EFFECT OF MATURITY STAGES FOR WINTER- AND SPRING-SOWN CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.) ON SEED MINERAL CONTENT

Two-year field experiments were conducted to study the effect of two planting dates and seed maturity on mineral content of chickpea seeds. In 2003 and 2004, chickpea ‘Jubiha-2’ seeds were planted in late December (winter-sown) and early March (spring-sown). For both planting dates, pods were harvested at five maturity stages: 1) beginning of seed fill (BS), 2) full-size seed (FS), 3) greenish-yellow pod (GY), 4) yellow pod (Y), and 5) brown pod (B). The concentrations of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and zinc (Zn) on a dry weight basis significantly decreased as the seeds developed from the BS to the FS stage, then did not change significantly at the Y and B stages. Nutrient content (mg seed^?1) increased as the seed dry weight increased. Seeds from spring-sown plants had higher concentrations of N and manganese (Mn) than winter-sown plants. The maximum mineral content of chickpea was achieved at seed physiological maturity.     

不同时期叶面喷施多效唑对紫云英结实性的影响

  【目的】  探讨多效唑喷施时期对紫云英结实特性的影响,明确紫云英结实性最佳化控时期,以期为提高紫云英种子产量提供参考。  【方法】  以‘信紫1号’为供试材料,分别于越冬后期 (T₁)、返青期 (T₂)、现蕾期 (T₃)、初花期 (T₄) 和花后5天 (T₅) 进行叶面喷施处理,以喷施清水为对照。在盛花期,观察记载主茎不同花序位花荚发育的形态及数量特征。在成熟期,按常规考种法调查了产量和产量构成因素。  【结果】  除T₃处理外,其他4个处理的紫云英花数、结荚数、籽粒数、结荚率和荚果结实率在不同层花序上与对照差异均不明显,不同层花序的粒重也没有显著差异。T₃处理其花数、结荚数、籽粒数、结荚率和荚果结实率在基部花序位较对照分别提高20.4%、31.4%、23.9%和5.25、2.38个百分点,在中部花序位分别提高12.3%、32.9%、22.8%和7.42、2.08个百分点,在顶部花序位分别提高18.4%、54.8%、70.9%和2.56、3.78个百分点。T₃处理种子产量最高达到1120.66 kg/hm2,较对照增产32.3%。  【结论】  在现蕾期叶面喷施多效唑,可促进紫云英花期不同花序位,特别是中部和基部花荚的发育,减少花荚脱落,促进结实成粒,最终获得较高的种子产量。过早和过晚喷施多效唑对紫云英开花和籽粒产量均没有显著影响。     

喷施矮壮素和多效唑对紫云英生长发育及结实性状的影响

  【目的】  研究不同时期喷施矮壮素和多效唑对紫云英生长发育及结实的影响，明确有利于增产的最佳喷施时期，为提高紫云英种子产量提供有效的化控途径。  【方法】  选取紫云英品种‘信紫1号’为供试材料，分别于越冬后期、返青期、现蕾期、初花期和始花后5天在叶面喷施矮壮素或多效唑 (浓度均为400 mg/kg)，以叶面喷施清水为对照。于盛花期，调查株高、茎粗、分枝数、SPAD值、单株重等生长指标，成熟期按常规考种法考察记载花数、荚数、籽粒数、结荚率和荚果结实率等结实性指标。  【结果】  现蕾期叶面喷施矮壮素和多效唑均可有效抑制植株株高，提高分枝数、SPAD值和单株重，多效唑喷施效果好于矮壮素。与喷清水对照相比，现蕾期喷施矮壮素的紫云英花数、荚数、籽粒数、结荚率和荚果结实率分别显著提高了16.32%、21.45%、15.94%、2.38个百分点和0.94个百分点，而其在越冬后期和返青期喷施却显著降低各指标；现蕾期喷施多效唑的紫云英花数、荚数、籽粒数、结荚率和荚果结实率分别显著提高了31.69%、43.41%、29.49%、4.76个百分点和2.14个百分点，在越冬后期喷施显著降低花数和荚果结实率。矮壮素和多效唑均在现蕾期喷施的种子产量最高，两者较对照分别增产15.95%和29.88%。  【结论】  在紫云英现蕾期，叶面喷施植物延缓剂多效唑和矮壮素，均可显著促进花期花荚发育，减少花荚脱落，促进花荚结实成粒，最终获得较高的种子产量，多效唑效果好于矮壮素。     

叶面喷施多效唑对紫云英种子产量及结实特性的影响

【目的】通过花前叶面喷施多效唑，探讨多效唑对紫云英产量及其结实特性的调控效应，以期为增加紫云英籽粒数、提高产量调控技术的研究提供参考。【方法】试验以‘信紫1号’为供试材料，设多效唑喷施浓度0 (CK)、200 mg/L (T₁)、300 mg/L (T₂)、400 mg/L (T₃)、500 mg/L (T₄)、600 mg/L (T₅)，喷施溶液量均为750 kg/hm2，在开花前喷施一次。紫云英成熟期，按常规考种法调查单位面积株数、分枝数、不同层花序的花序数、结荚数、籽粒数等指标。【结果】与CK相比，喷施不同浓度多效唑处理的单位面积花序数、结荚数、单荚籽粒数和结实荚果率在不同层花序上均较对照有所提高，以T₃处理提高幅度最大。在第1～6层花序上，T₃处理的单位面积花序数较对照提高34.1%～59.0%，单位面积结荚数提高39.7%～68.4%，单荚籽粒数提高44.3%～53.7%，结实荚果率提高1.84～4.89个百分点。相关分析表明，紫云英种子产量与其单位面积花序数、一级分枝花序数、单个有效花序结荚数、结实荚果率及单荚籽粒数呈显著正相关。多效唑喷施浓度与紫云英种子产量及以上结实因子的相关性均达到极显著水平，以多效唑喷施浓度373 mg/L最优，种子产量最高。【结论】在紫云英花荚脱落高峰之前 (开花前)，叶面喷施多效唑可显著促进不同层花序单位面积花序数、结荚数、结实荚果率和单荚籽粒数的增加，尤其对促进第5、6层花序花荚结实成粒的效果显著，进而获得较高的种子产量。     

Effects of drought on the accumulation and redistribution of cadmium in peanuts at different developmental stages

This study aimed to investigate the impact of water deficit on cadmium (Cd) accumulation in peanut plants during different developmental stages. Two contrasting peanut cultivars, Fenghua 1 (high-biomass cultivar) and Silihong (low-biomass cultivar), were grown in a Cd-contaminated arable soil under different water regimes. The two cultivars differed from each other in seed Cd concentrations. Fenghua 1 exhibited lower Cd concentrations in the seeds than Silihong, which is associated with root-to-shoot Cd translocation. Drought plays different roles in the translocation and redistribution of Cd in peanut plants during different developmental stages. At the seedling stage, drought decreased shoot Cd concentrations for both cultivars, whereas at the pod-filling and pod-ripened stages, drought increased shoot Cd concentrations. Similarly, drought stress reduced pod Cd concentrations at the pod-filling stages and increased at the pod-ripened stages. Seed Cd concentrations in mature plants were increased by drought for both cultivars. Seed Cd concentrations were negatively correlated with biomasses of shoots and pods, but positively correlated with Cd concentration in the shoots and pods. Increased seed Cd concentrations under drought stress might result from the concentration effects due to drought induced decrease of plant growth.     

Flowering and podding characteristics on the main stem of soybean grown on varying levels of phosphate nutrition 1

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) plants normally abort a high percentage of flowers and pods. This study was conducted to determine the effect of P nutrition on flower and pod abscission in soybean. Williams 82 soybeans were established in hydroponic culture in the greenhouse at four levels of P (0.45 mM, 0.20 mM, 0.10 mM or 0.05 mM), and main stem flowers and pods were counted every two days from flowering to maturity. The two highest P treatments had similar flower production, pod production, pod abortion, seed weight and seeds per pod, but the 0.20 mM P treatment had 20% lower dry matter production and 19% lower seed yield. At P supplies of 0.10 or 0.05 mM, flower production, pod production, flowers per node, pods per node, seed yield, seed number and weight per seed were less (P < 0.05) than at 0.20 mM. Flowers produced per main stem node and seeds per pod were largely unaffected by limited P. Plants supplied 0.10 or 0.05 mM P aborted more flowers and pods than did those supplied 0.45 or 0.20 mM P. At P supply of 0.05 mM, flower, pod and total abortion was 80%, 49% and 90%, respectively. Flower and pod production were 50% and 78% less, while plant dry weight, seed yield and weight per seed were 83%, 90% and 23% less, respectively for the 0.05 mM P treatment compared to control. The data indicate that the primary effect of limited P on reproductive growth of soybean is to increase flower and pod abortion.     

湿涝胁迫对不同种质花生生长和农艺性状的影响

研究了花生营养生长末期至开花期根部淹没处理对18个不同耐涝性品种的影响.结果表明, 湿涝使多数花生品种株高降低, 单株分枝数、总果数与饱果数减少, 而果、仁生长得以促进且饱满度提高.经过湿涝处理后, 基于性状变化的品种聚类分析结果与基于产量变化的品种耐涝性分类有较高统一性(18个品种可归类为6个性状变化类型), 又有一定差异性, 即多数湿涝敏感品种的果、仁数量或重量性状不同步变化, 而经过湿涝生态压力选择选育的绝大多数耐性品种表现为株型变小, 果、仁数量或重量性状同步增长, 且饱果数率、饱果重率提高.说明耐湿涝生态育种是有成效的.在需水较多的生育期(营养生长末期至开花期), 只要有流水通过且花生植株顶部不被淹没, 湿涝的影响是有限的, 对多数耐涝品种甚至可促进果仁发育.因此, 对花生受洪涝灾害影响的评估, 应因湿涝程度、发育时期、品种耐性而异.     

Patterns of diversity in pigeonpea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cajanus cajan</Emphasis> (L.) Millsp.) germplasm collected from different elevations in Kenya

Pigeonpea germplasm accessions collected from low (<500 m), medium (501–1000 m), high (1001–1500 m) and very high elevation zones (>1500 m) of Kenya were evaluated for 15 agronomic traits and seed protein content at ICRISAT, Patancheru, India. There were significant differences (P < 0.001) among elevation zones for the number of primary and secondary branches, days to 75% maturity, pod length, seeds per pod, 100-seed weight and seed yield. Mean values indicated that the accessions from low elevation zone were significantly different from those collected in higher elevation zones for early flowering and maturity, number of primary branches, pod length, number of pods per plant, seeds per pod, 100-seed weight, seed yield and harvest index. None of the accessions collected in Kenya belonged to extra early (<80 days to 50% flowering) and early (80–100 days to 50% flowering) maturity groups, as defined by time to flowering at Patancheru, India. Mean diversity index based on all characters indicated that accessions from the low elevation zone are more diverse than those from the higher elevation zones. Frequency distribution for trait extremes indicated that the accessions from the low elevation zone were early to flower and mature, short statured, produced more primary and secondary branches with high pod bearing length, long pods, more pods per plant, more seeds per pod, a high seed yield and harvest index. Accessions from the very high elevation zone were late flowering, with a large number of tertiary branches, large seeds and a high shelling percentage and could be a source for cold tolerance and the breeding of vegetable types. Results suggest that the elevation of collection sites is therefore a very important determinant of variation patterns of pigeonpea in Kenya.     

New oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) varieties – canopy development,yield components,and plant density

Full exploitation of the potential of new varieties requires research, whose aim is to adapt the technology to their needs. A two-factor experiment evaluated the effect of row spacing (33, 44, and 55 cm) of three oilseed rape (OSR) varieties (conventional, hybrid, and “semi-dwarf” hybrid variety) on canopy area index (CAI) and yield components. At higher row spacing, OSR plants were characterized by a strong increase in the CAI at successive growth stages; thereby, the incomplete use of production area was compensated at the pod development stage. The differences in the CAI between row spacings were significant until the end of flowering, whereas differences in the CAI between varieties were significant until the flower bud development stage. In the next development phases, CAI of OSR plants was at a similar level to all plots. However, the statistical analysis showed a declining trend in seed yield and yield biomass (pods and straw weight) with increasing row spacing. A positive aspect of increased row spacing was a decrease in glucosinolates content in seeds. The differences in fat content were statistically insignificant. The hybrid varieties of OSR produced the highest seed yield at a row spacing of 33 cm, while the conventional – at a row spacing of 44 cm. These relationships are confirmed by high positive correlations of seed weight and pod weight per unit area with CAI. The results have important practical aspect, because it shows that it is possible to reduce the number of OSR plants per unit area, thereby reducing demand for expensive certified seeds for sowing but to certain limits. Too small plant density binds to the risk of decreased seed yield. It may be justified, e.g., in extensive or organic farming where wide row creates the possibility of mechanical weed control.     

Calcium Nutrition of Peanut Grown in Solution Culture. II. Pod-zone and Tissue Calcium Requirements for Fruiting of a Virginia and a Spanish Peanut

Virginia peanut types need more calcium (Ca) in the soil than Spanish types for high pod yield, but their actual soil solution and fruit tissue Ca requirements have not been well defined. A split root and pod solution culture technique was used to examine the effects of Ca concentration on fruiting of one Virginia cv. ‘Virginia Bunch 1’ and one Spanish peanut cv. ‘TMV-2’. Plants were grown in complete nutrient solution (root zone) containing 100 μM Ca, and six treatments imposed in which the pod zone solution Ca was controlled at 0 to 2500 μM. ‘TMV-2’ produced some mature seeds with no Ca added to the pod zone solution and 81% of maximum seed dry matter at 5 μM Ca, a concentration at which its pod dry matter production was close to maximum. In contrast, ‘Virginia Bunch 1’ produced no pods with no Ca added to the pod zone and only 28% of maximum pod dry matter at 5 μM Ca. ‘TMV-2’ required 6 and 21 μM Ca in the pod zone solution for 95% of maximum pod and seed production, respectively. The corresponding solution concentrations for ‘Virginia Bunch 1’ were 35 and 50 μM Ca. The seed dry matter production of ‘Virginia Bunch 1’ decreased with ≥112 μM Ca in the pod zone solution due to a decrease in individual seed mass, but there was no depression in the case of ‘TMV-2’ up to the highest pod zone solution concentration of 2500 μM Ca studied. The Ca concentration in pod walls and seeds of both cultivars increased with increase in Ca up to 500 μM in the pod zone, the effect being greater in ‘TMV-2’. However, the seed production of both cultivars was maximized at approximately the same seed Ca concentration of 0.04%. The results of this study have shown that the Spanish peanut cv. ‘TMV-2’ and the Virginia peanut cv. ‘Virginia Bunch 1’ have a similar tissue Ca requirement for seed growth despite the higher pod zone Ca requirement of ‘Virginia Bunch 1’.     

Zinc Biofortification in Sixty Groundnut Cultivars Through Foliar Application of Zinc Sulphate

A field experiment with 60 groundnut cultivars, in a calcareous soil having 1.20 mg kg^?1 available zinc (Zn), foliar application of 0.2% aqueous solution of zinc sulphate thrice at 40, 55 and 70 days at 500, 500 and 1000 L ha^?1, respectively, increased the number of pods, pod yield, shelling and 100 seed mass and seed zinc (Zn) content, significantly. The seeds Zn content in groundnut cultivars ranged 38–70 mg kg^?1 with an average of 48 mg kg^?1 without Zn and 58 mg kg^?1 with Zn. Foliar Zn application increased 22% Zn in seed. This increase was more than 10% in 48 out of 60 cultivars. The cultivars GG 7, GG 20, Tirupati 4, DH 8, JSP 19, TKG 19 A, CSMG 884 and S 206 showed > 50 mg kg^?1 Zn, > 10% increase in seed Zn with Zn application and > 250 g m^?2 pod yield.     

Effect of nitrogen fertilization on yield component distribution and assimilate translocation of determinate and indeterminate soybean lines

Studies were conducted to compare the main‐stem and branch yield component distribution of two soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] lines differing in architecture and growth habit, and to relate the partitioning of carbon assimilates during pod filling and seed filling stages. An indeterminate line (MI) and a determinate line (MD) were planted in early May on a fine, mixed mesic Udic Haplustalf soil in southwestern France. For the N treatment, N fertigation was applied at the end of the vegetative phase and the early stages of reproductive growth. Pod production on branches was stimulated in response to N application for the determinate line, and N also enhanced the weight of seeds located on branches for both lines. At different stages during pod setting and seed filling, mid‐canopy‐level leaves were allowed to assimilate ¹⁴CO₂ and 24 h after exposure, radioactivity was measured in different organs and levels of the whole plant. ¹⁴C‐assimilates appeared to be preferentially transferred to the lower level of the main‐stem in MI and to the lower level and branches in the MD line. For N‐treated plants, radiocarbon accumulation was particularly marked in pods located on the lower level and on branches; this was consistent with the yield component distribution patterns seen at harvest.     

Effect of nitrogen application on seed yield,pod and seed characteristics of okra

Four okra cultivars [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] were cultivated for two growing periods at nitrogen (N) application rates of 150, 300 and 450 mg N L^?1. There was no effect of N on pod size (length and diameter) or on the number of seeds per pod and seed size (mean 1000 seed weight), all these characteristics of which related to the genotype. High N application (450 mg N L^?1), increased the seed yield of the cultivar with the lowest flower induction (Boyiatiou), but only in experiment 2. In Veloudo, seed yield was highest at 300 mg N L^?1, whereas in Pylaias and Clemson 450 mg N L^?1 reduced seed yield. In all cultivars, seeds produced at an N rate of 450 mg N L^?1 exhibited a significantly higher percent germination N, possibly by reducing the incidence of seed hardness.     

~(60)Coγ射线对双低甘蓝型油菜(Brassica napus L.)的辐射效应

用~(60)Coγ射线0、80、100、120、140、160krad的剂量辐射处理3个双低(低芥酸、低硫甙)甘蓝型油菜品种的干种子,从形态学、细胞学和生物化学3个方面研究了M_1代的剂量效应。结果表明,田间出苗率、成株率、产量、自交结果率、角果长度、每果粒数、自交结籽率和粗脂肪含量与剂量拟合曲线负相关,形态畸变率和染色体畸变率与剂量拟合曲线正相关,种子的芥酸和亚麻酸含量、菜饼的硫甙和蛋白质含量随着剂量的增加而呈不规则性变化。形态学效应、细胞学效应和生物化学效应之间关系密切,相关显著。3个品种的辐射敏感性顺序为中双2号>中双1号>中双3号。     

Effect of Boron on Dynamic Change of Seed Yield and Quality Formation in Developing Seed of Brassica napus

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is one of main oil crops in the world and also a potential bioenergy crop. Because of the sensitivity of Brassica napus to boron (B) deficiency and the wide distribution of low available-B soils in main areas of rapeseed production, more and more attention is being paid to the effect of B nutrition on yield and quality of rapeseed and its regulation mechanism. In this study, a field plot trial was conducted to examine the effects of B on dynamic changes of seed yield and quality formation in developing rapeseed. The results showed that B significantly increased seed yield compared with the low B control, which was attributed to an increase in the number of seeds per pod and pods per plant. During the seed development period, dry matter accumulation of seed followed a typical S-shaped curve at the two B treatments, but seed weight accumulated faster in plants supplied with sufficient B than those with low B. The dry weight of the podwall in high B treatment showed rapid increase at the early stage of seed development and decreased rapidly in later periods compared with low B. This suggested that applying B improved the accumulation of seed dry matter in early stages of seed development and substance transport from podwall to seed in later stages, which resulted in high seed yield. No significant effect of B on oil content, erucic acid and glucosinolate contents was found. However, B maintained a lower level of erucic acid and glucosinolate contents at whole seed development process and resulted in a lower ratio of erucic acid (22:1)/oleic acid (18:1) compared with that of low B treatment. These results suggested that application of B could heighten seed yield and improve oil quality for rapeseed in soils with low available B.     

Impact of Boron Deficiency on Changes in Biochemical Attributes,Yield, and Seed Reserves in Chickpea

To determine the effect of boron (B) deficiency on biomass, reproductive yield, metabolism, and alterations in seed reserves of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cv. ‘13.G‐256,’ plants were grown in refined sand until maturity at deficient (0.033 mg L^?1) and adequate (0.33 mg L^?1) B, supplied as boric acid (H₃BO₃). Boron‐deficient plants exhibited visible deficiency symptoms in addition to reduced number of pods and seeds, resulting in lowered biomass and economic yield. Boron deficiency lowered the concentration of B in leaves and seeds, photosynthetic pigments (leaves), Hill reaction activity, starch (in leaves and seeds), and proteins and protein N (in seeds), whereas phenols, sugars (in leaves and seeds), and nonprotein N (in seeds) were elevated. Specific activity of peroxidase (POX) increased in leaves and pod wall and decreased in seeds, while activity of acid phosphate and ribonuclease were stimulated in leaves, seeds, and pod wall in B‐deficient chickpea.     

Agronomic evaluation and identification of potential cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) genotypes in South Africa

Cultivar development of cowpea with increased grain yield depends on evaluation and selection of genetically unique and complementary breeding lines. The objective of this study was to evaluate cowpea collections using agronomic traits to select promising parents to develop breeding population. Twenty-two cowpea genotypes were field evaluated using a randomised complete block design with three replications in two locations in South Africa. Analysis of variance revealed significant genotypic (G) and locations (L) differences for all agronomic traits evaluated. Significant differences were also observed for most of the traits due to G X L, G X Year (Y), L X Y and G X L X Y interactions effects. The genotypes tested at two locations showed considerable genetic variation for the following agronomic traits that varied for number of leaves (NL) (20.08–179.78), leaf length (LL) (12.36–67.72 cm), leaf width (LW) (4.78–22.02 cm), number of branches (NB) (6.81–13.85), number of pods per plant (NPPP) (14.33–54.04), number of seeds per pod (NSPP) (11.7286.28), pod diameter (PD) (5.75–22.73 mm), plant height (PH) (6.57–233.71 cm), pod length (PL) (3.94–100.92 mm), hundred seed weight (HSWt) (8.11–49.52 g) and grain yield (GY) (0.10-1.48 t ha^?1). Grain yield was significant and positively correlated with all of the traits except leaf length. The principal component analysis (PCA) identified four principal components (PCs) contributing to 73.62% of the total explained variation amongst the tested genotypes. The selected cowpea genotypes for most of agronomic characteristics are useful and candidate genetic resources for the development of breeding population in cowpea breeding and enhanced production and productivity for food and nutrition in the country.     

Effect of location on dwarf French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seed production and seedling vigour

ABSTRACT

This study examined if dwarf French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown at northern latitudes develop seeds with superior yielding potential compared with plants grown at more southern latitudes. Two lines (BND3085 and BND3106) were grown at four sites across latitudes ranging from 52°N to 3°S. BND3085 and BND3106 seeds from Saskatoon grown plants (52°N) had the least damaged seed coats but the highest degree of electrolyte leakage from the seed and the lowest maximum germination rates. The Saskatoon (BND3085 and BND3106) and Nunhem (BND3106) seed lots had the lowest maximum germination rates when germinated at 28°C, 12°C, or when exposed to saline (100?mM NaCl) conditions. Saskatoon BND3085 seed produced plants with the lowest aboveground vegetative and total seed dry matter as well as the lowest pod number per plant. In contrast, plants grown from Saskatoon BND3106 seed produced 1.5-fold more total pods, 1.3-fold more total pods and 1.4-fold higher seed dry matter per plant as compared to plants grown from the Nunhem (51°N) or Arusha seed sources. This resulted in a 2.4–4.5% higher harvest index. These results suggest cultivar-specific dwarf French bean seed propagation at more northern sites may increase the productivity of the resulting crop.