Effect of Heat Stress on Grain Growth, Starch Synthesis and Protein Synthesis in Grains of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties Differing in Grain Weight Stability

The effect of heat stress on the components of grain weight was analysed in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) varieties differing in grain weight stability. The wheat varieties PBW154, Sonalika and Hindi62 were raised in the field (New Delhi, India; 77°12' E, 28°40' N, 228.6 m a.s.l.) at three dates of sowing: 19 November 1992 (DOS I), 14 December 1992 (DOS II) and 18 January 1993 (DOS III). The late-sown crop (DOS III) experienced 6–8 °C warmer temperatures during grain development than the crop sown at the normal time (DOS I). The heat susceptibility index (S) revealed that grain weight was less susceptible to heat in Sonalika and PBW154 than in Hindi62. Heat stress reduced both the grain growth duration (GGD) and the grain growth rate (GGR). The grain weight reduction in PBW154 and Sonalika was mainly due to a reduction in GGR, while that of Hindi62 was due to a reduction in GGD. In vivo studies on starch and protein synthesis in excised endosperm at 15, 25 and 35 °C revealed that both processes were more thermotolerant in Hindi62 than in PBW154. The grain starch content was stable in Hindi62 while that in PBW154 was significantly reduced under heat stress. The grain nitrogen content at maturity increased in both varieties under heat stress. It was concluded that the heat susceptibility of grain weight in Hindi62 was mainly due to a reduction in GGD, although GGR, starch and protein synthesis were more thermotolerant in developing grains of Hindi62 than in those of PBW154.     

Direct and Residual Contributions of Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation by Legumes to the Yield and Nitrogen Uptake of Maize (Zea mays L.) in the Nigerian Savannah

Field experiments were conducted to determine the direct and residual contributions of legumes to the yield and nitrogen (N) uptake of maize during the wet seasons of 1994 and 1995 at the University Farm, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria, located in the Northern Guinea savannah of Nigeria. Nodulating soybean, lablab, green gram and black gram contributed to the yield and N uptake of maize either intercropped with the legumes or grown after legumes as a sole crop. Direct transfer of N from the nodulating soybean, lablab, green gram and black gram to the intercropped maize was 24.9–28.1, 23.8–29.2, 19.7–22.1 and 18.4–18.6 kg N ha^–1, respectively. However, the transfer of residual N from these legumes to the succeeding maize crop was 18.4–20.0, 19.5–29.9, 12.0–13.7 and 9.3–10.3 kg N ha^–1, respectively. Four years of continuous lablab cropping resulted in yields and N uptake of the succeeding maize crop grown without fertilizer N that were comparable to the yields and N uptake of the succeeding maize crop supplied with 40–45 kg N ha^–1 and grown after 4 years of continuous sorghum cropping. It may therefore be concluded that nodulating soybean, lablab, green gram and black gram may be either intercropped or grown in rotation with cereals in order to economize the use of fertilizer N for maize production in the Nigerian savannah.     

High frequency embryogenic callus induction and plant regeneration from mature caryposis of big bluestem and little bluestem

Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) and little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michaux) Nash.] are native to the North America and are important forage grasses and ornamental grasses. Both grasses are proposed as ideal biomass producers for cellulosic ethanol production. To apply genetic transformation, which is an important tool for incorporating desirable agronomic traits into plants to both species, however requires an efficient and reproducible regeneration protocol. We used mature caryopses from big and little bluestem as explants and tested the effect of various combinations of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 mg l⁻¹) and kinetin (KT) (0, 0.1 or 0.2 mg l⁻¹) on embryogenic callus induction with LS as the basal medium. The highest percentage of embryogenic calli induction occurred on medium containing 2, 4-D alone at 2 mg l⁻¹ for ‘Bison’ and on medium containing 4 mg l⁻¹ 2, 4-D alone for ‘Bonilla’ big bluestem. For little bluestem, the highest percentage of embryogenic callus induction occurred on medium containing 3 mg l⁻¹ 2, 4-D plus 0.1 mg l⁻¹ kinetin, suggesting that addition of KT is beneficial. Shoot regeneration took place on LS basal medium without any plant growth regulator for both species, although the addition of KT increased both regeneration frequency and the number of shoots produced per callus. Rooting of shoots reaching about 2 cm long occurred readily with or without α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Rooted plantlets were all successfully established in the soil.     

百脉根单株产量主要农艺性状的相关和通径分析

通过对百脉根单株的11个农艺性状的相关分析,结果表明:分枝长度(X2)、分枝节间数(X3)、分枝茎粗(X4)、侧枝数(X6)、侧枝长度(X7)、侧枝节间数(X8)、侧枝茎粗(X9)对单株产量(Y)的作用达到极显著水平,分枝数(X1)、自然高度(X11)与单株产量的相关性达到显著水平,而分枝叶柄长度(X5)、侧枝叶柄长度(X10)则与产量的相关性不显著.通径分析结果表明:各性状对产量的直接效应从大到小依次为:分枝长度(1.121 6)>分枝节间数(0.346 3)>侧枝长度(0.114 6)>分枝数(0.106 4)>分枝茎粗(0.084 6)>侧枝节间数(0.034 2)>侧枝茎粗(0.028 9)>侧枝数(0.021 6)>侧枝叶柄长度(-0.043 6)>分枝叶柄长度(-0.065 4)>自然高度(-0.748 2).     

Seasonal growth and diet of juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in demonstration channels and the main channel of the Waitaki River, New Zealand, 1982–1983

Abstract– Juvenile chinook salmon in the Waitaki River, New Zealand and demonstration channels, living at about 16°C, increased in length by 0.32 mm day⁻¹ between 4 November and 4 March. They gained weight quickly, accumulated large visceral fat deposits and had high conditions factors. At 1600 h, stomachs averaged half full. The number of prey tended to decline as the fish grew and consumed larger items. Initially the diet was based mainly on chironomid larvae, but by December it included a diversity of prey in more equal proportions. These included Deleatidium in the Waitaki; amphipods in the demonstration channels; various trichopterans, hemipterans, elmid beetles, zooplankton. terrestrial dipterans and a variety of other prey. There were significant differences between sites in numbers of prey consumed and these probably reflected differences in the benthos. Diets in the Waitaki differ from those in the Rakaia River and the food of juvenile salmon appears closely linked to the availability of a diverse range of possible prey.     

果树自交不亲和性的遗传与生理机制及其研究

在简要介绍植物（包括果树）自交不亲和性与生理控制机制的基础上，着重对梨、苹果、杏等果树自交不亲和性的研究进行了综述，内容包括花柱内花粉管生长特点、花柱S糖蛋白的特性与作用机理以及果树自交不亲和的分子生物学研究，并提出了该领域有待研究的问题。     

Effect of Low Night Temperatures on Photosynthetic Activity of the Maize Seedlings (Zea mays L.)

Night chilling (5 °C) subsequently lowered photosynthetic intensity in the leaves of maize seedlings at 20 °C through an increase in leaf diffusive resistance brought on by lower tissue water content in morning hours. A more significant increase in leaf diffusion resistance was observed when soil temperature was lowered than in the case of lower air temperature.
The unfavorable effect of soil and air cooling temperature on photosynthesis was limited by air saturated with water vapour. However, as a result of lowering the night temperature from 5 °C to 1 °C, the efficiency of the protective influence of higher atmospheric humidity was decreased. This demonstrates that the participation of factors unrelated to plant water status in inhibiting photosynthesis increases with lower night temperatures.
An additional reason for inhibited photosynthesis following cool nights was a decrease in chlorophyll accumulation, below 50 μg per 1 cm² of leaf area.     

大豆室内耐冷筛选及其在田间的应用研究

本试验把生长箱大豆耐低温萌发筛选与田间早春播研究相结合,验证耐低温发芽的可靠性。在实验室,萌发期表现抗冷的大豆,田间出昔期仍表现抗冷或较抗冷。实验表明,大豆出苗的生物学最低温度平均为7.1℃,所需有效积温136℃。地温的高低直接影响大豆早春出苗的多寡,两者呈密切的正相关。黄、青、黑豆中,以黑豆抵抗早春不良气候条件的能力最强。     

笃斯越桔硬枝扦插繁殖技术研究

采用笃斯越桔硬枝扦插,用生根剂处理插穗,并在不同的基质上进行扦插试验,结果表明:笃斯越桔硬枝扦插用河沙作为基质最好,生根剂ABT处理的插穗生根率最高。     

海南椴生长特性及苗木培育的初步研究

本文论述了海南椴幼年期生长特性，年生长节律，苗期生长规律以及苗木繁育技术。用ｌｏｇｌｓｔｉｃ方程拟合，找出高和直径生长的最优回归方程。