Thresholds,sensitive stages and genetic variability of finger millet to high temperature stress

Finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] is an important coarse cereal crop grown in the arid and semi‐arid regions and often experiences high temperature (HT) stress. The objectives of this research were (i) to quantify effects of season‐long HT stress on physiological and yield traits, (ii) to identify the developmental stages most sensitive to HT stress and (iii) to quantify the genetic variability for HT stress tolerance in finger millet. Research was conducted in controlled environment conditions. HT stress decreased the chlorophyll index, photosystem II activity, grain yield and harvest index. Maximum decrease in number of seeds per panicle and grain yield per plant was observed when stress was imposed during booting, panicle emergence or flowering stages. Maximum genotypic variation was explained by panicle width and number of seeds per panicle at optimum temperature (OT) and grain yield per plant at HT and number of seeds at HT. Based on the stress response and grain yield, tolerant or susceptible genotypes were identified. Finger millet is sensitive to HT stress during reproductive stages, and there was genotypic variability among the finger millet genotypes for number of seeds per panicle and grain yield under HT, which can be exploited to enhance stress tolerance.     

Integrated Evaluation and the Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Semi-Wild Cotton under Complex Salt-Alkali Stress

[Objective] The genetic diversity of semi-wild cotton was abundant, so more new elite resistant genes could be found and applied to improve the resistance of cotton. The aim of this study was to primarily study on the regulation of response to salt-alkali stress, explore the method of integrated evaluation and characterize the resistance of semi-wild cotton. [Method] Four semi-wild and two cultivated Gossypium hirsutum accessions were evaluated for phonotypical, physiological and biochemical traits under alkali-salt versus normal conditions in hydroponic solutions. The alkali-salt tolerance was determined based on principal component analysis, cluster analysis, correlation analysis, grey rational analysis and analysis of variance. [Result] On the basis of the overall results, the alkali-salt stress tolerance of the six accessions was ranked as: Marie-galante85 > Latifolium32 > CRI16 > CRI12 > Latifolium40 > Latifolium130. Roots were found to be the most important responsive systems to complex alkali-salt stress. At seedling growth stage, the active scavenging system played a crucial role in response to alkali-salt stress. In addition, the salt tolerant and salt sensitive accessions showed different response tends towards leaf peroxidase, root ascorbate peroxidase and root catalase within 48 h, suggesting the accessions have different levels of response to salt stress. [Conclusion]Our study identified the most alkali-salt tolerant accessions and provided basic concept of complex alkali-salt tolerance mechanism within cotton accessions. And, our study provided a simple and rapid, highly accurate and precise method for evaluating salt resistance of cotton, and proved that the balance of ROS system play an important role in response to salt-alkali stress. Hence, mining of salt tolerant genes from these accessions may facilitate the development of novel salt tolerant variety.     

熟石灰施用对土壤pH及附子生长发育的影响

[目的]明确熟石灰对附子地酸性土壤的改良作用以及对附子生长发育的影响。[方法]开展盆栽试验研究熟石灰不同施用量对土壤pH、附子生长发育及产量的影响。[结果]不同熟石灰处理(1 350、1 800、2 250 kg/hm~2)均可显著提高土壤pH(P0.05),且不同程度地促进附子出苗、抽茎;中、低用量熟石灰(1 350、1 800 kg/hm~2)能促进附子株高,而高用量(2 250 kg/hm~2)则抑制植株生长;所有处理对附子苗期展叶数均无显著影响;熟石灰用量为1 800 kg/hm~2能提高单株附子产量,而用量为2 250 kg/hm~2能提高附子成活率,促进附子总产量提高。[结论]一定用量的熟石灰能有效调节酸性土壤pH,促进附子生长发育并提高产量。     

Growth and yield responses of upland NERICAs to variable water management under field conditions

This study aimed to investigate the possible causes for inconsistent performances of upland New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties in uplands and lowlands, while identifying important determinants in grain yield under deficient soil moisture. We compared the growth and yield of NERICA 1 and NERICA 5 to those of Yumenohatamochi, a Japanese upland variety, and Hinohikari, a Japanese lowland variety, subjected to different water management regimes (continually flooded, supplementary irrigation, and non-irrigation). Under conditions of deficient soil moisture, panicle number per square meter, spikelet number per panicle, and 1000-grain weight of NERICAs decreased, whereas the panicle number of the Japanese varieties experienced little change. In contrast, the grain filling ratio was unaffected by water management, irrespective of variety. The primary source of yield reduction under low soil water conditions was a decrease in spikelet number per panicle, and water stress intensity was the primary factor for the degree of this reduction. Variation in the abortion of secondary rachis-branches caused differences between NERICAs in their spikelet number response to soil moisture deficiency. The inconsistency in NERICA performance across uplands vs. lowlands can be partially attributed to variation in yield response to low soil water conditions. Moreover, water stress intensity and the presence of a water gradient along the vertical soil profile may combine to affect the fluctuation in NERICA performance under upland conditions.     

Conservation needs for the endangered New Zealand sea lion,Phocarctos hookeri

1. Understanding population size and trend is critical information in species management and conservation. To enable accurate population trend estimates, consistent robust monitoring of a species is essential, particularly for a species such as the New Zealand (NZ) sea lion, Phocarctos hookeri , which has experienced an almost continuous decline in pup production since the late 1990s.
2. This research examines the pup production estimates for all known breeding sites for this species, and using a stage‐structured matrix population model, estimates population size and trend between 1995 and 2015.
3. Overall, it is estimated that 2,316 pups were born in 2015, a decrease of 13% since 1995 and a 27% decline since the highest pup production estimate in 1998. This decline has been driven by the significant decline of 48% at the main breeding area, the Auckland Islands since 1998.
4. Using the stage‐structured matrix population model a total species population size of 11,767 sea lions (95% CrI: 10,790–12,923) was estimated. This is the lowest population size of any sea lion species. Trend data for the Auckland Islands indicated that pup and population numbers have decreased at 1.9% yr^?1 in the last 20 yr, while total species population decline is 0.6% yr^?1.
5. Estimates of population trends for this species have been hindered by inconsistent monitoring at most breeding sites. This study strengthens the growing field of research highlighting the need for consistent long‐term monitoring for the conservation management of endangered species.

     

花前氮亏缺对水稻叶片氮代谢酶活性的影响

以籼型杂交稻中浙优1号和籼粳型杂交稻甬优12为材料,试验分析了花前不同时期氮亏缺处理对水稻叶片氮代谢酶活性的影响。结果表明,花前氮亏缺导致植株上3叶氮浓度、NR、GS、GOGAT、GOT和GPT酶活性大幅下降,GDH活性显著增长,且各叶位对花前氮亏缺敏感度总体上表现为剑叶倒2叶倒3叶;破口期亏氮对籼型杂交稻中浙优1号上3叶氮同化酶活性的影响远小于减数分裂期处理,与之相比,籼粳杂交稻甬优12对破口期亏氮胁迫仍较敏感,表明中浙优1号植株氮代谢酶的亏氮敏感性由减数分裂期至破口期逐步下降,对土壤速效氮的需求同步降低,甬优12则对土壤供氮存在更高需求。     

外源溶磷菌对不同土壤条件下大豆生长特性的影响

为了明确溶磷菌在多种土壤中的应用效果,探讨了两株溶磷菌对黑土及盐碱土种植大豆的促生效应。采用盆栽试验分析了不同处理对大豆光合作用、渗透调节物质含量、生物量、氮磷吸收及产量的影响。结果表明:加菌处理可增加植株Pn,显著降低R6、R8两时期叶片可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖及游离氨基酸含量,增加R2~R8时期大豆株高和根干重,混合土壤中加菌处理也可提高植株地上部分氮、磷及植株全磷、全氮含量。添加wj1和混合菌处理的植株干重优于添加wj3的处理。黑土加混合菌可显著提高大豆R2期叶片WUE,增加V3、R2和R8这3个时期大豆地上、地下部分氮、磷及植株全氮、全磷的含量。黑土加wj1与混合土壤加菌处理的大豆株荚数、总粒数、单株粒重及百粒重均高于未加菌处理。添加外源溶磷菌,对黑土及盐碱土栽培大豆均有不同程度的促生效果,能明显增强大豆在混合盐碱土壤中的适应性,增加植株生物量、氮磷吸收量和产量,且混合菌处理对大豆的促生效应优于wj1及wj3单一菌株处理。     

麻地膜对设施樱桃番茄(Solanum lycopersivon)生长及产量的影响

为了明确麻地膜覆盖在设施大棚内对樱桃番茄生长及产量的影响,本研究采用‘浙樱粉1号’为实验材料,设置3个处理:麻地膜覆盖、塑料地膜覆盖及对照(不覆盖),比较了不同覆盖措施对‘浙樱粉1号’株高、茎粗、单株鲜重、结果数量及樱桃番茄鲜果重的影响。结果表明,在设施大棚内采用麻地膜覆盖增加了‘浙樱粉1号’株高、茎粗、结果数量及樱桃番茄鲜果重。麻地膜覆盖对设施大棚内种植的樱桃番茄有增产作用,麻地膜的推广应用可以减少塑料地膜对环境污染,利于农业的可持续发展。     

野生大豆内生真菌对作物促生作用的研究

为了实现绿色生态农业、农作提质增效,加快生防菌剂的研发进度。本研究利用具有广谱拮抗玉米大斑病和大豆疫霉病野生大豆内生真菌Y6R15和Y2S2为试材,通过菌液灌根和叶喷处理,分析不同处理下玉米和大豆苗期干物质和根系指标的变化。结果表明：拮抗菌株Y6R15对玉米叶片和根干重促生作用明显,均提高根长度、根表面积、根体积、根尖数等指标,以根冠比指标标准Y6R15叶喷效果为最佳方式,依据根系指标特征变化Y6R15灌根效果好于叶喷。拮抗菌株Y2S2和Y6R15处理均对大豆有促生作用,效果显著,Y6R15菌株对玉米和大豆均有促生作用。     

气候变化对中国水稻生产的影响研究进展

水稻生产系统是响应气候变化最敏感的农业生态系统之一,本文综述了当前和未来气候变化对我国水稻生产的影响。气候变化背景下,我国水稻生长季的热量资源增多,辐射资源减少,降水不均一性加大。高温热害、干旱、暴雨和洪涝灾害发生更频繁,这可能降低水、热资源的有效性。气候变化使我国单季稻和双季稻潜在种植边界显著北移,导致单季稻、早稻和晚稻的主要生育期缩短。基于统计模型和水稻生长模型的研究结果表明,如果不考虑品种改良和栽培技术的进步,气候变化使单季稻、早稻和晚稻产量下降,但不同稻作区和方法间存在差异。我国水稻生产重心北移、实测生育期延长和产量增加的变化趋势,反映了水稻生产系统通过种植分布调整、品种改良和技术改进来适应气候变化的能力。未来气候变化将进一步导致水稻生育期缩短和产量下降,对我国水稻生产和粮食安全带来严峻挑战。仍需加强气候变化影响机制的研究及其在影响评估中的应用,减小影响评估的不确定性并增加其系统性,为制定有效的应对策略提供可靠的理论支持。