Post-Flowering Photoperiod Effects on Reproductive Development and Agronomic Traits of Long-Day and Short-Day Crops

Pre-flowering photoperiod effects on floral initiation, flowering time and yield components of various crops have been well studied, but the post-flowering photoperiod effects on major field crops are not clearly understood. A controlled environment study was carried out using six long-day (LD) crops, flax, sugar beet, broad bean, triticale, wheat, and rapeseed, and seven short-day (SD) crops including Adzuki bean, potato, rice, peanut, mungbean, cotton and corn with a major objective of evaluating the post-flowering photoperiod effects on their reproductive development and yield components. There were significant inter- and intra-specific differences in their response to post-flowering photoperiod treatments. The effects of short days on LD crops were similar to LD effects on SD crops. The post-flowering duration was prolonged by short photoperiod in LD crops and long photoperiod in SD crops. There was, however, significant genotypic variation within a species for such effects. The post-flowering LD treatment caused abscission of flowers and pods and the resumption of vegetative growth in Adzuki bean. The post-flowering LD treatment also delayed the shoot senescence of one of the two potato varieties and decreased the number of tubers per plant in both varieties. The LD treatment delayed maturation of rice and mungbean, and decreased seed yield and 100-seed weight of peanut, although the shoot senescence of peanut was not apparently affected. Rapeseed, wheat, cotton and corn genotypes in this study did not show any sensitivity to post-flowering photoperiod. In triticale (an LD crop) exposure to short photoperiod post-flowering increased the number of spikes per plant perhaps due to a greater assimilate accumulation over a longer duration. The results from the current study as well as those from our previous experiments suggest that post-flowering photoperiod responses do exist in diverse field crops, and that there are strong genotypic differences in sensitivity and magnitude of response to post-flowering photoperiod. Photoperiod after flowering substantially regulates the source/sink relationship, and promotes partitioning and accumulation of assimilates to storage organs of crops when it favours the reproductive development of crops.     

Regulation of Leaf Senescence and Yield in Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek)

Foliar application of benzyladenine at preanthesis stage retarded leaf senescence in mungbean. Chemical spray increased leaf chlorophyll, soluble protein, specific leaf weight, net photosynthetic rate and nitrate reductase activity. Number of pods, grain yield, harvest index and 100-seed weight were significantly improved by benzyladenine treatment. The possibility of higher pod-filling and thus, yield by chemical regulation of leaf senescence is evident in mungbean.     

浅埋滴灌下分期追氮对玉米花后光合特性、氮素利用和产量的影响

为研究浅埋滴灌下不同氮肥追施方式玉米花后光合特性、氮素利用和产量形成的差异,以氮肥一次性追施(CK)和氮肥分期追施(NFQ) 2种氮肥追施方式的玉米为研究对象,对其花后叶源特性、光合特性、氮素利用和产量及产量构成因素进行比较分析。结果表明,2018—2020年NFQ花后叶源特性显著优于CK,其叶面积指数、叶绿素SPAD值和叶片氮素含量分别平均较CK提高了6.35%、11.02%和5.34%。NFQ花后光合特性亦显著优于CK,其净光合速率、瞬时光能利用率、瞬时水分利用效率和瞬时羧化速率分别平均较CK提高了6.98%、4.28%、20.49%和12.73%。NFQ氮素积累转运量均显著高于CK,其氮素积累量和转运量分别平均较CK提高了23.73%和19.29%。NFQ产量均显著高于CK,试验年份平均增产9.40%,穗粒数和千粒重的显著提高是增产的主要原因。本研究认为,西辽河平原井灌区玉米生产的适宜氮肥追施方式为拔节期、大口期、吐丝期按3:6:1比例追施。     

谷子各器官干物质量分配与产量的相关性分析

为了明确谷子各器官干物质量分配情况及其与产量的关系,本研究以6个比较有代表性的品种为研究对象,对其单株干物质量、收获指数、各器官干物质分配情况和产量的差异进行了比较研究。结果显示:不同品种谷子各器官干物质量分配规律基本一致,即穗比例>茎比例>叶比例>叶鞘比例抑根比例。杂交种‘长杂谷466’(CZ466)收获指数、单穗重和产量均是最大,株高较低;常规种‘长生13’(CS13)株高最低,产量及收获指数较高。所有品种谷子穗干物质量与单株总干物质量均显著正相关;叶鞘干物质量与穗干物质量均呈显著正相关。综上表明CZ466和CS13是2个产量高、株高矮、收获指数高的优良品种;推断谷子叶鞘和单株总干物质量与产量有较密切的相关性,其他器官干物质量与产量的相关性因品种而异。     

Growth Analysis Using Classical and Functional Techniques in Relation to Soil Moisture in Mustard

A Reid experiment was conducted to study the effect of soil moisture on growth of two mustard cultivars using classical and functional techniques of growth analysis. Two soil moisture levels were irrigated at 10-day intervals and a rainfed control was included. Total dry matter (TDM), leaf area index (LAI) and leaf area duration (LAD) were significantly increased by irrigation at most of stages of growth. Starting from a lower value, LAI and LAD reached a peak and then gradually declined. Among the growth attributes, crop growth rate (CGR), leaf area ratio (LAR) and leaf weight ratio (LWR) increased significantly under irrigation. Net assimilation rate (NAR) decreased more in the irrigated plants than the rainfed plants at the later stages of growth. LAR and LWR declined throughout with increasing time and plant weight. Seed yield of the irrigated plants was positively correlated with the pre-flowering LAI and the post-flowering CGR and NAR. In the rainfed plants, seed yield was positively correlated with LAI and CGR at the post-flowering stage and negatively with the post-flowering NAR and pre-flowering LAR.     

Response of Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) to Applied Nitrogen with or without Ethrel Spray under Non-irrigated Conditions

Field studies were conducted during the winter seasons of 1995–96 and 1996–97 at the Agricultural Farm of Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India on mustard ( Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss., var. Alankar) under non-irrigated conditions, to evaluate the effect of foliar spray of 200 p.p.m. ethrel (2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid) at flowering growth stage along with basal 0, 40, 80 or 120 kg N ha⁻¹ on net photosynthetic rate (P_N), stomatal conductance (C_S), stomatal resistance (R_S), leaf K content, relative water content (RWC), leaf area index (LAI) and total dry matter (TDM) production monitored at 20 days after spray application, and plant N content, seed N content, nitrogen harvest index (NHI), nitrogen yield merit (NYM), pods plant⁻¹, 1000 seed weight, seed yield, biological yield, harvest index (HI), seed yield merit (SYM) and merit of genotype (MOG) at harvest. Results indicated that, at 0 or 40 kg N ha⁻¹, ethrel did not produce any significance effect, but at basal 80 kg N ha⁻¹, ethrel affected the parameters favourably with the exception of 1000 seed weight, HI, seed N and NHI. Ethrel-sprayed plants utilized N from the soil more effectively and showed increased NYM. Yield attributes, seed yield and merit of genotype (in terms of NYM and SYM) were also enhanced. Ethrel spray enhanced seed yield under water stress conditions mainly by increasing K uptake and retaining higher RWC, thereby decreasing R_S and increasing LAI, P_N and TDM production.     

Regulation of Correlative Senescence in Arachis hypogaea L. by Source-Sink Alteration through Physical and Hormonal Means

Amongst the plants ( Arachis hypogaea ) subjected to differential reproductive manipulations, the leaf levels of chlorophyll and sugar and the dry weight of the aerial plants increased more (except sugar level in defruited plant) in the deflorated plants than either in the defruited or control plants, and the order of senescence was: control > defruited > deflorated. Seed yield per plant increased in deflorated plants as a result of increase in the number of pods (sink size) and reduction in the sink strength (seed wt per pod). While 75 % defoliation caused a decrease in all the parameters relating to senescence (chlorophyll, protein, reduced nitrogen, sugar and dry wt), 25% defoliation caused a slight decrease of chlorophyll level of leaf and aerial plant weight. However, the level of protein and reduced nitrogen in the leaf and sugar in the stem increased by the latter (through 25% defoliation). Defoliation up to 25% reduced seed yield by only 2%. Whereas the level of chlorophyll and aerial plant dry weight were not significantly changed by either kinetin or ABA, the level of protein and reduced nitrogen in the leaf and sugar level in both leaf and stem increased by kinetin. GA₃ increased almost all the parameters studied. All the three phytohormones increased the yield, mainly by increasing the sink size rather than the sink strength. It is concluded that the aerial flowers are more lethal than the underground fruits in inducing whole plant senescence where the leaf senescence is uncoupled from fruit maturation in normal condition possibly due to sink limitation.     

Irrigation Decreases Loss of Leaf Nitrogen and Rubisco During Pod Development in Chickpea

Chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L., var. Pusa 256) plants raised under unirrigated and irrigated field conditions showed a decrease in leaf nitrogen and soluble protein content after flowering during pod development. This was found to be associated with a decrease in Rubisco content after flowering. Leaf nitrogen, soluble protein and Rubisco content, however, were higher in irrigated than in unirrigated plants. The Rubisco content at the flowering and post-flowering stages was 29.43 and 16.59 %, respectively, of leaf soluble protein in unirrigated plants. Under irrigated conditions, the Rubisco content was 49.91 and 37.99 %, respectively, at the flowering and post-flowering stages. These results therefore indicated a decrease in the mobilization of leaf nitrogen by irrigation in chickpea. The findings are discussed in relation to the decrease in seed yield and harvest index by irrigation commonly observed in this crop under north Indian conditions.     

Remobilization of Nitrogen and Carbohydrate from Stems of Bread Wheat in Response to Heat Stress during Grain Filling

When wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is grown under heat-stress conditions during grain filling, preanthesis stored total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC) and nitrogen (N) could serve as alternative source of assimilates. This study was performed to evaluate wheat genotypes for their ability to accumulate and remobilize TNC and N stored in their stem to support grain filling under heat stress. Eighteen genotypes were used for N remobilization study while nine of them were used for TNC remobilization study. They were grown in pots and placed in a vinyl house with the maximum temperature kept below 30 °C. Five days after anthesis (5DAA), half of the pots were taken to phytotrons where temperature was gradually increased and the maximum was set at 38 °C. Grain yield and grain weight decreased by about 35 % under heat stress. Significant differences were found among genotypes in percentage reduction in grain yield, grain weight, grain filling duration and harvest index because of heat stress. The N and TNC concentrations of the stem at 5DAA were significantly different among genotypes. Heat stress significantly reduced the N remobilization efficiency of most of genotypes. However, heat stress significantly increased TNC remobilization efficiency and significant variation were observed among genotypes. N remobilization efficiency across treatments significantly correlated with grain yield, grain weight, harvest index and grain filling duration. TNC at 5DAA negatively correlated with N at 5DAA and harvest index, but the TNC remobilization efficiency under heat stress positively correlated with mainstem grain yield, grain weight and harvest index. The rate of chlorophyll loss from flag leaf positively correlated with N and TNC remobilization efficiencies under heat stress suggesting a link between leaf senescence and remobilization efficiency. The results indicate that heat stress negatively affected grain yield, its components and N remobilization while it increased TNC remobilization because of the increasing demand for resources.     

不同收获指数甘蓝型油菜β-淀粉酶活性及其基因家族成员的表达分析

油菜“源”器官中光合产物向籽粒转移的效率是提高油菜收获指数的关键环节,而“源”器官中淀粉酶活性影响同化物向籽粒的运输强度。β-淀粉酶(β-amylase, BAM)及其基因家族成员与油菜高收获指数形成之间的关系还不清楚。本研究选择高产高收获指数型、高产低收获指数型、低产低收获指数型 3 类油菜品种,在终花期后 5、10、15、20、25d 分别取茎杆、叶片、角果皮与种子,分析β-淀粉酶活性及其基因家族成员的表达水平。结果表明,β-淀粉酶活性在所检测“源”器官中酶活性总体随发育时期增加。高收获指数型油菜叶片、角果皮中的β-淀粉酶活性显著高于低收获指数型油菜。β-淀粉酶基因家族中, BAM1、BAM4 与 BAM5 在油菜茎、叶及角果皮中的表达量总体随发育时期增加。花后25 d 时, BAM1与BAM3在高收获指数油菜叶片、角果皮中的表达量显著高于低收获指数油菜。BAM4 与 BAM5 在高收获指数油菜角果皮中的表达量分别于花后 15 d 与 20 d 开始显著高于低收获指数油菜。综合分析认为, BAM1 和 BAM3可能通过促进叶片与角果皮淀粉分解而加强光合产物向籽粒的运输强度;BAM4 与 BAM5 可能主要通过作用于角果皮淀粉分解而调控光合产物向籽粒的运输。BAM4 与 BAM5 也可能参与了油菜种子中淀粉的调控。     

Effect of Gibberellic Acid Spray during Ontogeny of Mustard on Growth, Nutrient Uptake and Yield Characteristics

In a field trial conducted during 1993–1994, mustard ( Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.) cv. Varuna was sprayed with either deionised water or 10⁻⁵ M GA₃ at 40 (vegetative stage), 60 (flowering stage) or 80 (pod fill stage) days after sowing (DAS) to select the suitable growth stage for spray for augmenting productivity of the crop. Shoot length per plant, leaf number per plant, leaf area per plant, dry weight per plant and leaf area index and accumulation of N, P and K were recorded at 100 DAS. Pods per plant, seeds per pod, 1000 seed weight, seed yield, biological yield, harvest index and seed yield merit were computed at harvest. Growth, NPK accumulation and yield were maximal when spraying was done at 40 DAS. However, spraying at 40 and 60 DAS gave at par values for most of the growth and yield parameters. It was also noted that there was a significant difference in spray treatment at different growth stages only when G A, was sprayed and not when water was sprayed.     

Estimates of relative contribution of biomass, harvest index and yield components to soybean yield improvements in China

A method was developed to estimate the relative contribution of increased biomass, harvest index and yield components to seed yield gain of soybean. Data from four field experiments conducted in three soybean production regions in China were used to measure the role of different traits (such as harvest index) in seed yield improvement by applying this method. The results indicated that harvest index was a larger contributor to the progress of soybean yield improvements than biomass in China. However, the estimates of improvements of yield components suggested that there could be several strategies for obtaining high yield. High yielding would be achieved by improving all of the three yield components (pods per plant, seeds per pod and seed weight) simultaneously, or significantly improving one or two of the three components.     

Intercropping corn with soybean,lupin and forages: yield component responses

Intercropping systems influence yield variables of the component crops, such as harvest index, hundred seed weight, number of reproductive organs and number of seeds, within each reproductive unit. Two experiments were carried out at each of two sites during 1993 and 1994. The first experiment investigated the effects of seeding soybean or lupin alone or in combination with one of three forages (annual ryegrass, Lolium multiflorum Lam.; perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L.; red clover, Trifolium pratense L.) with corn on the yield components of corn, soybean and lupin. The second experiment examined the effects of seeding date (simultaneous with corn or 3 weeks later) and number of rows of large seeded legumes (one or two) seeded between the corn rows. Corn grain yield was generally not affected by any intercrop treatment, although in 1993 some simultaneously seeded treatments resulted in decreased yields. Soybean grain yield was decreased by most treatments, although some simultaneous seedings produced yields similar to soybean monocrops. Lupin grew poorly as an intercrop component, producing little or no grain. Corn harvest index was not affected by any intercrop treatments. Seeding corn and large-seeded legumes simultaneously resulted in decreases in corn hundred seed weights by as much as 6.6 g compared with the monocropped corn. In 1993 (a year with normal precipitation levels), the hundred seed weight and number of seeds per soybean pod were decreased by intercropping, although the harvest index was not affected. In a high precipitation year (1994), the soybean harvest index was decreased by intercropping, but not the seed components. The underseeded forages, annual ryegrass, perennial ryegrass and red clover, had no effect on yields or yield components of the other intercropped species.     

Effects of Soil Salinity and Plant Density on Yield and Leaf Senescence of Field‐Grown Cotton

The response of cotton to constant salinity has been well documented under controlled conditions, but its response to changing salinity under field conditions is poorly understood. Using a split‐plot design, we conducted a 2‐year field experiment to determine the effects of soil salinity and plant density on plant biomass, boll load, harvest index and leaf senescence in relation to cotton yield in three fields with similar fertility but varying salinity. The main plots were assigned to weak (electrical conductivity of soil saturated paste extract, ECe = 5.5 dS m^?1), moderate (ECe = 10.1 dS m^?1) and strong (ECe = 15.0 dS m^?1) soil salinity levels, while plant density (3.0, 4.5 and 7.5 plants m^?2) was assigned to the subplots. Soil salinity had a negative effect on seedcotton yield, but the negative effect was compensated for by increased plant density under strong‐salinity conditions. Seedcotton yield under weak salinity changed little with varying plant density, but the medium plant density yielded better than the low or high plant density under moderate salinity. Plants accumulated 49 and 112 % more Na⁺ in leaves under moderate and strong salinity than under weak salinity. Strong salinity also led to higher boll load and early leaf senescence. Plant density had no effect on Na⁺ accumulation in leaves, but greatly reduced boll load and delayed leaf senescence. Plant biomass, maximum leaf area index and harvest index were greatly affected by salinity, plant density and their interaction. Accelerated leaf senescence under strong salinity was attributed to the high boll load and increased accumulation of toxic ions like Na⁺ in leaves, while delayed leaf senescence with increased plant density was attributed to the reduced boll load. Optimal yield can only be obtained with proper coordination of total biomass and harvest index by modification of plant density based on salinity levels.     

Senescence of Flag Leaf and Glume in Rice: Role of Grains during Source-Sink Modification by Physical and Chemical Means

Senescence of flag leaf and glume of rice ( Oryza sativa L. cv. Ratna ) at different source sink ratios, through manipulating the plants by physical and chemical means, were analyzed. As judged from the chlorophyll retention capacity, induction of sterility deferred senescence of flag leaf and glume at both grain filling and post grain maturation period. Senescence of the glumes was promoted in the plants whose panicles were darkened. The time needed for achieving maximum 1000 grain dry weight was quickened, the harvest index (HI) was lowered and the flag leaf senescence was delayed by such manipulation. Spraying of urea deferred senescence of the flag leaf as well as increased 1000 grain dry weight and HI. The time taken for achieving maximum 1000 grain dry weight was, however, delayed. Senescence of glumes was promoted by α-HPMS spray, while the same was delayed by PMA spray on the whole plant. Both the chemicals deferred flag leaf senescence and decreased 1000 grain dry weight and HI. Senescence of the flag leaf at post grain filling period was also delayed by the above physical and chemical manipulations compared to that of control, the highest delaying effect was recorded in the flag leaf of sterile plant.
It is concluded that nutrient drainage is the primary cause of nonsequential senescence of the flag leaf of rice (cv. Ratna ). The involvement of senescence signal if any, is perhaps of secondary importance.     

山东棉花覆盖栽培的节水增产效应研究

通过普通地膜覆盖、小麦秸秆覆盖、地膜+秸秆覆盖及露地对照4种处理对山东棉区棉田土壤物理性状、棉花产量影响的分析。结果表明:覆盖栽培能改善土壤物理性状;表现在降低土壤容重、调节土壤温、湿度、提高土壤水分利用率(秸秆覆盖处理较对照增加18.1％～21.4％);秸秆覆盖能增加土壤养分含量,特别是速效钾含量;在棉花生长后期,提高叶面积指数,延长叶片功能期,保持棉株的光合能力从而防止棉花早衰,增加铃重,提高棉花产量(覆盖处理较对照增产7.6％～20.9％)。     

Physiological factors determining yield in bread wheat. Effects of introducing dwarfism genes

Summary Improvements in bread wheat productivity have been related to changes in plant morphology and function associated with a large increase in the harvest index for a more or less constant biological yield. The appearance of short genotypes possessing dwarfism genes may modify markedly the objectives of breeding as the upper limits of the harvest index are approached. The aim of the investigations presented here was to identify some contrasts between short and tall genotypes in terms of the physiological characteristics associated with grain yield, so as to orientate more efficiently the selection of genotypes, with or without dwarfism genes, for productivity. Various parameters of flag leaf functioning (photosynthesis rate, chlorophyll fluorescence index, leaf area duration) were related to the biological and economic yields and the harvest index for two groups of genotypes that were differentiated by their height. For all genotypes, the relationships between the various traits and the grain yield were difficult to ascertain. For the tall genotypes without dwarfism genes, the classical relationships between grain yield, harvest index, flag leaf area duration and net photosynthesis rate were confirmed. Moreover, the rate of chlorophyll fluorescence decrease (Rfd) during the slow Kautsky kinetics phase, which is representative of the leaf photosynthesis at low light, was found to be an excellent marker of economic yield. Chlorophyll fluorescence decrease was closely related to grain yield and also with other factors that are known to be important in its expression (harvest index, flag leaf area duration). In very short genotypes, the biological yield and directly related factors (leaf area, plant height) were the main parameters associated with economic yield, since the harvest index had approached its upper limit. The selection of short genotypes must therefore maintain the biological yield through an increase in the size of the aerial organs to counterbalance the decrease in height.     

Selection for resistance to Septoria nodorum in wheat

Summary A population of 572 F₂ derived F₃ lines from six crosses were used to estimate parameters relevant to selection for resistance to Septoria nodorum of wheat. Lines were grown in disease free (fungicide sprayed) and inoculated microplots in 2 replications of a split-plot design in a single environment in 1977. Average yield reduction due to disease was approximately 50%; this was associated with an average septoria score of 50% on the flag leaf, an average septoria score of 42% on the head, and a reduction of 37% in seed weight. Low S. nodorum scores were correlated with late heading date, tall plant height, high grain yield, and high seed weight in diseased plots, and high seed weight % (seed weight in diseased plots expressed as a percentage of seed weight in fungicide sprayed plots).Restricted selection indexes were used to study the relative contributions of disease escape, true resistance, and tolerance to variability in grain yield in diseased plots, seed weight in diseased plots, and seed weight %. True resistance appeared to be the most important factor causing variation in grain yield in diseased plots and seed weight %. Tolerance and escape seemed to be more important for seed weight in diseased plots.Heritabilities of S. nodorum scores on the flag leaf and head were 63% and 52%, respectively. Leaf and head scores could be used most effectively as selection criteria to upgrade resistance in a population before harvest.Selection for high seed weight % slightly reduced yields in disease free plots, although yield in diseased plots and seed weight in diseased plots were increased. However, selection for increased yield or increased seed weight in diseased plots improved yield in disease free plots. It is suggested that direct selection for yield or seed weight in diseased plots is likely to achieve more desirable goals than selection for seed weight %.     

Associations of some characters with seed yield in chickpea collections

Summary Three thousand two hundred and sixty-seven kabuli chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) germplasm accessions were grown during the spring season of 1980 at Tel Hadya, the main research station of ICARDA, Syria to determine the components of seed yield. Observations were recorded on seed yield and 14 other characters. Correlation and path coefficient analyses were done to find out associations among characters and to assess the direct and indirect contribution of each character to seed yield.Large variation was observed for all the characters studied except days to flowering, days to maturity and protein content. Correlation and path coefficient analyses showed that biological yield and harvest index were the major direct contributors to seed yield. The 100-seed weight, plant height, days to flowering and maturity, canopy width, and protein content contributed to seed yield mainly through indirect effect via biological yield and harvest index. The 100-seed weight and seed yield were major contributors to biological yield. Major contributor to protein content was days to maturity. Results indicated that selection for high biological yield and harvest index would lead to high seed yield; and selection for large seed size would lead to high biological yield. Therefore, these characters should receive the highest priority in selecting high yielding plants in chickpea breeding.     

调亏灌溉与合理密植对旱区棉花生长发育及产量与品质的影响

为明确合理密植条件下调亏灌溉的节水增产效果,在新疆干旱区大田研究了灌溉量(饱和灌溉、正常灌溉、调亏灌溉)和种植密度(12万、18万、24万株·hm-2)对棉花生长发育和产量品质的影响。结果表明,灌溉量和种植密度对棉花生物产量、经济系数、经济产量有显著的互作效应,但对纤维品质没有影响。调亏灌溉显著抑制营养生长,但提高了收获指数;调亏灌溉下适当提高密度,显著提高了生物产量和单位面积铃数。调亏灌溉下高密度处理组合在用水量减少20%的情况下,棉花产量与正常灌溉下中、高密度以及饱和灌溉下低密度等高产组合的产量相当。调亏灌溉配合合理密植是旱区棉花节水增产的有效栽培途径之一。