Effects of Water Deficit on the Dynamics of Flowering and Fruit Production in Capsicum chinense Jacq in a Tropical Semiarid Region of Venezuela

The degree of crop sensitivity to water deficit, during the different developmental stages of a plant, is an important aspect to consider in tropical semiarid regions. The effect of water deficit on flowering dynamics and fruit production of sweet pepper (Capsicum chinense) was evaluated under several water regimes, during three consecutive years. A complete randomized block design with three replicates was employed. Flowering dynamics and fruit production were measured weekly, and water potentials were obtained twice during the experiments. For all years, flowering began at approximately 70 days after transplanting. In the most favourable year (trial 1996), there were no differences in total flower and fruit production in terms of irrigation frequency. For the other less favourable years, flowering and fruit production were significantly different between irrigation frequencies. Our results show that low water availability, prior to flowering, reduces the number of flowers produced and retards the occurrence of maximum flowering. On the other hand, a water deficit during the period between flowering and fruit development reduces final fruit production. This suggests that a water deficit during this last stage affects final yield to a greater extent.     

Environmental and chemical control of growth and flowering of Chamelaucium uncinatum Schauer

The main factor affecting floral initiation of Geraldton Wax-Flower (Chamelaucium uncinatum) is the photoperiod, while temperature is the major factor affecting flower development. Four weeks of short days (SD) are generally required for obtaining full flowering. The number of flowers produced per plant increases with increasing the number of SD. Under mild temperatures of $\text{20}\text{14°}\text{C}$ (day/night), plants initiated flowers even in long days (LD). However, fewer flowers were produced and on higher nodes as compared to SD plants. Chlormequat promoted flowering under prevailing summer conditions of high temperatures and LD. Under prevailing autumn conditions favourable for flower initiation, LD treatment or weekly sprays with gibberellic acid (GA) reduced the number of flowers per plant. Combined treatment of LD and GA reduced both the flowering percentage and the number of flowers per plant. Discontinuing the LD or the GA treatments caused a resumption of full flower initiation.     

Comparative forcing of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Bailer’ as a florist's hydrangea

‘Bailer’ (Endless Summer™) is a new, pink- or blue-flowered hydrangea that flowers on new wood continuously throughout the growing season. It is also winter-hardy in northern, temperate climates (USDA Z4). Use of Endless Summer as a florist's potted hydrangea would provide consumers with a dual-use product (flowering potted plant, landscape shrub). The objectives were to determine if Endless Summer could be forced as a florist's hydrangea using two forcing regimes (immediate, standard), two soil pH regimes, and two pinching treatments. ‘Merritt Supreme Pink’ (pink), ‘Blue Danube’ (blue), and Endless Summer (blue, pink) were forced under immediate (no cold treatment, short- and long-day photoperiods) and standard (6 weeks cold, 4 °C to overcome dormancy) conditions. Since commercial liners were not yet available, cuttings of Endless Summer were used in the immediate forcing experiment. Days to visible flower bud, first color, full flower were recorded, as well as height, no. of branches, no. of flowers, and flower size. In the immediate forcing experiment, only Endless Summer produced flowers. Cultivars differed significantly (P < 0.001) for days to visible flower bud, days to first color, days to full flower, and height. The number of flowers and flower size were not significantly different among pink cultivars. In the standard forcing experiment, Endless Summer reached days to visible flower bud, days to first color, and days to full flower significantly earlier than either comparison, although it exhibited weaker stems and less intense flower pigmentation. Pinching (blue pH) had a significant effect on all traits except the days to full flower and flower size, although no pinching treatment was significant for pink pH. Photoperiod was significant only for the days to visible flower bud (pink pH), days to full flower (blue pH), and final height (blue pH). Further research is needed before Endless Summer can be grown as a dual-use florist's potted hydrangea with acceptable quality.     

洋葱AcSCL4的克隆及其功能分析

【目的】初步探讨AcSCL4在洋葱成花中的功能，为解析洋葱成花分子调控机制提供理论基础。【方法】以长日生态型洋葱品系SB2为试验材料，根据已有的洋葱转录组数据，通过qRT-PCR筛选目的基因AcSCL4后进行基因克隆，并对其进行生物信息学分析；构建AcSCL4基因的过表达载体pB221-3300-AcSCL4并转化农杆菌，采用花序浸染法浸染拟南芥，并对T₃代纯系转基因植株进行表型分析和开花相关基因表达量分析。【结果】洋葱AcSCL4基因CDS长1 515 bp，编码504个氨基酸；AcSCL4蛋白N端高度变异，C端有GRAS结构域。聚类分析发现，AcSCL4与石刁柏和棉花的SCL4蛋白亲缘关系较近。与野生型拟南芥相比，AcSCL4过表达植株表现晚花表型。荧光定量PCR结果表明，与野生型拟南芥相比,AcSCL4过表达植株开花调控基因CO和FT的表达量极显著下降。【结论】AcSCL4通过调控CO及FT基因表达来抑制洋葱开花。     

离体早熟梨芽休眠进程的影响因素研究

以早熟梨离体结果枝为试验材料,通过控制温度、光照条件以及喷施不同种类和浓度的生长调节剂生长调节物质来研究影响早熟梨芽休眠进程的因素。试验结果发现在25℃条件下在0.04%、0.08%的乙烯利和0.1mg/L和0.3ABAmg/L都能在一定时间内抑制萌芽,0.3mg/LIAA处理能促进萌芽,而0.6mg/LIAA和GA3处理效果不明显;而在15℃条件,所有处理的萌芽率都为0;试验结果还表明在1500Lx光照强度下光照时间对早熟梨芽休眠的影响效果不显著。     

九个草坪草品种在西宁地区的引种适应性研究

通过对草地早熟禾4个品种和多年生黑麦草5个品种的引种试验,对其在西宁地区的越冬率、密度、再生速度、地下生物量、绿期等方面进行了比较研究,结果表明:草地早熟禾(Poapraten sis)中的4个品种均表现较好,尤其以肯塔基(K.B.G)和诺德(Nordia)2个品种表现突出;多年生黑麦草(Loliumperenne)中的迪斯绿(Dixiegreen)也表现出较好的适应性。     

双峰驼精清诱导排卵活性成分的DEAE—纤维素柱层析分离及其生物活性

选用DEAE－纤维素离子交换柱对双峰驼精清进行分离，各层析组分用于大鼠垂体组织体外培养，并给母驼肌注有活性的组分，以RIA法测定垂体组织培养液和母驼血浆中LH及FSH的浓度。结果表明，驼精清经DEAE－纤维素柱分离后可得到5个蛋白组分（L1－L5），其中L3在大鼠垂体培养时引起LH释放明显增加（P＜0．05），FSH则无明显变化。给卵巢上无大卵泡发育的母驼肌注有活性的组分L3，可引起血浆中LH明显升高，FSH也无变化。由此表明，L3在体内外试验中均具有引起LH释放的生物活性，它可能是诱导排卵的活性因子或其成分之一。     

A relationship between heading date and in vitro tillering propensity in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Summary In vitro tillers of over 1000 genotypes from nine contrasting Lolium perenne cultivars were cultured on various media containing the synthetic cytokinin, 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), in order to determine the effect on tillering. The cultures were assessed after seven weeks for survival, tiller production, size and vigour. Added auxins 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and -napthaleneacetic acid (NAA) had no consistent beneficial effects.A significant relationship was found between in vitro tiller production and cultivar heading date. Genotypes of early-heading, less persistent cultivars produced more tillers than genotypes from late heading more persistent cultivars. This was consistent with the generally higher in vitro tiller production in the biennial species Lolium multiflorum cultured on similar media.     

Flowering behaviour,male sterility and berry setting in tetraploid Solanum tuberosum germplasm

Summary Six hundred and seventy six accessions of cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum ssp. tuberosum) from 25 countries, were studied for flowering and fruiting behaviour under long days (12–14 h). Flowering intensity ranged from dropping of floral buds just after initiation to profuse blooming. The majority (58.3%) of the accessions bloomed profusely, though 20.4% of the accessions did not bloom at all. Weeks to flowering ranged from 6 to 15 and the majority (66.5%) of the flowering accessions bloomed within 8 to 9 weeks after planting. Duration of flowering ranged from 1 to 10 weeks and the majority (68.1%) of the flowering accessions bloomed for 1 to 4 weeks only. Twentythree per cent of the flowering accessions were completely male sterile. Maximum male fertility was 90% only. No berry setting was observed in 31.8% of the flowering accessions. Only 54.3 per cent of the accessions were found to be fertile in all respects and could be used both as male and female parents. Premature bud abscission was the major cause of sterility. Peru was the best source of profuse-flowering genotypes, Poland was the best source of early flowering genotypes and Mexico was the best source of long duration flowering and good berry setting genotypes. The results suggested that flower bud formation; the growth and development of mature flowers; weeks to flowering and duration of flowering are independent characters controlled by different genes of quantitative nature. Berry setting and duration of flowering were closely associated (r=0.95). Genetic as well as environmental factors interfered with the developmental process leading to flower production and berry setting at different times in different genotypes. The practical implications of these results for true potato seed production are discussed.Publication No. 1298, CPRI, Shimla.     

Sensitivity to Drought Stress of Three Soybean Cultivars During Different Growth Stages

Three soybean ( Glycine max L.) culivars, Lee-74, Wright , and Ra 401 , were subjected to 100 % (control), 75 %, and 50 % of field capacity during vegetative (VI), flowering (R2), and pod-filling (R4) stages in greenhouse and field studies. Stress applied at R2 significantly reduced the yield in the greenhouse, while in the field, the maximum reduction was observed when the plants were subjected to stress at R4. Stress during VI reduced the yield components less than stress applied during R2 or R4 stages in both studies. The pod number and seed weight were the yield components most affected by drought stress, and the number of seeds per pod the least affected. Yield stress index was significantly correlated with the yield and its components. The reproductive stage was clearly more sensitive to drought than the vegetative stage. The cultivar Lee 74 had the highest yield and the second highest yield stress index whereas the cultivar Ra 401 had the lowest yield.