Osmotically Primed Seed and Seedling Reactions to Variations in Day/Night Temperature

The effects of alternating day/night temperatures, varying in maxima and minima but all averaging 30 °C, on germination and seedling characteristics of Sorghum bicolor L. (Moench) were investigated. Seeds of sorghum CSV 15 were soaked in 2, 4 or 6 g NaCl l⁻¹ solutions for 2 days at 25 °C, soaked in water for 1 day at 25 °C, or untreated. After treatment, drying and storage, seeds were germinated at 30/30 (day/night), 35/25, 40/20 or 41/19 °C temperature regimes under a polyethylene glycol-induced drought level of −3 bar. Results revealed no advancement of germination percentage but a partial increase in germination speed by osmotic seed treatments. All three osmotic treatments also reduced the plumule/radicle ratio owing to a speculated increase in root over shoot growth. Temperature regimes significantly influenced both germination and seedling characteristics with the optimum temperature appearing to be 35/25 °C. Increasing the temperature amplitude from 30/30 to 35/25 °C increased germination speed, which was reduced by incremental increases in temperature amplitude to 40/20 or 41/19 °C.     

Effects of Light, Different Growth Media, Temperature and Salt Concentrations on Germination of Cotton Seeds (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Nazilli 87)

Laboratory experiments were conducted to study the effects of light, different growth media, temperature, and salt concentrations on the germination ratio, mean germination period, and the beginning of germination of cotton seeds, Gossypium hirsutum L., cv. Nazilli 87. All factors considerably affected the germination rate of cotton seeds, ranging from 47% at darkness to 96% at 16 h of artificial light. The mean germination period varied from 5.6 days at 15°C and 1.3 days at 30°C under illumination and lasted longer at dark. The germination ratio was 94 % without additional salt and decreased from 63 % at salt concentration of 175 mM NaCl 1⁻¹ to only 8.7 % at 300 mM 1⁻¹. The mean germination period ranged from 5.28 days to 13.50 days at salt concentrations of 0–300 mM NaCl l⁻¹, respectively.     

Exogenously Applied Nitric Oxide Enhances the Drought Tolerance in Fine Grain Aromatic Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Drought stress is a severe threat to the sustainable rice production, which causes oxidative damage and disturbs plant water relations, while exogenously applied nitric oxide (NO) may have the potential to alleviate these effects in rice plants. In this study, the role of NO to improve drought tolerance in fine grain aromatic rice ( Oryza sativa L. cv. Basmati 2000) was evaluated. Sodium nitroprusside, a NO donor, was used at 50, 100 and 150  μ mol l⁻¹ both as seed priming and foliar spray. To prime, the seeds were soaked in aerated NO solution of respective solution for 48 h and dried back to original weight. Primed and non-primed seeds were sown in plastic pots with normal irrigation in a greenhouse. At four leaf stage, plants were subjected to drought stress except the controls, which were kept at full field capacity. Drought was maintained at 50 % of field capacity by watering when needed. Two controls were maintained; both receiving no NO treatments as foliar application or seed treatment, one under drought conditions and the other under well-watered conditions. Drought stress seriously reduced the rice growth, but both methods of NO application alleviated the stress effects. Drought tolerance in rice was strongly related to the maintenance of tissue water potential and enhanced capacity of antioxidants, improved stability of cellular membranes and enhanced photosynthetic capacity, plausibly by signalling action of NO. Foliar treatments proved more effective than the seed treatments. Among NO treatment, 100  μ mol l⁻¹ foliar spray was more effective.     

Improving the Drought Tolerance in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) by Exogenous Application of Salicylic Acid

Drought stress encumbers the rice growth predominantly by oxidative damage to biological membranes and disturbed tissue water status. In this study, the role of salicylic acid (SA) to induce drought tolerance in aromatic fine grain rice cultivar Basmati 2000 was evaluated. SA was applied as seed and foliar treatments. For seed treatment, rice seeds were soaked in 50, 100 and 150 mg l⁻¹ aerated solution of SA for 48 h and then dried back. Treated and untreated seeds were sown in plastic pots in a phytotron. At four leaf stage, one set of plants was subjected to drought stress, while the other remained well watered. Drought was maintained at 50 % of field capacity by watering every alternate day. For exogenous application, SA was applied 50, 100 and 150 mg l⁻¹ at five leaf stage. In the control, SA was neither applied exogenously nor as seed treatment. Drought stress severely affected the seedling fresh and dry weight, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, plant water relations and starch metabolism; however, SA application improved the performance of rice under both normal and stress conditions. Drought tolerance in rice was well associated with the accumulation of compatible solutes, maintenance of tissue water potential and enhanced potency of antioxidant system, which improved the integrity of cellular membranes and facilitated the rice plant to sustain photosynthesis and general metabolism. Foliar treatments were more effective than the seed treatments. Foliar application with 100 mg l⁻¹ (FA 100) was the best treatment to induce the drought tolerance and improve the performance under normal and stress conditions compared with the control or other treatments used in this study.     

Effects of Tillage and Cropping Systems on Soil Moisture Balance and Pearl Millet Yield

A 2-year study was conducted to determine the effects of tillage and cropping systems on soil moisture balance, growth and yield of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.). Three tillage treatments, viz. minimum tillage (one harrowing), conventional tillage (two harrowing, cross) and deep tillage (ploughing followed by two har-rowings), and four cropping systems, viz. monoculture of pearl millet, pearl miliet-clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetra-gonoloba (L.) Taub.) rotation, monoculture of pearl millet with 5 t ha⁻¹ farm yard manure (FYM), and intercropping of pearl millet and clusterbean, were compared. Deep tillage improved the soil moisture storage, water use efficiency and grain yield of pearl millet while consumptive use of water was higher with minimum tillage. Total dry matter yield with deep tillage and conventional tillage was 23.2 and 10.2% higher than minimum tillage in the season 1, and the corresponding values for season 2 were 30.7 and 13.3%. The Pearl millct-clusterbean rotation and monoculture of pearl millet with the application of 5 t ha⁻¹ FYM gave 17.2 and 6.1% higher yield than monoculture of pearl millet, respectively. Maximum water use efficiency was observed in rotation followed by FYM application.     

Organic Recycling for Soil Quality Conservation in a Sub-tropical Plateau Region

The long-term effect of organic recycling on some aspects of quality in a lowland rice soil of an Indian plateau region was studied. The experiment was set up at the agricultural experimental farm of the Indian Statistical Institute, Giridih, Bihar, India. Two rice cultivars, and treatments with four organic supplements (cowdung manure, Leuceana leaves, decomposed farm residue and Sesbania ), chemical fertilizers (urea, superphosphate and muriate of potash) and no input were arranged in a factorial randomized block design. Organic supplements improved soil quality parameters such as water holding capacity, total organic C, microbial biomass C, urease and acid phosphatase activities of soils in comparison to chemical fertilizers and no input. Among the organic supplements, cowdung manure gave significantly higher organic C (1.39%), microbial biomass C (276.46 μg g⁻¹ dry soil), urease activity (32.79 and 21.22 μg urea hydrolized g⁻¹ dry soil h⁻¹ at 37 °C by the buffer and non-buffer method, respectively) and acid phosphatase activity (1.99 μmol p-nitrophenol released g⁻¹ dry soil h⁻¹ at 37 °C) than the others. The conversion of organic C into biomass C (2.46%) was highest in Leuceana -treated soil.     

Seed treatments to overcome salt and drought stress during germination in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The treated seeds (control, KNO₃ and hydropriming) of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivar Sanbro were evaluated at germination and seedling growth for tolerance to salt (NaCl) and drought conditions induced by PEG-6000 at the same water potentials of 0.0, −0.3, −0.6, −0.9 and −1.2 MPa. Electrical conductivity (EC) values of the NaCl solutions were 0.0, 6.5, 12.7, 18.4 and 23.5 dS m⁻¹, respectively. The objective of the study was to determine factors responsible for germination and early seedling growth due to salt toxicity or osmotic effect and to optimize the best priming treatment for these stress conditions.

Results revealed that germination delayed in both solutions, having variable germination with different priming treatments. Germination, root and shoot length were higher but mean germination time and abnormal germination percentage were lower in NaCl than PEG at the same water potential. Seeds were able to germinate at all concentrations of NaCl but no seed germination was observed at −1.2 MPa of PEG treatments. NaCl had less inhibitor effect on seedling growth than the germination. It was concluded that inhibition of germination at the same water potential of NaCl and PEG resulted from osmotic effect rather than salt toxicity. Hydropriming increased germination and seedling growth under salt and drought stresses.     

Growth and Yield Responses to Plant Density and Stage of Transplanting in Winter Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.)

Growth and yield responses to plant density (6.75 × 10⁴, 9.75 × 10⁴ and 12.75 × 10⁴ plants ha^–1) and stage of transplanting (30, 35 and 40 days after sowing) of winter oilseed rape cultivar HO 605 were investigated in two field trials in the 1996/97 and 1997/98 growing seasons at Zhejiang University Farm, Huajiachi Campus, China. Results revealed a progressive decrease in leaf area per plant in response to increasing plant density and delayed transplanting, though leaf area m^–2 and leaf area index were higher in high-density plants. Number of effective branches and pod per branch decreased with increasing plant density and delayed transplanting. There were no significant differences in the mean seed weight among treatments. Although the average number of seeds per pod was significantly lower for high-density plants and delayed transplanting, the economically highest seed yields were realized in relatively high-density plants. Seed oil content was negatively affected by increasing plant density, but no significant differences were observed with delayed transplanting. The highest seed yields of 1730.7 and 1748.1 kg ha^–1 with no significant differences were observed for plant densities of 9.75 × 10⁴ and 12.75 × 10⁴ plants ha^–1, respectively, transplanted at 35 and 30 days after sowing.     

Plant Emergence of PEG-osmoprimed Seeds under Suboptimal Temperatures in Two Cultivars of Sweet Sorghum Differing in Seed Tannin Content

The effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) osmopriming on plant emergence in laboratory at optimal (25 °C) and suboptimal (18 and 14 °C) temperatures was assessed in two cultivars of sweet sorghum differing in kernel colour: Brandes, light-coloured, and Roce, dark-coloured. Sterilized sand or non-sterilized soil were used as substrates. PEG osmopriming enhanced seedling emergence in sand. In soil, the light-seeded cultivar produced seedlings only at optimum temperature, whereas the unprimed dark-seeded cultivar performed well as in sand at all temperatures and reduced dramatically its germination capacity at suboptimal temperatures following priming treatment. These results might be related to the presence of tannins in the seed coat. Seed tannin contents of 80 and 590 mg 100 g⁻¹ seed fresh weight (FW) were determined in Brandes and Roce respectively. These amounts consistently reduced after PEG osmopriming, especially in Roce (217.5 mg 100 g⁻¹ seed FW). The decline in tannin content in Roce, because of osmopriming, might explain the poor emergence of this cultivar in soil. These results suggest the opportunity of using high-tannin cultivars of sweet sorghum in the field, which may better growth in this environment when early sowings are required.     

Perchlorate is Not a Common Contaminant of Fertilizers

Perchlorate consumption can cause mental retardation and tumour formation in humans. Recent suggestions that perchlorate may be present as a contaminant in fertilizers and fertilizer components have caused concern in the fertilizer industry. The present study developed methods for improving the HPLC analysis of perchlorate and used these methods to survey 15 US fertilizers for perchlorate. Extraction with 50 m M NaOH rather than water was found to improve extraction efficiency from 84 to 98%. The incorporation of Ca(HO)₂ into the extraction medium to yield 1 : 0.5 or 1 : 1, SO₄^– : Ca⁺² molar ratios reduced the analytical interference caused by SO₄^–2 by reducing the slope of the SO₄^–2 peak tail by ∼75%. The study found no perchlorate in any of the fertilizers investigated.     

Effect of Gibberellic Acid on Seedling Growth and Carbohydrate Metabolism During Germination of Rice (Oryza sativa L. var. GR-3) Under Saline Condition

Interactive effect of NaCl salinity and gibberellic acid (GA₃) on seedling growth and carbohydrate metabolism of rice was studied for five days. NaCl reduced the embryo axis growth and the rate of hydrolysis of starch in the endosperm. Parallel to this reduced rate of reserve carbohydrate mobilization, a decreased activity of α -amylase, β -amylase, maltase and invertase was also found in the endosperm of sale stressed seeds. Presoaking treatment of seeds with GA₃ (10 mg l⁻¹), however, increased the growth of seedlings and enhanced the hydrolysis of starch as well as the activities of said enzymes. Electrophoretic analysis revealed that NaCl inhibits the synthesis of amylase isozymes which, in turn, reversed considerably by GA₃ application.     

Effects of Thermal and Salt Treatments during Imbibition on Germination and Seedling Growth of Sorghum at 42/19 °C

This investigation tested the influence of thermal treatment of seeds at various stages of imbibition on the germination percentage, speed and growth response of seeds and seedlings. Seeds of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L Moench) were treated in 2, 4 or 6 g NaCl l^?1 solutions and exposed for 2 h to 45 °C during the first, second or third days of imbibition. Thereafter, the seeds were dried and germinated at 42/19 °C (day/night temperature). Salt treatments did not improve the final germination percentage but increased germination speed over untreated seeds. The higher the salt concentration used, the greater the dry weights of plumules and radicles. Thermal treatment on the third day of imbibition yielded higher germination percentages than untreated seeds, while thermal treatment on the second day gave faster germination. Both the second and third day thermal treatments gave superior germination indices and higher plumule‐to‐radicle ratios. It is concluded that thermal treatment may assist in acclimating seeds to heat stress.     

Interaction of Salinity and Temperature on the Germination of Sorghum

Laboratory studies were conducted to investigate the effect of salinity × temperature interactions on the germination of sorghum. Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Sorghum seeds were sown in petri dishes with saline solutions of varying concentrations (electrical conductivities of 0.01, 6.4, 12.2, 17.4, 22.6, 27.2, 32.1, and 37.2 dSm^-1) prepared with NaCl. The germination responses of the seeds were determined over a wide range of temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 °C) for a period of 8 days. Salinity × temperature interactions were highly significant at each counting date. Although, increased salinity resulted in decreased germination percentages, the detrimental effect of salinity was generally less severe at higher temperatures. Germination rate index, computed from germination counts taken every 2 days, was influenced by salinity and temperature in a similar pattern as final germination. Seed germination was more tolerant to salinity at germination temperatures of 30–40 °C than at 15–25 °C.     

高粱种子萌发过程中超微弱光子辐射的特征

采用50 μg mL^-1的蛋白质合成转录抑制剂放线菌素D (actinomycin D, AMD)、100 μg mL^-1的蛋白质合成翻译抑制剂环己亚胺(cycloheximide, CHM)和650 μg mL^-1的呼吸抑制剂NaN₃处理萌发高粱种子, 研究了高粱种子萌发过程中自发光子辐射和LED诱导的延迟光子辐射的动力学特征及其变化规律。结果发现, 高粱萌发过程中的自发光子辐射强度与种子鲜质量的变化呈正相关(相关系数r为0.93121), AMD和CHM不同程度地抑制了萌发过程中高粱鲜质量的增长, NaN₃几乎完全抑制了鲜质量的增长, 表明高粱萌发过程中的自发光子辐射强度可以作为萌发状况的信号, RNA/DNA合成反应是高粱萌发过程中自发光子辐射的来源之一, 呼吸代谢是其主要来源。高粱萌发过程中的延迟光子辐射特征可用动力学参数初始光子数、相干时间和延迟光子辐射积分强度定量表达, 通过对延迟光子辐射积分强度的测量和分析可以实时、灵敏和无损伤的了解和判断高粱萌发过程中细胞代谢系统的动态变化。     

Effect of Sodium Chloride Salinity on Seedling Emergence in Chickpea

Although laboratory (Petri dish) germination as an estimate of seed viability is a standard practice, it may not give an accurate prediction of seedling emergence in the field, especially when saline irrigation water is used. Experiments were conducted to investigate seedling emergence in two chickpea cultivars (ILC 482 and Barka local) in response to varied salinity levels and sowing depths. Seeds were sown in potted soil at a depth of 2, 4 or 6 cm. The salinity treatments were 4.6, 8.4 and 12.2 dS m^–1. Tap water (0.8 dS m^–1) served as the control. Depth of sowing had a significant effect on seedling emergence. Seeds sown 6 cm deep showed the lowest seedling emergence. Similarly, salinity had an adverse effect on seedling emergence. The lowest seedling emergence percentages were obtained at the highest salinity treatment (12.2 dS m^–1). The interaction between salinity treatment and seeding depth was significant. Hypocotyl injury was implicated as a possible cause of poor seedling emergence in chickpea under saline water irrigation and was less severe when pre-germinated seeds were used. ILC 482 appeared to be more tolerant to salinity than Barka local, suggesting that breeding programmes involving regional exchange of germplasm may be helpful.     

种子引发对碱胁迫下甜高粱种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

为研究碱胁迫下种子引发对萌发及幼苗生长的影响,以甜高粱杂交种‘通甜1号’为试验材料,利用500 μmol/L γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)对种子进行引发处理。采用盆栽土培试验,将NaHCO₃:Na₂CO₃=5:1的混合碱胁迫液设3个水平(0、50、100 mmol/L)模拟碱胁迫,研究GABA种子引发处理对碱胁迫下高粱种子萌发状况及幼苗生长的影响。结果表明：随着碱胁迫强度增加,无论是经过引发处理的种子还是未经过引发处理的种子,其吸水量、萌发指数、出苗率和成苗率显著下降,幼苗生长受到限制,生物量积累降低。同等碱胁迫浓度下,经过引发处理的种子与未经过引发处理的种子相比,种子吸水量、萌发指数、胚的生长及幼苗叶面积均显著提高。低浓度碱胁迫条件下,经过引发处理的种子与未经过引发处理的种子相比,幼苗的出苗率和存活率较高、生长至第7天的株高和茎粗及总生物量均显著增加。试验表明,经过引发处理的种子可以不同程度地提高碱胁迫下甜高粱种子萌发指数,缓解碱胁迫对幼苗的不利条件,促进幼苗生长,提高耐碱性。     

Field evaluation of mixed-seedlings with rice to alleviate flood stress for semi-arid cereals

Flash floods, erratically striking semi-arid regions, often cause field flooding and soil anoxia, resulting in crop losses on food staples, typically pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). Recent glasshouse studies have indicated that rice (Oryza spp.) can enhance flood stress tolerance of co-growing dryland cereals by modifying their rhizosphere microenvironments via the oxygen released from its roots into the aqueous rhizosphere. We tested whether this phenomenon would be expressed under field flood conditions. The effects of mix-planting of pearl millet and sorghum with rice on their survival, growth and grain yields were evaluated under controlled field flooding in semi-arid Namibia during 2014/2015–2015/2016. Single-stand and mixed plant treatments were subjected to 11–22 day flood stress at the vegetative growth stage. Mixed planting increased plant survival rates in both pearl millet and sorghum. Grain yields of pearl millet and sorghum were reduced by flooding, in both the single-stand and mixed plant treatments, relative to the non-flooded upland yields, but the reduction was lower in the mixed plant treatments. In contrast, flooding increased rice yields. Both pearl millet–rice and sorghum–rice mixtures demonstrated higher land equivalent ratios, indicating a mixed planting advantage under flood conditions. These results indicate that mix-planting pearl millet and sorghum with rice could alleviate flood stress on dryland cereals. The results also suggest that with this cropping technique, rice could compensate for the dryland cereal yield losses due to field flooding.     

Interaction of Late Season Foliar Spray of Urea and Fungicide Mixture in Wheat Production

Nitrogen (N) fertilization with foliar urea and fungicide treatment at flag leaf emergence (GS 47) are common strategies to improve both grain yield and quality in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.). Mixing of urea and a fungicide, together, would save time in farm operations. In some cases, the effect of foliar sprayings of urea either alone or in combination with a fungicide may, however, give unexpected low response to grain yield and quality when compared to separate application of foliar urea and fungicide. This study was designated to provide more detailed information about the effects of late-season spraying of urea (15 kg N ha⁻¹ as an aqueous solution of 110 g l⁻¹) alone or mixed with fungicide (propiconazole, 125 g ha⁻¹) on the grain yield and grain protein content of spring wheat. To avoid foliar injury or phytotoxic effect of foliar spray of urea, mixing of urea with propiconazole in warm growing conditions should be avoided. In turn, during cool and rainy growing season, a mixture of these two chemicals is recommended in order to improve rapid absorbtion of both propiconazole and foliar urea. However, the genotypic differences were recorded in response to propiconazole and urea sprayings. The positive effects on cultivars of these chemicals were attributed to high leaf photosynthesis rate after propiconazole and foliar urea treatment and high leaf urease enzyme activity after foliar urea application.     

硒对芸豆种子萌发、生理特性及营养品质的影响

为探究硒对芸豆种子萌发、生理特性及营养品质的影响,以芸豆品种“英国红”为材料,进行发芽试验及大田试验。发芽试验设7个硒浸种浓度,分别是0（J₀）、7.5（J₁）、15.0（J₂）、22.5（J₃）、30.0（J₄）、37.5（J₅）和45.0mg/L（J₆）。大田试验设4个喷硒量,分别是0（P₀）、10（P₁）、20（P₂）和30g/hm²（P₃）。结果表明,30.0mg/L硒浸种浓度显著促进芸豆种子萌发;30g/hm²田间喷硒量较对照（不施硒）芸豆叶片的过氧化物酶活性、还原型谷胱甘肽含量和叶绿素含量分别提高了35.29%、32.34％和7.92%,丙二醛含量降低了20.32%;籽粒中可溶性糖、蔗糖、粗脂肪、粗蛋白、粗淀粉和硒含量分别提高了23.65%、37.23%、75.00%、62.14%、32.21%和24.11%。     

The Effect of Seeding Rate and Nitrogen Fertilization on Barley Yield and Yield Components in a Cool Maritime Climate

Soil and climatic conditions in Newfoundland are on the margins of agricultural capability, and almost all feed grain is imported. The overall objective of this work was to develop guidelines for the production of barley in Newfoundland, with the goal of establishing modern cropping recommendations. We conducted a 4-year study near St. John's to examine the effect of seeding rate and topdress ammonium nitrate (N) fertilization rate on Chapais six-row barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) yield components and grain yield. Increasing seeding rate from 200 to 380 seeds m^–2 did not alter grain yield in any year. Increasing topdress fertilization from 0 to 60 kg N ha^–1 increased spike density m^–2 at harvest, resulting in linear increases in grain yield in all years. Highest N rates had greatest lodging in two years. Based on our results, agronomic recommendations for eastern Newfoundland now include barley seeding rates of 250 ± 50 seeds m^–2, with topdress applications up to at least 30 kg N ha^–1.