Long-term productivity growth and sustainability of Greek irrigated agriculture

The present study examines the long-term productivity growth and sustainability of Greek irrigated agriculture. A log linear trend model was used to measure long-term productivity growth, and the total factor productivity (TFP) approach measures the sustainability of the irrigated production system. A time series database of inputs and outputs data were used for the production period of 1961?–?2001 (41 years) which revealed that there is an increasing trend in the irrigated area of the country. The annual growth rate of the irrigated area is 2.6% during this time period. The long-term trends in yields of crops grown in irrigated agriculture are positive. Fertilizer use rate per ha sharply increases during this period. The productivity of irrigated Greek agriculture also increases over the time period as a result of the introduction of High Yielding Variety (HYV), seed, fertilizer and water technology. The measurement of TFP indices indicates that the long-term trend in productivity growth of irrigated Greek agricultural system is positive. The result implies that the irrigated Greek agricultural production system has long-term sustainability. The result also indicates that fertilizer, fixed capital, rainfall and temperature are positively contributing to the mean production of Greek irrigated agriculture. On the other hand, pesticide, labour and fixed capital reduces variability of irrigated agriculture. To this end, long-term agricultural sustainability depends on patterns of input use.     

Absorption and emission of CO2 by ponded water of a paddy field

In the daytime, the CO₂ concentration in the air close to the water surface of a ponded paddy field was lowest and it increased with the distance above the water surface, while an inverse relation was observed in the nighttime. On the other hand, the pH of the ponded water changed significantly throughout a day and was expected to affect atmospheric CO₂ in the vicinity of the water surface, because the solubility of CO₂ in water depends on the pH. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the changes in the pH of the ponded water and the response of the CO₂ concentration in the air above the water. The pH of the ponded water of the paddy field increased in the daytime and decreased in the nighttime, so that the water was alkaline in the daytime and weakly acidic in the nighttime. We found that the daily changes in the atmospheric CO₂ concentration gradient almost corresponded to the daily changes in pH. The increase of the pH of the ponded water in the daytime was due to the absorption of dissolved CO₂ by photosynthetic bacteria and micro-algae within the ponded water. Furthermore, we compared the pH with RpH, defined as the pH at which the CO₂ concentration of the water is in equilibrium with that of the air, to determine whether CO₂ was absorbed by or emitted from the ponded water. In the daytime, the pH value of the ponded water was higher than that of the RpH, and the water could therefore absorb CO₂ , whereas during the nighttime, since the pH value of the ponded water was lower than that of the RpH, the water was expected to emit CO₂. These results show that the ponded water absorbed CO₂ from the air above the water surface in the daytime and emitted CO₂ in the nighttime.     

Comparative effects of osmotic and ionic stresses on yield and biomass accumulation in IR64 rice variety

In the present study, the comparative effects of osmotic and ionic stresses on rice growth and yield were investigated. The treatments consisted of 3-level combinations of osmotic stress and times: medium (-0.25 MOPa),and high stress (-0.52 MPa)'app0ied at the vegetative stage (7-21 d after transplanting, DAT)and reproductive stage (35-63 DAT, starting when the rice plant reached panicle initiation). NaCl and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were used as sources of osmotic stress. Both sources applied at the vegetative and reproductive stages delayed flowering, maturity and reduced the total biomass compared with the controD.Na⁺ concentration in the plant increased with NaCl addition but not with PEG, indicating that the plants were also subjected to ionic stress besides osmotic stress. There was no significant difference in biomass accumulation and yield between the PEG- and NaCl-treatments,imdicating that the salinity effect was mainly due to osmotic stress.     

Effect of Foliar Salicylic Acid Applications on Growth,Chlorophyll, and Mineral Content of Cucumber Grown Under Salt Stress

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of foliar salicylic acid (SA) applications on growth, chlorophyll, and mineral content of cucumber grown under salt stress. The study was conducted in pot experiments under greenhouse conditions. Cucumber seedlings were treated with foliar SA applications at different concentrations (0.0, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 mM). Salinity treatments were established by adding 0, 60, and 120 mM of sodium chloride (NaCl) to a base complete nutrient solution. The SA was applied with spraying two times as before and after transplanting. Salt stress negatively affected the growth, chlorophyll content and mineral uptake of cucumber plants. However, foliar applications of SA resulted in greater shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, and root dry weight as well as higher plants under salt stress. Shoot diameter and leaf number per plant increased with SA treatments under salt stress. The greatest chlorophyll content was obtained with 1.00 mM SA treatment in both saline and non-saline conditions. Leaf water relative content (LWRC) reduced in response to salt stress while SA raised LWRC of salt stressed cucumber plants. Salinity treatments induced significant increases in electrolyte leakage. Plants treated with foliar SA had lower values of electrolyte leakage than non-treated ones. In regard to nutrient content, it can be interfered that foliar SA applications increased almost all nutrient content in leaves and roots of cucumber plants under salt stress. Generally, the greatest values were obtained from 1.00 mM SA application. Based on these findings, the SA treatments may help alleviate the negative effect of salinity on the growth of cucumber.     

The utility of Trichoderma spp. isolates to control of Xylosandrus germanus Blandford (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The invasive ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus germanus Blandford (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is a serious pest of hazelnut in Turkey, which is...     

Potato apical leaf curl disease: current status and perspectives on a disease caused by tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Potato apical leaf curl disease (PALCD) caused by a unique bipartite virus [tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV)] has emerged as a global threat....     

Effect of waxing and cellophane lining on chemical quality indices of citrus fruit

Effects of waxing of the fruit and of the use of cellophane for lining storage boxes on chemical quality indices (including ethanol and acetaldehyde) and flavour scores of Feutrell's Early mandarin during storage at room conditions were determined. Maximum changes during storage of waxed mandarins in film-lined boxes occurred in ethanol contents which were followed by acetaldehyde, total soluble solids (TSS)/acid ratio, TSS and acid contents. There were negative and highly significant linear relationships between flavour scores, and ethanol content and acetaldehyde content. The r² values indicated that over 90% of the variation in flavour scores could be explained by changes in ethanol and acetaldehyde contents whereas only 50% of the variation in flavour scores could be predicted by changes in total acid and TSS/acid ratios. There were comparatively greater increases in ethanol and acetaldehyde content, lesser increases in TSS and greater decreases in total solids of waxed mandarins during storage than those of unwaxed fruits stored in film lined boxes; the ratio of ethanol and acetaldehyde (E/A) of waxed mandarins was also higher. Decreases in citric acid content during storage correlated linearly to increases in the E/A ratio at the 1% level of significance indicating that citric acid metabolism was affected during storage of waxed mandarins at ordinary room conditions.     

Neopestalotiopsis clavispora and Pseudopestalotiopsis camelliae-sinensis causing grey blight disease of tea (Camellia sinensis) in Malaysia

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Tea (Camellia sinensis) is a popular and extensively consumed beverage in Malaysia along with many other countries around the world. Grey blight is one of the...     

K~+,Ca~(2+)和Mg~(2+)对不同水稻(Oryza sativa L.)基因型苗期耐盐性的影响

【目的】进一步探明盐胁迫条件下营养元素K+、Ca2+和Mg2+对苗期不同水稻基因型耐盐性的影响差异,为明确作物耐盐胁迫的生理机制、提高作物耐盐胁迫能力提供参考。【方法】于2009年1—4月在严格控制水、温、光和营养元素供应的国际水稻研究所人工气候室进行水培试验,比较研究营养液中K+、Ca2+和Mg2+浓度的变化对不同水稻基因型苗期耐盐性的影响。【结果】在盐胁迫条件下(100mmol·L-1NaCl),耐盐基因型(FL478和IR651)与盐敏感基因型(IR29和Azucena)相比,植株体内有较低的Na+含量和Na+/K+、Na+/Ca2+、Na+/Mg2+比,有较高的K+含量,这些都是耐盐基因型耐盐胁迫能力高于盐敏感基因型的内在原因。盐胁迫条件下提高营养液中Ca2+和Mg2+的含量(60mg·L-1),可显著降低植株体Na+含量和Na+/K+、Na+/Ca2+、Na+/Mg2+比,明显减轻盐胁迫的危害,增强水稻耐盐胁迫能力,且Ca2+处理的效果优于Mg2+处理;而提高营养液K+含量对以上指标的影响远远小于Ca2+处理和Mg2+处理,这也是K+处理对水稻耐盐性影响相对不明显的内在原因。【结论】K+、Ca2+和Mg2+在植株体内的含量及其与Na+的比值变化都会影响水稻苗期耐盐性;适当提高水稻生长环境的Ca2+和Mg2+浓度可以明显增强植株耐盐胁迫能力,营养元素Ca2+的效果比Mg2+明显;而K+对水稻耐盐性的影响相对不明显。