Comparison of the distribution of mineral nutrients and active substances in dehydration- and salinity-stressed Aloe vera L.

Changes in growth and distribution of inorganic mineral elements and organic active substances in seedlings of A. vera were examined under treatments of ?0.44 and ?0.88 MPa polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG) and corresponding isosmotic sodium chloride (NaCl). All stress treatments inhibited plant growth, with NaCl severely inhibiting the growth of the seedlings than PEG. However, leaf biomass did not change significantly. The nitrogen concentration under PEG was maintained higher than that under NaCl. Salinity caused more severe ionic imbalance than dehydration. However, when the concentration of NaCl was increased, ion homeostasis was maintained. Stressors induced an increase in aloin concentration in leaves, especially in young leaves. Polysaccharide concentrations in leaves did not change under dehydration. However, the polysaccharide concentration decreased in the middle and base leaves under NaCl. A. vera exhibited high adaptability to suitable osmotic stress, which increases its main active ingredients in leaves.     

COMPARISON OF OSMOTIC REGULATION IN DEHYDRATION- AND SALINITY-STRESSED SUNFLOWER SEEDLINGS

Plant dry matter accumulation rate (DMAR), relative water content (RWC), electrolyte leakage percentage (ELP), chlorophyll content, osmotic adjustment ability (OAA), and osmotica accumulation in leaves of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seedlings under different levels of dehydration and salinity stress induced by iso-osmotic PEG (polyethylene glycol) or sodium chloride (NaCl) were evaluated. Plants were subjected to four stress treatments for 10 days: ?0.44 MPa PEG6000, ?0.44 MPa NaCl, ?0.88 MPa PEG6000, ?0.88 MPa NaCl. Results showed that PEG and NaCl treatments decreased the plant's DMAR and RWC, and NaCl treatments had more severe inhibitory effect on the plants than PEG treatments. Leaf ELP in sunflower seedlings increased after NaCl and PEG treatments. However, leaf ELP under salt stress was higher than that under dehydration stress (PEG treatment). All stress treatments increased OAA in plant leaves. Leaf OAA was enhanced significantly as PEG concentration increases, while leaf OAA was less enhanced at higher concentration of NaCl. OAA of sunflower leaves under dehydration stress was due to an increase in potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), amino acid, organic acid, magnesium (Mg²⁺), and proline content. OAA of sunflower leaves under moderate salt stress was owing to an increase in K⁺, chlorine (Cl^?), amino acid, organic acid, sodium (Na⁺), and proline content, and was mainly due to an accumulation of K⁺, Cl^?, Na⁺, and proline under severe salt stress.     

SOME DELETERIOUS EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM SALT STRESS ON GROWTH,NUTRITION, AND PHYSIOLOGY OF GERBERA (GERBERA JAMESONII L.) AND POTENTIAL INDICATORS OF ITS SALT TOLERANCE

Tolerance of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) to long-term sodium chloride (NaCl) salt stress was evaluated by subjecting plants to 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mM NaCl levels for ten weeks. Increased NaCl led to a significant decrease in leaf and stem biomass. Salt stress significantly affected sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺) concentrations in leaves, stems and roots leading to sharp declines in K⁺/Na⁺ ratios. Magnesium concentrations in stems and roots also showed significant declines. Adverse effect of salt stress on chlorophyll content was also significant. Proline seemed less effective in osmotic adjustment under long-term high salt stress. Switching from vegetative to reproductive growth phase was crucial for certain physiological functions. Leaf Na⁺ concentration showed significant correlation with important traits. These data suggest that NaCl threshold level in irrigation water for gerbera is around 10 mM. Leaf fresh weight, chlorophyll content and leaf K⁺/Na⁺ ratio are promising indicators of salt-sensitivity of gerbera.     

Effects of Nutrient and NaCl Salinity on Growth,Yield, Quality and Composition of Pepper Grown in Soilless Closed System

The effects of nutrient or sodium chloride (NaCl) salinity on pepper grown in closed soilless culture systems were studied. A control (2 dS m^?1) and two saline nutrient solutions (4 dS m^?1) differing in the salt sources (fertilizers or NaCl) were studied. Shoot biomass production as well as total and marketable yield were more affected by NaCl than nutrient salinity. Fruit dry matter and total soluble solids increased in both salinity treatments compared to the control. Total phenol content rose slightly (10%) with NaCl salinity, while the concentration of carotenoids was enhanced by 40% with NaCl compared to the control and nutrient salinity. The results showed that the response of pepper to salinity is both osmotic and ion specific, but a more negative effect was recorded under NaCl stress. Moreover, the highest content of antioxidant compounds in NaCl treated fruits may indicate that NaCl caused more stressful conditions than nutrient salinity.     

Ammonium (15N) metabolism in cotton under salt stress

Plant growth and metabolism is impaired under stress conditions, resulting in decreased crop yields. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the NaCl stress effects on NH⁺ ₄ metabolism in cotton plants at vegetative and reproductive stages of growth.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants grown in normal (control) and NaCl treated Hoagland solutions were analyzed for distribution of N¹⁵ in NH⁺ ₄ plus amide‐N, free α‐amino‐N, total soluble‐N and protein‐N after the plants were provided ¹⁵NH₄NO₃ in nutrient solutions for 6, 12 and 24 h. The concentration of protein‐¹⁵N was enhanced under a low level of NaCl (‐0.4 MPa osmotic potential) at the vegetative growth stage. The difference between the protein‐¹⁵N concentration of the moderately salinized (‐0.8 MPa) plants and the controls was not significant. A high level of NaCl (‐1.2 MPa) significantly decreased protein‐N content of plants compared with the controls and any other level of salinity. The NaCl increased accumulation of NH₄ ⁺ plus amide‐N, free (α‐amino‐N, and total soluble‐N in cotton shoots, at both stages of growth. Low osmotic potential (high osmotic pressure) of the nutrient solution induced by excessive amounts of NaCl in nutrient solution inhibited NH⁺ ₄ metabolism and decreased protein synthesis, thus resulting in accumulation of soluble N‐compounds. The ionic effect probably contributed also to inhibition of protein synthesis.     

模拟干旱和盐碱胁迫对碱蓬、盐地碱蓬种子萌发的影响

为研究干旱和盐碱胁迫对碱蓬(Suaeda glauca)、盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)种子萌发的影响,比较碱蓬和盐地碱蓬逆境生理特性的异同,本研究利用PEG6000、NaCl和Na_2CO_3分别模拟干旱、盐和碱胁迫,配制相同渗透势的PEG6000、NaCl、Na_2CO_3处理液,以蒸馏水处理为对照,对碱蓬、盐地碱蓬种子的萌发与胚的生长进行比较研究。结果表明:1)低渗处理(-0.46 MPa)对碱蓬、盐地碱蓬种子的萌发无显著影响;高渗处理(-1.38MPa、-1.84 MPa)抑制碱蓬、盐地碱蓬种子的萌发。2)当溶液渗透势相等时,NaCl处理下碱蓬种子的萌发率显著大于PEG、Na_2CO_3处理;而等渗PEG、NaCl、Na_2CO_3处理对盐地碱蓬种子萌发率的影响无显著差异。3)PEG、NaCl、Na_2CO_3处理组碱蓬、盐地碱蓬种子的最终萌发率与对照无显著差异。4)在幼苗形成阶段,PEG、Na_2CO_3处理对碱蓬、盐地碱蓬胚的抑制作用显著大于等渗NaCl处理。5)碱蓬、盐地碱蓬胚的生长对NaCl、Na_2CO_3胁迫的响应存在差异。-0.92 MPa NaCl处理抑制碱蓬胚的生长,却对盐地碱蓬产生促进作用;-0.46 MPa Na_2CO_3处理对碱蓬胚的抑制作用小于盐地碱蓬。综合分析表明:碱蓬、盐地碱蓬均具有很强的抗盐性。在种子萌发阶段,碱蓬种子的抗旱、抗碱能力低于盐地碱蓬;在幼苗形成阶段,碱蓬胚的抗盐性小于盐地碱蓬,但对轻度碱胁迫的抗性高于盐地碱蓬。     

Effects of Irrigation Patterns and Nitrogen Fertilization on Rice Yield and Microbial Community Structure in Paddy Soil

Water and nitrogen (N) are considered the most important factors affecting rice production and play vital roles in regulating soil microbial biomass, activity, and community. The effects of irrigation patterns and N fertilizer levels on the soil microbial community structure and yield of paddy rice were investigated in a pot experiment. The experiment was designed with four N levels of 0 (N0), 126 (N1), 157.5 (N2), and 210 kg N ha-1 (N3) under two irrigation patterns of continuous water-logging irrigation (WLI) and water-controlled irrigation (WCI). Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis was conducted to track the dynamics of soil microbial communities at tillering, grain-filling, and maturity stages. The results showed that the maximums of grain yield, above-ground biomass, and total N uptake were all obtained in the N2 treatment under WCI. Similar variations in total PLFAs, as well as bacterial and fungal PLFAs, were found, with an increase from the tillering to the grain-filling stage and a decrease at the maturity stage except for actinomycetic PLFAs, which decreased continuously from the tillering to the maturity stage. A shift in composition of the microbial community at different stages of the plant growth was indicated by principal component analysis (PCA), in which the samples at the vegetative stage (tillering stage) were separated from those at the reproductive stage (grain-filling and maturity stages). Soil microbial biomass, measured as total PLFAs, was significantly higher under WCI than that under WLI mainly at the grain-filling stage, whereas the fungal PLFAs detected under WCI were significantly higher than those under WLI at the tillering, grain-filling, and maturity stages. The application of N fertilizer also significantly increased soil microbial biomass and the main microbial groups both under WLI and WCI conditions. The proper combination of irrigation management and N fertilizer level in this study was the N2 (157.5 kg N ha-1) treatment under the water-controlled irrigation pattern.     

Induced Salinity and Supplementary Phosphorus on Growth and Mineral Content of Frijolillo

Abstract

A greenhouse pot experiment was carried out using pumice material to investigate the response of frijolillo [Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC] grown at high salinity to supplementary P (P). Plants were tested during a period from germination to vegetative growth stage. Four levels of sodium chloride (NaCl; 0, 25, 50, and 100 mM) combined with two levels of P (4 and 8 meq L^?1) were tested in a factorial arrangement with four replications. This cultivar was tolerant to salinity stress up to 50 mM of NaCl and its growth was not affected. However, with high salinity (100 mM of NaCl), growth of both stem and root was reduced. Concentration of potassium (K) and P was affected adversely. The increment of P in the saline solution results in a greatest accumulation of biomass and in a better response to the osmotic adjustment of this wild specie. The amount of NaCl was correlated negatively with the amount of K and calcium (Ca) and positively correlated with P and magnesium (Mg).     

K高效和K低效基因型水稻Na和K的吸收和分布与水稻生长及体内K利用率之间的关系

A pot experiment with two rice (Oriza sativa L.) genotypes differing in internal potassium use efficiency (IKUE) was conducted under different sodium (Na) and potassium (K) levels. Adding NaCl at a proper level enhanced rice vegetative growth and increased grain yield and IKUE under low potassium. Addition of higher rate of NaCl had a negative effect on the growth of the K-efficient rice genotype, but did not for the K-inefficient genotype. Under low-K stress, higher NaCl decreased IKUE of the K-efficient rice genotype but increased IKUE for the K-inefficient genotype. At tillering stage and under low-K stress, adding NaCl increased K and Na contents and decreased the ratio of K/Na for both genotypes. At harvesting stage under low-K stress, adding NaCl increased K and Na contents and K/Na ratio for the K-efficient genotype but decreased the K/Na ratio for the K-inefficient genotype. The accumulated Na was mostly deposited in the roots and sheaths. At tillering stage, the K and Na contents and the K/Na ratios in different parts for both genotypes decreased in the following sequence: K⁺ in sheaths > K⁺ in blades > K⁺ in roots; Na⁺ in roots > Na⁺ in sheaths > Na⁺ in blades; and K/Na in sheaths >> K/Na in roots. The K-efficient genotype had a lower K/Na ratio in roots and sheaths than the K-inefficient genotype under low-K stress. At harvesting stage, K and Na contents in grains were not affected, whereas K/Na ratio in the rice straws was increased for the K-efficient genotype but decreased for the K-inefficient genotype by Na addition. However, this was not the case under K sufficient condition.     

拟南芥DA1-Related Protein 2基因参与调控植物对盐胁迫的响应

土壤盐渍化是目前农业生产面临的主要问题之一,同时种子萌发转绿作为植物幼苗形态建成的基础对盐胁迫最为敏感。本研究以Col-0、Ler野生型拟南芥和osr1短根突变体拟南芥为试验材料,通过图位克隆方法得到调控根生长的DAR2(DA1-Related Protein 2)基因。本研究利用RT-PCR方法,发现生长10 d的Col-0幼苗在200 mmol·L 1氯化钠条件下处理6 h和12 h,DAR2基因受盐胁迫诱导;200 mmol·L 1氯化钠处理后,组织化学染色结果显示,萌发1 d的根尖韧皮部和3 d的叶片pDAR2::GUS的表达上升,进一步表明DAR2基因受到盐胁迫的诱导。统计不同MS培养基[0(CK)、100 mmol·L 1氯化钠、150 mmol·L 1氯化钠、200 mmol·L 1氯化钠、150 mmol·L 1氯化钾、200 mmol·L 1甘露醇]上Col-0和dar2-3的萌发率和转绿率发现:随着氯化钠浓度的逐渐增大,突变体无论萌发还是转绿时间明显比野生型晚。在150 mmol·L 1氯化钾和200 mmol·L 1甘露醇培养条件下,萌发和转绿的时间也比野生型要晚。这些结果表明突变体在萌发和转绿期对盐胁迫的敏感性比野生型明显增强,进一步证明了突变体对盐胁迫的敏感性并不是对离子的特异响应。这些研究结果为深入了解逆境胁迫下植物早期生长发育的可塑性调控机制奠定了基础,同时也为通过生物技术改良作物抗逆性提供了理论依据。     

DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE OF VIGNA RADIATA L. TO VARIED DOSES OF CHLORPYRIFOS

Twenty-day old seedlings were exposed to different concentrations ranging from 0–1.5 mM of chlorpyrifos through foliar spray in the field condition. The seedlings were uprooted for analyses and observed at the preflowering (five days after treatment, DAT), flowering (10 DAT) and post-flowering (20 DAT) stages for various morphological parameters such as plant height, number of branches, leaves per plant, total leaf area, plant biomass and photosynthetic pigments viz. Chlorophyll (Chl) a, Chl b, Total Chl, and Carotenoid (Car) content. Yield attributing characters like number of pods plant^?1, number of seeds pod^?1 and weight of 100 seeds were analyzed from both control and treated plant after harvest stage. All the growth parameters, pigments’ activity and yield parameters increased at 0.3 mM insecticidal treatment, when compared with control. Further increases in insecticide level had a negative impact upon all studied parameters.     

Effect of N rate and split application on bahiagrass production

Abstract

Vegetative and reproductive growth were studied in five tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) cultivars under saline conditions imposed at the five‐leaf stage by addition of 50 mM NaCl to half strength Hoagland nutrient solution. The plants were raised in pots filled with washed quartz sand kept in a greenhouse. Stem height and number of leaves in tomato plants were significantly reduced when irrigated with saline regimes in contrast with control plants that received only the Hoagland solution. The highest number of flowers were obtained in the cultivar Pearson and the least in cultivar Strain B. Fruit set and yield were little affected by varietal differences and were not related to vegetative growth. Fruit weight was suppressed with NaCl stress, but improvement in weight was achieved when potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) were added to the saline water. The most detrimental effect of NaCl stress was the reduction of biomass yield in tomatoes. However, the relative dry weights of Pearson and Monte Carlo were increased to 60% and 54%, respectively, when NaCl was supplemented with Ca. Large varietal differences in biomass occurred among the NaCl‐treated and control plants. Tomato fruit quality (TSS) was improved by salinization.     

Effect of salinity and soil temperature on the growth and physiology of drip-irrigated rice seedlings

Drip irrigation offers potential for rice (Oryza sativa L.) production in regions where water resources are limited. However, farmers in China’s Xinjiang Province report that drip-irrigated rice seedlings sometimes suffer salt damage. The objective of this study was to learn more about the effects of soil salinity and soil temperature on the growth of drip-irrigated rice seedlings. The study consisted of a two-factor design with two soil salinity treatments (0 and 1.8 g kg^?1 NaCl) and three soil temperature treatments (18°C, 28°C and 36°C). The results showed that shoot biomass, root biomass and root vigor were greatest when seedlings were grown with no salt stress (0 g kg^?1 NaCl) at 28°C. Moderate salt stress (1.8 g kg^?1 NaCl) combined with high temperature (36°C) significantly reduced root and shoot biomass by 39–53%. Moderate salt stress and high temperature also increased root proline concentration by 77%, root malonyldialdehyde concentration by 60% and seedling mortality by 60%. Shoot and root Na⁺ concentrations, shoot and root Na⁺ uptake and the Na⁺ distribution ratio in shoots were all the greatest when moderate salt stress was combined with high temperature. In conclusion, high soil temperature aggravates salt damage to drip-irrigated rice seedlings. Therefore, soil salinity should be considered before adopting drip-irrigation for rice production.     

基于双波段作物长势分析仪的东北水稻长势监测

为了实现水稻精细栽培和变量管理的目的,利用独立开发的双波段作物长势分析仪,进行了水稻生长监测的试验与分析。传感器分别在610与1220 nm处测量太阳光与作物冠层反射光的强度,进而计算光谱反射率。利用双波段作物长势分析仪于2008年在黑龙江省农垦总局建三江分局2处水稻试验田,在分蘖期与抽穗早期进行了氮肥胁迫试验,结果表明水稻叶片氮浓度及生物质干质量与RVI、NDVI都具有很高的相关性,但与NDVI的相关性比与RVI的更高。分蘖期的测量结果表明,NDVI与施肥量的相关性非常显著,R2大于0.94。但NDVI并不与施肥量成线性相关,过量的施氮量反而会引起NDVI值的降低。分蘖期、抽穗早期的NDVI值都与最终产量有着显著的相关,其中抽穗早期的NDVI与产量的决定系数（R2）达到了0.96。分析结果显示利用双波段作物长势分析仪监测水稻冠层,可达到控制投入和提高产量的目的,为水稻的精细栽培提供理论与技术支持。     

Physiological responses and adaptive strategies of wheat seedlings to salt and alkali stresses

Abstract

Effects of salt (NaCl?:?Na₂SO₄) and alkali (NaHCO₃?:?Na₂CO₃) stresses on the contents of inorganic ions and organic solutes in wheat shoots were compared to explore the physiological responses and adaptive strategies of wheat to these stresses. Wheat significantly accumulated Na⁺ and simultaneously accumulated Cl^?, soluble sugars and proline to maintain osmotic and ionic balance under salt stress. Compared with salt stress, the high pH from alkali stress enhanced Na⁺ accumulation and affected the absorption of inorganic anions. To maintain ionic and osmotic balance, wheat accumulated organic acids, soluble sugars and proline. The accumulation of Cl^? and organic acids was the main difference in the physiological responses and adaptive mechanisms to salt and alkali stresses, respectively.     

Drought response of dry-seeded rice to water stress timing and N-fertilizer rates and sources

Abstract

Dry seeding has been identified as an option for increasing cropping intensity and productivity in rainfed ricelands. Managing drought and nutrients are important for increasing yield, but the interactive effects of drought and nutrients on dry-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth have not been systematically investigated. Two experiments were carried out in 1994 and 1995 to analyze the effects of N fertilizer rate and the use of controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) on the growth and yield of dry-seeded rice grown on a silty clay loam (Typic Tropaquept) subjected to water stress at different crop stages. In both years, in the main plots, rice was subjected to water stress at four different stages of development. The subplots were designed to compare the effect of the application of prilled urea and CRFs Osmocote (1994) and Polyon 12 (1995). Four N rates (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha^?1) were imposed on rice in the sub-subplots (1994 only). The N fertilizer source did not affect any of the measured parameters. Irrespective of the N the fertilizer rates, grain yield and total dry matter accumulation of rice plants stressed at the flowering stage (WS_FL, 1994) and panicle initiation stage (WS_PI, 1995) were significantly lower than those of well-watered plants and plants stressed at the vegetative stage. Water stress during the grain-filling stage reduced the grain yield in 1995 when the stress was severe. Application of N fertilizer increased the yield compared with zero N in all water treatments, except for the WS_FL plants whose yield did not change. The WS_FL treatment also significantly reduced agronomic N-use efficiency.     

Interaction Between Phosphorus Nutrition and Drought on Grain Yield,and Assimilation of Phosphorus and Nitrogen in Two Soybean Cultivars Differing in Protein Concentration in Grains

ABSTRACT

Drought affects many physiological and biochemical processes and thus reduces plant growth. Phosphorus (P) fertilization improves tolerance to drought stress in many plants. A greenhouse experiment examined the interactive effects of P nutrition and drought stress on P accumulation and translocation, yield, and protein concentration in grains of two cultivars of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Plants of cultivars ‘Heisheng 101’ (high protein in grains) and ‘Dongnong 464’ (low protein) were grown in a P-deficient soil supplied with 0–30 mg P kg^?1 soil. Drought stress was imposed at the initial flowering (R1) or the podding (R4) stage. Drought stress limited P accumulation and reduced P translocation to the seed. The addition of P enhanced the concentration and accumulation of nitrogen (N) and P in shoots and seeds of both cultivars. Drought stress decreased shoot biomass, grain yield, and P accumulation; the decrease was greater in ‘Dongnong 46’ than ‘Heisheng 101,’ and even more so if drought stress was imposed at R4 than at R1. In contrast, drought stress increased the concentration of N in shoot and protein in grains. The addition of P alleviated the effect of drought stress on plant growth, P accumulation, and grain yield in both cultivars but to a greater extent in ‘Dongnong 46’. The results suggest that application of P fertilizers could mitigate drought stress at the reproductive stage, resulting in less yield penalty and improvement of grain quality of soybean grown in P-deficient soils.     

Enhancing of symbiotic efficiency and salinity tolerance of chickpea by phosphorus supply

This study aims to highlight the beneficial effect of the phosphorus on enhancing of growth plant, the efficiency of use rhizobial symbiosis and ionic partition in chickpea grown under salt stress. Exposure of plants to salt stress (0, 150 mM of NaCl) caused ionic imbalance, which resulted in increased Na⁺ and P and reduced K⁺ contents in the leaves and root. Indeed, stressed plants showed decrease of plant growth and phosphorus use efficiency. The efficiency use of rhizobial symbiosis was also affected by salinity. However, addition of two different level of phosphorus (37 and 55 mM) to saline soil increased significantly availability of P in plant organs. Specially, the (150 mM NaCl?×?37 mM P) mixture increased (33%) phosphorus use efficiency, induced better nodulation and increased plant biomass which results in the high efficiency in use of the rhizobial symbiosis. Our findings suggest that the combination of low level of P to saline soil presumably improved the tolerance of chickpea plant to salinity.

Abbreviations: phosphorus (P); phosphorus use efficiency (PUE); biological nitrogen fixation (BNF); plant dry weight (PDW); yeast extract mannitol (YEM); efficiency in use of the rhizobial symbiosis (EURS); shoot dry weight (SDW); symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF).     

Classification of rice genotypes based on their mechanisms of adaptation to iron toxicity

Iron (Fe) toxicity is a nutritional disorder that affects lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.). The occurrence of excessive amounts of reduced Fe(II) in the soil solution, its uptake by the rice roots, and its transpiration‐driven transport result in elevated Fe(II) concentrations in leaf cells that catalyze the formation of reactive oxygen species. The oxidative stress causes rusty brown spots on leaves (bronzing) and the reduction of biomass and yield. While the use of resistant genotypes is the most promising approach to address the problem, the stress appears to differentially affect rice plants as a function of plant age, climatic conditions, stress intensity and duration, and the prevailing adaptation mechanism. We comparatively assessed 21 contrasting 6‐week‐old rice genotypes regarding their response (symptom score, biomass, Fe concentrations and uptake) to a 6 d iron pulse of 1500 mg L^–1 Fe(II). Eight selected genotypes were further compared at different stress intensities (0, 500, 1000, and 1500 mg L^–1 Fe(II)) and at different developmental stages (4‐, 6‐, and 8‐week‐old plants). Based on Fe‐induced biomass reduction and leaf‐bronzing score, the tested spectrum was grouped in resistant and sensitive genotypes. Linking bronzing scores to leaf iron concentrations allowed further differentiation into includer and excluder types. Iron precipitation on roots and organ‐specific iron partitioning permitted to classify the adaptation strategies into root exclusion, stem and leaf sheath retention, and leaf blade tissue tolerance. The effectiveness of these strategies differed with stress intensity and developmental stage. The reported findings improve the understanding of Fe‐stress response and provide a basis for future genotype selection or breeding for enhancing Fe‐toxicity resistance in rice.     

Dry matter accumulation and partitioning in cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis> L.) as influenced by potassium fertilization

The effect of potassium (K) supply on dry matter accumulation and partitioning of biomass between different among parts of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was determined under irrigated conditions. The treatments were four cotton cultivars (CIM-448, CIM-1100, Karishma, and S-12), four K rates (0, 62.5, 125, and 250 kg K ha⁻¹), and two K-fertilizer sources (K₂SO₄, KCl). Sequential harvests were collected at four stages of growth, viz first flower, peak flowering, first boll split, and maturity. The dry weights (DW) of vegetative and reproductive organs were determined. Maximum total DW was obtained at 125 days after planting, and then it declined because of leaf senescence at maturity. Cultivars differed significantly among themselves in the production of total DW and its partitioning between different organs. The addition of K fertilizer increased DW substantially at various stages of growth. Potassium fertilizer stimulated cotton plant to translocate resources towards reproductive organs rather than vegetative organs. Crop receiving 250 kg K ha⁻¹ allocated 77% more dry matter into reproductive organs. The K-sources produced a little effect on the allocation of DW in various parts of the plant. Maximum reproductive–vegetative ratio (RVR) was maintained by cv CIM-448 and minimum in cv CIM-1100. Data showed that a shift in DW allocation into reproductive organs was dependent upon sustained supply of K⁺ throughout the season. There were positive significant correlations (0.86, 0.71, and 0.90) between seed cotton yield and total DW, vegetative DW, and reproductive DW, respectively.