The effects of cis-trans ABA on embryo germination and seed dormancy in wheat

Pre-harvest sprouting of wheat grain can cause economic losses especially in cultivars with low levels of seed dormancy. The aim of this study was to determine genotype differences in embryo sensitivity to germination in response to exogenous (+/–) cis-trans ABA treatments at different concentrations. Six white and four red seed-colored bread wheat genotypes that differed in dormancy were grown in a field near Swift Current, Saskatchewan in 2000 as a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The seed samples from this experiment were germinated in a controlled environment at 20 °C without light. The exogenous ABA treatments were 0 μM – whole seed (control), 0 μM-embryos, 25 μM – embryos and 50 μM – embryos. The ABA experiment was a factorial design with four randomized complete blocks with four ABA treatments in all combinations with the ten genotypes. A weighted (by day) germination index (WGI) was calculated for each genotype in each ABA treatment. Genotypes differed in response to ABA. The genotypes, ABA concentration and genotype by ABA concentration interaction effects were significant (p ≤ 0.05). Excised embryos showed significantly decreased dormancy in most of the experimental genotypes. The addition of exogenous ABA enhanced embryo dormancy of most genotypes. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A rapid, seedling-based bioassay for identifying low cadmium-accumulating individuals of Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.).

We have developed a seedling-based bioassay that iscapable of identifying low Cd-accumulating phenotypes(homozygous and heterozygous) after 96–120 h ofexposure. Our experiments were conducted using¹⁰⁹Cd as a tracer at subtoxic concentrations tosimulate conditions that might be experienced in thefield. Supply of Cd (10^-11 M) to 4-d oldseedlings for 0–8 h resulted in no differences in rootand leaf Cd content between the low (TL05) and high(TL04) Cd-accumulating isolines. Increasing time ofexposure produced significant differences in leaf Cdaccumulation between isolines, with differencesbecoming most pronounced after the bulk of appliedcadmium ( 95%) was depleted from absorption solutions( 72 h). Similar results were obtained with8-d old seedlings, where differences between genotypeswere more pronounced in young leaves (2nd leaf) orshoot bases. Individuals from five low and highCd-accumulating near isogenic pairs (50individuals/isoline) were screened using Cdconcentration of shoot bases as the screeningcriterion. Mean scores within each isoline pair weresignificantly different, although overlap ofindividual scores was observed at intermediate foliarCd concentrations. The 2^nd leaf to root Cdcontent ratio, which reflects root to shoottranslocation, provided a better parameter todistinguish low from high Cd-accumulating isolines. Plants used for this bioassay could also be rescuedfor subsequent experimental crosses, providing a rapidand cost-effective tool for early detection of the lowCd-accumulating phenotype.     

Achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the Asia‐Pacific region: The role of international assistance

Abstract: The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a set of international development targets agreed to by members of the United Nations in 2000. The goals aim to improve many of the dimensions of extreme poverty and are to be achieved by 2015. This paper provides an overview of the issues relevant to the achievement of the MDGs in the Asia‐Pacific region. The paper begins by discussing the critiques of the MDGs before assessing whether countries in the region are on track to achieve them. Issues relating to data availability and accuracy are discussed and the need to tailor the MDG targets to the special circumstances of some Asia‐Pacific countries is examined. The paper proceeds by discussing the role of international assistance via international foreign development aid and non‐governmental organisations in the achievement of the MDGs. The paper concludes with some policy implications for the international donor community.     

Effect of Environment and Genotype on Durum Wheat Gluten Strength and Pasta Viscoelasticity

Data on the quality of durum wheat genotypes grown under eight environments (site-year combinations) were evaluated to determine the relative effects of genotype and environment on quality characteristics associated with gluten strength, protein content, and pasta texture. The 10 durum wheat genotypes assessed in this study represented a range of gluten strength types from the very strong U.S. desert durum genotype, Durex, to the medium strength Canadian genotype, Plenty. Considerable genetic variability was detected for all quality characteristics studied. Genotype-environment interaction was significant for all quality parameters evaluated, with the exception of mixograph development time. Genotypeenvironment interaction was most important in determining protein content and least important in determining gluten index, gluten viscoelasticity, and SDS sedimentation volume. The nature of the genotype-environment interaction was evaluated by determining the number of significant crossover (rank change) interactions. There was at least one significant crossover interaction between pairs of genotypes and environments for five of eight quality traits tested. Of 45 genotype pairs, eight and six showed significant crossover interactions for protein content and pasta disk viscoelasticity, respectively. Significant crossover interactions were at least partially due to the differential response of Canadian genotypes as compared with U.S. genotypes. With the exception of protein content and pasta disk viscoelasticity, our results suggest that among the selected sample of 10 genotypes, genotype-environment interactions were minor and due primarily to changes in magnitude rather than changes in rank.     

Traditional agroforestry practices in Zimbabwe

Traditional agroforestry systems in the communal areas of Zimbabwe are described. There are systems centered on main fields, on home gardens, on homesites and on grazing areas. In the main fields, the major tree-related management practice is the conservation of preferred indigenous fruit trees. Fruit trees are also the focus of forestry activities around the gardens and the homesite; but here it is the planting of exotic species. In a localized area of Zimbabwe Acacia albida is important in fields. There is almost no use of tree fallows in Zimbabwe. Trees in grazing areas have numerous roles, but at present there is little knowledge about traditional management practices in these areas. In the development of agroforestry systems in Zimbabwe it is suggested that those systems designed to improve fodder production will make a significant contribution to farm productivity because of the importance of cattle in the farming system and the present fodder shortage. Interventions involving the planting of fruit trees are likely to be very successful, as there is much interest in such planting. Another area that needs to be developed is that of tree plantings to improve soil fertility.     

Stomatal response of an anisohydric grapevine cultivar to evaporative demand, available soil moisture and abscisic acid

Stomatal responsiveness to evaporative demand (air vapour pressure deficit (VPD)) ranges widely between species and cultivars, and mechanisms for stomatal control in response to VPD remain obscure. The interaction of irrigation and soil moisture with VPD on stomatal conductance is particularly difficult to predict, but nevertheless is critical to instantaneous transpiration and vulnerability to desiccation. Stomatal sensitivity to VPD and soil moisture was investigated in Semillon, an anisohydric Vitis vinifera L. variety whose leaf water potential (Ψ(l)) is frequently lower than that of other grapevine varieties grown under similar conditions in the warm grape-growing regions of Australia. A survey of Semillon vines across seven vineyards revealed that, regardless of irrigation treatment, midday Ψ(l) was dependent on not only soil moisture but VPD at the time of measurement. Predawn Ψ(l) was more closely correlated to not only soil moisture in dry vineyards but to night-time VPD in drip-irrigated vineyards, with incomplete rehydration during high night-time VPD. Daytime stomatal conductance was low only under severe plant water deficits, induced by extremes in dry soil. Stomatal response to VPD was inconsistent across irrigation regime; however, in an unirrigated vineyard, stomatal sensitivity to VPD-the magnitude of stomatal response to VPD-was heightened under dry soils. It was also found that stomatal sensitivity was proportional to the magnitude of stomatal conductance at a reference VPD of 1kPa. Exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) applied to roots of Semillon vines growing in a hydroponic system induced stomatal closure and, in field vines, petiole xylem sap ABA concentrations rose throughout the morning and were higher in vines with low Ψ(l). These data indicate that despite high stomatal conductance of this anisohydric variety when grown in medium to high soil moisture, increased concentrations of ABA as a result of very limited soil moisture may augment stomatal responsiveness to low VPD.     

Post-emergent herbicidal activity of cineole derivatives

Essential oils are being investigated as potential herbicides or to provide leads to new environmentally and socially acceptable herbicides. Novel hydroxy and ester derivatives of 1,8-cineole and 1,4-cineole were synthesised, by chemical and biological methods, and have shown pre-emergence herbicidal activity against annual ryegrass and radish. Effects on post-emergence activity of these derivatives, as well as 1,8-cineole, eucalyptus oil and the carboxylic acids from which the esters were derived, against annual ryegrass and radish, are reported here. Results suggest that reduced root and shoot growth observed in pre-emergence herbicidal bioassays were due to post-emergence activity rather than delayed germination. All tested substances had a dose-dependent, post-emergence herbicidal activity against annual ryegrass and radish with many derivatives showing improved activity relative to 1,8-cineole and high-cineole eucalyptus oil. However, results do not support the postulate that cineole esters would be more active than their respective carboxylic acid and the hydroxy cineole. Phytotoxicity of ester derivatives may be due to metabolic cleavage of the esters to the hydroxy cineole and carboxylic acid within the plant.     

The buffer effect of non-breeding birds and the timing of farmland bird declines

Breeding territoriality in birds means that a certain proportion of the adult population may breed in suboptimal habitats or not breed at all. Non-breeding birds, or floaters, can have a `buffer effect' on breeding population size. Farmland bird declines in Britain are measured and analysed in terms of numbers of territory-holding birds. We use a population dynamics model to illustrate how, because of the buffer effect of floaters, there can be a time lag between the start of total population decline and detectable breeding population decline. Differences in the timing of declines of closely related farmland birds could therefore be due to slight differences in their population dynamics, rather than differences in their response to agricultural change.     

Suppression of ovarian progesterone production in dairy cows using an implant of GnRH-agonist (deslorelin) for the purpose of evaluating progesterone metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential of an implant of a GnRH-agonist (deslorelin) to create a progesterone free animal suitable for studying progesterone (P4) metabolism in intact cows by measuring blood P4 and faecal P4 metabolites. METHODS: Experiment 1: Eighteen non-lactating cycling Holstein-Friesian cows, 4 to 7 years old, were allocated to one of three groups to study plasma P4 concentrations preceding an intravaginal insert. These groups comprised: i) a deslorelin group (GnRH-agonist implanted); ii) a PGF group receiving two injections of prostaglandin (PGF2alpha) 12 days apart; and, iii) an ovariectomised (OVX) group. An intravaginal device (CIDR) was inserted into the vagina of each animal and left in place for 11 days. Plasma P4 concentrations were measured during the study period. Experiment 2: Twelve non-lactating cycling Holstein-Friesian cows, 4 to 7 years old, were allocated to two groups: i) a deslorelin group (GnRH-agonist implanted); and ii) an ovariectomised group. Plasma P4 and faecal P4 metabolites (20-oxo-pregnanes, 20alpha-OH and 20beta-OH) were monitored for a period of 5 weeks. RESULTS: Experiment 1: Average plasma P4 concentration did not differ between the three groups (1.28, 1.43 and 1.55 ng/mL for deslorelin, OVX and PGF cows, respectively, P = 0.8) during the period of supplementation. Experiment 2: There was no difference in plasma P4 (mean plasma P4 < 0.02 ng/mL, P = 0.9) and faecal P4 metabolites between deslorelin and OVX cows 2 weeks after the implantation (P = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: These data showed that a GnRH-agonist (deslorelin) implant may be used as an alternative to ovariectomy to create a progesterone free animal suitable for studying the metabolism of administered P4.