Root architecture of sorghum genotypes differing in root angles under different water regimes

Plant root architecture offers the potential for increasing soil water accessibility, particularly under water-limited conditions. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the root architecture in two genotypes of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) differing in root angles and to assess the influence of different deficit irrigation regimes on root architecture. The response of two sorghum genotypes, ‘Early Hegari-Sart’ (EH; steep root angle) and ‘Bk7’ (shallow root angle) to four irrigation treatments was investigated in two replicated outdoor studies using large pots. The results indicated that EH possessed steeper brace and crown root angles, fewer brace roots, greater root biomass, and root length density than Bk7 at deeper soil depths (i.e., 15–30 and 30–45 cm) compared with a shallower depth (i.e., 0–15 cm). Across the soil profile, EH had greater root length density and length of roots of small diameter (<1 mm) than Bk7. Accordingly, EH showed more rapid soil-water capture than Bk7. Different levels of irrigation input greatly affected root architecture. Severe deficit irrigation (25% of full crop transpiration throughout the season) increased the angle and number of crown roots, root biomass, and root length density compared with 75 and 100% of full crop transpiration treatments. Consequently, root system architecture can be effectively manipulated through both genotypic selection and irrigation management to ensure optimal performance under different levels of soil available water.     

栽培稻和普通野生稻居群根表铁膜形成能力的比较研究

根表铁膜形成能力反映了水稻根系氧化力的强弱。为了了解普通野生稻根系氧化力,采用水培铁胁迫试验对5个水稻品种和2个普通野生稻居群根表铁膜形成能力进行评价。结果表明:同亚洲栽培稻相比,普通野生稻拥有较高的根孔隙度,但其根表铁膜含量较低;供试植株的根孔隙度与根表铁膜含量之间没有相关性,这很可能与侧根的数量有关。     

Effects of egg stocking density on egg hatchability,larval quality and water quality for pinfish,Lagodon rhomboides,and pigfish,Orthopristis chrysoptera

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides Linnaeus) and pigfish (Orthopristis chrysoptera L.) are relatively new, cultured species commonly used as marine baitfish in the south‐eastern United States and currently have no defined protocols for egg incubation. Thus, experiments were conducted to determine efficient egg stocking densities during static and flow‐through incubation that yielded higher quality larvae. Eggs of each species were incubated statically at 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 eggs L^?1, and after incubation, egg hatching success, larval survival to first feeding, larval morphometrics and water quality were assessed. Stocking densities above 250 eggs L^?1 led to significant reductions in pinfish hatching success and water quality degradation, evident from decreased dissolved oxygen and pH levels and increased nitrogenous wastes. Increased stocking densities for pigfish also resulted in significant water quality degradation, although hatching success was unaffected up to a density of 1000 eggs L^?1. A high flow‐through water exchange rate of 2000% daily resulted in significant reductions in nitrogenous wastes and greater stability in dissolved oxygen and pH levels during incubation when compared to static treatments of the same egg density. Additionally, the high exchange rate of 2000% was critical in maintaining high hatching success and larval survival to first feeding at stocking densities of 1000 eggs L^?1 for pinfish and up to 4000 eggs L^?1 for pigfish. No clear patterns in larval morphometrics were observed among stocking densities. Static incubation densities of 250 and 1000 eggs L^?1 are recommended for pinfish and pigfish, respectively.     

Analysis of residuals for stability assessment of rice genotypes

The analysis of residuals computes general adaptabilities (GAs) and specific adaptabilities (SAs) of genotypes similar to combining ability analysis. The residual analysis is simple and robust being based on the first-degree statistics, and is assumption-free. A unique statistic of ratio of variances (VR) of residuals for individual genotypes allows comparing their stability. The residuals analysis of genotype × environment (GE) interactions was performed for grain yield (t ha^?1) of 25 rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes, including two developed by marker-assisted selection for root traits quantitative trait loci (QTL), tested across 16 sites. Results were compared with the linear regression analysis for (i) full set of 16 sites showing adequacy of linear model and (ii) subset of nine-poor sites showing inadequacy of linear model. There was agreement between the two analyses for situation (i) but not for situation (ii) when the regression analysis fails because of nonlinearity but the residual analysis retains its validity.     

连续翻耕秸秆粉碎还田土壤物理性状及水稻产量

通过连续5年田间定位试验,研究了翻耕秸秆粉碎还田对稻麦两熟农田土壤物理性状、水稻产量及其构成因素的影响。结果表明,水稻收获时,翻耕秸秆粉碎还田处理能够有效降低耕层土壤容重、紧实度和土壤中固相部分所占比例,增加耕层土壤毛管孔隙度和土壤中气相部分所占比例。就水稻产量而言,翻耕秸秆粉碎还田处理较秸秆不还田处理有不同程度的提高,5年平均增产428 kg/hm~2,增幅为4.50%,主要是通过增加有效穗数和穗粒数来提高水稻产量。总之,本试验条件下,翻耕秸秆粉碎还田措施有利于改善耕层土壤物理结构,提高水稻产量。     

牛角瓜根的抑菌活性研究

以牛角瓜根为实验材料,采用索氏提取法,以4种不同溶剂(石油醚、氯仿、乙酸乙酯、甲醇)对牛角瓜的根进行提取,并采用纸片琼脂扩散法对粗提物的抑菌活性进行了评价,供试菌包括白色念珠菌等6种真菌和金黄色葡萄球菌等7种细菌。结果表明:石油醚粗提物对枯草芽孢杆菌、白色念珠菌、黑曲霉菌、大肠埃希氏菌都表现出良好的抑菌活性,且抑菌效果接近或优于阳性对照氟康唑,对尖孢镰刀菌和鲍曼不动杆菌也表现出良好的抑菌活性;氯仿粗提物对白色念珠菌及粪链球菌表现出良好的抑菌活性;乙酸乙酯粗提物对粪链球菌表现出最好的抑菌活性;甲醇粗提物的抑菌活性较弱。     

Effect of herbicide application on weed flora under conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe

Increased challenges of weed control in the smallholder farming sector of southern Africa have often resulted in small yields. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different weed control strategies on weed flora and composition under conservation agriculture (CA) systems in Zimbabwe. This study was conducted at three on-station trial sites namely Domboshawa Training Centre (DTC), University of Zimbabwe farm (UZ farm) and Henderson Research Station (HRS) in a maize–soybean rotation for four seasons from 2009–2010 to 2012–2013 seasons. Hand weeding was done whenever weeds were 10 cm tall or 10 cm in circumference for weeds with a stoloniferous growth habit. Weed identification was done up to the weed species level, and the Shannon–Weiner diversity and evenness index was used to determine the response of weed flora to herbicides. Results showed that there were more weeds in the early years which decreased gradually until the final season. Weed species diversity was not affected by herbicide application and the results indicated that weed species diversity was small in CA systems. Annual weed species constituted a greater proportion of species, and species richness decreased with the duration of the study. Richardia scabra L. and Galinsoga parviflora Cav. were the most common dominant weed species at all sites and in all seasons. Moreover, herbicide application had no effect on the evenness of weeds in the plots but site characteristics had a significant effect on the distribution of weed species (weed species evenness). The results presented in this study suggest that herbicide application facilitates a depletion of weed seed bank/number of weeds over time. Thus, herbicide application in CA has potential to reduce weed density, species richness and species diversity in the long term which may lead to more labour savings and larger yields.     

闽西清香型烤烟配套栽培技术研究

为了规范烤烟栽培模式,对清香型烤烟配套栽培技术进行了试验研究,提出了适时播栽、培育壮苗、精耕细作、盖膜待栽、控制施氮、合理追肥、"膜上"栽烟、科学管水、掀(揭)膜培土、病虫防治、拔节打顶、成熟采烤等配套栽培技术。     

A new lean no time test baking method with improved discriminating power

In response to customer concerns related to gluten strength in commercial baking, the Canadian Grain Commission assessed whether the Canadian Short Process (CSP) test bake method was generating useful data related to intrinsic strength of wheat varieties. Assessment of CSP loaf volume data for Canadian variety trials spanning 2003 to 2013 showed very little correlation with dough strength parameters as measured by farinograph and extensigraph. A lean no time (LNT) test baking method was developed that can better discriminate genotypes and provide objective indicators of the effect of intrinsic dough strength on baking quality. From early method development, through method validation and verification using diverse sets of samples targeting different Canadian wheat classes and grown in three different crop years, results showed the LNT method to be more discriminating and easily adopted by other laboratories. In 2015, the LNT method was adopted as the method of choice in future Canadian variety registration trials. The LNT method is fast, simple and well-suited to high throughput test baking conditions encountered in the evaluation of large numbers of breeder lines. A new objective parameter, loaf top ratio, was also introduced and found to correlate well with dough strength and dough handling properties.