Protoplast culture utilization in studies on legume crops

Abstract

The available literature on whether or not foliar iron (Fe)-containing solutions can be one of the sustainable and low-cost strategies to increase Fe concentration in edible portions of staple food crops consisted of a few previous studies of Fe in plants, and mainly focused on Fe-deficiency remedies. Our experiment was carried out to examine the effects of foliar Fe-containing solutions on Fe enrichment and on the nutritional, cooking, and eating qualities of polished rice of the japonica ‘Bing 98110’ planted on a powdery loam soil under pot conditions. The results showed that Fe concentration in polished rice could be enriched with foliar Fe(II)-amino acids [the main formulation was the complex of 0.1% (w/v) FeSO₄ ^?7H₂O and 0.4% (w/v) compound amino acids, 18.6% N] application. Compared with the control, Fe concentration increased significantly, by 88.0%. Meanwhile, the positive effects on Zn concentration and protein and amino acid content improvement were found with boric acid (H₃BO₃, B) added to Fe(II)-amino acids foliar application. In detail, Zn concentration significantly increased (19.6%), and protein and lysine were increased significantly by 30.1 and 35.1%, respectively. Also the cooking and eating qualities were improved with foliar Fe(II)-amino acids and B compound spray.     

葡萄园立管风送式喷雾机的研制与试验

针对传统的轴流式果园弥雾机在葡萄园作业时,喷药量分配不均匀、农药大量浪费的现象,研制了一种以小四轮拖拉机为动力源,适用于葡萄园作业的立管风送式喷雾机。该立管风送式喷雾机通过设置在拖拉机变速箱左侧的变速取力器把拖拉机的动力传递给后方的柱塞泵和离心风机,离心风机吹出的气流,通过固定在竖直喷架两侧的风筒出风口高速吹出,这不仅防止了雾滴的飘移,而且二次雾化了雾滴,增加了雾滴在葡萄冠层间的穿透性。利用室内试验和样机田间试验测试了该立管风送式结构的防飘、二次雾化功能以及雾滴在树冠中的附着率,结果表明:在自然风速为3.5和4.5m/s,风管出风口风速为30和35m/s的条件下,立管风送辅助喷雾技术能够有效地减少雾滴的飘失,雾滴体积中值直径在150μm以下,雾滴扩散比在0.74以上,二次雾化性能良好;在喷头距离植株30cm,拖拉机前进速度为1.5m/s,柱塞泵压力为0.25MPa、风机转速为2500r/min时,树体内部枝叶正反面雾滴附着率分别为70.2%和30.2%,树膛外部枝叶正反面附着率分别为85.6%和49.3%,满足葡萄园喷雾标准的要求。     

两类扇形雾喷头雾化过程比较研究

为了探究标准扇形雾喷头(ST)与防飘喷头(IDK)的雾化特性,利用雾滴粒径分析仪(PDIA)对以上2种类型喷头的雾化过程进行了试验研究与可视化图形分析。结果表明:ST喷头具有面积较大的液膜区,且具有波纹结构,破裂区内的破裂孔洞呈现不规则撕裂状;IDK喷头液膜区面积较ST喷头小,具有气泡状结构,但并未发现波纹区。随着ST与IDK喷头孔径的增大,液膜长度、破裂区长度分别由20mm增长至40mm、10mm增长至20mm。随着压力的增加,ST110-03型喷头的液膜长度由35mm降低至22mm,雾滴体积中径由128.2μm降低至92.4μm;IDK120-03型喷头的液膜-破裂区长度由40mm降低至30mm,雾滴体积中径由366.4μm降低至285.3μm。该研究可为进一步研究新型防飘喷头的雾化特性以及新型喷雾设备的生产提供参考。     

Foliar Fertilization of Crop Plants

Essential plant nutrients are mainly applied to soil and plant foliage for achieving maximum economic yields. Soil application method is more common and most effective for nutrients, which required in higher amounts. However, under certain circumstances, foliar fertilization is more economic and effective. Foliar symptoms, soil and plant tissue tests, and crop growth responses are principal nutrient disorder diagnostic techniques. Soil applications of fertilizers are mainly done on the basis of soil tests, whereas foliar nutrient applications are mainly done on the basis of visual foliar symptoms or plant tissue tests. Hence, correct diagnosis of nutrient deficiency is fundamental for successful foliar fertilization. In addition, there are some more requirements for successful foliar fertilization. Foliar fertilization requires higher leaf area index for absorbing applied nutrient solution in sufficient amount, it may be necessary to have more than one application depending on severity of nutrient deficiency. Nutrient concentration and day temperature should be optimal to avoid leaf burning and fertilizer source should be soluble in water to be more effective. Foliar fertilization of crops can complement soil fertilization. If foliar fertilization is mixed with postemergence herbicides, insecticides, or fungicides, the probability of yield response could be increased and cost of application can be reduced.     

Leaf Potassium Accumulation in Olive Plants Related to Nutritional K Status,Leaf Age,and Foliar Application of Potassium Salts

Four separate experiments were carried out in greenhouse conditions from spring of 2001 to summer of 2003. The aim of this research was to study the effect of factors such as leaf age, salt type and concentration, number of foliar applications, and the nutritional status on the efficiency of foliar applications of potassium (K) in olive plants. In all experiments, mist-rooted ‘Picual’ olive plants growing in 2 L pots containing perlite were fertigated with a complete nutrient solution containing 0.05 mM or 2.5 mM potassium chloride (KCl). In one experiment, plants received two foliar applications with five concentrations of KCl (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, or 8%) at 63 and 84 days after transplanting. Foliar KCl applications at 2% or 4% increased shoot lengths and the K content of plants fertigated with 0.05 mM KCl (poor K nourished), while foliar KCl application did not have any influence on the growth or K content of plants fertigated with 2.5 mM KCl (normal K nourished). When the number of foliar applications was increased, the results showed that two foliar applications were enough to increase leaf K concentration in olive plants above the sufficiency level. Leaf age could influence the efficiency of foliar K application. Leaf K concentration were higher in young leaves than in mature ones. All K-salts studied as foliar sprays [KCl, potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄), potassium nitrate (KNO₃), potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃), and potassium phosphate (KH₂PO₄)] were effective in increasing leaf K concentration. The results obtained in the present study indicate that foliar applications of K effectively increase K content in K-deficient olive plants, and that foliar applications might be more effective on young leaves. Two foliar applications of 4% KCl or the equivalent for other salts are enough to increase leaf K concentration.     

Selected Calcium Salt Formulations: Interactions between Spray Deposit Characteristics and Ca Penetration with Consequences for Rain-Induced Wash-Off

The effect of two ethoxylated rapeseed oils (RSO) as surfactants for foliar-applied calcium chloride CaCl₂ and calcium acetate Ca(CH₃COO)₂ on deposit characteristics, penetration, and calcium (Ca) residues after rainfall was investigated in columnar apple trees (CAT, Malus domestica Borkh.) and apple seedlings. Irrespective of salt and apple variety, both surfactants enhanced droplet spreading and led to a greater area covered by calcium within the droplet residues. The addition of the rather lipophilic surfactant RSO 5 and the rather hydrophilic RSO 60 increased penetration of Ca from both salts through isolated apple leaf cuticular membranes. Our data demonstrate that penetration is better reflected by area covered with calcium than by droplet spreading area. Considering the point of deliquescence (POD) from the salts and results of cuticular Ca penetration, we postulate that in case of CaCl₂ reduction of wash-off was due to enhanced penetration, whereas for Ca(CH₃COO)₂ wash-off was decreased due to distinct enhancement of rainfastness.     

AMELIORATIVE EFFECTS OF DI-POTASSIUM HYDROGEN ORTHOPHOSPHATE ON SALT-STRESSED EGGPLANT

To overcome salinity stress, a factorial experiment block design (4 × 7) was done on eggplant cv. ‘Topaz F₁’ to investigate the effects of foliar sprays of di-potassium hydrogen orthophosphate (K₂HPO₄; 0 and 10 mM) on growth, yield and chemical composition under sodium chloride (NaCl; 0 and 50 mM) stress. Sodium chloride treatment produced less vegetative growth, dry matter, total sugar content and fruit yield as compared with those in control. However, free phenols increased in fruit by salinity treatment. Spraying K₂HPO₄ ameliorated the negative effects of salinity on plant growth, fruit yield, and fruit total sugar content. Sodium content increased by salinity and the sodium uptake did not reduce by application of K₂HPO₄. While spraying of K₂HPO₄ lowered the sodium accumulation in fruit. Potassium and calcium content in all plant parts and phosphorus, in shoot only were in the deficient ranges in plants treated with NaCl and these deficiencies were corrected by foliar application of K₂HPO4.     

FOLIAR SPRAY OF POTASSIUM SILICATE ON THE CONTROL OF ANGULAR LEAF SPOT ON BEANS

This study aimed to determine if potassium silicate (KSi) sprays could reduce the intensity of angular leaf spot. In field experiment 1, bean plants were sprayed with KSi (pH 10.5) at rates of 8, 20, 40, and 60 g L^?1. In field experiment 2, with the same treatments, the pH of the KSi solutions was 5.5. In experiment 3, the treatments were KSi (40 g L^?1, pH 5.5), potassium hydroxide (KOH) (6.5 g L^?1, pH 5.5), tebuconazole (0.5 L ha^?1), and control. In experiment 4, the treatments were the same as in experiment 3, but the pH of the KSi and KOH solutions was 10.5. Plants sprayed with water served as a control treatment for all field experiments. Plants were artificially inoculated with Pseudocercopora griseola before products application. For experiments 3 and 4, the treatment with KOH was included to equalize the amount of potassium (K) with the treatment corresponding to the application of KSi. Disease severity was evaluated using a scale with values ranging from 0.2 to 30.4% at 85 days after seedling emergence. Plant defoliation, Si, and K concentration in the plant tissues, and yield were also determined. There was no relationship between KSi rates and Si concentration in leaf tissues, but Si concentration increased by 58 and 57%, respectively, as the KSi rates increased from 0 to 60 g L^?1 regardless of the pH. The K concentration in leaf tissues did not change among the treatments. Disease severity decreased by 42 and 30%, respectively, at the highest KSi rate with pH 5.5 and pH 10.5 over the control. Disease severity levels were similar between the KSi and KOH treatments, but they were significantly higher compared to the tebuconazole. Plant defoliation at the highest KSi rate with pH 5.5 and 10.5 was 17 and 33%, respectively, less than the control. Plant defoliation decreased with the application of KSi with pH 5.5 and 10.5 in 29 and 34%, respectively, compared to the control. Yield increased by 30 and 43%, respectively, as the KSi rates increased from 0 to 60 g L^?1with pH 5.5 and 10.5. No statistical difference in yield was detected between the KSi and KOH treatments regardless of the pH used, but both were different from tebuconazole. Significant differences in yield were found only between tebuconazole and the control. Results from this study suggest that foliar application of KSi and KOH has the potential to reduce angular leaf spot severity. The KSi did not offer any advantage over the KOH spray, suggesting a lack of a direct effect of Si accumulated in the leaf tissue on disease control.     

EFFECT OF FOLIAR BORON APPLICATION ON GROWTH,REPRODUCTION, AND OIL QUALITY OF OLIVE TREES CONDUCTED UNDER A HIGH DENSITY PLANTING SYSTEM

Boron (B) foliar treatments (300 mg L^?1 as Solubor DF) were applied at two different dates in 2006 and 2007, prior to flowering and just after fruit set, on olive (Olea europaea L.) trees with no visual symptoms of B deficiency. Leaf B level increased after the first application as compared to control (?B). After July treatment, leaf B levels in ?B and +B treated trees increased when compared to the first sampling date. Foliar B application did not significantly affect vegetative growth in either year. During the first year of study (considered as an “on year”), B application had no significant effect on several phenological characteristics including fruit set, yield oil contents and oil quality. In the second year (“off year”), B sprays improved blooming rate, which increased from 20% in ?B to 30% in + B treated trees, and olive yield, which increased by 27% in response to B.     

THE EFFECTS OF LIGHT REGIME AND SUBSTRATE ON FLOWER PRODUCTIVITY AND LEAF MINERAL COMPOSITION IN TWO GERBERA CULTIVARS

This research evaluates the influence of light regime and substrate composition on the flower productivity and leaf macronutrient content of two gerbera cultivars (‘Ruby Red’ and ‘Vino’) grown in a greenhouse. A special emphasis was given to macro-element ratios in gerbera leaf. The results confirm positive influence of supplemental lighting on flower yield in both gerbera cultivars. Also, mixed substrate (coco fiber + rice husks) resulted with higher flower yield. Cultivar ‘Vino’ showed better productivity and significantly lower concentration of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg) as compared to ‘Ruby Red’. The total flower productivity per plant correlated with some of the tested macronutrients in gerbera leaf (N, K, Mg) only in natural light conditions. Among all calculated leaf nutrient ratios, only P/Mg was significantly and positively correlated to flower yield, based on data from both light variants.