Rhizobia in tropical legumes—VIII. Serological characteristics of Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC. isolates

Antisera were prepared against six inoculant strains of rhizobia for Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, and used to react with 62 different strains in both agglutination and immunodiffusion systems. A wide array of reactions occurred, indicating the extent of heterogeneity amongst strains capable of nodulating the same host. In agglutination reactions, the heat-stable somatic antigens could be arranged in 25 serogroups. In gel diffusion, antigens which produced strong precipitin bands usually showed agglutination relationships, but the corollary was not true. The immunodiffusion technique easily distinguished homologous and cross-reacting reactions and could be reliably used in field experiments with P. tetragonolobus.     

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.     

Comparison of volatile constituents of Persicaria odorata(Lour.) Soják (Polygonum odoratum Lour.) and Persicaria hydropiper L. Spach (Polygonum hydropiper L.)

Polygonum odoratum Lour. has been reclassified as Persicaria odorata (Lour.) Soják [Wilson, K. L. Polygonum sensu lato (Polygonaceae) in Australia. Telopea 1988, 3, 177-182]; other synonyms currently used are Vietnamese mint or Vietnamese coriander and, in Malaysia, Daun Laksa or Laksa plant. The aerial parts of Laksa plant are highly aromatic, and they contain many organic compounds such as (Z)-3-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexenol, decanal, undecanal, and dodecanal that are typical for green, citrus, orange peel, and coriander odors. In addition to these aldehydes, 3-sulfanyl-hexanal and 3-sulfanyl-hexan-1-ol were discovered for the first time in this herb. The fresh leaves are pungent when they are chewed, although the active compound has never been identified. The pungency of Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Spach (formerly Polygonum hydropiper L., synonym water pepper) is produced by polygodial, a 1,4-dialdehyde derived from drimane terpenoids. We also identified polygodial as the active pungent compound in P. odorata (Lour.) Soják.     

Die „Chinakohle“ im Sortiment Gatersleben I. 1.Brassica pekinensis (Lour.) Rupr.

Zusammenfassung Die Gliederung der Formenvielfalt der ArtBrassica pekinensis sei an Hand der Fotos der Abb. 7 nochmals kurz veranschaulicht. Sie geben von den Umblättern befreite Verkaufsware wieder, an der die speziellen Eigentümlichkeiten der einzelnen Taxa deutlich hervortreten.Die Fotos a und b stammen von Pflanzen der var.laxa Tsen et Lee. Diese Varietät ist durch offene Blattrosetten gekennzeichnet, die mehr oder weniger steil aufgerichtet sind, indes die Apikalenden der Spreiten leicht abaxial auseinander weichen.Die typusführende var.pekinensis weist rundliche (ballonförmige, oval bis breitovale) geschlossene Kopfbildungen auf, die durch Übereinanderlagerung der Apikalenden der meist konkav gestalteten und adaxial gekrümmten Blattspreiten zustande kommen. (Figg. c, d, e).Die var.cylindrica Tsen et Lee ist durch längere oder kürzere zylinder-förmige, ebenfalls meist geschlossene Kopfbildungen ausgezeichnet, die durch Umgreifen bzw. Umrollen seitens der jeweils nächstälteren, in der gesamten Länge fast gerade gestreckten Blattspreite gebildet werden. (Figg. f, g)

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Summary The order of the diversiform members of the speciesBrassica pekinensis may be illustraded once more by the pictures of Abb. 7. They are taken from articles of commerce (without the outer leaves) and in this state the peculiarities of each taxon are very significant.The pictures a and b belong to plants of the var.laxa Tsen et Lee. This variety (in botanical sense) is characterized by open leaf-rosettes, which are more or less upright. The apical ends of the leaves are bowing a little in abaxial direction.The var.pekinensis, which includes the type of the speciesBrassica pekinensis, is characterized by closed heads of roundish shape. They are formed by laying one leaf on the top of another. Here the leaves possess a concave shape and are bent in adaxial direction. (Figg. c, d, e)The var.cylindrica Tsen et Lee is distinguished by long or shorter cylindrical heads, which are in most cases also closed. They are formed by laying one leaf round the next younger one. The leaves are straight in their whole length and not concave or inclined. (Figg. f, g)

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Brassica pekinensis . 7. a b var.laxa Tsen et Lee. , , . var.pekinensis ( , ) , , (c, d, e). var.cylindrica Tsen et Lee , , , (f g).

     

Rhizobia in tropical legumes—IX. pot and field trials with inoculants for Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.

Antigenically identifiable inoculants for Psophocarpus tetragonolobus were evaluated in three non-sterile soils contained in pots (sandy-clay, Renggam series; a loamy-sand, Sungei Buloh series; silty-clay, Munchong series). Most-probable-numbers of indigenous rhizobia ranged from 4 (Renggam series) to 13 (Munchong series) g^?1. Only two (RRIM 56 and 968) of the eight rhizobia tested formed > 50% of the nodules in all soils. Recovery of two strains (RRIM 968 and UMKL 12) was significantly poorer from the Munchong series soil which had the most indigenous rhizobia and the highest silt plus clay content. In a field trial using a Sungei Buloh series soil containing 700 rhizobia g^?1 capable of nodulating P. tetragonolobus, none of the applied strains formed > 18% of the nodules; two formed no nodules. There were no significant increases in plant yield in response to inoculation in the field trial and in two soils in the pot trials. In Sungei Buloh series soil, RRIM 56 formed 90% of the nodules when the indigenous rhizobia were 5 cells g^?, and 14% when the population was 700 g^?1. This raises the question of the need to inoculate seed sown into soils with high indigenous rhizobial populations, but there was some indication of increasing representation of inoculant strains in nodules with time.     

Comparative analysis of genetic diversity using molecular and morphometric markers in Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees

Andrographis paniculata is a medicinal plant of immense therapeutic value. The present study was aimed to elucidate its genetic diversity based on morphochemical and RAPD markers from 53 accessions belonging to 5 eco-geographic regions. Analysis of variance and D ² statistics revealed significant differences in all the metric traits and sufficient inter-cluster distances indicating considerable diversity among the accessions. The complementary approach of RAPD was used to evaluate the genetic dissimilarities among all the accessions using 6 highly polymorphic primers. The average proportion of polymorphic loci across primers was 96.28%. The molecular genetic diversity based on Shannon index per primer averaged 5.585 with values ranging from 3.08 to 8.70 indicating towards wide genetic base. RAPD based UPGMA and D ² cluster analysis also revealed that various accessions available in different eco-geographic regions might have originated from native places of wild abundance. Similarity matrices were generated for molecular markers and morphometric data to determine the degree of congruence between the two. A highly significant but low correlation (r = 0.547, P < 0.001) was obtained thus implying the correspondence between the two. The species is hermaphroditic and a habitual inbreeder. The present study yielded a typical triangular congruence between its breeding system, morphometric traits and RAPD markers thus elucidating the usefulness of complementary approaches to make diversity analysis more explanatory and purposeful for optimum genetic amelioration and effective conservation of its genotypic variability.     

Rhizobia in tropical legumes—VII. Effectiveness of different isolates on Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC

Rhizobia isolated from fourteen different genera of legumes were tested for their N-fixing effectiveness with Psophocarpus tetragonolobus in standard Leonard jar trials. Isolates from all plants except Pithecellobium jiringa were able to form nodules with P. tetragonolobus although a wide range of effectiveness amongst the different rhizobia was demonstrated. Thus P. tetragonolobus may be considered promiscuous with respect to its rhizobial requirements. Based on this experiment, a group of rhizobia comprising three elite strains (RRIM 56 from P. tetragonolobus, UMKL 36 from Lablab purpureus and CB 756 from Macrotyloma africanum, a moderately effective strain (NGR 258 from P. tetragonolobus), and two strains of low effectivity (RRIM 968 from Centrosema pubescens and UMKL 12 from Phaselus angularis) were selected for further study. When these were used to inoculate P. tetragonolubus growing in soil taken from virgin jungle (less than 1.54 rhizobia g^?1 soil); RRIM 56 and UMKL 36 again performed well, but NGR 258 outperformed CB 756.     

广西割手密(S.spontaneum L.)类群过氧化物酶同工酶分析

采用垂直板状聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳,对采集自广西各地的50个割手密样本的过氧化物酶同工酶进行分析,据同工酶谱的特点,供试材料可区分为12个类群。对这些类群的地理分布特点以及进化关系进行了初步讨论。     

‘Kalhar’ [Blumea lacera (Burm.f.) DC. Asteraceae]: a wild species used in preparation of traditional cuisine “Umbadiyu” in Dungri (Valsad), South Gujarat,India

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - A plant species locally called ‘Kalhar’ [Blumea lacera (Burm.f.) DC.] was identified for plant genetic resources value during exploration and...     

Zur Charakterisierung der Blüten und Infloreszenzen vonArabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh.

Zusammenfassung Bei der Rasse Dijon vonArabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. wird die Morphologie der Blüte sowie der Streckungsverlauf im reproduktiven Bereich beschrieben. Daran schließt sich eine kurze Charakterisierung der Bestäubungsverhältnisse an. Auf Grund von Versuchsergebnissen und praktischen Arbeitserfahrungen werden verschiedene Methoden der künstlichen Kreuzung erörtert.

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Summary The morphology of inflorescences and flowers ofArabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., strain Dijon, as well as details of their growth by expansion are described.The biology of flowering and the mode of pollination are reported. Experiments have been made to improve the technique of artificial hybridization.

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(Di)Arabidopsis thaliana . .

     

Assessment of Heavy Metals in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Grown in Sewage Sludge–Amended Soil

The assessment of heavy metals in spinach (Spinacia oleracea) grown in sewage sludge–amended soil was investigated. The results revealed that sewage sludge significantly (P < 0.01) increased the nutrients and heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) in the soil. The contents of metals were found to be below the maximum levels permitted for soils in India. The most agronomic performance and biochemical components of S. oleracea were found at 50% concentrations of sewage sludge in both seasons. The contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Zn in S. oleracea were increased from 5% to 100% concentrations of sewage sludge in both seasons. The order of contamination factor (Cf) of different heavy metals was Mn > Cd > Cr > Zn > Cu for soil and Cr > Cd > Mn > Zn > Cu for S. oleracea plants after application of sewage sludge. Therefore, use of sewage sludge increased concentrations of heavy metals in soil and S. oleracea.     

Standortbedingte Unterschiede bei bestäubungsökologischen Merkmalen von Wintergersten (Hordeum vulgare L. s. 1.)

Zusammenfassung In Karnobat (VR Bulgarien) und Gatersleben (DDR) wurden mit 20 Wintergerstensippen parallel dreijährige Versuche durchgeführt, um standortbedingte Unterschiede bei bestäubungsökologischen Merkmalen zu erfassen. Folgende Merkmale wurden geprüft: Antherenejektion, Antherenlänge, Antherenbreite, Stigmataspreizung, Stigmatahöhe und Stigmatafläche.Unter den klimatischen Bedingungen Karnobats neigt die Gerste mehr zur Allogamie, und die Voraussetzungen für eine Hybridsaatgutproduktion sind günstig. In Gatersleben zeigen die Gersten eine Tendenz zur Autogamie, so daß hier mit der Sortimentserhaltung weniger Probleme verbunden sind. Die Unterschiede zwischen beiden Anbauorten werden besonders auf die Lufttemperatur und die photoperiodischen Verhältnisse zurückgeführt.

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Environmental influences on characters of pollination ecology in winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L. s. l.)

Summary In Karnobat (Bulgaria) and Gatersleben (GDR) an experiment was conducted during three years (1974–1976) to demonstrate environmental influences on characters of pollination ecology in barley. The following characters were studied: anther extrusion, anther length, anther width, stigma width, stigma height and stigmatic surface area. Under the climatic conditions of Karnobat barley tends to open flowering and that's why there are good possibilities for hybrid seed production. In Gatersleben barley shows a stronger tendency to autogamy. Less problems are connected here with the maintaining of large collections. Differences between the two localities are attributed to air temperature and photoperiodic conditions mainly.

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(Hordeum vulgare L. s. l.),

( ) ( ) 3 20 . : , , . — . — , . , , .

     

Solar UVB response of bioactives in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch. L.): a comparison of protected and open-field cultivation

Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch. cvs. Everest, Elsanta) were grown in a tunnel covered with two films, which were distinguished in their ultraviolet transparency, as well as under open-field conditions. One applied film was not transparent for UVB radiation, and the second film transmitted 70% of UVB radiation. During the present study, the nutritional value and quality parameters of the fruits were evaluated. Strawberries were UV-unresponsive in view of the content of ascorbic acid and sum parameters like total anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity measured with TEAC (trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity), ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) and total phenols. These parameters were mainly affected by sampling date and cultivar. However, HPLC analysis showed that individual phenolics were affected in the absence of UV radiation. The content of the anthocyanin cyanidin 3-glucoside and the flavonols quercetin 3-glucuronide and kaempferol 3-glucoside was decreased in the fruits grown under UV blocking film compared to open-field grown strawberries. By means of the UV transparent film the content of the mentioned flavonoids could be enhanced up to similar amounts like in open-field grown strawberries. All other phenolics were not consistently affected by UV radiation. This result was independent of cultivar.     

Can barley (Hordeum vulgare L. s.l.) adapt to fast climate changes? A controlled selection experiment

The projected future climate will affect the global agricultural production negatively, however, to keep abreast of the expected increase in global population, the agricultural production must increase. Therefore, to safeguard the future crop yield and quality, the adaptive potential of crops to environmental change needs to be explored in order to select the most productive genotypes. Presently, it is unknown whether cereal crops like spring barley can adapt to climate stressors over relatively few generations. To evaluate if strong selection pressures could change the performance of barley to environmental stress, we conducted a selection experiment over five plant generations (G0–G4) in three scenarios, where atmospheric [CO₂] and temperature were increased as single factors and in combination. The treatments represented the expected environmental characteristics in Northern Europe around year 2075 [700 ppm CO₂, 22/17 °C (day/night)] as well as a control mimicking present day conditions (390 ppm CO₂, 19/12 °C). Two different barley accessions, a modern cultivar and an old landrace, were evaluated in terms of yield and biomass production. In all treatments representing future environmental scenarios, the G4-generation of selected plants did not improve its reproductive output compared to the G0-generation, as G4 produced less seeds and had a lower yield than unselected plants. These results indicate that barley might not respond positively to rapid and strong selection by elevated [CO₂] and temperature, contrary to previous results from oilseed rape. The two barley accessions analyzed presented almost the same response pattern in a given treatment, though the modern cultivar had the highest yield in the climate scenarios, while the landrace was superior in yield under present day climate conditions.     

Geographical variation of foxtail millet, Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. based on rDNA PCR–RFLP

The rDNA PCR–RFLP of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) germ-plasm collected throughout Eurasia and from a part of Africa was investigated with five restriction enzymes according to our previous study. Foxtail millet germ-plasms were classified by length of the rDNA IGS and RFLP; clear geographical differentiation was observed between East Asia, the Nansei Islands of Japan-Taiwan-the Philippines area, South Asia and Afghanistan-Pakistan. We also found evidence of migration of foxtail millet landraces between the areas. We calculated diversity index (D) for each region and found that center of diversity of this millet is East Asia such as China, Korea and Japan.     

Predicting Post-Harvest Soil Test Values in Hybrid Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) – Wheat (Triticum Aesitvum L.) Cropping Sequence Using a Multivariate Analysis Technique

ABSTRACT

Knowledge of the initial soil fertility status is very crucial to make the soil test-based fertilizer recommendations and therefore it is necessary to develop alternative techniques to predict the post-harvest soil test values than analyzing the soils after every crop. The study was done to develop multiple linear regression (MLR) models to predict soil available nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur in the hybrid rice-wheat cropping sequence. The post-harvest soil test values were considered as the dependent variable and initial soil nutrients applied nutrient through fertilizer and farmyard manure and grain yield as independent variables. In general, the accuracy of prediction for the calibration and validation models using the single year and two-year data model was significant and had a coefficient of determination was ≥0.75. Although the performance of MLR model to predict post-harvest soil N, P and S after the individual crop was better than that after whole rice-wheat cropping sequence, predictions of the post-rice-wheat sequence of soil N, P and S also had acceptable levels of accuracy. Thus, the concept of the using the MLR-based models to predict the post-harvest soil test values could be used in hybrid rice-wheat cropping sequence to make the soil test-based fertilizer recommendations to the individual crops or whole cropping sequence.     

AM fungi lead to fertilizer phosphorus economy and enhanced system productivity and profitability in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)–pea (Pisum sativum L.) cropping system in Himalayan acid Alfisol

The present investigation was carried out at CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India, during 2009–2011 to economize inorganic phosphorus (P) and enhance profitability of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)–pea (Pisum sativum) cropping system through arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). A field experiment was replicated thrice in a randomized block design comprising 14 treatments involving AMF (Glomus mosseae) at varying inorganic P (50%, 75%, and 100% of recommended soil test-based P dose) and irrigation regimes (40% and 80% available water capacity] in a Himalayan acid Alfisol. In okra, AMF inoculation at varying P and irrigation regimes registered higher P response ratio (PRR), net returns (10–18%), and benefit:cost (B:C) ratio (17–49%) compared to “generalized recommended P dose (GRD)” and their non-AMF counterparts. Similarly in pea, AMF inoculation at varying P and irrigation regimes again registered higher PRR, net returns (14–23%), and B:C ratio (10–58%) compared to GRD and non-AMF counterparts. Higher system productivity (7–16%) and profitability in terms of net returns (9–23%) and B:C ratio (10–54%) were also registered in AMF-imbedded treatments compared to non-AMF counterparts. Further, “AMF + 75% soil test-based P dose” at either of these irrigation regimes registered statistically similar okra–pea system productivity and profitability as that obtained under “100% soil test-based P dose” at either of two irrigation regimes, thus indicating an economy of soil test-based applied P dose by about 25%. Overall, the current study suggests that practice of AMF inoculation has great potential in enhancing system productivity and profitability besides cutting down about 25% inorganic P requirement in okra–pea production system in the Himalayan acid Alfisol.     

Agro-morphological variation in “Jhinuwa” rice landraces (Oryza sativa L.) of Nepal

Jhinuwa is an aromatic rice (Oryza sativa L.) landrace from the Pokhara Valley of Nepal. A total of 210 accessions comprising seven types of Jhinuwa rice landraces were randomly collected from the rice fields to evaluate inter- and intra-population variability based on agro-morphological traits. The experiment was conducted in factorial randomized complete block design with three replicates in 2005. The first six principal components (PCs) accounted for 76.6 % variation for agro-morphological traits. Major traits that accounted for the variation by six PCs includes days to heading, days to maturity, total grain panicle^?1, fertile grain panicle^?1, culm length, panicle length, milling recovery, head rice recovery, aroma, 1,000 grain weight, sterile grain panicle^?1, grain sterility %, and leaf characteristics. Both principal coordinate analysis and cluster analyses revealed four phenotypic groups, two of which represent Bayarni, Jhinuwa, and Biramphul while the other two account for Tunde and Pakho Tunde. Tunde, Pakho Tunde, Kalo Bayarni, and Seto Bayarni showed higher intra- as well as inter-population variation compared to other populations. The phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation, broad sense heritability (h ²B) and genetic advance (GA) as a percent of the mean assessed for 210 accessions revealed high h ²B and GA estimates for leaf width, leaf length breadth ratio, ligule length, sterile grain panicle^?1, grain sterility % and 1,000 grain weight. The current study demonstrates that improvement in Jhinuwa rice landrace is possible by selecting superior accessions from existing natural populations while selection should be focussed to market traits with higher h ²B and GA estimates.