Efficacy of Bacillus subtilis MBI 600 Against Sheath Blight Caused by Rhizoctonia solani and on Growth and Yield of Rice

Rice sheath blight disease(ShB),caused by Rhizoctonia solani,gives rise to significant grain yield losses.The present study evaluated the efficacy of Integral?,the commercial liquid formulation of Bacillus subtilis strain MBI 600,against rice ShB and for plant growth promotion.In greenhouse studies,four log concentrations of Integral(from 2.2×106 to 2.2×109 cfu/mL) were used as seed treatment(ST).After 25 d,seedlings were dipped(SD) into Integral prior to transplanting.At 30 d after transplanting(DAT),leaf sheaths were inoculated with immature sclerotia of the pathogen.At 45 DAT,a foliar spray(FS) with Integral was applied to some treatments.The fungicide control was 50% carbendazim at 1.0 g/L,and a nontreated control was also included.Overall,there were 10 treatments,each with five replications.ShB severity was rated at 52 DAT,and seedling height and number of tillers per plant were rated at 60 DAT.In 2009,two field trials evaluated Integral at 2.2×108 and 2.2×109 cfu/mL.Integral was applied as ST,and seedlings were produced in a nursery bed.After 32 d,seedlings were treated with Integral as SD and transplanted into 10 m2 blocks.Foliar sprays were given at 45 and 60 DAT.There were seven treatments,each with eight replications arranged as a factorial randomized complete block design.At 20 DAT,the plots were broadcast inoculated with R.solani produced on rice grains.Seedling height before transplanting,ShB severity at 90 DAT,and grain yield at harvest were recorded.Integral at 2.2×109 cfu/mL provided significant increase of seedling heights over other treatments under greenhouse conditions.The Integral treatments of ST + SD + FS at 2.2×109 cfu/mL significantly suppressed ShB over other treatments.In field studies,Integral provided significant increase of seedling height in nursery,and number of tillers per plant,compared with the control.ShB severity was significantly suppressed with higher concentrations of Integral compared to lower concentrations.Grain yield were the highest at an Integral concentration of 2.2×109 cfu/mL.Overall,Integral significantly reduced ShB severity,enhanced seedling growth,number of tillers per plant and grain yield as ST + SD + FS at the concentration of 2.2×109 cfu/mL under the conditions evaluated.     

A simple and efficient method to assess susceptibility of potato to stem rot byErwinia carotovora subspecies

Limited development of blackleg resistant potato cultivars has been ascribed to the lack of an effective and reliable test for large scale blackleg resistance screening. A method using leaf petioles was developed for assessing susceptibility of potato stems to blackleg pathogens (Erwinia carotovora subspeciesatroseptica andE. c. subspeciescarotovora). Fifty grams of sterile autoclaved silica sand in Magenta jars (GA-7 vessel, Magenta Corp., Chicago, Illinois) was drenched with bacterial suspension, (17 ml, 2.6 × 10 to 2.6 × 10⁷ cfu/ml) and freshly cut petioles from 5 to 6 week-old plants were inserted to about 5 mm into the sand. The Magenta jars with lids closed were kept on a laboratory bench (20 ±2 C, 16 hours light). The arrangement provided near ideal post-inoculation incubation environment of high humidity for pathogen multiplication and rot development in the petioles. Length of rot was recorded 72 hours after inoculation. Linear regression of rot development on inoculum concentration had R² ≥ 0.80. The petioles inoculated and incubated by this method produced measurable rot lesions with a bacterial concentration as low as 2.6 × 10⁴ cfu/ml and differentiated between the resistant cultivar Russet Burbank and the susceptible cultivar Sangre at all the inoculum concentrations used. Furthermore, susceptibility ranking of five cultivars obtained by this method agreed in general with their reported field reactions. The method is simple and sensitive, and could be used for large scale screening for stem rot resistance in wildSolanum species and early generation breeding populations.     

Bacterial ring rot disease development in resistant and susceptible cultivars

In two greenhouse tests, we compared cell populations ofCorynebacterium sepedonicum in inoculated cultivars which had failed to show symptoms in field inoculation tests against cultivars that produce well-defined symptoms. Both population studies showed that cell numbers as high as 1 × 10⁹ colony-forming units per gm of fresh weight (cfu gm^-1) were reached in some cultivars prior to symptom development. In one of these tests, conducted when day length averaged 14 1/2 hrs, some cultivars failed to show symptoms 11 wks after inoculation but were found to have cell populations as high as 3.2 × 10⁸ cfu gm^-1 7 wks after inoculation. In another study, root and seed piece inoculations were compared in susceptible and resistant cultivars and only minor differences in symptom expression due to mode of entry of the pathogen were found.     

Biocontrol of rice blast by the phenaminomethylacetic acid producer of Bacillus methylotrophicus strain BC79

Strain BC79, isolated from primeval forest soil in Qinling, Mountains, China, was identified as Bacillus methylotrophicus based on morphological, biochemical, physiological and chemotaxonomic analyses as well as phylogenetic 16S rDNA sequencing data. This strain was able to suppress mycelial growth and conidial germination of numerous plant pathogenic fungi in dual cultures on solid media. For exploring potential biocontrol activity, we assessed fermentation conditions for studying B. meth1ylotrophicus BC79. The active substance of BC79, phenaminomethylacetic acid, was extracted by TLC and HPLC, and identified as the strongest inhibitory substance described in B. methylotrophicus. Experiments in a greenhouse showed that application of BC79 culture filtrates 24 h before inoculation of Magnaporthe oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast, had 89.87% biocontrol efficiency. B. methylotrophicus BC79 colonized rice plant tissues and at 10 days after filtrate application, its population in leaves (1.65 × 10⁸ CFU/g) was much larger than in stems (6.78 × 10⁷ CFU/g) or roots (3.56 × 10⁷ CFU/g). Field trials indicated that BC79 culture filtrate (4000 g/667 m²) showed the highest efficiency for M. oryzae, with 84.8% biocontrol effect, followed by of 15% phenaminomethylacetic acid extract (75.5%) and 20% tricyclazole (76.1%). Seedling and post-transplant stages were the best periods to apply BC79 for control of rice blast. The B. methylotrophicus BC79 strain hence has enormous potential as an agricultural agent for biocontrol of rice blast.     

解淀粉芽孢杆菌B9601-Y2提高玉米生长和产量的效应

采用促进植物生长的解淀粉芽孢杆菌B9601-Y2拌、浸玉米种子和浇灌土壤后均能显著提高玉米生长速度和生物量。3×101～3×105 cfu/mL浓度菌液浸泡玉米种子1 h,播种后5 d苗高比对照(清水)提高119.88%～168.85%;浸种2 h,3×104 cfu/mL和3×105 cfu/mL处理则有抑制作用。采用1.6×108、6.2×107、3.9×107 cfu/mL菌液浇灌土壤,播种后7 d苗重比对照增加20.75%、27.36%和33.96%。以3.9×107～1.6×108 cfu/mL浓度菌液拌种处理,15 d苗龄的植株重量比对照增加4.03%～29.35%,在收获期株高增加6.00%～16.29%,产量增加5.76%～11.81%。高浓度处理促生长效果不如中浓度处理。     

Inoculation of potato tubers withErwinia carotovora during simulated commercial washing and fluming practices

The potential for bacterial soft rot in potato tubers was affected by laboratory simulation of some components of fluming and washing practices at commercial packinghouses. The potential was expressed as disease severity (average percentage surface decayed) after a standard 4-day incubation at 20°C in a mist chamber. Increased disease resulted when there was an increase in the following factors: a) duration of immersion of tubers in water; b) population of bacteria suspended in water; c) hydrostatic pressure on submerged tubers, and d) concentration of a surfactant (Triton X-100) in the suspensions. A sample of tubers from each tuber lot was uniformly moistened with tap water and then incubated to determine a base-level disease severity. Disease severity in Russet Burbank tubers from commercial storage increased from the base-level of 0.8% to 76% when tubers were immersed in 5 × 10⁶ colony-forming units (cfu)/ml ofErwinia carotovora pv.carotovora (Ecc) for 64 min prior to incubation. Disease severity was 64% when tubers were immersed in a similar suspension for only 0.1 min, but with a hydrostatic pressure of 230 cm of water. Severity values fourto fivefold above control levels (from immersion in water) resulted from an immersion for 5 min in 5 × 10³ cfu/ml with hydrostatic pressures of 5, 180, or 370 cm of water. A 20-fold increase in severity occurred when Red LaSoda tubers were immersed briefly (less than 5 s) in 5 × 10⁶ cfu/ml. Rinsing these tubers with tap water after inoculation, but prior to incubation, did not affect the subsequent development of decay. Thus, the high potential for bacterial soft rot in tubers that have been flumed or washed by water concentrated with soft rotErwinia cannot be reduced by washes or rinses with clean water.     

Effects of Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 and storage temperatures on post-harvest disease development on greenhouse tomatoes

Tomato plants in two commercial greenhouses were treated with Rhapsody (Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713, rate of 1.45%) once every 4 weeks during 2012–2013 to determine effects on post-harvest fruit infection. Populations of Bacillus and disease incidence were monitored weekly from harvested fruit over an 18-week period. Population levels of Bacillus ranged from 75 to 110 × 10⁴ colony forming units (cfu) cm⁻² of fruit surface area one week after application to 25–30 × 10⁴ cfu cm⁻² of fruit surface area 4 weeks after application. Disease incidence on harvested fruit incubated at 21 °C for 7–10 days was variable, due to variation in inoculum levels within the greenhouse as well as variable environmental conditions. Both disease incidence and severity were significantly reduced on Rhapsody-treated fruit, especially in the 1–2 week period following application. Post-harvest storage temperature (13 °C vs. 21 °C) and incubation time (12 vs. 16 days) had a significant effect on final disease severity. Rhapsody-treated fruit incubated at 13 °C had an average of 1–2% fruit infection compared to up to 20% infection on untreated fruit at 21 °C. The most frequent pathogens affecting fruit quality were Penicillium sp. and Rhizopus stolonifer. Rhapsody applications made every 4 weeks maintained sufficiently high populations of Bacillus on the fruit surface to prevent spread of these fungi onto the fruit, resulting in significant post-harvest disease control on fresh market tomatoes. When combined with storage at 13 °C for no more than 12 days, disease was reduced to negligible levels.     

拮抗细菌Bacillus subtilis B5423-R 抑制水稻纹枯病的阈值群体数量

 在菲律宾国际水稻研究所实验农场田间条件下，通过人工接种Rhizoctonia solani,采用不同的方法(喷雾次数、间隔期)喷雾B5423-R（B5423的标记菌株，为利福平Rifampicin抗性的突变体），在接种1 d后，采用2 d喷1次、连续3～4次喷雾的方法，使B5423 R在稻株上的群体数量在6～7 d内维持在1×10[sup]6[/sup]cfu/g以上，在25 d内显著地降低相对病斑高率；而采用5 d喷1次、连续3～4次喷雾的方法，B5423-R在稻株上的群体数量在15 d内维持在1×10[sup]5[/sup]～106cfu/g，在25 d内相对病斑高率未能显著降低。表明在纹枯病侵染早期的6～7 d内，在稻株上B5423 R维持在1×10[sup]6[/sup]cfu/g以上是抑制纹枯病的阈值群体数量。     

Heat-Induced Floret Sterility of Hybrid Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars under Humid and Low Wind Conditionsin the Field of Jianghan Basin,China

Abstract

Projected global warming is expected to increase the occurrence of heat-induced floret sterility (HIFS) in rice. However, there are few field-scale studies that could aid in predicting the potential risks to rice yield and developing countermeasures against yield losses. The aim of this study was to elucidate the factors that induce floret sterility under high temperature conditions during the flowering season in the field condition in China. Studies were conducted in irrigated paddy fields with the regional hybrid-rice cultivars grown in Jianghan Basin where air temperature is not so high during the flowering season but HIFS frequently occurs. The microclimate, panicle temperature, floret sterility, pollination, and size of dehiscence formed at the base of anthers were investigated. Significant losses in seed set were observed under the high temperature condition. Although the maximum atmospheric temperature was approximately 35ºC, the relative humidity was very high (around 70% at the time of maximum temperature), with low wind speeds, occasionally below 1 m s¹. Under such conditions sunlit panicle temperature exceeded atmospheric temperature by as much as 4ºC. Moreover, the anthers of some cultivars exhibited short basal dehiscence, and the dehiscence length was positively correlated with the percentage of sufficiently pollinated florets (r=0.859, P<0.05, n=7) and with seed set (r=0.827, P<0.05, n=7) across the cultivars. The results suggest that the combination of hot, humid, and windless climatic conditions with short basal dehiscence of anthers induces HIFS in hybrid rice grown in this region.     

RPA-Assisted Cas12a System for Detecting Pathogenic Xanthomonas oryzae,a Causative Agent for Bacterial Leaf Blight Disease in Rice

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is a widespread pathogen causing bacterial leaf blight (BLB) disease, devastating rice productivity in many cultivated areas of Thailand. A specific and simple method for Xoo detection is required to improve surveillance of disease transmission and outbreak. This study developed a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay assisted with CRISPR-cas12a assay (RAC) for Xoo detection from bacterial cell suspension of infected rice samples without DNA extraction. The efficiency of the RAC system for Xoo detection using either Xoo80 or Xoo4009 locus was optimized to amplify and determine the sensitivity and specificity using a Xoo DNA template from bacterial cell suspension of infected rice samples without DNA extraction. The RAC system using the Xoo4009 locus gave a higher specificity than Xoo80 locus, because only Xoo species was amplified positive RPA product with fluorescence signal by cas12a digestion, which indicated no cross reactivity. Optimal RAC using the Xoo4009 locus enabled diagnosis of Xoo presence from both plant extracted samples of Xoo artificially inoculated rice leaves within 3 d post-inoculation without symptomatic BLB appearance, and Xoo naturally infected rice. Findings exhibited that RAC using the Xoo4009 locus offered sensitivity, specificity and simplicity for Xoo detection, with low intensities of Xoo-DNA (1 × 10³ copies/μL) and Xoo-cell (2.5 × 10³ cfu/mL). This developed RAC system showed significantly potential for Xoo detection at point-of-care application for early signs of BLB disease outbreak in rice fields.     

Performance of diverse upland rice cultivars in low and high soil fertility conditions in West Africa

Traditional tropical japonica (Oryza sativa) and Oryza glaberrima cultivars are typically grown in low-input, subsistence production systems in the uplands of West Africa by resource-poor farmers. In these systems, low soil fertility (LF), which is generally associated with lower organic carbon content, and N and P availability, is one of the major constraints to rice productivity. Thus, cultivars adapted to LF are needed for the food security of farmers, who would otherwise be solely reliant on nutrient inputs to increase productivity. This study evaluated the performance of six diverse cultivars grown in LF and high soil fertility (HF) conditions with supplemental irrigation over two seasons. Average grain yield across all cultivars in LF was 54% of that in HF (156 vs. 340 g m⁻²). Three improved indica rice cultivars and CG 14 (O. glaberrima) out-yielded Morobérékan (traditional tropical japonica) and WAB450-IBP-38-HB (progeny from interspecific hybridization of tropical japonica and O. glaberrima) in LF (181 vs. 105 g m⁻² on average). The high grain yield in LF was the result of large spikelet number m⁻² due to superior tillering ability and high harvest index rather than biomass production. The high-yielding cultivars in LF consistently had lower leaf chlorophyll content and higher specific leaf area during the period from the early vegetative stage through the reproductive stage. Among them, two indica cultivars (B6144F-MR-6-0-0 and IR 55423-01) were also high yielding in HF. The use of improved indica cultivars adapted to LF, but also with input-responsiveness, appears to offer an attractive and economical approach to improving upland rice productivity and widening genetic diversity in this region.     

Water vapor transport parameters of a cast wheat gluten film

Understanding the mode of transport of water vapor through the film is important for improving the moisture barrier properties of wheat gluten (WG) films. Effective permeability (P_eff), solubility (S_eff), and diffusion (D_eff) coefficients of a hydrophilic cast WG film were determined at 25°C within the relative humidity (RH) range of 0–84% (with a 9–13% RH gradient between upstream and downstream water vapor flux). P_eff, S_eff, and D_eff increased substantially as the RH gradient moved upwards in the RH spectrum. P_eff increased by four orders of magnitude from the lowest RH condition of 0–11% (3.8×10⁻¹¹ g·m/m²·s·Pa) to the highest RH condition of 75–84% (4.1×10⁻⁷ g·m/m²·s·Pa). A moisture sorption isotherm of the film at 25°C was constructed. Both the Guggenheim–Anderson–DeBoer (GAB) and the Kuhn moisture sorption isotherm models showed a good fit to the experimental adsorption data. Testing of WG films at the expected conditions of actual use is necessary to quantify the water vapor permeation through the films.     

Influence of field re-ponding pattern and plant spacing on rice root–shoot characteristics,yield, and water productivity of two modern cultivars under SRI management in Indian Mollisols

A 2-year field experiment was conducted during the wet seasons (July–October) of 2008 and 2009 on a Typic Hapludoll Mollisol in Indo-Gangetic Plains Region (IGPR) to: (i) investigate the effects of field water re-ponding intervals and plant spacing on the growth, yield, and water productivity (WP) of two rice cultivars under system of rice intensification (SRI) management, and (ii) assess comparative performance of SRI versus ‘best management practices’(BMP) of rice cultivation. This experiment was designed with 14 treatments, 12 under SRI, and 2 BMP (controls). SRI treatments comprised of 3 irrigation regimes viz, irrigation at 1, 3, and 5 day(s) after disappearance of ponded water (DADPW), 2 plant spacings (20 × 20, 25 × 25 cm), and 2 rice cultivars (Pant Dhan 4 and Hybrid 6444). Two BMP (control) treatments comprised of standard cultivation recommendations for flooding and spacing. The experiment was laid-out in a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. Statistical analysis of data revealed significant variations in root–shoot characteristics and rice yield under SRI between years, reflecting different rainfall patterns. During 2009, a low rainfall year, the panicle numbers m^?2, dry root weight m^?2, root volume m^?2, filled spikelet number panicle^?1, and filled spikelet weight panicle^?1 were significantly higher, which resulted in a rice grain yield enhancement by 5.1 % over 2008, when there was unusually heavy rainfall. Climate × irrigation regime interaction revealed a non-significant influence of irrigation regimes on growth and yield during 2008, whereas in 2009, irrigation at 1 DADPW and 3 DADPW increased grain yield by 12.8 and 8 %, respectively over 5 DADPW. Better root–zone soil moisture regimes, balancing water, and oxygen availability were responsible for higher yields under irrigation at 1 and 3 DADPW. In 2008, soil moisture content (SMC) in 0–15 cm layer was 91, 86, and 82 % of field capacity (FC) at panicle initiation, and 88, 80, and 77 % at panicle emergence stage when irrigation was at 1, 3, and 5 DADPW, respectively; the lower layers (15–30, 30–45 cm) retained their SMC between 87 and 94 % of FC at both stages. During 2009, SMC in all the three layers at both stages was more than 85 % of FC when irrigating at 1 DADPW, and a little more than 70 % for the 0–15 cm layer and >80 % for the other two layers when irrigation was done at 3 DADPW. SMC dropped to below 60 % of FC in the 0–15 cm layer and remained between 67 and 77 % of FC in the other two layers, with lower yield resulting when irrigations were applied at 5 DADPW. However, WP was the highest with irrigation at 5 DADPW (38.5 kg ha cm^?1). Wider plant spacing (25 × 25 cm) resulted in generally and significantly higher grain yield and WP. On an average, SRI (6.1 t ha^?1) resulted in yield advantage of 0.9 t ha^?1 over BMP (5.2 t ha^?1). Overall, it is inferred that in SRI, wider planting (25 × 25 cm) with field re-ponding at 3 DADPW if there is adequate water availability and at 5 DADPW under limited water supply conditions, may lead to higher rice yields and WP in sub-humid tarai Mollisols of IGPR and comparable agro-climatic conditions in Indian sub-continent.     

种植密度对不同小麦品种产量构成及抗倒伏性的影响

为了探索雨养农业区不同小麦品种对种植密度的响应特点,以黄淮南部大面积种植品种济麦22、安农0711和烟农19为试验材料,采用两因素裂区设计,设置4个密度处理(225×10~4株·hm~(-2)、375×10~4株·hm~(-2)、525×10~4株·hm~(-2)和675×10~4株·hm~(-2)),对其分蘖特性、产量、穗数、穗粒数、千粒重、茎秆强度、倒伏指数等性状进行测定。结果表明,随处理密度增加,各品种的冬前茎蘖数呈上升趋势,穗粒数和茎秆强度呈下降趋势,倒伏指数呈先升后降趋势,最高茎蘖数、穗数、成穗率及产量等性状变化趋势受品种及试点区域影响。在五铺和大杨试点,当处理密度由225×10~4株·hm~(-2)增加为675×10~4株·hm~(-2)时,济麦22、安农0711和烟农19的冬前茎蘖数(2015年)分别增加75.2%和133.1%、72.3%和72.6%、127.1%和80.1%,且差异均达显著水平;穗粒数(2015和2016年)平均分别减少13.0%和12.6%、12.6%和9.7%、19.9%和14.3%,且在五铺试验点2015年烟农19以及2016年各供试材料在两种处理密度间差异均达到显著水平;茎秆强度(2016年)分别减少36.3%和6.2%、22.8%和21.0%、45.6%和33.2%,且在五铺试验点各供试材料在两种处理密度间差异均达到显著水平。综合来看,本区域小麦生产可通过选择茎秆强度高、抗倒伏的品种,在保证一定穗数的基础上,充分发挥穗粒数和千粒重的潜力,最终获得高产。     

Relationship Between Allelopathic Effects and Functional Traits of Different Allelopathic Potential Rice Accessions at Different Growth Stages

In this study,effects of temperature,light and their interactions on allelopathic effects and the functional traits specific leaf area(SLA)and stem mass fraction(SMF)of different allelopathic potential rice accessions at different growth stages were analyzed.The main results were as follows:Allelopathic responses to temperature and light varied with different allelopathic potential rice accessions at different growth stages.With the rise of temperature and the extension of photoperiod,allelopathic effect increased firstly and then decreased at 2–3 leaf stage,but increased constantly at the 4–5 and 7–8 leaf stages in strong allelopathic rice accessions[O.longistaminata,F1(O.longistaminata×RD23),F2(RL159 and RL169)].Temperature had significant impact on allelopathic effect without considering light factors,but light showed little effect on rice allelopathy at the same temperature conditions.The greatest allelopathic effect was attained with moderate temperature and long photoperiod at 2–3 leaf stage in strong allelopathic rice accessions,but all the rice accessions showed weak allelopathic effects at the low temperature condition(15oC/10oC),and the influence of different factors on allelopathy followed a general trend as temperatureleaf stagelight,indicating that among the multiple factors impacting rice allelopathy,temperature was the main factor.Allelopathic characteristics of F1 and F2 to various temperature and light were similar to O.longistaminata,showing that allelopathic genes from wild rice can be expressed in its descendants.Temperature and light also had significant effects on SLA and SMF,and rice allelopathy was closely correlative to SLA in strong allelopathic rice accessions at the 4–5 and 7–8 leaf stages,but there was no correlation between rice allelopathy and SMF at different growth stages.These results suggested that rice adjust the relationship between allelopathy and SLA and adapt to the varied environments,and that high temperature and long photoperiod can enhance rice allelopathic activity.     

Evaluation of a PCR kit for the detection ofErwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica on potato tubers

Summary A PCR-based kit, Probelia^TM, for the detection ofErwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica (Eca) on potatoes was evaluated at five laboratories in four countries. The kit is based on DNA-specific PCR amplification followed by detection of amplicons by hybridization to a peroxidase-labelled DNA probe in a microplate. Specificity of the PCR primers for Eca, regardless of serogroups, was confirmed by testing against 246 bacterial, fungal and plant species. Detection limits of the assay varied little between six Eca strains in pure cultures (1.3×10² to 1.5×10³ cells ml⁻¹). When Eca-free tuber peel extract from four cultivars was inoculated with known numbers of 15 Eca strains, detection limits were more variable (1.0×10¹ to 6.2×10³ cells ml⁻¹ peel extract), attributed probably to inconsistency in the recovery of DNA during extraction. When the PCR assay was compared with three current commercial Eca detection methods, using naturally contaminated tubers, results matched most closely those from viable counts on a selective medium, the most sensitive method (88%), followed by enrichment ELISA (72%) and last ELISA (30%), the least sensitive method.     

北疆超晚播小麦品种生育特性及产量比较

为探明北疆超晚播条件下，冬、春性小麦品种间生育特性及产量的差异，采用田间试验（10月31日播种，冬前不灌水），比较了6个冬性和5个春性小麦品种的生育特性及产量。结果表明，春性品种出苗率明显高于冬性品种，春性品种平均生育期（91.8 d）比冬性品种(95.0 d)短约3.0 d；春性品种总茎数平均峰值（869.3×10⁴·hm^-2）明显高于冬性品种（772.4×10⁴·hm^-2）；叶面积指数和干物质积累量的平均值在春、冬性品种间差异不明显；新冬41、新春6号、新春43号的产量较高，为7 581.6~7 935.6 kg·hm^-2，获得高产的穗数为431.7×10⁴~515.8× 10⁴·hm^-2，穗粒数 31.6~36.3，千粒重46.8~52.8 g。综合考虑产量、出苗率、成熟期等因素，初步认为新春6号、新冬41号、新春43号适合在北疆超晚播。     

Convenient Estimation of Unfertilized Grains in Rice

Abstract

Failure of fertilization in rice is a critical yield-determining factor in plants subjected to temperature or water stress at the early-reproductive stage and in high-yield cultivars bearing heavy spikelets. Although it is important to identify quickly the unfertilized spikelets for research and selection of stress-resistant or high-ripening cultivars from bulksamples, the identification takes time because unfertilized spikelets are usually determined by visual and manual procedures. Our objective was to develop a convenient method to identify unfertilized spikelets in rice. Takanari spikelets at maturity grown in the paddy field were separated into floating and sinking spikelets by different specific gravity solutions of ethanol/water mixture. The unfertilized spikelets were identified by checking the grains inside the spikelets by light penetration and examining the spikelets manually. The percentage of floating spikelets decreased with the increase in ethanol concentration, and that of floating spikelets approximately coincided with the percentage of unfertilized spikelets when the specific gravity was below 0.90×10>³ kg m-³, corresponding to over 70% -ethanol. In a practical range of temperature the specific gravity scarcely changed. In an 80%-ethanol solution, the percentages of floating spikelets in Takanari grown under different nitrogen applications and in rice cultivars having different spikelet size approximately coincided with percentages of unfertilized spikelets, though the percentages of floating spikelets was 5 to 7% higher than the unfertilized spikelets. The use of 70%-ethanol solution increased the difference in some rice cultivars. We concluded that the gravitation method would be convenient for identification of unfertilized spikelets in bulk samples of rice.     

Competitiveness of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars against Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. in water-seeded production systems

Developing more competitive rice cultivars could help improve weed management and reduce dependency on herbicides. To achieve this goal, an understanding of key traits related to competitiveness is critical. Experiments were conducted at Gelemen and Bafra districts of Samsun province in Turkey between 2008 and 2009 to measure the competitiveness of rice cultivars against Echinochloa crus-galli, a problematic weed in rice fields. Five rice cultivars (Osmancık, Kızılırmak, Karadeniz, Koral and Neğiş) and five E. crus-galli densities (0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 plants m⁻²) were used. Koral produced significantly more tillers than the other cultivars irrespective of E. crus-galli densities and reduced E. crus-galli tiller production by about 29.5% at Gelemen and 15.8% at Bafra at the highest weed density. E. crus-galli interference reduced rice height and there was a density dependent relationship. Koral was the most competitive cultivar; it maintained high biomass accumulation in early growth stages and suffered smaller reductions in plant height in the presence of E. crus-galli, compared to the other cultivars. In the absence of weed competition, Koral and Neğiş produced the highest yields at both locations. Stepwise regression analyses of the combined data from both years showed tillering capacity, early growth crop biomass, and plant height were critical traits related to competitiveness. These traits should be considered by plant breeders in their efforts to develop rice cultivars with enhanced competitiveness against weeds. Development of such cultivars could substantially reduce herbicide and labor inputs for rice production.     

Management and cultivar effects on ruminant nutritional quality of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) stover: II. Effects of cultivar choice on stover quality and productivity

The paper investigates the variation in laboratory fodder quality traits in stover of 16 cultivars of pearl millet grown over 2 consecutive years and subjected to two different fertilizer regimes and planting densities. Stover quality traits were nitrogen and sugar content, in vitro digestibility and metabolizable energy content as well as yield of digestible and metabolizable stover. Significant (P < 0.05) cultivar-dependent variations were observed for all these quality traits. Stover nitrogen contents were mostly below the levels (1.2% of dry matter) considered to be the minimum required for efficient feed digestion in the rumen, but choice of cultivar plus nitrogen fertilizer application could raise nitrogen levels to near, equal or above this threshold. Stover sugar contents were below 5% and mostly concentrated in the stems. Across management regimes stover in vitro digestibility varied by about 4% units, and by about 3–5% units within individual management regimes. Stover metabolizable energy contents of cultivars varied such that stover from superior cultivars could provide the energy maintenance requirement of livestock and theoretically moderate levels of live weight gains, while livestock fed on stover from poor cultivars would lose live weight. Yields of digestible and metabolizable stover (yield of stover dry matter times stover in vitro digestibility/metabolizable energy) varied among cultivars by at least 1.7-fold. Stover quality traits and grain yields of cultivars were largely unrelated (P > 0.05) suggesting that high stover quality will not be achieved on the expense of grain yield. Heritabilities for stover quality traits were high (h² > 0.73) except for stover nitrogen content (h² > 0.56).