Influence of moisture stress during growth on14CO2 fixation and translocation inSolanum tuberosum L.

Moisture stressing of potato plants resulted in reduced¹⁴CO₂ fixation and translocation of labelled photosynthates from leaves to tubers. A majority of the label was recovered in the sugar fraction of both leaves and tubers. The amount of labelled¹⁴C recovered in the organic acid fraction of tubers of normally irrigated plants was significantly higher than in tubers which had been moisture stressed. In the other fractions, the differences were not significantly different. Injection of uniformly labelled sucrose into the basal portion of attached tubers of stressed and non-stressed plants showed greater translocation of labelled carbon by tubers of stressed plants from basal to the apical portion and also into the stems as compared to non-stressed plants.     

Evaluation of performance of sorghum varieties grown in Tokyo for sugar accumulation and its correlation with vacuolar invertase genes SbInv1 and SbInv2

ABSTRACT

The sugar-accumulating potential of global and local sweet and grain sorghum varieties were tested under the local conditions. The basis for this study was the dependency of sugar accumulation on temperature and photoperiod. Thus, the efficacy of cultivars as a bioenergy source would need to be determined based on their performance under the local environmental conditions. A strong correlation of sucrose content with brix was observed, enabling large-scale screening of varieties for high sucrose content. The morphological characteristics inherent in sweet sorghum, such as tall stems, greater number of leaves and a longer vegetative period, were found to correlate with the total stem sugar content. Assessment of sugars along the stem revealed maximum sugar accumulation in the upper intermediate to upper internodes in most of the varieties tested. The maximum theoretical ethanol yield (MTEY), a function of brix and juice yield, was determined as a better indicator of testing the performance of a variety as a potential source of bioethanol, mainly due to a negative correlation of stem juiciness and sucrose content in the varieties tested. Further, the relative expression of vacuolar invertase genes, SbINV1 and SbINV2, was studied, and a strong negative correlation of SbINV2 to stem sucrose content was observed. This reveals a possibility of involvement of vacuolar invertase gene, SbINV2, in sugar accumulation in sweet sorghum stems, and as a key candidate for molecular breeding studies for higher stem sugar content.     

高、低糖甘蔗品种苗期糖分含量及代谢相关酶活性分析

以高糖(GT35)和低糖(B8)甘蔗品种苗期不同部位的叶和茎为材料,采用HPLC技术测定蔗糖、葡萄糖和果糖含量,分析2个甘蔗品种叶和茎中蔗糖代谢相关酶活性与糖分含量的相关性和差异性。结果表明:2个甘蔗品种苗期叶中蔗糖含量与SPS和SS-s酶活性呈显著正相关,茎中己糖含量与NI酶活性呈显著正相关,茎中蔗糖含量与SPS酶活性呈显著正相关,而与SS-c、SAI和CIN酶活性呈显著负相关。GT35茎中蔗糖含量显著高于B8,叶中蔗糖含量显著低于B8。GT35茎中SPS和叶中SS-s酶活性均显著高于B8,茎中SS-s和SS-c酶活性低于B8,其中只有幼茎中SS-c酶活性与B8差异不显著。说明苗期叶中高SS-s酶活性,茎中高SPS酶活性,低SS-s和SS-c酶活性,可能是调节高糖甘蔗品种苗期茎中蔗糖积累的重要因素。     

A simple method for squeezing juice from rice stems and its use in the high-throughput analysis of sugar content in rice stems

Sugar content in rice (Oryza sativa L.) stem is an agronomically important trait for rice used in straw silage or whole-crop silage. However, the mechanisms underlying sugar accumulation in rice stems remain unclear, mainly due to the time-consuming method for measuring sugar content. Here, we established a simple method for squeezing stem juice from rice plants, similar to that used during breeding selection in sugarcane or sorghum. The Brix value of the stem juice, which can easily be measured using a portable refractometer, significantly correlated with the soluble sugar contents in the stem juice and tended to correlate with those in stem tissues. This indicates that the Brix value of the stem juice can be used for estimating the sugar content in rice stems. This simple estimation method will be a useful tool for high-throughput analysis of sugar content in rice stems during mutant screening, QTL analysis, and breeding selection.     

黑皮果蔗中碱性蔗糖转化酶基因ShINV6的克隆与表达分析

在高等植物中,蔗糖转化酶广泛参与调节植物的生长发育、生物和非生物胁迫应答等过程,在控制光合产物在不同库组织的分配上起重要作用,是决定作物经济产量的关键酶.本研究以黑皮果蔗'Badila'为实验材料,克隆了一个果蔗蔗茎中碱性转化酶基因ShINV6,并对其序列特征、表达特性及其编码蛋白的酶学特征进行了分析.生物信息学分析发...     

Accumulation of reducing sugars by sugarcane: effects of crop age,nitrogen supply and cultivar

Sugarcane was grown under full irrigation in Australia, South Africa and Hawaii. N fertiliser was supplied at a high rate and was non-limiting to biomass accumulation in all but one dataset, where zero and high nitrogen (N) supply regimes were imposed. Crops were sampled for biomass, sucrose, glucose and fructose content of stalks. In one study, the biomass and sugar content of all green crop components were also determined. The objective was to compare the accumulation of reducing sugars, glucose and fructose, with sucrose, and how this responds to agronomic manipulations of crop duration, cultivar and nitrogen supply. Such knowledge can be used to assess the scope for maximising, by agronomic or genetic means, the partitioning of biomass to the economic product, sucrose and maximising the purity of juice for efficient sucrose extraction at the mill. At 12 months growth, 30–50% of reducing sugars was present in the stalk component, but at earlier stages was higher at 50–80%. Stalk yields of reducing sugars for 12 month crops were less than 100 g m⁻², which was less than 5% of total sugars in the stalk. There were strong effects of N supply and cultivar on the amounts and concentration of reducing sugars in the stalk at low yields, but little effect when stalk biomass exceeded about 4000 g m⁻² suggesting that, agronomic or genetic manipulation of levels of reducing sugars will only be effective early in the season. For a given level of stalk biomass, cultivar effects on partitioning to reducing sugars were due either to differences in partitioning of stalk biomass to total sugars, or differences in the partitioning between sucrose and reducing sugars. On the other hand, variation in N supply only altered the partitioning between sucrose and reducing sugars. Calculations suggested that high concentrations of reducing sugars in stalks harvested at a young age or from high N supply treatments, were not expected to lower the polarimetric estimate of sucrose concentration in the juice by more than 6%. This study provides a framework to assess the impact of cultivar, crop duration, and N supply on the accumulation of reducing sugars in different production systems.     

Effect of leaf age on photosynthesis,carbon transport and carbon allocation in potato plants

Summary Photosynthetic characteristics, carbon allocation and partitioning of newly-fixed¹⁴C among the various carbohydrate fractions were studied in leaves of potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Désirée) of different ages. The higher photosynthetic rate of young leaves was associated with higher levels of starch and reducing sugars. After 24 hours, in young leaves the fixed¹⁴C had been partitioned mainly to the residue and starch fractions, while in older leaves there was an increase in partitioning to sucrose and reducing sugars. The activities of the various sink organs were found to be dependent upon their distance from the source leaf. Tuber activity, however, was affected similarly by all fully expanded leaves. Although young fully expanded leaves are thought to be the major source of assimilates for tuber growth, it seems that a vast potential for contributing to plant productivity and tuber yield lies also in the older leaves, which translocate most of their photoassimilates to the tubers.     

A study of methods of incorporation and source of14C on distribution of radioactivity in potato plants

Russet Burbank potato plants grown in the greenhouse were given¹⁴C as¹⁴CO₂ and as uniformly labelled sucrose. Labelled sucrose was applied; (1) by injection into the main stem, (2) injection with a hypodermic needle into the debladed petiole and (3) uptake of labelled sucrose kept in a vial fastened to the main stem using thread as a wick. Plants harvested 6 hours later were analyzed for radioactivity in the foliage, roots, and tubers. The greatest proportion of radioactivity was found in the foliage. Tubers were analyzed for radioactivity in the basic (amino acids), acidic (organic acids and sugar phosphates), neutral (sugars) and alcohol insoluble solid (starch) fractions. Most of the radioactivity was found in the sugar component of the chemical fraction. Plants treated with¹⁴⁷CO₂ had a higher percentage of radioactivity in the acidic and starch fractions than plants treated with sucrose. Sucrose applied by petiole injection not only showed higher total incorporation but also exhibited more translocation of labelled material into the tubers than the other methods.     

Effects of AG1 and AG2 QTLs on Nonstructural Carbohydrate and Seed Management Options for Rice Seedling Growth and Establishment under Flooding Stress

Rice (Oryza sativa) plants acquired excess photosynthates in the form of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) in their stems and grain. Despite keen interest in rice NSC, the dynamics of NSC accumulation, translocation and re-accumulation have not yet been well investigated. AG1 and AG2 QTLs associated with flooding tolerance through catalyzing starch into soluble sugar in germinating seeds. Here we conducted three experiments, greenhouse and field to lay the groundwork for large-scale diversity studies on grain NSC and some agronomic traits under direct-seeded rice (DSR) system, using elite lines incorporating AG1, AG2 and AG1-AG2 QTLs into the popular varieties PSB Rc82 and Ciherang-Sub1 along with the donors Kho Hlan On (AG1) and Ma-Zhan Red (AG2). In germinating seedlings, soluble sugars increased, while starch concentration decreased gradually especially in the tolerant checks and AG1-AG2 introgression lines under flooded soil. Soluble sugar accumulation in stem started to increase from the vegetative stage and peaked at the panicle initiation stage then gradually decreased towards the maturity stage. But Sub1-AG lines had higher sugar and starch concentrations at different growth stages than other genotypes in wet season 2016 and dry season 2017. Plant survival rate was positively correlated with the stem NSC at the early vegetative stage (21 days after sowing), and stem NSC was positively associated with plant height at different growth stages. Among the tested seeding rate, the most suitable seeding rate, 4 g/m² with shallow burial depth (0.5 cm), resulted in better seedling establishment, relatively higher seedling vigor index and higher leaf area index under flooding in DSR system. Introgression of AG1-AG2 QTLs had no any negative impact on nonstructural carbohydrate, germination rate, and growth and biomass production.     

低温对马铃薯块茎呼吸及糖代谢的影响

本试验测定了两个马铃薯品种在４ ℃和１０ ℃低温贮藏条件下块茎的呼吸强度和蔗糖、还原糖的含量。 Ｎ Ｄ８６０ ２ 品种在４ ℃和１０ ℃条件下， 还原糖含量变化差异不大， 而 Ｎｏｒｃｈｉｐ 品种在４ ℃下还原糖含量远远高于１０ ℃的处理。两个品种块茎中蔗糖含量甚微。呼吸强度与还原糖含量的变化的相关性不明显。结果表明， 两个品种在低温条件下糖代谢机理不同。     

Factors Causing the Variation in the Temperature Coefficient of Dark Respiration in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

The temperature coefficient (Q₁₀) of dark respiration in rice gradually decreased in continuous darkness, fluctuating as the circadian rhythmic variation in dark respiration. The solar radiation (MJ m^-2) on the day of measurement and the nitrogen concentration in the culture solution hardly affected the Q₁₀ value. However, the plants exposed to high-intensity light (260W m^-2) for two weeks showed a higher Q₁₀ of dark respiration than those exposed to low-intensity light (70W m^-2). The seasonal variation in Q₁₀ value was not observed. The average Q₁₀ value during the growth stage measured at 15 to 25°C, 20 to 30°C, and 25 to 35°C was 2.14, 1.76, and 1.56, respectively. High crop yield in the regions where the day/night temperature difference is large may be partly explained by the high Q₁₀ at low night temperature. Thus, the Q₁₀ may be an important physiological factor determining high crop yield.     

A mechanism for low temperature induced sugar accumulation in stored potato tubers: The potential role of the alternative pathway and invertase

The accumulation of reducing sugars in stored potato tubers is of significant commercial importance because of its effect on processing quality. The process by which the accumulation of sugars occurs involves the interaction of many metabolic pathways and is yet to be fully described. Low temperature conditions result in an accumulation of ATP in potato tissue. Published evidence suggests that low temperature activation of the alternative pathway (cyanide resistant respiration) leads to decreased ATP levels and simultaneous increases in sucrose concentrations. This sucrose becomes the substrate for vacuolar acid invertase resulting in the accumulation of reducing sugars. Inhibition of the alternative pathway results in decreased sugar accumulation thereby minimizing the sucrose available to the acid invertase and the subsequent reducing sugar accumulation. Control of the alternative pathway on its own, or in combination with acid invertase activity, may provide insight into the phenomenon of low temperature sweetening in stored potato tubers.     

Comparative analysis of physiological characteristics and yield components in sugarcane cultivars

Sugarcane in an important crop due to the economic value of its products. Physiological characteristics and yield components of sugarcane were studied in three field-grown sugarcane cultivars B 63118, POJ 2878 and Ja 60-5. Three growth stages were identified: formative phase (until 140 DAP), grand growth (140–300 DAP) and maturity (after 300 DAP). Results indicated that cultivars showed contrasting yield mainly after 300 DAP. At ripening, the most productive cultivar (Ja 60-5) achieved higher leaf area, an optimum leaf area index for light interception, a high and stable net assimilation rate and an elevated leaf area and biomass duration. In addition, this cultivar showed the higher density and lower area of leaf sieve elements as compared with other, which could influence the high translocation rate (1.85 cm min⁻¹) at 8 MAP. The higher efficiency of this process in Ja 60-5 might also be supported by a higher (15–25%) apparent free space of stem parenchyma as compared with POJ 2878 and B 63118. Our results suggest that Ja 60-5 reduced carbon partitioned to foliar respiration which led to a higher partitioning of sucrose to stems evidenced by a higher Pol%.     

Dry matter partitioning of sugarcane in Australia and South Africa

Partitioning of dry matter (DM) in sugarcane is of interest for two fundamental reasons. Firstly, sugar production depends directly on partitioning of crop biomass to the stalk and then to sucrose stored largely in stalk parenchyma. Secondly, various DM components of the stalk and particularly sucrose concentration are used to calculate the value of cane consignments delivered to the mill. In this study we review data from serial harvesting experiments in South Africa and Australia to discover similarities and differences in DM partitioning of sugarcane grown in a wide range of conditions and to gain a better understanding of the factors influencing DM partitioning as a basis for improving functional responses in sugarcane simulation models. Firstly, climatic and genetic variations in DM partitioning to various above ground plant components of sugarcane and to sucrose within the stalk component, are examined at a broad level. We then assess the robustness of sucrose partitioning rules used in the two international sugarcane models (APSIM and CANEGRO) and provide enhancements on predictions of sucrose content (SC) on a DM basis in sugarcane stalks.Well-adapted cultivars in widely different climatic conditions were similar with respect to partitioning of biomass to various above ground organs. The trash component (dead leaves and dead stalks) was one that varied most between cultivars and growing conditions. The stalk fraction of green biomass (biomass less trash) reached a maximum of about 0.85 when green biomass yield exceeded 60 t ha⁻¹ regardless of cultivar or extremes of water regime. Opportunities for further improvements of this trait through breeding were not obvious but harvesting could be delayed to ensure that stalk fraction is as high as possible.Variations in SC with respect to age, biomass and seasonal variation in climate, were explained by a simple conceptual model of cane stalk segments which are rapidly filled with sucrose when young and may remobilise sucrose when carbohydrate is required for rapid expansive growth. Season and age effects on whole stalk SC are due to varying proportions of young segments with low SC and older segments with high SC. A mechanistic model capturing these concepts is required but as an interim measure an empirical model based on stalk mass, leaf number per stalk, leaf area index and temperature accounted for a large proportion of the variation in SC across Australian and South African cultivars and conditions. Uses for this model together with CANEGRO or APSIM include improved SC through manipulating irrigation and the harvest schedule and more realistic targets for cane quality.     

Effect of different Cs concentrations on overall plant growth and Cs distribution in soybean

The absorption and dynamics of Cs in crops can be measured and examined using not only ¹³⁷Cs but also ¹³³Cs, a stable isotope which can be analyzed in a regular laboratory. When ¹³³Cs is used, however, the concentration of added ¹³³Cs must be set higher than that in the soil solution due to the detection sensitivity of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). There is concern that such high Cs concentrations may adversely affect crops and interfere with Cs dynamics. Using soybean as a test product, we first examined the initial growth of soybean cultivated under exposure to solutions with different ¹³³Cs concentrations. In combination with each ¹³³Cs concentration, two potassium (K) concentrations were tested. Results show that at both K concentrations, growth was inhibited under ¹³³Cs concentrations higher than 1 × 10^?3 mol L^?1. Soybeans cultivated at ¹³³Cs concentrations higher than 1 × 10^?6 mol L^?1 can be subject to ICP-OES for measuring ¹³³Cs concentrations in the plant tissue. Next, soybeans cultivated under different ¹³³Cs concentrations throughout growth were examined for Cs distribution in the plants. The distribution patterns of Cs in soybean plants cultivated at ¹³³Cs concentrations equivalent to those found in the soil were almost identical to those in plants cultivated at measurable ¹³³Cs concentrations (1 × 10^?6–1 × 10^?4 mol L^?1) as measured with ICP-OES. Therefore, in our investigation, ¹³³Cs distribution in soybean plants treated with up to 1 × 10^?4 mol L^?1 was considered equivalent to that in plants cultivated in the field.     

The role of stem inoculum in the transmission ofFusarium sulphureum to potato tubers

Summary Over 2 years, seed tubers or stems were inoculated withFusarium sulphureum Schlecht. (F. sambucinum Fuckel f. 6 Wollenw.) and the incidence of dry rot on daughter tubers assessed by standardised wound tests. The amount of stem and soil inoculum was also measured in one year. Inoculating stem bases resulted in greater concentrations of spores on the stem bases, greater soil populations at harvest and more dry rot on tubers than inoculating the seed tuber. Overall, the incidence of dry rot and the amount of stem and soil inoculum was similar for the three methods of haulm destruction: cutting and removing the stems, applying sulphuric acid or applying diquat dibromide to the growing plants.     

Significance of the fructose/glucose ratio in screening potato breeding lines with processing potential

Low sugar accumulation during low temperature holding is a most sought after characteristic in a potato cultivar utilized for processing. Although this property is largely inherited, the lack of a reliable biochemical test capable of screening large numbers of new breeding lines with low sugar accumulating ability has hampered present selection procedures of plant breeders. This study examined the concentration of individual sugar components and the ratios of sugar components from 80 to 110 day-old plants of three commercial potato cultivars, White Rose, Russet Burbank and Norchip, each with different inherent capacity to accumulate sugars under low temperature holding. By determining the fructose and glucose concentration of potatoes from 110-day old plants and calculating the fructose/ glucose ratio, it was possible at harvest to separate cultivars that accumulate high concentrations of sugars during cold storage from those that accumulate low concentration of sugars     

Detection ofClavibacter michiganensis subsp.sepedonicus in potato stems and tubers grown from seed pieces with various levels of inoculum

Summary An indirect sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to monitor potato stems of three cultivars for the presence of the ring rot pathogen,Clavibacter michiganensis subsp.sepedonicus, during the growing season and in progeny tubers after harvest. The highest ELISA values were obtained with the highest concentration of bacteria used to inoculate seed pieces in all cultivars tested. Low ELISA values were obtained for stems and progeny tubers selected from plants grown from seed inoculated at lower bacterial concentrations. Estimates of bacterial densities in stems and progeny tubers by immunofluorescence indicated that low ELISA values were most probably caused by low bacterial numbers. It is suggested that the sensitivity of ELISA for detecting the ring rot pathogen in potato stems and progeny tubers is a function of the concentration of bacteria in individual seed pieces.     

Effects of duration and combination of drought and flood conditions on leaf photosynthesis,growth and sugar content in sugarcane

Global climate change will result in extreme environments, such as droughts and floods. We investigated the individual and combined effects of droughts and floods of varying duration on sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) growth using a pot experiment under glasshouse conditions with the following six treatments: drought for 15 d, prolonged drought for 30 d, flood for 15 d, prolonged flood for 30 d, short flood followed by prolonged drought, and prolonged flood followed by prolonged drought. Plants that were subjected to drought conditions, including drought after a flood, had reduced CO₂ assimilation (through stomatal closure) and leaf areas, whereas flood conditions showed no effect. During flooding, some roots died, and adventitious roots with well-developed aerenchyma appeared from the submerged nodes. At the time of harvest, there were no significant differences in stem fresh weight, sucrose content, or sugar yield between the treatments. However, ion content analysis revealed that flood conditions caused an accumulation of sodium in the bottom of stems and adventitious roots. Therefore, under flood conditions, plants may develop adventitious roots, which may offset the negative effects of root death, helping them to maintain their growth and yield.