Crop photosynthetic response to light quality and light intensity

Under natural conditions, plants constantly encounter various biotic and abiotic factors, which can potentially restrict plant growth and development and even limit crop productivity. Among various abiotic factors affecting plant photosynthesis, light serves as an important factor that drives carbon metabolism in plants and supports life on earth. The two components of light(light quality and light intensity) greatly affect plant photosynthesis and other plant's morphological, physiological and biochemical parameters. The response of plants to different spectral radiations and intensities differs in various species and also depends on growing conditions. To date, much research has been conducted regarding how different spectral radiations of varying intensity can affect plant growth and development. This review is an effort to briefly summarize the available information on the effects of light components on various plant parameters such as stem and leaf morphology and anatomy, stomatal development, photosynthetic apparatus, pigment composition, reactive oxygen species(ROS) production, antioxidants, and hormone production.     

Influence of impregnating wood particles with mimosa bark extract on some properties of particleboard

In this study, influence of impregnating wood particles with mimosa bark extract on the some properties of particleboard was investigated. Properties evaluated were modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bond (IB), thickness swelling (TS), and formaldehyde emission (FE). The results showed that particleboards made from particles impregnated with mimosa bark extract had significantly lower mechanical, physical and formaldehyde emission values than those of the boards made from unimpregnated particles. Brushing of mimosa bark extract to the surfaces and edges of the particleboards did not affect the mechanical properties, statistically. However, this application caused a significant improvement in the thickness swelling and formaldehyde emission.     

Yield stability of induced-early-maturing mutants of mungbean (Vigna radiata) and their use in a multiple-cropping system

The performance of seven mutants of mungbean along with parental types was studied at 41 different sites in three summer crop seasons from 1980 to 1982. The performance of mutants was also studied in spring in the fallow period preceding cotton, and in early summer in the fallow period between wheat harvest and rice/maize planting, to assess their suitability of growing as a catch-crop in these fallows.

The mutants yielded significantly higher and matured 2–4 weeks earlier than parental types, leaving sufficient time to sow the succeeding crops. The mutants were characteristically short-statured, and superior to their parents with respect to number of pods per plant, seed weight, harvest index and productivity per day, but similar in numbers of seeds per pod and seed protein content.

The stability of yield was estimated through regression analysis. Significant genotypic differences were observed among mutants and varieties. Some mutants were widely adapted whereas others performed better in favourable environments. The parental types tended to respond well under poor environments.

Owing to their higher yield potential, early and uniform maturity, and wide adaptability, four mutants were approved as commercial varieties in 1986. These mutants yield 30–50% higher than the parents, mature in 55–70 days, and are suited to both summer and spring crop seasons. Of these four mutants, two can be grown in the fallow period between wheat harvest and rice/maize planting. Because of their determinate plant type, non-shattering pod and top fruit-bearing habit, these mutants are also amenable to intercropping practices and mechanised harvesting operations.

The role of induced mutations for the improvement of mungbean is discussed.     

Metabolomics-Based Study of Logarithmic and Stationary Phases of Promastigotes in Leishmania major by 1H NMR Spectroscopy

Background:

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is one of the most important parasitic diseases in humans. In this disease, one of the responsible organisms is Leishmania major, which is transmitted by sandfly vector. There are specific differences in biochemical profiles and metabolite pathways in logarithmic and stationary phases of Leishmania parasites. In the present study, ¹H NMR spectroscopy was used to examine the metabolites outliers in the logarithmic and stationary phases of promastigotes in L. major to enlighten more about the transmission mechanism in metacyclogenesis of L. major.

Methods:

Promastigote was cultured, logarithmic and stationary phases were separated by the peanut agglutinin, and cell metabolites were extracted. ¹H NMR spectroscopy was applied, and outliers were analyzed using principal component analysis.

Results:

The most altered metabolites in stationary and logarithmic phases were limited to citraconic acid, isopropylmalic acid, L-leucine, ornithine, caprylic acid, capric acid, and acetic acid.

Conclusion:

¹H NMR spectroscopy could play an important role in the characterization of metabolites in biochemical pathways during a metacyclogenesis process. These metabolites and their pathways can help in exploiting a transmission mechanism in metacyclogenesis, and outcoming data might be used in the metabolic network reconstruction of L. major modeling. Key Words: Leishmania major, Metabolomics, Principal component analysis     

Role of Phosphatases,Iron Reducing,and Solubilizing Activity on the Nutrient Acquisition in Mixed Cropped Peanut and Barley

The effect of interspecific complementary and competitive root interactions and rhizosphere effects on primarily phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) but also nitrogen (N), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) nutrition between mixed cropped peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). In order to provide more physiological evidence on the mechanisms of interspecific facilitation, phosphatase activities in plant and rhizosphere, root ferric reducing capacity (FR), Fe-solubilizing activity (Fe-SA), and rhizosphere pH were determined. The results of the experiment revealed that biomass yield of peanut and barley was decreased by associated plant species as compared to their monoculture. Rhizosphere chemistry was strongly and differentially modified by the roots of peanut and barley and their mixed culture. In the mixed cropping of peanut/barley, intracellular alkaline and acid phosphatases (AlPase and APase), root secreted acid phosphatases (S-APase), acid phosphatases activity in rhizosphere (RS-APase), and bulk soil (BS-APase) were higher than that of monocultured barley. Regardless of plant species and cropping system, the rhizosphere pH was acidified and concomitantly to this available P and Fe concentrations in the rhizosphere were also increased. The secretion Fe-solubilizing activity (Fe-SA) and ferric reducing (FR) capacity of the roots were generally higher in mixed culture relative to that in monoculture treatments which may improve Fe and Zn nutrition of peanut. Furthermore, mixed cropping improved N and K nutrition of peanut plants, while Ca nutrition was negatively affected by mixed cropping.     

Influence of Nitrogen and Saline Water on the Growth and Partitioning of Mineral Content in Maize

ABSTRACT

Saline irrigation water has a tremendous impact on the yield potential of crops. Distribution of mineral elements in the parts of maize plant in response to saline water and nitrogen (N) nutrition was studied in a pot experiment for six weeks. Plants were irrigated either with tap water or saline water (ECw: 3.2 dSm^?1). Nitrogen was applied at the rate of 0, 50, 100 and 200-kg ha^?1 denoted as N0, N1, N2, and N3, respectively. Plants were separated into leaf, stem and root and analyzed for N, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and potassium (K) concentrations. Dry matter production of leaf, stem and root was significantly reduced with saline water. The partitioning of elements in plants was the function of nitrogen and saline water. The N concentration of plant parts varied in the order of leaf > stem > root. A significant decrease in the N content was noted in plants under saline water. The root contained the highest Na content, Ca and Mg were higher in the leaf, whereas K was highest in the stem under saline water. Sodium was highest in the root and the remainder elements were greatest in the stem under tap water. Potassium and Cl were significantly reduced by N level whereas the reverse was true for Ca, Mg and Na content. The Na/K, Na/Ca, and Na/Mg ratios were also higher in salt stressed plant parts due to higher accumulation of Na ion. Among N-fertilizer treatments the Na/Ca and Na/Mg ratios were highest in control whereas Na/K increased with the addition of N. This study indicated that interaction of saline water and nitrogen has mixed effects on the partitioning of mineral elements in maize.     

Different Eucalyptus Species Show Different Mechanisms of Tolerance to Salinity and Salinity × Hypoxia

ABSTRACT

We studied the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) salinity and oxygen deficiency stress on growth and leaf ionic composition of three Eucalyptus species [E. tereticornis, E. camaldulensis (Silverton), and E. camaldulensis (Local)]. Species were grown with control (no NaCl) and salinity (150 mol m^?3 NaCl) under hypoxic and non-hypoxic conditions in nutrient solution with five replications following CRD. Species differed significantly in their response to salinity and hypoxia. Absolute shoot dry matter was significantly better in E. camaldulensis (Silverton) in salinity and in E. camaldulensis (Local) in saline hypoxic treatment. E. tereticornis was the most sensitive species to salinity and salinity × hypoxia in the root environment. Sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl^?) concentrations were significantly lower in E. camaldulensis (Local) in non-hypoxic saline treatment compared to the other two species. E. camaldulensis (Silverton) seems to have better tissue compartmentalization, whereas E. camaldulensis (local) seems to have better exclusion of Na⁺ at the root level.     

Auxin Analogues and Nitrogen Metabolism,Photosynthesis, and Yield of Chickpea

ABSTRACT

The impact of three auxins indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 4-chloroindole-3-acetic acid (4-Cl-IAA), and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on nitrogen metabolism were investigated in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Plants were raised from seeds soaked in water (control), 10^?8 M of IAA, IBA, or 4-Cl-IAA, for 12 hours and were assessed for different parameters at 60 days after sowing. Observations showed that auxins, irrespective of the analogue significantly increased the nodulation, leghemoglobin content, nodule nitrogen content and the enzymes of nitrogen assimilation. Of the three auxins, 4-Cl-IAA was the most effective in increasing these parameters. The increase in seed yield was 27% higher than the water soaked control. The response to auxins followed the trend 4-Cl-IAA > IAA > IBA > control. It may be concluded from the present investigation that auxins, irrespective of the type, significantly improved the nitrogen metabolism, photosynthesis and yield of the chickpea. Of three auxins used, 4-Cl-IAA generated the best response.     

GENOTYPIC DIFFERENCES IN NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND ACCUMULATION IN RICE UNDER CHROMIUM STRESS

The effect of chromium (Cr) on the uptake, distribution and accumulation of nine nutrient elements was studied in two rice genotypes, Xiushui 113 and Dan K5. The effect on elemental concentrations and accumulations varied with Cr level, nutrient element, genotype and plant part. Maximum nutrient accumulation occurred at 10 μM Cr, while the minimum occurred at 100 μM Cr, indicating best plant growth at the 10 μM level. It may be assumed that low Cr level enhance plant growth. The correlation between the concentrations of Cr and nine elements differed among plant parts, but Cr accumulation was significantly and negatively correlated with the accumulation of each element, suggesting that increasing Cr level may create nutrient deficiencies or imbalance in rice.     

POTASSIUM SULFATE IMPROVES WATER DEFICIT TOLERANCE IN MELON PLANTS GROWN UNDER GLASSHOUSE CONDITIONS

Interactive effects of water stress and potassium (K) on some physiological attributes and nutritional status of melon (Cucumis melo L. cv. ‘Tempo F1’) plants were assessed in a pot experiment. Treatments used were: (1) control or well-watered (WW) + K1, (2) WW + K2, (3) WW + K3, (4) water stress (WS) + K1, (5) WS + K2, and (6) WS + K3. Water stress (WS) was imposed by maintaining the moisture level equivalent to 50% pot capacity, whereas well-watered (WW) pots (control) were maintained at full pot capacity (100% PC). Hoagland's nutrient solution was modified to supply K as potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄) at 6, 9, and 12 mM for K1, K2, and K3 treatments, respectively. Water stress reduced fruit yield, total dry matter, chlorophyll content and relative water content (RWC), but increased proline accumulation in the melon plants. However, additional supply of K as 3 or 6 mM significantly enhanced all the earlier mentioned physiological parameters, but the values were still not the same as the levels of the control treatment. Water stress also reduced leaf calcium (Ca) and K of the melon plants, but additional supply of K to the root zone increased the levels of both nutrients much higher than those at the control (C) treatment. Our study revealed that additional supply of K improved water stress tolerance in melon plants by enhancing chlorophyll, relative water content and concentrations of some essential nutrients in leaves.