Berry yields of two Finnish sea buckthorn cultivars under organic farming methods

Summary

The effects of different organic farming methods on berry production by two Finnish sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. ssp. rhamnoides) cultivars, ‘Terhi’ and ‘Tytti’, were studied in field experiments over 4 years at Merikarvia, western Finland. Four organic fertilisers, five mulches, and two land contours were used. Two experiments were conducted. In the first, fertilisation experiment, the fully-crossed effects of four different fertilisers and two land contours were tested for both cultivars. In the second, mulch experiment, the fully-crossed effects of five different mulches and two land contours were tested for the cultivar ‘Tytti’. Some sea buckthorn bushes produced a small number of berries in the second growing season. According to the three-way interactions, the effect of fertiliser on yield depended on the land contour in ‘Terhi’, but not in ‘Tytti’. Apatite increased yields in bushes grown on flat land. Yields increased in the third and fourth growing seasons, when ‘Terhi’ produced larger berries and yields than ‘Tytti’. ‘Terhi’ had a higher yield on ridged beds than on flat land. Berry size was larger on ridged beds compared to flat land in both cultivars. The effect of mulch depended on the land contour in the second and fourth growing seasons. In the second growing season, straw mulch increased berry production on the flat land compared to the other mulches. In the fourth growing season, a plastic mulch increased yields compared to organic mulches. The results of this experiment provide information on ways to improve sea buckthorn berry yields when organic farming methods are used.     

Nitrogen uptake,partitioning and remobilization in ‘Kotata’ blackberry in alternate-year production

Summary

Mature ‘Kotata’ trailing blackberry plants growing in the alternate-year (AY) system in the field, were treated with ammonium sulfate depleted in ¹⁵N in early April, 1997. Based on the whole plant, excluding roots, accumulation of new dry matter over the two year AY production cycle averaged 5.96 kg plant^-1. On average, 28, 64 and 8% of this new dry-matter accumulation could be attributed to harvested fruit; loss from the crop as prunings and leaf senescence; and increased dry matter in the crowns for the next growth cycle, respectively. On average, 46% of new dry matter accumulation occurred in the off-year (non-producing). Whole plant (excluding roots) accumulation of new N (labelled and non-labelled) over the two-year AY production cycle averaged 63.7 g N plant” . Over a two-year production cycle, 44% of new N accumulation occurred in the off-year. Of the newly accumulated N, 37% was in harvested fruit, 58% was lost from the crop as prunings, and 5% was accumulated in crowns for the next growth cycle. For both the on-year and the off-year plants fertilized with labelled N, near maximum nitrogen derived from fertilizer (NDFF) accumulation occurred by August. At this time, 45% of the applied fertilizer could be accounted for in the non-root portion of on-year plants. A portion of this maximum on-year accumulation was either lost from the system or translocated to the roots. At the time of maximum accumulation, 39, 37,19, 3 and 2% of the accumulated NDFF was contained in the fruit, laterals, primocanes plus primocane leaves, floricanes, and crowns, respectively. Labelled N applied in the off-year was used primarily for primocane and primocane leaf growth. A large portion of the nitrogen stored in the off-year was used for early growth of floricanes, fruiting laterals and fruit in the following on-year. Excluding roots, by the end of the 1997 season, almost 30% of the applied fertilizer was accounted for in the non-root portion of off-year plants. There was also evidence of remobilization of N among plant tissues at different times during the production cycle. Results of this study suggest fertilizer N is an important N source for fruiting lateral and fruit growth in the on-year and for new primocane and primocane leaf growth in the off-year. N accumulated in the off-year is also an important source for early growth of floricanes, fruiting laterals and fruit the following year.     

Temperature influences nutrient absorption and uptake rates of bananas grown in controlled environments

We explored the influence of temperature on the concentration of nutrients in banana plants, the nutrient uptake rate, apparent root transfer coefficient ($\text{}\text{?}$ga) and the relationship between accumulation of dry matter and nutrient. Young banana plants (Musa (AAA group, Cavendish sub-group) ‘Williams’) were grown at six temperature regimes (17/10–37/30°C) in sunlit growth chambers for 12 weeks.The amount of nutrient absorbed was influenced by the amount of growth made, but the link between the two differed from one element to another. Temperatures less than $\text{29}\text{22°}\text{C}$ reduced the concentration of all elements in the whole plant, except Fe.Temperature influenced the root uptake rate of B 10-fold; K, Na, Ca, Fe and Zn 3–4-fold; and N, P, Mg, Mn, Cu, Cl 1–2-fold. Among the elements the highest recorded rate was 12 mg g^?1 day^?1 for K at $\text{33}\text{26°}\text{C}$. The optimum temperature for nutrient uptake rates differed among the elements. This was accounted for largely by greater growth at those temperatures of organs with high concentration of particular elements.The $\text{}\text{?}$ga (an estimate of efficiency of uptake) of B varied 12-fold among treatments; K, Ca, Mg, Na, Mn, Zn and Cl varied 3–5- fold and N, P, Cu and Fe varied 2–3-fold.The ratio of relative nutrient accumulation rate, R_m, to the relative growth rate, R_w, was most stable across temperatures for N and least stable for B and Na. However, the trend was for $\text{R}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}\text{R}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>w</mtext>}}$ to increase as temperature rose, indicating an absorption of nutrients greater than might be expected from a change in growth rate as temperature increased, and a decreased efficiency in their utilization for plant growth.     

Effects of different rootstocks and training systems on the mineral composition of ‘Delicious’ apple leaves

Leaf mineral composition as affected by different rootstocks, cultivars, training systems and their combinations was measured during 1987 and 1988. Trees on M.7 had significantly higher concentrations of N, P and Fe, whereas those on MM. 106 maintained higher values of K, Ca, Mg and Mn during both years. Between cultivars, Red ‘Delicious’ showed greater accumulation of N, P, Mg and Fe but K and Cu levels were found to be more in Starking ‘Delicious’. All mineral nutrients except Ca and Mg accumulated more in spindle-bush trained trees than those under modified central leader system. The Mineral composition of Starking ‘Delicious’ grafted on M.7 rootstock and trained as a spindle bush produced the best yield efficiency and fruit quality, and fell within the normal range.     

苦瓜干物质分配和养分吸收规律研究

以苦瓜品种"热科1号"为试材,采用盆栽的方式,研究了苦瓜干物质分配和大量(N、P、K)、中量(Ca、Mg)、微量(Zn、B)养分的吸收规律,以及干物质积累量与养分积累量的相关性,以期为实际生产中的肥料施用提供参考依据,实现养分的合理分配和利用。结果表明:苦瓜总的干物质积累比例为根∶茎蔓∶叶片∶果实=1∶31.24∶27.80∶31.49。各元素吸收比例为N∶P∶K=1.00∶0.15∶1.33;Ca∶Mg=1.00∶0.19;Zn∶B=1.00∶1.60。按照平均生产1 000 kg苦瓜计算,所需要的N含量为5.48 kg,P含量为0.84 kg,K含量为6.21 kg,Ca含量为2.44 kg,Mg含量为0.47 kg,Zn含量为0.02 kg,B含量为0.04 kg。苦瓜的干物质积累量与养分积累量呈显著正相关。苦瓜养分吸收整体表现为K>N>P>Ca>Mg>B>Zn。在实际生产中,应该注意各种养分的合理配施,在结果期适当增加B肥的投入比例,可以增加果实的养分积累,从而提高产量。     

Rate of nitrogen application during the growing season alters the response of container-grown rhododendron and azalea to foliar application of urea in the Autumn

Summary

One-year-old rhododendron (Rhododendron ‘H-1 P.J.M’) and azalea (Rhododendron ‘Cannon’s Double’) plants grown at different nitrogen (N) fertilisation rates were used to assess the influence of soil N applications during the growing season, and foliar applications of urea in the Autumn, on N uptake and accumulation, and plant growth in the following Spring. N uptake efficiency declined linearly during the first growing season with an increasing rate of N fertilisation. For both cultivars, foliar urea application in the Autumn significantly increased plant N content without affecting plant size, regardless of plant N status. Leaves of rhododendron accumulated more N than other plant structures. Plants sprayed with foliar urea in the Autumn had more new growth the following Spring than plants receiving no urea, regardless of whether the plants received fertiliser in the Spring. For azalea, N uptake in the Spring was, in general, not affected by applications of urea during the previous year. For rhododendron, urea application in the Autumn decreased N uptake the following Spring. For both cultivars, increasing N availability during the growing season increased the ratio of above-ground to below-ground dry weight. Our results suggest that combining optimum N applications during the growing season with foliar application of urea in the Autumn can improve N uptake efficiency, increase N storage, and optimise growth in Rhododendron.     

Effect of bearing position on phenolics profiles in the skins of four cultivars of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)

Summary

The fan-shaped trellis training system, resulting in grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) with more than two trunks, has been widely used in northern China. The fruiting zone of grapevines trained to the fan-shaped trellis system is distributed from the top to the bottom of the canopy. The phenolics profiles of the skins of ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’, ‘Merlot’, ‘Chardonnay’, and ‘Italian Riesling’ grape berries were analysed to measure the effect of differences in bearing position on the phenolic compound and anthocyanin compositions of grape berries.The results showed that the upper bearing position significantly increased the concentrations of most phenolic compounds in grape berry skins. Among the non-anthocyanin and anthocyanin phenolic compounds identified in this study, the upper bearing position promoted the accumulation of delphinidin-, cyanidin-, and petunidin-glucosides in the skin of the two red grape cultivars. However, lowering the bearing position was associated with greater methylation of anthocyanins, and the flow of photosynthate towards the biosynthesis of kaempferol. These results were correlated with micrometeorological alterations in the canopy at the different bearing positions. The findings of this study suggest that higher bearing positions can increase the accumulation of phenolic compounds in grape berry skins in four different grapevine cultivars.     

Soil pH effects on yield and fruit size of two rabbiteye blueberry cultivars

The effects of soil pH on yield and average berry weight of rabbiteye blueberry cvs Delite and Tifblue were investigated. Over a three year period, the higher soil pH decreased from 6.5 to 5.9, but the total yield of both cultivars decreased more than 60% as soil pH increased from 4.5 to 6.5 in the first two years and to 5.9 during the last year. Percent marketable yield was less influenced by the change in soil pH than was total yield. ‘Tifblue’ produced more fruit and had higher marketable yields, but the fruit size determined by average berry weight was smaller than ‘Delite’. When the soil pH was at a more desirable range for maximum yield (4.5 to 5.3), ripening was more uniform for both cultivars. This study illustrated that: (a) two rabbiteye blueberry cultivars differed in tolerance to alkaline growing conditions, (b) the response of the two cultivars to the change in soil pH varied from year to year, and (c) total yield of both cultivars was maximized when soil pH was below 5.0.     

The susceptibility of modern tomato cultivars to blossom- end rot in relation to salinity

Three cultivars, Counter, Calypso and Spectra, were grown in NFT at a range of salinities (electrical conductivities of 5,10 and 15 mS cm^-1) in two successive crops during the year. The incidence of blossom-end rot (BER) in ‘Calypso’ and ‘Spectra’ was substantially higher than in ‘Counter’ at all salinities. In the early crop, ‘Calypso’ had the highest incidence of BER at 10 mS cm^-1, of which the proportion of international BER was greater than in ‘Spectra’. In the late crop, ‘Spectra’ had a higher incidence of BER than ‘Calypso,’ and a higher proportion of external BER. In the early crop, the incidence of BER in both cultivars grown at 10 mS cm"1 was higher than those at 15 mS cm^-1, mainly due to an exceptionally high incidence of internal BER. In the late crop, however, the reverse was true. ‘Counter’, which is not susceptible to BER, had a higher shoot dry weight than the two BER susceptible cultivars. Nevertheless, ‘Calypso’ and ‘Spectra’ set more fruit in the lower and upper trusses respectively. A high incidence of BER was related to a high number of fruit set in the susceptible cultivars. Both the Ca content and the daily rate of Ca accumulation in the fruit were reduced by salinity, but no differences between cultivars were observed. The distal placenta and locular tissues had the lowest Ca content in the whole fruit and appeared to be the site of the earliest symptoms of BER. The interaction between cultivar and salinity affecting the Ca content of these tissues was not significant. The causes of susceptibility to BER in tomato are discussed.     

Entwicklung und Regulierung eines Schaderregerkomplexes an Himbeerruten

The increasing damages on fruiting canes in raspberry plantations are caused by the disease complex ‘midge blight’, in which different fungi and the raspberry cane midge are involved. The larvae of the midges feed in the first year in primocanes and damage the periderm, so that fungal pathogens are able to penetrate into the internal cane tissues and can cause vascular lesions. Death, but failure or lateral wilt results in the second year from damages of the xylem. In a two-year-old survey the growth of canes and the development of the fungal complex and the raspberry cane midge was investigated in different plantations. The most important factors of the disease complex could be related to each other. Subsequently the influence of growth management of young canes and chemical control of the midges on the health of the canes were investigated. The delay of the emergence of the primocanes in spring reduced the occurrence of natural splits and the xylem lesions. The post-harvest applications of insecticides against the third generation of the cane midge had a similar effect, whereas the effect increased along with the delayed emergence of primocanes. This can be related to the fact that the growth management of young canes is shifting the disease complex and its main damage period so that the efficacy of chemical control measures against larvae in august will increase. The results are the base for the future development of a control strategy.     

鲜切菊花品种‘Cedis’多头小菊和‘Country’多头菊养分需求特性研究

以设施栽培鲜切菊花主栽品种荷兰多头小菊‘Cedis’和多头菊‘Country’为研究对象,比较其鲜切菊花产量、观赏性状和对氮磷钾养分吸收、累积特性,以期为设施鲜切菊花优质生产和科学施肥提供依据。结果表明:两品种的产量无显著差异,多头小菊‘Cedis’的采收率和高等级鲜切花比例显著高于多头菊‘Country’,而鲜样质量和株高则以多头菊‘Country’较高。多头小菊‘Cedis’的氮和钾需求量显著高于多头菊‘Country’,分别高10.80%和35.03%,而磷需求量两者无显著差异。多头小菊‘Cedis’的养分吸收量为KNP,而多头菊‘Country’为NKP。移栽30~45 d时(茎生长期—花芽分化期),鲜切荷兰菊氮、磷、钾阶段累积量最大。     

Cell wall development in the berries of two grapevines

The cell wall content of the berries of grape cultivars ‘Barbera’ and ‘Freisa’ was examined and analyzed during their growth and ripening from July to October.The build-up of cell wall material was much faster in ‘Barbera’ than in ‘Freisa’, and ended 2 weeks before completion of commercial maturity, while in ‘Freisa’ it progressed at a lower rate, but continued up to picking-time. The two most important groups of cell wall polysaccharides were insoluble pectins and hemicellulose. Their behaviour appeared to be always complementary.Cell number per berry apparently decreased steadily in both cultivars, more rapidly in ‘Freisa’ than in ‘Barbera’. The reason for this is not certain, but appears to be due either to cell fusion or to cell squeezing. The average number of cells per berry in both cultivars was of the same order of magnitude, and in agreement with the findings of other authors.     

几种湿地植物富集营养元素的能力测试分析

以花叶芦竹、千屈菜、小叶蚊母、花叶杞柳和细叶水团花5种植物为试材,通过盆栽试验,研究其净污能力。结果表明:5种植物在污水中生长后其体内营养元素含量发生变化,花叶芦竹吸收Mg、Mn、Zn能力较强,污水处理后千屈菜叶片中Mg、Fe、Mn 3种元素增幅较大,圆头蚊母对Ca、Fe、Mg、Al、Na 5种元素均有较强的吸收能力,花叶杞柳对Al的吸收能力较强,细叶水团花则对N、Fe、Zn、Al 4种元素具有富集作用。植物对营养元素的吸收富集作用因种类而异,在工程实践中应当根据水质来筛选适当的人工湿地绿化植物种类。     

Impact of grafting and rootstock on nutrient-to-water uptake ratios during the first month after planting of hydroponically grown tomato

Tomato plants (cv. Primadonna F₁), non-grafted, self-grafted, or grafted onto the commercial rootstocks ‘He-man’ and ‘Maxifort’, were grown in recirculating nutrient solution. The uptake concentrations (UCs), i.e. mean nutrient-to-water uptake ratios of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and B, were estimated based either on depletion from the nutrient solution or on accumulation in the plant biomass. Grafting onto both commercial rootstocks increased the total plant biomass. Hetero-grafting also increased the leaf N, Ca, and Cu concentrations but decreased those of Mg and Fe in comparison with self- and non-grafted plants. The mean UCs of N, Ca, and Cu were higher in plants grafted onto both commercial rootstocks in comparison with self- and non-grafted plants. However, hetero-grafting also raised the UCs of P, Fe, Mn, and B, because of an increased deposition of these nutrients to the roots in comparison with self-rooted plants. The method used to estimate the UCs, i.e. nutrient removal from the recirculating nutrient solution vs. nutrient recovery from plant biomass per volume unit of transpired water, resulted in similar values for N, Ca, Zn, and Cu, but had a significant impact on those of P, K, Mg, Fe, Mn, and B.     

Effects of humidity and Ca level on dry-matter and Ca accumulation by leaves of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Two cucumber cultivars (Corona and Rebella) were grown under a range of day and night humidity combinations and at two levels of Ca (180 and 270 mg I-1) in the nutrient solution applied to the rockwool substrate. High humidity increased the incidence of Ca defi-. cigacy symptoms and decreased the drvweTiTrToT the leaves. The concentration of Ca (%) in the leaf dry matter was reduced by high humidity at night in Experiment A and equally by high humidity during the day or night in Experiment^}. The response of the leaf tips (% Ca in the terminal 7 cm) was greater than that of the complete laminae, and similar to that of the total amount of Ca (mg) accumulated per complete lamina. Increasing the level of applied Ca increased the concentration of Ca (%) in the complete laminae and leaf tips, but the increase in total Ca per lamina (mg) was more marked. ‘Corona’ Had heavier leaves than ‘Rebella’ and a higher concentration of Ca (%), resulting in a greater accumulation of Ca (mg) per leaf lamina.     

Fruit Yield,Plant Growth and Nutrient Status in Mango

Abstract

Fruit yield and nutrient concentration of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivar ‘Osteen’ were studied in relation to rootstocks Gomera-1 and Gomera-3 for three years. The results indicated that the Gomera-3 root system had higher nutrient uptake and transport towards the scion. Data from grafted and ungrafted Gomera-1 and Gomera-3 trees proved similar with respect to N, P, and K utilization profile, with post-harvest accumulation and a decline during flowering, P and K concentrations significantly decreasing during fruit growth. These trends were largely the opposite for Ca and Mg. The Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu concentrations rose during dormancy and fell at flowering. Fruit yield was higher with Gomera-1, while Gomera-3 gave fruit with greater weight and width. Tree height, trunk cross-sectional area, canopy diameter and volume were greater in grafted and ungrafted Gomera-3, this rootstock being the most vigorous. The yield efficiency was significantly greater on Gomera-1. Thus, cv. ‘Osteen’ grafted to Gomera-1 offered better yield and required a lower amount of nutrients.     

Influence of rootstocks on the leaf nutrient composition of two scion cultivars of mandarin

The influence of various rootstocks on the leaf nutrient composition of mandarin cultivars ‘Coorg’ and ‘Kinnow’ was studied in a rootstock trial at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta. Differences due to rootstocks in the leaf nutrient composition with respect to N, K, Ca, Mg, Na and Mn were significant. Leaf N content was higher on the rootstocks ‘Trifoliate’ orange and ‘Carrizo’ and ‘Troyer’ citranges. ‘Trifoliate’ orange, in addition to being more efficient in absorbing N, also resulted in much lower leaf Na content than the others. Rootstocks ‘Rough Lemon’, ‘Cleopatra’ mandarin and ‘Kodakithuli’ were more efficient in absorbing cations Ca, Mg and K. The citrange rootstocks ‘Carrizo’ and ‘Troyer’ resulted in a very low content of leaf Mn, indicating that these may be particularly suitable in high-Mn and highly acidic soils.Significant differences in the leaf nutrient composition with respect to all the nutrients excepting N, P and Cu were observed between the 2 scion cultivars. ‘Kinnow’ mandarin appeared to have a much lower requirement both for Zn and Fe, which makes it more suitable on soils with a high pH.     

Fusarium avenaceum, Haupterreger der Himbeerrutenkrankheit in Norddeutschland

In 2006–2008, fungi responsible for raspberry cane blight symptoms in Northern Germany included Fusarium avenaceum, Leptosphaeria coniothyrium, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Botrytis cinerea (listed in order of decreasing importance). These pathogens and their symptoms are briefly described. Fusarium avenaceum has been chiefly responsible for the severe recent outbreaks of cane blight in Northern Germany, where it is ubiquitous on cultivated and wild raspberries. In 2007 infections took place during a period of wetness in mid-May and were associated with the natural formation of epidermal cracks by the expanding primocanes, but not with infestations by the gall midge (Resseliella theobaldi) which began on June 6th. In 2008, a prolonged drought throughout May and June caused a delay of F. avenaceum infections until mid-July, by which time R. theobaldi had already extensively colonised primocanes. In addition to living infected primocanes, dead above-ground cane stumps and cane fragments were the main overwintering substrates for F. avenaceum. Implications for possible crop hygiene measures against F. avenaceum are discussed.     

丛枝菌根真菌和促生细菌对草莓生长、产量和白粉病的影响

以“章姬”“京藏香”“京桃香”3个品种的草莓为试材,采用盆栽试验的方法,研究接种丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi,AMF)摩西斗管囊霉Funneliformis mosseae、根内根孢囊霉Rhizophagus intraradices、植物根围促生细菌(plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria,PGPR)PGPR 5-1和PGPR PS1-1菌株对草莓生长、产量和白粉病的影响。结果表明:AMF+PGPR处理的AMF侵染率、丛枝着生率和泡囊数均大于单接种AMF处理,表明PGPR菌株能够促进AMF的侵染和根内扩展;AMF+PGPR组合促生防病的效应大于任一单接种处理。其中,Fm+PS1-1和Fm+5-1′组合促生、增产和控制白粉病的效果最好。“章姬”草莓的接种效应大于其它2个品种的接种效应。Fm+PS1-1处理显著增加了“章姬”草莓的单株花蕾数、单株开花数、单株结果数和单株产量,单株产量最高达到75.8g,而白粉病的病情指数最低。可知,Fm+PS1-1和Fm+5-1′为最佳组合,对促进草莓高效高质绿色生产具有较大的应用潜力和研发前景。     

Mineral composition of leaves in relation to degree of granulation in sweet orange

Studies on the possible relationship between macro- as well as micro-elements in the leaves of fruiting-shoots and in the fruits at different degrees of granulation, were carried out in 2 cultivars of sweet orange, viz. ‘Musambi’ and ‘Blood Red’, by following a special leaf-sampling technique. The data have revealed accumulation of N, P, K, Mg, Zn and Cu, a decrease of Ca, Fe and B, and no change in Mn content in the leaves as the granulation progressed in both cultivars. Varietal variation influenced the level of N, K, Mg, Mn and B in the leaves. The metabolism of each element has been discussed in the light of various agro-climatic conditions prevailing in this area.