在受控条件下植物促生菌对扁豆的生长，结瘤和养分积累的效应

Application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) has been shown to increase legume growth and development under field and controlled environmental conditions. The present study was conducted to isolate plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) from the root nodules of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) grown in arid/semi-arid region of Punjab, Pakistan and examined their plant growth-promoting abilities. Five bacterial isolates were isolated, screened in vitro for plant growth-promoting (PGP) characteristics and their effects on the growth of lentil were assessed under in vitro, hydroponic and greenhouse (pot experiment) conditions. All the isolates were Gram negative, rod-shaped and circular in form and exhibited the plant growth-promoting attributes of phosphate solubilization and auxin (indole acetic acid, IAA) production. The IAA production capacity ranged in 0.5-11.0 μg mL-1 and P solubilization ranged in 3-16 mg L-1 . When tested for their effects on plant growth, the isolated strains had a stimulatory effect on growth, nodulation and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake in plants on nutrient-deficient soil. In the greenhouse pot experiment, application of PGPR significantly increased shoot length, fresh weight and dry weight by 65%, 43% and 63% and the increases in root length, fresh weight and dry weight were 74%, 54% and 92%, respectively, as compared with the uninoculated control. The relative increases in growth characteristics under in vitro and hydroponic conditions were even higher. PGPR also increased the number of pods per plant, 1 000-grain weight, dry matter yield and grain yield by 50%, 13%, 28% and 29%, respectively, over the control. The number of nodules and nodule dry mass increased by 170% and 136%, respectively. After inoculation with effective bacterial strains, the shoot, root and seed N and P contents increased, thereby increasing both N and P uptake in plants. The root elongation showed a positive correlation (R2 = 0.67) with the IAA production and seed yield exhibited a positive correlation (R2 = 0.82) with root nodulation. These indicated that the isolated PGPR rhizobial strains can be best utilized as potential agents or biofertilizers for stimulating the growth and nutrient accumulation of lentil.     

A Community Economic Forecasting and Simulation System: Description of a Satellite Model

This paper deals with the problem of modelling sub-county areas that are so small that county level forecasts cannot be used for policy purposes. Starting from a simple specification that relates demand for local goods and services to local and non-local income, a system of equations is developed that can be used as a satellite to a county model to forecast impacts of economic events at the town level. Regression coefficients for the equations are estimated using data at the one-digit SIC code level for a pooled sample of towns in Massachusetts. Model validation tests are reported. An example of an application is provided by simulating impacts of 500 new manufacturing jobs in a town within a county. Our approach yields simulation and forecasting results for both the town and the county.     

种植小麦的土壤中微生物生物量的动态变化

A controlled release N fertilizer was developed by the carrier method using natural polysaccharides (PS) and urea. The results showed that mixing of PS and urea led to significant control of urea release. When a cross-linker (boric acid or glutaraldehyde) was added, a better control effect was observed. During a 30 min leaching time the nitrogen release rate from the controlled release fertilizer was nearly constant, which was significantly different from normal urea. One of the controlled release mechanisms was related to space resistance from a large molecular structure. Infrared (IR) analysis indicated that interaction of PS with urea was through a hydrogen bond or a covalent bond. These bonds created an a-helix or high molecular network fertilizer carrier system, which was another reason for a controlled nutrient release. Pot experiment showed that nitrogen use efficiency could increase significantly with a carrier fertilizer.     

Impact of a biochar or a biochar-compost mixture on water relation, nutrient uptake and photosynthesis of Phragmites karka

Soil water and nutrient status are both of major importance for plant appearance and growth performance. The objective of this study was to understand the effect of biochar (1.5%) and a biochar-compost mixture (1.5% biochar + 1.5% compost) on the performance of Phragmites karka plants grown on a synthetic nutrient-poor sandy clay soil (50% sand, 30% clay, and 20% gravel). Indicators of plant performance, such as growth, lignocellulosic biomass, water status (leaf water potential, osmotic potential, and turgor potential), mineral nutrition status, leaf gas exchange, and chlorophyll fluorescence, and soil respiration (carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux) were assessed under greenhouse conditions. Biochar-treated plants had higher growth rates and lignocellulosic biomass production than control plants with no biochar and no compost. There was also a significant increase in soil respiration in the treatments with biochar, which stimulated microbial interactions. The increase in soil water-holding capacity after biochar amendment caused significant improvements in plant water status and plant ion (K⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺) contents, leading to an increase in net photosynthesis and a higher energy-use efficiency of photosystem II. Biochar-treated plants had lower oxidative stress, increased water-use efficiency, and decreased soil respiration, and the biochar-compost mixture resulted in even greater improvements in growth, leaf turgor potential, photosynthesis, nutrient content, and soil gas exchange. Our results suggest that biochar and compost promote plant growth with respect to nutrient uptake, water balance, and photosynthetic system efficiency. In summary, both the soil amendments studied could increase opportunities for P. karka to sequester CO₂ and produce more fodder bio-active compounds and biomass for bio-energy on nutrient-poor degraded soils.     

Improving the performance of Bt-cotton under heat stress by foliar application of selenium

Heat stress at reproductive stages of cotton is a leading encumbrance to accomplish yield potential. An experiment was conducted to alleviate adversities of terminal heat stress on cotton. Experiment was conducted at University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2013 and repeated in 2014 using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split arrangement. Treatments were comprised of heat stress in main plots, viz., H₀ = no heat imposition, H₁ = heat imposition at squaring, and H₂ = heat imposition at flowering. Selenium was foliar applied in split plot, viz., Se₀ = 0, Se₅₀ = 50, Se₁₀₀ = 100, and Se₁₅₀ = 150 mg L^?1. Cell membrane thermostability, soluble proteins, and total phenolics were reduced significantly under heat stress leading to reduced cotton yield and related components. Maximum membrane thermostability, total phenolics, soluble proteins, opened bolls, boll weight, sympodial branches, and seed cotton yield were recorded with the application 150 mg Se L^?1.     

Combined application of biochar with compost and fertilizer improves soil properties and grain yield of maize

A pot study was conducted to assess the combined effect of biochar (B) with compost (Com) and inorganic fertilizers (F) for improving nutrient acquisition and productivity of maize. Seven different treatments, including B (1% w/w), F (Recommended nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK): 60, 30 and 25 mg kg^─1), Com (1.5% w/w), Com+F (1.5% + NPK), B+F (1% + NPK), B+Com (0.5% + 0.75%), B+Com+F (0.5% + 0.75% + NPK) along with a control (C) without B, Com and F were applied in pots with four replications. The results showed that growth and grain yield of maize increased by the application of B, Com and F compared with C, but B+Com+F was more effective than their sole application (i.e. B, Com and F). Highest leaf chlorophyll content, gas exchange attributes and nutrient concentrations: N, P and K in shoot and grains were observed, where B+Com+F was applied followed by Com+F > B+F > B+Com > F > Com > B > C. Soil properties such as soil organic carbon (SOC), N, P, and K were significantly increased, whereas soil pH was decreased by the combination of B with Com and F. Hence, application of B in combination with Com and F (B+Com+F) could be a good management strategy to enhance crop productivity and improve soil properties.     

巴基斯坦白沙瓦市铅和镉在不同路旁土壤及植物中的污染

Soil and plant samples were collected from roadside sites (along with primary, secondary and tertiary roads) and reference site to investigate the contamination of soils and old common plant species with lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in Peshawar City, Pakistan. All the data were analyzed using ANOVA analysis that showed a significant (P ≤ 0.01) variation in Pb and Cd concentrations in the roadside soils and plants as compared to the reference site. The mean concentrations of Pb and Cd were 53.9 and 6.0 mg kg-1 in soils and 49.1 and 10.9 mg kg-1 in plants, respectively. Significant variation (P ≤ 0.01) in concentrations of Pb and Cd in soil and plant samples along with primary, secondary and tertiary roads might be due to different traffic densities. The highest value (9.4) of metal accumulation index (MAI) was observed for Eucalyptus camaldulensis. In selected plant species, the Pb and Cd accumulation was found in the order of E. camaldulensis > Ficus elastica > Dalbergia sissoo > Alstonia scholaris. The roadside soils and plants were highly contaminated with Pb and Cd as compared to the reference site.     

Breeding for pre-harvest sprouting resistance in bread wheat under rainfed conditions

Pre-harvest sprouting in wheat is the germination of seeds within the spikes when rains occur after or during grain ripening, which occurs commonly in the barani tract of Pakistan. Therefore, 10 cultivars and five advanced lines of spring bread wheat were evaluated for pre-harvest sprouting resistance. After natural rainfall, seeds were immediately collected from the wet spikes and tested for germinating ability. Three different germination tests were applied to hand-threshed seed: (1) spikes threshed on the day of sampling and germination tested immediately, (2) spikes threshed on the day of sampling and germination tested 1 week later, and (3) spikes threshed 1 week after sampling and germination test immediately after threshing. Seeds and spikes kept for 1 week were place on blotting paper at room temperature. Cultivars BARS-09, 09FJ17, Doukkala-12, NARC-09 and Ouassou-20 exhibited higher sprouting resistance while other genotypes were susceptible to pre-harvest sprouting in each of the three tests. A diallel crossing was conducted with six susceptible and two resistant genotypes to assess the genetic behavior of pre-harvest sprouting resistance. The combining ability (CA) demonstrated a higher proportion of additive genetic effects for sprouting resistance, because of higher variance of general and specific CA for both parameters under study. Doukkala-12 and BARS-09 showed increased pre-harvest sprouting resistance in their F₁ descendants.     

转α-微管蛋白基因SoTUA甘蔗T2代的生理生化特性分析

本研究对已获得的转α-微管蛋白基因SoTUA的T₂代甘蔗株系进行PCR扩增及测序,从检测阳性的转基因甘蔗中选6个转基因株系（T1、T2、T3、T4、T5、T6）与非转基因野生型甘蔗对照（WT）进行了低温胁迫（4 ℃）处理,在处理0、5、10 d测定甘蔗叶片丙二醛（MDA）和渗透调节物（可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白）含量以及过氧化物酶（POD）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性,并采用RT-qPCR法分析了低温处理下甘蔗叶片α-微管蛋白基因的表达情况。结果表明：在4 ℃低温处理下,6个转SoTUA基因甘蔗与WT中α-微管蛋白的转录因子表达量随着胁迫时间的延长上调表达。胁迫后5、10 d转基因株系的相对表达量始终高于WT甘蔗,低温处理10 d时转基因T1显著高于其他株系（P<0.05）。在低温胁迫下,甘蔗的MDA含量逐渐增高,而转基因甘蔗增幅显著低于WT甘蔗,10 d时转基因株系MDA的含量比WT低41.77%（P<0.05）;POD活性在不同株系之间变化趋势不同,但转基因甘蔗POD活性显著高于WT甘蔗（P< 0.05）;转基因T1、T2、T4、T6株系的SOD活性随着胁迫天数增加呈现先增加后减少的趋势,而WT与转基因T3、T5的SOD活性逐渐升高;甘蔗的可溶性糖含量逐渐上升,转基因甘蔗的可溶性蛋白含量在0 d显著高于野生型甘蔗,胁迫后变化趋势在株系之间有所差异;转基因甘蔗SoTUA相对表达量与可溶性糖含量呈极显著的正相关。利用隶属函数综合分析评价,抗寒性排序结果为：T3>T2>T1>T5>T6>T4>WT。在低温胁迫下,转基因甘蔗SoTUA基因的上调表达能提高甘蔗的抗寒性,且具有遗传稳定性。