Physio-pathological responses of cabbage stored under controlled atmospheres

The response of cabbage to controlled atmospheres (CA) of 1–3% O₂ and 1–10% CO₂; 3% O₂ and 5% CO₂ was studied in relation to the incidence of physiological and pathological disorders. Fungal infections, pepper spot, low oxygen injury, weight loss, colour, odour, flavour and ethanol were evaluated. The findings show that CA did not reduce Botrytis cinerea rot in comparison to low temperature storage in air. PVC film and CA, on the other hand, reduced pepper spot by over 50% with respect to the air control. In particular, pepper spot was eliminated by high CO₂ (10%) levels. Low O₂ (1% O₂ and 1% CO₂) atmospheres caused 33 and 50% injury respectively after 89 and 109 days of storage. CA and PVC film reduced weight loss to 1%, as compared with 11% in the heads in air, which had shrivelled. The combination of 3% O₂/5% CO₂ and PVC film delayed yellowing with respect to air control. Concentrations of 1–3% O₂ and 10% CO₂ resulted in off odours and flavours after 74 days of storage. This result was confirmed by a considerable increase in ethanol concentrations. The most effective concentration tested was 3%O₂/5%CO₂ although, in general, infection by B. cinerea limited the storage life.     

The Influence of Plant Water Stress on Net Photosynthesis and Leaf Area of Two Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars

The effect of plant water stress on net photosynthesis and leaf growth were investigated in order to determine to what extent leaf water potential during vegetative growth and silking affects maize development.
Two commercial maize hybrids grown in pots in a glasshouse were subjected to leaf water potentials of -1300 and -1700 kPa during the eighth leaf stage and during silking to -1700 and -2300 kPa to previously unstressed, moderately and severely stressed plants. The effect of stress on inhibiting CO₂ uptake rates and leaf areas, as well as the recovery after alleviating stress, were compared to that of unstressed plants.
No substantial differences in CO₂ uptake rates were found between medium and long seasoned cultivars. The CO₂ uptake rates per unit leaf area decreased to negative values under both moderate and severe stress conditions during both growth stages. During silking, the recovery of CO₂ uptake rate was much lower than during the eight leaf stage. Leaf area decreased proportionally with increased stress but did not recover after alleviating stress on plants stressed during both the eighth leaf and silking stages.     

Assimilation, Dissimilation and Accumulation of 14C in Two Maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrids of Different Drought Tolerance

The effects of exposure in the vegetative phase of growth to 5- or 10-day spells of soil drought (30% field water capacity) on assimilation, dissimilation and accumulation of ¹⁴C and on dry matter growth were studied in two maize hybrids, nos. 8344 and 8388 (Garst Seed Co.) of high and low drought tolerance. Under control water regime in soil there was no difference in ¹⁴CO₂ uptake and dry matter growth between hybrids. After five days of drought ¹⁴CO₂ assimilation dropped by about 75% referred to unit weight of dry matter in hybrid 8344 and by 56% in hybrid 8388. After 10 days of drought ¹⁴CO₂ assimilation rate was reduced by 75% in both hybrids. Soil drought increased the ¹⁴C dissimilation. There were no significant differences between hybrids in all treatments, with the exception of 5 days drought; after this treatment the dissimilation rate of hybrid 8344 was higher than that of 8388. Changes of translocation of ¹⁴C and its accumulation in particular organs occurred in drought treated plants; the amount of ¹⁴C accumulated in roots of plants of hybrid 8344 increased, while that of hybrid 8388 decreased. Changes of ¹⁴C accumulation in roots were positively correlated to changes of dry matter of those organs. One day after 10 days of drought assimilation and dissimilation rates in both hybrids were about 60% of controls.     

Nitrogen Fixation, Growth and Yield of Intercropped Mungbean (yigna radiata L.) and Groundnut (Aracbis bypogaea L.) as Affected by the Genotype

¹⁵N-aided investigations were conducted to ascertain the Nj fixation and the nitrogen (N) contribution by mungbean ( Vigna radiata L.) and groundnut ( Aracbis hypogaea L.) when intercropped with maize ( Zea mays ). The study involved growing seven genotypes of the above legumes with maize in alternate rows in two separate experiments. A sole crop of maize was used as the reference crop to determine N2 fixation by the ¹⁵N methodology. Significant genotypic differences in pod yield and stover N content were observed in intercropped mungbean and groundnut. The percentage N derived from the atmosphere showed a genotypic variation of 31 to 45 % (7 to 10 kg N₂ fixed ha⁻¹O in mungbean and 47 to 69 % (9 to 18 kg N₂ fixed ha⁻¹) in groundnut. Harvest index for N varied from 58 to 77 % in mungbean and 55 to 75 % in groundnut. In groundnut, the uptake of soil N was significantly affected by the genotype. Assuming that the N contribution to the soil by the helow-ground plant parts was negligible, the removal of seeds at maturity resulted in a negative N balance in the soil in all the genotypes of mungbean. In groundnut, some genotypes produced a positive N balance in the soil. Owing to high N₂ fixation capacity and low harvest index for N, groundnut showed a greater N supplementing ability than mungbean.     

Pflanzenwachstum durch CO2/HCO3-Eintrag über die Wurzel

Plant Growth after Application of CO₂/HCO₃ to the Roots
After applying H¹⁴CO₃ to the root system of summer wheat in hermetically sealed pots, absorption and incorporation of HCO₃ in the sugar-, starch-, and fibre-fraction (approximately 50 % of the absorped ¹⁴C) could be shown. This fraction reached 0.44–1.21 % of total C-assimilation of the shoot during growing stage F9/F10 on the Feeke-scala. 1/3 of the HCO₃-fraction resting in the soil was bound organically indicating that microorganisms may be able to utilize exogenous anorganic CO₂/HCO₃ for their photosynthesis.     

Drying and Storage Method to Prolong Seed Viability and Seedling Vigour of Rabi-summer-produced Groundnut

Rabi-summer-produced (dry season, February–May) groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) cv. GG 2 was dried using three different methods, viz. windrow (W), windrow-shade (WS) and DOR (Directorate of Oilseeds Research) methods and stored in polyethylene lined gunny bags with or without desiccant (CaCl₂ or silica gel, 10gkg⁻¹ pods). The seeds were analysed for the retentation of seed viability, seedling vigour, membrane integrity and Held emergence during storage, and crop stand and pod yield after 12 months of storage. The drying and storage method significantly affected the getminability, seedling vigour and field emergence. Both root length and seedling biomass were adversely affected due to windrow drying (W) The quick loss of viability in the W treatment was associated with an increase in electrical conductivity of the seed leachate. The retention of higher seed viabiliry and vigour in the seeds dried by DOR method and stored with CaCl₂ (DOR C) was due to lower drying remperarures and lower pod moisture during the initial storage period. The DOR C method was found to be an effective drying and storage method for retaining acceptable seed viability and vigour till the following rabi-summer sowing of groundnut.     

Production of intergeneric hybrids between Raphanm and Moricandia

Intergeneric F₁ hybrids between Raphanus sativus (2n = 18, RR) and Moricandia arvensis (2n = 28, MaMa) have been produced through ovary culture followed by embryo culture, when M. arvensis was used as a pistillate parent. Six BC₁ plants were also obtained through ovary culture followed by embryo culture in the backcross of an amphidiploid F₁, hybrid with R. sativus cv. 'Pink ball'. Two BC₁ plants were ses-quidiploids (2n = 32, MaRR), and the other BC₁, plants were hyperploid with 2n = 55, having MaMaRRR genomes. BC₂, seeds were obtained by conventional pollination in the successive backcross of two sesquidiploid BC₁, plants with R. sativus cv. 'Pink ball'. Their seed set percentages were 12.7% and 17.0%, respectively. These novel hybrid plants and derived progenies may be valuable materials for the genetic investigation and breeding of Brassiceae , including R. sativus.     

Influence of Soil Drought on Plant Growth, Assimilation and Dissimilation of CO2 and Accumulation of Photosynthates in Field Bean (Vicia faba L. minor) During Pod Formation and Rapid Pod Growth

Field bean planes cultivar Nadwiślański were submitted to soil drought (30 % of field soil water capacity) for 5 days at the stage of pod formation (A) and of rapid pod growth (B) and then exposed for 20 minutes to ¹⁴CO₂. Radioactivity of leaves, stems, roots, and pods or pod shells and seeds was measured 1, 5, 24 and 48 hours after exposition.
In both stages soil drought reduced by about five times total CO₂ assimilation, mainly owing to lower activity of the photosynthetic apparatus and also, though less so, to reduced leaf growth. Photosynthetic activity referred to the dry weight of the leaves dropped to 22-35% of controls. Accumulation of photosynthetates in generative organs was much less depressed than ¹⁴CO₂ assimilation. 48 hours after exposition to ¹⁴CO₂ of drought treated plants, the contents of ¹⁴C of pods in phase A, and seeds in phase B, amounted to respectively 24% and 36% of assimilated ¹⁴C and equalled 91.5% and 74% of the corresponding values for controls.
The progressive decline of radioactivity in leaves and stems after ¹⁴CO₂ exposition was distinctly correlated to the rise of radioactivity of generative organs both in soil drought treated plants and in controls. Slightly lower values of correlation coefficients in drought treated plants may indicate impairment under drought conditions of synchronization in processes of unloading and accumulation of assimilates.
In plants drought treated in phase A the ability to dissimilate ¹⁴C was reduced to about 59% of that in controls, but when drought was applied in phase B, dissimilation rate was about three times as high.     

Effect of Intercropping on Yield Attributes of Chickpea and Safflower Under Different Soil Moisture Regimes and Population Densities

An experiment with eight cropping systems (pure and intercropping) with three levels of irrigations I₀, I₁ and I₂ based on the physiological growth stages of safflower and chickpea was conducted during the rabi (winter) season of 1983—84 and 1984—85. The eight cropping systems were CS₁— sole chickpea, CS₂— sole safflower, CS₃— paired rows of chickpea, CS₄— paired rows of safflower, CS₅— chickpea + 50% safflower, CS₆— safflower + 50% chickpea, CS₇— chickpea + 75% safflower and CS₈— safflower + 75% chickpea. Sole crop of chickpea always had higher yield component than inter-cropping. However, none of the yield components in safflower was influenced by intercropping except number and weight of capsules per plant in 1983—84 only. With regard to levels of irrigation chickpea and safflower responded to two irrigations.     

Allometric Relationships of Growth Components in Maize (Zen mays L.) Cultivars

Allometric relationship (W₁=αW₂^β, where α and β are the parameters) was fitted among growth components in two maize cultivars viz., Decani hybrid and Deccan 101 in order to obtain estimates of other components of the plant system which are time consuming measurements. The results of the agronomic field trial conducted at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore were used. This model's predictability was compared with linear regression model. In both the cultivars, allometric model using leaf area (LA - W₂.) and leaf dry matter (LDM - W₂) simulated total dry matter production (DMP - W₂) by 79 to 98 % of actual values. Further allometric model fitted well to predict stem dry matter by 91 to 93 % using LDM and LA 89 to 92 % using LDW. Whereas linear regression model estimated total DMP by 95 to 96 % using cob dry matter. In case of LDM - LA association, linear regression model was found to be the best than other model. The leaf area decreased after silking in both the cultivars and the ratio of growth rates of DMP – LA ( β ₂) was negative. Between cultivars, cv. Deccan 101 had higher R² values in most of the relationships than cv. Deccan hybrid indicating the varietal difference.     

Seasonal Changes in the Photosynthetic Capacity of Winter Rape Plants under Different Nitrogen Regimes Measured in the Field

Winter rape (cv.'Falcon') grown under different nitrogen regimes (N₀, N₁₂₀; 0 and 120 kg.ha⁻¹, respectively) in northern Germany was investigated over the 1996 spring–summer season. Using a CO₂, H₂O diffusion porometer, diurnal courses or net photosynthesis and respiration were measured in situ and were related to microclimatic conditions and leaf water relations. Photosynthesis was modelled and daily CO₂ gain was calculated. In contrast to the N₁₂₀ plants, plants of the low nitrogen plot (N₀) grew less densely and their leaves behaved more like sun leaves. Increased nitrogen supply had little influence on photosynthetic capacity but it increased productivity through higher leaf area index and an extended period of photosynthetic activity. N₁₂₀ plants also appeared to be better acclimated to hot, summer conditions. Higher nitrogen supply substantially increased seed production with the yield of the N₁₂₀ plants being 16% of the N₀ plants.     

Effects during Period of Siliqua Developing of KH2PO4 and MgSO4 Application on Nitrogen Transportation in Pods of Oilseed Rape(Brassica napus L.)

An experiment was conducted in field experiment plot to investigate nitrogen transportation from hulls of pods in different periods at early stage of siliqua developing and effect of KH₂PO₄ and MgSO₄ application on it using ¹⁵N-urea.
More than 80 % of ¹⁵N applied on the surface of pods at lower terminal during flowering was recovered from all pods one month after flowering, most of them were still in the hulls of labelled pods, 17-27 % of ^l5N applied was transported into seeds, a small amount was transported to pods at upper terminal, a little amount was found in pods at branch. More ^l5N applied in middle period of flowering was transported to pods at upper terminal and branch than those applied in early period of flowering. It should be further investigated to conclude how will be going on transportation of nitrogen from hulls as preceding of siliqua developing towards maturity of seeds and its difference between ¹⁵N applied in more different periods.
Application of KH₂PO₄ and MgSO₄ with ¹⁵N-urea of surface of pods promoted transportation of ¹⁵N into seeds from hulls, effect of MgSO₄ was more notable.     

Effect of Whole Season CO2 Enrichment on the Cultivation of a Medicinal Plant, Digitalis lanata

A versatile method was developed for the application of 1000 ppm CO₂ during the whole growth period of plants. Temperature controlled water cooling and ventilation of the greenhouse resulted in a monthly CO₂ enrichment time of 60 to 90 % of the total light period. Digitalis lanata , grown in greenhouses with CO₂ enrichment during the whole growth phase from April to November, produced twice as much biomass as field cultivated plants.
The relative yield of the glycoside digoxin per gram Digitalis drug dry weight was 0.4% in field grown and 0.7% in greenhouse cultivated plants. The production of digoxin per hectare in the greenhouse at 1000 ppm CO₂ was almost 3.5-fold that by field cultivation. Drug yield and secondary metabolite production in D. lanata were remarkably influenced by increased temperature and elevated CO₂ partial pressure in the greenhouse.     

Inheritance of time of flowering in upland cotton under natural conditions

Time to flowering is an essential component of the adaptation and productivity of cotton ( Gossipium hirsutum ) in various agro-ecological zones. This article presents a study of the genetic control of this trait in two crosses obtained from different early-maturity parental lines. In each cross, multiple generations including P₁, F₁, P₂, B₁, B₂ and F₂ were evaluated under two natural field conditions in 2004 and 2005. The data on time to flowering in the F₂ populations had a continuous distribution but deviated from normality. A joint segregation analysis (JSA) revealed that time of flowering in upland cotton was controlled by a mixture of an additive major gene and additive-dominant polygenes. The first- and second-order genetic parameters were all calculated based on the mixture of major gene and polygene inheritance models using JSA. These results suggested that there was considerable genetic diversity and complexity in days to anthesis in upland cotton. This variation can be used to formulate the most efficient breeding strategy and to design cotton for a particular environment.     

Interactive Effect of Nitrogen and Sulphur on Growth and Yield of Rape-seed-Mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern. and Coss. and Brassica campestris L.) Genotypes

A simple randomized field experiment was conducted to assess the growth and yield of rape-seed-mustard in relation to sulphur and nitrogen interaction. Three levels of sulphur (0, 40 and 60 kg ha⁻¹) in combination with three levels of nitrogen (60, 100 and 150 kg ha⁻¹) were tested as treatments, T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄, and T₅. Results indicated significant favourable effects of sulphur and nitrogen, when applied together, on yield components, seed and oil yield. Maximum response was observed with treatment T₃ (having S and N of 40 and 100 kg ha¹, respectively). Percentage oil content of seed was maximal at T₄ (having S and N of 60 and 100 kg ha¹) in both cultivars. The increase in N dose from 100 to 150 kg ha⁻¹ without any change in applied S, i.e. 60 kg ha¹ (T₅), decreased the percentage oil content. The seed and oil yield, however, were similar to T₃. Favourable responses of S and N interaction on leaf area index, rate of photosynthesis and biomass production were also observed.     

Conversion of SO2−4-S and Changes in Glucosinolate Content in Leaves of Rape Seedlings Transplanted

The conversion of SO^2-₄ -S and changes in content of S in various constituents in leaves of rape seedlings transplanted were investigated by using (NH₄)₂³⁵SO₄ as a tracer to exploit formation and accumulation of glucosinolates in oilseed rape. Seedlings grown under sandy culture absorbed ³⁵SO^2-₄ which was added to the cultural solution and incorporated into amino acids, glucosinolates and proteins rapidly. Distribution of extractable ³⁵S with 70 % methanol in glucosinolates in leaves declined with time from labelling, while those in amino acids rised correspondingly. Per cents of ³⁵S incorporated into bound form in total ³⁵S increased linearly and those of ³⁵S into glucosinolates and amino acids decreased with time within five days from labelling. After that the relative amounts of ^3SS in three constituents was basically constant. Content on dry weight basis of labelled glucosinolates and amino acids expressed as μmol S/g.d.w. increased linearly with time from labelling with absorption of ³⁵SO^2-₄from soil by the seedlings under soil culture. Compared with seedlings grown under sandy culture, more ³⁵S was incorporated into glucosinolates in leaves of seedlings grown under soil culture.     

Nitrogen Fixation by Hybrids of White Clover (Trifolium repens L.) and Trifolium nigrescens

Development of hybrids between white clover ( Trifolium repens L.) and Trifolium nigrescens provides a novel route for genetically improving the reproductive capacity of white clover, provided the hybrids are agronomically viable, particularly with respect to N₂ fixation. A comparative study of growth and rates of N₂ fixation over 21 days was conducted with the parental species, F ₁ hybrids and backcross hybrids, in flowing solution culture, without a supply of mineral N to the plants. T. nigrescens was unable to fix N₂ in association with the strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar. trifolii selected for inoculation. Rates of N₂ fixation per plant increased in the order T. nigrescens < F ₁ hybrid < T. repens < backcross 1. Specific rates of N₂ fixation (days 0–21) increased in the order T. nigrescens < F ₁ hybrid < backcross 1 <  T. repens . Dry matter production and nodule biomass per plant increased at a higher rate in backcross 1 hybrids than in T. repens. The results suggest that the potential for N₂ fixation by backcross 1 hybrids is at least as great as that by T. repens .     

Cumulative Effects of Pre-sowing Seed Treatment and Foliar Application of Salts in Improving Biomass and Grain Yield of Soybean in Moderate Saline/alkaline Soil

Field trial studies were carried out to find out whether performance of soybean could be improved as a result of pre-sowing soaking treatment of seeds. Comparatively pre-sowing seed treatment with KNO₃, NaNO₃, NaCl, thiourea and di-Ammonium phosphate (DAP) resulted in better development of the root and shoot system than the control. As a result of pre sowing seed treatment, there was an increase in dry matter production by 44, 27 and 32 % over the control in KNO₃, NaNO₃ and DAP treatments respectively. Similarly increase in seed yield was noticed in NaNO₃ (45 %), KNO₃ (40 %) and DAP (50 %) pretreated plants. The number of existing nodules was reduced both in the control and treated plants due to pH (8.4) of the soil.
To investigate the cumulative effects of foliar spray on plants raised from pre-sowing seed treatment, salt solutions (NaCl, KNO₃, NaNO₃, thiourea, DAP) at optimal level were sprayed separately three times at three different stages of development. As a result of foliar spray moderate increase in growth in KNO₃ (20 %), thiourea (29 %) and DAP (25 %) treatment was observed over the control. Seed yield increased significantly (56–70 %) in all treatments except NaCl spray, due to increase in the number of pods (41–63 %) per plant. Foliar spray of nutrients increased protein yield without affecting the oil content. It is suggested that a considerable fertilizer economy may be effected by coupling pre-sowing seed treatment with foliar fertilization.     

Stoffbildung, CO2-Gaswechsel, Kohlenhydrat- und Stickstoffgehalt von Winterweizen bei erhöhter CO2-Konzentration und Trocken-streß

Dry Matter Production, CO₂ Exchange, Carbohydrate and Nitrogen Content of Winter Wheat at Elevated CO₂ Concentration and Drought Stress
Methods of mathematical modelling and simulation are being used to an increasing degree in estimating the effects of rising atmospheric CO₂ concentration and changing climatic conditions on agricultural ecosystems. In this context, detailed knowledge is required about the possible effects on crop growth and physiological processes. To this aim, the influence of an elevated CO₂ concentration and of drought stress on dry matter production, CO₂ exchange, and on carbohydrate and nitrogen content was studied in two winter wheat varieties from shooting to milk ripeness. Elevated CO₂ concentration leads to a compensation of drought stress and at optimal water supply to an increase of vegetative dry matter and of yield to the fourfold value. This effects were caused by enhanced growth of secondary tillers which were reduced in plants cultivated at atmospheric CO₂ concentration. Analogous effects in the development of ear organs were influenced additionally by competitive interactions between the developing organs. The content and the mass of ethanol soluble carbohydrates in leaves and stems were increased after the CO₂ treatment and exhausted more completely during the grain filling period after drought stress. Plants cultivated from shooting to milk ripeness at elevated CO₂ concentration showed a reduced response of net photosynthesis rate to increasing CO₂ concentration by comparison with untreated plants. The rate of dark respiration was increased in this plants.     

Hybridization of Thinopyrum distichum and Secale cereale

An attempt was made to determine whether the salt tolerance genes of Thinopyrum distichum would be expressed in the presence of the rye genomes and if it would be possible to improve and utilize its hybrid with rye as a salt-tolerant fodder crop. Th. distichum florets were pollinated with diploid and tetraploid rye but hybrids were obtained only with tetraploid rye. The F₁ had 28 chromosomes and expressed high levels of salt tolerance. Fertility could not be induced through colchicines treatment but the plants produced some apomictic seeds during the summer months. The F₂ had 20-22 chromosomes and retained two complete or near-complete rye genomes. The F₂ plants responded better to colchicine treatment, however, the doubled hybrids remained male sterile. In summer, one F2 plant produced many apomictic seeds with chromosome numbers ranging from 14 to 16 (primarily rye chromosomes). The mechanism that caused the preferential loss of Thinopyrum chromosomes in each apomictic cycle remains unknown. The F₃ phenotypically resembled rye, had primarily reductional male meioses and produced seemingly functional pollen, but were self-sterile.