Cold acclimation of winter and spring peas: carbon partitioning as affected by light intensity

Like most plants, pea (Pisum sativum L.) becomes tolerant to frost if it is first exposed to low non-freezing temperatures, a process known as cold acclimation. Cold acclimation is a complex process involving many physiological and metabolic changes. Two spring dry peas, two winter dry peas and one winter forage line were exposed to cold temperature in a controlled environment in two experiments, one using low light intensity and the other regular light intensity. Plants were harvested throughout the experiment and dry matter accumulation, water content, soluble and insoluble sugar concentrations were determined from shoot and root samples. Cold acclimation did not occur when temperatures were low if light intensity was low, even in winter peas. In contrast, with regular light intensity, the winter peas acquired more freezing tolerance than spring peas and a close relationship was found between the soluble sugar concentration of leaves just before the frost and the degree of freezing tolerance obtained by the different genotypes. Relationships between freezing tolerance and carbon partitioning between shoot and roots are discussed.     

Effectiveness of selection for quality traits during the early stage in the potato breeding population

Potato cultivars resistant to cold‐temperature sweetening are of major importance to the processing industry producing both chips (crisps) and French fries. When most modern potato cultivars are maintained in cold storage to retard sprouting, the tubers accumulate reducing sugars, and the products become an unacceptable brown colour when fried. Selection for better processing quality during the early generations of a breeding programme could be of considerable advantage. Using a portable ‘sugarmeter’, which requires only a drop of sap from the tuber on a test strip, many samples can be efficiently surveyed for low sugar as early as the F₁ generation. Using seedlings of three test crosses, glucose and specific gravity of field‐grown tubers, minitubers from greenhouses and microtubers from in vitro culture were compared after cold treatment. Although the mean glucose levels of minitubers and microtubers were higher than field‐grown tubers, the correlation between the glucose contents of the three types of tubers was fairly high. A considerable genetic improvement was noted when progenies were grown as minitubers or microtubers, even though the response to selection for low glucose levels in minitubers and microtubers was lower than from direct selection from field‐grown tubers. The specific gravity of field‐grown tubers showed a significant association with freshly harvested minitubers and microtubers. Selection for low glucose content in minitubers can therefore save considerable resources in a breeding programme.     

Effects of elevated carbon dioxide and ozone on potato tuber quality in the European multiple-site experiment ‘CHIP-project’

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L cv. Bintje) was exposed to ambient and elevated carbon dioxide (CO₂), to ambient and elevated ozone (O₃) and to elevated levels of both gases during two growing seasons, 1998 and 1999. Experiments in open-top chambers (OTC) were carried out in Finland, Sweden, Ireland, United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium and a FACE (Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment) experiment was carried out in Italy. In OTCs the plants were grown under ambient CO₂ concentrations or with 550 and 680 μl l⁻¹ CO₂ alone or in combination with ambient or elevated O₃ concentrations (target seasonal mean of 60 nl l⁻¹ 8 h per day). In the FACE systems the plants were exposed to ambient or 550 μl l⁻¹ CO₂. In the OTC experiments the reducing sugar content of potato tubers decreased significantly with increased concentration of O₃. The starch content of potato tubers decreased, with negative impact on tuber quality, but the ascorbic acid concentration increased as a function of the AOT40 (The sum of the differences between hourly ozone concentration and 40 nl l⁻¹ for each hour when the concentration exceeds 40 nl l⁻¹ during a relevant growing season). However, simultaneous exposure to elevated CO₂ counteracted the ozone effect. With increase in the CO₂ exposure, glycoalkaloid and nitrate concentrations decreased yielding improved quality, while the citric acid concentration decreased causing a higher risk for discoloration after cooking. The amount of dry matter and starch increased significantly in the FACE experiment.     

Evaluation of cold resistance of ornamental species for planting as urban rooftop greening

Rooftop gardening or green roof establishment, one of the methods of afforestation for urban greening, has many benefits for the environment, the economy and urban landscapes. Various environmental stresses including heat, strong wind, sunshine and cold prevent most plants from growing well in extensive green roof systems. For the establishment of urban rooftop gardening in Beijing, we evaluated 13 ornamental plant species [Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurea Nana’, Euonymus fortune (Turcz.) Hand., Viburnum dilatatum Thunb., Cotinus coggygria Scop., Swida alba Opiz., Weigela florida (Bunge.) A. DC., Jasminum nudiflorum Lindl., Euonymus japonicus Thunb., Euonymus japonicus ‘Cuzhi’, Buddleja davidii Franch., Pyracantha fortuneana (Maxim.) Li., Ligustrum lucidum Ait. and Spiraea salicifolia L.] for greening of flat rooftops. We obtained three indices concerning cold resistance, i.e., electrical conductivity of leaves, amounts of soluble sugars and amounts of free proline, providing a theoretical basis for selection of plants fit for roof and balcony greening. The results show that the six species P. fortuneana (Maxim.) Li., B. thunbergii ‘Atropurea Nana’, J. nudiflorum Lindl., E. fortune (Turcz.) Hand., E. japonicus Thunb. and E. japonicus ‘Cuzhi’ are excellent plants for rooftop gardening, judging from their strong ability in cold resistance. Plants such as L. lucidum Ait., C. coggygria Scop. and W. florida (Bunge) A. DC. showed a medium ability in cold resistance. However, these species can be used in roof and balcony greening after intensive management or acclimatization of variety. The ability to resist cold of plants such as W. florida (Bunge) A. DC., S. salicifolia L., V. rhytidophyllum and S. alba Opiz. (Cornus alba L.) was found to be rather weak. Therefore, cold-proof measures are recommended when using these species.     

螺旋环剥对龙眼幼树的促花增产效应与可溶性糖的相关性

本文针对龙眼北缘区幼树易抽晚秋梢和冬梢,影响花芽分化和开花结果,导致幼树投产迟、产量低等问题,采用螺旋环剥,对三个品种龙眼幼树进行试验研究,用环割及对照作比较,探索螺旋环剥的促花增产效应及其与叶片、根系可溶性糖含量变化的相关性。研究结果表明,对大乌圆龙眼结果幼树主干螺旋环剥,可有效减少地上部可溶性糖向根部转运,增加结果母枝叶片中可溶性糖的积累,从而促进花芽分化,显著提高成花率、坐果率、产量和品质。螺旋环剥、环割对不同品种及不同时段秋梢的促花效应存在较大差异。     

山东苹果中可溶性糖,有机酸的研究

本文报导了用高效液相色谱法连续两年测定山东主要栽培苹果总糖含量为８．９２％－１２．５６％。其中果糖含量为５．４４％，葡萄糖含量为２．８２％，蔗糖含量为１．９５％，决定品种差异的糖类为蔗糖，有机酸含量为０．７６％－０．９３％，其中苹果酸约占总酸８４％，其余为琥珀酸、草酸、酒石酸、乙酸、柠檬酸。研究了气候、土壤条件、肥料对糖酸的影响，并根据测定结果提出鉴定苹果品系可用果糖／蔗糖或葡萄糖／蔗糖，果实品质     

甘蔗蔗汁锤度和还原糖分傅立叶变换近红外定量分析数学模型

以傅立叶变换近红外光谱技术为基础，采用透射测定方式和PLS算法，建立蔗汁锤度和还原糖分定量分析数学模型．蔗汁锤度和还原糖分预测数学模型的决定系数(R^2)分别为0．9990和0．9953，均方根差分别为0．1150％和0．0722％，预测误差接近常规分析方法的误差．     

草莓果实发育过程中糖代谢相关基因的表达分析

 为了分析草莓（Fragaria × ananassa Duch.）果实发育过程中可溶性糖积累与相关基因表达量的关系,以‘杜克拉’草莓7个发育时期的果实为试材,利用实时荧光定量RT-PCR的方法,分析果实发育中蔗糖转运蛋白及糖代谢关键酶（酸性转化酶、蔗糖合成酶和蔗糖磷酸合成酶）4个基因的表达量以及可溶性糖含量的变化趋势。结果表明,蔗糖、葡萄糖和果糖含量随着果实发育都呈逐渐增加的趋势,尤其蔗糖积累与果实成熟的关系较密切。随着果实发育,蔗糖磷酸合成酶基因表达量呈逐渐增加的趋势,尤其在果实发育的后期增加较快;蔗糖合成酶和酸性转化酶基因表达量除了白熟期和转色期外,呈逐渐降低的趋势;蔗糖转运蛋白基因表达量呈先升后降,降后又升的变化趋势,尤其在白熟期前急剧增加。结合可溶性糖和基因变化趋势分析表明,蔗糖转运蛋白和蔗糖磷酸合成酶在草莓果实发育过程中发挥着重要的作用。     

Subcellular compartmentation of sugars in wheat leaves under the influence of salinity and boron toxicity

In this study, long-term effects of salinity and high boron (B) on subcellular distribution of sugars in wheat leaves were investigated. Four treatments with three replications of each; control, high B, sodium chloride (NaCl) and NaCl + high B, respectively were established according to completely randomized design. Plants were grown hydroponically and harvested after 6 weeks onset of experiment. NaCl treatment markedly decreased the shoot fresh and dry weight compared to high B or NaCl + high Boron. It increased the sugar concentrations in subcellular compartments, whereas decreased in NaCl + high B. Contrary, NaCl either alone or in combination with high B decreased the sugar contents in whole leaf compared to control or high B. Overall, higher concentrations of sugars were observed in symplast compared to apoplast indicating the symplast as major compartment for sugar transport. Furthermore, wheat plants accumulate sugars in subcellular compartments to maintain their growth under stress conditions.     

Untersuchungen zum Einfluß von Standort, Saatstärke, N-Düngung, Sorte und Erntezeitpunkt auf den Ertrag und die Inhaltsstoffe von Zuckerhirse

Investigations into the effect of location, planting density, N-fertilization, variety and harvest date on yield and contents of sweet sorghum
Looking for high yielding plant species as renewable resources, sweet sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) seems to be an interesting crop.
In field trials at three locations in the south-west of Germany in 1983 and 1984 should be investigated the effect of N-fertilization, planting density, variety and harvest date on yield, different morphological characteristics and contents of sweet sorghum.
The results indicate that yields of 15-20 t DM/ha are only feasible when the given temperature sum is higher than 2000 °C (> 5°C). The maximum yield of 22.7 t DM/ha resp. 6.5 t/ha "Free Fermentable Sugar" (FFZ) was realized when a sufficient water supply and N-fertilization had been guaranteed.
The different possibilities of utilization of sweet sorghum e.g. as sugar crop, agricultural raw material for combustion or as forage crop urge the plant breeder to intensify the breeding efforts adapting this crop at the climatic conditions of Germany.