Origin and cytology of a novel cytotype of Allium tuberosum Rottl. ex Spreng. (2n = 48)

Naturally occurring/spontaneously produced polyploids with six/more genomes are rarely found in Alliums. A hexaploid form of Allium tuberosum with 2n = 48 chromosomes has been isolated for the first time amongst the open-pollinated seedlings of a hypotetraploid plant (2n = 4x = 31); latter being the seed-derived product of a normal tetraploid stock (2n = 4x = 32) growing in Jammu University Botanical Garden. Except for the guard cells and pollen grains that are of increased size, this form compared to its progenitor is dwarf, has smaller leaves and bears inflorescences with few flowers. This plant is also different from its progenitor in having nearly one-fourth (27.8 %) of its pollen mother cells (PMCs) with varying chromosome number viz. 27–64, with the remaining cells having somatic or double the somatic number of chromosomes. To assess the nature of hexaploid form, its chromosomes were studied for morphological details, putative grouping and pairing properties during reduction division. Morphological similarity in the chromosomes of the present cytotype and its progenitor, arrangement of 48 chromosomes in eight groups of six chromosomes each and presence of 21.88 % euploid cells with eight hexavalents pointed towards the autopolyploid nature of the present strain. Regarding the origin of this strain, observation made on the meiosis in the two sex mother cells of the progenitor provides some clues. In the later plant, presence of most of embryo-sac mother cells with 62 chromosomes that showed 31:31 segregations and existence of majority of the PMCs with 31 chromosomes exhibiting erratic segregations indicate that the hexaploid strain has probably originated as a result of the fusion of reduced male (n = 17) and unreduced female gamete (2n = 31).     

Isotopic Model (NISOTOP) used to Investigate 15N-Urea Transformations in the Presence of Phenanthrene,Chrysene and Benzo(a)pyrene in a Soil–Plant System

An isotopic model (NISOTOP) has been developed to investigate the effect of the addition to soil of xenobiotics on urea hydrolysis, N mineralization and immobilization, nitrification and plant uptake of nitrogen in a soil-plant system, after addition of ¹⁵N enriched compounds. Therationale of the model follows from the errors in %¹⁵N abundance (^15N _D) and N concentration (C_N) determinations which cause high variability coefficients in the calculation of the amount of nitrogen present in the different compounds derived from the added ¹⁵N enriched urea. The extent of these errors, besides depending on C_N and ^15N _D errors, will also depend on natural ¹⁵N and ¹⁵N of the added compound, and therefore on the experimental conditions. The model is described by 18 first-order differential equations and is numerically solved by Euler's method with a time increment of 0.01 day. As an illustration, the model is applied to the effect of phenanthrene, chrysene and benzo(a)pyrene to a soil-plant system, following the addition of ¹⁵N-urea. These compounds have been chosen as examples of molecules having 3, 4 and 5 fused aromatic rings and are hereafter collectively referred to as PAHs. PAHs at the rate of 2 mg kg^-1 soiland ¹⁵N-urea at the rate of 166.7 mg N kg^-1 soil were added to wheat pots. At harvesting (after 14 days from plantation) the dry matter yield, the total N content and the N concentration of the wheat seedlings were not statistically affected by addition of the PAHs (P = 0.05). The efficiency of N uptake, that is the percentage of fertilizer taken up by the plants at harvesting in the absence of PAHs was 47.3%, while it was 11.7, 15.2 and 14.8% in the presence of phenanthrene, chrysene and benzo(a)pyrene,respectively. The computation of the first-order rate constants of the N transformations showed that N mineralization, nitrification and N-uptake were affected by the addition of phenanthrene, chrysene and benzo(a)pyrene, whilst benzo(a)pyrene inhibited urea hydrolysis more than phenanthrene and chrysene.     

Contribution of Subcommission a (salt affected soils) to the achievements in the investigation and management of saline and Alkali soils 1964–2001

This paper was written by M. Redly soon before her death in September 2010. It summarizes the work of a big team of soil scientists studying the genesis, geography, and method of reclamation of salt-affected soils in the second half of the 20th century. It is also a tribute to I. Szabolcs, the organizer and the first chairman of the Subcommision on Salt-Affected Soils at the ISSS. The work of this subcommision can be considered an inspiring example of international cooperation in solving topical problems of soil science.     

Morphology,Radiocarbon Age,and Genesis of Vertisols of the Eisk Peninsula (the Kuban–Azov Lowland)

Data on the morphology and radiocarbon ages of humus of dark vertic quasigley nonsaline clayey soils with alternating bowl-shaped (Pellic Vertisols (Humic, Stagnic)) and diapiric (Haplic Vertisols (Stagnic, Protocalcic)) structures are discussed, and the genetic concept for these soils is suggested. The studied soils develop on loesslike medium clay in the bottom of a large closed depression on the Eisk Peninsula in the lowest western part of the Kuban–Azov Lowland. The lateral and vertical distribution of humus in the studied gilgai catena displays a lateral transition of a relatively short humus profile of the accumulative type with a maximum near the surface and with a sharp increase in ¹⁴C dates of humus in the deeper layers within the diapiric structure to the extremely deep humus profile with a maximum at the depth of 40–80 cm, with similar mean residence time of carbon within this maximum, and with a three times slower increase in ¹⁴C dates of humus down the profile within the bowl-shaped structure. The development of the gilgai soil combination is specified by the joint action of the lateral–upward squeezing of the material of the lower horizons from the nodes with an increased horizontal stress toward the zones a decreased horizontal stress, local erosional loss of soil material from the microhighs and its accumulation in the adjacent microlows, leaching of carbonates from the humus horizons in the microlows, and the vertical and lateral ascending capillary migration of the soil solutions with precipitation of calcium carbonates in the soils of microhighs.     

Intra‐specific variation for salt tolerance in a potential oil‐seed crop,brown mustard (Brassica juncea (l.) Czern. and Coss.)

Thirty eight accessions of brown mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. and Coss.) were screened after two weeks growth in solution culture containing 120 mol m‐³ NaCl. Considerable variation for salt tolerance was observed in this set of germplasm, since some accessions showed relatively vigorous growth in saline medium.

In order to determine the consistency of degree of salt tolerance at different growth stages of crop life cycle two salt tolerant accessions, P‐15 and KS‐51 and two salt sensitive 85362 and 85605 were tested at the adult stage in 0(control), 100 and 200 mol m^‐3 NaCl. Both the tolerant accessions produced significantly greater fresh and dry biomass and had considerably higher seed yield than those of the salt sensitive accessions. Analysis of different ions in the leaves showed that salt tolerant accessions contained greater amounts of Na⁺, K⁺ and Ca²⁺ than the salt sensitive accessions, although they did not differ significantly for leaf Cl^‐. Only one salt tolerant accession P‐15 had greater leaf K/Na ratio and K⁺ versus Na⁺ selectivity compared with the tolerant KS‐51 and the two salt sensitive accessions.

From this study it was established that there is a considerable variation for salt tolerance in B.juncea which can be exploited by selection and breeding for improvement of its salt tolerance. Since the degree of salt tolerance in B.juncea does not change at different growth stages of the crop life cycle, selection for salt tolerance at the initial growth stages could provide individuals that would be tolerant at all other growth stages. Accumulation of Na⁺, K⁺ and Ca²⁺ in the leaves are important components of salt tolerance in B.juncea.     

Cytogenetic and marker assisted identification of a wheat–Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng f. ex P.C.Kuo alien substitution line conferring processing quality and resistance to stripe rust

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng f. ex P.C.Kuo (2n?=?2x?=?14, NsNs) harbor numerous useful genes and exhibit application prospects as a...     

Investigations on the radioactive contamination of crop plants as a result of H-bomb detonation (Part 2) Root and foliage uptake of “Bikini ash”

The Foliar Uptake by Squash Plant

The radioactive ash for experimental use, hereafter referred to as “Bikini ash”, was prepared by igniting the heavily contaminated substances on board No. 5 Fukuryu Maru at about 650°C, followed by sifting through a 100 mesh sieve. On ignition some parts of the fission products, particularly iodine, ruthenium and tellurium would have possibly been lost to the air.     

Effect of nutrient management and straw mulching on crop yield,uptake and soil fertility in rapeseed (Brassica campestris)–greengram (Vigna radiata)–rice (Oryza sativa) cropping system under Gangetic plains of India

An experiment was conducted at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India during 2001–2003 to study the effect of levels of fertility and straw mulch on a rapeseed (Brassica campestris var yellow sarson)–greengram (Vigna radiata)–rice (Oryza sativa) cropping system under a rainfed upland ecosystem. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design having 14 treatment combinations of organic and inorganic nutrients along with straw mulch in three replicates. The results revealed that conjunctive use of organic and inorganic nutrients as well as paddy straw mulch resulted higher yield in both rapeseed and greengram, and the residual effects of different levels of fertilization and mulching also gave rise to higher grain yield in the succeeding rice crop. The uptake of nutrients, by the cropping system as a whole, to the tune of 204.29 and 183.00 kg ha^?1 of N, 72.84 and 74.07 kg ha^?1 of P and 179.95 and 175.41 kg ha^?1 of K took place, with the treatment receiving 10 t ha^?1 of farmyard manure (FYM) applied (to rapeseed) along with 50% recommended dose (RD) of NPK to all the crops in the sequence in two consecutive years, respectively. The same treatment resulted in a higher percentage of porosity vis-à-vis lower bulk density. Soil physico-chemical properties were superior in mulch-treated plots compared with no mulch treatment. Application of organic and inorganic nutrients along with proper moisture conservation practices can enhance the yields maintaining a good soil health.     

Application of the Spectral Neighborhood of Soil Line Technique to Analyze the Intensity of Soil Use in 1985–2014 (by the Example of Three Districts of Tula Oblast)

The technique of separation of the spectral neighborhood of soil line (SNSL) makes it possible to perform quantitative estimates of the intensity of agricultural land use. This is achieved via calculation of the frequency of occurrence of bare soil surface (BSS). It is shown that the frequency of occurrence of BSS in 1984–1994 was linearly related to the soil type within the sequence of soddy strongly podzolic, soddy moderately podzolic, soddy slightly podzolic (Eutric Albic Glossic Retisols (Loamic, Aric, Cutanic, Differentic, Ochric)); light gray forest (Eutric Retisols (Loamic, Aric, Cutanic, Differentic, Ochric)), gray forest (Eutric Retisols (Loamic, Aric, Cutanic, Ochric)), and dark gray forest soils (Luvic Retic Greyzemic Phaeozems (Loamic, Aric)); podzolized chernozems (Luvic Greyzemic Chernic Phaeozems (Loamic, Aric, Pachic)) and leached chernozems (Luvic Chernic Phaeozems (Loamic, Aric, Pachic)). The intensity of exploitation of the least and most fertile soils in this sequence comprised 28 and 48%, respectively. In the next decade (1995–2004) the relationship between the type of soil and the intensity of its exploitation drastically changed; the intensity of exploitation of the leas and most fertile soils comprised 14 and 43%, respectively. Nearly a half of agricultural lands in the zones of soddy-podzolic and gray forest soils were abandoned, because the cultivation of the soils with the natural fertility below that in the podzolized chernozems became economically unfeasible under conditions of the economic crisis of the 1990s. The spatiotemporal relationships between the character of the soil cover and the intensity of exploitation of the agricultural lands manifest themselves by the decreasing frequency of occurrence of BSS from leached chernozems to soddy strongly podzolic soils and from 1985 to 2014.     

Biochar applications enhance the phytoextraction potential of Salix smithiana [Willd.] (willow) in heavily contaminated soil: potential for a sustainable remediation method?

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The combination of chemostabilization and phytoextraction provide an affordable and environmentally effective remediation technology for the heavy metals in...     

Earthworms,a means to accelerate removal of hydrocarbons (PAHs) from soil? A mini-review

Contamination of soil with hydrocarbons occurs frequently. Restoring contaminated soils is costly and time consuming. Earthworms accelerate the removal of hydrocarbons as they burrow through soil by rendering contaminants available for microbial degradation, by feeding on the organic matter that harbour contaminants, and by improving soil structure and aeration. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are recalcitrant hydrocarbons that can contaminate the environment and can thus serve as models to study the factors that control the removal of petroleum from soil. The effect of earthworms on the removal of PAHs was reviewed. It was found that earthworms have the capacity to accelerate the removal of PAHs and their degradation products from soil. However, large numbers of earthworms are required, which might be expensive. Moreover, it may be difficult to provide sufficient organic material as feed while simultaneously maintaining high soil water content to allow burrowing.