小麦旗叶与幼苗性状的QTL分析

为挖掘控制小麦幼苗性状与旗叶性状的QTL,并探讨两者的遗传基础,以京冬8号和矮抗58构建的RIL群体(207个家系)为材料,田间试验测定旗叶相关性状,水培试验测定幼苗期相关性状,通过完备区间作图对这些性状进行QTL研究。结果共检测到10个控制旗叶性状的QTL,单个QTL可解释1.98%～9.89%的表型变异,其中有6个QTL为主效QTL,分别位于1A、4D和5D染色体上;共检测到22个控制幼苗性状的QTL,单个QTL可解释1.14%～10.52%的表型变异,仅有2个QTL为主效QTL,分别位于1A和4D染色体上。除3D染色体上控制幼苗根长的QTL以及5D染色体上控制旗叶面积和旗叶宽的QTL表现为部分显性效应外,与其他性状有关的QTL均表现为超显性效应。1A、2D、4D、5A、5D和7A染色体上的分子标记存在多效性,其中2D(wmc170)和4D(barc308)染色体上与幼苗性状QTL紧密连锁的分子标记(wmc170和barc308)也与旗叶性状QTL紧密连锁。     

小麦茎秆强度关联位点及优异等位变异分析

为发掘与小麦茎秆强度紧密关联标记位点的优异等位变异和携带优异等位变异的载体资源,本研究以126份小麦种质为材料,基于混合线性模型（mixed linear model,MLM）对2011-2012、2012-2013和2013-2014三个年度的茎秆强度进行标记位点关联分析,并对关联住点等位变异的表型效应进行分析。结果表明,wmc83(2B)、gwm539(2D)、barc358(5A)、barc59(5B)和barc134(6B)均与茎秆强度显著关联,且可在3个环境下同时检测到,表型解释率均大于8%;共发掘出11种优异等位变异,分别为wmc83-A110、wmc83-A147、wmc83-A151、gwm539-A120、barc358-A179/161、barc358-A185/161、barc358-A185/179、barc358-A190/161、barc59-A182、barc59-A191和barc134-A194,其中wmc83-A110的增效效应最大。供试材料的茎秆强度随优异等位变异聚合数目的增多而增大,其中黄淮南片麦区、黄淮北片麦区、长江中下游麦区和西南麦区的供试材料中携带2（40.3%）、1（27.8%）、1（35.3%）和4（50.0%）种优异等位变异的分布频率最高。内麦10号等9份材料聚合4种及以上的优异等位变异,且茎秆强度较高,可作为相应麦区小麦茎秆强度遗传改良的种质资源。     

小麦黑胚病抗性遗传研究进展

小麦黑胚病病因复杂,链格孢（Alternaria alternata）、麦根腐平脐蠕孢（Bipolaris Sorokiniana）、层出镰刀菌（Fusarium proliferatum）等多种真菌是引起小麦黑胚病的主要病原。有限的研究报告显示,小麦对黑胚病的抗性具有数量性状特征,QTL定位研究尚处于初级阶段。目前报道的小麦抗黑胚病QTLs位于1D、2A、2B、2D、3D、4A、5A、7A等多条染色体上。小麦第2部分同源群携带了较多抗病QTLs,与这些QTLs连锁的分子标记有gwm319(2B)、gwm341(3DS)和wmc048(4AS)等,但是还没有见到这些标记在抗小麦黑胚病新品种培育中应用的报道。综上所述,针对目前小麦黑胚病抗性遗传研究中缺乏准确的抗性鉴定方法和病原不清导致的QTL定位结果不可靠的问题,应在明确病原菌的情况下,采取可靠的接菌鉴定方法进行QTL定位研究并开发分子标记,以期辅助抗黑胚病株系的选择。     

小麦籽粒性状的QTL定位

为了明确小麦籽粒性状的遗传控制基础,以γ射线诱变结合花药培养创制的大粒、高蛋白小麦新种质H307及生产上主栽品种郑麦9023创建的含有310个株系的重组自交系为实验材料,利用QTL-ICIMapping V3.3软件构建了包含133对SSR标记的遗传连锁图谱,对千粒重、粒长、粒宽、籽粒面积、周长、粗蛋白和淀粉含量进行QTL分析,结果在两年环境条件下共检测到47个加性QTL和10个QTL富集区,其中6个千粒重QTL,分别位于1D、2B、3D、6D和7A染色体上,单个QTL可解释4.54%~13.14%的表型变异;31个粒形QTL,位于1B、1D、2B、3B、3D、5A、5D、6B、6D、7A和7D染色体上,单个QTL可解释2.90%~15.86%的表型变异;10个粗蛋白和淀粉含量QTL,分别位于1A、1B、4B和6A染色体上,单个QTL可解释3.64%~12.19%的表型变异。2B染色体上检测到1个贡献率较大且能稳定表达的重要染色体区段,该区段包含控制小麦千粒重、粒长、粒宽、籽粒面积和周长的10个QTL。1BL染色体上检测到1个控制籽粒粗蛋白含量的微效QTL,对表型的贡献率为3.64%,与连锁分子标记gwm818的遗传距离为0.22cM,该位点是一个不同于前人研究结果的新位点。     

水分和盐胁迫下小麦种子萌发相关性状的QTL定位

小麦萌发期对水分和盐胁迫敏感，对该时期水分和盐胁迫下种子萌发性状进行QTL定位具有重要的意义。本研究以小麦“泰农18×临麦6号” RIL群体为材料，以20%PEG-6000溶液和100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl溶液分别模拟水分和盐胁迫环境，对种子萌发期10个性状进行了QTL定位。结果表明，在正常、水分胁迫和盐胁迫3种不同处理下各性状变异较大。相关分析表明，抗旱和耐盐可能是两个独立遗传的性状，胚芽鞘长可以作为节水抗旱的鉴定指标。3种处理下共检测到10个萌发相关性状的103个QTL，其中，17个为相对高频QTL（RHF-QTL），分布在7条染色体（1A、3A、3B、4B、7A、7B和7D）上，平均贡献率为7.55%~15.97%。这些RHF-QTL形成4个QTL簇（QTL cluster,QC），分布在3A、7A和7D染色体上。其中，7A染色体上的QC2包括3个RHF-QTLs（ QSdw-7A.1、 QGf-7A.1和 QGi-7A.1），均与小麦耐盐性相关；7D染色体上的QC3包括2个RHF-QTLs（ QGi-7D.1、 QGdrc-7D.1），均与小麦节水抗旱性相关。这2个QCs增加效应均来自母本泰农18。本研究获得的RHF-QTLs和QCs，可为小麦萌发期节水抗旱和耐盐分子标记辅助选择提供理论和技术支持。     

小麦成熟期QTL定位与分析

小麦成熟期对粮食周年丰产具有重要的决定作用。为了给小麦分子标记辅助育种提供可用的分子标记,本研究以人工合成六倍体小麦(Turtur)和T.spelta L.衍生系(Bubo)为亲本创制的包含186个家系的RIL群体(F6)为材料,构建了包含5 301个标记(4 120个DArT标记、621个SNP标记和560个传统DArT标记),总长为2 464cM的遗传连锁图谱,利用Windows QTL Cartographer 2.5软件的复合区间作图法对在3年4点环境下的成熟期性状进行QTL检测,在LOD2.5水平下,共定位到15个QTL,分布于小麦的1A、2B、2D、3A、4A、4B、5B、7A和7B染色体上,可解释4.42～12.67的表型变异。其中在1A染色体上控制小麦成熟期的QTL贡献率最大;4B染色体的1215714-1068877F0-44CG区间内3年3点均检测到的QTL与1215714标记遗传距离为0.01cM,近乎共分离,为下一步分子标记辅助选择的精准性提供了坚实的基础。     

小麦籽粒蛋白质组分含量的QTL定位

为了给分子标记辅助选择和小麦品质育种提供依据,以小麦杂交组合99G44×京771重组自交系群体(RIL)为材料,采用复合区间作图法对小麦籽粒蛋白质组分含量进行了QTL分析,结果检测出1个与清蛋白含量有关的显著加性效应QAIb-3A,位于3A染色体,位点总贡献率为1.65%;检测出1个与球蛋白含量有关的显著加性效应QGlo-2A,位于2A染色体,位点的总贡献率为7.08%;检测出2个与醇溶蛋白含量有关的显著加性效应QGli-1B和QGli-6D,分别位于1B、6D染色体,位点总贡献率为16.11%;检测出2个与谷蛋白含量有关的显著加性效应QGIu-2D和QGlu-5A,分别位于2D、5A染色体,位点总贡献率为14.71%.     

小麦RIL群体苗期抗旱性状的QTL分析

为给小麦抗旱基因克隆以及分子标记辅助育种提供参考,以小麦"泰农18×临麦6号"RIL群体的184个家系为材料,用PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫对小麦苗期抗旱相关性状进行QTL分析。结果,共检测到43个QTL,位于除1B、3D、4D、5A、5D、6D和7A外的14条染色体上,其中,控制根数的QTL 9个、苗高的QTL 5个、最大根长的QTL 5个、苗鲜重的QTL 3个、根鲜重的QTL 6个、苗干重的QTL 1个、根干重的QTL 3个、鲜重根冠比的QTL 3个、干重根冠比的QTL 3个,控制抗旱系数的QTL为5个。单一QTL可解释3.39%～32.63%的表型变异。28个QTL为正值,表明QTL的增加效应来自于母本泰农18;30个QTL表现为负值,表明其增加效应来自于父本临麦6号。11个QTL为在两个或两个以上环境下检测到的相对高频QTL(RHF-QTL)。在4B染色体上检测到1个QTL簇,包括4个形态性状(苗高、苗鲜重、苗干重、鲜重根冠比)的RHF-QTL( QSh-4B-1、 QSfw-4B-1、 QSdw-4B-1、 QRsfw-4B-1)和1个抗旱系数QTL( QRsfw-D-4B-1),其贡献率均超过10%。该QTL簇的分子标记可以用于标记辅助选择。     

利用人工合成小麦RIL群体进行小麦穗长和穗宽性状的QTL分析

为了挖掘小麦穗长和穗宽性状相关QTL,并为人工合成小麦优异基因资源的开发利用奠定基础,以普通小麦品种西农389×人工合成小麦材料KU98的F_(7∶8) RIL群体为试验材料,基于小麦55K SNP芯片对F_(7∶8)群体分型结果绘制的遗传连锁图谱及2018和2019年调查统计的F_7群体表型数据,对小麦穗长和穗宽性状进行了QTL定位分析。结果表明,在1A、2D、3A、5A和7B染色体上检测到10个与穗长性状相关的QTL,在2D、4D、5A、6A和7D染色体上检测到10个与穗宽性状相关的QTL,其中与穗长相关的 qSL-2D.1和与穗宽相关的 qSW-4D.1、 qSW-5A.1在两年中均被检测到,标记区间分别为AX-111939856～AX-111497351、AX-169335104～AX-110618708、AX-108792246～AX-111048027。 qSW-5A.1连续两年均为主效QTL,且与 qSL-5A.2在同一标记区间,推测该位点具有一因多效的遗传效应或连锁遗传效应。     

小麦籽粒淀粉含量的QTL定位及效应分析

为深入了解小麦籽粒淀粉含量的遗传特性和QTL效应,选择淀粉含量差异较大的小麦品种M344和武春3号杂交,创制F2∶3群体,并利用973对SSR引物对小麦籽粒总淀粉、直链淀粉和抗性淀粉含量进行基于混合线性模型的QTL定位及效应分析。构建了包含有163个标记的遗传连锁图谱,分布于18条染色体,连锁图谱总长度为1 622.5cM,标记间平均距离为9.95cM。QTL分析表明,共检测到4个主效QTL和12对上位性QTL,涉及1B、2B、2D、4A、5D、6A和7A等16条染色体。其中,抗性淀粉含量上位性QTL3对,总淀粉含量上位性QTL 4对,直链淀粉含量上位性QTL 5对,总贡献率分别为8.34%、17.50%和8.13%。总淀粉和直链淀粉含量各检测到1个加性QTL,抗性淀粉含量检测到2个加性QTL,贡献率分别为5.34%、8.49%、11.47%、12.53%。研究发现,2B染色体Xwmc453.3~Xcfd44.2标记区间的QTL位点同时影响抗性淀粉和总淀粉含量,2D染色体Xgwm296~Xgwm455.2标记区间的QTL位点同时影响抗性淀粉和直链淀粉含量,7A染色体Xwmc488.1~Xwmc488.2标记区间的QTL位点同时影响直链淀粉和总淀粉含量。     

In vitro reproduction in the annual pasture legumes subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and French serradella (Ornithopus sativus Brot.)

Pasture legumes are important components of both mixed farming rotations and permanent pastures in temperate climates. Breeding of two widely sown pasture legumes, subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and French serradella (Ornithopus sativus Brot.), is constrained by the long generation cycle, typically enabling only one generation per year. We hypothesized manipulation of culture medium and conditions would enable the development of a laboratory‐based protocol for in vitro reproduction in subterranean clover and French serradella. In vitro flowering and viable seed set was induced from both species. For subterranean clover, the most effective treatment was culturing on modified MS medium with 1 μm kinetin and 0·1 m sucrose under a 100 μmol m^?2 s^?1 light intensity and continuous photoperiod. For French serradella, culture on a hormone‐free B5 medium with 5 mm NH₄Cl and 0·1 m sucrose under a 100 μmol m^?2 s^?1 light intensity and 20 h photoperiod was optimum. It is expected this technique will have application in accelerating generation turnover within breeding programs, for the study of factors influencing flowering in pasture legumes, and for the propagation of valuable yet enfeebled plants such as embryo‐rescued hybrids.     

Pharmacokinetics of Marine-Derived Drugs

Marine organisms represent an excellent source of innovative compounds that have the potential for the development of new drugs. The pharmacokinetics of marine drugs has attracted increasing interest in recent decades due to its effective and potential contribution to the selection of rational dosage recommendations and the optimal use of the therapeutic arsenal. In general, pharmacokinetics studies how drugs change after administration via the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). This review provides a summary of the pharmacokinetics studies of marine-derived active compounds, with a particular focus on their ADME. The pharmacokinetics of compounds derived from algae, crustaceans, sea cucumber, fungus, sea urchins, sponges, mollusks, tunicate, and bryozoan is discussed, and the pharmacokinetics data in human experiments are analyzed. In-depth characterization using pharmacokinetics is useful for obtaining information for understanding the molecular basis of pharmacological activity, for correct doses and treatment schemes selection, and for more effective drug application. Thus, an increase in pharmacokinetic research on marine-derived compounds is expected in the near future.     

Estimation of lucerne yield stability for enabling effective cultivar selection under rainfed conditions

Evaluation of crop and forage yield stability is of increasing relevance in the context of current and recent environmental changes but, in contrast to other field crops, there are no published systematic analyses among forage crops in Europe. A study of stability performance was conducted with 13 Czech cultivars of lucerne at four locations over a 2‐year period with the following aims: (a) to evaluate yield stability of varieties across different environments and (b) to calculate measurable benefits of variety selection in relation to the specific environment. The cultivar Vlasta was identified as the highest yielding cultivar (annual yield 16.0 t DM/ha), whereas the lowest yielding cv. Magda, Tereza and Oslava averaged around 14.9 t DM/ha. Effect of genotype × environment interaction (G × E) was two times higher than for genotype alone. Additive main effects and the multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model showed that the highest yielding cultivars may not be stable across environments. This study demonstrated further that significant yield improvement could be detected, even among a relatively homogenous group of domestic cultivars, and this was driven mainly by site productivity: the improvement was +10% in low‐yielding sites, compared with +3% in high‐yielding sites. Results highlight that advanced agronomy should also consider stability parameters such as AMMI stability value or superiority measures for forage crops in response to the challenges associated with climate change.     

La pourriture fongique des tubercules de pomme de terre en atmosphère contrôlée

Résumé Fusarium culmorum et, dans une moindre mesure,F. avenaceum, F. sambucinum, Colletotrichum coccodes etCylindrocarpon sp. ont été isolés de tubercules entreposés en atmosphère contr?lée (AC) et atteints de pourriture grave. Des expériences d'inoculation de tubercules avec 10 espèces ou variétés fongiques et conservation en AC à 8 et 10°C ont montré que: 1) les champignons non pathogènes en atmosphère normale (ex.:Cylindrocarpon sp.) le devenaient en AC, 2) ceux qui étaient faiblement pathogènes en atmosphère normale étaient nettement plus virulents en AC (ex.:F. culmorum), 3) les espèces ou variétés virulentes en conditions d'air normales (Fusarium sulphureum etPhoma exigua var.foveata) ne provoquaient pas de pourriture plus grave en AC et leur activité pouvait même être légérement freinée.

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Summary The extensive rotting of tubers which occurred during storage trials in controlled atmospheres has led to a mycological and pathological study of the rots. The most frequently isolated species wasFusarium culmorum althoughF. avenaceum, F. Sambucinum, Coletotrichum coccodes and aCylindrocarpon sp. were also present. Tubers of cvs Bintje and Ulla were inoculated with 19 isolates of 10 fungal species or varieties associated with rotting of stored tubers (Table 1). The tubers were incubated at 8 or 10°C in normal or controlled (2% O₂:1% CO₂, 2% O₂:6% CO₂, 2% O₂:12% CO₂, 6% O₂:6% CO₂) atmospheres and the extent of rotting was determined a month later (Tables 2 and 3 and Fig. 2). Species which were weakly virulent in a normal atmosphere (variousFusarium spp. andPhoma exigua var.exigua) were clearly more aggressive in the controlled atmosphere and this was especially evident in the case ofF. culmorum. Species ot pathogenic in a normal atmosphere under experimental conditions (Colletotrichum coccodes, Cylindrocarpon sp.,Phoma eupyrena) caused rotting in the controlled atmosphere. The two species which were virulent in a normal atmosphere (F. sulphureum andP. exigua var.foveata) were also virulent in the controlled atmosphere and in some cases the extent of rotting was even less. As a general rule, rotting caused by weakly virulent fungi was greater in both cultivars in the controlled than in a normal atmosphere.

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Zusammenfassung Eine starke F?ulnis von in Kontrotrollierter Atmosph?re gelagerten Kartoffelknollen veranlasste eine mykologische und pathologische Untersuchung. Der am h?ufigsten isolierte Pilz warFusarium culmorum. F. avenaceum, F. sambucinum, Colletotrichum coccodes undCylindrocarpon sp. wurden ebenfalls bestimmt. Neunzehn St?mme von 10 Pilzsorten oder-Arten welche bei Lagerf?ulnis vorkommen (Tab. 1) wurden auf Knollen der Sorten Bintje und Ulla inokuliert. Die Lagerung wurde bei 8 oder 10°C under Normalbedingungen oder kontrollierter Atmosph?re durchgeführt (2% O₂:1% CO₂, 2% O₂:6% CO₂, 2% O₂:12% CO₂, 6% O₂:6% CO₂). Der F?ulnisgrad (Abb. 1) wurde nach einem Monat bonitiert. Die Ergebnisse sind in den Tabellen 2 und 3 dargestellt und in der Abb. 2 illustriert. Unter in Normalbedingungen nur schwach virulente Arten (verschiedeneFusarien undPhoma exigua var. exigua) waren deutlich aktiver in kontrollierter Atmosph?re. Dies was besonders der Fall fürF. culmorum. Pilze, die im Versuch unter Normalbedingungen nicht pathogen waren (Colletotrichum coccodes, Cylindrocarpon sp., Phoma eupyrena), haben unter kontrollierter Atmosph?re Sch?den verursacht. Hingegen werden die beiden unter Normalbedingungen sehr pathogenen Arten (F. sulphureum undP., exigua var.foveata), durch kontrollierte Atmosph?re wenig beeinflusst. Es wurde sogar in einigen F?llen eine gewisse Verringerung des F?ulnisbefalls beobachtet. Ganz allgemein haben die getesteten kontrollierten Bedingungen die Entwicklung der Pilzf?ulnis an beiden Kartoffelsorten gef?rdert, speziell durch Pilzarten, welche unter Normal-bedingungen wenig Sch?den verursachen.

     

Marine Pharmacology in 2016–2017: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial,Antidiabetic, Antifungal,Anti-Inflammatory,Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems,and Other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action

The review of the 2016–2017 marine pharmacology literature was prepared in a manner similar as the 10 prior reviews of this series. Preclinical marine pharmacology research during 2016–2017 assessed 313 marine compounds with novel pharmacology reported by a growing number of investigators from 54 countries. The peer-reviewed literature reported antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral activities for 123 marine natural products, 111 marine compounds with antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities as well as affecting the immune and nervous system, while in contrast 79 marine compounds displayed miscellaneous mechanisms of action which upon further investigation may contribute to several pharmacological classes. Therefore, in 2016–2017, the preclinical marine natural product pharmacology pipeline generated both novel pharmacology as well as potentially new lead compounds for the growing clinical marine pharmaceutical pipeline, and thus sustained with its contributions the global research for novel and effective therapeutic strategies for multiple disease categories.     

Effects of Micronutrient Deficiencies on Human Health: Its Status in South Asia

SUMMARY

Vitamin A, iodine, and iron deficiencies affect large numbers of people worldwide. A deficiency of one or more of these micronutrients adversely affects the physical and mental abilities of humans. South Asia contains a high percentage of these individuals, not just because of its large population, but also the prevalence of deficiency is higher there than in many other parts of the world. The reasons for the high rates of deficiency in South Asia are many, but they include inadequate availability of micronutrient-rich foods, sub-optimal dietary habits, and high rates of infection. Across the region, national plans vary from (a) increasing availability of appropriate foods, (b) introducing new dietary behaviors, (c) improving health status, and (d) directly addressing deficiency through intervention programs. The extent to which each of the countries is making progress toward the goals of these plans can help in understanding the priorities for future efforts to address micronutrient malnutrition. This article discusses the adverse effects of micronutrient deficiencies in humans with special reference to South Asia.     

稻文化的再思考3:稻与社稷——印度、泰国等东南亚、南亚主要国家

东南亚、南亚地区是世界上重要的稻米产区,稻米在民众饮食生活和国家社会政治中占有重要地位,民众生活中也保存了非常悠久和丰富的稻作文化习俗及稻谷起源神话传说。本文分析了水稻在东南亚、南亚主要国家印度、印度尼西亚、泰国、越南、菲律宾、孟加拉国、缅甸的作用、地位、生产、消费、文化等情况,并指出了印度、印度尼西亚稻文化的主要标志。     

Irrigation but not N fertilization enhances seedhead density in plains rough fescue ( F estuca hallii)

Plains rough fescue ( F estuca hallii) is an important forage grass species in western Canada. Seed for use in pastures and ecological restoration is in high demand but supply is limited because F. hallii is an erratic seed producer. Seed producers require an understanding of the factors that influence flowering and seed set in this species. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization on the flowering and growth of F. hallii in a native rough fescue prairie in Alberta, Canada. Irrigation had a strong positive effect on seedhead density, whereas fertilization had limited effects on growth and reproduction of F. hallii. These results demonstrate that under field conditions, available moisture is likely to be a key factor driving flowering and seed production in F. hallii.     

Management of Soil Micronutrient Deficiencies in the Rice-Wheat Cropping System

Summary

Within the last three decades, the rice-wheat cropping system has triggered, and with time, aggravated soil micronutrient deficiencies in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). This has largely been due to the shift from an earlier rice and wheat monoculture with low yielding, long duration indigenous varieties, to an intensive rice-wheat rotation cropping system with short duration modern high yielding varieties on the same piece of land. The problems related to micronutrient deficiency in the IGP are more due to the size of its available pools in the soil rather than its total contents and are greatly influenced by crop management, or rather its mismanagement. Deficiency of zinc is widespread in the IGP, but with the extensive use of zinc sulfate, zinc deficiency has reduced in some areas of the region. Meanwhile, the deficiency of Fe, Mn and B has increased in the IGP. Deficiency of Cu and Mo is location specific and can limit rice and wheat yields. The adoption and spread of the rice-wheat system in permeable coarse textured soils, particularly in the western IGP, not only caused iron deficiency in rice but also resulted in the emergence of manganese deficiency in wheat. In highly calcareous and acidic soils, boron is the next limiting micronutrient in crop production after zinc. Bumper rice and wheat harvests in the past decade, the declining use of organic manures in the region and except for the widespread use of zinc sulfate, a general lack of awareness amongst farmers on micronutrient deficiency problems has contributed to micronutrients limiting rice and wheat yields in the IGP. Approaches to alleviating micronutrient deficiencies include matching the crop removals of the micronutrients with its replenishments through their respective external carriers, supplementation through organic sources and mobilization/utilization through cultivation of micronutrient efficient crop cultivars. Identification of efficient micronutrient carriers and finding the optimum rate, mode and time of its application is important in ameliorating the micronutrient deficiencies. This article reviews the extent of micronutrient deficiency and discusses various management options available to reduce micronutrient deficiency induced crop yield reduction for rice and wheat in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.     

Model of wheat yield response to application of diclofop-methyl to control ryegrass (Lolium rigidum)

A general model of crop yield response to herbicide application is proposed. The model includes three components: the effect of herbicide dosage on weed density, the effect of surviving weed density on crop yield and the effect of herbicide directly on the crop. The model is used to estimate the response of wheat yield to application of diclofop-methyl to control ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) in Australia. It is found that the competitiveness of ryegrass plants surviving treatment is reduced by the treatment and that the proportion of yield loss at a given ryegrass density is not independent of the absolute weed-free yield. The response function is used to calculate economic thresholds and optimal herbicide dosages.