Correlation Analysis of SPAD Value with Chlorophyll Content and Economic Yield Traits of Brassica napus L.

[Objective] The aim was to compare differences of SPAD value, chloro- phyll content, agronomic characters, economic characters and yield traits to analyze correlation of SPAD value with other indices and establish regression functions. [Method] Based on 34 Brassica napus L. varieties, SPAD value, chlorophyll content, agronomic characters, economic characters and yield traits were measured and re- gression functions were established according to correlations. [Result] SPAD value, chlorophyll content, agronomic and economic characters and yield traits all achieved significant level in differences among 34 varieties. Specifically, SPAD value was of extremely significant correlation with chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid, and the correlation from high to low was chl-b〉chl-z〉chl-a〉chl-x. SPAD value was of significantly positive correlation with total pod number per plant, plant height, seed number per pod, yield per plant and harvest yield, and of insignificant correlation with branch point height, effective branch number, pod density of main stem, and pod length. [Conclusion] It is simple and rapid to predict chlorophyll con- tent, economic characters and yields of Brassica napus L. with SPAD value and re- gression functions.     

Detection of Internal Leaf Structure Deterioration Using a New Spectral Ratio Index in the Near-Infrared Shoulder Region

Spectral reflectance in the near-infrared （NIR） shoulder （750-900 nm） region is affected by internal leaf structure, but it has rarely been investigated. In this study, a dehydration treatment and three paraquat herbicide applications were conducted to explore how spectral reflectance and shape in the NIR shoulder region responded to various stresses. A new spectral ratio index in the NIR shoulder region （NSRI）, defined by a simple ratio of reflectance at 890 nm to reflectance at 780 nm, was proposed for assessing leaf structure deterioration. Firstly, a wavelength-independent increase in spectral reflectance in the NIR shoulder region was observed from the mature leaves with slight dehydration. An increase in spectral slope in the NIR shoulder would be expected only when water stress developed sufficiently to cause severe leaf dehydration resulting in an alteration in cell structure. Secondly, the alteration of leaf cell structure caused by Paraquat herbicide applications resulted in a wavelength-dependent variation of spectral reflectance in the NIR shoulder region. The NSRI in the NIR shoulder region increased significantly under an herbicide application. Although the dehydration process also occurred with the herbicide injury, NSRI is more sensitive to herbicide injury than the water-related indices （water index and normalized difference water index） and normalized difference vegetation index. Finally, the sensitivity of NSRI to stripe rust in winter wheat was examined, yielding a determination coefficient of 0.61, which is more significant than normalized difference vegetation index （NDVI）, water index （WI） and normalized difference water index （NDWI）, with a determination coefficient of 0.45, 0.36 and 0.13, respectively. In this study, all experimental results demonstrated that NSRI will increase with internal leaf structure deterioration, and it is also a sensitive spectral index for herbicide injury or stripe rust in winter wheat.     

Amylose contents of cereals; influence of household processing on the amylose contents of these foods

Amylose is a food starch found in cereals, legumes and root vegetables. Keeping in view the importance of amylose for various food industries as well as its importance on domestic level, the current study was conducted to analyze the amylose content of common cereals e. g rice （sela, coarse and basmati）, maize yellow, Kisan and Azam varieties and wheat （Tatara, Fakhr-e-sarhad and Bakhtawar-92） varieties as well as quantifying the influence of cooking/boiling procedures on the amylose contents of cereals. The maximum amylose content were observed for wheat variety Tatara （24.28%） followed by Bakhtawar-92 （22.74%） and Fakhr-e-sarhad （19.77%）. Among maize and rice varieties studied, Kisan and course rice were rich in amylose content with values of 27.19 and 30.48% respectively. The chapti of Tatra wheat were scored highest for appearance （7.6）, flavor （7.5）, texture （7.6） and overall acceptability （7.55）. The roti of Kisan and Azam varieties got maximum appearance score of 7.6 as compared to 7.4 for maize yellow variety. Basmati rice was scored highest regarding appearance （8.4）, flavor （8.6）, texture （8.6） and overall acceptability （8.53. The moisture content ranged from 10.61 （Azam） to 8.01% （wheat variety Fakhr-e-sarhad）. Cooking reduced the amylose content of wheat bread from （19.77%-24.28%） to （15.47%-15.94%） with cooking time of 5 min, maize bread from （21.48%-27.19%） to （19.53 %-25.85%） with maximum cooking time of 10 min and boiled rice from （24.90%-30.48%） to （24.18%-30.19%） with cooking time ranging from 12 to 20 min. It can be inferred from these studies that the reduction in amylose content were more in chapti/roti preparation of wheat and maize varieties as compared to boiling of rice varieties and that significant varietals differences exist in amylose content of the uncooked samples.     

Spectrum Characteristics of Cotton Canopy Infected with Verticillium Wilt and Applications

Hyper spectrum remote sensing with fine spectrum information is an efficient method to estimate the verticillium wilt of cotton. The research was conducted in Xinjiang, the largest cotton plant region of China, by using the data which were collected both by canopy spectrum infected with verticillium wilt and severity level （SL） in the year 2005-2006. The quantitative correlation was analyzed between SL and canopy of reflectance spectrum or derivative spectrum reflectance. The results indicated that spectrum characteristics of cotton canopy infected with verticillium wilt changed regularly with the increase of SL in different periods and varieties, Spectrum reflectance increased in the visible light region （620-700 nm） with the increase of the SL, which inverted in near-infrared region and was extremely significant in the region of （780-1 300 nm）. When SL attained b2 （DI = 25）, cotton canopy infected with verticillium wilt was used as a watershed and diagnosed index in the beginning stages of the disease. The results also indicated that there were marked different characteristics of the first derivative spectrum in these SL, it changed significantly in the red edge ranges （680-760 nm） with different SL, i.e., red edge swing decreased, and red edge position equally moved to the blue. In this study 1 001-1 110 nm and 1 205- 1 320 nm were selected out as sensitive bands for SL of canopy. Inversion models established for estimating cotton canopy infected with verticillium wilt reached the most significant level. Finally, the different spectrum characteristics of cotton canopy infected with verticillium wilt were marked, some inversion models were established, which could estimate SL of canopy infected with verticillium wilt. The best recognized model was the first derivative spectra at （FD 731 nm- FD 1317 nm）, and it might be used to forecast the position of cotton canopy infected with verticillium wilt quantitatively.     

Characterization of Quantitative Trait Loci for Grain Minerals in Hexaploid Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Wheat is an important source of essential minerals for human body. Breeding wheat with high grain mineral concentration thus benefits human health. The objective of present study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling grain mineral concentration and to evaluate the relation between nitrogen (N) and other essential minerals in winter wheat. Wheat grains were harvested from field experiment which conducted in China and analyzed for this purpose. Forty-three QTLs controlling grain mineral concentration and nitrogen-related traits were detected by using a double haploid (DH) population derived from winter wheat varieties Hanxuan 10 and Lumai 14. Chromosomes 4D and 5A might be very important in controlling mineral status in wheat grains. Significant positive correlations were found between grain nitrogen concentration (GNC) and nutrients Fe, Mn, Cu, Mg concentrations (FeGC, MnGC, CuGC, MgGC). Flag leaf N concentration at anthesis (FLNC) significantly and positively correlated with GNC, FeGC, MnGC, and CuGC. The study extended our knowledge on minerals in wheat grains and suggested which interactions between minerals should be considered in future breeding program.     

Hyperspectral Estimation of Corn Fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation

Fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation （FPAR） is one of the important variables in many vegetation productivity and biomass estimation models. Therefore, it is significant to retrieve FPAR accurately for the improvement of model precision. On the basis of the field experiment, this article analyzed the correlations between corn canopy FPAR and spectral reflectance, and reflectance derivative. Discussion about the mechanism of FPAR estimation with different empirical models is based upon corn canopy reflectance, reflectance derivative, NDVI （normalized difference vegetation index） and RVI （ratio vegetation index）. The reflectance of visible bands showed much better correlations with FPAR than near-infrared bands. The correlation between FPAR and reflectance derivative varied more frequently and greatly than that between FPAR and reflectance, and with preferable correlation only around 520, 570, 670, 805, 950, and 1 010 nm. Reflectance and reflectance derivative both had intimate correlation with FPAR at some typical single band, with the maximum R^2 of 0.791 and 0.882, respectively. In a word, reflectance derivative and vegetation index were much effective in the estimation of corn FPAR than reflectance, and the stepwise regression of multibands with reflectance derivative showed the best regression with R^2 of 0.944. Reflectance at 375 and 950 nm with absorption characteristics caused by water showed prodigious potential for FPAR precisely estimating model establishment. On the whole, vegetation index and reflectance derivative had good relationships with FPAR, and could be used for FAPR estimation. It would be effective for choosing right bands and excavating the hyperspectral data to improve FPAR estimating precision.     

Effect of steam-flaking on chemical compositions,starch gelatinization,in vitro fermentability,and energetic values of maize,wheat and rice

Intact and steam-flaked grains of maize,wheat and rice(with whole hulls) were analyzed for chemical composition,starch gelatinization degree(SGD) and in vitro fermentation characteristics to investigate the influence of cereal type and steam-flaking(SF) processing on their nutritive values.The treatments were arranged in a 3×2 factorial design.Obvious differences(P0.001) in chemical composition and energetic values were observed among the different cereal types.SGD and gas production(GP) rate was significantly increased(P0.001) by SF processing.SF processing also increased(P0.01) the proportion of propionic acid and decreased the acetic:propionic acid ratio in vitro.Steam-flaking also increased organic matter digestibility and the energetic value of the cereal grains,especially rice.Based on these results,rice probably is more amendable to SF processing than maize and wheat.In conclusion,it is feasible to partially substitute maize grain with wheat or rice in ruminant diets,and steam-flaking can significantly improve the nutritional value of wheat and rice grains.     

The Selection of Transgenic Recipients from New Elite Wheat Cultivars and Study on Its Plant Regeneration System

In the protocol of wheat transformation, to use elite wheat cultivars as exogenous gene recipients can speed up the process of commercial field applications of transgenic wheat. However, it is necessary to screen wheat cultivars with good tissue culture response （TCR） continuously from plenty of elite wheat cultivars released for wheat transformation, and it is also important to find a plant regeneration system that is suitable for these cultivars. So, the TCR of mature and immature embryos of six wheat cultivars Chuannong 11 （CN11）, Chuannong12 （CN12）, Chuannong17 （CN17）, Chuannong18 （CN18）, Chuannong19 （CN19）, and Chuannong21 （CN21）, which possess superior agronomic traits, were investigated by using a good TCR wheat cultivar Bobwhite as control. The results indicated that only the immature and mature embryos of CN12, CN17, and CN18 exhibited good TCR compared with Bobwhite. No significant differences were observed between embryos of Bobwhite and of the three cultivars in TCR. Mature embryo-derived calli of CN12 were used as explants for transformation by particle bombardment of SAMDC gene. Seven transformants were obtained and the efficiency was 2.3%. This research supplies three new elite recipient cultivars for wheat transformation. The wheat plant regeneration system used in this research is different from those successful ones reported previously and it could be a reference for other wheat genotypes. Furthermore, Bobwhite and the three wheat cultivars were proved to be 1RS/1BL translocation, by methods of A-PAGE, C- banding, and genomic in situ hybridization （GISH）. These results imply that probably there is some relationship between 1RS/1BL translocation and TCR of wheat embryos. So this research gives us a hint that we should pay more attention to the 1RS/1BL translocations when we screen the wheat cultivars with good TCR and also that the mechanism of the effect of 1RS/ 1BL translocation on TCR is worthy of being investigated.     

Effects of meteorological factors on different grades of winter wheat growth in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain,China

The sown area of winter wheat in the Huang-Huai-Hai(HHH) Plain accounts for over 65% of the total sown area of winter wheat in China. Thus, it is important to monitor the winter wheat growth condition and reveal the main factors that influence its dynamics. This study assessed the winter wheat growth condition based on remote sensing data, and investigated the correlations between different grades of winter wheat growth and major meteorological factors corresponding. First, winter wheat growth condition from sowing until maturity stage during 2011–2012 were assessed based on moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer(MODIS) normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI) time-series dataset. Next, correlation analysis and geographical information system(GIS) spatial analysis methods were used to analyze the lag correlations between different grades of winter wheat growth in each phenophase and the meteorological factors that corresponded to the phenophases. The results showed that the winter wheat growth conditions varied over time and space in the study area. Irrespective of the grades of winter wheat growth, the correlation coefficients between the winter wheat growth condition and the cumulative precipitation were higher than zero lag(synchronous precipitation) and one lag(pre-phenophase precipitation) based on the average values of seven phenophases. This showed that the cumulative precipitation during the entire growing season had a greater effect on winter wheat growth than the synchronous precipitation and the pre-phenophase precipitation. The effects of temperature on winter wheat growth varied according to different grades of winter wheat growth based on the average values of seven phenophases. Winter wheat with a better-than-average growth condition had a stronger correlation with synchronous temperature, winter wheat with a normal growth condition had a stronger correlation with the cumulative temperature, and winter wheat with a worse-than-average growth condition had a stronger correlation with the pre-phenophase temperature. This study may facilitate a better understanding of the quantitative correlations between different grades of crop growth and meteorological factors, and the adjustment of field management measures to ensure a high crop yield.     

Assessment of wheat variety distinctness using SSR markers

Assessment of variety distinctness is important for both the registration and the protection of particular variety. However, the current testing system, which assesses a range of morphological characters of each pair of varieties grown side-by-side, is time-consuming and is not suitable for the assessment of hundreds of samples. The objective of this study was to develop a procedure for the assessment of wheat variety distinctness using simple sequence repeat(SSR) markers. A comparison between the molecular and morphological profile of 797 varieties was made. On the basis of the comparison, pairs of varieties with a genetic similarity value(GSV) ≤90% were deemed to be distinct, accounting for ~85% of varieties assessed in wheat regional trials. For the remaining ~15% of varieties, GSVs between different varieties were 90%, among which ~35% were not distinct and the other ~65% were distinct. Therefore, if given a GSV90%, the pairs of varieties should be morphologically assessed in the field. To avoid any errors in the assessments, we proposed the elimination of contaminant plants from the sample before comparing the varietal genotypes, scoring of the genotype at each locus with a pair of allele numbers when constructing a molecular profile, and faithfully recording two alleles at a non-homozygous locus. To reduce the workload and cost, a three-grade markers comparison among varieties is suggested. In addition, 80 SSR markers and a technical procedure for assessment of wheat variety distinctness have been proposed. Based on the procedure, the distinctness assessment of ~85% of all wheat varieties is completed in our laboratory annually. Consequently, total field assessment has been reduced considerably.     

Diagnosis of Soil Nutrient Constraints in Small-Scale Groundnut （Arachis hyopaea L,） Production Systems of Western Kenya Using Infrared Spectroscopy

Wise decision-making on resource allocation and intervention targeting for soil management cannot rely solely on trial and error methods and field observations used by small-scale farmers： cost-effective soil fertility survey methods are needed. This study aimed to test the applicability of infrared spectroscopy （IR） as a diagnostic screening tool for making soil fertility recommendations in small-scale production systems. Soil fertility survey of 150 small-scale groundnut farms in western Kenya was conducted using a spatially stratified random sampling strategy. Soil properties examined were pH in water （pHw）, total carbon （C）, total nitrogen （N）, extractable phosphorus （P）, exchangeable potassium （K）, calcium （Ca）, magnesium （Mg） and texture. These properties were calibrated to mid-infrared （MIR） diffuse reflectance using partial least square regression （PLSR）. Cross-validated coefficient of determination （r2） values obtained from calibration models were 〉 0.80 for all properties, except P and K with 0.66 and 0.50 respectively. Soil nutritional deficiencies were evaluated using critical nutrient limits based on IR predictions and composite soil fertility indices （SFIs） developed from the soil properties using principal component analysis. The SFIs were calibrated to MIR soil spectral reflectance with cross-validated r： values 〉 0.80. The survey showed that 56% of the groundnut farms had severe soil nutrient constraints for production, especially exchangeable Ca, available P and organic matter. IR can provide a robust tool for farm soil fertility assessment and recommendation systems when backed up by conventional reference analyses. However, further work is required to test direct calibration of crop responses to spectral indicators and to improve prediction of extractable P and K tests.     

Diversity of Antioxidant Content and Its Relationship to Grain Color and Morphological Characteristics in Winter Wheat Grains

The current interest in the health beneifts of whole wheat grain has prompted breeders to further increase the concentration of antioxidants in wheat. The objective of this study was to investigate the variation in antioxidant content among Chinese wheat grains and the relationship between antioxidants and grain color and morphological characteristics. A wide variation was observed in the total phenolic, carotenoid and lfavonoid contents, as well as the antioxidant activity （AOA）, of Chinese wheat varieties. Black wheat had the highest mean total phenolic, carotenoid and lfavonoid contents and the highest AOA, followed by red and white wheats. The grain color parameters were signiifcantly negatively correlated with total phenolic, carotenoid and lfavonoid contents and AOA among all of the wheat varieties examined, and grain weight was also signiifcantly negatively correlated with these traits. The same correlation between grain weight and antioxidant traits was also observed within individual groups of wheat, which indicates that grain weight may be used as an index for selecting wheat varieties with high AOA. Landraces had signiifcantly higher lfavonoid content than commercial wheat varieties. The results of this study may be useful for breeding nutrient-rich wheat varieties.     

Distribution and Selective Effects of Vrn-A1, Vrn-B1, and Vrn-D1 Genes in Derivative Varieties from Four Cornerstone Breeding Parents of Wheat in China

Vernalization, the process of a long exposure to low temperature to induce flowering in plants, is essential for plants to adapt to cold winters. The presence of vernalization genes Vrn-A1, -B1, and -D1 in four cornerstone breeding parents of wheat in China （Funo, Mentana, Yanda 1817, and Bima 4） and 322 derivative varieties （mostly winter wheat） from these parents were determined using PCR based molecular method. The frequencies of the VRN-1 genes in these derivative varieties were in order of Vrn-Dl（67.1%）〉 Vrn-Bl（19.6%）〉 Vrn-Al（5.3%）, which are similar as the former conclusion that Vrn-D1 is associated with the latest heading time, Vrn-A1 the earliest, and Vrn-B1 intermediate values. The frequencies of Vrn-Al and Vrn-B1 loci in the derivative varieties from winter wheat zones were higher than that from spring winter zones. Based on the wheat breeding history in China and the fact of non-random distribution of Vrn-A1 and Vrn-B1 in the derivative varieties from the four parents, there could be a strong selective effect on VRN-1 genes in different regions where the derivative varieties were cultivated.     

Modelling Agronomically-Suitable Sowing Date in Relation to the Risk of Frost Damage and Heat Stress of Wheat in Southern New South Wales,Australia

Sowing time of wheat in south eastern Australia varies from autumn to early winter, depending on the seasonal ＇break＇. Wheat yields are often reduced by frost damage at flowering time and by heat-and/or water-stress during grain filling. Selecting suitable varieties for specific sowing times is a complex decision farmers make because these varietal phenology and climate risks have to be assessed together. In order to help farmers make decisions, they need tools that simulate and analyse agronomically-suitable sowing dates （ASSD） for a given variety of wheat. The hypothesis underlining this study is the integration of a wheat phenology model with historical climate data is an effective approach to modelling the ASSD of current varieties used in the wheat growing areas of Southern NSW. The parameters of the wheat phenology model were based on data from five years of field experimentation across 15 sites. Data from four sites were used to examine varietal suitability in relation to sowing time and its associated risks of frost and heat damage. The optimum ASSD for any variety at 72 locations across Southern NSW was investigated. The results showed that there were substantial spatial variations in the ASSD across the target region. ASSD for a late maturing wheat genotype （EGA Gregory） can range from early March to late April, while the earliest acceptable sowing date for an early maturing spring wheat genotype （H46） can range from early to late May. The wide range of spatial variation in the earliest and latest sowing dates, as well as the varied length of sowing opportunities, highlighted the importance of being able to apply a modelling approach which can integrate information on crop phenology with climate risk for a given location. This approach would allow better decision-making on suitable varieties and sowing dates in order to minimise the risk of frost and heat damage affecting crop yield.     

Research Status Quo and Future of Low Temperature Wheat Genotypes

Low temperature wheat genotypes are a group of wheat with a slightly low canopy （plant） temperature, and the research on their biological characters and utilization in wheat breeding has been done at home and abroad for more than 20 years, and has made great progress. The research contents and advances include the following respects： Wheat genotypes with slightly low canopy temperature have been verified to exist in nature; these wheat genotypes, which present cold temperature, are superior to conventional wheat materials in some important biological characters and particularly prominently in metabolic function and cellular structure; when they suffer stresses such as drought, high temperature and overcast and rainy weather, they still retain their superiority in some of their important biological characters and therefore have a wide range of ecological adaptability; slightly low canopy temperatures of these genotypes are closely correlated with low temperatures of their second heat sources and their vigorous plants; since their low canopy temperatures can be inherited, they can exert favorable influence on the temperatures of their offspring while crossing with other wheat materials, and in particular, the discovery of cold-source wheat as a contributor to low temperature, has further formed good conditions for breeding high and stable quality low temperature wheat varieties with a high and stable yield. Thus, low temperature wheat genotypes are of great research importance and have great prospects.     

Estimating Aboveground Fresh Biomass of Different Cotton Canopy Types with Homogeneity Models Based on Hyper Spectrum Parameters

AGB （aboveground fresh biomass） is one of the most important parameters of the crop condition monitored with remote sensing. Hyper spectrum remote sensing with the fine spectrum information becomes the efficient method estimating the vegetation AGB. The research was conducted in Xinjiang, the largest cotton planting region of China. The paper analyzed the correlation between the cotton AGB and reflective spectrum and the first derivative spectrum, and the variation coefficient of the waveband reflectance. According to the analysis above, all of 23 parameters, including the hyper spectrum reflectance, the first derivative spectrum parameters and normalization vegetation indexes, were established. And then the estimation models on cotton AGB of relaxing and compact canopy type were established and tested respectively. The tested results showed that Fgo1, [901,502], [901,629], [901,672] among the reflective spectral parameters and D525, D956, D1019, D1751 among the first derivative spectral parameters had the homogenous effect on different cotton canopy types, and the determination coefficients of the models above all arrive at the significant level of 0.99 confidence interval. At last, the tested results of the homogeneity models for different canopy types indicated the parameters of [901, 502], [901,629], [901,672] have more satisfying veracity than others, and the relative errors are as low as 17.0, 16.3 and 16.7% correspondingly; in contrast, the estimation veracity of the first derivative spectrum parameters of single waveband is low.     

小麦条锈病气象等级预测方法研究(英文)

[Objective] The aim of this study is to establish the model for forecasting wheat stripe rust occurrence condition using meteorological factors. [Method] Based on the data of wheat stripe rust occurrence degrees in its past prevalent years and the meteorological data at corresponding periods, the methods of grey correlation analysis and fuzzy mathematics were employed to establish the forecast model for four pathogenesis indices according to the time sequence before winter, Early March, Early April and Middle May. Thus, the criterion for forecasting the occurrence degree of wheat stripe rust was obtained based on the distribution method of arithmetic progression. [Result] The model corresponding to meteorological conditions for forecasting wheat stripe rust was successfully established. According to the verification, the forecasting results before winter and in Early Mar. were more severer than the real occurrence condition, while the forecasting results in Early Apr. and Middle May were basically consistent with real values. [Conclusion] The results of the present study may avail the control of wheat stripe rust in Henan Province.     

Influence of Garlic Intercropping or Active Emitted Volatiles in Releasers on Aphid and Related Beneficial in Wheat Fields in China

In order to develop biological control of aphids by a "push-pull"approach, intercropping using repellent emitting plants was developed in different crop and associated plant models. Garlic is one of the potential plant that could be inserted in crops to decrease the pest occurrence in neighboring crop plots. In this study, field works were conducted in wheat fields in Langfang Experimental Station, Hebei Province in China from October 2009 to July 2010 during wheat developmental season. The effect of wheat intercropping with garlic but also the volatiles emission on the incidence of the English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae Fabricius (Homoptera: Aphididae) was assessed. Natural beneficial occurrence and global yields in two winter wheat varieties that were susceptible or resistant to cereal aphid were also determined comparing to control plots without the use of garlic plant intercrop nor semiochemical releaser in the fields. S. avenae was found to be lower in garlic oil blend treatment (GOB), diallyl disulfide treatment (DD) and wheat-garlic intercropping treatment (WGI) when compared to the control plots for both two varieties (P<0.01). Both intercropping and application of volatile chemicals emitted by garlic could improve the population densities of natural enemies of cereal aphid, including ladybeetles and mummified aphids. Ladybeetle population density in WGI, GOB and mummified aphids densities in WGI, DD were significantly higher than those in control fields for both two varieties (P<0.05). There were significant interactions between cultivars and treatments to the population densities of S. avenae. The 1 000-grain weight and yield of wheat were also increased compared to the control. Due to their potential alternatives as a biological control agent against cereal aphid, garlic intercropping and related emitted volatiles are expected to contribute to the further improvement of integrated pest management systems and to potentially reduce the amount of traditional synthetic pesticides applied in wheat fields.     

Effect of Waxy Wheat Flour Blends on the Quality of Fresh and Stale Bread

Starch is the major component in the wheat kernel, which is mainly composed of amylose and amylopectin. The wheat without amylose in its endosperm was called ＂waxy wheat＂. Waxy wheat can be used to adjust the amylose content and improve the wheat-based food quality by adding to non-waxy wheat flour. In order to investigate the effect of waxy wheat flour on the quality of fresh and stale bread, waxy wheat flour was added into the flour of Canadian Spring Wheat 2 at 0.0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, 20.0, 25.0, 30.0, and 35.0% to make breads. The physicochemical properties were adjusted to suitability by adding Yangmai 158 flour, and breads were evaluated for sensory quality, crumb firmness, loaf volume and weight loss over a period of 0, 2, 4, and 6 days. The result showed that the best total score of fresh bread was 82.9 by adding waxy flour at 7.0%, though no significant difference was found among blends with 0.0-15.0% of waxy flour. Breads with the addition of 22.0% waxy flour had lower firmness, and decreasing loss of weight. Waxy wheat flour blend at 15.0% was optimal in retarding staling without significant decreasing fresh bread quality in comparison to the control.     

The Effect of Plastic-Covered Ridge and Furrow Planting on the Grain Filling and Hormonal Changes of Winter Wheat

Although plastic-covered ridge and furrow planting（RF） has been reported to produce substantial increases in the grain weight of winter wheat,the underlying mechanism is not yet understood.The present study used two cultivars,Xinong 538 and Zhoumai 18,and RF and traditional flatten planting（TF,control） with the objective of investigating the effect of RF on wheat grain filling and the possible relationship of hormonal changes in the wheat grains under RF to grain filling.The results indicated that RF significantly increased the grain weight,although the effects on grain filling were different： RF significantly increased the grain-filling rate and grain weight of inferior grains,whereas RF had no significant effect on grainfilling rate and grain weight of superior grains.The final grain weight of inferior grains under RF was 39.1 and 50.7 mg for Xinong 538 and Zhoumai 18,respectively,3.6 and 3.4 mg higher than the values under TF.However,the final grain weight of superior grains under RF was only 0.6 and 0.8 mg higher than under TF for Xinong 538 and Zhoumai 18,respectively.RF significantly decreased the ethylene and gibberellic acid content in the inferior grains and increased the indole-3-acetic acid,abscisic acid and zeatin ＋ zeatin riboside content in the inferior grains;however,no significant difference between RF and TF was observed for the hormonal content in the superior grains.Based on these results,we concluded that RF significantly modulated hormonal changes in the inferior grains and,thus,affected the grain filling and grain weight of the inferior grains;in contrast,RF had no significant effect on grain filling,grain weight and hormonal changes in the superior wheat grains.