Soil physical changes and maize growth in a structurally fragile tropical soil due to mulching and duration between irrigation intervals

Under tropical meteorological conditions, the volume of soil explored by plant roots is crucial for crop growth as it allows increased water and nutrient use efficiency. We hypothesized that, under different irrigation intervals, leguminous mulch can extend the duration between irrigation events but maintain crop performance, because decreased evaporative fluxes also reduce constraints to root exploration imposed by mechanical stress. We evaluated the combined effects of leguminous mulch and irrigation intervals on soil physical properties to determine whether the growth and productivity of maize were modified in a structurally fragile tropical soil. The experiment involved the following treatments: 4‐day irrigation intervals with soil mulched (4C) or bare (4S), 6‐day irrigation intervals with soil mulched (6C) or bare (6S), 8‐day irrigation intervals with soil mulched (8C) or bare (8S) and 10‐day irrigation intervals with soil mulched (10C) or bare (10S). Mulch decreased soil penetration resistance and increased to 4 days the favourable time for root development in drying soil. Relative to bare soil, mulch with a 6‐day irrigation interval almost doubled nitrogen uptake post‐tasselling, which decreased nitrogen remobilization and increased the crop growth rate during this stage. These conditions had a positive effect on the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance as well as on the growth and yield of maize. A 6‐day irrigation interval with mulch compared to 4 days with bare soil resulted in similar conditions for root development, but greater uptake of nitrogen (102.73–78.70 kg/ha) and better yield (6.2–5.3 t/ha), which means greater efficiency in nitrogen and water use.     

Azospirillum brasilense mitigates water stress imposed by a vascular disease by increasing xylem vessel area and stem hydraulic conductivity in tomato

Water stress, with its negative consequences on plant growth and survival, can be mitigated by Azospirillum brasilense inoculation. In tomato, A. brasilense delays wilting caused by a vascular pathogen, Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, by yet unknown mechanisms. We studied morphological, anatomical and physiological changes induced by A. brasilense in tomato that relate to water stress tolerance, which could explain the deferral in symptom expression. For this purpose, tomato seeds were treated or not with A. brasilense BNM65, and 5 weeks later plants were challenged with C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis or mock inoculated with water. There was a large growth promotion associated to Azospirillum: treated plants had higher total biomass and leaf area. In relation to water stress tolerance, Azospirillum treated plants had larger xylem vessel area, higher stem specific hydraulic conductivity, thicker stems, and lower shoot/root dry matter and specific leaf area. These changes were opposite to those induced by C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis. We conclude that A. brasilense favoured a better adjustment of plant-water relations by several mechanisms, and thus, transitorily alleviated symptoms expression of a vascular disease.     

蔬菜高效水肥一体化灌溉技术的实践与发展建议

水肥管理是直接影响蔬菜稳产高产和品质提升的关键因素。总结了我国蔬菜高效灌溉的4种主要模式,介绍了不同种类蔬菜的高效灌溉模式,分析了我国蔬菜高效水肥一体化灌溉技术存在的问题,并提出了发展建议。     

调亏度及调亏历时对苜蓿生物量分配与水分利用效率的影响

本研究的目的在于探讨紫花苜蓿营养生长期调亏滴灌对其节水效果的影响,增加其产量的作用。在北京对分枝期苜蓿品种"皇冠"进行调亏程度和调亏历时对其生长的研究。结果发现,秋播苜蓿进行调亏灌溉应把握适当的调亏度,在调亏度达60%FC、调亏历时为14d时,土壤水分对苜蓿形成干旱胁迫;在调亏度达80%FC时,光合同化物更多向苜蓿地上部分配,同时适当增加调亏历时改变苜蓿根系形态可塑性,有利于其根系伸长生长,提高其水分利用效率。适当的将调亏度与调亏持续时间分别维持在80%FC左右和14~21d,更能实现北京地区苜蓿节水促生长的目的。     

涝渍对Bt棉棉蕾杀虫蛋白表达含量及氮代谢影响

以Bt棉常规种泗抗1号和杂交种泗抗3号为材料,于盛蕾期设计不同程度涝渍(土壤持水量为最大持水量的90%、100%,渍水2 cm)胁迫4 d以及土壤持水量为最大持水量90%逆境下持续胁迫24~120 h的试验,探讨棉蕾中Bt杀虫蛋白表达量变化及相关氮代谢生理机制。结果表明,土壤不同涝渍程度影响棉蕾Bt蛋白含量。土壤持水量为最大持水量的90%、100%和渍水2 cm处理胁迫后,常规种泗抗1号棉蕾中Bt蛋白含量分别下降36.5%、42.1%和51.4%,杂交种泗抗3号分别下降19.2%、57.2%和64.5%。90%的土壤持水量持续胁迫96 h使棉蕾Bt蛋白含量开始显著下降,泗抗1号和泗抗3号分别下降20.8%和17.6%。随着胁迫时间延长下降幅度增大。不同涝渍程度或水渍持续胁迫条件下,棉蕾中可溶性蛋白含量,硝酸还原酶(NR)、谷氨酸草酰乙酸转氨酶(GOT)、谷氨酸丙酮酸转氨酶(GPT)、谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)和谷氨酸合成酶(GOGAT)活性下降,游离性氨基酸含量,肽酶、蛋白酶活性增加。说明涝渍逆境下,棉蕾中蛋白质合成能力下降、分解能力增强,引起可溶性蛋白包括Bt杀虫蛋白含量下降,导致棉蕾抗虫性下降。     

Road Transport of Late-Pregnant Mares Advances the Onset of Foaling

Cortisol is involved in the initiation of parturition and we hypothesized that increased maternal cortisol release advances the onset of foaling. Transport is a stressor for horses and induces an increase in cortisol release. To determine stress effects on the time of foaling, late-pregnant mares were transported by road for 3 hours (n = 12) or remained in their stable as controls (n = 4). Starting on day 325 of gestation, saliva and blood samples were taken for cortisol and progestin analysis, respectively. Fetomaternal electrocardiograms were recorded repeatedly. Mares were checked for impending parturition and changes in precolostrum pH. When pH decreased to 6.5, mares were either transported or left untreated. After birth, saliva was collected repeatedly from mares and their foals and heart rate (HR) was recorded. Foals were checked for maturity and health. Gestation length was 337 ± 2 days in stressed and 336 ± 2 days in control mares. Cortisol concentration increased from 3.3 ± 0.9 to 8.4 ± 0.8 ng/mL in transported mares (P < .001) and remained constant in controls. Maternal HR and heart rate variability (HRV) did not differ between groups and neither fetal HR nor HRV changed in response to transport. In transported mares, time from precolostrum decrease to parturition was shorter (40 ± 10 hours) than the respective time in controls (134 ± 49 hours, P < .01). Neither duration of foaling nor times to first standing and suckling of foals or the postnatum increase in HR and decrease in HRV differed between groups. In conclusion, transport-induced maternal cortisol release may have advanced the onset of foaling.     

蕹菜芽苗菜对LED 光强和光质的生长响应

以阔叶空心菜为试材，研究蕹菜芽苗菜对LED 光强和光质的生长响应。结果表明：绿化阶段结束时处理L₇₀₀₀RBW4∶1∶1（光强7 000 lx，红光∶蓝光∶白光为4∶1∶1）的脱壳率显著高于其他处理；光强为7 000 lx 时，3 种光质处理的蕹菜芽苗菜可食部分干质量均显著高于白光对照；光照强度过高显著影响叶绿素的累积，高光强（L₁₁₀₀₀）下的叶绿素a、叶绿素b 含量及叶绿素总量随红光比例的增加而降低，同时子叶白化现象越发明显；不同光强条件下，3 种光质处理的抗坏 血酸含量均随着红光比例的增加而降低，而可溶性糖含量处理间差异不显著；主成分分析结果表明，L₇₀₀₀RBW4∶1∶1 在本试验条件下表现最佳，是较适宜蕹菜芽苗菜工厂化生产的LED 光源配方。     

圆柏对几种农田杂草及作物的化感潜力分析

为探究圆柏（Sabina chinensis）的化感作用，本研究采用培养皿滤纸法研究圆柏叶片浸提液对地肤（Kochia scoparia）、稗草（Echinochloa crusgalli）、藜（Chenopodium album）、反枝苋（Amaranthus retroflexus）、马齿苋（Portulaca oleracea）5种杂草种子和向日葵（Helianthus annuus）、燕麦（Avena sativa）、油菜（Brassica campestris）、荞麦（Fagopyrum esculentum）4种作物萌发和生长的影响，并用圆柏叶片、树枝、树皮粉末和浸提液进行盆栽抑草效果检测。结果表明：圆柏叶片浸提液对5种杂草种子萌发和幼苗生长具有显著的抑制作用，对地肤、藜、反枝苋萌发及生长的化感效应指数均在-0.98以上；盆栽抑草结果表明，圆柏不同部位对5种杂草种子萌发和稗草及反枝苋株高生长均有较好的抑制作用，叶片化感强度大于树皮和树枝，叶片粉末拌土处理抑草效果好于浸提液叶面喷施；对作物的化感作用结果表明，圆柏叶片浸提液稀释1.5倍时，抑制荞麦种子萌发但不影响其株高及根生长，不影响燕麦种子萌发但降低其株高和根长生长，抑制油菜的发芽势和发芽指数但不影响其种子萌发率，促进油菜株高及根长生长，不影响向日葵种子萌发和生长。综上所述，圆柏具有良好的抑草活性，对作物影响较小。     

蚯蚓粪对柑橘幼苗抗草甘膦胁迫的影响

草甘膦在柑橘园除草中得到大量使用，对农作物生长、果实品质、产量和质量造成影响。如何降低草甘膦对柑橘树的生物可利用性，从而降低其对农作物造成的药害、提高果实品质和食品安全将至关重要。本文在前期研究的基础上通过施用蚯蚓粪，表征蚯蚓粪作用下土壤中残留草甘膦对柑橘幼苗的生物有效性和生物毒性效应。结果显示，蚯蚓粪能够显著增强其生物有效性（BCF值显著增大）；显著降低草甘膦在土壤中的残留量到草甘膦单独处理组的55.15%，从而减少草甘膦在柑橘幼苗植株中的积累。同时，蚯蚓粪的施用能促进植物的茁壮生长，使抗氧化酶活力较对照组显著提高，从而具有更强的抗逆能力。在这两方面的共同作用下，蚯蚓粪显著减轻了土壤中残留草甘膦对柑橘幼苗的胁迫，使其株高、根长和相应的干重较草甘膦单独施用时增长了26.23%-140.11%，甚至成为对照组的1.03倍和1.13倍。此研究对兼顾化肥有机替代的草甘膦污染土壤的修复和高效利用具有重要意义。     

Ss-Bi1 encodes a putative BAX inhibitor-1 protein that is required for full virulence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a destructive necrotrophic plant pathogen with global distribution. Although S. sclerotiorum has been studied extensively, substantial research on aspects of the pathogen's ability to cause disease is still needed. Bax inhibitor-1 protein functions as a suppressor of programmed cell death and is involved in the response to biotic and abiotic stress in animals, plants and yeast. In this study, we functionally characterized a putative Bax inhibitor-1 protein, Ss-Bi1, from S. sclerotiorum. Ss-Bi1 is predicted to contain a BAX inhibitor-1-like super family domain and shows significant homology with many BAX inhibitor-1 proteins. High expression levels of Ss-Bi1 were observed in hyphae under various stresses. Targeted silencing of Ss-Bi1 resulted in reduced virulence in host plants. Ss-Bi1 gene-silenced strains were more sensitive to heat stress and ER stress than the wild-type strain. The results suggest that Ss-Bi1 encodes a putative BAX inhibitor-1 protein that is required for full virulence of S. sclerotiorum.