Foliar and Radicular Absorption of Boron by Beetroot and Tomato Plants

The isotopic technique was employed to study boron (B) mobility in tomato and beetroot plants under protected cultivation conditions. An experiment was conducted in which both species grew in 10-dm³ vases filled with coconut fiber, under hydroponic conditions. The plants were subjected to four different treatments: (1) no B in the substratum and no foliar fertilization; (2) no B in the substratum, with foliar ¹⁰B fertilization; (3) B in the substratum, with foliar ¹⁰B fertilization; and (4) ¹⁰B in the substratum and no foliar fertilization. The biological growth variables and total B and ¹⁰B contents in the plant parts grown after the application of the nutrient were evaluated. For increasing B content in young tissues, the foliar application of this element was not as efficient as application via root system, indicating low mobility of B in the tissues of both beetroot and tomato plants.     

Fruit Quality and Nitrogen,Potassium, and Calcium Content of Apple as Influenced by Nitrate: Ammonium Ratios in Tree Nutrition

Evaluations of fruit quality and nitrogen, potassium, and calcium concentration of apple (Malus domestica Borkh. cvs. Gala and Golab) grown with five treatments of NO₃^?:NH₄⁺ ratios were made in pot culture. The concentrations of NO₃^?:NH₄⁺ ratios were 2.5:0.1, 6:1, 6:0.7, 6:0.5, 6:0.3 meq L^?1. Fruit size, percent dry matter, total dissolved solids, total acidity, or juice pH was not affected by increased ammonium in the ratio. Firmness decreased as the proportion of NH₄⁺ increased. Gala and Golab differed in some of these parameters. Concentrations of N and K increased as NH₄⁺ increased, whereas Ca had no trend or decreased. Generally, the treatment of 2.5:0.1 produced fruits with lower N but higher K and Ca concentrations than the other treatments. This research showed that some parameters such as fruit weight, length, and diameter, juice pH, and dry matter were not affected significantly by NH₄⁺ concentration whereas composition was affected.     

Boron Nutrition,Intracellular Transport,and Knife-Cut Disease in Sunflower

The present study was conducted to investigate in sunflower the processes of boron (B) uptake, intracellular compartmentation, and xylem translocation in response to B supply, ranging from deficiency to incipient toxicity, and to short-term changes in B supply. The experiments were conducted with two sunflower genotypes, selected on the basis of their susceptibility to knife-cut disease. It appears that the roots of the susceptible genotype of sunflower were more sensitive to low B contents in the solution media than the shoots. The decrease in root dry weight in high-B treatments could also indicate it was more sensitive to B toxicity. Though root dry weight decreased, the shoot/root dry-weight ratio was smaller in the resistant genotype, suggesting that this genotype would have a substantially larger root volume, capable of supporting the B demand of its shoots. The B contents in the water-insoluble residue (WIR) of roots were similar for all genotypes and treatments. In contrast, the B concentration in WIR of leaves reached values near saturation only when B started to accumulate in the cell sap (CS) of roots to the level as detected in CS of leaves. The critical values of B concentrations in shoot tissues would then be established after the B requirement for cell walls was satisfied and a proper metabolic B content in CS of roots was reached. Uptake efficiency (UE) values less than 1.00, detected as a result of treatments with high concentrations of B in the nutrient solution, suggested the presence of an exclusion mechanism that restricted B accumulation. The high UE value obtained with low-B treatments indicated that mechanisms other than mass flow had played a role in providing the acquired B.     

番茄果实中LeERFl、LeERF2基因的克隆及序列分析

乙烯反应元件结合蛋白属于植物特有的一个转录因子家族,这个家族保守的DNA结合域称为ERF结构域.根据对番茄(Lycopersicon esculenturm)和其它植物物种中EREBP基因家族的同源性比较,在保守区(ERF区域)设计合成一对简并引物,通过RT-PCR扩增得到一个114bp的片段,用此片段作探针筛选番茄cDNA文库(粉红期),得到两个基因LeERFl和LeERF2.通过BLAST工具在GenBank中搜索表明,LeERFl和LeERF2基因属于EREBP家族,LeERFl与EREBP-4和DDTFRl0/A在氨基酸水平上的序列相似性为35%,LeERF2与EREBP-3和pti5在氨基酸水平上的序列相似性为46%,是新的基因.LeERFl和LeERF2的核酸序列在GenBank发表,登录号分别为AY077626和AY275554.     

钾镁锌硼钼肥对椪柑产量和品质的影响

在成龄椪柑桔园连续3年施肥试验结果表明,施用钾、镁、锌、硼和钼肥对椪柑产量和品质有不同程度的影响。在红泥土和河沙土上氮磷钾平衡施较不施钾显著增加椪柑产量,分别增产14.3%和13.5%。在施用氮磷钾基础上施镁、锌、硼和钼肥,可使红泥土上椪柑果实产量依次平均增产8.6%、7.9%、7.4%和2.7%,可使河沙土上的椪柑果实产量依次平均增产4.3%、4.2%、3.1%和2.2%。施钾能增加果实的维生素C、全糖和可溶性固形物含量,而能降低全酸含量和糖/酸比。在施用氮磷钾基础上施镁、锌和硼能增加椪柑果实的维生素C、全糖和可溶性固形物含量。施钼肥导致果实中全酸含量的提高和糖/酸比的降低。在红泥土和河沙土上施钾使椪柑果皮增厚,施镁使果皮变薄,施锌硼对果皮影响甚微,施钼能明显地使果皮增厚。     

Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilization Affect Apple Fruit Quality in Southern Brazil

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) are usually found in higher concentrations than other macronutrients in apple (Malus x domestica Borkh) fruits and are most frequently associated with changes in fruit quality. The aim of this article was to evaluate the effects of N and K fertilization on some fruit quality attributes of Fuji apple. The experiment was conducted at São Joaquim, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, during 2004 and 2005. A factorial design was used with N and K annual fertilizer rates (0, 50, 100, and 200 kg ha^?1 of N and K₂O) replicated in three orchards. Fifteen days prior to harvest, three fruit samples were collected from each treatment and site. One sample was used for total soluble solid content (TSS), titratable acidity, pulp firmness, and fruit color parameter analyses, and the other samples were refrigerated in a conventional atmosphere for 3 and 6 months for subsequent determination of fruit quality. Nitrogen fertilization negatively affected fruit color, flesh firmness, and TSS content. These same variables were positively affected by K fertilization, except for flesh firmness.     

Effect of Drip Boron Fertigation on Yield and Fruit Quality in a High-Density Apple Orchard

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out in 2001–2003 at the Experimental Orchard of the Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture, Skierniewice, Poland, on mature ‘Jonagold’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees (M.26 EMLA) planted at 4 × 2.5 m spacing on a sandy loam soil with low boron (B) availability. The trees were drip fertigated with B at rates of 0.5, 1, or 1.5 g tree^{? 1} over 4 weeks at 3-d intervals beginning at the stage of bud break. Plants that did not receive B via drip irrigation system served as a control. Drip B fertigation effectively increased water-soluble B concentrations in the soil and the status of this microelement in leaves of current season shoots. However, the B fertigation had no effect on tree vigor. In 2 out of 3 years, the drip B fertigation improved flower B status, fruit set, and yield. The efficiency of the drip B fertigation was not influenced by B rate. In all growing seasons, the drip B fertigation increased B level and a soluble solids concentration in the fruit flesh, but had no effect on mean fruit weight, color, titratable acidity, and fruit firmness. It was concluded that on coarse-textured soils with low B availability, the drip B fertigation of mature apple trees in high-density orchards can be recommended from the stage of bud burst to petal fall at a rate of 0.5 g tree^{? 1}.     

Influence of Boron Nutrition on Membrane Leakage,Chlorophyll Content and Gas Exchange Characteristics in Cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum L.)

Understanding the effect of boron (B) on plant physiology will help to refine the diagnosis of B deficiency and improvement in B fertilizer recommendations for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) growing areas. This study shows the testing of hypotheses “that application of B-fertilizer improves net photosynthetic rate (P_N) and water use efficiency (WUE) for cotton plant on a B-deficient soil [< 0.50 mg B kg^?1 hydrochloric acid (HCl)-extractable] in an arid environment”. Thus, a permanent layout [two-year field experiment (2004 and 2005)] was conducted to study the impact of B fertilizer at 0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 kg ha^?1 on gas exchange and electrolyte leakage (EL) characteristics of cotton crop (cv. ‘CIM-473’). The soil at experimental site was alkaline (pH 8.1), calcareous [calcium carbonate (CaCO₃ 5.6%)], and silt loam (Typic Haplocambid). Boron use decreased EL of plant membrane (P ≤ 0.05), and increased P_N, transpiration rate (E) and stomatal conductance (g_s), while intercellular concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂; C_i) significantly decreased (P ≤ 0.05) during both experimental years. There was a positive, but non-significant effect of B concentration on chlorophyll content in plant leaves. Application of 3.0 kg B ha^?1 improved WUE up to 9.7% [4.62 μmol (CO₂) mmol^?1 water (H₂O)] compared to control plants (4.21 [μmol (CO₂) mmol^?1 (H₂O)]. Principal component analysis (PCA) of data indicates positive correlations between leaf B concentration and P_N, E, g_s, and WUE, while a negative relationship existed between leaf B concentration and intercellular CO₂ (C_i). This study showed that addition of B fertilizer in the B-deficient calcareous soil proved beneficial for growth and development for cotton crop by enhancing its WUE and gas exchange characteristics.     

Potassium Silicate Improves Salinity Resistant and Affects Fruit Quality in Two Strawberry Cultivars Grown Under Salt Stress

ABSTRACT

The response of ‘Kurdistan’ and ‘Paros’ strawberry cultivars to potassium silicate (K₂O₃Si) under sodium chloride (NaCl) salinity stress was studied in terms of vegetative parameters, sodium (Na) and potassium (K) content and fruit quality. K₂O₃Si could recover dry mass distribution of NaCl-stressed strawberry organs. Kurdistan cultivar tended to keep higher dry weight of leaves to maintain its photosynthetic apparatus activity. Inhibitory impact of K₂O₃Si on Na uptake of leaf was more obvious than root. Implementation of K₂O₃Si in some cases increased Total Soluble Solid (TSS) and Titratable Acidity (TA), which are the main factors determining taste of strawberry fruit. Furthermore, phenols and flavonoids were increased in Paros cultivar by effect K₂O₃Si under saline and non-saline conditions, respectively. Overall, our data suggest that silicon supply in strawberry plants not only could be used as a routine strategy to maintain growth and yield under salinity but also it could be beneficial for improvement of fruit quality attributes and health-related constituents.

Abbreviations: ANOVA: Analysis of Variance; CRD: Completely Randomized Design; DPPH: 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl; FF: Fruit Firmness; LSD: Least Significant Difference; PAL: Phenyl Alanine Ammonia Lyase; ROS: Reactive Oxygen Species; TSS: Total Soluble Solid; TAA: Total Antioxidant Activity; TA: Titratable Acidity; TAC: Total Anthocyanin; TF: Total Flavonoids; TP: Total Phenolics;     

Cd2+处理对几种叶菜可食部分Cd含量及品质的影响

以5种叶菜为材料,采用水培和盆栽试验2种培养方式,测定不同浓度Cd2+处理下叶菜地上部(可食部分)生物量、Cd含量、硝酸盐及纤维素含量等生理与品质指标。结果表明:水培与盆栽培养条件下青菜、塌地乌、小白菜、菠菜及芥菜5种叶菜生物量随着Cd2+处理浓度增加显著降低(P0.05);可食部Cd含量显著升高(P0.05);高浓度水培与盆栽Cd2+处理(40mg.L-1和70mg.kg-1)下,5种叶菜中菠菜Cd含量相对较高,青菜Cd含量较低;随着Cd2+处理浓度增加,5种叶菜硝酸盐及纤维素含量升高,维生素C和可溶性糖含量下降,采用灰度关联综合分析表明,不同浓度Cd2+处理的5种叶菜中,青菜品质相对稳定及Cd含量较低,为Cd低积累品种。     

Effect of Sulfur and Boron Nutrition on Yield and Quality of Soybean (Glycine max L.) Grown in an Acid Soil

Soybean (Glycine max L.), being a leguminous oilseed crop, requires relatively higher amount of sulfur (S) and boron (B) for optimum yield and quality. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of S and B application on growth, yield, and quality of soybean, and to find out their optimum doses for the best crop performance in acidic soils of northeast India. The treatments comprised four levels of S (0, 20, 40, and 60 kg/ha) and four levels of B (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 kg/ha) in factorial combination. In general, application of S and B, either alone or in combination, significantly increased the growth, yield, and quality of soybean. When applied alone, S resulted in best yield (1767 kg/ha) at S₄₀, which was 21.2% higher than the yield at control (1458 kg/ha), while B produced maximum yield (1578 kg/ha) at B_1.5 (8.23% higher than control). Interestingly, 57.4% yield improvement over control was recorded with combined application of S₄₀ and B_1.5, which shows their synergistic effect on crop performance. Similarly, with concurrent application of S₄₀ and B_1.5, a 28% increase in protein and 33% increase in oil content of soybean were recorded relative to control. In general, S₄₀ + B_1.5 also resulted in the highest nutrient nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium sulfur, and boron (NPKSB) uptake by soybean. Based on these results, we recommend the conjunctive use of 40 kg S and 1.5 kg B/ha for the best yield and quality of soybean on acidic soils of northeast India and other regions with similar soils.     

Effects of Nitrogen and Calcium Nutrition Withdrawal Before Harvesting on Biomass and Nutritive and Safety Quality in Spinach (Spinacia Oleracea L.)

A hydroponic culture was used to study different nitrogen and calcium supply patterns on biomass, nutritive, and safety quality of spinach seven days before harvesting. The results showed that the complete or partial withdrawal of nitrogen (N) and calcium (Ca) nutrient decreased spinach biomass compared to control (CK). At the same time, the withdrawal of N and Ca supply before harvesting increased vitamin C contents and decreased nitrate and oxalate content in edible parts of spinach. The decrease in spinach biomass could be partially compensated by the increase of the nutritive and safety quality of spinach and the reduced use of N and Ca nutrients.     

冰糖橙果园土壤养分与果实品质关系的多元分析及优化方案

对湖南省74个冰糖橙果园土壤矿质养分和果实品质含量进行测定分析,运用R和LINGO软件多元统计分析筛选了影响果实品质因子的主要土壤养分因子,探明了果实品质最佳时的土壤养分优化方案。研究结果表明,调查果园中超过86.20%的样点果园土壤pH处于酸性至强酸性环境,65.52%的果园土壤缺钙,75.86%的果园缺镁,82.76%的果园缺硼。冰糖橙果实品质是多个土壤养分因子综合作用的结果,偏最小二乘回归分析表明对冰糖橙单果质量影响较大的因子为土壤碱解氮、交换性钙;果形指数主要受土壤有效磷、有效铜、有效锌和pH影响;可溶性固形物含量主要受有机质、有效铜、有效锌和pH影响;可滴定酸含量主要受土壤速效钾、有效硼和pH的影响;Vc含量主要受土壤有机质、有效磷、速效钾、交换性镁和pH的影响。线性规划求解出pH为5.50~6.50、有机质含量大于39.68 g/kg、碱解氮为169.17~170.41 mg/kg、有效磷34.50 mg/kg、速效钾158.95~160.88 mg/kg、交换性钙1954.69 mg/kg、交换性镁123.81 mg/kg、有效铁468.31 mg/kg、有效锰96.09 mg/kg、有效铜1.73 mg/kg、有效锌10.93 mg/kg、有效硼0.33~0.85 mg/kg时,冰糖橙果实品质最佳。调节土壤酸碱度,增施有机肥,及时补充钙、镁和硼肥是今后果实品质管理的关键。     

Sulfur,Boron, and Zinc Fertilization Effects on Grain and Straw Quality of Maize and Sorghum Grown in Semi-Arid Tropical Region of India

Experiments were conducted on-farm during two seasons (2003–2004) to determine the effects of sulfur (S), boron (B), and zinc (Zn) fertilization on the grain and straw quality of sorghum and maize grown under rainfed conditions in the semi-arid zone of India. The farmers' fields were deficient in S, B, and Zn; in addition the soils were low in organic matter and extractable phosphorus (P), but adequate in extractable potassium (K). Results showed that the applications of S, B, and Zn (SBZn) with nitrogen (N) and P (SBZn + NP) significantly increased the grain N, S, and Zn concentrations in maize and sorghum compared to farmer inputs (FI) and SBZn treatments; the results relative to P and B composition of the grain of the crops were not consistent and did not show any definite trend. The application of SBZn + NP over FI generally increased N, S, and Zn concentration in sorghum and maize straw compared to FI and SBZn treatments. The straw composition of the crops relative to P and B did not show a consistent trend. The results of this study along with the results of our earlier research demonstrate that balanced nutrition of rainfed crops not only increases yields but also enhances N, S, and Zn contents in grain and straw of these crops.