Effect of antagonistic Fusarium spp. and of different commercial biofungicide formulations on Fusarium wilt of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

The ability of antagonistic Fusarium spp. to control Fusarium wilt of basil caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. basilici was tested under glasshouse conditions from 1994 to 1996. Fusarium oxysporum antagonistic strain 251/2, a protoplast fusion-derived hybrid coded FI-11 and F. moniliforme strains TF4 and TF4 RB were able to decrease (P = 0.05) the incidence of Fusarium wilt significantly. Biocontrol was consistent, especially when the antagonists were applied by mixing a talc preparation of propagules in the substrate (10⁵ CFU/ml of substrate) 1–2 weeks before sowing or at sowing. Seed coating with the biocontrol strains (10⁸ CFU/g of seed) did not generally provide sufficient disease containment, whereas the combination of substrate treatment and seed coating did not improve wilt control in comparison with substrate treatment alone. Two commercial formulations, based on antagonistic F. oxysporum strains and one containing the antagonistic strain K61 of Streptomyces griseoviridis, were generally not sufficiently effective at the tested dosages.     

Application of an emulsifiable mixture of 1,3-dichloropropene and chloropicrin against root knot nematodes and soilborne fungi for greenhouse tomatoes in Italy

A mixture of 1,3-dicloropropene 60.5% w/w and chloropicrin 33.3% w/w (Telone C35 EC) may be registered in Italy for soil drip fumigation. Five experiments on greenhouse tomatoes in Northern, Central and Southern Italy compared the effectiveness of this mixture in comparison with methyl bromide to find the optimum application rate in soils infested by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, F. oxysporum f.sp. radicis lycopersici, Sclerotium rolfsii, Meloidogyne javanica and M. incognita. Its efficacy against F. oxysporum f.sp. radicis lycopersici and M. incognita was confirmed when applied to soils at 100, 200, 300 and 400 l ha⁻¹ (132.4, 268.4, 402.6 and 536.8 kg ha⁻¹) under gas-tight films with 15–45 mm of application water (900–1200 mg Telone C35 EC l⁻¹). In sandy soils, with slight F. radicis lycopersici infections and with heavy nematode (M. incognita) attacks, the mixture, drip applied at 900 mg l⁻¹ during late summer (fumigation: late summer; transplant: late-summer/autumn; last harvest: early spring), performed well up to 132.4 kg ha⁻¹ (100 l ha⁻¹). In sandy loam soils with slight F. radicis lycopersici infections and severe infections of F. lycopersici and galling nematodes (M. javanica), 268.4 kg ha⁻¹ (200 l ha⁻¹) of the mixture applied at 900 mg l⁻¹ as a drip provided yields similar to those of methyl bromide treated plots both in spring and summer cycles. In sandy loam soils, the diseases (F. lycopersici, F. radicis lycopersici) were controlled at rates 268.4 kg ha⁻¹ (containing 90 kg ha⁻¹ of chloropicrin), but the mixture was ineffective against Sclerotium rolfsii occasionally observed in sandy loam soils. In both sandy and sandy loam soils, no significant relationships were found between the rates of mixture applied (132.4, 268.4, 402.6 and 536.8 kg ha⁻¹) and the degree of nematode infestation.     

Chemical management of Fusarium wilt of watermelon

Watermelon yield loss due to Fusarium wilt is increasing in the U.S., due in part to the emergence of the virulent race 2 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum, and to the shift in production to triploid cultivars, which generally have less host resistance than previously grown diploid cultivars. One potential management strategy is the use of soil-applied fungicides to reduce Fusarium wilt. The U.S. national program, interregional project 4 (IR-4) supported multistate trials of soil-applied chemicals to manage Fusarium wilt of watermelon. Greenhouse trials were conducted in Maryland, Indiana and Georgia to test the efficacy of 14 chemicals on Fusarium wilt. Based on the performance of these chemicals in the greenhouse, six in Maryland and Delaware and eight in Indiana were selected for subsequent field evaluations. These chemicals were applied once, as a drench at planting, in field trials in Maryland, Indiana, and Delaware in 2008. The fungicides prothioconazole, acibenzolar-S-methyl, and thiophanate-methyl resulted in the greatest reduction in Fusarium wilt, and caused no phytotoxicity. In Maryland and Indiana in 2009, these chemicals were applied through the drip irrigation line alone and in combination, at 0, 2 and 4 weeks after planting. The experiment was repeated in 2010 in Maryland. Prothioconazole alone and in combination with acibenzolar-S-methyl or/and thiophanate-methyl resulted in the greatest decrease in the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) of Fusarium wilt of watermelon in Maryland in 2009. The same trend was observed in 2010 in Maryland where three of the prothioconazole treatments ranked the lowest of all treatments and prothioconazole in combination with thiophanate-methyl had significantly lower Fusarium wilt AUDPC compared to the non-treated control. All chemical applications except for acibenzolar-S-methyl in combination with prothioconazole reduced Fusarium wilt AUDPC in Indiana in 2009. Prothioconazole alone and prothioconazole in combination with thiophanate-methyl ranked lowest in Fusarium wilt AUDPC, although not significantly lower than most other treatments. These studies are the first to demonstrate that the soil-applied fungicides prothioconazole and thiophanate-methyl may provide an additional field management option for Fusarium wilt of watermelon.     

不同遗传背景香蕉品种间轮作控制香蕉枯萎病的效果分析

香蕉种质资源丰富,不同香蕉品种对各个枯萎病生理小种的耐受性不同,利用遗传背景差异大、抗性不同的香蕉品种进行轮作可能达到防控香蕉枯萎病的效果.本研究选取华南地区常见的香牙蕉、粉蕉、龙牙蕉、贡蕉等栽培蕉类型作为研究材料,通过对24个香蕉品种的遗传多样性进行分析,结合生产应用,筛选遗传背景不同并且具有一定抗枯萎病的品种,进行...     

韭菜根系分泌物对苦瓜枯萎病菌的化感作用

为探究韭菜根系分泌物对苦瓜枯萎病菌的化感作用,本研究以‘山东雪韭6号’韭菜和苦瓜枯萎病菌为试验材料,水培法收集韭菜根系分泌物,采用菌丝生长速率和孢子萌发法研究韭菜根系分泌物对苦瓜枯萎病菌的化感作用;利用气相色谱-质谱联用技术（GC-MS）鉴定根系分泌物组成成分,筛选可能的主效化感物质,进一步通过体外抑菌试验验证其化感作用,明确主效化感物质。结果表明,随着韭菜根系分泌物浓度的升高,苦瓜枯萎病菌的菌落直径和孢子萌发数均呈先降后升的趋势,当分泌物浓度为3.22 mg/mL时,抑制作用最大,满足化感作用低浓度促进、高浓度抑制的特性。通过GC-MS鉴定出韭菜根系分泌物中的主要成分为酚类、酯类、烷烃类、醇类、烯类、芳香类,可能的化感物质为邻苯二甲酸二丁酯、2,4-二叔丁基苯酚、2,2°-亚甲基双-(4-甲基-6-叔丁基苯酚)。通过体外抑菌试验证实这3种物质对苦瓜枯萎病菌菌丝生长和孢子萌发都有不同程度的化感抑制作用,且抑菌效果为2,4-二叔丁基苯酚>邻苯二甲酸二丁酯>2,2°-亚甲基双-(4-甲基-6-叔丁基苯酚),明确其为化感物质。由此可知,韭菜根系分泌的主效化感物质对苦瓜枯萎病菌有显著的化感抑制作用,这为苦瓜间套轮作韭菜防控苦瓜枯萎病和研制植物源抑菌剂提供了理论依据和技术支撑。     

抗病品种在香蕉枯萎病绿色防控上的应用

为了有效防治土传性香蕉枯萎病,在田间进行了抗病品种和微生物菌剂(肥)的筛选和应用。结果表明,种植不同的香蕉抗病品种对枯萎病的防治效果存在显著差异,其中种植粉杂1号和贡蕉的防效最好,分别为78.62%和72.41%。而施用微生物菌剂和生物有机肥对香蕉枯萎病也均表现出较好的防治效果,其防效分别为87.51%和77.51%。在此基础上提出以种植抗病品种和应用防病微生物菌剂(肥)为主的病害综合防控技术,并进行应用示范。3个示范片连续3年对病害的总体防控效果达90%以上,从而有效控制了香蕉枯萎病的为害,同时减少了香蕉产量的损失。     

芽胞杆菌JK05的鉴定及其对香蕉、玉米的促生和生防潜能研究

解淀粉芽胞杆菌、枯草芽胞杆菌和苏云金芽胞杆菌等是重要的有益微生物,被广泛应用于植物病虫的生物防治。前期分离获得1株芽胞杆菌JK05,对其形态、生理生化特征、16S rRNA和gyrA基因序列进行分析,将其鉴定为解淀粉芽胞杆菌植生亚种Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum。对峙培养实验结果显示,JK05菌株对多种植物病原镰刀菌具有拮抗作用。植物生长促进实验表明,JK05菌株对香蕉和玉米生长具有明显促进作用。盆栽实验结果显示,JK05菌株对香蕉枯萎病具有良好的防治效果。采用特异引物对JK05菌株基因组DNA进行PCR扩增,其可扩增到表面活性素（surfactin）、丰原素（fengycin）、伊枯草菌素A（iturin A）等抗生素合成基因。综上,JK05菌株具有良好的生防潜力,有望应用于生物农药和微生物肥料。     

Effectiveness of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. for control of the stem borer Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) in maize in Kenya

The fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. and insecticide trichlorfon were compared for the control of stem borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) in field experiments at different times of infestation. Egg masses of C. partellus at the blackhead stage were pinned to the undersurface of the maize leaves. Two fungal formulations, conidial aqueous suspensions and a granular formulation, were applied. Compared with the untreated checks, the numbers of surviving C. partellus larvae were significantly reduced in treatments where B. bassiana was applied at a concentration of 10¹³ conidia ha⁻¹ as granules and as two aqueous spray formulations. No significant difference in numbers of stem borer larvae was found between trichlorfon and the untreated check. Fungus granules persisted longer in the field than did one spray of the fungus inoculum at the same concentration, or trichlorfon. A major increase in grain yield was obtained with two fungal sprays and with fungus granules both applied at a concentration of 10¹³ conidia ha⁻¹. A granular formulation of B. bassiana should be considered for the control of the stem borer C. partellus.     

拮抗放线菌菌株FS-4发酵工艺筛选

FS-4是1株对香蕉枯萎病菌有较好拮抗作用的放线菌。以高氏一号培养基为基础,通过单因素和响应面实验进行了相关优化,对FS-4菌株的发酵工艺进行筛选。结果表明：0.5%蛋白胨,2.4%蔗糖,0.05%的磷酸氢二钾、氯化钠和硫酸镁,发酵温度28 ℃,初始pH为7为最佳培养基配方及最优发酵条件。发酵62 h后,发酵液中抑菌物质活性达到最高水平,对香蕉枯萎病菌的抑菌圈直径达到27.1 mm。     

Effects of Fusarium culmorum and water stress on durum wheat in Tunisia

The effects of water stress on Fusarium foot and root rot in durum wheat were investigated in growth chamber, greenhouse and field tests in Tunisia. In the seedling stage, emergence of six durum wheat cultivars in the growth chamber was significantly reduced by inoculation with Fusarium culmorum and water stress (P<0.0001), with more disease under drier conditions. Additionally, the tiller number per mature plant, the 1000 grain weight and disease severity in mature stage were reduced by inoculation in greenhouse studies. In a field test, inoculation with F. culmorum significantly reduced the yield (P<0.001), by more than 17% for Om Rabiaa and 38% for Karim, the two cultivars tested. Yield was also significantly affected by precipitation and irrigation levels. The severity of the disease, estimated by the percentage of white heads, was separately affected by the cultivar (P<0.001) and inoculation (P = 0.0004). Percentage of white heads was 1.5 and 2 × higher in inoculated plants than non-inoculated for Om Rabiaa and Karim cultivars, respectively. Disease severity was highest in treatments with the greatest water stress. This is the first detailed study of water stress and F. culmorum on durum wheat in Tunisia, and indicates that cultivar resistance and irrigation management may be important in the management of Fusarium foot rot.     

氮肥减施对连作芝麻根际土壤细菌群落结构和功能的影响分析

以品种金黄麻为试验材料，利用高通量测序技术，研究在氮肥用量105 kg·hm^-2基础上（RSN4），氮肥减施25%、50%、75%和100%（分别记为RSN3，RSN2，RSN1和RSN0）的条件下，健康与感青枯病两种生长状态对连作芝麻产量和根际土壤细菌群落结构的影响规律，以期为芝麻合理施肥和稳产提供依据。结果表明：氮肥用量减少25%（RSN3）的芝麻产量较RSN4处理未出现明显下降。RSN2的α多样性指标Obs、Shannon和Chao1较RSN4分别高11.53%、3.39%、12.71%，而来自健康株的Shannon指数比感病株高1.61%，且氮肥减施和生长状态处理的交互作用对Shannon指数有显著影响；RSN1处理放线菌门（Actinobacteria）相对丰度较RSN3增加了39.70%，而厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）则下降了30.60%；来自健康植株根际土壤的酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria）、蓝藻门（Cyanobacteria）、硝化螺旋菌门（Nitrospirae）相对丰度较来自患病株的分别高32.42%、155.26%、38.54%，而Firmicutes较感病株下降了47.47%；RSN3的芽孢杆菌属（Bacillus）和马赛菌属（Massilia）相对丰度较RSN2的分别增加119.10%和87.18%，且RSN3的类芽胞杆菌属（Paenibacillus）相对丰度较RSN0、RSN1、RSN2显著增加59.29%~193.42%。来自健康株根际土壤细菌中的假丝酵母（Candidatus_Solibacter）和unidentified_Nostocales的相对丰度较患病株高43.68%和235.90%，而来自感病株根际土壤细菌中4种菌属（Bacillus、Massilia、Ramlibacter、Paenibacillus）的相对丰度较健康株的显著增加64.63%~106.67%；来自健康株根际土壤细菌功能碳水化合物代谢的相对丰度较来自患病株增加0.94%，而来自健康株根际土壤细菌功能膜运输的相对丰度较来自感病株的降低了2.37%；RSN3处理的根际土壤细菌功能辅助因子和维生素的代谢和核苷酸代谢的相对丰度较RSN0处理分别增加1.78%和3.63%（P < 0.05），而翻译、脂质代谢、折叠、分类和降级的相对丰度分别下降了4.58%、4.52%、7.74%（P < 0.05）。三个主要环境因子pH、速效钾、有效锌对细菌群落变化的贡献分别为3.91%、5.93%、6.94%。总之，适当减氮（减少25%）对连作芝麻产量影响较小，同时能够改善根际土壤细菌群落结构和功能，有利于红壤旱地连作芝麻健康生长。     

不同品种玉米对蔬菜大棚土壤次生盐渍化的改良效应

为了解玉米对蔬菜大棚土壤次生盐渍化的改良效应,以‘鲜玉糯2号’、‘泰系2号’、‘泰系3号’、‘伯洪5号’和‘美兰16号’5种玉米为研究对象,对其养分积累情况、不同土层养分和次生盐渍化的变化情况进行研究。结果表明：（1）‘鲜玉糯2号’的总生物量、吸氮量、吸磷量、吸钙量和吸镁量最高,分别为714.94、12.30、2.70、6.11、1.13 kg/667 m ²;（2）与不种植任何填闲作物的对照相比,各品种玉米对土壤0~20 cm的碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾、交换性钙和交换性镁含量均有一定的消减作用,其中‘鲜玉糯2号’对碱解氮、速效磷、交换性钙和交换性镁含量消减能力最佳;（3）种植玉米使土壤0~20 cm的电导率下降15.18%~35.43%,其中‘鲜玉糯2号’下降幅度最大。蔬菜大棚在休闲期种植玉米,能有效降低养分的积累,缓解土壤次生盐渍化。     

Isolation and characterization of chitinolytic rhizobacteria for the management of Fusarium wilt in tomato

Sixty-three chitinase producing rhizobacteria (CRB) were isolated from 57 rhizospheric soil samples of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) growing in different regions of Karnataka, India. Among these, 13 CRB isolates were selected based on their ability to produce chitinase, colonize roots of tomato seedlings and reduce Fusarium wilt incidence. Four of these isolates produced statistically higher levels of chitinase and also zone of clearance/colony size (CZ/CS) ratios. One Bacillus subtilis isolate (CRB20) substantially reduced the severity of Fusarium wilt under greenhouse conditions. Combined application of chitin or crude fungal cell wall (CFCW) along with this isolate, substantially enhanced the ability of the isolate to colonize tomato roots and reduced the severity of Fusarium wilt. Under greenhouse conditions, amendments of chitin and CFCW along with isolate CRB20 significantly enhanced plant height, fresh weight, number of fruits per plant and average weight of fruit compared to the untreated control. The study clearly established the significance of CRB isolates and chitin/CFCW amendment in promoting plant growth and suppression of Fusarium oxysporum, and indicated the possibility of their use for Fusarium wilt management in tomato cultivation.     

奇兰秋季红茶加工过程主要生化成分变化及相关酶基因表达

以武夷名丛奇兰秋季鲜叶为原料,按传统红茶加工工艺制成红茶,并探明其加工过程中主要生化成分含量、多酚氧化酶（PPO）活性及相关酶基因表达的变化规律,以期为秋季红茶品质改良和工艺改进提供一定参考。结果表明：从鲜叶（XY）至发酵结束（FJ8）,茶多酚、儿茶素、水浸出物、咖啡碱分别下降6.13%、15.66%、10.64%、0.10%;黄酮、茶黄素、茶红素、茶褐素、游离氨基酸分别上升4.98 mg/g、7.45 mg/g、2.03%、5.58%、0.14%,其中咖啡碱变化幅度最小。茶黄素、茶红素、茶褐素与儿茶素呈极显著负相关,相关系数分别为：-0.991、-0.969、-0.972。PPO活性呈波动变化,萎凋阶段先上升后下降,揉捻时达到峰值,为458.83 U/g,约为XY的1.67倍;发酵阶段快速下降,FJ8时,PPO酶活显著低于XY,约为XY的0.89。多酚氧化酶基因CsPPO1、CsPPO2表达变化规律一致：先上升后下降,相对表达量在萎凋15 h（WD15）最高,分别为XY的11.2、12.8倍,揉捻时开始下降,发酵阶段表达量与鲜叶无显著差异。儿茶素类代谢相关酶基因PAL、CHS、C4H、CHI、F3H、F3°5°H、FLS、DFR、LAR、ANR的表达在加工过程中均受不同程度抑制,相对表达量显著低于XY,除与CG（儿茶素没食子酸酯）呈负相关外,与儿茶素其他组分均呈正相关,但不显著,相关系数在0.130~0.750之间。     

香蕉TGA转录因子家族的鉴定及枯萎病菌胁迫下的表达分析

尖孢镰刀菌（Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense, Foc）引起的香蕉枯萎病是我国香蕉的主要病害之一,严重影响香蕉的产量和品质。TGA防御反应基因在香蕉应对尖孢镰刀菌胁迫的应答转录调控过程中至关重要。本研究以拟南芥TGA转录因子家族成员蛋白为查询序列,在香蕉基因组数据库中Blast筛选出TGA转录因子家族成员,并对该家族成员进行生物信息学分析。共鉴定得到9个香蕉TGA家族成员,分别命名为MaTGA1~MaTGA9;香蕉TGA家族蛋白富含酸性氨基酸,大部分蛋白以α螺旋为主;亚细胞定位主要在细胞核内。进化树分析表明,香蕉MaTGA转录因子家族的9个成员可分为Class Ⅰ和Class Ⅱ两类,基因结构及功能结构域的分布情况也呈现出高度一致。进一步通过RT-qPCR分析发现,MaTGA2、MaTGA3和MaTGA8在香蕉枯萎病菌侵染后的‘威廉斯’（易感病）及‘南天黄’（抗病）中均显著下调表达,MaTGA1、MaTGA6、MaTGA7和MaTGA9均呈现先下降后上升的趋势;然而MaTGA4和MaTGA5仅在‘威廉斯’中上调表达,以上结果表明MaTGA2、MaTGA3和MaTGA8在香蕉抗枯萎病中发挥重要的生物学功能。本研究结果为香蕉TGA转录因子功能挖掘奠定理论基础。     

Possible alternative utilization of Cynara spp.: I. Biomass, grain yield and chemical composition of grain

Globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) and cultivated cardoon (C. cardunculus L. var. altilis DC.) are horticulturally important crop plants. These species have potential as biomass and oilseed crops. We field tested, for 3 years, two artichoke and two cardoon cultivars and one wild cardoon (C. cardunculus L. var. sylvestris Lam.) population on the Sicilian plain of Catania (37°27′ N, 15°04′ E, 10 m a.s.l.). On a 3-year average, the dry aboveground biomass resulted about 31 t ha⁻¹ in both cultivated cardoons, 18.8 t ha⁻¹ in wild cardoon, 13.7 t ha⁻¹ in globe artichoke ‘3/10 V.S.’ and 9.9 t ha⁻¹ in globe artichoke ‘374’ F₁. The caloric values of aboveground biomass (except for seeds), which was not significantly different among genotypes, ranged between 16 005 and 17 028 KJ kg⁻¹ of dry matter. The cultivated cardoon ‘Gigante di Lucca’ had the greatest grain yield (on 3-year average, 2.6 t ha⁻¹), whereas the two globe artichokes had the lowest yield (on 3-year average, 0.5 t ha⁻¹). Regardless of genotypes and years, the grains contain 20.1% crude protein, 24.4% oil, 18.5% crude fiber and 4.1% ash (dry weight basis). The grains of globe artichokes showed the highest crude protein content (21.6%), whereas those of cardoons the highest oil content (25.2%).     

南洋楹溃疡病菌巢式PCR快速检测

由可可毛色二孢菌（Lasiodiplodia theobromae）引致的溃疡病是目前威胁南洋楹健康生产和品质的重要病害。快速、准确检测病原菌是进行病害有效防控的基础。本研究用南洋楹溃疡病菌翻译延伸因子（EF 1-α）编码基因上保守靶基因区域的序列设计特异性引物EF-AF/AR。利用EF 1-α编码基因通用引物EF-688F/986R和特异性引物EF-AF/AR组合进行巢式PCR扩增,获得264 bp的单一条带,灵敏度检测最低限度为1 fg/μL。利用建立的巢式PCR方法对林间疑似溃疡病的病样进行检测,能够特异性地检测到L. theobromae。本研究建立的巢式PCR检测方法准确、特异且灵敏性高,可为南洋楹溃疡病的早期诊断和及时防控提供基础的理论和实践依据。     

Control of Fusarium wilt of carnation using organic amendments combined with soil solarization,and report of associated Fusarium species in southern Spain

Fusarium wilt is a disease that restricts carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) yield worldwide. Efficacies in reducing the Fusarium wilt of carnation (FWC), of various types of organic amendments (fresh or pelletized poultry manure, pelletized Brassica carinata and olive residue compost) combined with soil solarization, were compared in two biennial field trials conducted in a greenhouse with a history of carnation monoculture over 8 years. Soil treatments combining organic amendments and soil solarization significantly reduced disease incidence (86–99%) and increased the number of commercial carnation stems by 5–9 times compared to non-treated plots. Twenty-one Fusarium spp. isolates, with different colony morphologies were recovered from soil samples taken in the greenhouse, before the application of treatments in June 2013. Nineteen of them were morphological and molecularly characterized. Additionally, two pathogenicity tests with 17 isolates recovered from greenhouse soils and two isolates recovered from organic amendments were performed. Fusarium species associated with carnation cultivation were identified as Fusarium oxysporum (43%), Fusarium proliferatum (24%), and Fusarium solani (33%). The phylogenetic analysis of the translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF-1α) region distinguished highly aggressive isolates of F. oxysporum f. sp. dianthi, from low aggressive isolates. The pathogenicity tests showed that FWC has a complex etiology, with several Fusarium spp. identified as causal agents. F. proliferatum and F. solani are associated with carnation wilt for the first time in Spain.     

Effects of irrigation, nitrogen and gypsum on yield, nitrogen accumulation and water use by wheat

Responses of wheat grown on a heavy clay soil in the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation Region of south-eastern Australia to a factorial combination of three irrigation treatments and nitrogen and gypsum application were investigated.Irrigation treatments included a rainfed control (treatment R_F) and irrigation on either a weekly (treatment I_w) or fortnightly (treatmnt I_F) basis beginning in spring and maintained until physiological maturity. Nitrogen was applied at 0 and 150 kg N ha⁻¹ (treatments N₀ and N₁₅₀, respectively) and gypsum at 0 and 5 t ha⁻¹. Nitrogen and gypsum treatments were applied at sowing.

Yield increased from a mean of 4 t ha⁻¹ treatment R_F to 6.6 t ha⁻¹ in treatments I_F and I_W, largely because of promotive effects of irrigation on kernel weight (increase from 31 mg to 42 mg kernel⁻¹ and kernel spikelet⁻¹ (1.4 as compared with 1.7). Seasonal conditions and the relative fertility of the site were sufficient to maximise spike number and spikelet spike⁻¹. Nitrogen increased kernel spikelet⁻¹ but effects on yield were not significant because of a decrease in kernel weight. Effects of gypsum on yield were not significant.

Water-use efficiency of both rainfed and irrigated treatments was ca. 1.25 g grain kg⁻¹ H₂O. However, transpirational water-use efficiency, calculated after allowing 110 mm water for soil evaporation, fell from 2 g kg⁻¹ in treatment R_F to 1.7 and 1.5 g kg⁻¹ in treatments I_F and I_W, respectively. The decrease was ascribed, in part, to lodging and soil evaporative losses may have been in excess of 110 mm with more frequent irrigation. Effects of N on water use could not be distinguished, again because of the initial fertility of the site, which supported rapid growth and resulted in complete canopy closure.

Nitrogen and irrigation treatments had independent effects on the concentration of N in the grain (%N_G) which increased by a mean of 0.6% with N treatment despite a decrease in N harvest index (HI_N) from 0.77 to .70. Irrigation decreased %N_G by approximately 0.5%. Approximately 90 kg pN ha⁻¹ was found in the grain of treatments R_FN₀, I_WN₀, I_wN₀ and R_FN₁₅₀ and differences in %N_G in these treatments attributed to a ‘dilution’ effect mediated by the increase in yield effected by irrigation. The grain accounted for approximately 115 kg N ha⁻¹ in treatments I_FN₁₅₀ and I_WN₁₅₀, countering the inverse relationship between %N_g and yield despite the increase in HI_N index caused by N application.     

The effect of low dose ultraviolet light-C seed treatment on induced resistance in cabbage to black rot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris)

Low doses of hormetic (n. hormesis) ultraviolet light-C (UV-C) seed treatments were used to elicit host resistance to black rot, and improve the quality and growth response of cabbages in greenhouse studies. Different UV-C doses (1.3 to 7.5 kJ m⁻²) were tested to determine their ability to induce resistance to black rot. The optimum UV-C dose of 3.6 kJ m⁻² was effective in reducing black rot and the population density of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in infected cabbage leaves. Seeds treated with UV-C at 3.6 kJ m⁻² produced plants with the most desirable color, highest weight, largest head diameter and delayed maturity. The effect of storage time at room temperature on disease incidence of black rot of cabbage from seeds treated with a low hormetic UV-C dose of 3.6 kJ m⁻², was 90%, 40%, 60% and 60% reduction of black rot in plants from UV-C treated seeds stored for 2 days, 1, 5, and 8 months, respectively, 8 weeks after transplanting cabbage plants.