The freezing characteristics of wheat at ear emergence

Wheat is occasionally exposed to freezing temperatures during ear emergence and can suffer severe frost damage. Few studies have attempted to understand the characteristics of freezing and frost damage to wheat during late development stages.

It was clearly shown that wheat appears to have an inherent frost resistance to temperatures down to −5 °C but is extensively damaged below this temperature. Acclimation, whilst increasing the frost resistance of winter wheat in a vegetative state was incapable of increasing frost resistance of plants at ear emergence. It is proposed that the ability to upregulate frost resistance is lost once vernalisation requirement is fulfilled.

Culms and ears of wheat were able to escape frost damage at temperatures below −5 °C by supercooling even to as low as −15 °C and evidence collected by infrared thermography suggested that individual culms on a plant froze as independent units during freezing with little or no cross ice-nucleation strategies to protect wheat from frost damage in the field appear to revolve around avoiding ice nucleation.     

The relationships of hardening period and the expression of frost resistance in chromosome substitution lines of wheat

Summary The highly frost resistant wheat variety Cheyenne (donor) and the poorly frost resistant variety Chinese Spring (recipient) were frozen at –9° C and –11° C at various stages of hardening, as were a number of substitution lines of these two varieties (CS/Ch 3A, CS/Ch 5A, CS/Ch 7A, CS/Ch 2B, CS/Ch 4B, CS/Ch 5B, CS/Ch 4D, CS/Ch 5D). Chromosomes 5A, 5B, 5D, 4B and 7A of Cheyenne increased the frost resistance of the recipient variety to varying extents. However, the frost resistance changed not only as a function of the different chromosomes, but also as a function of the duration of hardening, indicating that genes responsible for frost resistance are expressed differently during different phases of the hardening process.     

Effect of bunt infection on the frost resistance of wheat varieties and of lines containing Bt genes

In artificial infection experiments carried out in the nursery in Martonvásár in 1991, 1992 and 1993, studies were made on the bunt infection of wheat varieties bred in Martonvásár and of monogenic lines containing known resistance genes (Bll to Btl0, respectively). This was followed in 1993 by tests on the frost resistance of healthy wheat seedlings and wheat seedlings artificially infected with bunt in the frost-testing chamber of the Martonvásár phytotron. During the period of the experiment, the local pathogen population was avirulent to genes Bt9 and Btl0, and virulent to Bt7. Monogeniclines containing resistance genes Bt4, Bt5, Bt6 and Bt8 had good resistance, while that of lines containing Bt1, Bt2 and Bt3 was only moderate. Among the cultivated varieties, only three proved to be moderately resistant (Martonvásári 17′,‘Martonvásári 23′,‘Fatima 2′), while the remainder were susceptible or very susceptible. The frost resistance of plants infected with bunt was significantly lower, over an average of the varieties, than that of healthy plants. A close (r = 0.890) correlation was found between the bunt susceptibility of the varieties tested and the increase in frost kill due to infection, while no correlation was observed in this respect for monogenic lines containing various resistance genes (Bt).     

Development of highly sprouting tolerant wheat germplasm with reduced germination at low temperature

The development of sprouting tolerant spring and winter wheat varieties that retain dormancy in cool, wet conditions is a long-term objective in Hokkaido, Japan. A highly tolerant spring dwarf line, “OS21-5”, derived from “Tordo” × “Zenkoji”, was used to develop transgressive spring, “OS38” and “OS74”; and winter, “OW77”, “OW104” and “OW93” wheats. More recently, winter lines with improved agronomic performance, though still deficient in quality and scab resistance, have been identified. In general, germination percentage of mature grain at 10 ^°C was closely related to the mean temperature experienced during the 5 days prior to maturity (dough–yellow ripening stage) and to the capacity to maintain a high amylograph paste viscosity. Dormancy at 10 ^°C appeared to be determined by a combination of genotype and variation in sensitivity to temperature during the later stages of ripening. Genotypes such as “OS38” and ‘OWl04’ were both highly tolerant to germination at 10 ^°C and insensitive to temperature during ripening. By comparison, most of the other cultivars showed a similar, intermediate sensitivity to ripening temperature, and dormancy decreased as ripening temperature increased. Dormancy of‘RL4137’ at maturity, and to a lesser extent ‘Gifukomugi’ and ‘KKI354’, was very sensitive to ripening temperature and useful levels of dormancy only developed under cool ripening temperatures, mean temperature < 18–20 ^°C.     

Effect of common bunt on the frost resistance and winter hardiness of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) lines containing Bt genes

In order to determine the effects of bunt inoculation on frost resistance and winter hardiness in lines containing resistance genes, the bunt [Tilletia foetida (Wallroth) Liro, T. caries (DC.) Tulasne] susceptibility of wheat lines containing bunt resistance genesBt1 to Bt10 and the effect of the year on the degree of infection were studied over six years from 1991 to 1997 in an artificial inoculation nursery. Uninoculated and artificially inoculated wheat plants were tested for frost resistance in the phytotron in 1995 and in the field in boxes in three years from 1994/95 to 1996/97. The line withBt10 was very resistant, lines with Bt5, Bt6, Bt8 and Bt9 were resistant, the line with Bt4 was moderately resistant, those with Bt2 and Bt3 were moderately susceptible, the line with Bt1 was susceptible and the line with Bt7 was very susceptible to the local bunt population in Hungary. Bunt incidence also varied over years. The frost resistance of the Bt lines was generally lower after bunt inoculation than that of uninoculated plants. The increased frost kill in inoculated plants was not correlated with the extent of varietal susceptibility to bunt. Some lines with resistance, namely those with Bt5 (1.6% infection), Bt8 (0.6%) and Bt10 (0.0%), suffered significantly greater frost kill in the young plant stage as the result of bunt inoculation. By contrast, the Bt7line had excellent frost resistance and winter hardiness but suffered the greatest extent of bunt infection, whereas the Bt6 line had good frost resistance and good bunt resistance. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of short term cold stress on rice seedlings

A method was developed for exposing riceseedlings to low temperatures for shortperiods. These seedlings were from 70F₉ inbred lines derived originallyfrom a hybrid of a salt tolerant cultivar,which provided a source of resistance toabiotic stress, and a non salt tolerantcultivar as the other parent. Seedlingswere grown hydroponically in a warm growthroom then placed in the air above afreezing bath for 6 hours at –0.2 ^°C,–1.0 ^°C or –2.0 ^°C beforereturning them to the growth room for a7–10 day period. Seedling survival in theinbred lines of rice was compared afterexposure to these temperature treatments toidentify the presence of low temperaturetolerance. An average survival of 93%occurred 7days after exposures to –0.2, and–1.0 ^°C and a survival of 35% afteran exposure of –2.0 ^°C. The non-salttolerant parent cultivar was killed byexposure to –2.0 ^°C but the salttolerant parent survived. The effect of lowtemperature exposure was examined in moredetail in lines selected for lowtemperature tolerance and susceptibility.Alterations to the total leaf proteinprofile, including fragmentation ofRubisco, were observed in these lines butno obvious difference was detected betweensusceptible and tolerant individuals.     

Cold tolerance in beans (Phaseolus spp.) as analyzed by their exotherms

Summary Cold tolerance of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), runner bean (P. coccineus L.) and several bean lines was evaluated under artificial conditions. Seedlings were exposed to –6°C gradually, then to –12°C rapidly in the growth chamber with copper-constantan thermocouples attached to various parts of the plant. Seedling freezing curves with exotherms were then analyzed. Three basic parameters were measured: time required for exotherm to appear, temperature of the appearance of the exotherm and temperature rise caused by the exotherm. Exotherm appearance in beans was related to freezing injury and death of the seedlings. Exotherms of the common bean variety Bush Blue Lake 92 seedling recorded at the stem, primary leaf base, tip and petiole and true leaf appeared at the same time, however their shape was different. Exotherms of stem appeared at higher temperature than those of primary leaves. Their shapes always followed the same pattern. Beans with cold tolerance were found to produce exotherms later than susceptible ones. Exposing 3 weeks old bean seedlings to 12°C delayed the time of exotherm appearance in the cold susceptible cultivar Bush Blue Lake 92. Some plants survived 2 hours exposure to –6°C in the growth chamber.     

基于Richards扩展方程提取水稻灌浆结实光温特性参数

以籼型两系杂交稻陵两优268和两优培九为材料,进行了为期两年(2012-2013)的大田分期播种试验,每年分7期播种,旨在研究水稻灌浆期光温要素对籽粒灌浆结实的影响,并提取与此有关的光温特性参数。因此,以Richards方程拟合观测数据得到的平均灌浆速率为纽带,通过引入光温订正方程,建立Richards扩展方程。结合全局优化算法SCE-UA (Shuffled Complex Evolution Algorithm),优化方程参数,估算2个品种灌浆结实的光温特征参数和响应曲线。结果显示,光照主要通过影响籽粒最终重量而间接作用于平均灌浆速率,温度则通过影响灌浆进程的快慢作用于平均灌浆速率。陵两优268灌浆结实期的光照阈值(R₀)、最低(T_min)、最高(T_max)和最适温度(T_op)分别为18.94 MJ m^-2 d^-1、6.81℃、30.28℃和33.29℃; 两优培九上述参数分别为21.71 MJ m^-2 d^-1、6.10℃、24.16℃和33.74℃。形成的光照和温度响应曲线,能够较好地反映两品种平均灌浆速率对光温条件的响应差异,其中陵两优268平均灌浆速率表现为“温度敏感型”,而两优培九表现为“光照敏感型”。本文运用数学模型方法定量分析和比较了光温要素对有效灌浆期内平均灌浆速率的影响,其方法和结论为建立相应的农业气象指标,评估气候资源对水稻产量的影响提供了重要参考依据。     

The frost tolerance of Miscanthus at the juvenile stage: Differences between clones are influenced by leaf-stage and acclimation

Miscanthus, a perennial, C₄ grass, has numerous advantages for biomass production, notably its high yield per hectare and low input requirements. However, establishment of this crop may be affected in Europe by frost damage when stem emergence occurs early in the year. The principal aim of this study was to quantify the impact of frost on young miscanthus shoots at different leaf-stages, and to characterise inter-species variations in frost tolerance. Four clones belonging to two species were tested at three leaf stages in a climate-controlled chamber simulating acclimation conditions and frost treatments. Frost tolerance was scored using a 0-6 visual assessment scale and analysed with nonparametric tests.We were thus able to show that more developed plants (6 or 7-leaf stage) were less frost tolerant than those at the 3 or 5-leaf stage. Plants at the 6 or 7-leaf stage also displayed differences in tolerance between clones. The leaf-stage of the plant is linked to apex height, and this appeared to play a role in frost tolerance. M. sinensis displayed variable frost tolerance (tolerance score of between 3.6 and 4.9), although the three clones observed were always more frost tolerant than M. x giganteus (with a score of 3). Moreover, the differences in frost tolerance were negatively correlated (r = −0.94) with the mean leaf surface area of clones at the time of frost exposure. Finally, we observed that acclimation at 12 °C under strong light intensity (600 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) enabled an increase in the tolerance of young shoots in all the clones tested.     

Overwintering of winter cereals in Hungary in the case of global warming

Summary Under phytotronic conditions investigations were made on the effect of important environmental factors, such as temperature, water and an increasing concentration of atmospheric CO₂, on the hardening of young cereal plants.In all the varieties derived from the major wheat growing regions of the world the hardening process was favourably influenced by a doubling of atmospheric CO₂ content, so that a significantly larger number of plants survived the frost test than for plants of the same variety raised under normal conditions.A reduction in freezing temperature and an increase in soil moisture content caused a slight reduction in survival % for varieties with excellent frost resistance and a great reduction for those with medium or poor frost resistance.Predictions suggest that in Central Europe, as the result of global climatic changes, there will be a reduction in the quantity of winter precipitation, a considerable rise in winter temperatures and an increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration. Judging by the experimental results, these changes could improve the overwintering of winter cereals; at the same time, however, a number of factors (mainly the reduction of precipitation) leading to yield losses must be expected during the vegetation period.     

Variation of PGM and IDH isozymes for identification of alfalfa varieties

Growth habit, heading date and Vrn genotypewere examined for wheat landraces cultivated in China,Korea and Japan, to study their ecogeographicaldifferentiation in east Asia. Spring type landracesaccounted for 43.6% of the whole, and the frequencyvaried between the localities, being closely relatedto the degree of winter coldness. Spring typelandraces mainly adapted to north and south Chinawhere average January temperature is under –7 ^°Cand over 4 ^°C, respectively. On the contrary,winter type adapted to areas of average Januarytemperature from –7 ^°C to 4 ^°C. As toheading date, significant difference was not observedbetween spring and winter type landraces but betweenlocalities, and those cultivated in north China weresignificantly later in heading. It is thereforeindicated that spring type mainly adapts to areaswhere wheat is sown in spring to avoid frost injury,and where winter temperature is not low enough tovernalize winter type wheat. Genetic analysis forspring type landraces showed that the relativefrequency of four Vrn genes was different witheach other. Vrn3 was most widely and frequentlyfound among the four genes, followed by Vrn1 andVrn2. Only seven landraces proved to be thecarrier of Vrn4. The frequency was alsodifferent between localities. Genotype with Vrn1plus other dominant gene(s) adapted to spring sowingto avoid severely cold winter in north China, whilegenotype with only Vrn3 adapted to winter sowingin south China and southwest Japan. It is thereforeconcluded that at least three ecotypes, differing ingrowth habit and Vrn genotype, areallopatrically distributed in east Asia, as a resultof adaptation to winter coldness in each locality.     

Partial control of chromosome elimination by temperature in immature embryos of Hordeum vulgare L. x H. bulbosum L.

Summary Embryos derived from Hordeum vulgare L. x H. bulbosum L. were subjected in vivo to a range of temperatures, and the proportions of hybrid plants which retain both parental sets of chromosomes were determined. Elimination of the H. bulbosum genome was significantly increased at temperatures greater than 20°C and resulted in fewer hybrid plants compared with temperatures below 17.5°C. Embryos were also allowed to develop in situ at 15°C and then transferred to 26°C for 8, 16 or 24h during the first 7 days after pollination. A period of 16 h at 26°C (equivalent to at least one complete mitotic cycle) at 2–5 days after pollination was found to be sufficient to increase chromosome elimination significantly above the levels obtained at a constant 15°C. At this stage (2–5 days after pollination at 15°C) the mean embryonic cell number was 2.3–223.     

Environmental correlations among grain yield and other important traits of wheat in drylands

Summary Environmental correlation coefficients were computed among all pairs of five traits, namely grain yield, heading date, number of tillers per m², plant height and 1000-grain weight (grain size) using 30 Triticum durum and 30 Triticum aestivum varieties grown in 18 environments. Grain yield was significantly correlated with the other four traits in almost all of the varieties. The mean correlation coefficient over all varieties ranged from 0.58 to –0.83 for durum wheat and 0.66 to 0.88 for aestivum wheat. The correlation coefficients between heading date and the other traits were also significant, ranging from –0.45 to –0.79 in durum wheat and –0.61 to –0.85 in aestivum wheat. The correlation coefficient between number of tillers with plant height and 1000-grain weight were the smallest, 0.19–0.32 in durum wheat and 0.39–0.60 in aestivum wheat. It was concluded that agronomic practices favouring early and good stand establishment in the dry regions will favour the yield components and important adaptive traits, which contribute towards larger yields. Significant differences were found among genotypes in the environmental correlation coefficients and the associated changes in one trait as a result of changes in other traits.     

Influence of genotype and culture conditions on the production of embryos from anthers of tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum)

Summary Anther culture of 10 tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum) genotypes and two backcross lines representing a wide range of genetic variation was studied in a randomized block design with three replications. Each replication consisted of 2 pots with 3 plants. The day length was 16h and temperature 25° C/15°C for day/night in a controlled greenhouse where the anther donor plants were grown. Two different treatments were used for anther culture. The first one was potato 2 medium (Chuang et al., 1978) modified by adding 0.5 mg/l glutamine and solidified by gelrite (4g/l) (Henry & De Buyser, 1981). Cultures were incubated in light (15 E m^–2 S^–1) at 26°C at 16h day length. The second medium was described by Fadel & Wenzel (1990), differing from the first by the nature of the sugar (maltose) and consistency of the medium (semiliquid by ficoll). Anther cultures were incubated in the dark at 28°C. The study of about 1300 anthers per genotype and treatment showed that both genotype and treatment affected embryo formation of tetraploid wheat. The backcross lines exhibited significant differences for androgenic abilities when compared to their common parent. Most of the genotypes were medium dependent for androgenesis and revealed significant interactions with the two treatments. Five green plantlets were regenerated and fertile doubled haploid plants were obtained from three out of the 12 studied genotypes.     

Studies on sexual variation in mulberry (Morus spp.)

Summary Sex expression in mulberry (Morus spp.) was recorded in 301 varieties, collected from diverse geographical origins, evolved varieties and polyploids maintained at Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Berhampore, West Bengal. India (24°6'N and 88°15'E) during 1991–93. Out of total varieties, 49 (16%) male, 161 (53%) female, 52 (17%) monoecious and 39 (13%) were bisexual. Parameters on flowering time, anthesis, floral characters, sex expression and sex reversal were recorded. The indigenous, evolved and polyploids showed early flowering (Jan–Feb) and exotic showed late flowering (Jan–April). The pollen grain viability, seed setting % and other floral behaviour were recorded.     

Influence of the temperature on growth and alkaloid content of first-year Atropa belladonna L.

Summary In breeding Atropa belladonna for high alkaloid content it is of importance to know whether the alkaloid content is affected by the environment. Therefore some experiments on the influence of temperature were carried out in the phytotron of our Institute. As the results were in agreement with each other only one experiment is discussed in which the influence of three constant temperatures, viz. 20°, 23° and 26°C, on growth rate, dry matter, and alkaloid content of yellow-flowered Atropa belladonna L. was studied.It was found that development was quickest at 23°C, followed by 26° and 20°C. Temperature had little or no effect on the height of the plants and weight of dry matter in the corresponding developmental stages. The highest alkaloid content was reached at 23°C; at 26° and 20°C the alkaloid content was lower. The differences were slight but mathematically reliable.     

Response to long-term selection in early maturing maize synthetic varieties

Long-term continuous selection is essential for germplasm improvement. However, choice of germplasm for long-term genetic improvement might limit the success of germplasm enhancement programs. The objective of this research was to report the response to long-term selection in early maturing North Dakota (ND) synthetic varieties. We wanted to determine whether the performance of three ND maize synthetic varieties was improved by long-term mass selection (M) and if the performance of one of them was improved by long-term modified ear-to-row (MER) selection. The evaluation of long-term selection response was performed at two plant densities. An experiment in a randomized complete block design with split-plot arrangement was used to evaluate NDSM(M), NDSAB(M), NDSCD(M), and NDSAB(MER) under 75,000 and 42,500 plants per hectare across seven environments. Long-term mass selection for grain yield and stalk lodging resistance in NDSM(M), NDSAB(M), and NDSCD(M) was not successful, since there were no significant changes in grain yield or stalk lodging in these populations at either low or high densities. On the other hand, long-term modified ear-to-row selection was effective for grain yield improvement in NDSAB(MER). Grain yield increased non-linearly from 3.9 Mg ha⁻¹ in cycle 0 to 5.0 Mg ha⁻¹ in cycle 12 at a rate of 2.5% per cycle. Interaction between plant density and genotype was not detected even though selection was performed at relatively low densities (20,000 plants ha⁻¹ for mass selection and 50,000 plants ha⁻¹ for ear-to-row selection). The confirmation of a lack of interaction between plant density and genotype suggests that selection at low plant densities might still be able to provide high-density stress resistance through density-independent genotypes, allowing progeny testing across multiple locations with better accuracy and fewer resources. Selection methods that emphasize both additive and dominance effects such as full-sib recurrent selection are recommended to maximize genetic improvement of advanced population cycles of early maturing synthetics.     

Influence of high temperature on the performance of some Phaseolus species at different developmental stages

Summary The effect of short term high temperature exposure on the performance of five Phaseolus species and of long term (continuous) exposure on the performance of P. vulgaris was studied at three growth stages. Phaseolus species subjected to 26.7, 32.2 or 37.3°C for two days showed small differences in the number of pods produced and in visual leaf damage, but large differences in leaf heat killing time, as measured by conductivity. P. coccineus had the shortest heat killing time (20–60 minutes) and P. acutifolius and P. lunatus the longest times (180 and 153 minutes), respectively. The P. vulgaris genotypes were intermediate in killing times to P. acutifolius and P. coccineus. Species response was not consistent with temperature within developmental stage. On average, the number of pods decreased as temperature increased from 32.2 to 37.3°C. Heat killing time and leaf damage also increased with temperature. CO₂ exchange rates of plants grown at prolonged high temperatures (30–40°C/20–30°C, day/night) decreased with the age of the plant. Shoot lenght was decreased as high temperature. P. vulgaris genotypes differed on the basis of either short term exposure or of continuous exposure. These results suggest that there may be useful germplasm in Phaseolus for improving heat tolerance.Scientific Journal Series Paper Number 13,8000 of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, USA.