Development and Yield Formation of Autumn- and Spring-sown Faba Beans in Northern Germany as Affected by Seasons, Sowing Dates and Varieties

Field trials were conducted with autumn- and spring-sown faba beans in Northern Germany during four seasons to examine the expected preceding development of autumn-sown plants, its possible transformation into a higher yield potential and its dependence on sowing dates and varieties. Height, appearance of leaves, inflorescences, mature flowers, potential and actual pot set was rated weekly, and flower initiation and tillering occasionally. Comparison was made for one winter type sown in autumn and spring, and between 6 winter types and 3 spring types, in two seasons each.
Development of autumn-sown plants significantly preceded that of spring-sown in each year, regardless of the plant material used. The mean advance, diminished considerably with time due to prolonged developmental phases in autumn-sown plants which, however, did not improve vegetative, generative or reproductive potentials of main tillers. Potentials formed by the six winter types, interacted strongly with the seasons, at least in part due to changing plant densities. Thus, only a very few traits appeared typical: a short stature with few leaves for Avrissot and the opposite for Bourdon , a high number of ripening pods for Avrissot and a low number for Banner . Early compared to late sowing in autumn increased the number of leaves, and in one year even the number of mature flowers and ripening pods per tiller, but values of early sowing never exceeded those of spring sowing. Enhancement of tiller formation by early compared to late sowing diminished after spring; nevertheless about two reproductive tillers per plant in autumn-sown stands always led to a higher density of tillers than in spring-sown.     

The Influence of Row Spacing and Seeding Rate on Seed Yield and Yield Components of Forage Turnip (Brassica rapa L.)

The effects of four row spacings (17.5, 35.0, 52.5 and 70.0 cm) and five seeding rates (50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 viable seeds m^?2) on seed yield and some yield components of forage turnip (Brassica rapa L.) were evaluated under rainfed conditions in Bursa, Turkey in the 1998–1999 and 1999–2000 growing seasons. Plant height, stem diameter, pods/terminal raceme, total pods/plant, seeds/pod and primary branches/plant were measured individually. The number of plants per unit area was counted and the lodging rate of the plots was scored. The seed yield and 1000‐seed weight were also determined. Row spacing and seeding rate significantly affected most yield components measured. The number of plants per unit area increased with increasing seeding rate and decreasing row spacing. Plant height was not greatly influenced by row spacing and seeding rate, but higher seeding rates reduced the number of primary branches and the stem diameter. The number of pods/main stem was affected by row spacing and but not by the seeding rate. Also, the number of seeds per pod was not affected by either the row spacing or the seeding rate. In contrast, the number of pods per plant clearly increased with increasing row spacing, but decreased with increasing seeding rate. The plots seeded at narrow row spacings and at high seeding rates were more sensitive to lodging. Seeding rate had no significant effect on seed yield in both years. Seed yield was similar at all seeding rates, averaging 1151 kg ha^?1. However, row spacing was associated with seed yield. The highest seed yield (1409 kg ha^?1) was obtained for the 35.0‐cm row spacing and 200 seeds m^?2 seeding rate combination without serious lodging problems.     

Genetics of Seed Yield and its Components in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) of Middle-American Origin

Genetic variance, heritability, and expected response from selection arc useful in devising alternative methods and criteria of: selection. The objectives of this study were to estimate these for seed yield and its components from 200 F₂: populations involving 80 cultivars and lines of mostly small-seeded dry bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) of habits growth I, II, and III of Middle-American origin. All cultivars and lines were crossed in eight sets of ten parents each in a Design II mating system. The F₂ populations, without parents, were evaluated in the field in a replicates-in-sets design at two locations in Colombia in 1983. Estimates of additive genetic variance were significant for yield, pods/m², seeds/pod, and seed weight. Interaction with environments was also significant. Values for nonadditive genetic variance were not significant for either yield or yield components. The estimates of narrow sense heritability, based on the F₂ population mean and unbiased by genotype x environment interaction, were 0.21 ± 0.13 for yield. 20 ± 0.13 for pods/m², 0.57 ± 0.13 for seeds/pod, and 0.74 ± 0.15 for seed weight. The expected direct response from selection of the top 20 % of F₂ populations for yield per se would result in a 4.30 % increase in yield with a correlated response of 0.21 % in seed weight. In contrast, the expected gain from direct selection for seed weight would result in a 11.76 % increase in seed weight with a, correlated gain of 0.28 % for yield. Direct selection for pods/m² would decrease yield, seeds/pod and seed weight, while direct selection for seeds/pod would reduce pods/m² and seed weight but increase seed yield by 0.37 %. Data on yield from replicated trials in the early segregating generations could be utilized for identification and selection of promising crosses and families or lines with crosses for dry bean yield improvement.     

Waterlogging differentially affects yield and its components in wheat,barley, rapeseed and field pea depending on the timing of occurrence

Waterlogging on croplands is increasing in various areas of the world. This study evaluated the yield penalty by early and late waterlogging on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and field pea (Pisum sativum L.). Plants cultivated outdoors were exposed to a 14-day waterlogging during vegetative (at 65 days after sowing (DAS)) or reproductive (at 85/87 DAS) stages, followed by drained conditions until maturity. Yield (seed weight per plant) and its components (number of spikes/siliques/pods per plant, number of grains per spike/silique/pod and 1,000 grain weight) were assessed at maturity, along with morphological (number of tillers/branches) and shoot and root dry weight responses after waterlogging and during recovery. Wheat was the most tolerant species achieving 86% and 71% of controls in yield with early and late waterlogging, related to fewer grains per spike. Barley and rapeseed tolerated early waterlogging (yields 85% and 79% of controls) as compared to late waterlogging (32% and 26% of controls), mainly due to fewer spikes per plant (barley) or reductions in seeds per silique (rapeseed). Field pea was greatly affected by waterlogging at both timings, attaining a yield of only 6% of controls on average due to much fewer pods and fewer seeds per pod. So, wheat could be an option for areas facing either winter or spring transient waterlogging (i.e. early or late stages); barley and rapeseed are recommended only with if water excess occurs in early stages and field pea is intolerant to waterlogging.     

Yield components,harvest index and plant type in relation to yield differences in field pea genotypes

Summary The effectiveness of yield components, harvest index and morphological characteristics as selection criteria among four field pea (Pisum sativum L.) genotypes was examined. Genotypes were grown at a wide range of plant populations (9 to 400 plants m^-2) to maximise environmental diversity.Both biological and seed yields approximately doubled from 9 to 100 plants m^-2. This response flattened from 100 to 400 plants m^-2. Differences among the genotypes were found only at 225 and 400 plants m^-2. Analysis of the yield components highlighted the plasticity and large genotype by environment interactions of field peas. The numbers of pods per plant and peas per pod were maximised when each genotype was grown as spaced plants, but the low plant numbers meant seed yields per unit area were at their lowest.Genotypic differences for plant harvest index (PHI) were also only found at 225 and 400 plants m^-2. Broad sense heritability estimates indicated that direct selection for PHI was not feasible. The inference from the yield component and PHI results was that alternative selection criteria such as physiological or morphological characteristics may be necessary for improved yield potential. Classification of each genotype indicated that low seedling vigour may be a positive attribute for crop plants of semi-leafless and conventionally leafed field peas. Selection based on any single plant attribute is unlikely to lead to dramatic improvements in the yield potential of field peas. Selection should be based on plant characteristics rather than on differences in yield components.     

Untersuchungen zum Einfluß der Bestandesdichte auf das Ertragspotential von Rapspflanzen (Brassica napus L. var. napus)*)

Investigations on the effect of number of plants/area on the yield potential of rapeseed plants (Brassica napus L. var. napus) Based on field experiments with winter rapeseed, the effect of number of plants per area on yield potential and components of yield were investigated. The dependence of yield from number of plants per area before and after winter was analyzed by manipulating the number of plants immediately after sowing and in spring before beginning of growth. The number of plants per area was varied between 10 plants/m² till 185 plants/m². The results show that the yield potential is partly dependend on the growing conditions before winter as influenced by the number of plants per area; the yield potential declines with increasing number of plants/area before winter; affected are the number of siliquae producing lateral shoots, the number of siliquae per shoot and seeds per siliqua. The growing conditions before winter, in this way control the capacity of the rapeseed plant to utilize environmental factors in the main growing period. 50–100 plants/m² before winter and 45–90 plants/m² after winter are within the compensation capacity of rapeseed plants.     

Identification of Genes Controlling Pod Length in Spring Rapeseed, Brassica napus L., and their Utilization for Yield Improvement

Experiments were undertaken to determine the inheritance of pod length in a cross with spring rapesecd, Brassica napus, and to assess the value of pod length as a criterion of selection for high seed yield. Analyses of patterns of variation in F₂; and backcross populations derived from a cross between a short-pod line TB42 and long-pod line CA553 indicated that much of the variation in pod length could be attributed to two major genes interacting in a complementary manner. Short-pods were produced when cither one or both genes were homozygous for the recessive allele. Analyses of F₃ progenies of selected F₂ and inbred-backcross lines derived from the same cross supported the two-gene hypothesis but also indicated that the effects of the major genes on pod length were possibly modified by genes of minor effect. Field testing of families derived from random intermating between F₂, plants of the TB42 × CA553 cross showed that number of pods per plant varied independently of pod length, but seed weight per pod tended to increase with increasing pod length. As a result, families with the longest pods generally had significantly higher yields than those with short pods. It was concluded that yield improvement in B. napus could be achieved through introgression of long-pod genes into cultivars with an appropriate genetic background to ensure that selection for the long-pod character would be accompanied by an increase in seed weight per pod with little or no reduction in number of pods per plant.     

Estimation of additive, dominance and digenic epistatic interaction effects for certain yield characters in Vigna sesquipedalis Fruw

Inheritance of yield and yield contributing characters were investigated using generation mean analysis, utilising the means of six basic populations viz., P₁, P₂, F₁, F₂, BC₁P₁ and BC₁P₂ in four crosses of Vigna sesquipedalis. The analysis reiterated that the importance of dominance (h) gene effects for pod yield/plant and pods/plant as compared to additive (d) gene effects. However, significant and positive additive effects were noticed for pod yield/plant, pods/plant, pod weight and seed weight in different crosses. The three types of gene interactions (additive, dominance and epistasis) were significantly involved for pods/plant in cross KU 7 ×KU 8. Among the digenic epistatic interactions, both additive ×additive (i) and dominance × dominance (l) contributed more for pod yield/plant and pods/plant, however, it varied among the crosses. Populations having earliness can be developed as indicated by reducing dominance effects. Pedigree selection and heterosis breeding is suggested to exploit the fixable and non fixable components of variation respectively in Vigna sesquipedalis. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

油菜新品种（组合）98P37-21稻田免耕适宜播种量和移栽密度研究初探

为了探索油菜新品种（组合）98P37-21高产、高效栽培技术,在稻板田中开展不同播种量和移栽密度试验,研究其对油菜生长发育、主要经济性状、产量及其构成因素的影响,并对直播和移栽油菜效益进行了比较。结果表明：直播油菜4.5~7.5 kg/hm²播种量范围内（密度27.3万株/hm²~38.7万株/hm²）,产量随着播种量的增加呈先增后减的趋势;移栽油菜9.0万株/hm²~15.0万株/hm²密度范围内,产量随着移栽密度的增加而增加,直播油菜以6.0 kg/hm²产量最高,移栽油菜以15.0万株/hm²产量最高,但高密度增产优势不明显,表明密度过大也不利于高产,甚至可能降低产量。随着播种量或移栽密度的增加,主茎总叶数、绿叶数、根颈粗、叶面积、一次有效分枝数、全株角果数、每角粒数、千粒重、单株地上部干重、单株产量呈现下降的趋势,而株高、分枝高度变高,叶面积指数变大。移栽油菜主要经济性状指标优于直播油菜,直播油菜产量和产值明显要低,但直播油菜节省劳力和减少投入,净收入却比移栽油菜多1735.7元/hm²,效益明显要高。     

Inheritance of yield components and their correlation with yield in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

Summary The inheritance of yield components was studied in a cross of two varieties of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), and the relationships among the components and yield were examined in the F₂ of a cross and in a trial of 22 varieties. The main objective was to determine the suitability of using the components as selection criteria for increasing seed yield. All the components appeared to be under polygenic control and transgressive segregation in the F₂ was observed for pod length and number of seeds per pod. Narrow sense heritability estimates ranged from 19.8% for number of pods per plant to 60.3% for pod length. Most of the genotypic correlations between pairs of yield components were significant. Correlation of yield per plant was negative with pod length, but positive with the other components. Number of pods per plant was consistently correlated with yield. However because of low heritability for number of pods per plant, this component may only be used as a preliminary selection criterion while the final selection is based on yield itself.     

Growth and Yield Response of Facultative Wheat to Winter Sowing, Freezing Sowing and Spring Sowing at Different Seeding Rates

Growth and yield of wheat are affected by environmental conditions and can be regulated by sowing time and seeding rate. In this study, three sowing times [winter sowing (first week of September), freezing sowing (last week of October) and spring sowing (last week of April)] at seven seeding rates (325, 375, 425, 475, 525, 575 and 625 seeds m^?2) were investigated during the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, in Erzurum (Turkey) dryland conditions, using Kirik facultative wheat. A split‐plot design was used, with sowing times as main plots and seeding rates randomized as subplots. There was a significant year × sowing time interaction for grain yield and kernels per spike. Winter‐sown wheat produced a significantly higher leaf area index, leaf area duration, spikes per square metre, kernel weight and grain yield than freezing‐ and spring‐sown wheat. The optimum time of sowing was winter for the facultative cv. Kirik. Grain yields at freezing and spring sowing were low, which was largely the result of hastened crop development and high temperatures during and after anthesis. Increasing seeding rate up to 525 seeds m^?2 increased the spikes per square metre at harvest, resulting in increased grain yield. Seeding rate, however, was not as important as sowing time in maximizing grain yield. Changes in spikes per square metre were the major contributors to the grain‐yield differences observed among sowing times and seeding rates. Yield increases from higher seeding rates were greater at freezing and spring sowing. We recommended that a seeding rate of 525 seeds m^?2 be chosen for winter sowing, and 575 seeds m^?2 for freezing and spring sowing.     

Management of Italian and Perennial Ryegrasses for Seed and Forage Production in Crop Rotations

Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and perennial ryegrass (L. perenne L.) can be grown for seed and forage in cold winter regions provided the stand persists well over winter. Seed yield and plant characteristics during primary growth, and forage yield during regrowth, were determined for two Italian and one perennial ryegrass cultivars in Atlantic Canada. Establishment methods and dates included sowing ryegrass in cultivated soil alone or with barley in mid‐May and, after harvesting the barley crop, by sowing ryegrass following conventional or reduced cultivation and by no‐till drilling into barley stubble in mid‐August and early September. Despite some winterkill, particularly in Italian ryegrass, seed and forage yields were adequate in post‐establishment growing seasons. Seed yield for Italian ryegrass was greatest (1270 kg ha^?1) when it was sown into cultivated soil in mid‐August and least (890 kg ha^?1) when sown alone in May. Italian ryegrass yielded 15–17 % more seed when plots were established in mid‐August rather than in mid‐May or early September. Italian ryegrass cv. Lemtal had a greater density of fertile tillers (1030 m^?2) in the sward than cv. Ajax (860 m^?2) and its tiller density was greater when seeded into cultivated soil in September than in mid‐August. There were fewer spikelets per seed head for sowing Italian ryegrass with barley in May than for the other methods of establishment. Forage yield in regrowth was greater for Italian ryegrass cv. Ajax (2770 kg ha^?1) than for cv. Lemtal (2480 kg ha^?1). Seed yield of perennial ryegrass was greater when seeded in mid‐May than in mid‐August or early September. The seed yield of perennial ryegrass was greater when it was sown with barley in May and harvested for grain, than when it was sown alone or with barley harvested at late milk stage. The establishment methods for mid‐August and early September sowing had little effect on seed yield. However, the no‐till and reduced tillage methods resulted in a greater tiller density than sowing into the cultivated seedbed. Fertile tillers tended to be denser under reduced cultivation for sowing in August. Forage yield of perennial ryegrass regrowth was not influenced by the sowing method and timing. In conclusion, Italian and perennial ryegrasses produce adequate seed and forage regrowth under different establishment methods and timing. However, the poor persistence of Italian ryegrass may limit commercial production after the establishment year in Atlantic Canada.     

Analysis of quantitative variability for seed yield and related characters in Lotus corniculatus L. cv. Leo

Summary Quantitative variability for seed yield and six other characters was analysed in Lotus corniculatus L. cv. Leo. The material consisted of 144 polycross progenies and 100 parents.Wide variability existed for all characters. The characters with the greatest variability were seed yield, forage grading and plant height. The polycross progeny test was employed to study the general combining ability of the parents. Highly significant differences existed for all seven characters under study.Parent-offspring genotypic and phenotypic correlations were high and significant for all characters except genotypic correlations for seed yield and seeds per pod. High h² values (broad sense) were obtained for seed size and days to flowering. Traits with moderate to high h² were seed yield (71% in parents, 64% in progenies), plant height, forage grading, and seeds per pod. The character pods per inflorescence had the lowest h².Positive estimates of % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGak0dh9WrFfpC0xh9vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFj0-OqFf% ea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabiGaaiaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiqabo8agaqcaK% aaavaabeqaceaaaeaacaqGYaaabaGaaeiraaaaaaa!3A89!\[{\text{\hat \sigma }}\begin{array}{*{20}c} {\text{2}} \\ {\text{D}} \\ \end{array} \] were obtained only for seed size. The ratio of dominance variance to additive variance indicated partial dominance for this character. Except for seed yield, in all other cases these estimates had very high sampling errors. In all cases except pods per inflorescence and seeds per pod high positive estimates of % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGak0dh9WrFfpC0xh9vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFj0-OqFf% ea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabiGaaiaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiqbeo8aZzaaja% qbaeqabiqaaaqcaauaaiaaikdaaKaaGeaacaqGbbaaaaaa!3B30!\[\hat \sigma \begin{array}{*{20}c} 2 \\ {\text{A}} \\ \end{array} \] were obtained.The data indicated that it may be possible to simultaneously improve seed yield and maintain forage yield. Seed yield had positive and significant associations with seed size, seeds per pod and pods per inflorescence. The associations of days to flowering with forage grading (negative) and with pods per inflorescence (positive) were also significant.     

Reproductive Abscission and Yield of Irrigated and Drought Stressed Cowpea

Two experiments were conducted under field conditions to evaluate reproductive abscission, seed yield and yield components of three cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] genotypes. In the first experiment, level of abscission and yield of two cultivars, California Blackeye Pea No. 5 (CA-5) and Speckle Purple Hull (SPH), and one experimental line (AZ-54) were studied. In the second experiment, effect of drought stress on abscission at three nodal positions, seed yield, and yield components of CA-5 were studied. Abscission in both experiments was determined by counting scars left by dropprd reproductive structures including floral buds, open flowers, and immature pods. Abscission of CA-5 and AZ-54 in the first experiment ranged between 68 and 76 % while that of SPH ranged between 86 and 89 %. CA-5 and AZ-54 retained two to three pods per peduncle, and SPH retained only one mature pod per peduncle. Average seed yields of SPH and AZ-54, respectively, were 45 and 50 % of CA-5. Drought stress in the second experiment did not affect production of floral buds Peduncle^?1 (average of 10) but significantly increased percent reproductive abscission and decreased pod retention of CA-5. Abscission in the bottom two-third nodes increased from 82 % in well-irrigated plants to 93 % in non-irrigated plants. This increase in abscission corresponded to nearly 60 % reduction in pod retention. The number of pods per peduncle in the bottom two-third nodes decreased from 1.9 in well-irrigated plants to only. 77 in non-irrigated plants. The increase in abscission and decrease in pod retention with increasing intensity of drought was greatest in the bottom one-third nodes. Drought stress did not affect abscission and pod retention in the top one-third nodes. Stress also decreased peduncles plant^?1, seeds pod^?1, and dry matter and seed yield plant^?1 but did not affect seed weight and harvest index. The decrease in seed yield was largely due to reductions in pods plant^?1 and seeds pod^?1. The reduction in the number of pods and, therefore, seed yield due to stress was because of reductions in the number of peduncles plant^?1 and increases in reproductive abscission. It is concluded external conditions that increase abscission beyond that of normal occurrence affect seed yield adversely.     

Phenotypic recurrent selection in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) based on performance of S2 progenies

Summary The effect of a recurrent selection procedure for improving seed yield per plant was evaluated in common bean. Progress was registered after three cycles of recurrent selection with S2 progeny evaluation performed on the grain yield/plant. Gain from selection was estimated by field testing 45 random S2 lines from each of the C0, C1 and C2 populations. Response to selection for seed yield/plant was 6 g from C0 to C1 and 4.4 g from C1 to C2. The seed yield improvement was due principally to an increase in pods/plant; little contribution was provided by the 1000-seed weight and seeds/pod traits. Broad-sense heritability and genotypic variance for grain yield remained high in all cycles which suggests further gain from additional selection cycles. Grain yield/plant is significantly correlated to pods/plant and seeds/pod traits in all cycles, indicating that plants with favourable combinations of these traits could be identified. The proposed recurrent selection procedure appears to be effective in improving the population and extracting superior genotypes for varietal development.     

播种量和施肥量对南方春大豆产量形成和机收质量的影响

为探索南方机械化作业条件下大豆高产高效栽培技术,以‘湘春豆V8’为材料,通过大田大区试验研究了播种量和施肥量对春大豆农艺性状、产量及产量构成以及机收质量的影响。结果表明：（1）大豆株高、底荚高度、倒伏率随着播种量和施肥量的增加而增大,大豆出苗率、成株率则随着播种量的增加而降低。（2）大豆单位面积株数随着播种量的增大而增多,而每株有效荚数则反之;施肥量的增加能有效提高每荚果粒数;均数间两两比较表明,S₂F₂（播种量75 kg/hm²+复混肥量90 kg/hm²）处理可获得最高产量2834.91 kg/hm²。（3）播种量和施肥量对机收损失率均无显著影响,且不存在交互效应,总体机收损失率在5.39%~6.21%之间。相关性分析表明,播种量主要通过单位面积株数、成株率、株高、倒伏率来影响机收含杂率,主要通过单位面积株数、成株率来影响机收损伤率;而施肥量主要通过株高、底荚高度和倒伏率来影响机收含杂率。播种量对机械收获质量,特别是机收含杂率和损伤率影响较施肥量更为广泛。综合考虑大豆产量及机械收获质量等因素,认为采用播种量75 kg/hm²+复混肥量90 kg/hm²可获最高产量2834.91 kg/hm²（机收2731.88 kg/hm²）,且能有效降低机收含杂率和机收损伤率至6.82%和11.38%。     

用GGE双标图分析种植密度对高油花生生长和产量的影响

花生群体密度直接影响花生产量及产量构成因素,系统研究不同种植密度下花生产量和性状差异,可为花生高产栽培提供理论依据。以高产高油花生冀花4号为材料,设置5个密度处理,分别为每公顷7.5、10.5、15.0、19.5和24.0万穴,探索种植密度对高产花生农艺性状、经济性状、产量形成因素和经济产量的影响,并用GGE双标图法对结果进行系统分析。结果表明,不同指标对种植密度的敏感程度表现不一,单株开花数、单株结果数、单株产量和荚果产量表现最敏感,而主茎高、侧枝长、出米率、籽仁含油量及蛋白质含量表现相对较稳定。随花生密度增大,单株开花数、单株结果数、百果重和单株产量显著降低,荚果产量则逐渐提高,但提高幅度逐渐降低。冀花4号种植密度每公顷10.5~15.0万穴时可获最大经济效益。GGE双标图为研究不同密度下花生生长状况和产量反应提供了更为直观有效的分析手段。     

Crop and Weed Growth in a Sequence of Spring Barley and Winter Wheat Crops Established Together from a Spring Sowing (Relay Cropping)

A relay cropping system of cereals, whereby winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was undersown in two‐row spring barley (Hordeum distichum L.), was established in a field trial in central Sweden in 1999 and continued until 2000. The purpose of the study was to examine crop and weed responses to different plant densities of the undersown winter crop. Winter wheat was sown at four seed rates (187, 94, 47 and 0 kg ha^?1) immediately after the sowing of barley. Barley was harvested in the first autumn after sowing and winter wheat in the second autumn. The grain yield of barley was not affected by the seed rate of wheat, and averaged 4580 kg ha^?1. Winter wheat did not vernalize during the first growing season but remained at the vegetative stage. The grain yield of wheat was 1990 kg ha^?1 for the lowest and 5610 kg ha^?1 for the highest seed rate of wheat. Whilst the undersowing process itself stimulated weed emergence in this experiment, increasing the undersowing seed rate reduced the population of perennial weeds by 40–70 %. In the second growing season, the total biomass of weeds was 66 % higher at the highest seed rate compared with the lowest seed rate.     

Effect of Seeding Rate on Seed and Hay Yield in Common Vetch (Vicia sativa L.)

The effects of six seeding rates (50-300 seeds m^−2:) on some morphological traits with hay and seed yield were evaluated in common vetch ( Vicia sativa L.) under fall and spring sowing conditions. The mutual correlations among yield and yield components were also determined.
The sowing seasons and seeding rates significantly affected hay and seed yield, and most of the yield components. Fall sowings resulted in significantly higher hay and seed yield than spring sowings at all seeding rates, and the highest seed and hay yield was achieved in densities of 250 and 300 seeds m⁻². In spring sowings there was a positive response in hay yield up to 250 seeds m⁻² while no further increase in seed yield at the seeding rates higher than 150 seeds m⁻². Average protein content of hay and seed was found to be higher in spring sown crops than fall. The highest protein yields of hay and seed were obtained at 250 seeds m⁻² in fall sowings, and 150 seeds m⁻² in spring sowings.
Most of the correlations between both hay and seed yields with the yield components were not consistent and differed with the sowing time. Only the correlations between number of the plants per unit area with hay yield, and number of the pods and seeds per unit area with seed yield were statistically significant in both sowing seasons. Close positive associations were obtained between hay and seed yield.     

Putrescine Increases Floral Retention, Pod Set and Seed Yield in Cold Stressed Chickpea

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is sensitive to cold stress (<8 °C) at its reproductive phase that results in flower abortion, poor pod set and thus reduced yield. Early maturing genotypes are especially more sensitive. In this crop, the metabolic causes underlying cold injury that are imperative to induce cold tolerance are not known. In the present study, the endogenous levels of putrescine (diamine), spermidine (triamine) and spermine (tetramine) were examined in early maturing chickpea genotype ICCV 96029, subjected to chilling temperatures of field (12–15/4–6 °C; average maximum and minimum temperature respectively), at flowering or early podding stage. These were compared with controls growing in warmer conditions (28/12 °C) of the glasshouse. The polyamine levels increased six to nine times because of stress. Relatively, putrescine (PUT) elevation was the highest but short-lived and its decrease appeared to match with the onset of flower and pod abscission in stressed plants. Compared with controls, chilling injury, observed as electrolyte leakage (EL), increased by 60 % while cellular respiration declined by 68 % in stressed plants. Exogenous application of 10 mm PUT to stressed plants reduced the EL by 29 % and elevated the cellular respiration by 40 %. PUT application at flowering stage resulted in increase of 30, 31, 23 and 25 % in floral retention, pod set, pod retention and fertile pods respectively. At the early podding stage, PUT treatment increased the seed yield per plant, seed number per 100 pods and individual seed weight by 50, 17 and 19 % respectively. The number of single-seeded pods per plant increased from 4.4 in stressed plants to 12.2 in PUT-treated plants while the number of double-seeded pods reduced from 6.2 to 4.3. The number of infertile pods declined from 8.2 in stressed plants to 3.1 in PUT-treated plants.