Interaction of Phosphate and Salinity on the Growth and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The role of phosphorus application on growth and yield of rice under saline conditions was studied in a set of two experiments, one in nutrient and the other in soil culture. In experiment 1, the effect of inorganic phosphate (P_i) on the growth and ionic relations of four rice cultivars, varying in salt tolerance and phosphorus use efficiency, grown in nutrient solution with and without 50 mol m^?3 NaCl was measured in a 2 week trial. The growth of all rice cultivars was affected to different degrees due to external P, in the presence of salt. External P, concentration up to 100 μM in the presence of NaCl caused stimulation of all growth parameters (shoot, root, tillering capacity), above this concentration P, had an inhibitory effect. Salt-induced P toxicity was exhibited at a much lower P, concentration (10 μM) by the salt sensitive cultivar. Increasing the supply of phosphorus (from 1 to 100 μM P_i) to the saline medium tended to decrease the concentrations of Na¹ and CI in all cultivars except IR 1561. Shoot concentrations of these saline ions were much lower in the salt tolerant and moderately salt tolerant rice cultivars. Shoot P and Zn concentrations showed an increasing trend in the presence of external P, and salt in the rooting nr -idium but most strikingly P: Zn ratio was lower in salt tolerant and moderately salt tolerant cultivars. Significantly higher concentrations of Na⁺, P and CI, and lower concentrations of Zn, were determined in the shoots of salt sensitive cultivars when exposed to salt stress in the presence of P_i Results were confirmed in naturally salt-affected soils of two different types (saline-sodic and saline) where paddy yield of NIAB 6 (salt tolerant) and IR 1561 (salt sensitive) showed improvement through moderate phosphorus supply (18 kg P ha^?1).     

探讨品种间差异改良作物水分利用效率

提高水分利用效率是缓解水资源危机实现作物可持续生产的重要策略。本文对叶片尺度的瞬时WUE和单株尺度WUE的品种间差异,瞬时WUE到田间尺度WUE的尺度转换,以及瞬时WUE与产量之间的关系进行了讨论。瞬时WUE具有较大的遗传变异性,在亏水条件下品种间差异更显著。在禾谷类作物上,气孔导度与瞬时WUE密切相关。单株尺度WUE在亏水条件下品种间差异显著,足水条件下差异相对较小。气孔导度是影响单株尺度WUE的重要性状,品种之间气孔对水分亏缺的敏感性差异较大。瞬时WUE向田间尺度WUE的尺度转换不仅受到冠层阻力和边界层阻力的制约,还受土壤蒸发与作物蒸腾比率以及同化物分配模式的影响。瞬时WUE与产量的关系决定于环境的水分条件,在作物生长发育主要依靠土壤中储存水分的干旱条件下,瞬时WUE高对获得高产有利。相反,在水分条件较适宜的地区,高瞬时WUE性状不利于高产。     

Cultivar Specific Response of CO2 Fertilization on Two Tropical Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.) Cultivars: ROS Generation,Antioxidant Status,Physiology, Growth,Yield and Seed Quality

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (CO₂) is an important component of global climate change that will have a significant impact on the productivity of crop plants. In recent years, growth and yield of agricultural crop plants have been shown to increase with elevated CO₂ (EC) and have enticed considerable interest due to variation in the response of crop plants. In this study, comparative response of two mung bean cultivars (HUM‐2 and HUM‐6) was evaluated against EC at different growth stages under near‐natural conditions for two consecutive years. The plants were grown in ambient as well as EC (700 ppm) in specially designed open‐top chambers. Under elevated CO₂, marked down‐regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, membrane disruption and activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were noticed in both the cultivars, but the extent of reduction was more in HUM‐6. As compared to ambient CO₂, EC increased total chlorophyll, photosynthetic rate, growth and yield parameters. Cultivar‐specific response was noticed as HUM‐6 showed higher increase in yield attributes than HUM‐2. Under CO₂ treatment, soluble protein and reducing sugars decreased while total soluble sugars and starch showed an opposite trend. Principal component analysis showed that both the cultivars responded more or less similarly to EC in their respective groupings of physiological and growth parameters, but the magnitude of ROS and antioxidative enzymes was variable. The experimental findings depict that both the cultivars of mung bean showed contrasting response against EC and paved the way for selecting the suitable cultivar having higher productivity in a future high‐CO₂ environment.     

Comparative Study on the Zinc and Cadmium Tolerance Potential of Twelve Prominent Rice Cultivars

Heavy metal pollution being a potential threat to agriculture raising rice cultivars with heavy metal tolerance is a promising strategy for remediation of heavy metal polluted agricultural lands. We present here a comprehensive study describing the differences in physiological and biochemical responses of 12 prominent high-yielding rice cultivars to increasing ZnSO₄ concentrations (0, 2, 6, and 10 mM) and CdCl₂ concentrations (0, 1, 2, and 3 mM). Even though Zinc (Zn) is an essential element required for the normal growth and development process of plants, a higher concentration of Zn has an antagonistic effect. Cadmium (Cd) is detrimental to plants and is found in soils contaminated with heavy metals. The effects of Zn and Cd on rice seedlings were a reduction in shoot length, greater chlorophyll and carotenoid loss, higher malondialdehyde content, proline accumulation, and an increased level of sugar and amino acids when treated with CdCl₂ and ZnSO₄. The CdCl₂ and ZnSO₄ stress-induced biochemical changes displayed major differences in the 12 rice cultivars in terms of tolerance to Zn and Cd toxicity. Our data provides evidence that the cultivar Varsha showed the highest tolerance and cultivar JY showed the least tolerance towards Cd and Zn toxicity.     

镉胁迫对不同水稻品种苗期光合特性与生理生化特性的影响

为了研究镉抗性不同的水稻品种对镉胁迫的生理生化响应差异,采用水培法,以对镉胁迫相对敏感的水稻品种28占和对镉胁迫相对耐受的水稻品种黄粤占为材料,研究了0(蒸馏水,对照),0.05,0.10,0.20 mmol/L 4种不同镉胁迫浓度对该2个水稻品种种子萌发幼苗期的生物学性状、光合特性和生理生化指标的影响。结果表明:不同镉胁迫处理浓度下,2个供试水稻品种28占和黄粤占的苗高、根长、幼苗鲜质量与幼苗干质量均随镉胁迫处理浓度的增大而减小,其中28占减小相对较显著;镉胁迫条件下,水稻叶片的净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)和胞间CO2浓度(Ci)均呈不同程度的下降趋势。耐镉水稻品种黄粤占Pn、Gs、Tr和Ci的下降均低于镉敏感型水稻品种28占;气孔限制百分率(Ls)呈增加趋势,且品种间差异不显著。随着镉胁迫处理浓度的增加,2个供试水稻品种28占和黄粤占的幼苗叶片叶绿素含量呈下降趋势,而MDA含量、SOD、POD和CAT等抗氧化酶的活性均随着镉胁迫处理浓度的升高而增大,且镉胁迫处理下黄粤占的MDA含量与各抗氧化酶活性较对照的相对增加值小于28占。结果表明,水稻品种黄粤占种子萌发幼苗期对镉胁迫具有较好的抗性。     

Leaf,canopy and agronomic water‐use efficiency of field‐grown sugar beet in response to potassium fertilization

Potassium (K) fertilization is important to maintain adequate concentrations of plant available K in agricultural soils to achieve best yields and improve crop stress tolerance and water‐use efficiency (WUE). Water‐use efficiency (WUE) can be expressed on various spatiotemporal scales, and it is known that responses of WUE to external stress are not uniform across scales. Multiscale evaluations of the impact of varying K fertilization on the WUE of C₃ crops under field conditions are missing so far. In the present field study, we evaluated effects of K fertilization on WUE of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) on short‐termed leaf‐ (WUE_Leaf) and canopy‐scales (WUE_Canopy) and as the agronomic ratio of white sugar yield (WSY) to in‐season water use (i.e. WUE_WSY). In K‐fertilized plots, WUE_WSY was enhanced by 15.9%. This effect is attributed to increased beet yield and WSY, as no differences in total in‐season water use between fertilized and unfertilized plots were observed. Potassium (K) fertilization significantly enhanced the leaf area index, resulting in a more efficient depletion of soil moisture by roots in K‐fertilized plots. As a consequence, WUE_Leaf was increased due to stomatal adjustment. Potassium (K) improved WUE_Canopy only by tendency. It is concluded that K fertilization improves the WUE of field‐grown sugar beet across scales, but processes that regulate WUE are highly scale dependent.     

高温胁迫对早稻根系质膜ATPase活性及NH4+吸收速率的影响

以耐热型品种“农大228”、“082”和热敏感品种“茉莉占”、“协清早B”为材料，研究高温胁迫后不同耐性品种之间的生理差异。结果如下：高温胁迫后，耐热型品种根系质膜ATPa~e活性升高，热敏感型品种活性降低；耐热型品种根系NHf吸收速率不受影响，热敏感型品种明显下降。高温胁迫后根系NHf吸收动力学参数的变化与品种的耐热性无关。     

4个水稻品种（组合）光合特性的比较研究

研究不同水稻品种在不同生育期主要光合生理指标的变化规律,旨在为水稻品种的选育和栽培提供参考。以绵阳地区4个水稻品种（组合）为试材,用便携式光合作用测量系统测定田间主要光合特性参数。结果表明：不同品种在叶绿素含量、净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度存在明显差异,各品种不同生育期叶绿素a/b值、净光合速率变化呈单峰曲线。抽穗期,‘成糯88’、‘B6优4761’和‘233A/绵恢768’具有较高的蒸腾速率,而‘冈优725’表现出较低的蒸腾速率;‘冈优725’在灌浆期具有较高的净光合速率。说明‘冈优725’相比于其他3个品种在抽穗期具有更低的需水量,在灌浆期具有更高的生产潜力。     

不同生育期水稻耐冷性的鉴定及耐冷性差异的生理机制

以粳稻9516、H45、武育粳、转PEPC基因水稻、Kitaake、苏沪香粳，籼稻扬稻6号、香籼、IR64，培矮64S以及杂交稻粤优938、汕优63、X07S/紫徽100、两优培九等14个水稻品种为材料，分别鉴定了芽期（胚根1 cm, 胚芽0.5 cm）、苗期（三叶）和孕穗期的耐冷性，同时选取南京对水稻播种敏感的自然低温条件，进行低温鉴定。结果表明，芽期存活率、苗期的枯死率和孕穗期结实率均为可靠的水稻耐冷性鉴定指标。进一步从叶片的光合速率、PSⅡ光化学效率（F_v/F_m）、脂肪酸组分、活性氧指标(丙二醛,过氧化氢和超氧阴离子和抗氧化物质(抗坏血酸和谷胱甘肽)的变化等方面，研究耐冷性不同的水稻的耐冷生理机制。表明耐冷的水稻品种武育粳含较多的不饱和脂肪酸，在低温逆境下，膜的流动性愈大，低温对其伤害愈小；对杂交稻汕优63而言，其叶内抵御逆境的保护系统抗坏血酸和谷胱甘肽的循环被较大地激活，特别是谷胱甘肽再生的高速运转，与不耐冷的品种香籼相比，汕优63叶内的过氧化物质累积较少，其耐冷性表现中等。看来水稻叶片维持高的脂肪酸不饱和指数和谷胱甘肽的周转循环能力是水稻耐冷的重要特征。     

Effects of Increasing Temperatures on Spikelet Fertility in Different Rice Cultivars based on Temperature Gradient Chamber Experiments

Spikelet sterility in rice (Oryza sativa L.) induced by high temperatures is a major concern given global warming predictions. We studied differences among eight rice cultivars in spikelet fertility at five different temperature levels in temperature gradient chamber (TGC) experiments. Six japonica and two indica cultivars were exposed to high‐temperature gradients in TGCs during the 2005 flowering season. Spikelet sterility increased with temperature in TGCs and differed among cultivars because of both variations in temperature tolerance and timing of heading. The correlation between spikelet fertility of individual panicles and both air temperature and panicle temperature during flowering was analyzed to compare tolerances among cultivars. The temperature (T₇₅) at which spikelet fertility was 75 % of maximum ranged from 34 to 39 °C air temperature and differed significantly among cultivars. Indica varieties had higher T₇₅ values than japonica varieties. The T₇₅ values based on panicle temperature also differed among cultivars, but the difference between indica and japonica varieties were less significant. We concluded that the higher temperature tolerances of indica cultivars in our experiments could be attributed to lower spikelet temperatures, and cultivars with similar spikelet temperatures still had different heat tolerances due to differences in pollination ability.     

QTLs for phosphorus deficiency tolerance detected in upland NERICA varieties

Phosphorous (P) deficiency is a major yield limiting factor in rice (Oryza sativa L.) production. The interspecific New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties combine general stress tolerance from African cultivated rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud) with characteristics associated with high yield from O. sativa. However, little is known about their ability to tolerate P deficiency. Here, we examined the variation for tolerance to P deficiency among the 18 upland NERICAs and their parents in multi‐year field experiments. The good performance under P deficiency of the O. glaberrima parent CG 14 and some NERICAs suggested that these tolerant NERICAs contain loci associated with P deficiency tolerance inherited from CG 14. Additionally, four QTL clusters for P deficiency tolerance were detected on chromosomes 4, 6 and 11 using F₃ lines derived from the cross between the P deficiency tolerant variety NERICA10 and a Japonica‐type sensitive variety ‘Hitomebore’. These QTLs represent the first step in identifying stress tolerance genes from O. glaberrima that could subsequently be used to enhance P deficiency tolerance in O. sativa.     

Impact of water supply on photosynthesis,water use and carbon isotope discrimination of sugar beet genotypes

Improvements in drought tolerance of crop plants require research focused on physiological processes. In 2002 and 2003 pot experiments with sugar beet were conducted in a greenhouse. Two (2002) or three (2003) different genotypes were subjected to three watering regimes (100, 50 and 20% of water holding capacity). Gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and water-use efficiency (WUE) as parameters of possible relevance for drought stress tolerance in sugar beet were investigated. It was studied whether ¹³C discrimination (Δ) is suitable as an indirect measure for WUE of sugar beet.DM yield, photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance decreased with increasing severity of drought stress. In contrast, internal CO₂ partial pressure remained relatively stable and effective quantum yield of photosynthesis was reduced only under severe drought, which points at non-stomatal inhibition of photosynthesis. Different sugar beet genotypes showed significant differences in DM yield, but interactions between genotype and water supply did not occur, indicating that genotypic differences in drought tolerance did not exist. In accordance with that, drought-sensitivity of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence was the same in different genotypes. Δ was higher in the leaves than in the taproot. Reductions in Δ in drought-stressed plants corresponded to about 24% higher WUE. Differentiating between plant organs, only leaf Δ was negatively correlated with WUE_L whereas taproot Δ and WUE_T were unrelated. Δ was therefore proven to be a sensitive indicator for water availability during the growing period. However, similar as other parameters relevant for drought stress tolerance it requires investigations in broader genetic material of sugar beet to detect genotypic differences.     

Growth and Physiological Responses of Quinoa to Drought and Temperature Stress

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), traditionally called the mother of grains, has the potential to grow under high temperatures and drought, tolerating levels regarded as stresses in other crop species. A pot experiment was conducted in a climate chamber to investigate the potential of quinoa tolerance to increasing drought and temperature. Quinoa plants were subjected to three irrigation and two temperature regimes. At low temperature, the day/night climate chamber temperature was maintained at 18/8 °C and 25/20 °C for high temperature throughout the treatment period. The irrigation treatments were full irrigation (FI), deficit irrigation (DI) and alternate root‐zone drying (ARD). FI plants were irrigated daily to the level of the pot's water‐holding capacity. In DI and ARD, 70 % water of FI was applied either to the whole pot or to one side of the pot alternating, respectively. The results indicated that plant height and shoot dry weight significantly decreased by ARD and DI compared to FI treatment both at low and at high temperatures. However, plants in ARD treatment showed significantly higher plant height and shoot dry weight compared to DI especially at higher temperature, which is linked to increased xylem ion content. Higher quinoa plant growth in ARD was associated with increase in water‐use efficiency (WUE_i) due to higher abscisic acid concentration and higher nutrient contents compared to DI. From results, it can be concluded that quinoa plant growth is favoured by high temperature (25/20 °C) and ARD is an effective irrigation strategy to increase WUE in drought prone areas.     

基于模型和遥感的水稻长势监测研究进展

水稻生长模型是集气候、土壤、品种和栽培措施等因素为一体的对水稻的物候发育、光合生产、器官建成、同化物积累与分配以及产量与品质形成等生理过程及其与环境和技术因子关系综合量化的动态数学模型,具有机理性和预测性。遥感影像的信息波段及其组合可以反射作物生长的空间信息,可实现对水稻进行长势监测和估产,具有及时性和广域性。将二者结合用于长势监测不但具有理论研究意义,而且还具有重要的应用价值。在简要概述水稻生长模型和长势遥感监测研究进展的基础上,总结了水稻生长模型和长势遥感监测相结合下水稻长势监测应用的研究进展,并提出一些今后研究设想。     

盐胁迫下转甜菜碱醛脱氢酶基因水稻幼苗耐盐生理的研究

在NaCl浓度0，3．0，5．0，7．0g／L下，对转甜菜碱醛脱氢酶(BADH)基因水稻的两个品系51—22，52—7及其受体亲本中花8号进行幼苗耐盐性试验。结果表明：转BADH基因水稻比其受体亲本耐盐性强，在高NaCl浓度(5．0，7．0g／L)胁迫下，甜菜碱醛脱氢酶基因可以提高盐胁迫下水稻幼苗过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性，提高根系活力和叶绿素含量，稳定细胞膜的透性，降低植株体内Na^ 的积累，从而减轻幼苗受盐害的程度。盐胁迫下水稻幼苗的CAT活性、SNa^ ／K^ 、叶Na^ ／K^ 、叶绿素含量是影响幼苗生长的主要生理指标。     

Maize harvest index and water use efficiency can be improved by inhibition of gibberellin biosynthesis

Possibilities to improve maize harvest index and nutrient utilization efficiency by application of plant growth regulators were investigated. In container experiments, the effects of different growth regulators on the development of the maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars Pioneer 3906 and Fabregas were tested. Paclobutrazol (PAC) and chlorocholine chloride (CCC), two inhibitors of gibberellin biosynthesis, as well as gibberellic acid (GA₃) were applied at growth stage V5. Three weeks after application of PAC, shoot growth of both maize cultivars was strongly affected with a significant decrease in plant height in the PAC treatment by 44% and 36% for Pioneer 3906 and Fabregas, respectively. The growth‐retarded plants had higher leaf areas and reduced transpiration rates. The higher shoot growth after GA₃ application was accompanied by a reduction in leaf area and an increase in transpiration rate during 1 week before anthesis. CCC treatment showed no significant effects on plant height, leaf area and transpiration rate. The PAC‐treated cultivar Pioneer 3906 produced several cobs per plant, which were mainly barren at maturity. However, PAC application to Fabregas resulted in just one cob per plant with good kernel development and a grain yield, which was not significantly reduced in comparison with the control. With this similar grain yield in combination with a straw yield decrease of 32%, the harvest index was significantly improved by 12%. In addition, with PAC‐treated Fabregas plants, a 19% increased water use efficiency of the grain (WUE_grain) during the critical period of kernel setting was achieved. In this maize cultivar, CCC application also improved harvest index by 5%, but no effect on WUE_grain occurred. GA₃ treatment decreased harvest index of both maize cultivars, and it either reduced WUE_grain (Pioneer 3906) or showed no effect (Fabregas). Utilization efficiencies of N, P and K were not increased with growth regulator application, even in the PAC‐treated Fabregas plants with a significantly improved allocation of assimilates to the grain, mirrored by the higher harvest index. The results indicate that fertilizer applications must be adjusted to the reduced demand of growth‐retarded plants, most likely leading to higher nutrient utilization efficiencies.     

江苏不同熟期粳稻品种的齐穗期和安全播期预测

为明确当前江苏各地不同熟期粳稻品种的安全播期,以江苏的4个熟期类型的5个常规粳稻品种为材料,在江苏连云港(34°83′N)、淮安(33°34′N)、扬州(32°25′N)和苏州(31°18′N)等4地,进行自5月10日起每10天1期,共8个播期的播种试验,得出各播期的相应齐穗期。以齐穗期温光预测模型y=a＋b₁x₁＋b₂x₂拟合其实得的播期与齐穗期资料。用该模型拟合4个试验点、5个供试品种计20组数据,得出20个预测式,其拟合度R²在0.9927~0.9998之间,均达极显著水平。用各试点所在地近25年各年粳稻品种安全齐穗期及逐日平均温度,依齐穗期光温模型预测式经多次迭代推得各年的安全播期,进而求得90%保证率的安全播期并作各地生产应用分析。在江苏淮北的北部,麦稻两熟田水稻的可播栽始期为6月15日,中熟中粳的安全播期为6月21日,此类品种可用于该地直播;其他各熟期类型品种安全播期均早于当地可播栽始期,故不能用于直播。在淮北南部稻麦两熟田的可播栽始期为6月12日左右,中熟中粳和迟熟中粳的安全播期分别在7月4日和6月22日,此两类品种可用于该地麦茬直播;早熟晚粳安全播期在6月17日、18日,在大面积生产中因接茬时间过紧应慎用于麦茬直播;中熟晚粳的安全播期为6月8日,不可用于直播。在苏中南部,水稻可播栽始期为6月8至11日,中熟中粳、迟熟中粳、早熟晚粳类型两品种的安全播期分别在7月12日、3日、6月25日和28日,可用于该地直播;中熟晚粳的安全播期为6月11日,用于直播接茬时间太紧,不可应用。在苏南,水稻的可播栽始期为6月5日,供试4熟期类型品种的安全播期分别为7月18日、13日、9日至10日和7月3日,仅考虑安全齐穗各熟期类型品种均可用于麦茬直播,但因中粳类型品种直播稻生育期过短、产量不高,不宜应用。     

Physiological responses to water stress and yield of winter wheat cultivars differing in drought tolerance

Moderate to severe drought (water stress) at the reproductive stage is common in the U.S. Southern High Plains (SHP), where wheat is grown as a major winter crop. The objective of this study was to better understand the physiological basis of drought tolerance in elite wheat cultivars. A 2‐yr glasshouse study was conducted using three cultivars (TAM 111, TAM 112 and TAM 304) and two water treatments (wet: adequate water and dry: water‐limited). Overall, TAM 111 and TAM 112 used more water for cumulative evapotranspiration (ET) and had more tillers and greater root mass and shoot mass compared to TAM 304. In the dry treatment, TAM 112 had 67% and 81% more grain yield than TAM 111 and TAM 304, respectively. Water use efficiency for grain (WUEg) and water use efficiency for biomass (WUEbm) were also greater in TAM 112 compared to the other cultivars in the dry treatment. The flag leaves in TAM 112 at mid‐grain filling stage (about 15 days after flowering) had lower stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci), transpiration rate (Tr) and net photosynthetic rate (Pn), but higher photosynthetic water use efficiency (PWUE) than TAM 111 and TAM 304 under water stress. This study demonstrated a distinct role of gas exchange parameters in response to drought, and TAM 112 was more efficient than TAM 111 and TAM 304 in evolving physiological mechanisms to adapt to water stress.     

Screening for Drought Tolerance: Evaluation of Seed Germination and Seedling Growth for Drought Resistance in Legume Plants

Experiments were performed to evaluate seed germination and seedling growth in simulated drought as screening techniques for drought tolerance raring. Several laboratory screening tests were evaluated for ability to estimate drought resistance in 18 cultivars of legume plants (field bean, soybean, field pea, lupine). Drought was simulated by a water solution of mannitol of chemical water potential ψ= -0.3 and -0.6 MPa. Both solutions significantly affected seed germination (final germination and promptness index) and seedling growth parameters (seedling height, dry matter of shoot and root as well as leaf injury by drought and high temperature). The tested cultivars could be grouped as drought resistant and drought susceptible plants. Drought tolerance ratings of legume plants in the laboratory tests were, on the whole, consistent with the ratings based on estimation of direct effects of soil drought on seed yield in field experiments. Measurements of electroconductivity of leaf diffusate to evaluate invisible injury caused by drought or high temperature were found to be an adequate criterion for drought tolerance rating. It is concluded that tolerance to drought stress in growing seedlings can be screened for by using mannitol containing nutrient solution. According to the results collected in this research, varieties differences in seed germination, seedling growth and leaf injury affected by drought or heat temperature were evident, however, not all treatments appeared to be equally useful for screening of legume species cultivars.     

Dry Matter and Nitrogen Distribution at Maturity of Three Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars Exposed to Ammonia at Two Growth Stages

A substantial proportion of ammonical fertilizers applied to lowland rice is lost as gaseous N from the soil–plant system. Besides various environmental factors, the low N use efficiency of flooded rice is also attributed to this factor. As atmospheric ammonia found in the leaf environment of the plants could also be responsible for differences in N use efficiency and fertilizer N losses from lowland rice, a greenhouse study was conducted on three rice cultivars varying in physio-morphological characteristics for their dry matter and nitrogen distribution to grains at maturity in response to ammonia (NH₃) exposure at tillering and anthesis growth stages. The results revealed that ammonia exposure of plants at two growth stages did not affect the total dry matter and total N yield of the rice cultivars at maturity; however, the grain yield and grain N yield were negatively effected by NH₃ exposure of the plants at anthesis. The variation observed in dry matter and N partitioning at maturity to grains/roots of the plants exposed to NH₃ at anthesis indicated that the growth stage of the plants at which they are exposed to NH₃ has an influence on N use efficiency of crop plants and subsequent vegetative as well as total N losses from the soil–plant system.