Carbon isotope discrimination and water use efficiency in Iranian diploid,tetraploid and hexaploid wheats grown under well-watered conditions

Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) has been proposed as physiological criterion to select C₃ crops for yield and water use efficiency. The relationships between carbon isotope discrimination (Δ), water use efficiency for grain and biomass production (WUE_G and WUE_B, respectively) and plant and leaf traits were examined in 20 Iranian wheat genotypes including einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum L. subsp. monococcum) accessions, durum wheat (T. turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.) landraces and bread wheat (T. aestivum L. subsp. aestivum) landraces and improved cultivars, grown in pots under well-watered conditions. Carbon isotope discrimination was higher in diploid than in hexaploid and tetraploid wheats and was negatively associated with grain yield across species as well as within bread wheat. It was also positively correlated to stomatal frequency. The highest WUE_G and grain yield were noted in bread wheat and the lowest in einkorn wheat. Einkorn and bread wheat had higher WUE_B and biomass than durum wheat. WUE_G and WUE_B were significantly negatively associated to Δ across species as well as within bread and durum wheat. The variation for WUE_G was mainly driven by the variation for harvest index across species and by the variation for Δ within species. The quantity of water extracted by the crop, that was closely correlated to root mass, poorly influenced WUE_G. Environmental conditions and genetic variation for water use efficiency related traits appear to highly determine the relationships between WUE_G and its different components (water consumed, transpiration efficiency and carbon partitioning).     

Cytological mechanisms of 2n pollen formation in the wild potato Solanum okadae and pollen-pistil relations with the cultivated potato, Solanum tuberosum

Solanum okadae Hawkes et Hjert is a wild diploid potato species endemic to Argentina and Bolivia, of potential breeding value. However, no genetic studies have been carried out with this species and its crossability relations with the common tetraploid potato, S. tuberosum L. ssp. tuberosum, are unknown. Furthermore, accessions from both countries differed in their morphological phenotypes. To ascertain the feasibility of incorporating this wild germplasm into cultivated potato, 2n pollen screening was carried out in 10 accessions and families derived from crosses between accessions; also, pollen-pistil compatibility relations were studied in reciprocal interspecific crosses. Plants of four of the 10 accessions produced 2n pollen (0.1 to 5.0%) and 4n pollen (0.0 to 3.0%). Parallel and tripolar spindles at Anaphase II were the cytological mechanisms involved in 2n pollen formation; lack of chromosome migration in both meiotic divisions originated the 4n pollen. Both full compatibility and incompatibility at various sites along the pistil were observed in the S. tuberosum × S. okadae combinations; most reciprocal combinations were incompatible. Compatible genotypes produced 2n pollen. However, only a few seeds were obtained and chromosome counts could not be carried out in the hybrid progeny because seedlings died at an early stage. The pollen-pistil barriers are incomplete and can be circumvented by the appropiate choice of parents. The identification of the post-zygotic barriers will be the focus of further studies.     

Rhizobium sp. exopolysaccharide production,nodulation, and acetylene reduction activity (N2-fixation) in pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.)

Summary There was no correlation between the quantity of exopolysaccharide produced and acetylene reduction activity by Rhizobium spp. or by Bradyrhizobium spp. (Cajanus). The exopolysaccharide-defective mutants of Rhizobium sp. strain P 116 either failed to nodulate or showed a decrease in effectiveness. The deficiency in exopolysaccharide production was corrected by the addition of purified exopolysaccharide from the parent strain, or from Bradyrhizobium sp. strain P 149 or S24 isolated from pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) and mungbean (Vigna radiata), respectively. However, the nodules so formed were not fully effective compared to those formed by the parent strain.     

Orientation behaviour of earthworms (Lumbricidae) towards different crops

Summary In an outdoor experiment the distribution of earthworms (Lumbricus spp., Allolobophora spp.) under different plant species was studied. Earthworms avoid uncovered areas, but show different reactions under vegetation. This effect reappears in the same manner every year. A particular preference was shown for clover whereas onion was least preferred. Possible reasons for this behaviour are the extent of covering, the moisture regime and exudates of the plants. According to the results obtained the deciding factor seems to be the extent of cover whereas odorous substances are of secondary importance.Dedicated to the late Prof. Dr. M.S. Ghilarov     

Influence of the inoculation density of the rhizopseudomonad strain 7NSK2 on the growth and the composition of the root microbial community of maize (Zea mays) and barley (Hordeum vulgare)

Summary At least 10⁵–10⁶ viable cells of the rhizopseudomonad strain 7NSK2^* had to be applied per seed of maize cultivar Beaupré and barley cultivar Iban in order to obtain a beneficial effect on plant growth under greenhouse conditions. In pot experiments where an increase in plant growth, varying between 15% and 25%, was observed, the introduced strain 7NSK2^* constituted at least 20% of the bacterial root colonizers. This colonization provoked a shift in the fungal rhizospheric community. Due to the inoculation with 7NSK2, Penicillium spp. became the dominant isolates, while Trichoderma spp. were the dominant isolates in pot experiments with low and inefficient inoculum levels of 7NSK2^*.     

Evaluation of wild Lactuca species for resistance of natural infection of powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum)

Summary The 99 accessions of seven wild Lactuca species (L. serriola, L. saligna, L. virosa, L. viminea, L. perennis, L. tenerrima, L. tatarica) and Mycelis muralis (syn. L. muralis) were tested for natural infection of Erysiphe cichoracearum L. serriola accessions were highly susceptible. L. saligna showed highly variable levels of resistance. Other Lactuca species were mostly resistant or only moderately susceptible.     

Genetic diversity of HMW glutenin subunits in diploid,tetraploid and hexaploid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum</Emphasis> species

The genetic variations of high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenin subunits in 1051 accessions of 13 Triticum subspecies were investigated using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. A total of 37 alleles were detected, resulting in 117 different allele combinations, among which 20, 68 and 29 combinations were observed in diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid wheats, respectively. Abundance and frequency of allele and combinations in tetraploid wheats were higher than these in hexaploid wheats. Allele Glu-A1c was the most frequent subunit at Glu-A1 locus in tetraploid and hexaploid wheats. Consequently, the results also suggested that the higher variations occurred at Glu-B1 locus compared to Glu-A1 and Glu-D1. Therefore, carthlicum wheat possessing the allele 1Ay could be presumed a special evolutional approach distinguished from other tetraploid species. Furthermore, this provides a convenient approach of induction of the 1Ay to common wheat through direct cross with carthlicum wheat. Alleles Glu-B1c and Glu-B1i generally absent in tetraploid wheats were also found in tetraploid wheats. Our results implied that tetraploid and hexaploid wheats were distinguished in dendrogram, whereas carthlicum and spelta wheats and however displayed the unique performance. In addition, founder effect, no-randomness of diploidization, mutation and artificial selection could cause allele distribution of HMW-GS in Triticum. All alleles of HMW-GS in Triticum could be further utilized through hybrid in the quality improvement of common wheat.     

Genetic diversity of the African hexaploid species Solanum scabrum Mill. and Solanum nigrum L. (Solanaceae)

Two hexaploid species of Solanum sect. Solanum are present in Africa: Solanum scabrum and S. nigrum. Solanum scabrum is a widely cultivated species and is used as a leafy vegetable, as a source of medicine and as a source of ink dye. In previous studies a wide range of morphological diversity has been reported in this species and in some studies subspecies have been proposed. Subspecies are also recognized in S. nigrum. However, it has not been established whether or not the morphological differences are reflected at the genomic level. The present study applies AFLPs to study the genetic diversity in S. scabrum and its relationship to geographical provenance, morphological differences and the possible existence of subspecies within S. scabrum and S. nigrum. The data obtained were analyzed with cluster analysis (using UPGMA and NJ). The results indicate that the genetic variation within S. scabrum was higher within accessions than between accessions. Accessions did not cluster according to their geographical provenance, indicating that accessions from different geographical areas were not significantly different genetically. The clustering reflected neither morphological differences nor domestication status (cultivated or wild). The morphological differences exhibited by S. scabrum could be due to selection by farmers for different plant types. The AFLP derived clustering pattern did not segregate the subspecies recognized in S. scabrum and S. nigrum into separate subclusters.     

Effect of temperature on flavonoid production in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp] in relation to nodulation

To ascertain the reasons for poor nodulation of pigeonpea, we studied the effect of high temperature on the production of flavonoids by the pigeonpea host. A high temperature affected flavonoid production by pigeonpea and mungbean. At 37°C pigeonpea root exudates contained four flavonoids and the root extract contained five. The proportion of the second flavonoid in the pigeonpea and the mungbean was higher and the proportion of the third flavonoid was lower at 37°C compared to 30°C. At the higher temperature the flavonoids exuded from pigeonpea roots were same those in the root homogenate.     

Relationship of root necrosis potential of soil to asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) decline in Switzerland

Summary The possible relationship between asparagus decline and the root necrosis potential (RNP) of soil was investigated for 11 asparagus and 4 nonasparagus soils. Asparagus seedlings were grown in each soil in climate chambers. A root necrosis index was used to determine RNP. RNP was correlated with the decline observed in the field for seven white asparagus crops, but not for three white and one green asparagus crops. Low RNP values were obtained from the soils not planted to asparagus.Fusarium oxysporum andF. oxysporum var. redolens accounted for 7070 of the fungi isolated from necrotic roots in RNP tests. BothFusarium were obtained from all soils. AllF. oxysporum andF. oxysporum var. redolens isolates tested were highly virulent on asparagus seedlings in inoculation experiments.F. solani, Penicillium verrucosum var.corymbiferum, andRhizoctonia violacea were isolated less frequently but were also highly virulent. It is concluded that soil RNP indicated a risk of decline caused by fusaria, but other soil factors were likely to be involved in the aetiology of decline. The study of these factors is necessary to develop a method for the prognosis of decline associated with fusaria.     

Reaction to powdery mildew and stripe rust in related species and landraces of wheat

Field and controlled environmental tests indicated that the 49 accessions of closely related species and 12 landraces of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.) from the National Gene Bank of China showed different reactions to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis (DC.) E. O. Speer. f. sp. tritici) and stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis Westend f. sp. tritici) at adult and seedling stages. Unknown Pm genes or alleles were postulated with Triticum baeoticum Boiss. accessions BO 3 and Triticum monococcum L. MO 4 and MO 5 when inoculated with 21 powdery mildew isolates at seedling stage. Fourteen accessions of T. baeoticum, T. monococcum, Triticum durum, and wheat landraces were inoculated with 30 stripe rust isolates at seedling stage. Unknown Yr genes or alleles were postulated with T. baeoticum Boiss. accession BO 5, as well as wheat landraces Xiaobaimai, Laomangmai, and Shaanxibai. Heterogeniety in reaction to powdery mildew isolates and stripe rust races were observed in related species and landraces of wheat.     

Influence of sewage sludge and heavy metals on nematodes in an arable soil

Summary The abundance of nematodes was investigated in agricultural plots treated in three different ways, the first with no treatment, the second with 300 m³ ha^-1 a^-1 raw sewage sludge and the third with 300 m³ ha^-1 a^-1 sewage sludge with the addition of heavy metals. The nematodes were determined down to the genus and were assigned to five feeding groups. Total nematode numbers were highest in the site treated with sewage sludge and heavy metals. The smallest total numbers were found in the control site. The plant-feeding nematode genera showed different patterns of abundance depending on the sludge treatment and heavy metal content. For the mycophagic and bacteriophagic nematodes, numbers increased with the amount of sludge, especially in the sites with a higher heavy metal content. The family Rhabditidae was the most numerous group in the sludge plus heavy metals treatment. In contrast to these findings, the omnivorous nematodes were very rare in the sludgetreated plots and were completely absent in plots treated with sludge plus heavy metals, whereas predatory nematodes were numerous only after the application of sludge alone.     

Phylogenetic relationships among species of Citrullus and the placement of C. rehmii De Winter as determined by Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequence heterogeneity

The internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS2) of the 18S-25S nuclear ribosomal DNA from the four recognized species of Citrullus (C. lanatus var. lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai., C. lanatus var. citroides (Bailey) Mansf., C. colocynthis (L.) Schrad., C. ecirrhosus Cogn., and C. rehmii De Winter) and Acanthosicycos naudinianus (Sond.) C. Jeffrey were amplified by PCR, and direct sequenced. Within the taxa examined, the length of ITS1 varied from 216 bp to 219 bp, and ITS2 varied from 239 bp to 249 bp. The average %CG content ranged from 59 to 64% and from 62 to 66% for ITS1 and ITS2, respectively. The greater length variation observed in ITS2 was primarily attributable to the occurrence of a (CC)_n microsatellite. Cladistic (PAUP) and phenetic (MEGA) analyses resulted in highly resolutive trees. ITS sequence analysis placed the recently described C. rehmii adjacent to the cultivated watermelon and supported the validity of the species classification of this taxa.     

Ecology of soil microflora and mycorrhizal symbionts in degraded forests at two altitudes

Summary Microbial populations were estimated in four different forest stands at different regenerational stages, two each at higher and lower altitudes. The fungal and bacterial populations showed marked seasonal variations at both altitudes. Quantitatively, the bacterial population was higher than the fungal population. Although 25 fungal species were isolated at the lower altitude, only 15 were obtained at the higher altitude. Penicillium chrysogenum and Trichoderma viride were dominant at the lower and higher altitudes, respectively. In the more degraded forest stand at the lower altitude both the fungal and the bacterial population showed a significant positive correlation with organic C (r=0.658 and 0.735, respectively), whereas in the less degraded forest stand there was a significant correlation only between the fungal population and organic C (r=0.835). At the higher altitude, however, a highly significant correlation (P<0.05) was observed between the fungal population, soil moisture and organic C in both the forest stands. Disturbance to the soil and vegetation adversely affected the microbial population, and also affected endogonaceous spores. At the lower altitude, plants in the more degraded forest stand were more mycotrophic compared to those in the less degraded stand. The level of mycorrhizal infection showed a highly positive correlation with soil moisture, organic C, total N, and available P. The spore population, however, was correlated negatively with these parameters. Three different endogonaceous genera, Glomus, Gigaspora, and Acaulospora, were identified during the course of investigation. Glomus, however, was dominant.     

Detection of adult-plant resistance to Puccinia triticina in a collection of wild Triticum species

Three hundred and fifty three Triticum accessions, several also classified as Aegilops and comprising 13 diploid, tetraploid or hexaploid species, were screened for seedling and adult-plant resistance to Puccinia triticina Eriks. using a mixture of pathotypes UVPrt2, 3, 9 and 13. Seedlings were spray-inoculated with a suspension of freshly collected urediospores in distilled water containing Tween 20^® seven days after planting. Infection types (ITs) were scored 10 days post-inoculation (d.p.i.). Fully expanded flag leaves were inoculated and ITs and leaf rust severity were scored 16 d.p.i. One hundred and eighty two of the accessions were resistant to moderately resistant in the adult stage, whereas 126 were resistant or moderately resistant as seedlings to the pathotype mixture. Hypersensitive adult-plant resistance was particularly apparent in lines of T. timopheevii, T. sharonense, T. longissimum, T. searsii and T. turgidum. In T. turgidum, which comprised 272 accessions, approximately 44% of the adult plants were resistant to moderately resistant compared to 28% of the seedlings. The expression of these adult-plant resistances varied between hypersensitive flecking of flag leaves, and small pustules commonly associated with chlorosis and/or necrosis of leaf tissue. Partial resistance, expressed by small pustules without any apparent chlorosis, was observed in species such as T. tauschii, T. turgidum ssp. durum and T. turgidum ssp. pyramidale.     

Genetic relationships among Arachis hypogaea L. (AABB) and diploid Arachis species with AA and BB genomes

The cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an allotetraploid, with two types of genomes, classified as AA and BB, according to cytogenetic characters. Similar genomes to those of A. hypogaea are found in the wild diploid species of section Arachis, which is one of the nine Arachis sections. The wild species have resistances to pests and diseases that affect the cultivated peanut and are a potential source of genes to increase the resistance levels in peanut. The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic variability within AA and BB genome species and to evaluate how they are related to each other and to A. hypogaea, using RAPD markers. Eighty-seven polymorphic bands amplified by ten 10-mer primers were analyzed. The species were divided into two major groups, and the AA and the BB genome species were, in general, separated from each other. The results showed that high variation is available within species that have genomes similar to the AA and the BB genomes of A. hypogaea.     

Biomass and nutrient cycling in bamboo (Bambusa bambos) plantations of tropical areas

Biomass productivity and nutrient cycling in a Bambusa bambos plantation aged 4, 5, and 6 years were studied. The dry matter production of above-ground biomass increased progressively with age. Nutrient quantities in bamboo stands were in a range of 1–2 t ha^-1 for N and K, 0.5–1 t ha^-1 for Ca and Mg, and 0.1–0.2 t ha^-1 for P. Nutrient concentrations increased with the age of the plantation. About 10% year^-1 the nutrients present in the biomass of the bamboo stand are recycled to the soil by litter fall.     

Diversity of native rice (Oryza Poaceae:) species of Costa Rica

We found several populations of wild Oryza species in the lowlands of Costa Rica. The plants showed extensive morphological variation, suggesting the presence of several species. In the morphologic study, 33 traits were scored for plants of all the species. A principal component analysis revealed the significant morphological separation of the different species. The analyses indicated that there are three species, O. grandi­glumis, O. latifolia and O. glumaepatula. Two putative hybrid types were found, both significantly differing in their morphology from the known species and intermediate at several traits. O. grandi­glumis is a new record for Costa Rican flora. Its main population is located in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Los Chiles, Alajuela. O. latifolia is distributed throughout the lowlands of the country and the plants of the Atlantic slope are significantly bigger in general habit than those of the Guanacaste area. During this study a population of O. glumaepatula of hundreds of thousands of plants was discovered in the Medio Queso River wetland, Los Chiles, Alajuela. This population is the most important source of genes for cultivar's improvement from the primary gene pool of rice in Costa Rica. The small ligule and the wide flag leaf characteristic of the two CCDD species separated them from the AA diploid O. glumaepatula. Seed size, ligule size, number of branches in the panicle, plant height and sterile lemma length are all bigger in O. grandi­glumis, and influenced the second factor that separated the CCDD species in two discrete clusters. The species found offer great possibilities for the improvement of rice cultivars and they should be thoroughly studied and appropriately protected.     

Physiological enhancement of early growth of rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.) by production of phytohormone of N2-fixing methylotrophic isolates

Three plant-growth promoting, N₂-fixing methylotrophic strains isolated from rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L.), viz, Methylobacterium sp. CBMB20, Enterobacter sp. CBMB30, Burkholderia sp. CBMB40, were selected, and their activities in promoting the early growth of rice were studied. Seeds treated with the methylotrophic strains improved seed germination, seedling vigor index (SVI), and biomass of rice seedlings. The methylotrophic population in the treated seedlings increased in the vegetative stages when compared to seeding stages. Treated seedlings showed a higher accumulation of plant hormones viz trans-zeatin riboside, isopentenyladenosine, and indole-3-acetic acid than untreated seedlings. Plant hormones were detected immunologically using the phytodetek kit. Conformational evidence suggested that cytokinins were produced by the epiphytic bacteria colonizing the plants rather than by the plants themselves. In addition, the inoculated early stage rice seedlings also exhibited a wide range of acetylene reduction activity. The results suggest the potential use of these bacteria to stimulate germination, SVI, and biomass production, which is mediated by production of plant hormone accumulation and nitrogen fixation.