Germination ecology of seeds of the annual weeds Capsella bursa-pastoris and Descurainia sophia originating from high northern latitudes

Low temperatures may inhibit dormancy break in seeds of winter annuals, therefore it was hypothesized that seeds of Capsella bursa‐pastoris and Descurainia sophia that mature at high latitudes in late summer–early autumn would not germinate until they had been exposed to high summer temperatures. Consequently, germination would be delayed until the second autumn. Most freshly matured seeds of both species collected in August and September in southern Sweden were dormant. After 3 weeks of burial at simulated August (20/10°C) and September (15/6°C) temperatures, 28 and 27%, respectively, of the C. bursa‐pastoris and 56 and 59%, respectively, of the D. sophia seeds germinated in light at 15/6°C. In contrast, in germination phenology studies conducted in Sweden, only a few seeds of either species germinated during the first autumn following dispersal. However, there was a peak of germination of both species the following spring, demonstrating that dormancy was lost during exposure to the low habitat temperatures between late summer and early autumn and spring. Nearly 100% of the seeds of both species subjected to simulated annual seasonal temperature changes were viable after 30.5 months of burial. In the burial study, exhumed seeds of C. bursa‐pastoris were capable of germinating to 98–100% in light at the simulated spring–autumn temperature regime (15/6°C) in both spring and autumn, while those of D. sophia did so only in autumn. In early spring, however, seeds of D. sophia germinated to 17–50% at 15/6°C. Thus, most seeds of these two annual weeds that mature in late summer do not germinate in the first autumn, but they may do so the following spring or in some subsequent autumn or spring.     

Germination ecology of Leptochloa chinensis: a new weed in the Italian rice agro-environment

Leptochloa chinensis is a new weed that has been found with increasing frequency in Italian rice paddies. The germination ecology of L. chinensis seeds was studied in order to investigate the development mechanisms and survival strategy of this weed in rice paddies of northern Italy. Leptochloa chinensis seeds showed no dormancy and exhibited germination even in anoxic conditions. Germination was strongly influenced by temperature (minimum around 15°C; optimal 25–35°C) and light (phytochrome dependent). Temperature fluctuation caused an increase of seed germination in the dark. Seed burial also strongly inhibited germination and emergence of this species. At 5 cm seed burial only 5% of seedlings emerged in flooded conditions, while at the same depth, but with no flooding, no seedling emergence was observed. This phenomenon was not due to oxygen depletion, as germination was not inhibited by complete anoxia, as demonstrated by the fact that some seedlings did emerge in flooding conditions when water was no deeper than 6 cm. Seed burial and concomitant flooding induced an unusual germination: first coleoptile emergence and subsequently emergence of the radicle was observed. The possible exploitation of this knowledge for weed management is discussed.     

Aerial seed germination and morphological characteristics of juvenile seedlings in Commelina benghalensis L.

Seed germination, seedling emergence, and the morphological characteristics of juvenile seedlings of Commelina benghalensis L. were observed. For aerial seeds collected in September and October, seedling emergence peaked in April and June for large seeds and from June to August for small seeds, whereas seedling emergence for large seeds collected in November showed peaks in March and April under natural rainfall conditions, and in April and June under irrigation conditions. Seedlings from small seeds emerged intermittently over a longer period from April to August under both conditions. Aerial seeds of C. benghalensis germinated on wet filter paper on the second day after seeding (DAS) for large seeds and the fourth DAS for small seeds. The germination percentage for large seeds was higher than that for small seeds by the 14th DAS. The germination percentage for large aerial seeds showed no significant difference between light and dark conditions. However, the percentage for small aerial seeds was higher under light than under dark conditions. Seedlings from large aerial seeds emerged on the third DAS at 0–50 mm soil depths. The percentage of emergence at 0 and 1 mm soil depths increased until the 30th DAS, whereas those at soil depths of 5–50 mm showed no change after the 9th DAS. There was no emergence at a soil depth of 100 mm. Seedlings from small aerial seeds emerged on the 6th DAS at 0–1 mm soil depths, with the percentage increasing until the 30th DAS. Although seedlings at 5 and 10 mm soil depths also emerged on the 6th DAS, there was no change in the percentage after the 12th DAS. There was no emergence at soil depths of 20–100 mm. The hypocotyl and taenia (part of the cotyledon connected to the seed) in juvenile seedlings that emerged from soil depths of 50 mm were longer than those in seedlings emerging from a soil depth of 1 mm.     

Effect of foliar-applied potassium chloride on septoria leaf blotch of winter wheat

The effect of foliar-applied potassium chloride on Septoria tritici , the anamorph of Mycosphaerella graminicola , was quantified and possible modes of action investigated during controlled-environment and field experiments. A field experiment in harvest year 1997 showed c . 50% reduction in the area of leaf 2 of winter wheat plants affected by septoria leaf blotch after foliar application of potassium chloride, compared with untreated controls. Similarly, in harvest year 1998 potassium chloride reduced, by about one-third, the area of the flag and penultimate leaf affected by S. tritici . However, a significant yield increase was not observed, although grains m⁻² did show an increase of borderline significance. Applications of epoxiconazole reduced the area of leaf 4 affected by S. tritici compared with untreated controls, whereas applications of chlorothalonil, potassium chloride or polyethylene glycol proved ineffective against disease development. This may suggest that potassium chloride is relatively immobile and possesses contact activity similar to that of chlorothalonil. In 1998, similar reductions in leaf area affected were observed with the inert osmoticum polyethylene glycol in the field, suggesting that the control provided by potassium chloride may be achieved by adverse osmotic effects on the pathogen. Scanning electron microscopy of germinating conidia on wheat plants showed inhibition of conidial germination by both potassium chloride and polyethylene glycol at the same calculated osmotic potential on the leaf surface.     

羊草种子萌发相关基因的筛选及表达分析

前期实验表明,变温处理(28 ℃ 12 h/16 ℃ 12 h)可显著提高羊草种子的萌发率,且羊草种子萌发中的第1天是接受变温信号的关键时期。以此为研究基础,结合羊草种子变温萌发的转录组测序数据,针对羊草种子萌发初期对变温处理的响应筛选出与种子萌发、休眠及低温相关的基因24个,利用测序结果中这些基因的RPKM值制作基因表达热图并分析其表达差异。以萌发率高、低的两种羊草种质的种子为材料,对24个基因在恒温12 h(28 ℃)和变温1 d(28 ℃ 12 h/16 ℃ 12 h)萌发处理中的表达分别进行了定量分析。结果表明,与恒温对照相比,变温处理12 h后,表达明显上调的基因有SAIN1,PP2C62,EXPB3,EXPB4,GA3ox,EXPA2和EXPA7,而表达明显下调的基因有bHLH49,GID1,ABI8,Chi1,11833,CBF3,NAC2,PP2C72,SAIN2和5423。通过进一步分析相关基因在高、低萌发率两个种质中表达的差异,筛选出其中可能与羊草种子萌发相关的基因有几丁质酶基因Chi1,转录因子基因CBF3,羊草新基因5423,赤霉素合成基因GA3ox,细胞松弛素蛋白基因EXPB4和羊草新基因SAIN1,将为下一步阐明羊草种子萌发的分子作用机理奠定基础。     

不同种质玉米自交系种子萌发的干旱胁迫研究

种子萌发期被认为是作物生长的关键时期,也是衡量作物耐旱性强弱的重要时期。为了明确不同玉米自交系的耐旱性,本研究采用聚乙二醇(PEG)模拟干旱条件,对254份不同种质玉米自交系进行种子萌发期处理。通过检测发芽指数、发芽率、根数、根鲜重、根干重、茎鲜重、茎干重、根长、苗高等种子发芽性状,以其相对值为指标,鉴定不同自交系种子萌发期的耐旱性。结果表明,在5%PEG6000浓度胁迫时,种子萌发程度低,当PEG浓度为10%时,种子萌发受抑制程度较高；各性状相对指标都与品种综合抗旱能力呈显著或极显著正相关；不同自交系的耐旱性存在较大差异,通过隶属函数法结合抗旱分级标准筛选出99份中等耐旱材料。因此,该方法可以作为一种简单的玉米自交系萌发期耐旱性鉴定方法。     

阳春砂种子休眠与萌发过程中同工酶活性变化的研究

[目的]研究阳春砂种子休眠与萌发过程中同工酶的活性及酶谱变化规律,为阳春砂种子休眠与萌发过程生理调控机制的分析探讨奠定基础.[方法]以赤霉素浸种前、浸种后、培养10 d、种子露白、胚芽长至1 cm时各阶段的阳春砂种子为材料,测定其种子中过氧化物酶(POD)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的活性,并采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(PAGE)技术研究建立过氧化物酶(POD)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)及酯酶(EST)同工酶的电泳酶谱.[结果]阳春砂种子在休眠和萌发过程中,POD、SOD、CAT和EST同工酶的活性及酶谱带的数量均发生了一定的变化,其中POD和SOD同工酶活性均呈先减弱后增强的趋势;CAT同工酶在萌发前期变化不明显,后期酶的活性增强,且酶的种类也增加;EST同工酶的酶活性呈先减弱后增强再减弱的变化趋势,且在种子露白时活性达到最强.[结论]阳春砂种子休眠与萌发过程中同工酶谱的变化特点一定程度上可反应出种子休眠与萌发不同阶段的生理特性,这些同工酶基因的差异表达导致了阳春砂种子打破体眠和最终的萌发.     

穴盘规格对5种苔草属植物育苗的影响

穴盘育苗是苔草繁育的重要技术环节。为加快苔草的繁育速度,采用不同规格穴盘播种以研究青绿苔草(Carex breviculmis)、涝峪苔草(C.giraldiana)、披针苔草(C.lanceolata)、矮丛苔草(C.humilis var.nana)、脚苔草(C.pediformis)的适宜播种穴盘孔数对5种苔草出苗和幼苗生长的影响。通过对各种苔草的开始发芽时间、持续发芽时间、发芽率和幼苗的株高、叶数、单株鲜重等生长指标的分析,结果表明,6月温室穴盘播种育苗,青绿苔草、涝峪苔草穴盘育苗128孔或105孔穴盘较为适宜;披针苔草穴盘育苗宜采用105孔穴盘;矮丛苔草、脚苔草穴盘育苗较适宜选择288孔穴盘。     

温度对西藏5种野生豆科牧草种子萌发的影响研究

为探明毛果胡卢巴、劲直黄芪、天蓝苜蓿、镰荚棘豆和窄叶野豌豆5种野生豆科牧草种子萌发的适宜温度以提高其萌发率,研究了0/10℃ 、5/15℃ 、10/20℃ 、15/25℃ 、20/30℃ 、25/35℃ 、30/40℃等7种发芽温度对西藏5种野生豆科牧草种子萌发的影响.结果表明,5种野生豆科牧草种子在0/10℃条件下均无萌发;发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数和活力指数等指标随昼夜温度的升高呈先上升后下降趋势;毛果胡卢巴、劲直黄芪、天蓝苜蓿、镰荚棘豆和窄叶野豌豆牧草在适宜温度范围内种子萌发时滞最短,依次为2,2,2,3,4d;毛果胡卢巴和镰荚棘豆种子萌发最适温度为15/25℃,发芽率分别高达95%和812.5%;劲直黄芪、天蓝苜蓿、窄叶野豌豆种子萌发最适温度为20/30℃,发芽率依次为85%、912.5%和65%.     

PEG胁迫对西伯利亚冰草种子萌发及幼苗生理特性的影响

以PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫,分析西伯利亚冰草种子发芽率、发芽势、胚根和胚芽长及三叶期幼苗相对电导率、丙二醛和游离脯氨酸含量的动态变化规律.结果表明:1)高渗透势PEG溶液(-0.2,-0.4 MPa)能够促进种子萌发,在-0.4 MPa时,发芽率和发芽势均达到峰值.2)高渗透势PEG溶液(-0.2,-0.4,-0.6 MPa)对胚根伸长具有一定的促进作用,-0.4 MPa最大,但对胚芽表现出一定的抑制作用.3)随着渗透势的降低,发芽率、发芽势、胚根长和胚芽长不断下降,胚根/胚芽的比值持续上升.4)3叶期幼苗相对电导率、丙二醛和脯氨酸含量随胁迫强度的增加,胁迫时间的延长持续增加,相对电导率、丙二醛含量除了-0.4 MPa,1d处理外,其他处理均极显著(p＜0.01)高于对照,脯氨酸含量各处理均极显著(p＜0.01)高于对照,相对电导率、丙二醛和脯氨酸这3个指标均可作为抗旱性评价指标.