Phenotypic plasticity of yield and agronomic traits in cereals and rapeseed at high latitudes

In the northernmost European environments of Finland, large variability in the yield and quality of crops is a critical source of uncertainty for growers and end-users of grain. The aims of this study were (i) to quantify and compare the plasticity, i.e., cultivar responsiveness to environment, in yield of spring oat, spring wheat, six-row barley, two-row barley, winter rye, winter wheat, turnip rape and oilseed rape, (ii) to explore the existence of hierarchies or positive correlations in the plasticity of agronomic, yield and quality traits and (iii) to probe for trends in yield plasticity associated with different eras of breeding for yield potential and agronomic traits. Plasticities of yield, agronomic and quality traits were derived as slopes of norms of reaction using MTT Agrifood Research Finland data sets combining long-term (1970-2008 for cereals and 1976-2008 for rapeseed) results from 15 to 26 locations. Plasticity of yield ranged typically between 0.8 and 1.2, was smallest for six-row barley (0.84-1.11) and largest for winter rye (0.72-1.36). We found two types of associations between plasticity of yield and yield under stressful or favourable conditions for cereals but none for rape. In spring wheat, oat and six-row barley, high yield plasticity was associated with crop responsiveness to favourable conditions rather than yield reductions under stressful conditions. Modern spring wheat cultivars had higher maximum grain yields compared to older ones at the same level of plasticity. In winter wheat and rye, high yield plasticity resulted from the combination of high yield in favourable conditions and low yield in stressful environments. Many associations between yield plasticity and other traits were identified in cereals: e.g., high yield plasticity was often associated with higher grain weight, more grains per square meter, later maturity (contrary to turnip rape), shorter plants, less lodging and lower grain protein content and in winter cereals with higher winter damage.     

新麦草种子产量与繁殖性状的关联性分析

为了解新麦草的种子产量及繁殖性状间的关系,对27份新麦草种质资源的单株种子产量与7个产量性状的关联性进行了分析。结果表明,新麦草的单株生殖枝数、穗轴节数、单穗小花数和千粒重与单株种子产量关联最密切,其相关性表现为单株生殖枝数＞千粒重＞穗轴节数＞单穗小花数。经通径分析,单株生殖枝数（X₁）对单株种子产量（Y）直接效应最大,其余依次是单穗小花数（X₄）、单穗小穗数（X₃）、千粒重（X₇）、穗轴节数（X₂）和单穗结实种子数（X₅）,其中单穗结实种子数和结实率对种子产量均表现为负效应,且未达到显著水平。经逐步回归分析得到回归方程Y= -9.880 2+0.27X₁+0.012X₄+2.011 1X₇（R=0.805 8,P<0.001）,说明提高单株生殖枝数、千粒重、单穗小花数对新麦草增产的贡献最大,增加结实率也可间接提高新麦草的单株种子产量。     

Agronomic traits contributing to nitrogen efficiency of winter oilseed rape cultivars

Reducing the high nitrogen (N) balance surpluses occurring in oilseed rape production through the cultivation of N-efficient cultivars is imperative for environmental reasons. In this study, seed yield and N efficiency parameters of oilseed rape cultivars grown under three N rates were investigated in field experiments performed during five years. Seed yields differed significantly among cultivars especially at limiting N supply, with significant shifts in cultivar ranking according to the N level. At high N supply, cultivar differences relied more on year effects. The importance of N efficiency parameters for yield varied owing to year and N rate effects. N uptake was an important parameter for yield at all N rates. While at low N, the duration of N uptake was most decisive, shoot N uptake capacity during vegetative growth was relatively more important under high N conditions. N utilization efficiency became more important with increasing N supply. At high N supply, cultivars with low seed N concentrations were superior in yield. Harvest index was also significantly correlated to yield across N rates; however, its importance depended much on environmental conditions. In conclusion, the specification of plant traits that might contribute to enhanced N efficiency in oilseed rape will depend very much on the N supply of the target environment and the target yield level.     

Variation in yield loss of oilseed rape due to grazing by mute swans Cygnus olor

Yield loss due to grazing by mute swans was measured on nine fields of autumn-sown oilseed rape located in five regions of England. Using a paired-plot design, a significant reduction in yield (total dry weight of seed) was observed on three of the fields: 18%, 23% and 24%, respectively. On the first of these fields yield reduction was not simply due to fewer seeds being produced, as the weight of individual seeds was also significantly lower on grazed plots, with a reduction in thousand seed weight of 13%. Between fields (n=9), yield loss was positively correlated with the number of swans per ha, and the number of days of swan grazing per ha. Significant levels of yield loss occurred only on fields grazed by >5 swans per ha. The density of swans grazing per ha can thus be used to predict potentially significant yield loss and provides an indicator of the level of swan grazing activity at which growers should consider deploying measures to reduce grazing.     

甘蓝型油菜生育后期叶片对产量的影响

甘蓝型油菜初花期后，叶片仍是主要光合器官，但各类叶对产量的作用不同，无柄叶＞短柄叶＞分枝叶＞长柄叶，对产量的影响分别为７．４％－１５．５％、５．１％－１４．６％、３．３％－１４．６％和０．３％──－５．０％．各类叶对结角数和角粒数的影响与对产量的影响一致，但对千粒重的影响相反．     

The oil content and fatty acid composition of various genotypes of cauliflower,turnip and radish

Seeds of thirteen genotypes of cauliflower, four of turnip and seven of radish were analysed for oil content and fatty acid composition. Turnip and radish had higher oil content as compared to cauliflower. Oleic, linoleic + eicosenoic and erucic acids were the major fatty acids in the oils of these seeds. Levels of erucic acid were in the order of radish < turnip < cauliflower. Compared to cauliflower and turnip seeds, radish seeds contained higher amounts of palmitic, oleic, and linolenic + eicosenoic acids and lower amounts of linoleic and erucic acids.     

Trade-off between oil and protein in rapeseed at high latitudes: Means to consolidate protein crop status?

Crop-derived feed protein production is alarmingly low in Europe. Finland represents the northernmost growing region in the world and consequently lacks wide-ranging alternatives to improve crop-based protein production. Spring rapeseed, both turnip rape (Brassica rapa L.) and oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), are adapted to such northern conditions. This study examines the potential for genotype and environment induced trade-off between oil and protein in rapeseed in order to enhance further the status of rapeseed as a protein crop for northern areas. Datasets on advanced breeding progenies (including cultivars) were provided by Boreal Plant Breeding Ltd., while environment-induced variability in combinations of protein and oil content was studied by using long-term, multi-location datasets of MTT Official Variety Trials. Oilseed rape has more potential as a protein producer than turnip rape, with some 100 kg/ha difference in protein yields. Selecting lines superior in seed protein content at the expense of oil was not a potential means to consolidate protein production capacity per hectare: seed and protein yields were higher the better the capacity of the line to store oil. This can only mean that obviously the lower energy demand for oil synthesis was not alternatively used to boost protein production, but actually vice versa. In the case of environment-induced variation, the highest protein yields were produced in experiments where relatively high protein content was associated with modest oil content, but such conditions were characterised as inefficient in general production capacity and thereby, excessive in applied nitrogen fertiliser. Hence, we were not able to identify promising opportunities for prompt and energy-efficient trade-off between protein and oil in rapeseed.     

Responses of Seed Yield and Quality to Nitrogen Application Levels in Two Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.) Varieties Differing in Nitrogen Efficiency

Abstract

The relationship between nitrogen efficiency (NE), defined as seed yield per unit nitrogen (N) application, and seed quality was examined in two oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) varieties at 5 N application levels, 0.6, 3, 6, 12, 15 mmol L?¹, N₁, N₂, N₃, N₄ and N₅, respectively. Seed yield, oil yield and protein content were increased with the increase in N application level, but NE and oil content were decreased, and the fatty acid composition in seed was hardly changed. Analysis of seven fatty acids revealed aslight decrease in the contents of erucic acid and arachidonic acid with the increase in N application level, but no obvious change in the contents of palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid. Compared with the low NE variety H29, the seed yield and contents of erucic acid and arachidonic acid in the high NE variety bin270 were more markedly increased with the increase in N application level, and the oil content was hardly changed. The seed yield, oilcontent and oil yield were higher in the high NE variety than in the low NE variety at all 5 N application levels. There were no significant differences in protein, palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid contents between the varieties at any of the 5 N application levels, but there were slight differences in the linoleic acid and linolenic acid contents between the two varieties. In brief, N application improved oil yield more greatly in the high NE variety than in the low NE variety, but hardly affected the fatty acid composition. Therefore, the seed quality and oil content of oilseed rape may not be decreased by breeding of a high NE variety with a high N absorption efficiency and high N use efficiency.     

白菜型春油菜不同密度的产量及其构成因素分布特性

白菜型春油菜（ＢｒａｓｓｉｃａＣａｍｐｅｓｔｒｉｓ）两个品种８种栽培密度的产量及其构成因素分布特性分析结果表明，单位面积产量与各枝序粒重和角果数占单株粒重和角果数的比率有密切关系。角粒重较高，较稳定下，单位面积产量随一次分枝粒重比率和角果数比率的下降，或主序粒重比率和角果数比率的上升而提高；角粒重低，且随一次分枝粒重比率和角果数比率的下降，或主序粒重比率和角果数比率的上升而降低．一次分枝粒重比率和角果数比率为５０％－５５％，或主序粒重比率和角果数比率为２５％－３０％，同时每角粒重较高，可获得最高单位的面积产量。     

高密度直播油菜氮磷钾肥推荐用量及影响因素

针对我国目前油菜生产上施肥过量与不足并存,肥料利用率低的问题,运用“3414”试验方案进行一年多点田间试验,研究了高密度(375 000株/hm2)直播油菜氮磷钾肥的适宜用量。结果表明,氮磷钾肥不同用量显著影响油菜籽粒产量,通过建立施肥与产量间的效应函数方程,得出供试条件下油菜氮磷钾肥推荐施用量,桂林试验点油菜产量2 416.3kg/hm2,施用量为N 118.5 kg/hm2、P2O5 36.5kg/hm2、K2O 60.6 kg/hm2;枝江试验点油菜产量3 095.1kg/hm2,施用量为N 176.3 kg/hm2、P2O5 73.0kg/hm2、K2O 100.6 kg/hm2;玉龙试验点油菜产量4 474.3kg/hm2,施用量为N 256.7 kg/hm2、P2O5 88.1kg/hm2、K2O 137.7 kg/hm2。结论认为不同地理区域和不同油菜品种在该区域生长发育的生态学特征,以及肥料的边际利润率、肥料和产品价格是油菜推荐施肥的重要依据,不能简单依据供试土壤基础肥力进行油菜推荐施肥。 [     

Evaluation of seed production potential in white clover (Trifolium repens L. varietal improvement programmes

The components of actual and potential seed yield were examined in field experiments on a wide range of varieties of white clover (Trifolium repens L.). The factors affecting seed yield under conditions typical of management regimes used in the production of commercial seed crops were assessed in two experiments. In the first, carried out on spaced plants, considerable diferences are shown between six varieties across the range of leaf sizes in the distribution and profuseness of inflorescence production through the flowering season. In the second, carried out in plots, typical on-farm criteria were used to choose a single harvest date. Significant variation was found between varieties, including representatives of different leaf size categories, for seed yield components that include number of inflorescences m^?2, number of florets per inflorescence and harvestable seed weight. Large-leaved varieties tended to produce more seeds per floret and higher seed weights per inflorescence, whereas small-leaved varieties gave the highest number of inflorescences ^?2. However, the small-leaved variety AderDale, selected for strong peduncles, was exceptional, giving high values for all seed yield components. The impact of weather conditions on many seed yield components (e.g. total number of inflorescences) was demonstrated by the differences between the 2 years of the experiment. However, other characterstics, e.g. number of florets per inflorescence and number of seeds per floret, did not vary between years. Deviations from potential seed yield were assessed fromthe perspective of commerical seed production. The implications of these results for the production of white clover varieties with increased seed yields under UK conditions are discussed.     

白菜型春油菜果喙生长与其生产特性研究

通过不同品种（系）的田间小区试验及剪喙处理,研究白菜型春油菜果喙生长状况、叶绿素含量及生产力。结果表明：果喙长度在开花后14d基本定型,平均果喙长度占果身长度的38．9％。叶绿素含量为叶片大于果喙,果喙大于果壳,果喙叶绿素含量平均为果壳叶绿素含量的2．7倍以上。剪喙后,角果长度、宽度、果壳干重、角粒数、千粒重和角粒重均呈下降趋势。剪喙时间愈早,对角果生长及其生产力的影响程度愈大。开花后14d剪喙处理的角粒重下降率为20％左右。     

Effect of thinning flower buds on fruit and seed traits and root yield of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, commonly known as ginseng, is a perennial herb. Agricultural practices have an influence on growth and yield of P. ginseng plants. Effect of thinning flower buds (treatment A (TA) the outermost whorl of flower buds in the umbels was retained while all other buds were excised; treatment B (TB) the two outer whorls of flower buds in the umbels) on fruit traits, which include number of fruits per plant, single fruit: double fruit ratio, fruit weigh (FW) per square meter, weight of 100 fruits, vertical length of fruit (VLF), horizontal diameter of the fruit (HFD) and thickness of the fruit (TF), seed traits, which include number of seeds per square meter, weight of 1000 seeds, number of different seed grading categories (extremely large seeds (ELS), large seeds (LS), medium-sized seeds (MS), small seeds (SS)) per square meter, vertical length of the seed (VLS), horizontal diameter of the seed (HSD), thickness of the seed (TS), and the root yield and total ginsenosides content of root of four- and five-year-old cultivated P. ginseng was studied in Fusong region of north-eastern China. The results showed that the FW and VLF, the weight of 1000 seeds, number of ELS per square meter, VLS and HDS of ELS, HDS and TS of MS and root yield were increased significantly by TA and TB (p < 0.05), whereas the number of MS and SS were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in four- and five-year-old plants. The number of ELS and LS in TB and control were higher than that of in TA, and not significant was observed between TB and control. The root yield in TB was significantly higher than that in control of five-year-old plants. Number of the seeds per square meter of five-year-old plants was higher than that of four-year-old plants. The results indicated that the method of thinning flower buds, which was the two outer whorls of flower buds in the umbels, on five-year-old cultivated P. ginseng plants was a favourable method to promote the production of high-quality seeds and maximise the root yield.     

Maximizing oilseed rape's yield by glyphosate under Mediterranean conditions

Adverse hot and dry environmental conditions prevailing during the period of oilseed rape ripening can be blamed for considerable yield losses during the crop's mechanized harvesting in the Mediterranean area. In this paper, the effect of chemical dessication of oilseed rape with glyphosate applied 35 days after anthesis for reducing seed yield loss was studied. The experiment was conducted in four fields at two locations in central Greece and for two growth periods following a completely randomized plot design with 8 treatments in three replications. Treatments include all possible combinations of two crop varieties and four levels of glyphosate (as dessicant) application. A significant positive effect of dessicant application level on crop yield for both studied varieties was found. The application dose of 200 g a.i. of glyphosate per hectare had the best results. The highest dry weight was found among the plants sprayed with 200 g. a.i. of glyphosate per hectare. The highest seed yield and oil yield were found among the plants sprayed with 200 g a.i. per hectare, which makes clear the positive effect of this spraying minimizing pod shattering and yield losses. The greatest 1000-seed weight was found among the plants sprayed with 200 g a.i. ha⁻¹, due to the greater size of seeds that remained on the plants until harvesting.     

Variability and regulation of the number of ovules, seeds and pods according to assimilate availability in winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

The number of pods per plant and the number of seeds per pod are the most variable yield components in winter oilseed rape (WOSR). Both the number of ovules per pod and the potential for the ovule to develop into a mature seed may depend on pod position in the plant architecture and time of appearance. The complex developmental pattern of WOSR makes it difficult to analyse. The objectives of this study were to investigate the variability of the following yield components (a) ovules/pod, (b) seeds/pod, and (c) pods/axis in relation to two explanatory variables. These two variables include (1) flower and inflorescence position and (2) time of pod appearance, linked to the effect of assimilate availability.Field experiments were conducted with the variety Mendel. Different trophic states were created by clipping the main stem or ramifications. The number and position of flowers that bloomed within the inflorescence were recorded based on observations every two to three days throughout the flowering season.On the control plants, for the main stem we observed that the number of ovules per pod decreased for a few ranks and then tended to increase and again to decrease at the end. On ramification R1 and R4, the number of ovules increased at first, and then remained constant with the pod rank. Furthermore, the number of ovules per pod remained constant along the inflorescence on the other ramifications and increased with ramifications from top to bottom. The number of seeds per pod did not vary with the pod rank at the basal positions on inflorescences and decreased afterwards along the inflorescence. The clipping of the main stem or ramifications increased the number of ovules per pod, seeds per pod and pods per axis. The number of ovules and seeds per pod did not vary with the time of pod appearance for the pods located at normalised rank 0.01-0.1. However, the number of ovules and seeds per pod can be impacted by the time of pod appearance on the plant scale. Thus, our results indicate that the amount of available assimilates was the primary determinant of pod and seed production during the flowering period. The distribution of resources was significantly affected by both the positions of pods within an inflorescence and the position of inflorescences within a plant.     

Molybdenum-enriched soybean seeds enhance N accumulation, seed yield, and seed protein content in Brazil

High soybean yields require large amounts of nitrogen (N), which can be obtained mainly from symbiotic N₂ fixation. However, the efficiency of this biological process can be limited by micronutrient deficiencies, especially of molybdenum (Mo). In Brazil, soybean generally responds positively to fertilization with Mo in soils of low fertility and in fertile soils depleted of Mo due to long-term cropping. The micronutrient can be supplied by seed treatment, however toxicity of Mo sources to Bradyrhizobium strains applied to seed as inoculant has been observed, resulting in bacterial death and reductions in nodulation, N₂ fixation and grain yield. Therefore, use of seeds enriched in Mo could be a viable alternative to exterior seed treatment, allowing elite inoculant strains of Bradyrhizobium to sustain high rates of biological N₂ fixation. We demonstrated the feasibility of producing Mo-rich seeds of several soybean cultivars, by means of two foliar sprays of 400 g Mo ha⁻¹ each, between the R3 and R5 stages, with a minimum interval of 10 days between sprays. As a result of this method, considerable increases in seed-Mo content were obtained, of as much as 3000%, in comparison to seeds obtained from plants which received no Mo. In field experiments performed in soils with low N content and without any N-fertilizer supply, inoculation of Mo-rich seeds produced plants with increased N and Mo contents in the grain and higher yields of total N and of grain. In most cases, Mo-rich soybean seeds did not require any further application of Mo-fertilizer.     

油菜结实特性与库源关系的研究

以4个油菜品种的结实特性研究表明，开花后20d内油菜角果体积和表面积急剧增长，角果和籽粒干重随成熟进程而增加，籽粒干重在开花25d后增重加热，40d左右超过果皮干重。具有生殖生长优势品种的单位角果皮面积的生产力（PPA）和单位角果皮表面积负担的籽粒数（SNPA）较高。果皮与种子的生理代谢进程不同，二者的全氮，叶绿素以及可溶性糖含量的动态变化与角果形态及干物质积累转化进程有明显的相关性。初花期去叶处理可使4个品种明显减产，去叶对分枝产量的影响大于主花序，主要减少分枝的每角粒数；去短叶的减产幅度大于去无柄叶。     

氮磷钾肥施用对甘蓝型春油菜产量及肥料利用效率的影响

利用大田试验研究了氮、磷、钾肥对青海省互助县种植的甘蓝型春油菜产量、养分吸收量和肥料利用效率等指标的影响。结果表明,氮肥和磷肥对春油菜(甘蓝型杂交油菜青杂2号)籽粒产量的提高有显著作用,钾肥的影响相对较小;与不施肥对照相比,氮、磷、钾肥的施用可显著促进成熟期春油菜地上部N、P、K素累积量(P<0.05);不同肥料的春油菜农学利用率分别为5.3kg/kg N、5.6kg/kg P2O5和1.7kg/kg K2O;肥料表观利用率分别为N 33.6%、P2O5 7.8%和K2O 52.0%, N、P、K肥对油菜籽产量的偏生产力分别为28.0kg/kg N、46.7kg/kg P2O5和26kg/kg K2O。青海省互助县种植条件下,当春油菜产量水平在3 504kg/hm2时,NPK配施条件下每生产100kg籽粒需要吸收N、P2O5、K2O量分别为4.6kg、2.0kg和5.6kg,氮磷钾比为1:0.43:1.21。油菜生产实践中实现高产目标需同时关注地力培肥和平衡施肥两方面。     

红花单株粒重的通径分析

试验用９个栽培红花品种为材料，对单株粒重进行通径分析。结果表明，分枝高度、百粒重和单株有效果球数是影响单株种子产量的３个主要因素．在一级分枝数和单株有效果球数多的类型中，选择单株粒数多而重的材料，或者在大粒类型中选择分枝较高、粒重的材料，均可提高单株粒重。但是，在选择分枝高度时，必须兼顾株高和花期天数。油用红花育种，应特别注意通过选择来降低单株无效果球数。     

麻疯树优良单株筛选重要性状评价指标研究

利用方差分析、相关分析、因子分析和通径分析等方法,对筛选到的20株麻疯树优良单株的产量性状指标和种子特性等进行分析,结果表明:(1)单株果数、单株种子数、单株果重和单株种子重的变异系数均大于60%,具有较大的选择潜力,而百粒重、种子长度、种子宽度、种子厚度、种子含水量和种子含油量的变异系数分别为9.09%、1.67%、1.99%、2.04%、11.84%和7.02%,相对选择潜力较小;(2)单株果数、单株种数、单株果重和单株种子重4个性状反映了单株产量,且相互间呈极显著正相关,百粒重则反映了种子饱满程度,因此可选取单株种重和百粒重作为麻疯树优良单株筛选评价的主要指标;(3)种子含油量可在将来获得麻疯树高产稳产品种的基础上作为高油品种的筛选评价指标;(4)优良单株CPT1的单株种重、百粒重和种子含油量分别为676.84g、62.04g和34.43%,其产量性状和含油量表现较好,可作为生产上优良品种进一步筛选和培育的对象。