Changes in fineroot growth dynamics in response to phosphorus application in an Acacia mangium plantation in Vietnam

Fineroots (≤ 2 mm diameter) are dynamic components of the forest ecosystems and play important role in water and nutrient acquisition in forests. These roots are sensitive to forest fertilization and therefore, the response of fineroots to nutrient application would provide better understanding of the forest carbon and nutrient dynamics that will be helpful in sustainable forest management plans. Two fertilization treatments, including (1) F400: 400 g P₂O₅ (16.5%)/tree and (2) F600: 600 g P₂O₅ /tree, and F0: control (without fertilization), were applied in an Acacia mangium plantation with a planting density of 1100 trees/ha (3 m?×?3 m). The evaluation of fineroot growth across seasons showed that fertilization significantly increased production and subsequent mortality and decomposition. The total decomposition associated with F600 application was 7.95 tons ha^?1 year^?1, equaling 121% of F400 and 160% of the control. Mortality in F600 was 8.75 tons ha^?1 year^?1, equaling 111% of F400 and 198% of F0, while production in F600 was 10.40 tons ha^?1 year^?1, equaling 127% of F400 and 143% of F0. Fineroot production, mortality, and decomposition are seasonally dependent, with higher values measured in the rainy season than in the dry season. Stand basal area increment was significantly correlated with fineroot production (R²?=?0.75), mortality (R²?=?0.44), and decomposition (R²?=?0.48). This study showed that fertilization could facilitate fineroot production, which can then lead to a higher turnover of carbon and nutrients through the decomposition of the greater mass of the fineroots.

     

Genetic diversity in two threatened species in Vietnam: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Taxus chinensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Taxus wallichiana</Emphasis>

Taxus chinensis and T. wallichiana in have been threatened in their distribution areas in recent decades because of their over-exploitation and reduction and destruction of native habitats. Determining the genetic diversity in populations of the two species will provide guidelines for their protection and preservation. Two hundred and fifteen trees from six populations of T. chinensis and 150 sampled trees of T. wallichiana were sampled. Six microsatellite primer pairs selected from 16 primer pairs were used to investigate genetic variation at the population and species levels. Five yielded polymorphic alleles, and among the 13 putative alleles amplified, 11 were polymorphic (accounting for 76.33 %).Shannon’s information index (I) and percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB) (I = 0.202 and PPB = 67.22 % for T. chinensis; I = 0.217 and PPB = 65.03 % for T. wallichiana). Both species had low levels of genetic diversity (mean H _o = 0.107, H _e = 0.121 for T. chinensis; H _o = 0.095, H _e = 0.109 for T. wallichiana). Genetic differentiation among populations was higher (F _ST = 0.189) for T. chinensis and lower (0.156) for T. wallichiana, indicating limited gene flow (Nm) among populations for T. chinensis (0.68) and T. wallichiana (0.65). Variation among individuals of T. chinensis was 63.59 and 73.12 % for T. wallichiana. Thus, the threatened status of the two conifers is related to a lack of genetic diversity. All populations are isolated in small forest remnants. An ex situ conservation site should be established with a new population for these species that comprises all the genetic groups for the best chance to improve their fitness under environmental stresses.     

Nitrogen use efficiency and drought tolerant ability of various sugarcane varieties under drought stress at early growth stage

ABSTRACT

The experiment was conducted under glasshouse conditions to evaluate nitrogen use efficiency and drought tolerant ability of the five different sugarcane varieties (including NiF3, Ni9, Ni17, Ni21 and Ni22) under early growth stage from 60 to 120 days after transplanting. The results showed drought stress reduced the photosynthetic rate, growth parameters including plant height, leaf area; partial and total dry weights; and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) traits including photosynthetic NUE, nitrogen utilization efficiency and biomass NUE of measured sugarcane varieties. The significant differences were found among varieties in growth parameters, dry weights, NUE traits and drought tolerant index (DTI). The significant positive correlations among NUE traits and DTI suggested higher NUEs could support better a tolerant ability to drought stress at the early growth stage. Because of larger contributions, DTIs for aboveground and stalk dry weight could be used as the important DTIs to evaluate drought tolerant ability in sugarcane varieties.     

Genetic diversity and translocation in the marron, Cherax tenuimanus (Smith): implications for management and conservation

Approximately 440 base pairs (bp) of the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal ribose nucleic acid (rRNA) coding region were sequenced from 13 marron, Cherax tenuimanus (Smith), samples from six locations and samples of two additional Cherax species from Western Australia. The results indicated that, with the exception of the Margaret River, no variation was found within or between marron populations. In contrast, marron from the Margaret River were found to be polymorphic for two divergent haplotypes (2.76% divergence). These findings were consistent with allozyme data that highlight the general lack of genetic variability within and between populations of this species apart from the Margaret River stocks. The genetic polymorphisms in the Margaret River stocks contrasted with earlier studies and indicated the recent translocation and mixing of genetically differentiated stocks within this river system. The implications of these findings for the conservation and management of genetic diversity within marron are discussed.     

Species-specific insecticide resistance to imidacloprid and fipronil in the rice planthoppers Nilaparvata lugens and Sogatella furcifera in East and South-east Asia

BACKGROUND: In 2003 the development of insecticide resistance against neonicotinoids in the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Homoptera: Delphacidae), was first observed in Thailand and has since been found in other Asian countries such as Vietnam, China and Japan. However, the LD₅₀ values of BPH and the whitebacked planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera (Horváth), against both neonicotinoid and phenylpyrazole insecticides have been poorly reported in many Asian countries. RESULTS: The topical LD₅₀ values for imidacloprid in the BPH populations collected from East Asia (Japan, China, Taiwan) and Vietnam in 2006 were 4.3–24.2 µg g^?1 and were significantly higher than those collected from the Philippines (0.18–0.35 µg g^?1). The BPH populations indicated a positive cross‐resistance between imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. Almost all the WBPH populations from Japan, Taiwan, China, Vietnam and the Philippines had extremely large LD₅₀ values (19.7–239 µg g^?1 or more) for fipronil, except for several populations from the Philippines and China. CONCLUSION: Species‐specific changes in insecticide susceptibility were found in Asian rice planthoppers (i.e. BPH for imidacloprid and WBPH for fipronil). Insecticide resistance in BPH against imidacloprid occurred in East Asia and Indochina, but not in the Philippines. In contrast, insecticide resistance in WBPH against fipronil occurred widely in East and South‐east Asia. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Drying–rewetting cycles release phosphorus from forest soils

Drying–rewetting cycles (D/W) occur frequently in topsoils and may mobilize phosphorus (P). We investigated the effect of repeated D/W on the release of dissolved inorganic (DIP) and organic P (DOP) from forest floors and A horizons. Samples were taken from 3 European beech sites and from 3 Norway spruce sites. Soils were desiccated up to pF 6 (–100 MPa) in three D/W cycles in the laboratory, while the controls were kept permanently at 50% water holding capacity. After each drying, P was extracted from the soils in water. D/W caused the release of DIP and DOP especially from O layers. There was no general difference in response to D/W between samples from beech and spruce. The net release of DIP after D/W was largest from the Oe horizons (average 50–60 mg P kg^?1) for both beech and spruce forest soils. The net release of DIP from Oi layers was on average 7.8 mg P kg^?1 and from spruce Oa layers 21.1 mg P kg^?1. In the A horizons, net DIP release was similar in beech and spruce soils with 0.4 mg P kg^?1. The release of DOP was less than the release of DIP except for the A horizons. Repeated cycles did not increase the release of DIP and DOP. The release of DIP and DOP was positively correlated with the microbial biomass in Oe and Oa layers but not in Oi layers. Our results suggest that D/W may significantly influence the short term availability of dissolved P in both beech and spruce forest soils.     

Participatory research on the effectiveness of drainage in the Red River Delta,Vietnam

The irrigation and drainage systems in the Red River Delta in Vietnam were designed and constructed in the 1950s and 60s. These systems are well established and provide water to virtually all of the irrigable land in the Delta. The land is cropped intensively: on average just over two crops a year. The irrigation and drainage systems are complex: dual purpose channels and pumping stations are used. In the 1990s, the systems were rehabilitated and upgraded. A review showed that irrigation projects performed reasonably well, but the two core drainage projects performed less than anticipated. In the Red River Delta, with its low elevations, drainage rather than irrigation is often the limiting factor affecting agricultural production. To investigate these constraints in more detail, a participatory research study on the effectiveness of drainage was conducted in two drainage areas in the Red River Delta. The study started with a participatory pre-investigation to identify and quantify the constraints in the functioning of the drainage systems. Next, the drainage system was modelled and computer simulations were used to develop conceptual designs to improve the functioning of the systems. Finally, recommendations to improve the institutional capacity of the drainage system management were formulated, again in close cooperation with the stakeholders. These recommendations cover a whole range of technical issues: small-scale improvements in the farmers’ fields, modifications in the main and secondary drainage systems, including the control structures, up to recommendations to increase the efficiency of the pumping stations. Next to these technical innovations, recommendations to reform the complex institutional setting have been formulated.     

Spatial prediction of saline and sodic soils in rice‒shrimp farming land by using integrated artificial neural network/regression model and kriging

In the context of widespread saline and sodic soil, mapping and monitoring spatial distribution of soil salinity and sodicity are important for utilization and management in agriculture lands. In this study, two-stage assessment was proposed to predict spatial distribution of saline and sodic soils. First, artificial neural network (ANN) and multiple linear regressions (MLR) model were used to predict sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) based on soil electrical conductivity (EC) and pH. Then, the Kriging interpolation method combined with overlay mapping technique was used to perform saline spatial predictions in the study area. The model accuracy level is evaluated based on coefficient of determination (R²) and root mean square error (RMSE). In the first stage, the values of R² and RMSE of SAR and ESP were 0.94, 0.17 and 0.94, 0.24 for ANN, and 0.35, 0.52 and 0.34, 0.76 for MLR, respectively. Similarly, in the second stage, the RMSE of ANN-Kriging were much closer to 0 and relatively lower than MLR-Kriging and Kriging. The results show that ANN-Kriging can be used to improve the accuracy of mapping and monitoring spatial distribution of saline and sodic soil in areas that develop the rice-shrimp cultivation model.     

Marker-Assisted Selection of Xa21 Conferring Resistance to Bacterial Leaf Blight in indica Rice Cultivar LT2

Bacterial leaf blight of rice (BLB), caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, is one of the most destructive diseases in Asian rice fields. A high-quality rice variety, LT2, was used as the recipient parent. IRBB21, which carries the Xa21 gene, was used as the donor parent. The resistance gene Xa21 was introduced into LT2 by marker-assisted backcrossing. Three Xoo races were used to inoculate the improved lines following the clipping method. Eleven BC₃F₃ lines carrying Xa21 were obtained based on molecular markers and agronomic performance. The 11 lines were then inoculated with the three Xoo races. All the 11 improved lines showed better resistance to BLB than the recipient parent LT2. Based on the level of resistance to BLB and their agronomic performance, five lines (BC₃F₃ 5.1.5.1, BC₃F₃ 5.1.5.12, BC₃F₃ 8.5.6.44, BC₃F₃ 9.5.4.1 and BC₃F₃ 9.5.4.23) were selected as the most promising for commercial release. These improved lines could contribute to rice production in terms of food security.     

紫甜玉米产量及其构成因素和品质性状的杂种优势和配合力分析

【目的】对20个紫甜玉米自交系与2个测试种进行产量及其构成因素和品质性状的杂种优势和配合力分析,为高效创制高产甜玉米自交系提供材料基础和理论依据。【方法】将20个紫甜玉米自交系（TD01~TD20）与2个测试种[黄色甜玉米自交系（TI）和白色甜玉米自交系（T2）]进行杂交组配,采用完全随机组设计对获得的40个杂交组合（TH01~TH40）进行田间试验,以SW1011和Fancy 111为对照品种。测定亲本及其杂交组合的产量及其构成因素和品质性状。利用Line×Tester模型在AGD-R软件中进行中亲优势度（Hm）、杂种优势度（Hb）和一般配合力（GCA）分析。【结果】紫色种皮由父本遗传,在40个杂交组合中占优势,所有测定的性状表现为中亲优势和杂种优势。大多数亲本系鲜穗收获期的Hm、Hb和GCA表现为负值,说明这些亲本系具有组配早熟杂交种的潜力。除收获期和穗粗外,其余调查性状表现出多个显性效应,证明了非加性遗传效应的重要性。具有较高GCA的杂交组合为TH05（T1×TD05）、TH31（T2×TD11）、TH20（T1×TD20）、TH33（T2×TD13）、TH34（T2×TD14）、TH16（T1×TD16）、TH08（T1×TD08）和TH25（T2×TD05）。【结论】紫色甜玉米与黄色甜玉米自交系或白色甜玉米自交系杂交,紫色性状具有显性效应,筛选出的8个品质优良杂交种及其亲本可作为培育越南商品化紫甜玉米品种的亲本材料。