Morphological and physiological traits of roots and their relationships with shoot growth in “super” rice

Success in “super” rice breeding has been considered a great progress in rice production in China. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that an improved root system may contribute to better shoot growth and consequently to higher grain yield in “super” rice. Two “super” rice varieties Liangyoupeijiu (an indica hybrid) and Huaidao 9 (a japonica inbred) and two elite check varieties Yangdao 6 (an indica inbred) and Yangfujiang 8 (a japonica inbred) were field-grown at Yangzhou, China in 2006 and 2007. Root and shoot dry weight (DW) was significantly greater in “super” rice varieties than in check ones throughout the growth season in both years, so was the root length density. Root oxidation activity (ROA) and root zeatin (Z) zeatin riboside (ZR) content, in per plant basis, were significantly greater in “super” rice than check varieties before and at heading time. However, both ROA and root Z + ZR content, either in per plant basis or per unit root DW basis, were significantly lower in ‘super’ rice than in check varieties at the mid- and late grain filling stages. Grain yield of the two ‘super’ rice varieties, on average, was 10.2 t ha⁻¹ in 2006 and 11.4 t ha⁻¹ in 2007, and was 13% and 21% higher than that of check varieties, respectively. The high grain yield was mainly due to a larger sink size (total number of spikelets) as a result of a larger panicle. The percentage of filled grains of the two “super” rice varieties, on average, was 72.9% in 2006 and 79.0% in 2007, and was 19.4% and 12.9%, respectively, lower than that of the check varieties. The mean ROA and root Z + ZR content during the grain filling period significantly correlated with the percentage of filled grains. Collectively, the data suggest that an improved root and shoot growth, as showing a larger root and shoot biomass and greater root length density during the whole growing season and higher ROA and root Z + ZR content per plant at early and mid-growth stages, contributes to the large sink size and high grain yield in the “super” rice varieties. The data also suggest the yield of “super” rice varieties can be further increased by an increase in filled grains through enhancing root activity during grain filling.     

Effect of plant growth promoting rhizobia on seed germination, growth promotion and suppression of Fusarium wilt of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

Five bacterial strains (TR1 to TR5) isolated from root nodules of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) were tested for their plant growth promotory traits and biocontrol potential against Fusarium oxysporum. On the basis of morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular characteristics, strains TR1 and TR3 - TR5 were identified as Ensifer meliloti, and TR2 as Rhizobium leguminosarum. All bacterial isolates utilized phosphate in vitro. Except TR5, all isolates produced IAA and none of them showed volatile cyanogens production. Except TR3, all isolates produced in vitro siderophore. Isolate TR1 and TR4 showed chitinase production while only TR2 showed β-1,3-glucanase activity. Isolates TR1, TR2 and TR5 exhibited ACC deaminase activity. Isolates TR1, TR2 and TR4 inhibited the growth of F. oxysporum, causing loss of structural integrity of the mycelium, hyphal perforation, lysis, fragmentation and degradation. The potential for nodulation and nitrogen fixation of the strains were confirmed by amplification of 500 bp nodC and 781 bp nifH fragments. The application of the TR1 + TR2 combination resulted in increased grain yield by 35% and 36% of fenugreek in two consecutive field trials, respectively as compared to control. Maximum increments in vigour index, nodule number and root and shoot biomass were recorded with seed inoculated with consortium (TR1 + TR2) followed by single inoculation as compared to control. The antibiotic resistant marker strain of E. meliloti TR1^strep+ and R. leguminosarum TR2^tet+ confirmed the efficient colonization of fenugreek roots. This study showed that these rhizobial isolates have properties of biocontrol agents and may be applied to promote the growth of fenugreek.     

Effect of lowering the root/shoot ratio by pruning roots on water use efficiency and grain yield of winter wheat

A pot and a field experiment were conducted to assess the effects of root/shoot ratio (R/S) on the water use efficiency (WUE) and grain yield of winter wheat. The R/S was regulated by pruning the roots during the stem elongation stage, resulting in reduced root systems of the plants. At the heading stage, the root dry weight of root-pruned plants was less than that of intact-root plants, but their R/S was similar to that of intact-root plants under both experimental conditions. After tiller pruning, the R/S of root-pruned plants was significantly lower than that of intact-root plants (p < 0.05). Root pruning reduced the rate of leaf transpiration and lowered the number of tillers per plant (p < 0.05) during the vegetative stage. As a result, root-pruned wheat showed reduced water use when compared to intact-root plants before heading (p < 0.05). At anthesis, there was no significant difference in transpiration between plants with intact roots and those with pruned roots in the pots. However, under field conditions, transpiration of root-pruned plants was significantly higher than that of intact-root plants at anthesis. Additionally, at anthesis root-pruned plants had a higher rate of leaf photosynthesis and lower rate of root respiration, which resulted in a significantly higher grain yield at maturity when compared to plants with intact roots. Under both experimental conditions, there were no significant differences in shoot dry weight per plant between root-pruned and intact-root plants grown in monoculture. When root-pruned plants were grown with intact-root plants, the root-pruned wheat was less productive and had a lower relative shoot dry weight (0.78 and 0.86, respectively) than the intact-root plants (1.24 and 1.16, respectively). These results suggest that plants with pruned roots had a lower ability to compete and to acquire and use the same resources in the mixture when compared with intact-root plants. Root pruning improved the WUE of winter wheat under both experimental conditions. This suggests that appropriate management for the root system/tillers in wheat crops can be used to increase grain yield and water use efficiency. Specifically, lowering the R/S improved the grain yield and WUE of winter wheat significantly by lowering its competitive ability and improving root efficiency. Therefore, drought-resistance breeding to improve the grain yield and WUE, at least for wheat, should be made by targeted selection of less competitive progeny with a small R/S for cultivation in arid and semiarid areas.     

Effect of non-lethal low phytic acid mutations on grain yield and seed viability in rice

Low phytic acid (LPA) crops have recently been considered as a potential way to combat nutritional and environmental issues related to seed phytic acid phosphorus (PA-P). Although, a number of LPA mutant lines have been developed in various crops, they are often featured with lower grain yield and seed viability compared with wild type (WT) parents. We recently developed several LPA mutant lines in rice with PA-P reductions varying from 33.8% to 63.6%. In this study, the performance of grain yield and seed viability of these mutants were investigated. Four of the five mutant lines had 12.5–25.6% reductions in grain yield compared to the corresponding WT parental lines. The reduction in grain weight, varying from 5.4% to 10.7%, was found to be the main causative factor of yield reduction. Similarly, LPA mutants had inferior seed viability to their corresponding WT parent varieties; all mutant lines had a significantly lower simplified vigour index (seed germination rate × seedling dry weight) than their parents, with reductions of 7.8–26.3%, although some mutant lines had similar germination rates as their WT parents. The two mutant lines, which had similar germination rates as their WT parent, however, had significantly lower field emergence rates. More pronounced differences of simplified vigour index were observed after artificial aging treatments between four LPA lines from their WT parents, implying that LPA rice seeds were more susceptible to storage than WT. The yield and yield-related traits of F₂ plants and F₃ lines from three crosses were evaluated; the results showed that while LPA was associated with significantly lower grain yield and grain weight than WT sibs, there were also LPA plants and lines that out-performed WT controls. These results implied that the negative effect of LPA mutations on grain yield might be reduced or minimized through cross and selection breeding. The implications of these findings were discussed with regard to LPA rice breeding and potential commercial production.     

Genotypic variation in grain phosphorus concentration,and opportunities to improve P-use efficiency in rice

Continual removal of phosphorus (P) from fields in rice grains at harvest results in lower soil fertility in low-input farming systems and drives the need for fertiliser inputs in high-input farming systems. High-P content in rice grains (the majority as phytate) contributes little to human nutrition and agronomic practices such as growing seedlings in high-P media or seed P coating at sowing (in direct-sown crops) may overcome the reported need for high-P seed for seedling establishment. Thus, reducing the amount of P in rice grains at maturity through breeding may represent a novel means to reduce ‘mining’ of soil P. We investigated the uptake and partitioning of P in rice plants and examined the scope for breeding rice with lower grain P by assessing genotypic variation for phosphorus harvest index (PHI) and seed P concentrations among a set of 38 rice genotypes in the field. At maturity approximately 75% of total plant P was found in grains and translocation of P from stems and leaves contributed substantially to grain P. However, unlike other cereals such as wheat, rice plants continued dry matter and P accumulation until maturity with approximately 40% of total plant P taken up post anthesis. In the field study, PHI differed significantly among genotypes (from 57 to 87) but was highly correlated to HI (P ≤ 0.001), suggesting that exploiting genotypic variation for this trait may be counterproductive. Grain P concentrations varied from 1.96 to 3.18 mg P g⁻¹, and were neither associated with reductions in grain yield or seed size, nor significantly correlated to HI. Grain P concentration therefore appears to be a suitable screening criterion and the 50% variation observed among genotypes suggests that scope exists for breeding rice with lower grain P concentration to reduce the off-take of P from rice fields at harvest.     

施氮水平对7S亚基缺失大豆根系形态和结瘤固氮的影响

为有效推广功能型大豆7S亚基缺失品种,以7S亚基缺失大豆品系东富2号为研究对象,设置4种施氮水平(纯N),N0(0 mg·kg~(-1))、N1(25 mg·kg~(-1))、N2(50 mg·kg~(-1))、N3(75 mg·kg~(-1)),采用桶栽法研究大豆根系形态和结瘤固氮对不同施氮水平的响应。结果表明:N1(25 mg·kg~(-1))水平下根系干重加大,根冠比增大,根瘤固氮潜力高,单株产量较高。N2(50 mg·kg~(-1))水平下根长、根表面积、根体积在生育后期增长较快,根系干重较大,根冠比低,固氮酶活性最高,单株籽粒产量最高。N3(75 mg·kg~(-1))水平下植株干重较大,无效生长较多,根瘤数少,固氮潜力和根冠比低,单株产量不高。综合籽粒产量和根系特性指标,功能型大豆7S亚基缺失品系东富2号的适宜施肥量为25~50 mg·kg~(-1)。     

Soil water stress and the growth and yield of potato plants grown from microtubers and conventional seed tubers

Tuber yields of potato plants grown from microtubers in fields are more variable than yields from conventional seed tubers (CT). One reason could be their higher susceptibility to water stress. This study clarified the effect of soil water stress from 1 month after emergence on the growth and yield of plants grown from conventional seed tubers and microtubers in fields. Microtubers (0.5–3 g) and conventional seed tubers (50 g) were grown in Hokkaido, Japan, over three field seasons. One month after emergence, poly-shelters were placed over the plots to prevent rainfall, and either irrigated (wet plot) or non-irrigated (dry plot) treatments were formed. At mid-flowering (about 50 days after emergence) leaf area index (LAI) in microtuber plants was decreased relatively more due to soil water stress than LAI in conventional seed tuber plants. However, at maximum shoot growth (about 80 days after emergence) both microtuber and conventional seed tuber plants had a similar relative decrease in LAI due to soil water stress. At mid-flowering and maximum shoot growth microtuber and conventional seed tuber plants had reduced stomatal conductance due to soil water stress, but the reduction in stomatal conductance was greater in conventional seed tuber plants than in microtuber plants. Microtuber and conventional seed tuber plants had similar root development at maximum shoot growth. Tuber production from mid-flowering until plant maturity was similarly affected by soil water stress in microtuber and conventional seed tuber plants. At harvest, plants affected by soil water stress had about 87% of the tuber dry weight of irrigated plants. We conclude, that the greater variation on tuber yield of microtuber plants cannot be attributed to soil water stress from 1 month after emergence.     

Mycorrhizal fungi and growth and development of micropropagated Scutellaria integrifolia plants

Scutellaria species have been used in many traditional medical systems and is well known among the Native American tribes as a strong emmenagogue and as a female medicinal herb. The inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) into the roots of micropropagated plantlets could help not only mass propagate these species, but also help grow in marginal, phosphorus deficient soils. Leaves, shoot apices, and nodal segments from wild as well as from greenhouse-grown plants were used to initiate cultures in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with cytokinins benzyladenine (BA), kinetin, thidiazuron (TDZ), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), and indole butyric acid (IBA) Among all the explants tested for shoot bud induction, only shoot tips and nodal explants were responsive. Explants swelled and became rough on the surface at the end of 3-week incubation with many green shoot buds. Two to 3 weeks after transfering to rooting media with or without IBA, all shoots developed roots. In vitro raised plants were acclimatized in a mist chamber and transferred to 6-l containers in the greenhouse to study the role of AMF on plant growth and development. Inoculation with AMF, showed positive effects on plant growth, particularly root development compared with the control plants. Among the five AMF strains tested, S3004 increased plant height and fresh weights of shoot, root, and seed.     

间作对油菜和紫云英生长及产量的影响

为使用地与养地相结合,在保持油菜不减产的同时,建立合理的油菜/紫云英间作技术体系。采用大田试验,研究了紫云英(Astragalus sinicus L.)与不同密度油菜(Brassica napus L.)间作对二者生长和产量的影响。结果表明：紫云英与密度为20~40万株/hm2油菜按2:1带型间作(即1m宽带内播种两行油菜,1行紫云英),间作油菜各处理不同生育期氮磷钾和碳的养分累积量均有高于或接近于油菜单作(MR)的趋势,间作油菜株高、根长、根颈粗、单株鲜重和产量接近于或显著高于密度为30万株/hm2的单作油菜。在保持油菜产量不显著降低的同时,间作模式可以收获3 592~5 724kg/hm2的紫云英绿肥。紫云英与不同密度油菜间作均表现土地资源利用优势(LER>1)。     

Influence of seed quality on seedling growth of white clover (Trifolium repens L.)

The influence of seed quality on seedling growth of white clover cv Makibashiro plants was examined in a controlled environment. The average dry matter (DM) yield of 70-day-old seedlings from a poor-quality seed lot was significantly less than that from a high-quality seed lot. In both seed lots, a linear relationship between the DM yield and time from sowing was observed. The slope of regression of DM yield against time from sowing for the poor-quality seed lot was less than the equivalent slope of the high-quality seed lot, suggesting that possible avenues for increased DM accumulation in a high-quality seed lot are somewhat indirect (time of emergence, uniform emergence etc.); a direct effect of seed quality on the photosynthetic ability of plant tissue seems less likely to occur. The root: shoot ratios declined in both groups of plants with increasing age. Seedlings from the high-quality seed lot reached a stable root:shoot ratio (equilibrium state) much earlier than those from the poor quality seed lot. The seed quality had no influence on the proportion of DM partitioned to various organs. The results of this study are discussed in relation to field establishment.     

Interactions of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana) as affected by sowing date,resource supply and infestation level

The holoparasitic weed Orobanche cumana (sunflower broomrape) constrains sunflower (Helianthus annuus) production in many countries. The development of efficient control strategies requires an understanding of the processes underlying the complex environment–host–parasite interrelations. Growth and development of O. cumana and sunflower were quantified under field conditions in southeastern Romania. Sunflower hybrid Florom 350 was sown at two dates, in plots infested with 0, 50, 200 and 1600 viable O. cumana seeds kg⁻¹ dry soil, under low-input (rainfed, low nitrogen supply) and high-input (irrigated, high nitrogen supply) conditions. Sunflower shoot biomass reached peak values of 760–1287 g m⁻² between the end of anthesis and physiological maturity. Seed yield varied from 221 to 446 g m⁻². Sunflower biomass and yield were affected by all experimental factors. Seed yield responded positively to delaying sowing from early April to late May as well as to irrigation and fertilisation, and negatively to O. cumana infestation. Yield reductions, which were a product of reduced seed number and size, amounted to 13%, 25% and 37% at parasite seed densities of 50, 200 and 1600 viable seeds kg⁻¹ soil, respectively. Maximum O. cumana attachment numbers, recorded in late-sown high-input crops in 2004, ranged from 11 m⁻² in plots with 50 parasite seeds kg⁻¹ soil to 188 m⁻² with 1600 seeds kg⁻¹ soil. Parasite attachment number was a function of crop sowing date, water and nutrient supply, seedbank density, and sunflower biomass and root length density, via mechanisms of parasite seed stimulation, host carrying capacity and intraspecific competition. Delayed sowing and improved water and nitrogen supply were associated with increases in parasite number that neutralised yield-boosting effects of irrigation and fertilisation at the highest infestation level. Sunflower shoot biomass was significantly reduced by O. cumana infection, with reductions affecting organs in the order head > stem > leaves. Most of the discrepancy between infected and non-infected plants was accounted for by O. cumana biomass. Parasites mainly acted as an extra sink for assimilates during sunflower generative growth and impaired host photosynthesis to a much lesser degree. Results suggest that similar mechanisms govern infection level and host–parasite biomass partitioning across different Orobanche–host systems.     

水分管理对免耕抛秧水稻根系生长及产量的影响

研究了水分管理对免耕水稻根系生长和产量的影响。结果表明,干湿交替灌溉对根系的伸长、生长、生理及分布具有较大影响,水稻各生育期干湿交替灌溉处理水稻单株根干质量、单株生物量、根半径、根表面积、总根数、根系活力、超氧化物歧化酶活性均显著高于淹水淹灌。干湿交替灌溉处理实收产量显著高于淹水淹灌,增产主要因子是有效穗数、每穗粒数和结实率。灌浆盛期干湿交替灌溉处理单株生物量、根半径、根表面积、总根数、超氧化物歧化酶活性均显著高于湿润淹灌,水稻产量差异则不显著。     

Decrease in sorghum grain yield due to the dw3 dwarfing gene is caused by reduction in shoot biomass

Positive correlations between plant height and grain yield have been reported for sorghum. The introduction of stay-green in sorghum, and the associated reduction in lodging, has opened the possibility to exploit this positive association. The aim of this study was to analyse the direct effects of the dwarfing gene dw3 (and therefore plant height) on shoot biomass, grain yield, and yield components in pairs of 3-dwarf genotypes and their isogenic 2-dwarf tall mutants. Isogenic pairs with different genetic backgrounds were grown in three field experiments under nutrient and water non-limiting conditions. Tall mutants were significantly taller and produced more shoot and stem biomass than their shorter counterparts. Generally, tall types yielded more grain than short types, but significant interactions between experiment, genetic background and stature affected the consistency of the results. dw3 only affected grain size and not grain number. Increased grain mass of tall types was associated with significantly greater stem mass per grain at anthesis and greater shoot biomass per grain accumulated between anthesis and maturity. The increased biomass of tall plants was therefore important for increased grain yield under optimum conditions. Potential implications of increased biomass production for drought adaptation are discussed.     

Effect of cutting,phosphorus and potassium fertilization on guar plant (Cyamoposis tetragonoloba) in newly reclaimed soil in Egypt

A two year experiment was carried out in newly reclaimed soils (sandy soils) to investigate the effect of cutting and phosphorus and potassium fertilization on the growth, yield, seed mucilage content and seed protein content of guar plant. The results revealed that different cutting treatments significantly decreased the plant weight, seed yield, seed mucilage content and seed protein content. Phosphorus fertilization up to 350 kg super-phosphate (15% P₂O₅)/feddan significantly increased plant weight, seed yield, seed mucilage content and seed protein content. Fertilization with 150 kg potassium sulfate (48% K₂O)/feddan was quite capable to meet guar plant potassium demands in this kind of soil. Without cutting plants, fertilization with 350 kg superphosphate and 150 kg potassium sulfate/feddan resulted in the highest seed yield, seed muculage content and seed protein content.     

Effects of light, hydropriming and abiotic stress on seed germination, and shoot and root growth of pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium)

Poor germination and seedling establishment are major problems in arid and semi-arid environments, and these characteristics are considered to be important factors in later plant growth and yield. Laboratory experiments were conducted on freshly harvested pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium) seeds to investigate the effects of light (influenced by the seeding method) and seed hydropriming on germination, and shoot and root growth at 25 °C. Exposure to light could reduce germination from 52% to 22% and increase the mean germination time (MGT) from 7 to 12 days. The responses of hydroprimed and unprimed seeds to salt and drought stress were determined at osmotic potentials of 0 (distilled water), −0.3, −0.6, −0.9, −1.2 MPa in NaCl and PEG6000. Seed germination and seedling growth were inhibited by increasing salt and drought stress. The germination percentage of unprimed seeds was reduced from 52% to 16% in −1.2 MPa NaCl, and no seeds germinated at osmotic potentials ≤−0.9 MPa PEG. Both shoot and root growth were inhibited at osmotic potentials ≤−0.9 MPa NaCl and ≤−0.6 MPa PEG. Hydropriming shortened the delay of MGT at all osmotic potentials, and improved the germination percentage in distilled water (from 52% to 59%) and resistance to salt stress with nearly double germination (from 16% to 29%) at the highest salt concentration. When non-germinated seeds were transferred to distilled water after 20 days of incubation in total up to 12-15% of NaCl and 25-27% of PEG stressed seeds did not recover. These results show that the inhibition of the germination and seedling growth at the same osmotic potential of NaCl and PEG resulted from drought stress rather than salt toxicity, and that hydropriming is an effective tool to improve the quality of pyrethrum seeds.     

株行距配置对玉米密植群体根系及养分吸收的影响

以玉米品种郑单958为材料,以玉米株行距配置为重点,设置高(100 050株/hm²)和中(67 500株/hm²)两个种植密度,每个密度下设置40 cm、60 cm两种行距处理,探究不同密度下株行距配置对产量、根系分布和养分吸收的影响。结果表明,随着种植密度的不断增加,产量呈先增大后减小的趋势,与中密度种植相比,高密度下玉米产量增加13.9%。在中密度下减小行距玉米产量提高1.0%,高密度下减小行距玉米产量显著提高26.1%。在高密度条件下,减小行距在水平、垂直方向均增加根长、根表面积、根体积等,并使植株地上部氮、磷、钾和干物质的积累量分别提高4.9%、8.1%、25.8%和4.5%。根系性状、植株养分含量、植株干重和产量均呈显著正相关。在高密度下通过适当减小行距、增大株距,减小株间根系竞争,提高根系对土壤养分吸收,对玉米密植增产具有重要作用。     

A simple model for chickpea development, growth and yield

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) yield is unstable and low in major producer countries. A robust crop model can assist in evaluation of possible genetic improvements and cultural management practices to improve yield. The objectives of this study were to develop and test a chickpea simulation model that could be used across a wide range of environments. This model simulates phenological development, leaf development and senescence, mass partitioning, plant nitrogen balance, yield formation and soil water balance. Responses of crop processes to environmental factors of solar radiation, photoperiod, temperature, nitrogen and water availability, and genotype differences were included in the model. The model uses a daily time step and readily available weather and soil information. The model was tested using independent data from a wide range of growth and environmental conditions. In most cases, simulated grain yield were similar to observed yield (ranging from 20 to 379 g m⁻²) with a root mean square root of 26 g m⁻² (15% of average measured yield). It was concluded that the model generality, i.e., constant parameters for genotypes across locations, and applicability to a wide range of environmental conditions factors made this model especially useful.     

棉花秸秆浸提液对小麦种子萌发及幼苗生长的化感效应

为了解棉花秸秆对小麦生长发育的化感效应,按每克秸秆粉碎物10 mL水的比例浸提制备母液(浓度记为10％),以小麦品种扬麦13为材料,研究不同浓度棉花秸秆浸提液对小麦种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响.结果表明,浓度低于7.0％的棉花秸秆浸提液延迟了小麦种子发芽时间,但不影响发芽率;浓度高于7.0％的浸提液不仅延迟了发芽时间,而且降低了发芽率.浸提液对小麦幼苗地上部和根系生长的影响差异较大.浓度低于1.0％的浸提液对根系生长影响较小,高于此浓度水平则抑制根系伸长和根表面积增大,增加根系膜脂过氧化程度,降低根系活力,抑制根系吸收水分和养分及其向地上部的运输能力;4.0％的浸提液促进了小麦幼苗地上部对氮、磷、钾和水分的吸收,当浸提液浓度继续升高,促进作用逐渐减弱,直至表现为抑制作用.浸提液中总酚酸含量较高,10.0％的浸提液中总酚酸含量达到124.0 mg· L-1,且总酚酸含量与种子萌发相关指标(发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数)、整株鲜重、根冠比、根系含水量、总根长、根表面积和根系活力均呈显著负相关,与根系氮、磷、钾含量、根平均直径和丙二醛含量呈显著正相关.由此推测,棉花秸秆的化感效应可能与浸提液中总酚酸含量有关,影响小麦种子萌发和幼苗对水分及养分的吸收与运输是其化感效应的主要表现.     

Fertilizer and planting strategies to increase biomass and improve root morphology in the natural rubber producer Taraxacum brevicorniculatum

Taraxacum brevicorniculatum produces high-quality natural rubber in its roots and could be developed as an alternative commercial source of this valuable raw material. However, current wild type accessions have a low biomass and branched roots that make them difficult to harvest. We set out to determine the optimum fertilizer and spacing requirements for T. brevicorniculatum plants in greenhouse and field trials, aiming to increase root biomass and reduce branching thus maximizing rubber yield and reducing losses during harvesting. Our preliminary data from greenhouse trials show that fertilizers containing calcium and magnesium in addition to NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) increase root biomass by 25% compared to standard NPK fertilizer plus boron, and by 15% compared to NPK plus calcium. Fertilizers with a low N:P ratio increased the root biomass in greenhouse and field trials. Dense sowing (5-10 cm between plants) inhibits root branching and leads to the formation of single taproots that can be harvested easily. We therefore provisionally recommend the application of low N:P ratio NPK fertilizer supplemented with calcium and magnesium to closely-spaced plants in order to achieve the greatest increase in plant biomass per hectare.     

Seed Treatment with Uniconazole Powder Improves Soybean Seedling Growth under Shading by Corn in Relay Strip Intercropping System

The relay strip intercropping system of wheat-corn-soybean is widely used in southwest China. However, it is hard to obtain a stable production of soybean with this system, since soybean plants grow under shading by corn; the stems are thinner and susceptible to lodging. We examined the effects of seed treatment with uniconazole powder (0, 2, 4 and 8 mg kg-¹ seed) on the growth of soybean seedlings under relay strip intercropping, some morphological characteristics and yield. The seedling height, first internode length, cotyledonary node height and leaf area per plant were decreased, while the stem diameter, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, root volume, leaf greenness and root to shoot dry weight ratio were increased by uniconazole treatment. The root vigor and root active absorption area were also increased significantly by uniconazole treatment. Moreover, 2 and 4 mg kg-¹ uniconazole powder treatment increased shoot dry weight, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and seed yield significantly. Thus, the results suggested that seed treatment with uniconazole powder at a suitable concentration can improve soybean seedling growth, resist the lodging and also increase the seed yield under shading by corn in relay strip intercropping system.