Attributes of wheat cultivars for late autumn sowing in genes expression and field estimates

Due to the growing interest in Central and Eastern Europe on cropping of wheat in optional late autumn terms, called facultative, genetic research and field evaluation were taken on four spring cultivars: Tybalt (NL), Monsun (DE), Ostka Smolicka (PL) and Bombona (PL), currently being recommended by breeders. The PPD gene analyze, expression level of dehydrine genes (WCS120 and WDHN13) in cooling test, and qPCR for RNA isolation and analyses of WCS120 and WDHN13 gene expression at the BBCH12 stage of wheat were estimated. Molecular analysis of PPD-D1 gene confirmed the presence of photoperiod sensitive allele ppd-D1b in all tested genotypes. The highest level of NRE WCS120 gene was detected in cultivars Tybalt and Bombona. Two-year field experimental study assessed the growth, development and productivity of facultative and spring crops of studied cultivars. Based on our results from field experiments and result of molecular analysis of alleles of PPD-D1 gene, the tested genotypes can be considered as potentially facultative genotypes.     

Extended flowering and high weed resistance within two layer designed perennial “prairie-meadow” vegetation

Interactions between two canopy layers in a designed perennial herbaceous plant community were investigated over a period of four and a half years to see whether it was possible to create an urban landscape vegetation that was both flower rich for an extensive time period and resistant to weed colonization at very low levels of maintenance by sowing seed in situ. The ecologically novel plant community involved a tall over-canopy layer of 18 species of North American prairie and woodland edge forbs, and a shade tolerant under-canopy of eight European and North American, mainly woodland forbs. After 5 years the community was dominated by four over-canopy and two winter green under-canopy species. Interspecific competition generated by the sown biomass restricted weed colonization to very low levels, despite the experiment being surrounded by a weedy brownfield. The winter green canopies of the two dominant under-storey forbs closed down gaps within a winter deciduous, prairie-like vegetation, improving winter appearance and providing a major flowering display in spring. This vegetation is an attractive design model for more sustainable herbaceous planting in urban landscape space.     

How do timing,duration, and intensity of drought stress affect the agronomic performance of winter rye?

Winter rye (Secale cereale L.) will be especially affected by drought induced yield losses in Central and Eastern Europe in the future because it is predominantly cultivated on low-fertile soils with a poor water-holding capacity. In order to examine the performance of winter rye under different drought conditions, field experiments were carried out during the years 2011, 2012, and 2013 near Braunschweig, Germany. Two sets of genotypes were tested under severe, mild, pre-anthesis, and post-anthesis drought stress in rain-out shelters as well as under rainfed and well-watered conditions. The grain, straw, and total above ground biomass yields, harvest index, grain yield components, leaf area index (LAI), and phenological characteristics were examined, as well as phenotypic correlations between grain yield and further characteristics. Drought induced grain yield reduction ranged from 14 to 57%, while straw yield and harvest index were lesser affected by drought than the grain yield. Under drought conditions, fully ripe was reached up to twelve days earlier than under non water-limited conditions. Pre-anthesis drought mainly reduced spikes m⁻² and kernels spike⁻¹ while drought during grain filling reduced the 1000-kernel weight (TKW) only. The grain yield was positively associated with straw yield, spikes m⁻², and kernels spike⁻¹ under water limited conditions while the TWK was only positively associated with grain yield under drought during grain filling. Consequently, high pre-anthesis biomass as well as high numbers of spikes m⁻² and kernels spike⁻¹ are especially important for obtaining high grain yields under water-limited conditions. Focusing on these traits is, therefore, recommendable for developing drought tolerant rye genotypes.     

荒漠区植物适应沙旱环境对策的归类分析

利用甘肃民勤西沙窝地区1983~2012年观测的64种48属乔灌植物以及在年生命周期内主要物候期持续时间、物种频度、花朵、结实数量等物候资料,聚类分析其适应干旱荒漠环境的适生特点,并依此划分出迟发、夏休眠、种速熟、候期间歇、种晚熟、宿种、多次花、多花、丰种9种对策类群。结果表明,植物或调整了原生地物候规律对应适生干旱荒漠环境,或产生较大的生理属性变化回避环境因素制约,造就了各自的扩展空间与适生繁殖能力,一些特殊植物兼备了多重适生对策,成为判别荒漠区优势植物种的重要标志。     

Are Phenological Observations Sufficient to Estimate the Quality of Seed Crops from a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus grandis</Emphasis> Open-pollinated Seed Orchard? Consequences for Seed Collections

Reproductive phenology was observed over three years in a Eucalyptus grandis seed orchard in Madagascar to determine the impact of geographic differences of parental selections on the expected genetic composition of seed crops. Pollen flow (observed pollen cloud) was deduced from a paternity assignment based on sampling from one year’s seed production. The two approaches were used to verify whether knowledge of phenology is sufficient to predict the genetic quality of the seeds collected. Despite the high flowering level, with a constant cycle over three years, the results demonstrated wide reproductive phenological differences associated with the parents’ origin, suggesting putative pollination disequilibrium. From both observed and expected pollen clouds, the results showed preferential mating among different provenances, which has consequences for seed crop composition. Phenological observations, which can be made inexpensively, can be used to promote methods of effective seed orchard management in order to improve the genetic quality of seeds.     

Phenological patterns in a southern Amazonian tropical forest: implications for sustainable management

Phenological transects were employed to assess monthly leaf, flower, unripe fruit and ripe fruit abundance for a total of 1732 individual plants within five tropical forest habitats at the ‘Lago Caiman Research Camp’, Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, northeastern Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. Fruit surveys along trails were conducted concomitantly to assess fruit availability for the resident terrestrial frugivore community. The results of the two methodologies are compared and discussed with respect to wildlife and forest management in the region. Phenological transects revealed that Cerrado forest, tall forest, low vine forest, Sartenejal (swamp) forest, and pied mont (premontane) forest, showed seasonal variations in flower, unripe fruit and ripe fruit abundance, however, the broad temporal patterns were significantly different across habitats. Seasonal variation in overall foliage abundance was only marked for Cerrado forest. Ripe fruit production within the study site was not significantly different across months, with different habitats peaking asynchronously in abundance. From a frugivory perspective, overall ripe fleshy fruit abundance also varied considerably between habitats, and again showed asynchronous peaks in habitat production. However, both methodologies revealed the early dry season (June–July) as a period of ripe fleshy fruit scarcity throughout the study area. This period represents a resource ‘bottleneck’ for the resident frugivore community and phenological results allowed the identification of a number of keystone fruit resources for the region. Furthermore, fruit resources which are super-abundant in the early–mid wet season (November–February) might also be considered keystone resources for the region, given that they are available in an otherwise fruit scarce forest. The dynamic spatial patterning of fruit availability at Lago Caiman suggests that certain habitats might be considered keystone habitats, since they provide the majority of fruit resources on a seasonal basis. Finally, the potential of phenological information in tropical forest management plans is discussed and underlined by the observation that rainfall in itself fails to predict fruit availability in the dominant habitats at Lago Caiman.     

Leaf-fall phenology along a topography-mediated environmental gradient in a cool–temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest in Japan

Leaf-fall phenology was studied in a cool–temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest in central Japan in relation to the topographic environmental gradients that occur along a short mountain slope. Leaf-fall phenology was described quantitatively using data from leaf litter collected along the slope. In autumn, leaf fall at the study site tended to occur slightly earlier on the upper slope than on the lower slope. This pattern was found at both the stand and the species levels. Our results suggest that leaf-fall phenology may be affected by difference in microclimatic conditions, because environmental conditions are thought to be more severe on the upper slope than on the lower slope. The less intensive methods used in this study, the litter trap method, and Dixon’s model succeeded in quantifying the phenological patterns of leaf fall within stands and within species along the short mountain slope.     

Phenology Differs among Norway Spruce Populations in Relation to Local Variation in Altitude of Maternal Stands in the Beskidy Mountains

An investigation of phenological and growth traits was conducted in a lowland plantation, comprised of 23 Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seed stands from the Istebna region in the Beskidy Mountains of Poland. Significant differences were found among population in growth initiation, growth termination and the length of shoot elongation period. The two latter traits were highly correlated and were attributed to the altitude of the maternal stand. The tested populations were grouped based on phenology. Progeny of lower-alttitude stands ceased growth later, had a longer duration of shoot growth and greater current leader length compared to progeny of higher-altitude stands. Individual populations, however, did not differ in current-year growth and total tree height, implying higher within-population variation in growth traits than in phenology. The similar growth capacity of all tested populations suggests considerable gene flow between maternal stands, although differences in phenology imply the adaptation of progenies to the altitudinal environment of seed origin. These results suggest that within tested populations, selection is possible based on phenology alone, without considerable reduction of early height growth; final decisions, however, should be based on the environmental conditions of the planting site.     

阔叶槭物候特征及播种育苗试验

为了合理利用和开发阔叶槭资源,本文通过多年观测总结了阔叶槭的物候特征和变色特性,并从种子采集、种子处理、基质选择、播种等方面探索了阔叶槭的育苗方法。结果表明：阔叶槭3月下旬到4月上中旬展叶并开花结果,变色时间为11月初至12月初,落叶时间为11月中旬至12月上中旬;低温湿沙层积处理可以解除其休眠特性;采用体积配比为珍珠岩∶河沙∶草炭=1∶2∶2的基质进行播种育苗可以有效提高阔叶槭的出苗率。     

北五味子物候期及温度对幼苗的影响

[目的]研究北五味子物候期及低温对幼苗的影响。[方法]在北五味子物候期与气象因子进行了平行观测和分析的基础上,通过对春秋季北五味子幼苗在0~8℃这段温度内葡萄糖和蛋白质含量变化的测定,着重讨论低温对北五味子幼苗的影响。[结果]0~4℃时北五味子幼苗受到低温影响,在此段温度内,随着温度的升高,北五味子幼苗内的葡萄糖、蛋白质的含量在升高;4~8℃时,随着温度的升高,北五味子幼苗内的葡萄糖、蛋白质的含量在降低。[结论]温度4℃时北五味子幼苗的生长发育受到一定的影响,体内的蛋白质和葡萄糖含量降低,说明植株的呼吸和光合作用受到抑制。