Water relations, gas exchange and growth of cool-season grain legumes in a Mediterranean-type environment

The aim of this study was to identify the physiological characteristics which may affect the yield of six cool-season grain legume species grown in a water-limited Mediterranean-type climate in Western Australia. The rate of net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and water relations were measured from flowering to complete leaf senescence in white lupin, chickpea, faba bean, field pea, grass pea and lentil. In irrigated plants, the midday leaf water potential was about −0.6 MPa in all species, while the maximum rate of leaf photosynthesis was 30 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ for chickpea and white lupin, and below 20 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ for the other species. With the development of water deficits, the leaf water potential in rain-fed plants decreased to about −3 MPa in chickpea and lentil and −2 MPa in the other species. Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance decreased markedly as the leaf water potential decreased below −0.9 MPa in all six species, including chickpea and lentil, which showed a high degree of osmotic adjustment. Despite the similarity in water use, restricted to the top 40 cm of soil, and water relations characteristics, yields varied markedly among species. Yields were strongly correlated with early biomass production and early pod development.     

The effect of tillage system and residue management on grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency in winter wheat in a cool Atlantic climate

The effects of soil tillage and straw management systems on the grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.) were evaluated in a cool Atlantic climate, in central Ireland between 2009 and 2011. Two tillage systems, conventional tillage (CT) and reduced tillage (RT) each with and without incorporation of the straw of the preceding crop, were compared at five levels of fertiliser N (0, 140, 180, 220 and 260 kg N ha⁻¹).CT had a significantly higher mean grain yield over the three years but the effect of tillage varied between years. Yields did not differ in 2009 (Year 1), while CT produced significantly higher grain yields in 2010 (Year 2), while RT produced the highest yields in 2011 (Year 3). Straw incorporation had no significant effect in any year.Nitrogen application significantly increased the grain yields of all establishment treatment combinations. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) ranged from 14.6 to 62.4 kg grain (85% DM) kg N ha⁻¹ and decreased as N fertiliser rate was increased.The CT system had a significantly higher mean NUE over the three years but the effect of tillage varied with years. While there was no tillage effect in years 1 and 3, CT had a significantly higher NUE than RT in year 2. Straw management system had minimal effect on NUE in any year.The effect of tillage and N rate on soil mineral N content also varied between years. While there was no tillage effect in years 1 and 3, RT had significantly larger soil N contents than CT in the spring before N application, and post-harvest in year 2. N application rates had no effect on soil N in year 1, increased residual N content in year 2 and had an inconsistent effect in year 3. Straw management had no significant effect on soil mineral N content.These results indicate that RT establishment systems can be used to produce similar winter wheat yields to CT systems in a cool Atlantic climate, providing weather conditions at establishment are favourable. The response to nitrogen is similar with both tillage systems where the crop is successfully established. Straw management system has very little effect on crop performance or nitrogen uptake.     

Screening techniques and improved biological nitrogen fixation in cool season food legumes

Dinitrogen fixation and legume productivity are greatly influenced through the interactions of legume host, Rhizobium, and the above- and below-ground environment. The benefits of improving legume N₂ fixation include reduced reliance on soil N, leading to more sustainable agricultural systems and reduced requirements for fertilizer N, enhanced residual benefits to subsequent crops, and increased legume crop yields. Most of the gains in N₂ fixation to date have been derived from management of legume cropping systems and through inoculation of legume seed with competitive and symbiotically effective rhizobia. Further gains are possible by developing plant cultivars with tolerance to soil abiotic factors, increased plant yield, and a broader and more effective matching of plant host and rhizobia. Techniques for screening material for superior N₂ fixation and examples of programs to increase fixed N, with attention to the major abiotic stresses, are discussed.     

Research achievements in plant resistance to insect pests of cool season food legumes

Plant resistance to at least 17 field and storage insect pests of cool season food legumes has been identified. For the most part, this resistance was located in the primary gene pools of grain legumes via conventional laboratory, greenhouse, and field screening methods. The use of analytical techniques (i.e., capillary gas chromatography) to characterize plant chemicals that mediate the host selection behavior of pest insects offers promise as a new, more rapid way to differentiate between insect-resistant and susceptible plant material. Examples of research achievements in mechanisms of resistance and host-plant resistance within the context of integrated control programs are discussed. Accelerating the development and subsequent releases of insect-resistant cultivars to pulse farmers requires more involvement from interdisciplinary teams of plant breeders, entomologists, plant pathologists, plant chemists, molecular biologists, and other scientists.     

耕作方式与秸秆还田对冬小麦–夏玉米轮作系统中干物质生产和水分利用效率的影响

为探讨黄淮海地区一年两熟制下土壤耕作方式与秸秆还田相结合的适宜模式,2010—2012年进行了两年度的田间试验,研究不同处理对冬小麦–夏玉米轮作系统干物质生产和水分利用效率的影响。通过比较常规耕作+秸秆还田、常规耕作+无秸秆还田、深耕+秸秆还田、深耕+无秸秆还田、深松+秸秆还田、深松+无秸秆还田6个处理,发现深松(耕)与秸秆还田可以增加冬小麦和夏玉米的农田耗水量,降低休闲期农田耗水量,提高作物叶片相对含水量、净光合速率、蒸腾速率和茎秆伤流量,促进植株干物质积累,进而提高作物籽粒产量和水分利用效率。耕作方式与秸秆还田对冬小麦和夏玉米的干物质生产和水分利用效率存在显著交互作用。与常规耕作+无秸秆还田相比,深耕+秸秆还田和深松+秸秆还田处理的作物干物质积累量分别提高19.3%和22.9%,周年作物产量分别提高18.0%和19.3%,水分利用效率分别提高15.9%和15.1%,且两处理无显著差异。因此认为,与本试验相似环境条件下,宜在秸秆还田的基础上配合深松或深耕。     

Use of soil and vegetation spectroradiometry to investigate crop water use efficiency of a drip irrigated tomato

An agronomic research was conducted in Tuscany (Central Italy) to evaluate the effects of an advanced irrigation system on the water use efficiency (WUE) of a tomato crop and to investigate the ability of soil and vegetation spectroradiometry to detect and map WUE. Irrigation was applied following an innovative approach based on CropSense system. Soil water content was monitored at four soil depths (10, 20, 30 and 50 cm) by a probe. Rainfall during the crop cycle reached 162 mm and irrigation water applied with a drip system amounted to 207 mm, distributed with 16 irrigation events. Tomato yield varied from 7.10 to 14.4 kg m⁻², with a WUE ranging from 19.1 to 38.9 kg m⁻³. The irrigation system allowed a high yield levels and a low depth of water applied, as compared to seasonal ET crop estimated with Hargraves’ formula and with the literature data on irrigated tomato. Measurements were carried out on geo-referenced points to gather information on crop (crop yield, eighteen Vegetation indices, leaf area index) and on soil (spectroradiometric and traditional analysis). Eight VIs, out of nineteen ones analyzed, showed a significant relationship with georeferenced yield data; PVI maps seemed able to return the best response, before harvesting, to improve the knowledge of the area of cultivation and irrigation system. CropSense irrigation system reduced seasonal irrigation volumes. Some vegetation indexes were significantly correlated to tomato yield and well identify, a posteriori, crop area with low WUE; spectroradiometry can be a valuable tool to improve irrigated tomato field management.     

高产冬小麦水分利用效率及其组分特征分析

依据8年田间和盆栽试验,分析了冬小麦基因型、密度和供水对水分利用效率(WUE)的影响。结果表明:当供水量变化范围较大时,总耗水(ET)和WUE呈显著线性负相关,ET对WUE的负效应明显大于产量(GY)对WUE的正效应。GY和ET有正相关趋势。当供水量变化范围较小时,GY和WUE呈显著线性正相关。蒸散效率(ETE)和收获指数(HI )都和WUE有正     

Optimized single irrigation can achieve high corn yield and water use efficiency in the Corn Belt of Northeast China

Decreasing the corn (Zea mays L.) gap between the potential yield and farm yield and reducing the risk of grain yield of drought are very important for corn production in the Corn Belt of Northeast China (CBNC). To achieve a high and stable corn yield, the effects of supplementary irrigation on yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) were studied using a modelling approach. The Root Zone Water Quality Model 2 was parameterized and evaluated using two years of experimental data in aeolian sandy soil and black soil. The evaluated model was then used to investigate responses to various irrigation strategies (rainfed, full irrigation and 12 single irrigation scenarios) using long-term weather data from 1980 to 2012. Full irrigation guarantees a high and stable corn grain yield (12.92 Mg ha⁻¹ and has a coefficient of variation (CV) of 14.8% in aeolian sandy soil; 12.30 kg Ma⁻¹ and CV of 11.1% in black soil), but has a low water use efficiency (19.92 and 21.81 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹) and a low irrigation water use efficiency (10.01 and 11.03 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹). A single irrigation can increase corn yields by 3–35% for aeolian sandy soil and 5–35% for black soil over different irrigation dates compared with no irrigation. The most suitable single irrigation date was during late June to early July for aeolian sandy soil (yield = 10.73 Mg ha⁻¹ and WUE = 27.94 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹) and early to mid-July for black soil (yield = 11.20 Mg ha⁻¹ and WUE = 27.70 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹). The lowest yield risk of falling short of the yield goal of 8, 9, and 10 Mg ha⁻¹ were 9.1%, 18.2%, and 33.33% in aeolian sandy soil and 3.0%, 15.25, and 21.2% in black soil when an optimized single irrigation was applied in late June or early July, respectively. Therefore, an optimized single irrigation should be applied in late June to early July with the irrigation amount to refill soil water storage of root zone to field capacity in CBNC.     

荒漠绿洲不同种植方式对青贮玉米产量及水肥利用效率的影响

合理的种植方式可以在不增加灌溉耗水量的前提下,利用植物个体间的正相互作用关系和群体适应特点来达到提高作物产量和水分利用效率的目的。通过田间试验,研究了河西走廊黑河中游边缘绿洲区1穴1株、1穴2株和1穴3株种植方式对青贮玉米产量及水肥利用效率的影响。结果表明,1穴2株和1穴3株的地上生物产量均高于1穴1株,1穴2株最高,鲜重为102.9 t/hm~2,比1穴1株提高了29.4%;1穴2株与1穴1株之间存在显著差异(P0.05),1穴3株与1穴1株之间差异不显著(P0.05)。同样,1穴2株和1穴3株的地上生物产量水肥利用效率也均高于1穴1株,1穴2株的水分和氮肥利用效率也均最高,分别为9.3 kg/m~3和342.9 kg/kg;1穴2株与1穴1株之间存在显著差异(P0.05),1穴3株与1穴1株之间差异不显著(P0.05)。在河西走廊边缘绿洲区,采用1穴2株的种植方式能显著提高青贮玉米的地上生物产量和水肥利用效率,可在生产中推广应用。     

施氮量对旱地小麦耗水特性和产量的影响

2009—2010和2010—2011小麦生长季, 分别利用小麦品种济麦22和山农16, 研究了施氮量0 (N0)、90(N1)、120 (N2)、150 (N3)、180 (N4)和210 kg hm^-2 (N5)条件下的小麦耗水特性和产量水平。N3处理的耗水量在播种至拔节期与N1和N2处理无显著差异, 但在拔节至成熟期显著高于N1和N2处理; N4处理各阶段耗水量与N3处理无显著差异; N5处理在返青至开花期耗水量显著增加。当施氮量由90 kg hm^-2增加到150 kg hm^-2时, 小麦对深层土壤贮水利用能力增强, 但施氮量继续增加, 80 cm以下土层土壤贮水消耗量未显著增加。N3处理在拔节后株间蒸发量显著低于N1和N2处理, 开花后旗叶水分利用效率显著高于N1和N2处理, 但与N4和N5处理拔节后的株间蒸发量及开花后旗叶水分利用效率无显著差异。在本试验条件下, N3处理的产量、水分利用效率和降水利用效率最高, 氮肥生产效率也较高, 因此150 kg hm^-2是适宜的施氮量。     

绿洲灌区不同密度玉米群体的耗水特性研究

针对水资源不足严重制约绿洲灌区玉米生产,密植对玉米耗水特性影响研究薄弱,以及生产实践中缺乏调控种植密度以同步提高产量和水分利用效率的理论依据等问题,2012—2015年,以先玉335为参试品种,在相同施肥、灌水制度下,设75 000株hm–2(低,D1)、87 000株hm–2(中,D2)、99 000株hm–2(高,D3)3个密度水平,探讨密度对玉米耗水的时间动态、耗水结构以及利用效率的影响,以期为优化密植增产节水技术提供理论依据。结果表明,随密度增大,玉米全生育期总耗水量(ET)增大,大喇叭口期至吐丝期是耗水量增大的主要时期,高、中密度处理与低密度处理相比,全生育期总耗水量4年平均分别高22.8%、14.4%,大喇叭口期至吐丝期平均分别高28.4%、18.2%,其他生育时期不同处理的耗水量差异不显著。增加密度可降低玉米的无效耗水,提高水分利用率,高、中密度处理较低密度处理全生育期的棵间蒸发量(E)4年平均分别减少56.5 mm、27.6 mm,密植降低棵间蒸发量的主要时期在拔节至灌浆期,其中大喇叭口期至吐丝期的日均棵间蒸发量分别减少0.51 mm、0.27 mm;高、中密度与低密度处理相比,全生育期的E/ET分别降低15.8%、6.2%,其中拔节至大喇叭口期减小幅度最大,分别为22.1%、10.7%。与低密度处理相比,高、中密度处理的籽粒产量分别提高了17.9%、14.8%,但高、中密度处理间的产量差异不显著;高、中、低密度处理的水分利用效率(WUE)分别为18.2、19.3和16.8 kg hm–2 mm–1,中密度处理的WUE显著高于低密度处理;与低密度处理相比,高、中密度处理4年平均灌溉水利用效率(IWUE)分别提高了34.5%、19.6%。本研究说明,在传统供水覆膜条件下,进一步增加种植密度是干旱绿洲灌区提高玉米产量和灌溉水利用效率的可行措施。     

三种主要粮食作物的节水灌溉技术及其对产量和水分利用率的影响

以三种主要粮食作物（水稻、小麦、玉米）为材料,设置常规灌溉（对照）和节水灌溉处理（水稻全生育期轻干湿交替灌溉技术、小麦控制土壤干旱灌溉技术、玉米控制低限土壤水分的分区交替灌溉技术）,研究了节水灌溉技术对三种粮食作物产量和水分利用效率的影响。结果表明：与对照相比,节水灌溉技术的产量增加了8.56%~9.23%,水分利用效率提高了25.00%~31.43%。节水灌溉技术显著降低了三种粮食作物叶片的蒸腾速率和着生角度,显著增加了弱势粒中脱落酸（ABA）与赤霉素（GA₃）的比值（ABA/GA₃）、茎中蔗糖磷酸合成酶（SPS）和子粒中蔗糖合酶（SuS）活性、平均灌浆速率、茎鞘中非结构性碳水化合物（NSC）的运转率以及收获指数,显著提高了水稻和小麦的分蘖成穗率。表明减少奢侈的蒸腾和无效分蘖冗余生长、改善冠层结构、促进物质运转和子粒库活性、提高收获指数是节水灌溉技术协同提高产量和水分利用效率的重要原因。     

Water use efficiency among dry bean landraces and cultivars in drought-stressed and non-stressed environments

The agricultural use of water is higher than 85% in the western USA, resulting in an increasing water deficit in the region; this situation is commonly encountered throughout the world where irrigated and irrigation-assisted production systems are operational. The objective of this study was to examine differences among dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces and cultivars in terms of water use efficiency (WUE), subsequently identifying those with a high water use efficiency. Six medium-seeded (25–40 g 100 seed wt⁻¹) landraces and cultivars of pinto and red market classes were evaluated in intermittent drought-stressed (DS) and non-stressed (NS) environments at Kimberly, Idaho, USA in 2003 and 2004. Each market class comprised one each of a landrace and old and new cultivars. Mean evapotranspiration (ET) in the NS environment was 384 mm in 2003 and 432 mm in 2004; the respective ET values in the DS environment were 309 and 268 mm. Mean seed yield was higher in the DS (2678 kg ha⁻¹) and NS (3779 kg ha⁻¹) environments in 2004 than in 2003 (688 and 1800 kg ha⁻¹, respectively). Under severe drought stress in 2003, WUE in the pinto bean ranged from 1.5 for the Common Pinto landrace to 4.4 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ water for cv. Othello. The Common Red Mexican landrace had the highest WUE (3.7), followed by cvs. NW 63 (2.8) and UI 259 (1.4) in the red market class. Under favorable milder climatic conditions in 2004, the mean WUE value was 10 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ water in the DS environment and 8.7 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ water in the NS environment. We conclude that dry bean landraces and cultivars with high WUE should be used to reduce dependence on irrigation water and to develop drought-resistant cultivars to maximize yield and WUE.     

Screening techniques and sources of resistance to nematodes in cool season food legumes

Identification of sources of resistance in cool season legumes to cyst (Heterodera spp.), root-knot (Meloidogyne spp.), and stem nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci) is generally based on number of cysts on roots, root-knot nematode induced gall index, and stem nematode reproduction in shoot tissue, respectively. Various levels of resistance to cyst nematodes have been detected in chickpea and pea. Resistance has also been identified in chickpea, faba bean, and pea to the root-knot nematodes. Broad based durable sources of resistance to plant parasitic nematodes are required. Basic research is needed to develop transgenic plants with resistance based on hatch stimulants, inhibitors, toxins, or repellents found in antagonistic rhizosphere microorganisms. Selection of genotypes that favor development of beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms or root endophytes that increase the plant resistance to nematode infection deserves attention.     

Potential,constraints and applications of in vitro methods in improving grain legumes

Grain legumes, the important constituents of sustainability‐based cropping systems and energy‐limited vegetarian diets have long been the subject of scientific research. Tremendous technological strides were made in the so‐called orphan crops, in terms of both varietal improvement and generation of basic information. Despite recalcitrancy and high genotype dependency, in vitro culture techniques such as organogenesis, in vitro mutagenesis, embryo rescue and in vitro gene transfer have been deployed for improvement of several grain legumes and these played an important role in introgression of desirable genes from related and distant species and creation of additional genetic variability. Stable and reproducible regeneration protocols resulted in the development of genetically modified chickpea, pigeon pea, cowpea, mungbean, etc., while embryo rescue was deployed successfully for recovery of interspecific recombinants, a few of them exploited for the development of commercial cultivars. Nevertheless, doubled haploidy witnessed limited success and protoplast regeneration and in vitro mutagenesis remained of academic interest. The present review focuses on the progress, achievements, constraints and perspectives of using in vitro technology in grain legume improvement.     

Water use efficiency of crops cultivated in the Mediterranean region: Review and analysis

Improvement of water use efficiency (WUE) of field crops in the Mediterranean region is an imperative imposed by the critical situation of water resources of the region, as well as by the demographical increment. This review reports the experimental data concerning WUE of 16 species cultivated in the region. The species include cereals, leguminous, horticultural and industrial crops. This review however underlines that WUE data of fruit trees are lacking, despite they represent one of the main productions of the Mediterranean agriculture.

In this region, the large range of WUE values observed, for the same species, can be ascribed mainly to: (i) fertilizers and water management (water regime, mineral supply and water quality); (ii) plant factors (species, variety and sensitivity of growth stage to the stress); and (iii) environmental factors (climate, atmospheric pollution, soil texture and climate change). The conclusion highlights the actual gap concerning WUE in the Mediterranean region. This gap will constitute a field of research designated to ameliorate WUE of agriculture in this region.     

Screening techniques and sources of resistance to root diseases in cool season food legumes

Summary Soil-borne fungal diseases are among the most important factors, limiting the yield of grain legumes in many countries worldwide. Root rot, caused by Aphanomyces euteiches, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani and wilt, caused by several formae speciales of Fusarium oxysporum are the most destructive soil-borne diseases of pea, chickpea, lentil, fababean and lupin. The most effective control of these diseases is achieved through the use of resistant varieties. In this paper, recent advances in conventional and innovative screening methods for disease resistance are presented. Many grain legume accessions, which are maintained in national and international germplasm collections, have been evaluated for disease resistance and numerous resistant varieties have been released following incorporation of identified resistance genes from these sources. Recent identification of molecular markers tightly linked to resistance genes has greatly enhanced breeding programs by making marker assisted selection (MAS) possible and allowing the development of varieties with multiple disease resistance. Progress in the understanding of the biology of soil-borne fungal pathogens of grain legumes is also reviewed with particular reference to the genetic structure of their populations, diagnosis and host–pathogen interaction.     

不同滴灌制度对冬小麦光合特性及水分利用效率的影响

以冬小麦青麦7号为材料,设置7个不同滴灌制度处理,即按照小麦生育期分别进行不灌水（ CK1）、漫灌（CK2）、滴1水（W1）、滴2水（W2）、滴3水（W3）、滴4水（W4）和滴5水（W5）,初步研究了不同滴灌制度对冬小麦光合速率及水分利用效率的影响。结果表明：与CK1和CK2相比,滴4水和滴5水花后旗叶SPAD值、净光合速率（Pn）、气孔导度（Gs）和蒸腾速率（Tr）显著升高,胞间CO2浓度（Ci）显著降低;各滴灌处理中,花后0～30 d,随着滴灌次数的增加,小麦旗叶SPAD值、Pn、Gs和Tr表现为：W4＞W5＞W3＞W2＞W1,W4处理维持较高的光合速率;各处理之间产量差异显著,表现为：W4＞CK2＞W5＞W3＞W2＞W1＞CK1;滴4水的水分利用效率（22．23 kg/（mm·hm2））,显著高于其他处理。综合考虑光合及产量因素,在本半湿润易旱区条件下,以起身水＋拔节水＋开花水＋灌浆水（滴4水）为节水高产最优滴灌制度。     

水肥“三匀”技术对水稻水、氮利用效率的影响

This study included three split-plot designed experiments. Experiments 1 and 2 were conducted in two fields with varied soil fertility and consistent treatment. Two rice varieties (Dexiang 4103, high NUE; Yixiang 3724, low NUE) were set as main plot. The sub-plot contained six nitrogen-water management modes (farmer’s usual management, FU; nitrogen-water coupling management, NWC; methodical nitrogen-water distribution management, MNWD; and their respective nitrogen-free controls). The main plot of Exp.3 was two high NUE varieties (Dexiang 4103, Fyou 498) and two low NUE varieties (Yixiang 3724, Chuanyou 6203); FU, NWC, and MNWD assembled the sub-plot. MNWD adopted the method of increasing frequency and reducing quantity, thus the nitrogen application rate was reduced by 20% compared with NWC and FU, the irrigation water amount was reduced by 20% to 25% compared with NWC, and 42% to 48% compared with FU. The stem number of MNWD changed smoothly and its ear bearing tiller percentage was higher. Compared with NWC and FU, the photo assimilation before anthesis MNWD had less, dry matter transportation before anthesis and high accumulation of assimilate after anthesis. The grain yield of MNWD was similar to that of NWC, while 8.77%-14.18% higher than that of FU. Correlation analysis showed that the dry weight of roots in 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm soil layers were significantly and positively correlated with nitrogen recovery efficiency (NRE), nitrogen agronomy efficiency (NAE), irrigation water production efficiency (IWPE) and water production efficiency (WPE). MNWD had a large amount of root system distributed in the soil layer below 10 cm, which was conducive to the improvement of water and nitrogen utilization efficiency. Compared with NWC and FU, MNWD increased NRE by 8.07%-11.99% and 20.72%-30.78%, NAE by 17.44%-27.38% and 96.47%-101.42%, IWPE by 23.34%-36.67% and 76.54%-117.38%, WPE by 8.41%-17.66% and 32.23%-65.29%, respectively.