Genetic diversity,population structure and genetic relationships in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) germplasm of Jammu and Kashmir,India using ISSR markers

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - The collection and characterization of apricot germplasm is an important step for its utilization, conservation, and breeding programs. In the present study,...     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for salinity stress: Anti-stress role and mechanisms

Salinity stress is considered one of the most harmful environmental plant stresses, as it reduces irrigated land crop production by over 20%worldwide.Hence, it is imperative to develop salt-tolerant crops in addition to understanding various mechanisms enabling plant growth under saline stress conditions.Recently, a novel biological approach that aims to address salinity stress has gained momentum, which involves the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in plant-microbe interactions. It has ...     

水稻耐盐性的机理

Shaheen Basmati was evolved as a salt tolerant fine rice variety by the Soil Salinity Research Institute,Pindi Bhattian, Pakistan. Water culture studies were conducted to investigate the physiological mechanism exercised by this variety in particular and rice plant in general to face the saline environment. Performance of this rice variety and the concentration and uptake of ions were studied under stress of three salinity levels(30, 60 and 90 mmolL^-1) created with NaC1. Recorded data indicated that shoot dry matter was not significantly affected by all the three levels of salinity. However, NaC1 levels of 60 and 90 mmol L^-1 affected the root dry matter significantly. Sodium concentration and uptake was enhanced significantly in root and shoot at the first level of salinity (30 mmol L^-1) but thereafter the differences were non-significant, indicating the preferential absorption of this cation. The K concentration decreased significantly in shoots at all the levels. The impact was less pronounced in roots as far as K absorption was concerned. The effect on Ca and Mg concentrations was not significant. The values of K:Na, Ca:Na and (Ca Mg):Na ratios in shoot and root were comparatively low under stress conditions, indicating that selective ion absorption may be the principal salt tolerance mechanism of variety Shaheen Basmati when grown in a saline medium.     

Isolation and expression analysis of defensin gene and its promoter from Brassica juncea

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The full-length pathogen-inducible plant defensin gene encoding 80 amino acid sequences of pathogen-related gene PR12 (Bjdefensin) was isolated from...     

套作对大豆苗期碳氮物质代谢的影响及其与抗倒伏性的关系

为从植株光形态建成的角度,阐明玉米-大豆套作模式下,大豆苗期倒伏发生的原因。在大豆单作和玉米-大豆套作两种种植模式下,以强耐阴大豆南豆12和弱耐阴大豆南032-4为试验材料,对大豆倒伏率、茎秆形态、叶片光合特性,茎秆和叶片碳氮代谢物质含量等进行调查、测定和分析。结果表明,由于套作受共生期内玉米的遮阴,大豆处于弱光环境,导致植株形态发生改变,光合速率降低,并发生倒伏,但两种大豆品种受荫蔽影响的程度不同。南豆12受荫蔽的影响较小,倒伏率显著低于南032-4,茎秆长粗比增加幅度和光合速率降低幅度也显著低于南032-4,相关分析表明,倒伏率与茎秆长粗比呈极显著正相关(r=0.946;P<0.01);与叶片光合速率呈显著负相关(r=-0.886;P<0.05);叶片光合速率与光合有效辐射呈极显著正相关(r=0.900;P<0.01),说明套作荫蔽降低了大豆冠层的光合有效辐射而导致大豆叶片光合速率降低是引起套作大豆形态改变,发生倒伏的重要原因;分析大豆叶片光合速率、茎秆碳氮比、叶片碳氮比和倒伏率发现,套作显著降低了茎秆和叶片碳氮比,降低幅度表现为南032-4显著高于南豆12,相关分析表明,叶片光合速率与茎秆和叶片碳氮比呈显著或极显著负相关(r=-0.871,-0.930;P<0.05),茎秆和叶片碳氮比与倒伏率呈极显著正相关(r=0.985,0.968;P<0.01),说明较高的碳氮比是南豆12具有较强抗倒伏能力的生理基础,使其能够在套作环境下维持较优的光形态特性,更适合于套作种植;分析大豆碳氮物质代谢可知,套作显著降低了大豆茎秆和叶片的碳氮代谢物质含量,不同品种间表现为南豆12显著高于南032-4。说明较高的碳氮代谢活性和光合产物运输能力是增强套作大豆抗倒伏能力的物质基础和代谢基础。以玉米-大豆带状套作种植为对象,探明了套作大豆植株倒伏与茎叶碳氮代谢物质转运的关系,为培育套作专用的耐阴抗倒伏大豆品种提供理论支持。     

Boron Application Improves Growth,Yield and Net Economic Return of Rice

A field trial was conducted to evaluate the role of boron (B) application at different growth stages in improving the growth,yield and net economic return of rice at farmer’s fields during summer season,2009.Boron was soil applied (1.5 kg/hm2) at the transplanting,tillering,flowering and grain formation stages of rice;foliar applied (1.5% B solution) at the tillering,flowering and grain formation stages of rice,and dipped seedling roots in 1.5% B solution before transplanting;while control plots did not apply any B.Boron application (except dipping of seedling roots in B solution,which caused toxicity and reduced the number of tillers and straw yield than control) substantially improved the rice growth and yield.However,soil application was better in improving the number of grains per panicle,1000-grain weight,grain yield,harvest index,net economic income and ratio of benefit to cost compared with the rest of treatments.Overall,for improving rice performance and maximizing the net economic returns,B might be applied as soil application at flowering.     

Mulberry leaf water extract inhibits bermudagrass and promotes wheat growth

Allelopathy has the potential to tackle the concerns associated with the indiscriminate use of synthetic herbicides. In search of a natural herbicide, the effects of mulberry (Morus alba) leaf water extracts on bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) were investigated. Four concentrations of extract (25, 50, 75, and 100%) were compared with a control (distilled water). The results revealed that the pregermination application of 100% mulberry leaf water extract resulted in the complete inhibition of bermudagrass and wheat germination. However, postemergence, two foliar sprays suppressed only the growth of bermudagrass and promoted wheat growth. The effect of the mulberry leaf water extract was concentration dependent. It is evident that the postemergence application of mulberry leaf water extract has the scope for use as natural herbicide for the control of bermudagrass and to promote the growth and yield of wheat.     

The circulation of unique reassortment strains of infectious bursal disease virus in Pakistan

Infectious bursal disease(IBD), caused by IBD virus(IBDV), is one of the most devastating and immunosuppressive diseases of the poultry and has been a constraint on the sustainable poultry production around the globe including Pakistan. While the disease is threatening the poultry industry, the nature of predominant strains of IBDV in Pakistan remained ill-defined. In this study, an epidemiology survey was conducted in the main chicken-farming regions of Pakistan. The batch of Pakistan IBDVs genes simultaneously covering both VP1 and VP2 were amplified, sequenced, and analyzed. The unique segmentreassortant IBDVs(vv-A/Uniq-B), carrying segment A from vvIBDV and segment B from one unique ancestor, were identified as one important type of circulating strains in Pakistan. The data also discovered the characteristic molecular features of Pakistan IBDVs, which will contribute to scientific vaccine selection and effective prevention of the disease.     

Efficiency of KOH-modified rice straw-derived biochar for reducing cadmium mobility, bioaccessibility and bioavailability risk index in red soil

Cadmium (Cd) pollution in agricultural soils has exerted a serious threat due to continuous application of pesticides, fertilizers, and wastewater irrigation. The present study aimed to test the efficiency of KOH-modified and non-modified rice straw-derived biochar (KBC and BC, respectively) for reducing Cd solubility and bioavailability in Cd-contaminated soil. Cadmium-contaminated soil was incubated for 60 d with 15 and 30 g kg^-1 BC and KBC. At the end of incubation, Cd mobility was estimated by the European Community Bureau of Reference sequential extraction and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), while bioavailability was determined using 1 mol L^-1 NH₄NO₃ extraction. The bioavailability risk index and bioaccessibility, assessed by a simple bioaccessibility extraction test, of Cd were used to examine the potential effects of Cd on living organisms. The results indicated that application of both KBC and BC significantly increased soil pH, cation exchange capacity, nutrients, and organic carbon. The soluble fraction of Cd was significantly decreased by 30.3% and 27.4%, respectively, with the addition of KBC and BC at 30 g kg^-1 compared to the control (without biochar addition). Similarly, the bioaccessible Cd was significantly decreased by 32.4% and 25.2%, respectively, with the addition of KBC and BC at 30 g kg^-1 compared to the control. In addition, both KBC and BC significantly reduced Cd leaching in the TCLP and NH₄NO₃-extractable Cd in the amended soil compared to the control. The reduction in Cd solubility and bioaccessibility by KBC and BC may be due to significant increases in soil pH and surface complexation. Overall, KBC at an application rate of 30 g kg^-1 demonstrated positive results as soil amendment for Cd immobilization, and reduced bioaccessible Cd in contaminated soil.     

Phenotypic diversity and relationships of fruit quality traits in inter-specific almond × peach backcrosses breeding progenies

Nineteen agrochemical traits of 20 almond inter-specific backcrosses progenies were evaluated and compared for three consequence years to find out their phenotypic diversity and determine the relationships of fruit quality traits in almond × peach backcrosses breeding progenies. The variation was observed for traits of phenology parameters (blooming time, ripening time), Physical parameters (fruit weight, width, height, shape, thickness, skin pubescences, colour and flower type), chemical parameters (total sugar content, soluble solids content and acidity) and sensory parameters (attractiveness, taste, and flavor) and yield. Many fruit characteristics that are important to breeders are present in this collection. A high variability was found in the evaluated almond progenies and significant differences were found among them in all studied quality attributes. Year-by-year variations were observed for majority of traits. A significant correlation was found among the fruit height, fruit width, skin pubescences and yield. Fruit height showed a significant positive correlation with fruit weight and fruit thickness and some other traits and a negative correlation with the titratable acidity, skin pubescences and fruit flavour. A high negative correlation was found between the fruit weight and titratable acidity (?0.8). Low coefficients were got between the flower colour and skin pubescences. In addition, principal component analysis it possible to established similar groups of genotypes depending on their quality characteristics and to study relationships among pomological traits in almond progenies evaluated.