Performance and water requirement of young olives (Olea europaea L.) in the harsh environment of Kuwait

In the harsh environmental conditions of Kuwait, plants are frequently exposed to high temperatures, low relative humidity and drought. Because water resources available for agriculture are limited, an efficient irrigation strategy is vital for sustainable olive production. In view of these facts, a study to determine the behavior and water requirement of young olive plants under Kuwait's environmental conditions was carried out. The investigation included five cultivars (cvs. Arbequina, Barnea, Coratina, Koroneiki and UC13A6) and three levels of irrigation (50, 75 and 100% of ETc) with brackish water (ECe 5.0 dS m^?1). One-year-old grafted plants were used in this study. With the exception of UC13A6, the cultivars showed good adaptation to the harsh weather conditions in Kuwait and to brackish water irrigation during the first 18 months after the beginning of the irrigation treatments. Indeed, they showed good height and shoot growth, with cultivars Barnea, Arbequina and Coratina showing the highest values. Cultivar Barnea was the most vigorous variety under Kuwait's environmental conditions. Vegetative growth in these varieties was not significantly reduced in the 50% ETc treatment. This indicates huge opportunities to improve the water-use-efficiency through further investigations aimed at optimizing the amount of water supplied with irrigation.     

Salt Tolerance of Seedling and Adult Bread Wheat Plants Based on Ion Contents and Agronomic Traits

Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was conducted on two salt‐tolerant, two moderately tolerant, and two sensitive Iranian and exotic bread wheat cultivars and their F₁ generations to investigate the effect of salt stress on ion contents of young leaves, biomass yield, and salt stress tolerance index. The materials were evaluated in gravel culture under high salinity (EC=22.5 dSm^?1) and nonstress (EC=2.0 dSm^?1) conditions. Results of stress intensity showed that K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, biomass yield, and Na⁺ concentration were most affected by salt stress. There was no genetic relationship between Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ contents with salt tolerance. However, strong relationships were observed among K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, biomass yield, and stress tolerance index. Factor analysis revealed four factors, which explained 99.79% of the total variation among characters. Three‐dimensional plots based on the first three factor scores confirmed that the most salt‐tolerant cultivar was Roshan (an old Iranian cultivar), and Roshan×Alvand and Kharchia×Roshan and their reciprocal crosses were the best salt‐tolerant crosses.     

Genetic variability for responses to short‐ and long‐term salt stress in vegetative sunflower plants

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) has been rated as moderately salt‐resistant, and variability for salt resistance has been detected within this crop. However, variability in salt‐resistance mechanisms has not been assessed. Osmotic tolerance, the relation of salt resistance with whole‐plant Na⁺ and K⁺ distribution and tissue Na⁺ tolerance were investigated in several sunflower inbred lines. Plants were grown under controlled conditions, in pots with sand and perlite irrigated with salinized (NaCl, –0.65 MPa) nutrient solution. Osmotic tolerance was assessed from the initial effects of the salt treatment on plant elongation in eleven sunflower lines. Long‐term salinity responses were evaluated in four of those lines, by assessing whole‐plant growth. A principal components analysis (PCA) was run on relative‐to‐control growth data, and this information was used to establish a relative resistance ranking, which indicated lines HAR2 > HAR1 > HA64 > HAR5. Osmotic tolerance was observed in HA64 and HAR2. The lines showed different degrees of Na⁺ accumulation, it was very low in some of them, but relative salt resistance was not associated to this trait. Tissue Na⁺ tolerance was deduced by comparing the percentage of dead leaves as a function of leaf blade Na⁺ accumulation, and it was higher in HAR1 than in the rest. These results indicate that variability for salt‐resistance mechanisms exists in sunflower. Osmotic tolerance and tissue Na⁺ tolerance were detected in different lines, highlighting that such variability may be exploited for increasing salt resistance in this crop.     

转基因青蒿与其野生型的生长和抗逆性比较

在环境释放条件下,比较了转基因青蒿及其野生型受体的基本农艺性状、抗逆性及耐常用除草剂等特性.在旱、盐胁迫下,通过测定3种转基因品系和其野生型受体的叶片相对含水量、过氧化物酶及脯氨酸等生理指标,比较了转基因青蒿和野生型的耐受性.结果显示,转基因青蒿品系ANF176、GFH13的株高、茎粗显著低于其野生型受体,转基因青蒿品...     

盐胁迫对柳树新无性系苗木生长和土壤酶活性的影响

通过盐分胁迫下柳树2个无性系的盆栽试验,发现盐分对苗木的成活和生长都有一定的抑制作用。随着盐分浓度的提高,苗高、地上与地下部分生物量都呈下降趋势;盐分的存在同样影响到叶片叶绿素含量和脯氨酸含量的变化。通过回归分析发现,盐分浓度与叶片叶绿素含量之间存在着线性负相关关系,与脯氨酸含量之间存在着抛物线形相关关系。土壤中盐分的增加不仅影响到植物的生长发育,而且对土壤自身的物理、化学性状也产生不良效应。,同时还测定了盆栽土壤中土壤葡糖苷酶和土壤天冬酰胺酶活性的变化。结果表明这两种酶的活性都随土壤中盐分浓度的提高而下降,说明盐分对土壤的理化性状和肥力状况都产生了抑制作用。参试的2个柳树无性系中,W1的耐盐能力强于W2。     

Tolerance of potentially diazotrophic bacteria to adverse environmental conditions and plant growth-promotion in sugarcane

Sugarcane is one of the crops responsible for the high consumption of fertilizers in Brazil. To minimize this demand a sustainable alternative is to increase the studies to evaluate the beneficial effects of the relationship between plants/microorganisms, mainly plant growth-promoting bacteria. The objectives of this study were: a) to evaluate potentially diazotrophic bacteria isolates from sugarcane in adverse environmental conditions; b) inoculate these bacteria in sugarcane to evaluate their ability in plant growth-promotion. The study was carried in the Northeast of Brazil. Bacterial genera Burkholderia sp., Pantoea sp., Stenotrophomonas sp. and Enterobacter sp. were evaluated in different culture medium and later the bacterial isolates were inoculated in sugarcane evaluating the plant growth-promotion. Stenotrophomonas sp. and Pantoea sp. were tolerant to salinity and to different sources of carbon in acid medium and too tolerated high concentrations of pesticides and produced quorum sensing molecules (QS), but did not increase the dry matter production of sugarcane. Burkholderia sp. and Enterobacter sp. were more sensitive to salinity and pest control, but were more effective in plant growth-promotion. The tolerance of the bacteria to the adverse environmental conditions interfered negatively in the ability to plant growth-promotion.     

Selective restriction of root to shoot ion transport by cotyledon node zone in Kochia sieversiana may contribute to its tolerance to salt and alkali stresses

This study is aimed to examine if cotyledon node zone may play a role in salt and/or alkali tolerance. Seedlings of halophyte plant Kochia sieversiana and glycophyte plant Lycopersicon esculintum Mill were treated with salt and alkali respectively, xylem sap was collected from above or below cotyledon node zone, and components and contents of inorganic ions in the sap were examined. When compared with that collected from below cotyledon node zone, xylem sap collected from above cotyledon node zone in K. sieversiana contains less Na⁺ under both salt and alkali stresses, and less chloride (Cl^–) under salt treatment. Both Na⁺ and Cl^– remain nearly the same in xylem sap collected from below and above cotyledon node zone in L. esculintum Mill. Cotyledon node zone in K. sieversiana selectively restricted ion transport under both salt and alkali stresses, which may represent a novel mechanism of salt and alkali resistance in halophyte plants.     

A Comparative Analysis of Salinity and Nickel Tolerance of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

ABSTRACT

An experiment was conducted in a randomized factorial design with three replicates to elucidate the comparative tolerance of tomato genotypes and hybrids against salinity (NaCl) and nickel (Ni) toxicity. Six tomato genotypes and two hybrids were exposed to different levels of NaCl (0, 75 and 150 mM) and Ni (0, 15 and 20 mg L^?1) in hydroponics for 4 weeks. Increasing levels of NaCl and Ni significantly decreased the growth of all the genotypes. Cluster analysis for relative tolerance of the genotypes and hybrids showed that the genotype “Naqeeb” is the most tolerant whereas the genotype “Nadir” proved to be the most sensitive against both the NaCl and Ni-toxicity. Leaf tissues Na⁺ and Ni concentration significantly increased by increasing NaCl and Ni levels in the growth medium with tolerant genotype “Naqeeb” showing the lowest and sensitive genotype “Nadir” with the highest concentration. Antagonistic relation between uptake of Na⁺ and Ni was observed in all the genotypes and hybrids. Results revealed that tomato genotypes and hybrids shared the same defense mechanism against salinity and Ni-toxicity tolerance. The genotypes tolerant against one stress can be regarded as tolerant against other stress as well.     

咸水畦灌棉花耐盐性鉴定指标与耐盐特征值研究

为了充分利用浅层地下咸水,通过5 a的咸水畦灌播前造墒大田试验,分析了不同程度盐分胁迫(1(对照)、2、4、6、8、10 g/L)与棉花生长指标和籽棉产量的响应关系,得出不同矿化度咸水播前造墒条件下棉花的耐盐性鉴定指标及耐盐特征值。结果显示,相对出苗率、相对株高、相对叶面积、相对地上部干物质质量、相对果枝数、相对成铃数和相对蕾花铃最大值均可以作为棉花的耐盐性鉴定指标,其中相对株高易于观测,盐害指示效果好,因此作为推荐使用耐盐性鉴定指标。同时,灌溉水矿化度控制在5.48 g/L以下时,咸水造墒连续灌溉5 a后,在产量与对照相比不减产。     

Low pH and aluminum tolerance of Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from acid soils in Indonesia

Sixty-seven strains of Bradyrhizobium isolated from soybean plants growing on acid soils in West Java and Sumatra, Indonesia, were examined for the effect of the pH and aluminum concentration on their growth in nutrient media, compared with 61 strains of Bradyrhizobium from soils in Japan. The results in this study indicated that the indigenous population of Bradyrhizobium in the soils of Indonesia showed a large difference in acid- and Al-tolerance from that of Japan. Eighty-five and 48% of the isolates from Japanese soils and Indonesian soils, respectively, were unable to grow in YEM broth at pH below 4.5. The acid-tolerance was correlated with AI-tolerance of the isolates on YEM agar plates at pH 4.4. Seventy-five percent of the isolates that grew in YEM broth at pH 4.5 were also resistant to 400 µM Al on the YEM plates. Acetylene reduction assay of the root nodules revealed that 3 of the acid- and Al-tolerant isolates from Indonesian soils showed a significantly high nitrogen fixation activity.     

野茼蒿对镉的富集及其镉耐性

通过盆栽试验研究了不同镉（Cd）浓度（0、30、60、90、120、150、180mg.kg-1）胁迫下野茼蒿（Crassocephalum crepidioides（Benth.）S.Moore）的生长及其对Cd的富集特征。结果表明,随着Cd添加水平的增大,处理组野茼蒿的主根长、株高、叶绿素含量、根和地上部生物量均呈降低趋势,且主根长、株高、根和地上部生物量均显著低于对照植株;当Cd添加水平不断提高,处理组野茼蒿根和地上部Cd浓度呈显著增加趋势,而累积总量呈先增加后下降的趋势,但仍显著高于对照植株。处理Cd浓度为180mg.kg-1时,野茼蒿地上部Cd浓度最高,为1288.12mg.kg-1;处理Cd浓度为60mg.kg-1时,野茼蒿地上部Cd累积量最高,为每盆4.28mg。当Cd浓度≤90mg.kg-1时,野茼蒿生长正常,未出现Cd中毒症状。野茼蒿地上部Cd富集系数和转移系数分别为3.48～21.71和1.12～2.31。因此,野茼蒿对Cd具有较强的耐受性和转运能力以及其地上部对Cd的累积能力,适合于Cd污染土壤的植物修复。     

小麦苗期和孕穗期涝渍的某些生理特性比较研究

对两个不同耐涝性的小麦品种华麦 8号和鄂恩 1号在苗期和孕穗期遭受涝渍后的生理变化进行研究 ,结果表明 :叶片叶绿素 ( chl)含量、超氧化物岐化酶 ( SOD)、过氧化氢酶( CAT)活性和根系活力均下降 ,而丙二醛 ( MDA)含量上升 ,变化幅度为耐涝的华麦 8号低于不耐涝的鄂恩 1号 ,差异达显著或极显著水平 ;叶片脯氨酸 ( pro)含量上升 ,但华麦 8号的上升幅度极显著地高于鄂恩 1号 ;两个品种的过氧化物酶 ( POD)活性变化的差异也较大 ,其中华麦8号稳定而缓慢上升 ,而鄂恩 1号则先急剧上升后又逐步下降     

耐盐小麦品种在干旱条件下的农艺性状分析

干旱、盐碱等逆境胁迫是影响小麦产量的主要自然灾害, 培育抗旱抗盐高产小麦品种是我国北方小麦育种的主要任务之一。本文对来自新疆的"新冬26"和来自河北沧州的"沧麦6001"、"沧麦6002"、"沧麦6003" 共4个小麦品种, 进行了苗期耐盐性初步鉴定, 了解4个耐盐小麦品种的耐盐能力差异, 并对2010-2011年2年中大田干旱条件下4个小麦品种的相关农艺性状进行了分析, 为小麦耐盐、耐旱品种改良与遗传育种提供参考信息。研究结果表明, 在100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理下, "新冬26"的根与苗的相对生长量高于3个沧麦品种; 在200 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理下, "沧麦6003"根与苗的相对生长量较高; 同时经过100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理后, 4个品种的根苗长度比均有所降低, 但"新冬26"在200 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理下, 较100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理下根苗长度比增大, 说明这个品种对高盐胁迫具有一定的耐受能力。在大田干旱条件下, 耐盐品种"新冬26"与沧麦"6001"表现耐旱高产。进一步分析干旱条件对耐盐小麦品种农艺性状的影响, 对农艺性状相关性分析表明: 单株籽粒产量与分蘖、穗粒数、小穗数、单株生物学产量呈极显著正相关, 与经济系数呈显著正相关。多元回归分析表明: 分蘖、小穗数、穗粒数、单株生物学产量4个农艺性状决定了单株产量75.9%的变异。以上试验结果说明, 在筛选耐盐耐旱小麦品种时, 应考虑选择分蘖、小穗数、穗粒数、单株生物学产量等指标比较高的品种。     

Comparison of aluminum tolerance and phosphate absorption between rape (Brassica napus L.) and Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) in relation to organic acid exudation

Aluminum (Al) tolerance and phosphate absorption in rape and tomato were compared under water culture and field conditions. The relative growth rate in the Al treatment compared with -A1 treatment was similar in the two crops under water culture conditions, while under field conditions, the growth rate was 2- to 3-fold higher in rape than in tomato in spite of the higher Al concentration in the soil solution than in the culture solution. The relative amount of phosphate absorbed in the Al treatment compared with - Al was not appreciably different between rape and tomato under water culture conditions, while under field conditions, it was 3- to 6-fold larger in rape than in tomato. The exudation rate of citric acid by roots was much higher in rape than in tomato. The plant growth, root elongation, and amount of phosphate absorbed in rape were inhibited in the 150 µM Al in the culture solution. However, the inhibition was alleviated by the addition of 200 µM citric acid or 500 µM malic acid. The P concentration in the culture solution decreased by the presence of Al as aluminum phosphate. However, addition of citric and malic acids increased the amount of phosphate released from the precipitated aluminum phosphate. In conclusion, one of the mechanisms for the higher Al tolerance and larger phosphate absorption in rape than in tomato under field conditions was ascribed to the higher concentration of exuded citric acid by Al in the rhizosphere. It was suggested that the exudation of citric acid might contribute to the detoxification of Al and to the increase phosphate availability in the rhizosphere in rape.     

河套灌区玉米耐盐性分析及生态适宜区划分

为了探讨河套灌区盐碱地玉米对根区土壤盐分的生态适应性,本文基于田间定位观测,运用非线性最小二乘数值逼近法建立玉米耐盐函数模型;同时根据耐盐性分析,提出玉米在该灌区不同生态适宜区的划分标准。结果表明,盐碱地地膜覆盖在生产上有较好的控盐效果,可以使玉米苗期0～10、0～20和0～40cm土壤盐分分别降低61.2%、53.8%、41.3%,能够增强玉米对盐碱地的生态适应性;分段式耐盐函数模型和S型耐盐函数模型均能较好地反应玉米相对产量对浅层土壤盐分变化的响应关系;浅层0～40cm土壤盐分作为玉米根层盐分来分析玉米的耐盐性最具代表性,其对应中玉9号玉米的耐盐指数为6.583;根据耐盐性分析,将区域耕地划分为玉米最适宜区、适宜区、次适宜区和不适宜区,对应玉米苗期0～20cm膜外土壤盐分分别为低于1.178、1.178～2.036、2.036～3.465和高于3.465g/kg。本研究将为当地玉米种植合理布局、高效生产提供理论指导。     

作物耐旱性与叶片水势简报

用SPAC理论分析大豆、花生、玉米、甘薯4种作物水势分布特点及耐旱性结果表明，植物叶片水势是植物水分状况的较好生理指标，玉米根、叶间水势差为0．293MPa，叶位间水势差为0．067MPa。不同作物叶片水势差异显著，作物叶片水势越高， 其耐旱性越强。     

菜用豌豆品种资源萌发期耐旱性鉴定

为研究菜用豌豆种子萌发期的耐旱性,本试验以31份菜用豌豆品种资源为试验材料,通过2.5%PEG溶液模拟干旱胁迫处理萌发期豌豆种子,统计种子发芽势和发芽率,测定鲜重、干重、根长、芽长等指标,并采用相关性分析、主成分分析、聚类分析、灰色关联度分析及逐步回归分析等方法相结合,对31份菜用豌豆品种资源进行萌发期耐旱性鉴定及耐旱指标筛选。结果表明,2.5% PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫对菜用豌豆种质资源萌发期各测定指标均有极显著影响;根据综合抗旱系数值(CDC值)、耐旱性度量值(D值)、加权关联度(WDC值)大小对供试种质进行排序,其中耐旱性最强的4个品种依次为16110、16055、16140、16107;耐旱性最弱的3个品种依次为16106、16175、16177。通过聚类分析,在欧氏距离D²=8.5处将31份豌豆品种资源划分为4种类型:第Ⅰ类包括16054、16142等20个品种;第Ⅱ类包括16140、16079和16055 3个品种;第Ⅲ类包括16175、16104等6个品种;第Ⅳ类包括16110和16107 2个品种。逐步回归分析表明,与D值密切相关的指标为发芽指数、活力指数、发芽势、根长,这些可作为豌豆种质资源萌发期耐旱性鉴定综合选择指标。本试验结果为进一步研究菜用豌豆萌发期耐旱性机理及干旱调控缓解机制提供了理论参考,也为菜用豌豆耐旱品种选育及其推广应用奠定了基础。     

Effect of phosphorus,potassium, and chloride nutrition on cold tolerance of winter canola (Brassica napus L.)

Winter varieties of canola (Brassica napus L.) are susceptible to winterkill. Measurements of photosynthetic efficiency and survival of field-grown canola were used to evaluate the effect of chloride (Cl), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P) nutrition on winter field survival in northwestern USA. In a growth chamber experiment, effects of calcium chloride (CaCl₂), potassium chloride (KCl), ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl), or sodium chloride (NaCl) on the ability to tolerate subfreezing temperatures were evaluated. In the field, overwinter survival was higher, and greater photosynthetic activity continued later into the autumn in plants with increased sap Cl concentrations. In the greenhouse experiment, significantly greater survival occurred in plants with higher sap Cl concentrations, but only in plants that had not been cold acclimated. These results suggested that a greater concentration of chloride ion in the sap of canola plants is related to an increased ability to tolerate subfreezing temperatures, but other processes resulting from cold acclimation may largely obscure this effect.     

Screening drought-tolerant genotypes in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using different multivariate methods

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most widely cultivated crops in rainfed areas of Iran, where drought is the main limiting factor on yield. The object of this study was the identification of drought-tolerant genotypes in bread wheat. Forty bread wheat genotypes were tested in separate experiments under drought stress and normal conditions in two years (2009–2010 and 2010–2011). Nine drought-tolerance/susceptibility indices including stress susceptibility index (SSI), mean productivity (MP), tolerance (TOL), stress tolerance index (STI), geometric mean productivity (GMP), yield index (YI), yield stability index (YSI), linear regression coefficient (β) and drought response index (DRI) were determined. Simultanously applied factor analysis used two factors instead of nine indices in this study. Mahdavi was recognized as the most drought-tolerant genotype in both years based on factor analysis. In this study an equation was developed for estimating the Stress Tolerance Score (STS). The results of the equation were identical to those of factor analysis in both years. The equation was much easier to use than factor analysis and is suggested as a screening tool for the identification of drought-tolerant genotypes. In this study, Mahdavi was the most drought-tolerant genotype also corresponding to this equation.     

Aluminum-induced growth stimulation in relation to calcium,magnesium, and silicate nutrition in Melastoma malabathricum L.

Effects of Al, Ca, Mg, and Si on the growth and mineral accumulation of M. malabathricum (Melastoma malabathricum L.), which is an Al accumulator plant, were investigated using the water culture method. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were used as control plants. After Al application, growth was inhibited in barley, but stimulated in M. malabathricum and rice. The growth of M. malabathricum was not reduced by very low Ca and Mg concentrations (0.1 mm Ca and 0.05 mm Mg). However, it was depressed in the absence of Ca. Ca and Mg contents somewhat decreased by Al application, which was most evident in young leaves and roots. M. malabathricum accumulated more than 10,000 mg kg^-1 Al in mature leaves, and more than 7,000 mg kg^-1 even in the youngest leaf. Al content in leaves of M. malabathricum did not decrease by the Ca or Mg application, but slightly decreased by in the absence of Ca.

Although Si is a strong ligand of Al in solution, in M. malabathricum, Si application hardly affected the growth, Al accumulation and nutrient uptake.