Change in Hydraulic Resistance and Shoot Morphology of Napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) under Shaded Condition

Abstract

Acclimation to light condition is associated with change in water transport system in napiergrass. In this study, the effects of shading on shoot hydraulic resistance and morphology of napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) were investigated. In the plants under shading (to 30% of full sunlight) for 30 days (S plants), total hydraulic resistance of a shoot (Rshoot) increased from that of full sunlight (control). In the plants grown under shade condition for 24 d followed by full sunlight conditions for 6 d (SF), the Rshoot value was intermediate between that of control and S plants. A similar response to shading was found in total hydraulic resistance of a stem (R_stem), which accounted for more than 60% of Rshoot, but the total hydraulic resistance of the leaves was not significantly affected by shading. Leaf length, leaf area and stem length were larger, but the stem cross-sectional area (SA) was smaller in S and SF plants than in the control plants. SF plants showed similar leaf length, leaf area and stem length to those in S plants, but the SA in SF plants was slightly larger. Normalization of R_stem by SA and stem length decreased the difference among the treatments, indicating the increase of Rshoot and R_stem under shading resulted from the decrease of SA and the increase of stem length.     

Effects of a short period of drought on changes in tuber volume and specific leaf weight. I. Long-term changes

Summary Single-stemmed potato plants, cv. Bintje, were grown on a nutrient solution under controlled conditions. They were exposed to a short drought stress, or remained untreated. Long-term measurements of tuber volume were carried out with a non-destructive volume-meter. Specific leaf weight was monitored with a β-gauge. Tubers from the same plant varied in rate and duration of growth. The relative growth of stressed tubers was 43–54% less than that of the control tubers. The hierarchy of tubers from one stem changed over time in plants that were exposed to the stress. Specific leaf weight declined during the stress period but there was a prompt recovery after the relief from drought. This response was similar to the response of the average rate of volume increase of the tuber.     

Root System Development Including Root Branching in Cuttings of Cassava with Reference to Shoot Growth and Tuber Bulking

Summary

In spite of the important role it plays for water and nutrient acquisition, information on the root system development in cassava (Manihot esculenta Grantz) is limited. To examine the root length and branching pattern with reference to shoot growth and tuber bulking, we grew cassava plants in containers under natural climatic conditions in the southern end of Sumatra Island, Indonesia. One 20-cm length cutting of cassava (cv. Ardira IV) was planted in either a plastic bucket or a wooden box. The containers, which were filled with heavy clay soil, had different sizes depending on the growing period. At 30, 60, 100, 140, 180, and 270 days after planting (DAP), both the shoot and roots were sampled for quantitative analysis. The dry weight of both shoot and roots increased rapidly with the leaf area. The axile root number, however, decreased from 60 to 140 DAP as a result of the abscission of roots emerging from the basal part of the cutting during tuber bulking. The total root length reached its maximum at 60 DAP and significantly decreased thereafter because of decay and decomposition during tuber bulking. On the other hand, the root branching either increased the branching order or retained it, as determined from a topological point of view. The root branching during the later growing period compensated for the decrease in total root length and contributed to maintain a sufficient root surface area. The surviving roots with a well-developed branching pattern could absorb water and nutrients essential for tuber bulking.     

Leaf Positions of Potato Suitable for Determination of Nitrogen Content with a SPAD Meter

Abstract

Hand-held SPAD meter can be used to evaluate the leaf nitrogen status of potato. For practical use, it is necessary to select a proper compound leaf, a proper leaflet within compound leaf and position of leaflet suitable for measurement. Therefore, field experiments were conducted in northern China in 2009 and 2010. The SPAD values, plant growth, N uptake of potato plants at tuber initiation and tuber bulking stages under different N supply levels, and final tuber yields were examined. The criteria for determining the most suitable leaf, leaflet and position within a leaflet are that the SPAD values show less variation at a given N supply level, and show a more sensitive response to different nitrogen levels. Our results showed that the coefficients of variance of SPAD values ranged from 8.7 to 25.9% with a leaf N concentration range of 2.1 to 3.8 gN 100 g-¹ at tuber initiation stage, and 7.2 to 21.6% with leaf N concentration range of 0.96 to 1.26gN 100 g-¹ at the tuber bulking stage. The SPAD values of the 4th compound leaf from apex were more stable and more sensitive to the nitrogen level than those of other leaves, suggesting that the 4th compound leaf is suitable for estimating the leaf N status using a SPAD meter. Within a compound leaf, the SPAD value of the top leaflet was more sensitivethan the other leaflets to nitrogen supply, whereas it was less stable, making it difficult to chose the leaflet for measurement. However, the top leaflet emerges and expands much earlier than the side leaflets, and should be better for SPAD value measurement. The SPAD measurements at the top point of the top leaflet of the 4th leaf demonstrated both less variation and higher sensitivity to nitrogen supply. Therefore, we conclude that the top point of the top leaflet of the 4th compound leaf is the best position for potato N status diagnosis using a SPAD meter.     

Comparison of Root System Development in Two Rice Cultivars During Stress Recovery from Drought and the Plant Traits for Drought Resistance

Summary

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to compare root system development of two upland rice cultivars, IRAT 13 and Senshou, during recovery from drought stress and to identify the plant traits that confer drought resistance. From 62 days after sowing (62 DAS), drought stress was given for 6 d followed by rewatering for 14 d. Root length density (RLD) and root diameter (thickness) were measured at the end of the stress and rewatering periods. Control plants were well-watered throughout the study. Gultivar IRAT 13 had thicker roots and higher relative RLD (ratio of RLD in drought-stressed plants to that in control plants) than under drought stress, and significantly higher root growth recovery after rewatering cultivar Senshou. Related plant traits such as evapotranspiration (ET), leaf and stem dry weights and weight of senescent leaves (dead leaves) in IRAT 13 were significantly more favorable for drought resistance compared to Senshou.     

Leaf Temperature and Transpiration of Field Grown Cotton and Soybean under Arid and Humid Conditions

Abstract

Abstract : Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) cultivars were grown under arid (Urumqi, Xinjiang, China) and humid (Matsudo, Chiba, Japan) conditions to analyze their abilities to adapt to arid conditions in terms of transpiration, leaf movement and leaf temperature. Under the arid condition, the leaf temperature of the cotton cultivars was higher than that of the soybean cultivar and the air temperature. There was no significant difference in leaf temperature among the cotton and soybean cultivars under the humid condition. The flow rate of stem sap in the cotton cultivars under the arid condition was always higher than that in the soybean cultivar, and was largely affected by vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Under the humid condition, however, the flow rates of stem sap were lower in the cotton cultivars than in the soybean cultivars. These results indicate that cotton can avoid heat stress by the high transpiring ability possibly supported by well-developed root systems, which leads to higher drought resistance under the arid condition. Soybean would adapt to arid conditions by the combination of paraheliotropic leaf movement and reduced transpiration.     

Effect of various drought stresses and subsequent recovery on proline,total soluble sugar and starch metabolisms in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties

ABSTRACT

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important staple foods in the world, however most improved rice varieties are susceptible to drought stress. A two-year study was conducted to explore the effects of various drought stresses and subsequent recovery on the accumulation and degradation of proline, total soluble sugar and starch in different rice varieties at vegetative stage. The results showed that relative water content in the leaves and sheaths of rice varieties significantly decreased under drought stresses, but not at the same rate. Under control and drought conditions, the water content in sheaths was higher than that in leaves. Interestingly, under severe drought stress in 2015, the leaf water content was higher than the sheath water content. The water distribution between leaves and sheaths might be a response of plants to protect leaf system from devastation by drought. Proline was highly accumulated under drought stress but rapidly decreased after re-watering. The drought tolerant variety DA8 expressed higher ability in accumulation of proline than susceptible varieties. In general, total soluble sugar and starch contents in leaves and sheaths of varieties decreased under drought stress conditions. Total soluble sugar and starch content of DA8 were less affected than other varieties under drought conditions. Our study indicated that metabolisms of total soluble sugar and starch in rice were affected by both environmental conditions and characteristics of varieties. Proline accumulation ability of varieties can be used as a useful indicator for drought tolerant potential in rice breeding for water-limited environments.     

The effect of water stress on potato growth,development, and yield

The effect of water stress on plant morphology, production rate and marketable yield is discussed based on the literature. Compared to other species the potato is a drought sensitive plant. The reduction of yield as a result of water stress can be caused by reduced leaf area and/or reduced photosynthesis per unit of leaf area. Water shortage during the tuber bulking period decreases yield to a larger extent than drought during other growth stages. The relationship between the stress parameters relative water content (RWC), leaf water potential (LWP) and stomatal diffusion resistance on the one hand and photosynthesis on the other is discussed. Further it is shown how the amount of water needed by the potato crop depends on climate, soil and plant characters. Finally the effect of water stress on marketable yield and varietal differences to shortage of moisture are discussed.     

Association and Heritability Studies for Drought Resistance under Varied Moisture Stress Regimes in Backcross Inbred Population of RiceAssociation and Heritability Studies for Drought Resistance under Varied Moisture Stress Regimes in Backcross Inbred Population of Rice

Drought stress is one of the major constraints affecting rice production and yield stability in the rainfed regions. To understand the physiological basis of drought resistance related component traits, we used a backcross inbred population of rice under three kinds of moisture regimes viz., non-stress, moderate （24.48%） and severe stress （73.97%） conditions which reflect the differential responses of the genotypes to varying stress intensities. The plot yield, 1000-grain weight, panicle exsertion and canopy air temperature difference exhibited high heritability under the control conditions, whereas spikelet sterility and single plant yield exhibited high heritability under the moderate stress conditions. Traits such as days to 50% flowering, plant height and osmotic potential showed high heritability under the severe stress conditions. Plot yield under stress was significantly and positively correlated with harvest index and 1000-grain weight, but negatively associated with leaf rolling score and days to 50% flowering. The drought susceptibility index and drought response index were negatively correlated between each other both under the moderate and severe stress conditions. The derived traits viz., difference in panicle length between the control and the severe stress was associated with osmotic adjustment measured under field conditions. Difference in plant height and panicle length was negatively associated with plot yield under stress.     

Studies on Mechanisms of Dehydration Postponement in Cassava Leaves under Short-term Soil Water Deficits

Abstract

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) can produce a high crop yield even in an environment with irregular rains. This is mainly attributed to its abilities to maintain leaf area under drought conditions and rapidly regrow after rain. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of leaf maintenance under water deficits through measurement of photosynthetic rate and water potential changes in leaves. The cassava plants were grown in pots and exposed to water deficits, and the diurnal changes in water potentials, rates of photosynthesis and transpiration and stomatal conductance were measured. The relationship between leaf water potential (ψW) and photosynthetic rate with decreasing soil water, and osmotic adjustment were also investigated. With respect to water supply in leaves, the movement of water in plants was measured using stem heat balance. Under water deficits, photosynthesis occurred only in the early morning. The water loss was reduced by stomatal closure in the mid-day. This was attributed to the complete closure of the stornata during the decrease in ψW to a range between –1.0 and –1.4 MPa. Furthermore, the firm stomatal closure is caused by the consistency of osmotic potential under decreases in soil water, i.e., to a lack of osmotic adjustment. Water stored in the pith parenchyma of stem flowed into leaves in the morning. From these results, we conclude that cassava can consistently maintain an adequate water level in leaves via water storage and the sensitivity of stornata to water deficits, thereby avoiding leaf dehydration.     

Physiology of the Potato: New Insights into Root System and Repercussions for Crop Management

Potato roots are concentrated mostly in the plow layer up to 30 cm in soil depth. Some roots extend up to 100 cm depth and the total root length throughout the soil profile reaches about 10–20 km m^?2 area. There are large differences in root mass (dry weight and length) in the plow layer between cultivars, breeding lines and wild relatives. The differences are generally stable across different environmental conditions, such as locations with different soil types, fertilizer rates and planting densities. Under favourable environmental conditions without severe shortage of water and nutrients, root mass differences between genotypes are related to maturity class: late genotypes continue root growth longer, and attain larger root mass and deeper rooting than early genotypes. Differences in root mass become clear at the start of flowering, much earlier than differences in shoot mass. Root mass is negatively correlated with early tuber bulking. However, root mass generally shows positive correlations with shoot mass and final tuber yield. Differences in root mass also exist amongst genotypes of the same maturity class. Using root mass in the plow layer and tuber yield as selection criteria, Konyu cultivars were bred in Japan. They showed significantly less reduction of leaf conductance and photosynthesis, leaf area and tuber yield than commercial cultivars under dry soil conditions. To assist breeding for root characters, new methods have been developed to assess the ability of roots to penetrate into hard soil layers using pots with paraffin-vaseline discs and the ability to absorb under low water potential in vitro. Physiological research on root characteristics contributed in the past, and will continue to do so in the future, to the development of new cultivars with high drought tolerance and to the improvement of irrigation practice.     

Suppression of Tillering in Erianthus ravennae (L.) Beauv. Due to Drought Stress at Establishment

Abstract

We investigated the effect of drought stress on biomass productivity of newly established Erianthus ravennae (L.) Beauv. This species has recently drawn great attention as a novel cellulosic energy crop because of its excellent tolerance against various environmental stresses, but the shoot dry weight of the newly established E. ravennae was significantly decreased under drought compared to irrigated condition. A significant correlation between shoot dry weight and stem number suggested that the drought-induced decrease in stem number was ascribable to the reduced shoot dry weight in the drought condition. Decrease in soil water content was coincident with mid-day decrease in stomatal conductance, suggesting that limitation of CO₂ diffusion into leaf due to lower stomatal conductance in the drought condition caused decrease in photosynthesis followed by suppression of stem number. The present study suggested that E. ravennae was susceptible to drought, at least, in the first establishment year.     

水分胁迫对马铃薯的生理反应

以中早熟品种“坝薯９号”、中晚熟品种“坝薯１０号”和“乌盟８５１”为试材，研究了干旱对马铃薯的影响，结果表明：①随着水分胁迫时间的延长和胁迫强度的增加，叶片相对含水量和叶水势下降，蒸腾强度减弱，伤流量减少；植株高度、茎粗、叶片长和宽、功能叶间距均降低；块茎单株产量和收获指数降低，块茎干物质含量提高；叶绿素含量与光合作用强度随水分胁迫时间延长而降低，但随胁迫强度的增加而提高．②单株产量与叶水势和收获指数是显著正相关，与块茎干物质含量是显著负相关．③坝薯９号和乌盟８５１是两个耐旱品种．     

玉米幼苗叶表面蜡质含量及成分对干旱胁迫的响应

选用抗旱性不同的两个玉米自交系Mo17和B73为试验材料,采用盆栽控水试验,设置干旱和正常浇水两个处理,研究干旱胁迫对两个玉米品种3叶期幼苗叶面蜡质含量及成分变化的影响。结果表明,在干旱处理条件下,Mo17和B73的叶片失水率和叶绿素的抽提率均低于正常条件;两个品种叶面的蜡质含量均明显高于正常条件下的蜡质含量,且Mo17在正常和干旱条件下蜡质含量均高于B73。此外,在干旱条件下,蜡质合成相关的基因KCS、CER1、CER2、GL1、GL2和GL15的表达也明显增高。玉米叶片表面蜡质合成是应答干旱胁迫的一种重要方式,抗旱品种Mo17的抗旱性比B73要强,其表面蜡质合成较强是其中一个重要原因。     

Effects of a short period of drought on changes in tuber volume and specific leaf weight. II. Diurnal changes

Summary Single-stemmed potato plants, cv. Bintje, were grown on a nutrient solution under controlled conditions. They were exposed to a short drought stress, or remained untreated. Short-term changes in tuber volume and in specific leaf weight were measured non-destructively. Tubers from control plants increased rapidly in volume during the night and did not grow, or even shrivelled during the day. Tubers of stressed plants did not show a uniform response; some tubers markedly declined in volume during the day. The patterns of volume increase of stressed plants became erratic after the stress, mainly because some plants never fully recovered. Patterns of diurnal fluctuation in tuber volume were similar to diurnal changes in specific leaf weight; tubers within the same stressed plant sometimes reacted differently. In these cases the effects on the diurnal fluctuation partly reflected the long-term effects, reported in an earlier paper.     

Potato Stolon and Tuber Growth Influenced by Nitrogen Form

Abstract

Potato tuber initiation and its growth are key processes determining tuber yield, which are closely related to stolon growth, and are influenced by many factors including N nutrition. We investigated the influences of different forms of nitrogen (N) on stolon and tuber growth in sand culture with a nitrification inhibitor during 2010 – 2011, and using two potato cultivars. Plants supplied with NO₃-N (N as nitrate, NO₃^-) produced more and thicker stolons than those supplied with NH₄-N (N as ammonium, NH₄⁺) at tuber initiation stage. In the plants fed NO₃-N, the stolon tips swelled or formed tubers earlier and produced more tubers than in those fed with NH₄-N. However, no significant difference was observed among N forms in terms of tuber yield at harvest, this may have been because of the shoot growth rate at tuber initiation stage was lower in the plants fed NO₃-N. During the tuber bulking stage, the difference in shoot DWs among N forms began to decrease, and the shoot DW of plants fed NO₃-N was even heavier than those fed NH₄-N in some cases. The influence of N form on potato plant growth may therefore vary with the potato growth stage.     

Relation between growth conditions and dormancy of seed potatoes. 3. Effects of light

Summary The effects on the dormancy of progeny tubers of the timing and level of shading during plant growth were investigated in three field experiments. The tubers were harvested while immature. Shading (50–75%) the crop shortly before haulm pulling shortened dormancy by 5–7 days in two experiments. However, dormancy was hardly affected by 50% shading in one experiment, carried out in a sunny dry period. The effects of the photoperiod during tuber bulking on dormancy were studied in two indoor experiments. Plants were grown at 18/12°C (day 12h/night) and a 12 h photoperiod. Shortly after tuber initiation, the photoperiod was extended to 18 h for 4–6 weeks by photosynthetically inactive incandescent light, or kept at 12 h. The effects of the photoperiod on dormancy were up to 9 days, but differed between the cultivars and experiments. Generally, the effects on tuber dormancy of differences in growth conditions, as reported in this series of papers, were limited.     

Differences in Vegetative Growth Response to Soil Flooding between Common and Tartary Buckwheat

Abstract

Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench cv. Shinano No.1) and Tartary buckwheat (F. tataricum (L.) Gaertn. cv. Nepal) were grown in pots to examine their responses to soil flooding. Flooding treatment was carried out during the early growth stage by completely submerging the pots in a nutrient solution from 12 to 36 days after sowing. The plant growth rate, relative growth rate and mean leaf area under the flooding treatment were reduced to 72, 90 and 83% of the control, respectively, in Shinano No.1, and to 29, 71 and 45% of the control, respectively, in Nepal. The excess moisture stress had no effect on the net assimilation rate (NAR) in Shinano No.1, but lowered the NAR to 68% of that in the control in Nepal. Excess moisture stress decreased the total leaf area to 76 and 34% of the control in Shinano No.1 and Nepal, respectively. Leaf growth rate, number of leaves and leaf area per leaf, which influenced the total leaf area, were reduced by the excess soil moisture. The relative water content of leaves was unchanged in Shinano No.1, but was decreased in Nepal. Reduction in bleeding from the cut end of stem due to flooding was greater in Nepal than in Shinano No.1. Excess moisture stress reduced the K⁺ concentration of the stem and increased the Na⁺ concentration of leaves, stem and roots more strongly in Nepal than in Shinano No.1. Development of adventitious roots in the surface layer of the nutrient solution was better in Shinano No.1 than in Nepal. In conclusion, Shinano No.1 (common buckwheat) had a stronger tolerance to excess soil moisture than Nepal (Tartary buckwheat). In Shinano No. 1, leaf growth and photosynthetic rate were not markedly affected and the capacity of absorbing water and nutrients was retained by developing adventitious roots in the solution above the surface of the soil keeping proper physiological activity under excess moisture conditions.     

利用隶属函数值法对玉米成熟期抗旱性的综合评价

以10个不同基因型玉米为试验材料,在宁夏中部干旱带,通过测定不同品种成熟期的K~+/Na~+、光合气体交换参数、农艺性状及产量性状等指标进行抗旱性鉴定,并利用主成分分析和隶属函数法对其抗旱性强弱进行综合评价。结果表明,干旱胁迫地和对照田中,各参试品种的光合特征参数、K~+/Na~+及形态性状等均有明显差异,且干旱胁迫条件下的净光合速率(P_n)、株高、产量均显著低于对照(P0.05)。同一品种不同器官的K~+/Na~+值表现为茎基茎叶根,表明植株体内的离子吸收和运输具有选择性,茎基具有贮存K~+的作用,根具有贮存Na~+的功能。不同基因型玉米品种的抗旱能力根据综合评价值(D值)大小,综合评价其抗旱性强弱顺序为A111-3/H242HoViY1北21/A58A3/A18高WY2宁3/1522H237/A18桂青贮1号H237/1506A3/A18。     

遮光对玉米干物质积累及产量性能的影响

选用玉米品种郑单958与先玉335,在大田条件分别于7叶全展期（T1）、13叶全展期（T2）、吐丝期（T3）、吐丝后15 d（T4）进行50%遮光处理,研究不同时期遮光对玉米干物质积累与产量性能的影响。结果表明,不同时期遮光均导致玉米终极生长量（a）、干物质积累速率最大时的生长量（W_max）、最大干物质积累速率（G_max）、平均叶面积指数（MLAI）、平均净同化率（MNAR）和收获指数（HI）降低,致使干物质积累与产量不同程度降低,吐丝后15 d遮光对干物质与产量影响最大。在产量构成因素中,遮光处理对穗粒数与千粒重影响较大,穗粒数减少占主导,其次是千粒重的降低。