ‘Green Islands’ Formation in Brassica juncea Infected with Alternaria brassicicola

The main goal of growing plants under various photoperiods is to optimize photosynthesis for using the effect of day length that often acts on plants in combination with biotic and/or abiotic stresses. In this study, Brassica juncea plants were grown under four different day-length regimes, namely., 8 h day/16 h night, 12 h day/12 h night, 16 h day/8 h night, and continuous light, and were infected with a necrotrophic fungus Alternaria brassicicola. The development of necroses on B. juncea leaves was strongly influenced by leaf position and day length. The largest necroses were formed on plants grown under a 16 h day/8 h night photoperiod at 72 h post-inoculation (hpi). The implemented day-length regimes had a great impact on leaf morphology in response to A. brassicicola infection. They also influenced the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents and photosynthesis efficiency. Both the 1st (the oldest) and 3rd infected leaves showed significantly higher minimal fluorescence (F₀) compared to the control leaves. Significantly lower values of other investigated chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters, e.g., maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (F_v/F_m) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), were observed in both infected leaves compared to the control, especially at 72 hpi. The oldest infected leaf, of approximately 30% of the B. juncea plants, grown under long-day and continuous light conditions showed a ‘green island’ phenotype in the form of a green ring surrounding an area of necrosis at 48 hpi. This phenomenon was also reflected in changes in the chloroplast’s ultrastructure and accelerated senescence (yellowing) in the form of expanding chlorosis. Further research should investigate the mechanism and physiological aspects of ‘green islands’ formation in this pathosystem.     

The Spectral Compositions of Light Changes Physiological Response of Chinese Cabbage to Elevated Ozone Concentration

The effects of ozone combined with other environmental factors remain an important topic of the research, both in connection with climate change and the possibility of using modern solutions in horticulture. In our experiment, we compared the influence of ozone (100 ppb) on photosynthesis and changes in the pigment composition of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) leaves depending on the spectral composition of light. We used white LED light (WL), a combination of red + green + blue (RGBL) with a dominant red component and white +blue (WBL) with a dominant blue component in comparison with the classic sodium lamp lighting (yellow light—YL). The values of the parameters describing the light-dependent phase of photosynthesis and the parameters of the gas exchange, as well as non-photosynthesis pigment contents, show that the spectral composition strongly differentiates the response of Chinese cabbage leaves to ozone. In general, the efficiency of photochemical reactions was the highest in YL, but after O₃ fumigation, it decreased. In plants growing in WL and WBL, the increase of O₃ concentration stimulated light photosynthesis reactions and led to the enhancement of transpiration, stomatal conductance and intracellular CO₂ concentration. Changes in photosynthetic activity were accompanied by an increase in the content of anthocyanins and flavonols.     

Robust model following control with use of a plant model

The paper deals with the properties of a two-loop control system structure containing the model of a controlled plant and two PID controllers. Special attention was paid to high robustness of the structure to perturbations of the controlled plant in relation to its nominal model and to good damping of the disturbances. On the basis of theoretical and simulation results, the properties of the considered structure are compared with those of the classic, single-loop control structure. The proposed model following the control structure (MFC) may find a wide application in new intelligent controllers for robust control of parameter-varying plants such as electrothermal plants.     

Impact of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Extracts Upon Reserve Mobilization and Energy Metabolism in Germinating Mustard (Sinapis alba L.) Seeds

One commonly observed effect of phytotoxic compounds is the inhibition or delay of germination of sensitive seeds. Mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seeds were incubated with aqueous extracts of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) leaves. Although sunflower phytotoxins did not influence seed viability, extracts completely inhibited seed germination. Inhibition of germination was associated with alterations in reserve mobilization and generation of energy in the catabolic phase of germination. Degradation of lipids was suppressed by sunflower foliar extracts resulting in insufficient carbohydrate supply. The lack of respiratory substrates and decrease in energy (ATP) generation resulted in suppression of the anabolic phase of seed germination and ultimately growth inhibition.Ewa Kupidłowska and Agnieszka Gniazdowska contributed equally to this work.