Growth and yield responses of a Nepalese spring wheat cultivar to the inoculation with Nepalese Azospirillum spp at various levels of nitrogen fertilization

The Azospirillum 10SW used in our experiments was isolated from roots of wheat growing in nitrogen-poor soil of a hilly region of Nepal, where inorganic nitrogen fertilizers were never used. The main objectives of this work were to assess the effects of inorganic nitrogen fertilization in the yield responses of wheat grown in association with the bacteria. The in vitro experiments were done in laboratory, whereas the pot experiments were performed in a greenhouse. The nitrogenase activities of in vitro grown Azospirillum were repressed by nitrate. The magnitude of repression was lower when the bacteria were growing in association with wheat. The number of roots per plant was increased significantly in inoculated plants irrespective of the nitrate concentration of the medium. Inoculation with Azospirillum 10SW also increased the yield of wheat grown in pots with medium levels of nitrogen fertilization. These data show the possibility of inoculation of this Azospirillum spp. in combination with nitrogen fertilizer to improve the yield of wheat. Azospirillum inoculation enhanced the development of roots and shoots in the early growth stages of wheat. It may be one of the factors responsible for the yield increases. Received: 11 December 1996     

Impact of plant genotype and nitrogen level on rice growth response to inoculation with Azospirillum sp. strain B510 under paddy field conditions

Abstract

Twenty rice cultivars, including three genetically-distinct groups (japonica, indica-1, and indica-2), were evaluated for their response to inoculation with Azospirillum sp. strain B510 in paddy fields with standard nitrogen (SN) and low nitrogen (LN) fertilization. In the SN field, the tiller numbers in most indica-2 cultivars, 37?days after transplanting (DAT), were significantly increased by the B510 inoculation, whereas those in 4 japonica cultivars were significantly decreased. A similar growth response was observed in the LN field, although the impacts of the B510 inoculation were more varied than in the SN field. At 58 DAT, the tiller numbers in most cultivars were lower or unaffected by the B510 inoculation under both SN and LN conditions, except that the tiller number of the Nipponbare cultivar, which is classified as japonica, was significantly higher in the LN field only. These results suggest that the effects of inoculation with Azospirillum sp. strain B510 on the growth of rice plants, especially on tiller numbers at the early growth stage, vary depending on the rice genotype, as well as nitrogen level. Therefore, the plant genotypes, growth stages, and fertilization managements must be considered when a plant-associated bacterium is evaluated for beneficial effects under field conditions.     

The influence of plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria on growth and enzyme activities in wheat and spinach plants

A pot experiment in a greenhouse was conducted in order to investigate the effect of different N₂‐fixing, phytohormone‐producing, and P‐solubilizing bacterial species on wheat and spinach growth and enzyme activities. Growth parameters and the activities of four enzymes, glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD; EC 1.1.1.49), 6‐phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD; EC 1.1.1.44), glutathione reductase (GR; EC 1.8.1.7), and glutathione S‐transferase (GST; EC 2.5.1.18) were determined in the leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., Konya) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), noninoculated and inoculated with nine plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR: Bacillus cereus RC18, Bacillus licheniformis RC08, Bacillus megaterium RC07, Bacillus subtilis RC11, Bacillus OSU‐142, Bacillus M‐13, Pseudomonas putida RC06, Paenibacillus polymyxa RC05 and RC14). Among the strains used in the present study, six PGPR exhibited nitrogenase activity and four were efficient in phosphate solubilization; all bacterial strains were efficient in indole acetic acid (IAA) production and significantly increased growth of wheat and spinach. Inoculation with PGPR increased wheat shoot fresh weight by 16.2%–53.8% and spinach shoot fresh weight by 2.2%–53.4% over control. PGPR inoculation gave leaf area increases by 6.0%–47.0% in wheat and 5.3%–49.3% in spinach. Inoculation increased plant height by 2.2%–24.6% and 1.9%–36.8% in wheat and spinach, respectively. A close relationship between plant growth and enzyme activities such as G6PD, 6PGD, GR, and GST was demonstrated. Plant‐growth response was variable and dependent on the inoculant strain, enzyme activity, plant species, and growth parameter evaluated. In particular, the N₂‐fixing bacterial strains RC05, RC06, RC14, and OSU‐142 and the P‐solubilizing strains RC07 and RC08 have great potential in being formulated and used as biofertilizers.     

Assimilate and nitrogen remobilization of six-rowed and two-rowed winter barley under drought stress at different nitrogen fertilization

Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of irrigation regimes and N levels on assimilate remobilization of two barley cultivars (Yousef_six-rowed and Nimrouz_two-rowed) in 2011 and 2012. There were three levels of water regimes (full irrigation (I₁₀₀), 75% and 50% of I₁₀₀: I₇₅ and I₅₀, respectively) in 2011. Rain-fed treatment (I₀) was included in 2012. Three N levels (0, 60, and 120 kg ha^?1) were used. Grain yield and assimilate remobilization decreased by severe water stress (I₀), however, the reduction of them were intensified by N fertilizer application. The N remobilization was negatively affected by N fertilization and water stress. The two-rowed showed higher N remobilization (10.7%) and contribution of N remobilized to N content of grain (5.8%) than the six-rowed. The two-rowed cultivar showed significantly higher assimilate remobilization and grain yield than the six-rowed under I₅₀ (26.3% and 6.5%, respectively) and I₀ (48.7% and 17.1%, respectively), while the six-rowed had similar or higher performances in terms of these traits under I₁₀₀ and I₇₅. This study showed that optimizing irrigation and N rates (decrease N level with increasing water stress) and selection of the suitable cultivars (Nimrouz_two-rowed) might increase assimilate remobilization and consequently grain yield under drought stress conditions.     

Mineral composition of field grown winter wheat inoculated with phosphorus solubilizing bacteria at different plant growth stages

A two year field experiment was conducted in field conditions using wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. vulgare L. cv. Bezostaja) as the test plant for the evaluation of phosphate solubilizing (+PS) microorganisms. Bacterial strains significantly (P < 0.05) increased plant biomass (by 13 to 36%) without plant P enrichment. Only Bacillus sp. #189 significantly (P < 0.05) raised plant P-content, biomass and rhizosphere soil Olsen P at Zadoks Scale 62 simultaneously. Inoculations variably increased plant potassium (K-), magnesium (Mg-), zinc (Zn-), and managenese (Mn-) contents at harvest (Zadoks 92) but not earlier (Zadoks 31 and 61). The enrichment of the inoculated plants with nutrients other than P indicates the presence of alternative plant growth promoting mechanisms. This study showed that promising phosphate solubilizing microorganisms could increase not only the P content of the plants, but also the soil available P in rhizosphere transiently.     

Responses of wheat to zinc sulfate fertilizer and plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria under cadmium stress in soil

Cadmium (Cd) is a major pollutant in soils as a result of extensive use of fertilizers, mining and industrial discharges. Zinc (Zn) and certain bacterial species have been known to alleviate Cd toxicity in plants. In this study, the individual and combined effects of the application of Zn and Pseudomonas species with the aim of reducing Cd stress in wheat cultivars were investigated. Plants (durum wheat and bread wheat) were exposed to different concentrations of Cd and Zn, and either P. putida or P. fluorescens in a growth chamber. Concentrations of Zn, Cd, chlorophyll (Chl), carotenoid, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as antioxidant enzyme activities were assayed. The addition of Zn in soils reduced the toxicity of Cd in durum wheat more than in bread wheat even though there was more uptake of Zn in bread wheat. Analysis of variance showed that by using Zn fertilizer and Pseudomonas species the amounts of peroxidase (POD), polyphenoloxidase (PPO), MDA, and H₂O₂ were reduced at three growth stages. Surprisingly, with increasing Zn concentration, Cd concentration in plant tissue was slightly increased, which suggests that adding Zn to soil could facilitate Cd desorption from soil particles. Application of Pseudomonas and Zn could be a promising solution to reduce detrimental effects of Cd, especially in durum wheat.     

氮磷配施对“济麦22”小麦产量及品质的影响

通过田间试验研究了氮磷配施对超高产冬小麦"济麦22"产量及磨粉品质、糊化特性、面团流变学特性及烘焙品质等的影响。结果看出,容重、出粉率与磨粉品质呈显著正相关;峰值粘度和峰值时间对面粉糊化特性影响显著;湿面筋含量、沉降值与面团流变学特性指标呈显著或极显著正相关,且对烘焙品质的影响显著。产量和品质的大部分指标随施氮磷量的增加而发生显著变化,氮磷肥对产量和品质的互作效应显著。施N 300 kg/hm2、P 150kg/hm2处理可获得超高产,且容重、出粉率、湿面筋含量、沉降值及面团稳定时间均显著高于其它处理,表现出较好的磨粉品质和烘焙品质。表明在本试验条件下,该施肥量是济麦22优质超高产的最佳施肥模式。     

Dual inoculation with strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Azospirillum brasilense to improve growth and biological nitrogen fixation of soybean (Glycine max L.)

The effects of inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Azospirillum brasilense strains on the growth of soybean were evaluated with regard to the estimation of N₂ fixation using the ¹⁵N isotope dilution technique. Inoculation, in general, increased the dry mass of soybean as well as nitrogen content. Dual inoculation with a mixture of B. japonicum and A. brasilense strains was superior over single inoculation with B. japonicum. Nitrogen fixed (Ndfa) varied according to inoculant and soil conditions. Percentages of nitrogen derived from air (% Ndfa) using a non-nodulating isoline were 72% and 76% for B. japonicum and B. japonicum plus A. brasilense, respectively, in non-sterile soil. A similar but higher trend was recorded in sterilized soil, in which the percentages of N₂ fixed were 81% and 86% for single and dual inoculation, respectively. The correlation coefficient between N₂ fixed and N uptake (r=0.94) and dry mass (r=0.89) was significant. Application of special bacterial inoculants in agricultural systems of Egypt seems to be a promising technology and could be used for improving soybean growth as well as soil fertility, thus minimizing environmental pollution. Received: 10 January 1996     

Effects of split nitrogen fertilization on post-anthesis photoassimilates,nitrogen use efficiency and grain yield in malting barley

Abstract

Split nitrogen applications are widely adopted to improve grain yield and enhance nitrogen use effective in crops. In a two-year field experiment at two eco-sites, five fractions of topdressed nitrogen of 0%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% were implemented. Responses of radiation interception and leaf photosynthesis after anthesis, dry matter accumulation and assimilates remobilization, nitrogen use efficiency and grain yield to fraction of topdressed nitrogen treatments were investigated in malting barley. Net photosynthetic rate of the penultimate leaf, leaf area index and light extinction coefficient increased with increasing fraction topdressed nitrogen from 0% to 30%, and then decreased from 30% to 50%. The putative gross maximum canopy photosynthesis was the highest for fraction of topdressed nitrogen of 30%, which was concomitant with the highest amount of post-anthesis accumulated assimilates. The remobilization of pre-anthesis stored assimilates from vegetative organs into grains was hardly significantly affected by fractions of topdressed nitrogen. Grain yield was the highest for fraction of topdressed nitrogen of 30%, which coincided with the highest plant nitrogen uptake and physiological and agronomic nitrogen use efficiencies. The enhanced nitrogen use efficiency was corresponding to the improved photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency in the leaves at fraction of topdressed nitrogen of 30%. In conclusion, appropriate fraction of topdressed nitrogen application on malting barley improved assimilation rate and nitrogen use efficiency resulting in higher grain yields and proper grain protein content in malting barley.     

氮素对冬小麦生长发育及产量的亏缺和补偿效应

通过盆栽试验研究了正常灌水条件下不同生育阶段氮素亏缺对冬小麦生长发育及产量的影响。结果表明,越冬期不施氮能明显减少冬小麦的分蘖数和地上、地下部生物量,对地上部影响大于地下部,使根冠比增大;越冬期和拔节期不施氮能显著降低冬小麦的产量,而后期缺氮对产量的影响不大;越冬期不施氮能明显降低冬小麦的有效穗数,拔节期不施氮对千粒重影响较大;而抽穗期和成熟期不施氮则对穗粒数具有显著的影响。总的来看,冬小麦对氮素的亏缺敏感期在越冬期和拔节期,补偿有效期在拔节期。     

Optimum rate of nitrogen fertilization for drip-irrigated wheat under semi-arid conditions

Limited water availability in arid and semi-arid wheat production systems increases the need of applying efficient drip irrigation systems. However, there is little information available about the optimum level of nitrogen (N) fertilization for drip-irrigated wheat. A two-years field study in the semi-arid region of Upper Egypt was carried out in a randomized complete block design to investigate the response of drip-irrigated wheat to three levels of N fertilization (N₁₂₀ = 120, N₁₈₀ = 180, and N₂₄₀ = 240 kg ha^?1). N₂₄₀ increased the uptake of N, P, and K by 66.3, 48.6, and 43.5%, respectively, as compared to N₁₂₀. The application of N₂₄₀ increased the grain yield by 28.4 and 40.4% and water use efficiency by 27.6 and 41.8% the first and second season, respectively, as compared to N₁₂₀. Based on the obtained results, it is recommended to fertilize drip-irrigated wheat by 240 kg ha^?1.     

Plant‐available soil phosphorus. Part I: the response of winter wheat and spring barley to Olsen P on a silty clay loam

Increasing fertilizer costs have prompted farmers to ask whether soils could be maintained at lower levels of plant‐available phosphorus (Olsen P) than currently recommended without losing yield. To help answer this question, we assessed the response to Olsen P by spring barley grown from 1986 to 1991, followed by winter wheat from 1992 to 2008, on a silty clay loam soil. Each year the curve relating grain yield to Olsen P was fitted statistically to determine the asymptotic yield and the Olsen P associated with 98% of that yield, that is, the critical level of Olsen P. The variance accounted for by the relationship ranged between 83 and 97% in all but two years, suggesting that the availability of soil P was the major soil factor affecting yield and that Olsen P was a reliable measure of plant‐available P in soil. Asymptotic annual yield of spring barley ranged from 2.34 to 7.12 t/ha and of winter wheat from 3.87 to 10.36 t/ha. In part, this range in yields was because of changes in the cultivar grown while the range of yields for any one cultivar was probably due to differences in weather, principally rainfall, between years. Critical Olsen P ranged from 7 to 18 mg/kg for both cereal crops (with one outlier at 26 mg/kg for winter wheat) most probably due to seedbed and soil structure conditions affecting root growth, and thus acquisition of available soil P, and the way these soil factors were affected by weather. Thus, a general recommendation for cereals grown on this silty clay loam, which is comparatively easy to cultivate, would be to maintain Olsen P at about 20 mg/kg in the plough layer to minimize the risk of losing yield in some years. This value, 20 mg/kg, equivalent to 20 mg/L, is the midpoint of P Index 2, the recommended P Index given in the Fertiliser Manual (RB209) (Defra 2010) for soils growing arable crops and grass in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.     

施氮量对不同品质类型小麦产量和加工品质的影响

为了明确施氮量与不同品质类型小麦的产量和品质的关系,选用强筋小麦济麦20、 皖麦38和中筋小麦京冬8、 中麦8共2种品质类型4个小麦品种,研究了施氮量对其产量性状和加工品质的影响。结果表明,在施氮量N 0-360 kg/hm2的范围内,增加氮肥用量可以有效缓解叶绿素降解,抑制旗叶全氮含量降低,缓解叶片衰老,延长旗叶功能期; 强筋小麦品种比中筋小麦品种旗叶叶绿素含量和氮素含量下降缓慢。子粒产量和蛋白质产量随施氮量的增加逐渐提高,施氮N 270 kg/hm2时达到最大值,增加到360 kg/hm2时子粒产量和蛋白质产量均开始下降。强筋小麦蛋白质产量和子粒产量高,中筋小麦穗数、 穗粒数多,千粒重高。施氮有利于子粒出粉率、 硬度、 蛋白质含量和沉降值的提高。施氮N 180 kg/hm2时可以显著延长面团形成时间和稳定时间,降低吸水率,面包总体评分最高。强筋小麦硬度大,蛋白质含量、 出粉率和沉降值高,面团形成时间和稳定时间长,面包体积大、 评分高。     

Peculiar effect of Azospirillum inoculation on growth and nitrogen balance of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Summary Wheat plants (Triticum aestivum) grown in pots and in the field under the Mediterranean climate of the south of France were inoculated with a strain of Azospirillum brasilense. Comparisons with non-inoculated plants grown under the same conditions showed significant responses to inoculation with an increase in the number of fertile tillers, shoot and root dry weight, and root to shoot biomass ratio. The roots of inoculated plants attracted relatively more assimilates than those of the control plants until a late stage of growth (heading stage) but the rhizosphere respiration expressed per unit of root growth was not increased by inoculation. Nitrogen yield, both total and in grains, was also enhanced; however, N percentages of all aerial parts of the plants grown in pots were always statistically lower after inoculation than in the control. At maturity, the N % in seeds was 1.81 and 2.45, respectively. The possible mechanisms of this effect of inoculation under the experimental conditions of this study are discussed.     

The potential of microsatellites for high throughput genetic diversity assessment in wheat and barley

Microsatellite (SSR) profiles from 65 wheats and 135 barleys have been generated, involving 14 and 22 loci, respectively. The wheat and barley varieties were chosen to represent the bulk of the area sown to these crops in the UK over the past 70 years. The profiling identified genotypic mixtures in some seed samples. Null alleles were common in wheat, but rare in barley. We describe attempts to increase the efficiency of data acquisition. High resolution agarose gel electrophoresis was unable to satisfactorily resolve 1–2 repeat unit differences in the common size range for SSR loci, and was therefore unsuitable for mass screening of allelic variants. Multiplex PCR was very dependent on the choice of primer combinations and seldom produced amplifications as consistently as when primer pairs were used individually. Background (non-specific) amplification was common to many primer pairs, and this hindered the use of both multiplex PCR and multiple sample loading. Sequential sample loading was the most effective strategy, although this was the least time-efficient of the measures used.     

Yield promotion and phosphorus solubilization by plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria in extensive wheat production in Turkey

Plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been reported to stimulate the growth and yield of grain crops, particularly when nutrient supply is poor. However, the mechanisms underlying stimulation of plant growth may vary depending not only on growth conditions and crop management but also on plant and bacterial species. The present study assessed the effect of an inoculation with single or multiple PGPR strains on phosphorus (P)‐solubilization processes in the soil and on grain yield in wheat. Single inoculation with Bacillus subtilis OSU‐142, Bacillus megaterium M3, or Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 increased grain yield by 24%, 19%, and 19%, respectively, while a mixed inoculation with OSU‐142, M3, and Sp245 increased grain yield by 33% relative to noninoculated plants. Single inoculations with Paenibacillus polymyxa RC05 or Bacillus megaterium RC07 were less effective. Single or mixed treatments with OSU‐142, M3, and Sp245 increased the concentrations of the labile and moderately labile P fractions in rhizosphere soil. The growth‐stimulating effect of OSU‐142, M3, and Sp245 was also reflected by higher P concentrations in most plant organs. Among all inocula tested, the highest plant P acquisition was obtained in the presence of M3 and accompanied by the highest microbial P levels and the highest phosphatase activities in the rhizosphere soil. In conclusion, seed inoculation with mixed PGPR strains may effectively substitute for a part of P‐fertilizer application in extensive wheat production, and in particular M3 appears to improve the solubilization of inorganic soil P.     

Yield and yield formation of field winter wheat in response to supplemental solar ultraviolet-B radiation

The stratospheric ozone decrease has heightened concern over the ecological implications of increasing solar UV-B radiation on agricultural production and natural plant ecosystems. UV-B is absorbed, and can damage many important plant species through a variety of interacting mechanisms. The effects of enhanced UV-B exposure on yield and yield formation of winter wheat associated with photosynthetic activity and total biomass development were investigated in this study. The overall experimental design included three UV-B treatments (two supplemental UV-B treatments and an ambient level) with three replicates of each treatment. Results suggested that the supplemental UV-B can cause the decrease of yield of winter wheat up to 24% with 11.4% increased UV-B. Supplemental UVB decreased dry matter accumulation most during the jointing–booting stage when the leaf area index (LAI) was the greatest. In addition, the supplemental U-VB appeared to effect the distribution of dry matter but did not effect the net assimilation ratio of the wheat.     

Soil and plants nutrient status and wheat growth after mycorrhiza inoculation with and without vermicompost

Two vermicompost treatments providing 45 (V1) and 90 (V2) kg P ha^?1 and mycorrhizae (M) inoculation were evaluated alone and in combinations for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth and soil fertility status. The treatments included; the Control, nitrogen (N): dipotassium oxide (K₂O) as basal dose (BD; 120:60 kg ha^?1), N: phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅): K₂O as recommended dose (RD; 120:90:60 kg ha^?1), BD+Myccorhiza (BDM), BD+V1 (BDV1), BDM+V1 (BDMV1), BD+V2 (BDV2), and BDM+V2 (BDMV2). Combination of mycorrhizae and vermicompost (BDMV1 and BDMV2) significantly and maximally improved the growth, plant N, phosphorus (P), and micronutrient concentrations over the control, reduced the soil pH by 5 and 6%, increased OM by 25 and 112%, total N by 41%, and extractable P up to 200% while the extent of improvement was directly related to the content of added vermicompost. Results indicated that vermicompost at either level synergistically affected the mycorrhizae in plant nutrition as well as improved soil fertility status and soil chemical properties.     

披碱草根际促生菌筛选及其接种剂的促生作用

【目的】体外促生能力是衡量微生物菌株作用的一个重要指标,测定获取的植物根际促生菌并明确其对披碱草的促生效果,可为其在生产中的应用提供依据。【方法】2014年9月从西藏阿里地区采集披碱草根系及根际土壤,以常规方法分离出其中的溶磷菌、 固氮菌和分泌3-吲哚乙酸(IAA)细菌的10株菌株。测定其溶磷量、 固氮酶活性及分泌生长素能力,并将其制成植物根际接种剂,测定接种剂对披碱草生长的影响及其在根际的定殖能力。【结果】菌株PWXZ10溶磷能力较好,达40.89 mg/L; 菌株003PWXZ6固氮酶活性较强,达421.21 nmol/(mL·h); 菌株NXP17分泌生长素能力较强,达31.33 μg/mL。与对照菌株(Pseudomonas sp. Jm92)相比,菌株003PWXZ6和NXP17制备的接种剂可显著增加披碱草株高、 地上生物量和地下生物量(P0.05),但两者之间差异不显著(P0.05); 接种剂003PWXZ6对披碱草根总长、 根表面积、 根体积、 根直径、 含磷量、 含氮量和粗蛋白含量增加显著(P0.05),分别较对照菌株(Pseudomonas sp. Jm92)增加了330%、 199%、 118%、 187%、 70%、 15%和19%,并且该菌株在根际定殖能力很强。 【结论】植物根际促生菌003PWXZ6和NXP17对披碱草具有良好促生效果,可为开发经济环保的生物肥料提供了菌种资源。     

氮肥运筹比例对稻田套播强筋小麦子粒品质和产量的影响

为探索稻田套播强筋小麦实现优质高产的适宜氮肥运筹比例,选用强筋小麦品种烟农19,于2004至2006年在江苏淮北的铜山和赣榆两地研究了5种氮肥运筹比例(基肥∶分蘖肥∶拔节肥∶孕穗肥分别为6∶1∶3∶0、5∶1∶4∶0、5∶1∶2∶2、3∶3∶2∶2和3∶3∶1∶3)对稻茬强筋小麦子粒产量和营养品质与加工品质的影响。结果表明,随拔节肥和孕穗肥施氮比例上升:1)子粒蛋白质和湿面筋含量上升,但对清蛋白与球蛋白含量影响较小,对醇溶蛋白、谷蛋白含量影响较大;2)子粒淀粉含量下降,面粉峰值粘度、低谷粘度、稀解值和最终粘度呈先下降后又上升的趋势;3)面团形成时间和稳定时间增加;4)子粒产量逐渐升高,但后期施肥比例过高,产量有所下降。因此,稻田套播强筋小麦优质高产栽培氮肥运筹宜采用基肥∶分蘖肥∶拔节肥∶孕穗肥为3∶3∶2∶2的比例。