Response of Wheat and Barley during Germination to Seed Osmopriming at Different Water Potential

Pre-sowing osmotic seed treatments were evaluated as a means of improving water uptake and germination performance of wheat ( Triticum durum L. cv. Hourani-27) and barley ( Hordeum vulgare L. cv. ACSAD 176) under four levels of water potential (0, –0.4, –0.8 and –1.2 MPa) created by using polyethylene glycol 8000. Seeds were osmoprimed in aerated solutions of 0.0, 0.2, 0.4 or 0.6 M KCl at 24 ± 2°C overnight and then rinsed and dried. Rate of water uptake by seeds was higher in osmoprimed than untreated seeds of both crops regardless of the water potential level. Decreasing water potential (more stress) adversely affected rate of water uptake in seeds of both crops. Seeds osmopriming increased germination percentage and decreased time to 50% germination at high water potentials (low stress), whereas the germination at low water potentials (more stress) was not affected by osmopriming treatments. The effect of osmopriming on rate of water uptake, germination percentage, and time to 50% germination was more pronounced in wheat than in barley. Reduction in the lag time of imbibition may be accounted for in part by some germination rate enhancement in the osmopriming treatments. Fresh weight and length of shoots (plumules) and roots (radicles) were enhanced in osmoprimed seeds in comparison to untreated seeds, in both crops at high water potentials (0 and – 0.4 MPa). As water potential in the medium decreased, these traits were inversely affected regardless of osmopriming treatment. Longer roots in wheat compared to barley were noted in the positive osmopriming treatments at high water potentials (0 and – 0.4). These results might indicate that wheat is more responsive than barley at relatively high water potentials to osmopriming through rapid penetrating root system.     

Varietal Differences of Wheat and Triticale to Water Stress

Six wheat ( Triticurn aestivum L.) and ten triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) cultivars were screened for water stress tolerance during germination and seedling stages in the laboratory and growth chamber, respectively. Germinating seeds and hydroponically-grown seedlings were subjected to osmotic stresses of –0.3 and –0.6 MPa using polyethylene glycol M. W. 8000. Both species and cultivar differences were found among the tested genotypes for all the parameters analyzed in both germination and seedling tests. Germination stress index was lower for seed exposed to -0.6 MPa than for -0.3 MPa osmotic stress. A significant relationship was found among plant height, fresh weight and dry weight stress indices evaluated during the seedling test. The cultivars that grew taller under stress conditions had greater dry matter accumulation, as well as higher germination and water uptake stress indices indicating the reliability of height to predict cultivar performance under such conditions. The cultivars Stacy (wheat) and Eu 14/15 (triticale) had higher dry matter accumulation, higher water uptake and leaf water potential, greater height and better germination under stress conditions than the other cultivars tested. Conversely, the cultivars GA 781014 (wheat) and Am 4147 (triticale) performed poorly with respect to all the parameters analyzed. Based on results from germination and seedling tests, the cultivars Stacy and Eu 14/15 were selected for more stress studies in the greenhouse and field.     

Variation in pod production and abortion among chickpea cultivars under terminal drought

The effect of terminal drought on the dry matter production, seed yield and its components including pod production and pod abortion was investigated in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Two desi (with small, angular and dark brown seeds) and two kabuli (with large, rounded and light coloured seeds) chickpea cultivars differing in seed size were grown in a controlled-temperature greenhouse, and water stress was applied by withholding irrigation 1 (early podding water stress, ES), 2 (mid-podding water stress, MS) or 3 (late-podding water stress, LS) weeks after the commencement of pod set. In addition, the pod and seed growth of well-watered plants was followed for the first 19 days after pod set. Growth of the pod wall followed a sigmoid pattern and was faster in the desi than in the kabuli cultivars, while no difference was found in early seed growth among genotypes. Time of pod set affected the yield components in all treatments with the late-initiated pods being smaller, having fewer seeds per pod and smaller seeds, but no significant difference between pods initiated on the same day on the primary and secondary branches was observed. Early stress affected biomass and seed yield more severely than the later stresses, and in all stress treatments secondary branches were more affected than primary ones. Pod production was more affected by early stress than by late stress, regardless of cultivar. Pod abortion was more severe in the kabuli than in the desi cultivars, but final seed size per se did not appear to be a determinant of pod abortion under terminal drought conditions. The data indicated that the production and viability of pods was affected as soon as water deficits began to develop. The results show that pod abortion is one of the key traits impacting on seed yield in chickpeas exposed to terminal drought and that irrespective of differences in phenology, kabuli types have greater pod abortion than desi types when water deficits develop shortly after first pod set.     

Water Deficit during the Reproductive Period of Grass Pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) Reduced Grain Yield but Maintained Seed Size

The grain legume grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is adapted to drought‐prone environments, but the extent and mechanisms of its tolerance are not well understood. In a pot experiment, water deficit was imposed on plants by withholding water from first flowering until predawn leaf water potential (LWP_pd) was ?3.12 MPa. Water deficit reduced dry matter, seed yield, harvest index and water use efficiency by 60 %, 87 %, 67 % and 75 %, respectively, when compared with the controls. Flower production stopped when LWP_pd fell to ?1.8 MPa. At LWP_pd?1.5 MPa, only 25 % of flowers resulted in filled pods (compared with 95 % filled pods in the control) with the rest aborted as flowers (48 %) or pods (27 %). Filled pods had more aborted ovules than controls, resulting in 29 % less seeds per pod. Water deficit reduced pollen viability, germination and the number of pollen tubes reaching the ovary by 13 %, 25 % and 31 %, respectively. Emergence from seeds produced from water‐deficient plants was 21 % less than controls, but seedling shoot dry mass was 18 % higher, in accordance with the 19 % higher seed mass. The sensitivity of flowering to drought limited pod numbers but enabled plants to retain existing pods and develop near‐normal seeds with low β‐N‐oxalyl‐l ‐α‐β‐diaminopropionic acid toxin concentrations. This trait is useful for farming systems reliant on harvested seed for the next crop and in cases where seed size influences the value of the product.     

Reproductive response of two morphologically different pea cultivars to drought

Water use by semi-leafless peas (Pisum sativum L.) is usually less than that of conventional peas because of their reduced surface leaf area, suggesting that semi-leafless peas would be less sensitive to drought because drought develops later. This work aimed to study the reproductive response of peas cv. Solara (semi-leafless) and cv. Frilene (conventional) subjected to similar controlled soil drought during the critical period occurring between flowering and initial seed filling. Plants were subjected to drought by watering with a fraction of water used in the evapotranspiration of control plants. Soil, pod and seed water contents, leaf water status parameters, dry matter (DM) partitioning, seed yield, yield components and water use efficiency (WUE) were measured. Although soil water content decreased in a similar way in both cultivars, leaf Ψ_w and RWC only decreased significantly in Solara. Well-watered Frilene plants produced higher shoot and pod DM, but lower seed DM. Well-watered Solara plants produced lower pod DM and higher seed DM than Frilene. Under drought, Frilene increased partitioning of total plant DM to vegetative organs, particularly roots, and decreased DM allocation to pods and seeds increasing flower abortion. By contrast, droughted Solara interrupted vegetative growth and increased leaf senescence but maintained similar partitioning of total plant DM to pods and seeds as in well-watered conditions. For both cultivars there was a close relationship between the percentage of total DM partitioned into seeds and WUE_y (water use efficiency on seed yield basis). Results demonstrate that when plants suffered the same level of drought in the soil, the reproductive response of the two cultivars was linked to differences in their WUE.     

Physiological responses of chickpea genotypes to terminal drought in a Mediterranean-type environment

Two field experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of terminal drought on chickpea grown under water-limited conditions in the Mediterranean-climatic region of Western Australia. In the first experiment, five desi (small angular seeds) chickpeas and one kabuli (large round seeds) chickpea were grown in the field with and without irrigation after flowering. In the second experiment, two desi and two kabuli cultivars were grown in the field with either irrigation or under a rainout shelter during pod filling. Leaf water potential (Ψ_l), dry matter partitioning after pod set and yield components were measured in both experiments while growth before pod set, photosynthesis, pod water potential and leaf osmotic adjustment were measured in the first experiment only.

In the first experiment, total dry matter accumulation, water use, both in the pre- and post-podding phases, Ψ_l and photosynthesis did not vary among genotypes. In the rainfed plants, Ψ_l decreased below −3 MPa while photosynthesis decreased to about a tenth of its maximum at the start of seed filling. Osmotic adjustment varied significantly among genotypes. Although flowering commenced from about 100 days after sowing (DAS) in both experiments, pod set was delayed until 130–135 DAS in the first experiment, but started at 107 DAS in the second experiment. Water shortage reduced seed yield by 50 to 80%, due to a reduction in seed number and seed size. Apparent redistribution of stem and leaf dry matter during pod filling varied from 0 to 60% among genotypes, and suggests that this characteristic may be important for a high harvest index and seed yield in chickpea.     

Hydrotime Analysis of Ethiopian Mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) Seed Germination Under Different Temperatures

Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) is an oil‐seed species that has recently become an object of great interest as a promising crop for energy purposes (biodiesel and biolubricant production). In semi‐arid regions of South Italy, soil moisture at sowing time is often inadequate, delaying and reducing seed germination. In this study, the effect of reduced water potential on seed germination in three cultivars of B. carinata (ISCI 7, CT 180 and Sincron) was investigated in the laboratory. Germination behaviour at constant temperatures under low water availability was also analysed through the hydrotime model. Six water potentials (ψ_s) in PEG solution (0, ?0.2, ?0.4, ?0.6, ?0.8 and ?1.0 MPa) and three temperatures (10, 20 and 30 °C) were used for the germination tests. A thermo‐inhibiting effect was observed at the highest levels of water stress. The hydrotime analysis revealed that the increase of temperature to 30 °C reduced predicted hydrotime (θ_H) by hastening the rate of germination, but shifted median base water potential (ψ_b(50)) to higher values (less negative), whereas the lowering of temperature increased θ_H. These observations may have a great agronomic impact because although fewer seeds germinated at 30 °C at the highest levels of water stress, they may germinate faster in rapidly drying soil. However, genetic differences were observed among cultivars in terms of estimated θ_H and ψ_b(50). The hydrotime modelling approach offered in this study may help predict B. carinata seed germination under soil water deficit conditions occurring under early or late autumnal sowing.     

土壤水分胁迫下小麦叶片的渗透调节与膨压维持

两年的试验结果表明,在土壤缓慢脱水和长期水分胁迫下,四个小麦品种叶片均产生渗透调节,孕穗期和灌浆期渗透调节能力较强,渗透调节的幅度为0.40～0.64MPa,抗旱性强的品种大于抗旱性弱的品种.由于渗透调节在土壤含水量60%左右或轻度胁迫下,叶片膨压基本不变.五个生育期四个处理水平叶水势与膨压回归分析,从水势每下降一个单位,膨压降低的单位数看,昌乐5号(0.146)<山农587(0.151)<烟农15(0.162)<济南13(0.240),抗旱性强的品种由于渗透调节能力强,膨压降低的单位数小,维持膨压的程度高.     

Effects of Seed Size and Seed Substances of Lupins on Seedling Emergence and Root System Development in Relation to Sowing Depth, Soil Water and Gibberellin

Effects of seed size and organic substances on seedling emergence and root elongation were studied in four poi experiments with five cultivars of lupins. Sowing depth, soil water and the influence of gibbereilin GA, on seeds were investigated too. Seed size, carbohydrates and fats were found to affect the rate of seedling emergence and root elongation.
Treatment of seeds with gibberellin had no effect on seedling emergence or on the superrerrestrial growth of lupins, but acted remarkably otherwise on root formation     

水分胁迫和种子大小对侧柏种子萌发的影响

以山东省石灰岩山地侧柏人工林的种子为材料,研究水分胁迫和种子大小对其萌发的影响。结果表明:随聚乙二醇(PEG)浓度增加,发芽率(Gr)、发芽指数(Gi)和活力指数(Vi)显著降低,平均发芽时间(MGT)显著增加,20%PEG处理的种子发芽率为0。种子休眠率随PEG浓度增加显著增加,死亡率是先降低再增加。胚芽长(GL)、胚根长(RAL)、胚芽/胚根、根长(RL)、根表面积(RSA)和根体积(RV)随PEG浓度增加显著降低。大种子比小种子有着低的死亡率,高的Gr、RAL和RV。PEG浓度和种子大小在发芽率、死亡率、Gi、Vi、GL、RAL、胚芽/胚根、RV有着明显的交互作用。PEG浓度越低,大种子的上述指标优势越大。GL和RAL与Gr、Vi、Gi成显著正相关,与MGT成显著负相关;与RL、RSA、RV成显著正相关。因此,水分胁迫和种子大小是侧柏人工林种子萌发的重要限制因素。     

Maternal and Genetic Effects on Seed Weight of Tomato, and Effects of Seed Weight on Growth of Genotypes of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

A study was made on the inheritance of seed weight of tomato, and on the effect of seed weight on growth of tomato plants. Use was made of 15 parental genotypes and 105 F₁s produced by diallel crossing (F₁-seeds). From combining ability analysis of variance carried out for weight of F₁-seeds it appeared that the weight of seeds harvested from tomato plants was mainly determined by the maternal genotype and largely independent of the genotype of the male parent. A combining ability analysis of variance for weight of seeds produced by seilfing F₁'s (F₂-seeds) showed, however, that female and male parents contributed equally to the inheritance of seed weight and that the inheritance of seed weight is determined mainly by chromosomal additiveiy acting factors, but that also non-additive gene action occurred. Genotypes with large seeds produced heavier seedlings than genotypes with small seeds, In later growth stages, the correlation between seed weight and plant weight became smaller, presumably, due to a lower relative growth rate of the seedlings from large seeds. For this reason, it is doubtful whether breeding of large seeded tomato cultivars opens up prospects of improving growth and yield of tomato plants.     

陆地棉野生种系的种子特性分析

对8个陆地棉野生种系的种子形态,油分含量和粗蛋白含量、及水速率和耐盐性等性状与3个栽培品种进行了比较分析。结果表明,野生种系的种子普遍较小,并且变异大。种子油分和粗蛋白含量变幅大,分别为23.15～39.80%和28.83～39.31%。野生种系间种子的吸水速率和到达吸水高峰的时间存在着显著的差异,这与野生种系存在着一定程度的硬实种子有关。palmeri全是硬实种子,mexicanum,richmondi和yucatanense的硬实率分别为30.0%、26、6%和23.3%。野生种系的耐盐性在12%Nacl浓度时差异较为明显,其中punctatum,morrilli和marie—galante的耐盐性较强;mexicanum,latifolium和yucatanense的耐盐性与3个栽培品种相近。这说明在野生种系中筛选耐盐性强的材料是完全可能的。陆地棉野生种系(Gossypium hirsutum L.race)是棉花育种工作中重要的种质资源。自80年代初从陆地棉原产地墨西哥引入这些野生种系以后,关于它们的生物学特性和抗病性等性状,国内已作了一些研究分析。资料表明它们的变异类型丰富,分别具有抗病、抗虫和优质纤维等可供利用的性状和特性。本试验以8个野生种系的种子为材料,研究种子的形态特征和吸水发芽的能力,并以3个栽培品种的种子为对照进行比较,借以了解陆地棉野生种系的种子生物学特性,为育种提供依据。     

Screening for Drought Tolerance: Evaluation of Seed Germination and Seedling Growth for Drought Resistance in Legume Plants

Experiments were performed to evaluate seed germination and seedling growth in simulated drought as screening techniques for drought tolerance raring. Several laboratory screening tests were evaluated for ability to estimate drought resistance in 18 cultivars of legume plants (field bean, soybean, field pea, lupine). Drought was simulated by a water solution of mannitol of chemical water potential ψ= -0.3 and -0.6 MPa. Both solutions significantly affected seed germination (final germination and promptness index) and seedling growth parameters (seedling height, dry matter of shoot and root as well as leaf injury by drought and high temperature). The tested cultivars could be grouped as drought resistant and drought susceptible plants. Drought tolerance ratings of legume plants in the laboratory tests were, on the whole, consistent with the ratings based on estimation of direct effects of soil drought on seed yield in field experiments. Measurements of electroconductivity of leaf diffusate to evaluate invisible injury caused by drought or high temperature were found to be an adequate criterion for drought tolerance rating. It is concluded that tolerance to drought stress in growing seedlings can be screened for by using mannitol containing nutrient solution. According to the results collected in this research, varieties differences in seed germination, seedling growth and leaf injury affected by drought or heat temperature were evident, however, not all treatments appeared to be equally useful for screening of legume species cultivars.     

土壤水分胁迫对冬小麦叶片渗透调节及叶绿体超微结构的影响

土壤水分胁迫下 ,抗旱性强的小麦品种昌乐 5号、北农 2号与抗旱性弱的济南 13、鲁麦 5号相比 ,渗透调节能力高 0 4 1～ 0 60MPa ,相对含水量少降 6 39～ 10 74个百分点 ,叶水势少降 0 19～ 0 63MPa。水分胁迫使小麦叶片光合能力下降 ,水分胁迫全过程下降平均百分数 ,抗旱性强的品种比抗旱性弱的品种光合速率少降 17 7%～ 2 2 5% ;气孔导度少降 2 1 0 6%～2 3 75%。小麦叶肉细胞叶绿体的超微结构发生变化且随水分胁迫的加重而加剧 ,但变化程度与小麦的抗旱性及渗透调节能力成负相关。胁迫导致叶绿体外形变圆 ,类囊体肿胀 ,片层间距加大 ,基质片层模糊 ,最终叶绿体解体     

Response of Root Branching and Shoot Water Potentials of French Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) to Soil Moisture and Fertilizer Potassium

Extensive branching patterns of roots and the maintenance of adequate water within shoots enables plants to overcome water stress. However, information on the relationship between fertilizer potassium, root branching patterns and shoot water potentials of food legumes grown under different soil moisture regimes is scarce. Thus, an experiment was conducted in a phytotron to ascertain the effect of fertilizer potassium on root branching patterns and shoot water potentials of a popular tropical food legumes (Frenchbeans Phaseolus vulgaris L). The plants were grown in a sand medium with 0.1, 0.8 or 3.0 mM of potassium under a suboptimal and optima) soil moisture regime.
Root lengths and dry weights were enhanced by potassium, especially under a suboptimal soil moisture regime. The branching patterns changed due to potassium, where the numbers of second and third order roots increased under both soil moisture regimes, although the impact was greater in plants grown with low soil moisture. Plant water contents measured in terms of shoot water potential, relative water contents, rurgid weight: dry weight ratio and water uptake capacity were also increased by potassium. A positive relationship was observed between root branching patterns and water potentials with increasing potassium levels especially in plants grown under suboptimal soil moisture conditions. Shoot growth and nodulation was also promoted by potassium. The ability of plants to develop a more extensive branching pattern of roots by inducing a greater number of second and third order roots and changing the root branching habit from a herringbone to a dichotomous type to maintain a greater shoot water potential especially under low soil moisture regimes is presented.     

Population dynamics of volunteer oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) affected by tillage

Volunteer plants of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) from persistent seeds in soil can affect subsequent crops. Apart from the agricultural disadvantages, the environment and the marketing of the seeds may also be affected, particularly if plants with special ingredients or genetically modified (gm) plants are grown. In order to investigate the influence of soil cultivation and genotype on seed persistence and gene flow via volunteers, a field experiment was set up testing four tillage treatments and two cultivars in a split-plot design. The cultivars tested were near-isogenic to two gm cultivars. To simulate harvesting losses, 10 000 seeds m⁻² were broadcast on a soil in July. The subsequent tillage treatments were combinations of immediate or delayed stubble tillage by a rotary tiller, primary tillage with plough or cultivator, or zero tillage. Over the following year, the fate of the seeds was determined. Immediate stubble tillage with following cultivator or plough resulted in 586 resp. 246 seeds m⁻² in the soil seed bank. After delayed stubble tillage with following plough, 76 seeds m⁻² were found, and no soil seed bank was built up in the zero tillage treatment. Nevertheless, in the zero tillage treatment, several robust volunteer plants survived the herbicide application before the direct drilling in autumn until following spring. In the zero tillage treatment and in the cultivator treatment, 0.19 volunteers m⁻² resp. 0.06 volunteers m⁻² flowered simultaneously to ordinarily sown oilseed rape in the following crop of winter wheat and produced 73 resp. 18 seeds m⁻². Delayed stubble tillage reduced the risk of gene escape via the soil seed bank, while zero tillage resulted in the highest risk of gene escape by pollen and by production of a new generation of seeds. In terms of a labelling threshold for gm food this number of seeds would be below the threshold of 0.9% of transgenic parts in conventially bred food or feed.     

The Influence of Plant Water Stress on Net Photosynthesis and Yield of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The effect of plant water stress on net photosynthesis, leaf growth, yield and yield-related components were investigated in a single experiment in order to determine in which way water deficits affect sunflower yields.
Sunflower plants, grown under controlled temperature regimes, were stressed during budding, anthesis and seed filling by withholding water until the leaf water potential reached -1600 and -2000 kPa. Leaf area of unstressed plants significantly exceeded that of plants under severe stress during all growth stages investigated. The CO₂ uptake rate per unit leaf area as well as the total uptake rate per plant, significantly diminished with stress, while this effect drastically increased during the reproductive phase of the plant. Although this resulted in significantly smaller heads and kernels, it did not affect the number of seeds borne in the inflorescence. Severe stress during anthesis and seed filling resulted in more empty kernels. Moderate and severe stress during budding significantly lowered both grain and oil yields while plants that experienced moderate stress during anthesis and seed filling significantly outyielded those under severe stress.     

Comparative Effects of Salt and Water Stress on Seed Germination and Early Embryo Growth in Two Cultivars of Sweet Sorghum

In semiarid regions of the Mediterranean basin, water and salinity stresses restrict crop establishment. The effects of salt and water stress on seed germination and early embryo growth (radicle and shoot growth) were investigated in laboratory in two cultivars of sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] – cv. ‘90‐5‐2′ and cv. ‘Keller’ – to verify how these stresses may limit crop growth during the very early stages of growing season. Six water potentials (ψ) of the imbibition solution (from 0 to ?1.0 MPa) in NaCl or polyethylene glycol (PEG) for salt and water stress tests, respectively, were studied. Daily germination was recorded, and radicle and shoot lengths and dry weights (DWs) were measured 2 days after initial germination. Seed germination was reduced (8–30% lower than control) by water stress at ψ 相似文献   

春小麦种子大小对主要性状及产量的影响

通过8个春小麦品种的大、小粒种子在大田进行播种试验，结果表明：大粒种子形成的植株分蘖数多，营养生长旺盛，收获穗数多，产量较高。而在株高、穗长、单穗粒数及千粒重等性状上，种子大小不产生直接影响。     

Effect of germination, seed abrasion and seed size on polyphenol oxidase assay activity in wheat

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) is one of the major enzymes responsible for browning of wheat food products. Wheat cultivars differ in PPO activity and plant breeders wish to select germplasm and cultivars with low PPO activities. Prior to harvest, seeds may be exposed to conditions conducive to preharvest sprouting and mechanical damage may occur during harvesting and subsequent handling. Sprouting, mechanical damage and seed size may affect PPO assay activity and therefore impinge upon the breeder's ability to accurately select low PPO genotypes. The effects of incipient germination, mechanical abrasion and seed size on PPO assay activity were investigated using the cultivars ‘Klasic’(hard white spring, high PPO), ‘Penawawa’(soft white spring, high PPO) and ‘ID377s’(hard white spring, low PPO). The influence of embryo vs. distal portions of the seed on PPO assay activity was also examined. PPO activity was assayed with constant mixing using L‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl alanine (L‐DOPA) substrate at pH 6.5 at room temperature; absorbance of the reaction solution was measured at 475 nm. There was no change in PPO assay activity for seeds imbibed in water for up to 8 h. PPO assay activity increased in seeds imbibed from 8 to 16 h, and then gradually declined with increasing imbibing time. PPO assay activity initially increased as a result of mechanical abrasion but then gradually declined with increasing abrasion time. Large seeds had a higher total PPO assay activity than small seeds, but the difference in activity was not proportional to seed weight. There was only a slight difference in PPO assay activity between half‐seeds with or without the embryo. Overall, PPO assay activity in dry seeds was stable and exposure of seeds to injury and moisture did not make any significant change in PPO assay activity among the cultivars or their relative rankings.