Interactive effects of salinity and iron deficiency on different rice genotypes

Salinity adversely affects plant growth, photosynthesis, and availability of nutrients including iron. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is susceptible to soil salinity and highly prone to iron (Fe) deficiency due to lower release of Fe‐chelating compounds under saline conditions. In order to investigate the effects of salinity and low iron supply on growth, photosynthesis, and ionic composition of five rice genotypes (KS‐282, Basmati Pak, Shaheen Basmati, KSK‐434 and 99417), a solution culture experiment was conducted with four treatments (control, 50 mM NaCl, Fe‐deficient, and 50 mM NaCl + Fe‐deficient). Salinity and Fe deficiency reduced shoot and root growth, photosynthetic and transpiration rates, chlorophyll concentration, and stomatal conductance. The reduction in all these parameters was more in the interactive treatment of salinity and low Fe supply. Moreover, a significant increase in shoot and root Na⁺ with corresponding decrease in K⁺ and Fe concentrations was also observed in the combined salinity and Fe‐deficiency treatment. Among the tested genotypes, Basmati Pak was the most sensitive genotype both under salt stress and Fe deficiency. The genotype KS‐282 performed better than other genotypes under salinity stress alone, whereas Shaheen Basmati was the best genotype under Fe deficiency in terms of all the studied parameters.     

Bluetongue virus seropositivity in sheep flocks in North West Frontier Province, Pakistan

The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence and distribution of serum antibodies to Bluetongue virus (BTV) in a sample of 38 sheep flocks in northern areas of the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan and to identify demographic and productivity variables that are associated with BTV seropositivity. Blood samples were taken from a random sample of ewes in each flock in April 1995. The owners of the flocks were interviewed regarding some demographic, husbandry and productivity variables of the flocks on the day of blood sampling. A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to test the serum samples for BTV group-specific antibodies. BTV seropositive reactions were obtained in 184 (48.4%) out of 380 tested sera, and in 89.5% (34/38) of the flocks. In the 34 seropositive flocks, the prevalences ranged from 12.5 to 100% (median = 47). A multivariable logistic analysis was carried out to study the influence of demographic and productivity variables on the BTV serological status of the sheep flocks. Abortion risk in the previous lambing season was mildly associated with the serological status of the flock (adjusted odds ratio = 1.16, P = 0.07). For the seropositive flocks, a linear multiple regression showed that distance travelled by the flock during transhumant movement was significantly associated with percent seropositivity (partial regression coefficient (± SE) = − 0.091 ± 0.045).     

A new equation to simulate the contact between soil and maize residues of different sizes during their decomposition

The availability of soil nutrients, which are recycled through the decomposition of crop residues, is important for the management of cropped soils. However, knowledge regarding the influence of contact between crop residues and soil on the dynamics of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in soil is limited. In particular, the effect of particle size on decomposition is not well-known, and conceptual approaches for modelling the soil-residue contact in a decomposition model remain scarce. Therefore, we analysed and modelled the effect of maize stem particle length on decomposition. We incubated maize stem residues with particle sizes of 0.02, 0.5, 2 and 5 cm in length in a loamy soil at 25 °C over 301 days. We continuously measured the mineralisation of C and N and determined the chemical evolution of the remaining particles. We used the decomposition model CANTIS which takes into account the soil-residue contact, using a contact factor, K_MZ. The decomposition rates of smaller maize particles were higher than those of larger particles during the early phases of decomposition. However, these differences were not maintained after 301 days. These results suggest that a larger size of the maize particles only slowed the rate of mineralisation in the short term but did not modify decomposition in the medium term. We proposed a new formalism for expressing the changes in soil-residue contact with different particle sizes. The contact factor K_MZ was calculated using the standardised specific surface area and can be applied more widely to residues that differ in morphology and density.     

Phosphorus Stress-Induced Differential Growth,and Phosphorus Acquisition and Use Efficiency by Spring Wheat Cultivars

ABSTRACT

Phosphorus (P) is a finite, non-renewable, and natural resource and a vital major nutrient for plant metabolic and developmental processes. However, adverse soil biogeochemical characteristics of alkaline-calcareous soils (especially Aridisols) and highly weathered acid soils (i.e., Ultisols and Oxisols) render orthophosphate (Pi) as the least available major nutrient due to P complexation, sorption, and/or fixation. In such soil environments, plant bioavailable P is only a small fraction of total soil P, seriously limiting crop growth and production. Different plant species, and even cultivars of the same species, may display a suite of growth responses that enable them to solubilize and scavenge soil P either by enhancing external Pi acquisition or reprioritizing internal Pi use under P-stress soil environments. This paper reports relative growth responses, P acquisition and P-use efficiency characteristics by 14 cultivars of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in solution culture with high/low P supply induced by applying soluble NH₄H₂PO₄, sparingly soluble rock phosphate, and Ca₃(PO₄)₂. The wheat cultivars exhibited considerable genetic diversity in biomass accumulation, P concentrations, P contents, factor (PSF) and P efficiency characteristics [i.e., P utilization efficiency (PUE), P efficiency (PE), and PE ratio (PER)]. Plant growth and PE parameters were significantly correlated, while P uptake was linearly related with biomass increase and solution pH decrease. The wheat cultivars with high PUE, PER and P uptake, and low PSF, and plant P concentration were more efficient in utilizing P and, hence, more tolerant under P-stress environment. Biomass and P contents of “P efficient/low-P tolerant” wheat cultivars were superior to “P inefficient/low-P sensitive” cultivars at all P-stress levels. Hence, “P efficient/low-P tolerant” cultivars are the most desirable wheat genotypes for P-stress environments because they are able to scavenge more P from sparingly soluble P sources or soil-bound P forms.     

Selenium supplementation reduced oxidative stress in diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats

Selenium in the form of sodium selenite (SSE) is an essential micronutrient which known to possess antioxidant and anticancer properties. This study emphasizes the role of selenium on oxidative stress in experimental rats with N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN) initiated and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) promoted multistage hepatocellular carcinogenesis (HCC). Rats were divided randomly into six groups: negative control, positive control (DEN+2-AAF), preventive group (pre-SEE 4 weeks+DEN), preventive control (respective control for preventive group), therapeutic group (DEN+post-SSE 12 weeks) and therapeutic control (respective control for therapeutic group). SSE (4 mg L(-1)) was given to animals before initiation and during promotion phase of HCC. The levels of total protein (TP), conjugated diens (CD), malondialdehyde (MDA), fluorescent pigment (FP), antioxidant activity (AOA) and DNA damage were measured. Supplementation of SSE before the initiation phase of carcinogenicity significantly increased TP and AOA level (p < 0.05) while it decreased the levels of CD, MDA, DNA damage and FP (p < 0.05). Supplementation of SSE during the promotion phase of carcinogenicity significantly decreased the DNA damage and FP level (p < 0.05) and there were negative correlation between the level of AOA and with the level of FP and CD. Thus, supplementation of SSE reduced the adverse changes which occur in liver cancer. However, the chemoprevention effect of SSE was more pronounced when it was supplemented before initiation phase of cancer when compared to promotion phase.     

Different Eucalyptus Species Show Different Mechanisms of Tolerance to Salinity and Salinity × Hypoxia

ABSTRACT

We studied the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) salinity and oxygen deficiency stress on growth and leaf ionic composition of three Eucalyptus species [E. tereticornis, E. camaldulensis (Silverton), and E. camaldulensis (Local)]. Species were grown with control (no NaCl) and salinity (150 mol m^?3 NaCl) under hypoxic and non-hypoxic conditions in nutrient solution with five replications following CRD. Species differed significantly in their response to salinity and hypoxia. Absolute shoot dry matter was significantly better in E. camaldulensis (Silverton) in salinity and in E. camaldulensis (Local) in saline hypoxic treatment. E. tereticornis was the most sensitive species to salinity and salinity × hypoxia in the root environment. Sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl^?) concentrations were significantly lower in E. camaldulensis (Local) in non-hypoxic saline treatment compared to the other two species. E. camaldulensis (Silverton) seems to have better tissue compartmentalization, whereas E. camaldulensis (local) seems to have better exclusion of Na⁺ at the root level.     

POTATO TUBER YIELD AND QUALITY AS AFFECTED BY RATES AND SOURCES OF POTASSIUM FERTILIZER

Among the major nutrients, potassium (K) not only improves yields but also improves quality parameters. Field experiments were conducted to assess the comparative effect of sources and rates of K fertilizer on potato yield and quality on a sandy loam soil. Graded doses of potassium, i.e., 0, 150 and 225 kg ha^?1 K₂O from sulfate and muriate of potash were applied in triplicate. Recommended dose of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) applied uniformly. Significant increase in tuber yield was observed with 150 kg ha^?1 K₂O from both the sources over control. Increase in tuber yield with 225 kg ha^?1 K₂O was statistically non significant compared to 150 kg ha^?1. The dry matter and specific gravity were more affected with sulfate of potash (SOP) than muriate of potash (MOP). The quality parameters like dry matter, specific gravity, starch contents, vitamin C, chips color and taste were improved with K application.