Relationships of Spectral Reflectance with Plant Tissue Mineral Elements of Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) Under Drought and Salinity Stresses

ABSTRACT

Salinity and drought stresses are critical for Phaseolus vulgaris L. growth and development. They affect plants in various ways, including tissue mineral element content. Micro- and macro-elements in leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (cv. ‘Blue lake’ and cv. ‘Terli’) subjected to deficit irrigation and salinity treatments were investigated, both analytically and with regards to their effect on the leaves’ spectral reflectance. B (boron), K (potassium), Mn (manganese), Na (sodium), Si (silicon) and Zn (zinc) appeared to be influenced by stress factors, mainly responding to salinity increase. The leaf spectral reflectance of the plants appeared to be significantly correlated with most of the elements under investigation. Multivariate regression identified a relationship of the reflectance at particular regions of the spectrum with phosphorus and NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) and indicated a significant correlation with B, Fe (iron), K, Mn, P (phosphorus) and Zn. Moreover, customized spectral indices, exhibiting significantly high correlation with B, Fe, K, Mg (magnesium), Mn, Na, P, Zn and N (nitrogen), were developed.     

Optimal dietary carbohydrate‐to‐lipid ratios for silvery‐black porgy (Sparidentex hasta) juveniles

Four isonitrogenous diets containing different carbohydrate:lipid (CHO:L) ratios (0.3, 0.6, 1.1 and 1.8) were tested in triplicate groups (16 fish per replicate) of silvery‐black porgy juveniles for 8 weeks. Growth performance was not affected by different dietary CHO:L ratios (P > 0.05); however, the viscerosomatic index, the intraperitoneal fat, whole‐body lipid, energy and n‐3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids levels increased with decreasing dietary CHO:L ratios (P < 0.05). Fish fed with 1.8 CHO:L diet had the lowest apparent digestibility coefficients of protein and lipid, as well as the lowest plasma haemolytic and lysozyme activities (P < 0.05). Red blood cell counts and plasma glucose levels were higher in fish fed with 1.1 and 1.8 CHO:L ratio diets than in the other groups (P < 0.05). Plasma alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase, as well as the level of lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity in the liver and plasma increased as dietary CHO:L ratios decreased (P < 0.05). The results of the current study indicated that the diets with CHO:L ratios between 0.6 and 1.1 are optimal for silvery‐black porgy, whereas higher ratios may result in hyperglycaemia and immune suppression, and lower CHO:L ratios may lead to oxidative stress and liver dysfunction.     

内生菌与雷公藤细胞悬浮共培养的生理生化特性

将2株雷公藤内生真菌Fusarium oxysporum NS33与Penicillium steckii NS6、2株内生细菌Enterobacter cloacae sub sp LG3与Serratia marcescens LY1及其组合分别与雷公藤细胞悬浮共培养,对不同培养体系内雷公藤细胞的生长及其生理生化特征进行研究。结果显示,在共培养前期,与对照相比,接种单一内生菌株提高了细胞的干重,其中菌株NS6的促生效果最明显;而在共培养后期,无论是单一内生菌还是混合内生菌均对细胞生长具有抑制作用。内生真菌和菌株组合处理的培养液p H值有明显的升高,而内生细菌LY1则明显降低了培养液的p H值,其具有产酸性。另外,当雷公藤细胞同混合菌株共培养时,培养基中总糖消耗量是最大的,而接种单独菌株时则对细胞可溶性蛋白含量具有一定的提高作用。接种内生菌会影响雷公藤细胞的POD、CAT及SOD活性,与对照相比,接种单独菌株会更加提升POD与CAT的活性,而细胞MDA含量则明显下降。     

Comparative effects of Shirazi thyme and vitamin E on some growth and plasma biochemical changes in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) during cadmium exposure

Phytobiotics include a large number of active components which potentially have a growth‐promoting effects and antioxidant properties. This study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of Shirazi thyme and vitamin E on growth and plasma biochemical parameters of common carp exposed to cadmium. Fish (34 ± 3 g) were divided into four groups and fed four distinct diets including commercial diet without any additive (for control and metal only group) and supplemented with either 1% ground Shirazi thyme or 100 mg kg^?1 vitamin E for 45 days. At the end of the feeding trial, all treatments except control group were exposed to sub‐lethal concentration of waterborne cadmium for 15 days and sampling was done on days 0, 7 and 15 after the metal exposure. According to the results, dietary inclusion of thyme prevented the harmful effects of cadmium and also improved fish growth and nutritional indices including weight gain, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate and condition factor. Results also revealed that Shirazi thyme was more effective than vitamin E. Similarly, no changes in the hepatosomatic, viscerosomatic and bile somatic indices were observed. Plasma enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and LDH) and metabolites were not altered due to thyme supplementation compared to the control. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 1% ground Shiraz thyme improved the growth and health status of fish and showed better hepatorenoprotective properties than vitamin E during waterborne cadmium exposure in common carp juveniles. It might be conceivable to consider Shirazi thyme as a potential phytobiotic for incorporation in fish diet.     

Sorghum extrusion process combined with biofortified sweet potato contributed for high iron bioavailability in Wistar rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sorghum and sweet potato on the bioavailability of iron, gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism and the plasma antioxidant capacity in animals fed with whole sorghum grains processed by dry heat or extrusion, combined or not with sweet potato flour with high content of carotenoids. Five experimental groups were tested (n = 7): dry heat sorghum flour (DS); extruded sorghum flour (ES); whole sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (DS + SP); extruded sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (ES + SP) and positive control (FS). The evaluations included: hemoglobin gain, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency, gene expression of divalente metal transporter 1 (DMT-1), duodenal citochroma B (DcytB), ferroportin, hephaestin, transferrin and ferritin and total plasma antioxidant capacity (TAC). The ES + SP group showed higher (p < 0.05) expression of DcytB, ferroportin and hephaestin when compared to the control group. The DS group showed high (p < 0.05) expression of DMT-1 and the ES showed high mRNA expression of transferrin and ferritin. The changes in the sorghum physicochemical properties from extrusion process reduced the iron and phytate content, and increased the gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism, improving iron bioavailability. The combination of sweet potato and sorghum flour (dry or extruded) improved the iron capture and total antioxidant capacity, probably due to the presence of β-carotene and antioxidant compounds.     

Impact of land‐use intensity on the relationships between vegetation indices,photosynthesis and biomass of intensively and extensively managed grassland fens

Vegetation indices are widely used as model inputs and for non‐destructive estimation of biomass and photosynthesis, but there have been few validation studies of the underlying relationships. To test their applicability on temperate fens and the impact of management intensity, we investigated the relationships between normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), leaf area index (LAI), brown and green above‐ground biomass and photosynthesis potential (PP). Only the linear relationship between NDVI and PP was management independent (R² = 0·53). LAI to PP was described by a site‐specific and negative logarithmic function (R² = 0·07–0·68). The hyperbolic relationship of LAI versus NDVI showed a high residual standard error (s.e.) of 1·71–1·84 and differed between extensive and intensive meadows. Biomass and LAI correlated poorly (R² = 0·30), with high species‐specific variability. Intensive meadows had a higher ratio of LAI to biomass than extensive grasslands. The fraction of green to total biomass versus NDVI showed considerable noise (s.e. = 0·13). These relationships were relatively weak compared with results from other ecosystems. A likely explanation could be the high amount of standing litter, which was unevenly distributed within the vegetation canopy depending on the season and on the timing of cutting events. Our results show there is high uncertainty in the application of the relationships on temperate fen meadows. For reliable estimations, management intensity needs to be taken into account and several direct measurements throughout the year are required for site‐specific correction of the relationships, especially under extensive management. Using NDVI instead of LAI could reduce uncertainty in photosynthesis models.     

Simultaneous selection for seed and forage production in cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata): application of drought tolerance and susceptibility indices

An experiment was conducted to estimate drought tolerance of some cocksfoot genotypes based on seed and forage yield and related indices (including tolerance index, mean productivity, geometric mean productivity, reduction percentage index, stress tolerance index and stress susceptibility index) and to identify relationships between measured traits. Twenty‐five genotypes were evaluated in the field under control and drought‐stress environments over 2 years. The results revealed a high variation for seed yield and forage yield and the measured indices under both moisture conditions. No correlation was observed between seed yield and forage yield under the control treatment, but this correlation was positively significant under the water‐stress treatment. Drought‐tolerant and susceptible genotypes were identified based on seed and forage yield performance. Genotypes 2, 4 and 7 had high seed yield, while genotypes 7 and 10 had high forage yield under both stressed and non‐stressed conditions and were identified as the most tolerant genotypes in each category. The results also revealed that genotypes 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 24 had relatively high seed and forage yield in both control and drought‐stressed conditions. These genotypes can be used for further studies to improve both seed and forage yields concurrently.     

壮秧影响不同节氮水平下早稻产量及氮肥吸收利用

【目的】培育壮秧和施用分蘖肥是促进水稻早发的重要措施,但增施分蘖肥易导致水稻无效分蘖增加和氮素流失。研究双季稻区早稻壮秧和分蘖肥节氮条件下产量形成和氮素吸收利用特性,以期为早稻节氮控污和丰产栽培提供科学依据。【方法】以超级杂交早稻‘淦鑫203’为材料,采用壮苗育秧(状秧)和普通育秧(普秧)两种方式培育秧苗。于2014-2015年进行大田试验,设置壮秧常规施氮(VS+100%N)、节氮10%(VS–10%N)、节氮20%(VS–20%N)、节氮30%(VS–30%N) 4个处理,以普秧常规施氮(NS+100%N)处理和不施氮空白(NS+0N)处理分别作对照,共6个处理。减施的氮肥均在分蘖肥中扣除,除不施氮对照外,各处理基肥氮(72 kg/hm^2)和穗肥氮(54 kg/hm^2)均保持不变。分析早稻拔节期、齐穗期和成熟期SPAD值、光合速率、硝酸还原酶活性和各器官氮素含量,并测定成熟期水稻产量及其构成,明确了植株总氮积累量、氮素转运量、氮表观转运率、氮素利用效率等。【结果】与NS+100%N处理相比,壮秧条件下分蘖肥节氮10%~30%对叶片SPAD值和光合速率无显著影响,但壮秧能促进分蘖发生和成穗,在生育中后期可逐渐弥补分蘖肥节氮对分蘖期干物质积累的不利影响,成熟期VS–10%N和VS–20%N处理干物质积累量较对照NS+100%N增加,产量分别增加了8.5%和1.5%;VS–30%N处理干物质积累量和产量则呈下降趋势。同时,壮秧有利于提高早稻叶片硝酸还原酶活性、各器官氮含量和氮积累量,与NS+100%N处理相比,VS+100%N处理成熟期氮素积累量显著增加了6.9%,VS–10%N和VS–20%N处理无显著变化,VS–30%N处理显著下降了9.7%。壮秧处理氮素回收率和氮素农学效率较NS+100%N处理分别显著提高了12.1%~22.4%和9.9%~24.7%(P <0.05)。【结论】双季稻区早稻壮秧可以促进分蘖早发,提高叶片的干物质生产能力和氮代谢性能,弥补分蘖肥减氮后对水稻前期生长的不利影响,提高后期的干物质生产量和氮运转量。通过培育壮秧,分蘖肥减施总施氮量的20%以内,早稻产量不会下降,可实现水稻的节氮、丰产和节本栽培,有利于提高氮素利用效率和减少氮素流失对环境的污染。     

2种紫花苜蓿耐盐生理特性的初步研究

为研究2种紫花苜蓿(Medicagosativa L.)“阿迪娜”(耐盐基因型)和“秘鲁”(敏盐基因型)在盐胁迫处理下的生理特性与耐盐机理,采用150mmol/LNaCl胁迫处理2种紫花苜蓿幼苗,分别测定盐处理前和处理后2,4,6,8,16h的过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)、丙二醛(MDA)、脯氨酸(PRO)、相对含水量(RWC)和叶绿素(Chl)含量。结果表明:2种紫花苜蓿的过氧化氢酶活性、过氧化物酶活性和丙二醛含量在盐胁迫下总体呈上升趋势,脯氨酸含量和相对含水量表现出相反的趋势。叶绿素含量在盐胁迫前期稳定不变,但在胁迫后期显著性下降;2种紫花苜蓿的相对含水量和叶绿素含量的变化趋势与植株表型变化相对应。主成分分析表明,过氧化氢酶和丙二醛的贡献率最大,能更好地为苜蓿耐盐机理及分子育种研究提供理论依据。