Salinity and Defoliation Effects on Soybean Growth

An experiment was conducted to determine if salinity stress alters the response and tolerance of soybean to defoliation. Four soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr.] cultivars (‘Tachiutaka,’ ‘Tousan 69,’ ‘Dare’ and ‘Enrei’) in a growth chamber were exposed to two salinity treatments (0 and 40 mM NaCl) and two defoliation treatments (with and without defoliation). The interactive effects of salinity stress and defoliation on growth rate, leaf expansion, photosynthetic gas exchange, and sodium (Na⁺) accumulation were determined. The decrease in growth rate resulting from defoliation was more pronounced in plants grown under salinity stress than in those grown without the stress. Without salinity stress, defoliated plants of all four cultivars had leaf-expansion similar rates to those of the undefoliated ones, but the photosynthetic rates of their remaining leaves were higher than those of undefoliated plants. However, with salinity stress, defoliated ‘Tachiutaka’ and ‘Tousa 69’ had lower leaf expansion and photosynthetic rates than undefoliated plants. For cultivars ‘Dare’ and ‘Enrei,’ the defoliated plants had leaf-expansion rates similar to undefoliated ones, but the photosynthetic rate of the remaining leaves did not increase. Except for cultivar ‘Dare,’ defoliated plants grown under salinity stress had higher Na⁺ accumulation in leaves than undefoliated ones, and this result may be related to slow leaf expansion and photosynthesis. Salinity stress negatively affects soybean response and tolerance of defoliation, and the effects varied according to the salt tolerance of the cultivar.     

Effects of Salinity and Water Stress on Growth and Macro Nutrients Concentration of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

In order to study the effects of salinity and water stress on growth and macronutrients concentration of pomegranate plant leaves, a factorial experiment was conducted based on completely randomized design with 0, 30, and 60 mM of salinity levels of sodium chloride and calcium chloride (1:1) and three irrigation intervals (2, 4, and 6 days) with 3 replications on ‘Rabab’ and ‘Shishegap’ cultivars of pomegranate. The results of the shoot and root analysis indicated that the salinity and drought affected the concentration and distribution of sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), chloride (Cl^?), calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), and phosphorus (P⁺) in pomegranate leaves. Mineral concentrations of sodium (Na⁺), chloride (Cl^-), potassium (K⁺), in shoots and roots were increased with increasing salinity. Drought treatments increased the concentration of Cl^?, Na⁺, and Mg²⁺ in the shoot. Both cultivars showed significant differences in the concentrations of elements, however the most accumulation of Na⁺ and Cl^? was observed in ‘Rabab,’ while the ‘Shishegap’ cultivar had the most absorption of K⁺. ‘Shishegap’ cultivar showed higher tolerance to salinity than ‘Rabab’ through maintaining the vegetative growth and lower chloride transport to the shoot, and improvement of potassium transport to shoot.     

Mutual Effects of Boron and Zinc on Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Growth and Mineral Nutrition

The mutual effects of boron (B) and zinc (Zn) on growth, total chlorophyll (Chl), membrane permeability (MP), and nutrient content were investigated in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). The soil was treated with five levels of B (0, 4, 8, 16, 32 mg kg^?1) and three levels of Zn (0, 10, 20 mg kg^?1). Plant growth was progressively depressed with increasing of B. However, Zn addition had an inhibitory effect on B toxicity and decreased growth reduction caused by excess B. In Zn-untreated plants, B and Zn contents were enhanced by increasing of B; moreover, both Zn and B addition enhanced Zn content. The Chl content decreased and MP increased, resulting from B toxicity; however, Zn addition partially ameliorated the adverse effects of B toxicity on Chl and MP. Increasing B enhanced phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), Zn, copper (Cu), and sodium (Na) contents in peanut shoots.     

Mineral Uptake of Mycorrhizal Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Salinity Stress

The hypothesis was that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are able to alleviate salt stress on plant growth by enhancing and adjusting mineral uptake. The objectives were to determine (1) the effects of soil salinity on mineral uptake by different wheat genotypes and (2) the effectiveness of different mycorrhizal treatments on the mineral uptake of different wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes under salinity. Wheat seeds of Chamran and Line 9 genotypes were inoculated with different species of AM fungi including Glomus mosseae, G. intraradices, and G. etunicatum and their mixture at planting using 100 g inoculum. Pots were treated with the salinity levels of 4, 8, and 12 dS/m before stemming. Different arbuscular mycorrhizal treatments, especially the mixture treatment, increased wheat mineral uptake for both genotypes. Although Line 9 genotype resulted in greater nutrient uptake under salinity stress, Chamran was more effective on adjusting sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl^?) uptake under salt stress.     

Effects of Biozyme (Ascophyllum nodosum) Biostimulant on Growth and Development of Soybean [Glycine Max (L.) Merill]

Field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Biozyme^TM on soybean. Application of Biozyme granule and crop-plus spray with half of recommended nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) showed significant effects on all the growth and yield parameters of soybean. The greatest value for the number of trifoliate leaves (29.95 leaves plant^?1), leaf area (1818.21 cm2 plant^?1), leaf area index (5.946), total chlorophyll content (1.995 mg g^?1 leaf fresh mass), number of nodules (35.086 plants^?1), fresh and dry weight of nodules (0.664 and 0.1592 g plants^?1), dry weight of root (8.564 g plants^?1), pods plant^?1 (69.0), seeds pods^?1 (3.25), straw yield (3.122 t ha^?1), biological yield (6.349 t ha^?1), and grain yield (3.277 t ha^?1) was observed with Biozyme crop-plus spray at 500 mL ha^?1 plus half of recommended NPK and were significantly greater than control values. Biozyme crop-plus spray at 500 mL ha^?1 plus half of recommended NPK performed better compared to other treatments.     

植物生长调节剂对干旱胁迫下大豆幼苗生长的影响

采用盆栽试验,研究了在模拟干旱胁迫下喷施植物生长调节剂对大豆幼苗生长发育和生理生化指标的影响。结果表明,植物生长调节剂可促进大豆幼苗茎叶生长和主根伸长,增加侧根数,加大根冠比,提高叶绿素含量、脯氨酸含量和过氧化物酶(POD)活性,从而增强了植株的抗旱能力。喷施宝、云大120、地中宝、福施壮4种植物生长调节剂对不同大豆品种幼苗生长的影响基本一致,以喷施宝的效果最好,其次为云大120。     

磷锌配施对花生不同生育期磷锌吸收与分配的影响

对植物体内磷–锌复杂的交互关系,采用田间试验,研究了磷锌配施对花生不同生育期磷锌吸收、积累、分配及花生产量的影响。结果表明:施磷和施锌均显著提高了花生地上部干重和产量。相同锌用量下,施磷提高了花生地上部、花生壳和花生仁的磷含量和积累量,但降低了其锌含量、磷锌收获指数和荚果磷利用率。其中,施磷对地上部锌含量的降低程度取决于生育期和锌施用水平。随施磷量的增加,在花生苗期、花针前期及不施锌肥时,花生地上部锌含量显著降低;而在花针后期、结荚期和成熟期及施锌肥时,花生地上部锌含量的降低程度逐渐减弱,表明磷-锌拮抗作用在花生生育前期强于生育后期,不施锌肥强于施锌肥。施磷对花生锌积累量的影响取决于锌供应水平和花生生长部位。不施锌肥时,仅适量供磷促进了地上部锌积累,而施锌肥时,适量供磷和高量供磷均促进了地上部锌积累;不同于地上部,高量供磷显著降低了花生壳和花生仁锌积累量。相同磷用量下,增施锌肥对整个生育期花生各部位磷含量和花生生育后期磷积累量无显著影响,显著增加了花生苗期和花针前期地上部及成熟期花生壳和花生仁的磷积累量、磷收获指数和荚果磷利用率。总之,花生体内磷–锌相互作用大小受其生育期、生长部位和锌...     

Comparative Effect of Nitrogen Forms on Nitrogen Uptake and Cotton Growth Under Salinity Stress

The effects of nitrogen (N) forms (ammonium- or nitrate-N) on plant growth under salinity stress [150 mmol sodium chloride (NaCl)] were studied in hydroponically cultured cotton. Net fluxes of sodium (Na⁺), ammonium (NH₄⁺), and nitrate (NO₃^?) were also determined using the Non-Invasive Micro-Test Technology. Plant growth was impaired under salinity stress, but nitrate-fed plants were less sensitive to salinity than ammonium-fed plants due mainly to superior root growth by the nitrate-fed plants. The root length, root surface area, root volume, and root viability of seedlings treated with NO₃-N were greater than those treated with NH₄-N with or without salinity stress. Under salinity stress, the Na⁺ content of seedlings treated with NO₃-N was lower than that in seedlings treated with NH₄-N owing to higher root Na⁺ efflux. A lower net NO₃^? efflux was observed in roots of nitrate-fed plants relative to the net NH₄⁺ efflux from roots of ammonium-fed plants. This resulted in much more nitrogen accumulation in different tissues, especially in leaves, thereby enhancing photosynthesis in nitrate-fed plants under salinity stress. Nitrate-N is superior to ammonium-N based on nitrogen uptake and cotton growth under salinity stress.     

Growth Responses and Nitrogen-15 Absorption of Desert Saltgrass Under Salt Stress

Abstract

Saltgrass [Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene var. stricta (Gray) Beetle], accession WA-12, collected from a salt playa in Wilcox, AZ, was studied in a greenhouse to evaluate its growth responses in terms of shoot and root lengths, shoot dry-matter yield, and nitrogen (N) (regular and ¹⁵N) absorption rates under control and salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) stress conditions. Plants were grown under a control (no salt) and three levels of salt stress (100, 200, and 400 mM NaCl, equivalent to 5850, 11700, and 23400 mg L^{? 1} sodium chloride, respectively), using Hoagland solution in a hydroponics system. Ammonium sulfate [(¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄], 53% ¹⁵N (atom percent ¹⁵N) was used to enrich the plants. Plant shoots were harvested weekly, oven-dried at 60°C, and the dry weights measured. At each harvest, both shoot and root lengths were also measured. During the last harvest, plant roots were also harvested and oven-dried, and dry weights were determined and recorded. All harvested plant materials were analyzed for total N and ¹⁵N. The results showed that shoot and root lengths decreased under increasing salinity levels. However, both shoot fresh and dry weights significantly increased at 200 mM NaCl salinity relative to the control or to the 400 mM NaCl level. Shoot succulence (fresh weight/dry weight) also increased from the control (no salt) to 200 mM NaCl, then declined. The root dry weights at both 200 mM and 400 mM NaCl salinity levels were significantly higher than under the control. Concentrations of both total-N and ¹⁵N in the shoots were higher in NaCl-treated plants relative to those under the control. Shoot total-N and ¹⁵N contents were highest in 200 mM NaCl-treated plants relative to those under the control and 400 mM salinity.     

Nutrient Uptake,Water Relations,and Yield Performance lf Different Wheat Cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) under Salinity Stress

A pot experiment was conducted in the wire house of Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad to evaluate the effect of salinity stress on water relations, nutrient uptake and yield of six local spring wheat cultivars. The seeds were sown in plastic pots (25 × 15 cm) and experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement with three repeats. De-ionized water was used as control treatment while salinity stress was imposed by irrigating plants with sodium chloride (NaCl) solution of 10 mM at tillering, stem elongation, anthesis, and grain development stages. Results of the study demonstrated that salinity stress decreased water potential by 32%, osmotic potential by 12%, and relative water contents by 20% as compared to control treatment. The nitrogen (N) uptake was decreased by 36% under salinity stress, while phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) uptake were decreased by 56% and 42%, respectively. The yield of wheat plants was also significantly reduced under salinity stress. It reduced grain yield by 25% and grain weight by 7%. The response of different cultivars was also different to salinity stress as cultivars ‘Lasani-08’ and ‘FSD-08’ were found to be more tolerant as compared to other cultivars.     

Distribution of K, Na and Cl in Root and Leaf Cells of Soybean and Cucumber Plants Grown under Salinity Conditions

The element contents in the compartments of root and leaf cells of soybean and cucumber plants grown for 8 d in a nutrient solution containing 50 mM NaCl, 25 mM CaCl₂ or 50 mM NaCl+4.75 mM CaSO₄ were examined by X-ray microanalysis of freeze-substituted dry sections. Sodium accumulated in the vacuoles rather than in the cytoplasm and apoplastic space in the root cells of the soybean plants, leading to the difficulty in the transport of Na to leaves in soybean. Salt injury of soybean is considered to be caused by the accumulation of Cl at high concentrations in all the compartments of root and leaf cells. In contrast, the accumulation of Na in the cytoplasm of the root and leaf cells might disturb the metabolism and lead to the occurrence of salt toxicity in cucumber plants, which are tolerant to Cl due to the stimulation of Cl accumulation in vacuoles when the Ca concentration was high in nutrient media.     

Distribution of K,Na and Cl in Root and Leaf Cells of Soybean and Cucumber Plants Grown under Salinity Conditions

The element contents in the compartments of root and leaf cells of soybean and cucumber plants grown for 8 d in a nutrient solution containing 50 mM NaCl, 25 mM CaCl₂ or 50 mM NaCl+4.75 mM CaSO₄ were examined by X-ray microanalysis of freeze-substituted dry sections. Sodium accumulated in the vacuoles rather than in the cytoplasm and apoplastic space in the root cells of the soybean plants, leading to the difficulty in the transport of Na to leaves in soybean. Salt injury of soybean is considered to be caused by the accumulation of Cl at high concentrations in all the compartments of root and leaf cells. In contrast, the accumulation of Na in the cytoplasm of the root and leaf cells might disturb the metabolism and lead to the occurrence of salt toxicity in cucumber plants, which are tolerant to Cl due to the stimulation of Cl accumulation in vacuoles when the Ca concentration was high in nutrient media.     

盐分胁迫下番茄盐分离子和重金属的分布特征

采用盆栽试验方法研究了不同盐分含量处理下番茄不同器官盐分离子（Na＋、K＋、Ca2＋）和重金属离子（Cd2＋、Pb2＋、Cr2＋、Zn2＋、Cu2＋、Ni2＋）的分布特征,探讨盐分离子对番茄不同器官吸收重金属离子的影响机制,为重金属污染盐渍土壤的农业可利用性评价提供科学依据。结果表明,番茄根、茎、叶和果实Na＋含量均随盐分含量增加而增加;番茄根K＋含量随盐分含量增加小幅上升,茎K＋含量则显著下降,叶K＋含量无显著变化;番茄各器官Ca2＋含量随盐分含量增加无明显变化。番茄根Cd、Pb、Cr、Zn和Cu含量以及番茄茎、叶Cd含量均随盐分含量增加而增加;番茄根Ni含量、番茄茎叶Pb、Cr、Ni、Zn和Cu含量以及番茄果实各重金属含量受盐分含量变化影响不大。因此,土壤盐分含量的增加对番茄根部吸收重金属（Ni除外）有促进作用。     

Effects of Zeolite and Zinc on Quality of Canola (Brassica napus L.) Under Late Season Drought Stress

The research was performed to investigate the effect of zeolite and zinc on the qualitative characteristics of canola cultivars at different moisture regimes. Factorial split plot experiment was performed on the basis of the randomized complete blocks design with three replications in Karaj, Iran. The treatments were: 1) irrigation (I): complete (normal irrigation) (I₁), and restricted irrigation (I₂) applied at the pod formation stage, 2) zeolite (Z): 0 (Z₁), and 15 t ha^?1 (Z₂), and 3) Zn: zinc sulfate concentrations of 0%, 0.1%, and 0.2% (Zn_1, Zn_2, and Zn₃) on Opera, Licord, and RGS003 cultivars. The highest rate of all studied traits was obtained by applying Z₂Zn₂ (15 ton ha^?1 zeolite and 0.1% zinc sulfate) in both irrigation regimes. Opera cultivar in normal irrigation and RGS003 cultivar in stress conditions had the highest yield and yield components, oil yield, and oil content.     

干旱胁迫对玉米根系生长及根际养分的影响

通过盆栽模拟干旱试验，测定了干旱胁迫下玉米根系生长情况和根际土壤中速效N、P、K的含量。结果表明，干旱胁迫抑制了玉米拔节期和抽雄-开花期玉米根系的生长，减弱了玉米根系的吸收能力。干旱胁追下玉米根际NH4^＋-N、NO3^--N、速效P和速效K均发生根际富集现象。其中有效N和速效K含量高于正常供水．而速效P却呈现低于正常供水的趋势。干旱胁追抑制玉米根系生长、减弱根系吸收能力是玉米减产的重要原因。     

Effects of Salinity Stress at Different Growth Stages on Tomato Growth,Yield, and Water-Use Efficiency

This study investigated the effects of salinity stress at different growth stages on the growth, yield, fruit quality, and water-use efficiency (WUE) of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants cultivated under soilless conditions. Six different growth stages were exposed to the same salinity stress treatments using a completely randomized design, with three pots (six plants) per treatment. It was found that short-term (<21 days) salinity stress during any of the growth stages did not affect tomato growth or WUE, and during the vegetative stage did not affect yield. Salinity stress during the flowering and fruiting stages caused a reduction in tomato yield, which was due to a reduction in the number of fruit produced rather than the fruit size. However, salt exposure at the fruiting stage also improved fruit quality. The effect of salinity stress on the yield and fruit quality of the frontal and later truss depended on the developmental stage of the truss at the time when the stress occurred.     

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.     

不同有机肥对盐渍化耕地土壤盐分、养分及棉花产量的影响

为了分析比较不同有机肥对盐渍化土壤盐分及养分改良效果,通过田间试验研究了不同有机肥对盐渍化耕地土壤盐分含量、土壤肥力指标及棉花产量的影响。结果表明:各有机肥处理对土壤盐分的影响在吐絮期效果最好,其中30—90 cm土层中油渣处理表现最为明显,较对照低了69.55%。等量供肥条件下,不同有机肥与化肥对棉花产量的贡献无明显差异。施用不同有机肥对土壤各肥力指标有不同程度的提升,施用油渣能促进盐渍化棉田土壤有机质的积累,尤其在耕层（0—30 cm）较对照处理高出了18.78%～36.85%;同时,油渣对土壤碱解氮提升也有促进作用,苗期时较对照增幅最大,达到32.70%～35.90%;各有机肥处理土壤速效磷含量较对照有不同程度的增加,其中在0—30 cm土层中羊粪和油渣在不同生育期较对照增幅分别为27.20%～47.14%,4.80%～38.57%;羊粪对于土壤速效钾的释放在苗期有良好的效果,较对照提高了5.20%～70.94%。     

Lead-Induced Histological and Ultrastructural Changes in the Leaves of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

The seedlings of the soybean ( Glycine max. (L.) Merr.) cv. Polan were investigated by subjecting them to water culture for a period of 14 d. To the Knop nutrient solution, lead was added as PbCl₂ at four concentrations: 0, 10, 20 and 40 mg dm⁻³. Observations of soybean leaf tissues were carried out by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The Pb levels used in the present study reduced the area of cotyledons and leaf blades of the soybean plants. Pb-induced changes in the leaf epidermis structure involved a reduction in the cell size, more abundant wax coating, and an increase in the number of stomata and trichomes per unit area with simultaneous reduction in the size of the guard cells. The lead treatment resulted in the reduction in the thickness of the leaf blades, reduction in the area of xylem and phloem in the vascular bundles and in the diameter of the xylem vessels. Under Pb stress, the leaf mesophyll cells were characterized by the presence of altered chloroplasts with a reduced lamellar system and multidirectional pattern of the thylakoid system. Burst stroma of the thylakoid system and cracked chloroplast envelopes were also observed. The importance of the increase in the number of stomata and trichomes for plants under the metal stress was examined.