Silicon and salicylic acid promote different responses in legume plants

Abstract

The foliar application of silicon (Si) and salicylic acid (SA) can be beneficial to plants. However, there are doubts about the interaction of Si and SA in the physiology and yield of legume crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of foliar application of Si and SA on the photosynthetic variables and yield of soybean and bean grains. The experiments were composed by four treatments: potassium silicate and stabilized sodium at a concentration of 3.6?g?L^?1 Si in the absence and presence of SA (210?mg?L^?1), only SA, and without Si or SA. The interaction of Si with foliar SA enhanced photosynthesis only in soybean; it did not affect the physiological variables of bean and did not alter the yield of the two crops. The results indicated that foliar Si application at high concentrations, independently of SA application, increased the physiological variables of the soybean without affecting the yield; however, the combined application of Si and SA had an adverse effect on the physiology and yield of bean.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus halepensis</Emphasis> somatic embryogenesis is affected by the physical and chemical conditions at the initial stages of the process

Pinus halepensis has been described as a drought-tolerant species with high plasticity to growth in different environments. Its eco-physiological characteristics could facilitate the use of this species in large afforestations in the future scenery of climate change. Somatic embryogenesis is a biotechnological tool with potential for large-scale clonal propagation. In order to establish an improved regeneration protocol for Pinus halepensis, the effects of different temperatures (18, 23, and 28 °C) and water availability conditions (2, 3, and 4 g L^?1 Gelrite^®), during initiation of embryonal masses on the rate of initiation, proliferation, maturation, and the number of embryos developed, were evaluated. It was found that environmental conditions during the initiation stage of Pinus halepensis somatic embryogenesis influence the success of initiation and proliferation. In contrast, there was no effect of these conditions on the maturation rates and the number of somatic embryos. Somatic embryos were obtained in all treatments tested, indicating that plants can be produced from extreme conditions of induction, such as high temperatures (28 °C) and low water availability conditions (4 g L^?1).     

普通野生稻稻瘟病广谱抗性基因Pi-gx（t）的遗传分析和定位

【目的】探明来源于广西普通野生稻的稻瘟病抗源RB221与部分已知抗病基因水稻品种抗谱的异同,其抗性基因的遗传模式及在染色体上所处的位点,确定其抗病基因是否为新的抗病基因。【方法】采用从广西不同稻作区收集的8个稻瘟病菌系对抗源RB221和11个已知抗病基因的水稻品种进行抗谱测定,并对RB221抗病基因进行等位性分析、经典遗传分析及分子标记定位。【结果】抗源RB221的抗谱与11个已知抗病基因的水稻品种有差异,其对8个菌系均表现出抗病反应,在所有参试品种中抗谱最广。等位性测定结果表明,抗源RB221所携抗病基因与已知抗病基因品种所携带的Pi-3、Pi-7（t）、Pi-ta、Pi-K、Pi-b是不等位。经典遗传分析结果显示,抗源RB221对03-35E菌系的抗性受1对显性基因控制。SSR标记定位结果表明,RB221抗病基因定位于第2染色体的SSR标记RM240与RM1092之间,与RM240的遗传距离为1.3 cM,与RM1092的遗传距离为2.2 cM。【结论】抗源RB221的抗性基因Pi-gx（t）为新发现的抗病基因,位于第2染色体上,与第2染色体上已定位的抗性基因处于不同基因位点上。     

Decreased biodiversity in soil springtail communities: the importance of dispersal and landuse history in heterogeneous landscapes

In previously published papers it had been demonstrated that at the local level the species richness of soil springtail communities was negatively influenced by landuse diversity. When the dispersal rate of soil animals was taken into account, quite opposite trends were displayed by species having poor or high dispersal capabilities. At the local level, species with short legs, non functional jumping apparatus and reduction of visual organs were distinguished against by landuse diversity, while species with long legs, functional jumping apparatus (furcula) and complete eyes, thus able to disperse at the soil surface, were not. It was verified, through aerial photographs taken 50 years ago, that landuse changes, expected to be more frequent in heterogeneous landscapes, may contribute to explain this phenomenon.     

“WaterMan”: an on-farm water management game with heuristic capabilities

A modern computer-based simulation tool (WaterMan) in the form of a game for on-farm water management was developed for application in training events for farmers, students, and irrigators. The WaterMan game utilizes an interactive framework, thereby allowing the user to develop scenarios and test alternatives in a convenient, risk-free environment. It includes a comprehensive soil water and salt balance calculation algorithm. It also employs heuristic capabilities for modeling all of the important aspects of on-farm water management, and to provide quantitative performance evaluations and practical water management advice to the trainees. Random events (both favorable and unfavorable) and different strategic decisions are included in the game for more realism and to provide an appropriate level of challenge according to player performance. Thus, the ability to anticipate the player skill level, and to reply with random events appropriate to the anticipated level, is provided by the heuristic capabilities used in the software. These heuristic features were developed based on a combination of two artificial intelligence approaches: (1) a pattern recognition approach and (2) reinforcement learning based on a Markov decision processes approach, specifically the Q-learning method. These two approaches were combined in a new way to account for the difference in the effect of actions taken by the player and action taken by the system in the game world. The reward function for the Q-learning method was modified to reflect the suggested classification of the WaterMan game as what is referred to as a partially competitive and partially cooperative game.     

Testing of the protective effect of cell-free lyophilized vaccine against Marek's disease in field trials]

The protective effect of a lyophilized vaccine against Marek's disease ("Keramvac"--Pfizer), prepared from a cell-free turkey's herpesvirus (strain FC 126), was compared in field trials with losses in the group of non-vaccinated chickens. Under the indicated conditions, the vaccine had only a 50.86% effectiveness. The possible causes of the reduced vaccination effect are discussed with regard to the pathomorphological and virological findings suggesting, among others, an increased incidence of the symptoms of the classical form of Marek's disease in the population investigated.