Analysis of strigolactones,germination stimulants for striga and orobanche,by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and rapid analytical method for strigolactones, germination stimulants for the root parasitic weeds witchweed (Striga spp.) and broomrape (Orobanche spp.), has been developed using high-performance liquid chromatography connected to tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The natural strigolactones (strigol, sorgolactone, orobanchol, and alectrol) were clearly separated and identified by LC/MS/MS. As low as 0.1 pg/microL of strigol and 0.5 pg/microL of sorgolactone could be quantified, whereas 1 pg/microL was needed for the quantification of orobanchol (S/N > 10). Using this method, it was found that red clover produces orobanchol and alectrol but not strigol. The roots of red clover seedlings were found to produce 13, 70, 58, and 65 pg of orobanchol/plant 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after germination, respectively.     

Dose-response of seeds of the parasitic weeds Striga and Orobanche toward the synthetic germination stimulants GR 24 and Nijmegen 1

Striga and Orobanche seeds germinate in response to a host-derived germination stimulant. Dose-response curves of the synthetic strigolactone analogues GR 24 and Nijmegen 1 were determined, and their activities were compared to that of the naturally occurring stimulant sorgolactone. Typical sigmoidal curves were obtained. ED(50) values for GR 24 were in the order of 10(-)(9)-10(-)(8) mol/L; for Nijmegen 1 these values were 3 orders of magnitude higher. Both synthetic stimulants are appreciably active at low concentrations and merit investigation as agents for the suicidal germination approach (i.e., treatment of the soil with stimulant in the absence of a host).     

Ent-2'-epi-Orobanchol and its acetate, as germination stimulants for Striga gesnerioides seeds isolated from cowpea and red clover

Striga gesnerioides is a root parasitic weed of economic significance to cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) crops in Western Africa. Seeds of the parasite germinate in response to cowpea root exudates. Germination stimulants for the seeds were isolated from the hydroponic culture filtrate of cowpea, and their structures were unambiguously determined as (-)-(3aR,4R,8bR,2'R)-ent-2'-epi-orobanchol and (+)-(3aR,4R,8bR,2'R)-ent-2'-epi-orobanchyl acetate, on the basis of mass, CD, and (1)H NMR spectra; optical rotatory power; and chromatographic behavior on HPLC. The alcohol was first isolated and identified from the cowpea root exudates, and the acetate may be the same compound that had been previously isolated from the exudates and designated as alectrol. Identity of the stimulants produced by cowpea to those produced by red clover (Trifolium pratense) was confirmed.     

Metabolites inhibiting germination of Orobanche ramosa seeds produced by Myrothecium verrucaria and Fusarium compactum

Myrothecium verrucaria and Fusarium compactum were isolated from diseased Orobanche ramosa plants collected in southern Italy to find potential biocontrol agents of this parasitic weed. Both fungi grown in liquid culture produced metabolites that inhibited the germination of O. ramosa seeds at 1-10 muM. Eight metabolites were isolated from M. verrucaria culture extracts. The main metabolite was identified as verrucarin E, a disubstituted pyrrole not belonging to the trichothecene group. Seven compounds were identified by spectroscopic methods as macrocyclic trichothecenes, namely, verrucarins A, B, M, and L acetate, roridin A, isotrichoverrin B, and trichoverrol B. The main metabolite produced by F. compactum was neosoloaniol monoacetate, a trichothecene. All the trichothecenes proved to be potent inhibitors of O. ramosa seed germination and possess strong zootoxic activity when assayed on Artemia salina brine shrimps. Verrucarin E is inactive on both seed germination and zootoxic assay.     

Temperature effect on seed germination,seedling root development and growth of several vegetables

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of temperature and nutrition on seed germination and plant growth of different plant species. The nutrition studies of vegetables showed a normal response to fertilization rates on deficient soils at temperatures above their critical minimum. At soil temperatures below this little or no response was obtained to increased P concentration. Plant growth as affected by soil temperature was studied on beans, corn, cucumber, eggplant, pea, pepper, radish, spinach, and watermelon. Growth of peas, radish and spinach was significantly reduced by soil temperatures 10°C or lower. Corn growth was restricted when soil temperatures were maintained in the range of 12.3–14.5°C or lower, while growth of bean, cucumber, eggplant, pepper and watermelon was limited when soil temperatures were maintained in the 16.7–18.9°C temperature range or lower.     

Silicon priming benefits germination,ion balance,and root structure in salt-stressed durum wheat (Triticum durum desf.)

Abstract

Effects of silicon (Si) priming at 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5?mM on germination, ion balance, and root structure of two durum wheat cultivars at 0, 100, and 200?mM sodium chloride (NaCl) was conducted in a laboratory. An aliquot of 200?mM NaCl with 1.5?mM Si improved Behrang cultivar germination from 54 to 88%, but in Yavaros only from 49 to 85%. In Behrang, the control root length at 200?mM NaCl increased from 5.07 to 7.11?mm when treated with 1.5?mM Si, but Yavaros only increased from 3.18 to 4.09?mm. Behrang accumulated less sodium (Na⁺) and more potassium (K⁺). For mean diameter of central and peripheral metaxylem cells, Behrang benefitted more from Si amelioration than Yavaros. Salinity affected the diameter of central and peripheral metaxylem cells to a greater degree compared to vessel number. Si soil application (1.0 and 1.5?mM Si) may help to establish durum wheat seeds grown under saline conditions.     

Viridepyronone, a new antifungal 6-substituted 2H-pyran-2-one produced by Trichoderma viride

A new antifungal 6-substituted 2H-pyran-2-one, named viridepyronone, has been isolated from a cultural filtrate of a strain of Trichoderma viride showing antagonistic activity in vitro toward Sclerotium rolfsii, which is the causal agent of crown and stem rot of artichoke. Viridepyronone was characterized as 6-(4-oxopentyl)-2H-pyran-2-one 2 with spectroscopic methods. Bioassays showed that viridepyronone had a good antifungal activity against S. rolfsii, and its minimum inhibitory concentration (over 90% inhibition) was found to be 196 microg/mL. This is the first report of viridepyronone produced by any species of fungi.     

Metal micronutrients relationships in crop,soil, and common weeds of two maize (Zea mays L.) fields

Deficiencies of metal micronutrients are common in some calcareous soils. Samples of aerial parts of maize and five common weeds and also soil beneath these plants were collected and analyzed to investigate the status and relationships of metal micronutrients in soil, crop, and common weeds of maize field trials at two sites. Results showed that Fe concentration in five studied weeds was higher than that of maize; the highest Fe concentration was found in Convolvolus arvensis and Echinochloa crus-galli (first site) and in Convolvolus arvensis tissues (second site). At both sites, the highest Mn concentration was observed in aboveground parts of Echinochloa crus-galli. The concentration of Mn (both sites) and Fe and Cu (second site) were remarkably higher in Echinochloa crus-galli tissues in comparison with maize. Also the concentrations of Fe (both sites) and Cu (second site) were considerably higher in Convolvolus arvensis tissues in comparison with maize. Available Fe was the highest in the soil beneath Convolvolus arvensis and Portulaca oleracea (first site) and beneath Convolvolus arvensis and Cenopodium album (second site). The high value of available Fe in the soil beneath Convolvolus arvensis may explain why Fe concentration was the highest in aerial parts of this weed species.     

Annual warm-season grasses vary for forage yield,quality, and competitiveness with weeds

Warm-season annual grasses may be suitable as forage crops in integrated weed management systems with reduced herbicide use. A 2-year field study was conducted to determine whether tillage system and nitrogen (N) fertilizer application method influenced crop and weed biomass, water use, water use efficiency (WUE), and forage quality of three warm-season grasses, and seed production by associated weeds. Tillage systems were zero tillage and conventional tillage with a field cultivator. The N fertilization methods were urea broadcast or banded near seed rows at planting. Warm-season grasses seeded were foxtail (Setaria italica L.) and proso (Panicum mileaceum L.) millets, and sorghum–sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench × Sorghum sudenense Stapf.). Density of early emerging weeds was similar among treatments, averaging 51 m^?2. Millets exhibited higher weed density and weed biomass than sorghum–sudangrass. At harvest, sorghum–sudangrass produced significantly greater biomass and N accumulation than either millet. Water use (157 mm) and WUE (25.1 kg mm^-1 ha^?1) of total biomass did not vary among treatments or grass entries. Weed seed production by redroot pigweed and green foxtail was respectively 93 and 73% less in sorghum–sudangrass than proso millet. Warm-season grasses offer an excellent fit in semiarid cropping systems.     

Soil compaction produced by tractor with radial and cross-ply tyres in two tillage regimes

The aim of this paper was to quantify soil compaction induced by tractor traffic on two tillage regimes: conventional tillage and direct drilling. Traffic was simulated with one pass of a conventional 2WD tractor, using four configurations of cross-ply rear tyres: 18.4–34, 23.1–30, 18.4–38 and 24.5–32, and four configurations of radial tyres 18.4R34, 23.1R 30, 18.4R 38 and 24.5R 32, with two ballast conditions used in each configuration. The experiment was conducted in the east of the Rolling Pampa region, Buenos Aires State, Argentina at 34°25′S, 59°15′W; altitude 22 m above sea level. Rut depth after traffic and soil bulk density and cone index in a 0–450-mm profile were measured before and after traffic. Considering topsoil level, in two tillage regimes, all treatments induced significant values of soil compaction as compared to the control plot without traffic. Subsoil compaction increased as total axle load increased and was independent of ground pressure. For the same tyre configuration, radial tyre caused less soil compaction than the cross-ply.     

Recovery of eggs of two parasitic nematodes, Ascaris sp. and Trichuris sp.: Interlaboratory study

An interlaboratory study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the Nacconol ether centrifugation method for recovering parasitic nematode eggs from 3 contaminated products: a crop (cabbage), a sludge fertilizer (Milorganite), and a sewage effluent (Minneapolis). Six replicate samples for each of the 3 products were seeded with eggs at 3 different levels: 200 Ascaris suis and 8 Trichuris muris; 15 A.suis and 15 T.muris; 8 A.suis and 180 T.muris. Recovery was low for all samples except sewage effluent, in which recoveries greater than 100% in 2 samples resulted from the misidentification of arthropod eggs as Ascaris sp. The average mean percent recovery for the other samples was 22.53. Repeatability for replicate samples and reproducibility of results by individual laboratories were poor, and the method is not recommended for quantitative estimates of nematode egg contamination of foods and food-contact materials. However, the Nacconol ether centrifugation method can be used as an all-or-none test. (Only 13% of 1146 counts were falsely negative.) Of 69 samples, only 4 were falsely negative for A.suis eggs and only 1 was falsely negative for T.muris eggs in counts of 6 replicates.     

黄土高原降水计算插值与插值计算结果的对比分析

收集黄土高原及周边地区74个气象站1952—2001年降水数据,用ArcGIS9.3普通克里金（ordinary kriging）插值法采用计算插值（calculate then interpolate,CI）和插值计算（interpolate then calculate,IC）的方法生成黄土高原地区1952—2001年50 a平均年降水量和年降水量线性趋势系数空间分布表面,并对其进行统计分析和地形分析。结果表明：1）从插值结果统计值看,CII、C法生成的黄土高原地区50 a平均年降水量和线性趋势系数空间分布表面平均值分别为421.65、421.56 mm和-0.541 0、-0.423 1 mm/a,相似系数分别为99.78%和95.99%,二者一致性良好;2）从插值结果表面光滑度看,IC法稍优于CI法,借用地形分析对生成表面进行坡度、坡向运算,可作为评价表面光滑度、空间数量变化特征和空间方向变化特征的直观方法;3）黄土高原地区50 a平均年降水量具有东南多西北少、南多北少、东多西少的分布规律,其中服从东南西北、南北和东西方向递减的地带性分布规律区域占黄土高原地区面积的89.34%,非地带性分布规律区域占10.66%;4）CI和IC法计算的黄土高原地区1952—2001年降水线性趋势系数平均-0.541 0和-0.423 1 mm/a,黄土高原地区年降水量有明显减少趋势。     

根区施用钾肥对烤烟产量、钾含量及钾素吸收的影响

为了探讨根区施用钾肥对黄淮烟区石灰土烤烟产量和钾素吸收利用的影响,采用田间试验,研究根区枸溶性钾肥与硫酸钾配施对烟叶产量、钾含量以及钾素吸收利用的影响。试验共设9个处理,分别为CK、CP_1、CP_2、WP_1、WP_2、CW_(1-50%)、CW_(2-50%)、CW_(1-75%)与CW_(2-75%)(CK表示对照,CP表示只施用枸溶性钾肥,WP表示只施用硫酸钾,CW表示枸溶性钾肥与硫酸钾配施;数字1、2表示施用量分别为225、300 kg/hm~2,百分数表示硫酸钾的配施比例)。结果表明,烟叶钾含量随生育期推进呈下降趋势,不同施肥处理各时期烟叶钾含量均高于CK;不同施肥处理下土壤钾素在垂直和水平方向上迁移距离较小,根区钾肥施用可直接有效的增加根区土壤速效钾含量;施钾(K_2O)300 kg/hm~2与225 kg/hm~2相比,可显著提高烟叶钾含量和钾肥利用效率(P0.05);CW_(2-75%)处理下烟叶钾含量、土壤速效钾含量和钾肥利用率最高,而CW_(2-50%)处理下烟叶产量最高。综上所述,根区施用含75%硫酸钾的枸溶性钾肥300 kg/hm~2(CW_(2-75%)处理)可有效改善黄淮烟区石灰土钾素养分,提高该区烤烟产量、钾含量与钾肥利用效率,达到优质高产。     

Changes of folates, dietary fiber, and proteins in wheat as affected by germination

Wheat kernels of the cultivar 'Tommi' were germinated for up to 168 h at 15, 20, 25, or 30 degrees C. Samples were taken at different stages of germination and were analyzed for the quantitative protein composition using an extraction/HPLC method, for folate vitamers using a stable isotope dilution assay, and for soluble, insoluble, and total dietary fiber using a gravimetric method. Gluten proteins were substantially degraded during germination. During the first stages of germination the degradation of glutenins was predominant, whereas longer germination times were required to degrade gliadins. The optimal temperature for gliadin degradation was 20 degrees C, and that for glutenin degradation was 25 degrees C. Omega5- and omega1,2-gliadins were less sensitive to proteolytic degradation than alpha- and gamma-gliadins, and LMW subunits of glutenin were less sensitive than HMW subunits. During germination a time- and temperature-dependent increase of total folate occurred. A maximum 3.6-fold concentration was obtained after 102 h of germination at 20 and 25 degrees C including 5-methyltetrafolate as the major vitamer. The concentration of dietary fiber remained constant or decreased during the first 96 h of germination. Prolonged germination times of up to 168 h led to a substantial increase of total dietary fiber and to a strong increase of the soluble dietary fiber by a factor of 3, whereas the insoluble fiber decreased by 50%.     

Phyllostoxin and phyllostin, bioactive metabolites produced by Phyllosticta cirsii, a potential mycoherbicide for Cirsium arvense biocontrol

Phyllosticta cirsii, a fungal pathogen isolated from diseased Cirsium arvense leaves and evaluated as a biocontrol agent of this noxious perennial weed, produces different phytotoxic metabolites with potential herbicidal activity when grown in liquid cultures. Phyllostictines A-D, four novel oxazatricycloalkenones, were recently isolated from this pathogen and chemically and biologically characterized. Further purification of the same organic extract provided two other metabolites, named phyllostoxin (1) and phyllostin (2), which were characterized by spectroscopic technique (essentially NMR and MS). Phyllostoxin and phyllostin proved to be a new pentasubstituted bicyclo-octatrienyl acetic acid ester and a new pentasubstituted hexahydrobenzodioxine carboxylic acid methyl ester, respectively. When tested on punctured C. arvense leaves, phyllostoxin proved to be highly phytotoxic, causing rapid and large necrosis, whereas phyllostin had no phytotoxicity in this bioassay. This is not surprising, considering the noteworthy structural differences between the two compounds, suggesting the presence of active functional groups in phyllostoxin not present in the other metabolite. These results further support the focused approach of finding novel metabolites with herbicidal properties by looking at the culture extracts of weed fungal pathogens.     

微生物有机肥配施氮肥对烤烟SPAD值、烟叶酶活性及根系活力的影响

烟叶生产在我国国民经济中占有重要地位,已连续十余年成为全国第一利税大户[1]。我国的烟叶种植面积和产量均居世界首位,然而化肥的长期施用已引起烟田土壤酸化、板结,磷、钾等养分利用率不高,难以供应烤烟生长所需均衡、充足的营养,从而造成烟叶产量和内在品质持续下降,如油份减少、香气不足等,导致种植效益降低[2-3]。施肥是作物增产提质的物质基础,就烤烟而言,施肥的目的不仅要提高单     

2-methylisoborneol and geosmin,the main sources of soil odor,inhibit the germination of brassicaceae seeds

The effects of 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin, the main sources of soil odor produced by microorganisms, on plant seed germination were examined for 15 kinds of Brassicaceae seeds including radish (Raphanus sativus var. radicula). Authentic MIB or geosmin was used at the concentration of 100 mg L^-1 in the assay, the effects were quantitatively indexed based on four parameters of cumulative seed germination: the final germination percentage, germination onset, weighted mean rate, germination index. MIB and geosmin inhibited germination of all kinds of seeds tested for these parameters. Radish variety “Comet” was the most affected of all of the tested plant seeds. The estimated 50% inhibitory concentration values on germination of “Comet” were 70.5 and 7.5 mg L^-1 for MIB and geosmin, respectively. We also conducted the primary characterization of the inhibition by MIB and geosmin on “Comet” seeds. Our findings were as follows: (1) onset of seed imbibition was not affected; (2) germination of seeds pre-imbibed in the control solution until approx. 2 h before germination onset was inhibited by subsequent MIB or geosmin treatment; (3) growth of seedlings was not significantly affected; (4) the germination was restored by stratification, gibberellin A₃ treatment, or seed coat removal; and (5) light irradiation affected the degree of inhibition. These results suggest that inhibition by MIB and geosmin is restricted to the germination process, at least in the early stage of growth, that they act as growth -regulating substances.     

A quantitative analysis of the relationships between root distribution and nitrogen uptake from soil by two grass species

Two grass species, Holcus lanatus and Deschampsia flexuosa, were grown in soil containing available nitrogen at 4 μg g^?1 (‘Low N’) or 58 μg g^?1 (‘High N’), in a controlled environment. Water was supplied via an auto-irrigation system, which also minimized the vertical redistribution of soil nutrients, particularly NO₃^?. Growth, root morphology and distribution, and N uptake were measured during a 70-day period. H. lanatus produced more dry matter than D.flexuosa in the high N treatment. Yields were similar in both species in the low N treatment. The growth of H. lanatus in the low N treatment was not limited by a complete exhaustion of soil N. Root density of H. lanatus was likely to have been inadequate to allow this species to attain its maximum potential N-inflow rate. Thus, N uptake per plant and dry matter production were restricted. The growth of D.flexuosa was not limited by the low N treatment, compared with that in the high N treatment. This was attributed to its low maximum potential relative growth rate and, hence, its low demand for N compared with H. lanatus, rather than to any major ‘compensatory’ adjustments in root morphology or N absorption efficiency.     

Source and sink development during kernel filling of two spring wheats as affected by root size and cytokinin applications

The effects of partial root removal and cytokinin applications at different times during kernel filling were examined at two contrasting wheat genotypes grown in controlled environmental conditions. Treatments affected the development of leaves, and grain setting, but hardly grain growth; the influence strongly depended on time, but not on genotype. Cutting off roots ?early”? after heading caused immediate damage, especially in the lower leaves. Later on, chlorophyll decomposition and loss of green area was accelerated. ?Early”? cytokinin applications were not able to prevent these effects. If root size was reduced at a ?medium late”? or ?late”? stage no spontaneous effects were observed, but leaf senescence was more drastic, the later the treatments were carried out. Enhancement of senescence due to root removal, could generally be inhibited by (medium) ?late”? cytokinin applications. As to grain setting, ?early”? cytokinin applications could not counteract the reduction induced by ?early”? root removal. In most of the trials there was no evidence that root removal or cytokinin applications affected grain growth. Some secondary effects of the treatments on root growth are discussed with regard to the importance of root system as a site of cytokinin synthesis during grain filling.     

Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizae on root colonization,growth and productivity of two wheat cultivars under salt stress

Two pot experiments were conducted in the greenhouse of the National Research Center, Egypt during 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 to investigate the efficacy of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) on root colonization, growth and productivity in two wheat cultivars, Sakha 8 and Giza 167, under salt stress. The extent of the AM effect on wheat development varied with plant cultivar and salinity level. Maximum root colonization and spore production were observed with the Sakha 8 cultivar, which resulted in greater plant growth and productivity at all salinity levels. AM and plant development were adversely affected by increasing salinity. However, the presence of mycorrhizal fungi protected wheat against the detrimental effect of salinity, and stimulated growth, productivity, total crude protein concentration and nitrate reductase activity. The average enhancement in grain yield due to AM inoculation was 76 and 68% at 0.15 mS cm^?1, 93 and 84% at 3.13 mS cm^?1, 130 and 115% at 6.25 mS cm^?1, and 154 and 120% at 9.38 mS cm^?1 salinity for Sakha 8 and Giza 167, respectively. In general, mycorrhizal inoculation enhanced the ability of wheat to cope with saline conditions and using AM inoculants can help plants to thrive in degraded arid/semi-arid areas.