Genetic Differences in Resistance to Iron Deficiency Chlorosis in Peanut

Iron (Fe) deficiency has been a widespread problem in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) grown on calcareous soils of northern China and has resulted in significant yield losses. Field observations showed considerable variability in visual chlorosis symptoms among peanut cultivars in the same soil. The objective of this study was to confirm the genetic differences in resistance to Fe-deficiency chlorosis in peanut and to identify feasible indicators for screening Fe-efficient genotypes. Resistance to Fe chlorosis of sixteen peanut cultivars grown on calcareous soil was evaluated in the field and physiological responses to Fe-deficiency stress were studied in nutrient solution. There were significant differences in resistance to Fe-deficiency chlorosis among the sixteen peanut cultivars tested, which was identified with SPAD readings, active Fe concentrations in young leaves in the early growth stages, and the pod yield. For Fe-resistant peanut cultivars, Fe-reduction capacity and quality of releasing hydrogen ions from roots increased under Fe-deficiency stress. Highly correlated relationships were observed between the summation of root Fe reduction and field chlorosis scores for sixteen cultivars (r² = 0.79). It was concluded that Fe-reduction capacity was a better physiological indicator for screening Fe-efficient peanut genotypes of the mechanisms measured.     

Interaction of Different Iron Chelates with an Alkaline and Calcareous Soil: A Complementary Methodology to Evaluate the Performance of Iron Compounds in the Correction of Iron Chlorosis

Abstract

A great number of studies have shown that the stability of iron chelates as a function of pH is not the unique parameter that must be considered in order to evaluate the potential effectiveness of Fe‐chelates to correct iron chlorosis in plants cultivated in alkaline and calcareous soils. In fact, other factors, such as soil sorption on soil components or the competition among Fe and other metallic cations for the chelating agent in soil solution, have a considerable influence on the capacity of iron chelates to maintain iron in soil solution available to plants. In this context, the aim of this work is to study the variation in concentration of the main iron chelates employed by farmers under field conditions—Fe‐EDDHA (HA), Fe‐EDDHMA (MA), Fe‐EDDHSA (SA), Fe‐EDDCHA (CA), Fe‐EDTA (EDTA), and Fe‐DTPA (DTPA)—in the soil solution of a calcareous soil over time. To this end, soil incubations were carried out using a soil:Fe solution ratio corresponding to soil field capacity, at a temperature of 23°C. The soil used in the experiments was a calcareous soil with a very low organic matter content. The variation in concentration of Fe and Fe‐chelates in soil solution over time were obtained by measuring the evolution in soil solution of both the concentration of total Fe (measured by AAS), and the concentration of the ortho‐ortho isomers for Fe‐EDDHA and analogs or chelated Fe for Fe‐EDTA and Fe‐DTPA (measured by HPLC). The following chelate samples were used: a HA standard prepared in the laboratory and samples of HA, MA, SA, CA, Fe‐EDTA, and Fe‐DTPA obtained from commercial formulations present in the market. The percentage of iron chelated as ortho‐ortho isomers for HAs was: HA standard (100%); HA (51.78%); MA (60.06%); SA (22.50%); and CA (27.28%). In the case of Fe‐EDTA and Fe‐DTPA the percentages of chelated iron were 96.09 and 99.12, respectively. Results show that it is possible to classify the potential effectiveness of the different types of iron chelates used in our experiments as a function of two practical approaches: (i) considering the variation of total iron in soil solution over time, MA is the best performing product, followed by HA, CA, SA, DTPA, EDTA, and ferrous sulfate in the order listed and (ii) considering the capacity of the different iron chelates to maintain the fraction of chelated iron (ortho‐ortho isomers for HA, MA, SA, and CA and total chelated iron for EDTA and DTPA) in soil solution, the order is: SA > CA > HA > MA > EDTA ≈ DTPA. This result, that is related to the nature of the chelate and does not depend on the degree of chelated Fe in the products, indicates that SA and CA might be very efficient products to correct iron chlorosis. Finally, our results also indicate the suitability of this soil incubation methodology to evaluate the potential efficiency of iron compounds to correct iron chlorosis.     

UV-B辐射增强下水稻苗期硅营养性状的QTL定位及其与环境互作效应分析

以"Lemont"和"Dular"杂交建立的包含123个家系的水稻重组自交系(RILs)群体为材料,选用水稻根系硅吸收能力和叶片硅利用率为指标,进行水稻硅营养遗传性状QTL定位,并分析其与UV-B辐射增强的互作效应。结果表明,控制水稻叶片硅利用率的4个加性QTL分别在第2、3、10染色体上,而控制根系硅吸收能力的1个加性QTL位于第11染色体上。QTL与UV-B辐射互作分析发现2对控制根系硅吸收能力和3对控制叶片硅利用率的基因×环境上位性QTL,其中只有1对控制根系硅吸收能力的QTL效应值较大。说明水稻这两种硅营养性状中,根系硅吸收能力较叶片硅利用率受UV-B辐射影响大,在抗UV-B辐射育种中以叶片硅利用率为水稻硅营养遗传选择的指标具有较高效率。     

Siderophore-Producing Rhizobacteria as a Promising Tool for Empowering Plants to Cope with Iron Limitation in Saline Soils: A Review

Iron (Fe) bioavailability to plants is reduced in saline soils; however, the exact mechanisms underlying this effect are not yet completely understood. Siderophore-expressing rhizobacteria may represent a promising alternative to chemical fertilizers by simultaneously tackling salt-stress effects and Fe limitation in saline soils. In addition to draught, plants growing in arid soils face two other major challenges:high salinity and Fe deficiency. Salinity attenuates growth, affects plant physiology, and causes nutrient imbalance, which is, in fact, one of the major consequences of saline stress. Iron is a micronutrient essential for plant development, and it is required by several metalloenzymes involved in photosynthesis and respiration. Iron deficiency is associated with chlorosis and low crop productivity. The role of microbial siderophores in Fe supply to plants and the effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the mitigation of saline stress in crop culture are well documented. However, the dual effect of siderophore-producing PGPR, both on salt stress and Fe limitation, is still poorly explored. This review provides a critical overview of the combined effects of Fe limitation and soil salinization as challenges to modern agriculture and intends to summarize some indirect evidence that argues in favour of siderophore-producing PGPR as biofertilization agents in salinized soils. Recent developments and future perspectives on the use of PGPR are discussed as clues to sustainable agricultural practices in the context of present and future climate change scenarios.