不同高粱品种萌发期抗旱性筛选与鉴定

萌发期是高粱表现抗旱性的关键阶段之一。选用54份高粱品种(组合)为供试材料,采用人工气候箱培养,以水势为–0.4MPa的PEG-6000水溶液模拟干旱胁迫环境,萌发10 d后测定发芽势、发芽率、萌发抗旱指数等8个萌发性状。基于主成分分析的综合因子得分函数能够对萌发期高粱品种的抗旱性综合评定,各品种(组合)综合因子得分(Y值)经聚类分析后,将54份高粱品种(组合)按萌发期抗旱性的强弱分为四大类,13218A×20982R是一个抗旱性极强的杂交组合,吉杂133等13个品种(组合)为抗旱品种(组合),苏马克等23个品种为干旱敏感品种,辽杂35等17个品种为高度干旱敏感品种。萌发抗旱指数、发芽率和根长等性状可作为高粱品种萌发期抗旱性鉴定的主要指标。     

Comparative Drought Response in Eleven Diverse Alfalfa Accessions

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production is negatively affected by drought stress. This is particularly true for alfalfa grown on non‐irrigated rangelands. Thus, the development of drought‐tolerant alfalfa cultivars is of great significance. A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate 11 alfalfa accessions including several that are adapted to rangeland conditions and two commercial accessions, for their performance under drought condition. Water supply was adjusted based on the transpiration rate of individual plants to compensate for 100, 75, 50 or 25 % of transpirational water loss. We found that RS, a naturalized alfalfa collected from the Grand River National Grassland in South Dakota, showed the best resistance to drought condition. It showed the smallest reduction in stem elongation (36 %), relative growth rate (14 %), and shoot dry mass (40 %) production under the severest drought tested in this study relative to the non‐drought treatment. While RS showed less biomass production under well‐watered conditions, it produced similar or more shoot biomass under drought conditions compared to other accessions. Associated with the drought resistance or less sensitivity to drought, RS showed greater capability to maintain root growth, shoot relative water content, and leaf chlorophyll content compared to other accessions. Different from other accessions, RS showed increasing water use efficiency (WUE) as water deficit became severe, reaching the greatest WUE among 11 accessions. Our results suggest that RS is a valuable genetic resource that can be used to elucidate physiological and molecular mechanisms that determine drought resistance in alfalfa and to develop alfalfa with improved WUE.     

Multi-trait stability index: A tool for simultaneous selection of soya bean genotypes in drought and saline stress

Drought and salinity are the main limiting environmental factors that restrict the establishment of soya bean plants. In order to recommend genotypes for cultivation under adverse drought and saline stress conditions, multi-environment trials (MET) are needed. However, MET analysis is usually performed considering a single trait, which provides lower reliability in recommending genotypes when compared to multi-trait analysis. Thus, this study was carried out to investigate the stability of multi-trait stability index (MTSI) in 46 soya bean cultivars under the effects of drought and saline stress on seed germination and initial seedling growth. Drought and saline stresses were imposed by seed exposure to −0.20 MPa iso-osmotic solutions with polyethylene glycol—PEG 6000 (119.6 g/L) or NaCl (2.36 g/L) for 12 days at 25°C. The germination rate, seedling length and seedling dry matter were measured. We showed here how genotypic stability can be quantified by MTSI when comparing drought and salinity conditions in relation to non-stressful environment (control) and how this index can be employed under different conditions. When considering the index for multiple environments, we can select as the most stable genotypes TMG 716 RR, FPS Antares RR, AS 3610 IPRO, NS 7300 IPRO and FPS Solar IPRO among the 46 tested genotypes. Owing to high stability and gains with selection verified for these genotypes under salinity and drought conditions, they can be used as genitors in breeding programs aimed at obtaining offspring with higher resistance to antibiotic stresses.     

Improving the Productivity of Bread Wheat by Good Management Practices under Terminal Drought

Drought‐induced damages in crop plants are ranked at top amid all losses instigated by diverse abiotic stresses. Terminal drought (drought at reproductive phase) has emerged as a severe threat to the productivity of wheat crop. Different seed enhancement techniques, genotypes and distribution of crop plants in different spacings have been explored individually to mitigate these losses; however, their interaction has rarely been tested in improving drought resistance in wheat. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential role of different seed enhancement techniques and row spacings in mitigating the adversities of terminal drought in two wheat cultivars during two consecutive growing seasons of 2010–2011 and 2011–2012. Seeds of wheat cultivars Lasani‐2008 (medium statured) and Triple Dwarf‐1 (dwarf height) soaked in water (hydropriming) or CaCl₂ (osmopriming) were sown in 20‐, 25‐ and 30‐cm spaced rows; just before heading, the soil moisture was maintained at 100 % field capacity (well watered) or 50 % field capacity (terminal drought) till maturity. Terminal drought significantly reduced the yield and related traits compared with well‐watered crop; however, osmopriming improved the crop performance under terminal drought. Among different row spacings, wheat sown in 20‐cm spaced rows performed better during both years of study. Wheat cultivar Lasani‐2008 performed better than cultivar Triple Dwarf‐1 under both well‐watered and stress conditions. Maximum net returns and benefit–cost ratio were recorded from osmoprimed seeds of cultivar Lasani‐2008 sown in 20‐cm spaced rows under well‐watered condition. Nonetheless, osmoprimed seeds of cultivar Lasani‐2008 sown in 20‐cm spaced rows were better able to produce good yield under terminal drought.     

Response of accessions within tomato wild species,Solanum pimpinellifolium to late blight

Late blight (LB), caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, is one of the most devastating diseases of the cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) worldwide. Most commercial cultivars of tomato are susceptible to LB. Previously, three major LB resistance genes (Ph‐1, Ph‐2, Ph‐3) were identified and incorporated into a few commercial cultivars of tomato. Reduced effectiveness and potential breakdown of the resistance genes has necessitated identification, characterization and utilization of new sources of resistance. We evaluated the response of 67 accessions of the wild tomato species, S. pimpinellifolium to LB, under multiple field and greenhouse (GH) conditions and compared them with six control genotypes. Sixteen accessions were identified with strong LB resistance in both field and GH experiments. However, 12 accessions exhibited resistance similar to a control line which was homozygous for Ph‐2 + Ph‐3. Genotyping accessions with molecular markers for Ph‐2 and Ph‐3 were not conclusive, indicating that resistance in these accessions could be due to these or other resistance genes. Strong correlations were observed between field and GH disease response and between foliar and stem infection.     

Diversity of banana diploid hybrids: An assessment based on a hydroponic system

Bananas are typical to tropical and subtropical climate regions, where they have better conditions due to high air humidity and soil water availability. The production of drought-tolerant varieties is an alternative to expand the cultivation sites to drier areas. In this work, we present a hydroponic system for the genotype selection of Musa sp. (AA) subjected to water stress. A total of 14 banana genotypes were tested; 12 diploids and two commercial varieties with a known response to drought tolerance. The results show that the improved diploids have different responses with respect to water deficit, with the PMGB043 and PMGB044 genotypes considered more susceptible and the PMGB075 and PMGB099 genotypes more tolerant. Under water deficit conditions, most banana diploids maintain a high relative water content, but there is a reduction in aerial part growth and an increase in root dry mass. The accumulation of alcohol dehydrogenase, especially in control treatment plants, indicate that the glycolytic pathway was used to supply energy demand, showing potential flood-tolerant genotypes. The results are essential for the preimprovement of banana cultivars.     

Assessment of genetic diversity in bread wheat genotypes for tolerance to drought using AFLPs and agronomic traits

Moisture stress greatly limits the productivity of wheat in many wheat-growing regions of the world. Knowledge of the degree of genetic diversity among parental materials for key selection traits will facilitate the development of high yielding, stress tolerant wheat cultivars. The objectives of this study were to: (i) use amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) to assess genetic diversity among bread wheat lines and cultivars with different responses to drought stress in two distinct environments and, (ii) compare genetic diversity estimated by AFLPs with diversity evaluated on agronomic performance under drought stress. Twenty-eight genotypes, 14 from Iran and 14 developed or obtained by CIMMYT, were evaluated in the study. Phenotypic data on the 14 Iranian lines were obtained in Iran, and data on the 14 CIMMYT lines were collected in Mexico. Ten AFLP primer pairs detected 335 polymorphic bands among the 28 cultivars. At the 5th fusion level of the resulting dendrogram, 6 genotype clusters were identified. Thirteen of the 14 CIMMYT genotypes grouped into one cluster while 4 of the remaining groups were comprised only of Iranian genotypes. When the agronomic performance of the Iranian materials was compared with the AFLP diversity analysis, 5 of the 6 drought susceptible genotypes clustered together in the agronomic dendrogram, and were located in the same cluster in the AFLP dendrogram. However, the drought tolerant Iranian materials did not show the same degree of relationship. The CIMMYT materials did not demonstrate a significant association between agronomic performance and genetic diversity determined using AFLPs. Clearly these data show that there are genotypes with similar agronomic performance and different genetic constitutions in this study that can be combined in a breeding program to potentially improve tolerance to drought stress.     

Development of colchicine‐induced tetraploid St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) lines

St. Augustinegrass is well suited for lawns and commercial landscapes. While many genotypes are cross‐fertile, all cultivars are propagated vegetatively in sod production. To ensure varietal purity, development of sterile triploid hybrids by crossing tetraploid and diploid genotypes has been successfully used in other warm‐season turfgrasses. Applying this model in St. Augustinegrass would be beneficial to sod producers and turf managers who require purity for certification and uniformity for performance, respectively. This study was conducted to develop colchicine‐induced tetraploid lines of St. Augustinegrass. Seeds of cultivar ‘Raleigh’ were treated with four colchicine concentrations at four exposure times. A non‐treated control was included among the treatments. Seedlings that germinated were screened for genome size changes using flow cytometry. Line DSA 13005 and two progeny lines derived through selfing, DSA 16001 and DSA 16016, were corroborated as tetraploids (2n = 4x = 36) through chromosome counts. These lines will be used in future breeding efforts to attempt development of sterile triploid cultivars of St. Augustinegrass.     

普通菜豆抗旱生理特性

采用盆栽试验,以抗旱性较好的品种跃进豆、260205和敏感品种奶花芸豆为试材,设置干旱和正常供水2种处理,测定产量、产量构成因素及相关生理生化指标,分析干旱胁迫下参试品种各性状及生理指标的变化及对干旱胁迫的生理响应。结果表明,干旱处理36 d,跃进豆和260205的根干重为总生物量的20.2%和20.6%,荚干重为总生物量的30.0% 和28.9%,而奶花芸豆的根干重和荚干重仅为总生物量的10.6%和17.1%,光合产物向根系和籽粒的有效分配与普通菜豆抗旱性关系密切;跃进豆在干旱胁迫后期的水分利用效率较对照增加 230.5%,而奶花芸豆的增幅仅为84.3%,较高的水分利用效率有利于CO₂的有效扩散和高效固定;其他生理特性分析表明,抗氧化酶与光呼吸共同作用有效降低了膜脂过氧化程度,减少了叶片的损伤;脯氨酸和可溶性糖是普通菜豆主要的渗透调节物质,能够较好地保持自身叶片的水分平衡。普通菜豆抗旱性是多种生理调节机制协同作用的结果,主要包括形态调节、气孔调节、渗透调节以及抗氧化能力的调节等。     

Screening for Drought Resistance: Evaluation of Drought Susceptibility Index of Legume Plants under Natural Growth Conditions

Eighteen cultivars of legume species (field bean, soybean, field pea, lupine) were screened for drought tolerance in 3 year-long field experiments. The aim of the investigations was to evaluate the generic variation of drought susceptibility of the tested varieties. The experimental plots were equipped with an installation which enabled the limitation of the water content in soil and soil irrigation. The applied drought susceptibility index (DSI) considered the relations between seed yield of plants under drought conditions (Y_D) and that under conditions of good soil watering (Y_IR) as well as their dependence on the drought severity index (D_S). The use of the index divided the cultivars into two groups of different drought tolerances. The group of drought resistant cultivars characterized by mean values of the DSI index < 0.31 comprised field bean cultivars Bourdon, Gobo and Nadwislanski, soybean cultivars Aldana, Polan and Progres, field pea cultivars Miko and Solara and lupine cultivars Popiel and Bac. To the drought sensitive cultivars with DSI > 0.44 belonged Victor and Bronto of field bean species, Bareness and Mige of field pea species and Emir of lupine species. In general, the resistant cultivars when compared with the susceptible ones were characterized by lesser yield of seeds, which, however, was more stable both under conditions of drought and moistured plots. Any dependence of the degree of drought tolerance on the duration of the particular periods of plant growth was not observed in the experiments, however, both in’ drought susceptible and drought resistant cultivars there appeared the tendency to shorten the development phases under drought and to prolong them under artificial irrigation. In general, based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that legume plants belong to the species sensitive to water supply. The observed decrease of plant seed yield under moderate natural soil dryness in the year 1993 differed only a little from that found in experiments in the years 1994 and 1995, when soil dryness was much more severe.     

Drought Impacts Mineral Contents in Andean Potato Cultivars

Mineral micro‐ and macronutrients in tubers of 21 Andean potato cultivars were investigated in a field trial under control and drought conditions. Mineral concentrations in potato tubers were highly variable between genotypes; some were significantly and positively correlated with each other, the most noteworthy associations being Na–Ca, Mn–Mg and Zn–Fe, in both control and drought‐stressed plants. Overall, increasing yields are related to decreased concentrations of some nutrients, albeit some higher‐yielding cultivars also displayed important concentrations of nutrients in their tubers. The most striking result was the increase in the concentration of the majority of the analysed cations in a large number of cultivars in response to water depletion; some of them, such as K, may be related to water homeostasis and/or to sucrose loading and unloading in phloem sap. Tuber mineral concentrations were not related to drought tolerance in terms of tuber productivity. Interestingly, yield loss under drought was not correlated with yield potential under control conditions. Identification of cultivars such as 703264 and 701106 able to maintain good yield stability in association with high mineral contents under water deprivation is of particular interest, especially in view of the importance of potato as a staple crop and the expansion of its cultivation to non‐optimal cultivation areas in the context of changing climatic conditions.     

Germplasm evaluation and transfer of Verticillium wilt resistance from Pima (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium barbadense</Emphasis>) to Upland cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">G. hirsutum</Emphasis>)

Verticillium wilt (VW, Verticillium dahliae) is a worldwide destructive soil-borne fungal disease and employment of VW resistant cultivars is the most economic and efficient method in sustainable cotton production. However, information concerning VW resistance in current commercial cotton cultivars and transfer of VW resistance from Pima (Gossypium barbadense) to Upland (Gossypium hirsutum) cotton is lacking. The objective of the current study was to report findings in evaluating commercial cotton cultivars and germplasm lines for VW resistance in field and greenhouse (GH) experiments conducted in 2003, 2006, and 2007. In the study, 267 cultivars and germplasm lines were screened in the GH, while 357 genotypes were screened in the field. The results indicated that (1) VW significantly reduced cotton yield, lint percentage, 50% span length and micronaire, but not 2.5% span length and fiber strength, when healthy and diseased plants in 23 cultivars were compared; (2) some commercial cotton cultivars developed by major cotton seed companies in the US displayed good VW resistance; (3) many Acala cotton cultivars released in the past also had good VW resistance, but not all Acala cotton germplasm are resistant; (4) Pima cotton possessed higher levels of VW resistance than Upland cotton, but the performance was reversed when the root system was wounded after inoculation; (5) VW resistance in some conventional cultivars was transferred into their transgenic version through backcrossing; and (6) some advanced backcross inbred lines developed from a cross between Upland and Pima cotton showed good VW resistance. The successful development of VW resistant transgenic cultivars and transfer of VW resistance from Pima to Upland cotton implies that VW resistance is associated with a few genes if not a major one.     

不同抗旱性甘薯品种叶片生理性状差异及抗旱指标筛选

在人工控水条件下,以15个甘薯品种为试验材料,设置正常灌水和干旱胁迫2个土壤水分处理,研究了干旱胁迫条件下不同甘薯品种叶片生理特性的差异。结果表明,干旱胁迫条件下,叶面积系数均不同程度下降,反映了品种抗旱性的差异。通过抗旱系数聚类分析,将15个甘薯品种分为3个抗旱类型,抗旱品种:济薯21、济薯25、济徐23、济薯15、烟薯25;中等抗旱品种:徐薯18、济薯26、北京553、济紫薯2号、济薯18;不抗旱品种:郑薯20、济紫薯3号、济薯22、济紫薯1号、凌紫。叶面积系数与抗旱系数的相关性分析表明,干旱胁迫条件下抗旱性强的甘薯品种可维持较高的叶面积系数;而正常灌水条件下的叶面积系数不能反映甘薯品种抗旱性。干旱胁迫导致功能叶叶绿素含量和相对含水量下降,叶片相对电导率升高。干旱胁迫条件下,功能叶叶绿素含量和相对含水量与甘薯品种的抗旱性呈显著正相关关系,而功能叶相对电导率则与甘薯品种抗旱性呈显著的负相关关系。因此,叶面积系数以及功能叶叶绿素含量、相对含水量和相对电导率等指标可作为甘薯品种抗旱性鉴定的评价指标。     

Effects of Timing of Drought Stress on Phenology, Yield and Yield Components of Short-duration Pigeonpea

Nine short-duration pigeonpea genotypes were given adequate soil moisture throughout growth or subjected to water stress during the late vegetative and flowering (stress 1), flowering and early pod development (stress 2), or podfill (stress 3) growth stages under field conditions. The stress 1 treatment had no significant effect on the time to flowering. No stress treatment affected maturity or inter-plant flowering synchronization. The interval from a newly opened flower to a mature pod was about 30 days for all genotypes, and was unchanged in plants that were recovenng from stress 1 or undergoing stress 2. Seed yield was reduced to the greatest extent by stress 2 (by 37 %) and not significantly affected by stress 3 for all genotypes. No consistent differences were found between determinate and indeterminate genotypes in the ability to maintain seed yield under both stress 1 and stress 2. The harvest index was significantly reduced (22 %) by stress 2 but not by stress 1. However, under each soil moisture treatment, genotypic differences for seed yield were associated largely with differences in total dry matter production (TDM). For all genotypes, the number of pods m^-2 was the only yield component significantly affected by the water stress treatments. The stability of other yield components should be fully exploited to improve the stability of seed yield under drought conditions (drought resistance). Possible characteristics which may improve the drought resistance of short-duration pigeonpea include the ability to maintain TDM, low flowering synchronization, small pod size with few seeds pod^-1, and large 100-seed mass.     

Relationship between Biomass Production and Nitrogen Fixation under Drought-Stress Conditions in Peanut Genotypes with Different Levels of Drought Resistance

The relationship between biomass production and N₂ fixation under drought‐stress conditions in peanut genotypes with different levels of drought resistance is not well understood. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of drought on biomass production and N₂ fixation by evaluating the relative values of these two traits under well watered and water‐stress conditions. Twelve peanut genotypes were tested under field conditions in the dry seasons of 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 in north‐east Thailand. A split‐plot design with four replications was used. Main‐plot treatments were three water regimes [field capacity (FC), 2/3 available soil water (AW) and 1/3 AW], and sub‐plot treatments were 12 peanut lines. Data were recorded on biomass production and N₂ fixation under well watered and water‐stress conditions. Genotypic variations in biomass production and N₂ fixation were found at all water regimes. Biomass production and N₂ fixation decreased with increasing levels of drought stress. Genotypes did not significantly differ in reductions for biomass production, but did differ for reductions in N₂ fixation. High biomass production under both mild and severe drought‐stress conditions was due largely to high potential biomass production under well‐watered conditions and, to a lesser extent, the ability to maintain high biomass production under drought‐stress conditions. High N₂ fixation under drought stress also was due largely to high N₂ fixation under well‐watered conditions with significant but lower contributions from the ability to maintain high nitrogen fixation under drought stress. N₂ fixation at FC was not correlated with the reduction in N₂ fixation at 2/3 AW and 1/3 AW. Positive relationships between N₂ fixed and biomass production of the tested peanut genotypes were found at both levels of drought stress, and the relationship was stronger the more severe the drought stress. These results suggested that the ability to maintain high N₂ fixation under drought stress could aid peanut genotypes in maintaining high yield under water‐limited conditions.     

Morphologische und agronomische Merkmale autochthoner annueller Medicago-Arten in Marokko

Morphological and agronomic characteristics of autochthonous annual Medkago species in Morocco
Autochthonous annual Medicago species were collected on non-alkaline soils and evaluated as to their potential agricultural use. 411 Medicago ecotypes were found at 108 sites. With increasing rainfall and altitude of collecting sites, a decrease was recorded in the length of sprouts, in sward height, in leaf size, and in dry matter yield. High rainfall regions were found to select late flowering ecotypes. All Medicago ecotypes tested showed broad intraspecific variation in seed yield, leaf size and seed weight. Coumestrol content of leaves at flowering was generally low; on average 115 ppm of dry matter. No relationship was found between collection sites and coumestrol content. In a field trial comparing 112 ecotypes with nine introduced cultivars at two contrasting sites, thirty ecotypes proved to be better adapted to local conditions than the cultivars.     

Effects of soil drought during the vegetative phase of seedling growth on the uptake of 14co2 and the accumulation and translocation of 14C in cultivars of field bean (vicia faba L. Var. Minor) and field pea (pisum sativum L.) Of different drought tolerance

During the vegetative phase of growth of two field bean and two field pea cultivars of different drought tolerance, the effect of short and prolonged soil drought on gas exchange (CO₂ i H₂O), leaf water potential (ψ), stomatal diffusive resistance (r_S), uptake of CO₂, and the distribution and accumulation of ¹⁴C was studied. Differences in the response to drought conditions between resistant and susceptible cultivars were marked. After 5 days of soil drought, the decrease in net photosynthesis and transpiration rate and the increase of stomatal resistance were greater in the drought-resistant cultivars than in the drought-susceptible ones. In contrast, after 10 days of drought the decrease of leaf P_N (CO₂ assimilation rate), E (rate of transpiration) and ψ (water potential) was greater in the susceptible cultivars than in the resistant ones. Significant differences between the resistant and the susceptible cultivars were also observed in the assimilation and translocation of ¹⁴C by the green parts of the plant. The amount of carbon accumulation in roots in drought-susceptible cultivars increased less than in the drought-resistant cultivars. For treatments in which optimal soil watering was resumed after 5 or 10 days of drought there was no evidence of effects of drought on the majority of measurements, but the drought-resistant cultivars showed a general tendency for a more rapid recovery. Our results confirm the existence of genetic variability in drought tolerance among the cultivars of field bean and field pea. The recorded differences in the response to drought of experimental cultivars may indicate that, under water deficit in the soil and in plant tissues, they may use different strategies to avoid the damaging effects of temporary limitation of water supply; for example, the drought-resistant cultivars may more effectively conserve tissue hydration through effective stomatal closure. Also, the observed changes in carbon assimilation and accumulation might be the reason for their different responses to drought. The change in radioactivity losses in the control and stressed plants may result from the differences in demand for energy to maintain cell structure and function. Similarly, the less intense carbon accumulation in the roots of the sensitive cultivars could be caused by more harmful effects of drought on root growth.     

Grain Yield and Drought Resistance Indices of Oat Cultivars in Field Rain Shelter and Laboratory Experiments

Oat cultivars (n = 22) varying in origin were examined in laboratory and field tests at Svalöv and Ultuna, Sweden, in 1985 and 1986. Comparisons were made between drought resistance characteristics of juvenile plants and drought responses in yield of crops grown in field. By using automatic, movable rain shelters in combination with drip irrigation systems, both high and low irrigation regimes could be effected in the field experiments.
Black oat cultivars were more stable under water deficiency conditions, particularly on sandy soil. They possessed the highest drought resistance indices both in the laboratory and field. Modern white oat cultivars were found to be most drought sensitive.
Drought resistance index (DRI) and seminal root length (RL), as assessed in seedling stage, were strongly correlated with field drought susceptibility index (S). It is suggested that DRI and RL could be used as selection criteria to increase drought resistance of oats.     

Screening for Drought Tolerance: Evaluation of Seed Germination and Seedling Growth for Drought Resistance in Legume Plants

Experiments were performed to evaluate seed germination and seedling growth in simulated drought as screening techniques for drought tolerance raring. Several laboratory screening tests were evaluated for ability to estimate drought resistance in 18 cultivars of legume plants (field bean, soybean, field pea, lupine). Drought was simulated by a water solution of mannitol of chemical water potential ψ= -0.3 and -0.6 MPa. Both solutions significantly affected seed germination (final germination and promptness index) and seedling growth parameters (seedling height, dry matter of shoot and root as well as leaf injury by drought and high temperature). The tested cultivars could be grouped as drought resistant and drought susceptible plants. Drought tolerance ratings of legume plants in the laboratory tests were, on the whole, consistent with the ratings based on estimation of direct effects of soil drought on seed yield in field experiments. Measurements of electroconductivity of leaf diffusate to evaluate invisible injury caused by drought or high temperature were found to be an adequate criterion for drought tolerance rating. It is concluded that tolerance to drought stress in growing seedlings can be screened for by using mannitol containing nutrient solution. According to the results collected in this research, varieties differences in seed germination, seedling growth and leaf injury affected by drought or heat temperature were evident, however, not all treatments appeared to be equally useful for screening of legume species cultivars.     

Genetic progress of oats in Italy

The genetic gain of oats in Italy over the past 40 years was evaluated using 14 cultivars belonging to three different groups: (i) five cultivars derived from local populations at the beginning of the oat breeding in Italy; (ii) four foreign cultivars, introduced in Italy in the 1980s; (iii) five modern cultivars, selected through specific breeding programmes. The genotypes were tested for 2 years in three locations characterised by different climatic conditions and agricultural practices; furthermore in one location in Southern Italy, irrigated and rainfed plots were compared. Genetic gain was estimated equal to 3.6 g m⁻² y⁻¹ based on eight environments. The performance of the most recent cultivars was high under both irrigated and rainfed conditions, showing a good adaptation of these genotypes to both fertile and drought prone environments. Finally, yield increase in oats was found to be negatively correlated with plant height and positively correlated with test weight and seed weight.