Response of confection sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) grown in a semi‐arid environment to planting date and early termination of irrigation

Adjustments on planting date and on the time to terminate irrigation may reduce agricultural water use. However, such management practices in regions with extreme weather conditions have the potential to negatively affect yield. A 3‐year (2012–2014) study was conducted on a clay‐loam soil in a cool, semi‐arid environment to (i) determine the response of confection sunflower to planting date and irrigation termination timing and (ii) identify the relative importance of yield components in irrigated confection sunflower across planting dates. Early May planting had considerable negative effects on all studied variables, except on the percentage of large seeds. The highest yield of total and large seeds was obtained from the late May plantings, averaging 3,777 and 3,379 kg/ha, respectively. None of the irrigation strategies affected the measured variables. However, the interaction between planting date and termination of irrigation significantly affected the 1,000‐seed weight. Our study revealed the last week of May as suitable planting period for confection sunflower in the semi‐arid north‐western region of Wyoming, USA, and that irrigation on heavy soils may be terminated as early as at R5.5 stage without a significant yield reduction. The path‐coefficient analysis indicated head diameter and the number of seeds per head as important traits that significantly influence the yield of confection sunflower across planting dates.     

苹果属无融合生殖SERKs基因家族的克隆和表达分析

本研究利用同源克隆法以苹果属平邑甜茶和杂种后代叶片为试验材料,克隆得到4个SERK基因家族片段,并分析了SERKs家族基因在平邑甜茶和杂种后代不同器官和组织中的表达情况。研究结果表明:分离获得的4个SERK基因家族片段的氨基酸序列与模式植物拟南芥、烟草等植物的同源性均在84%以上,同时与其他物种的氨基酸序列进行Blast比对都具有较高的同源性;RT-PCR定量分析结果表明SERK1、SERK2、SERK3、SERK4基因主要在生殖器官中表达。因此,推测SERKs基因在平邑甜茶和杂种后代生殖发育过程中起着重要的调控作用。本研究结果为进一步揭示无融合生殖的发生机理奠定了基础。     

Effect of irrigation on tillering in wheat,triticale and barley in a water-limited environment

Summary The effect of irrigation on tillering and tiller mortality in varieties of wheat (Triticum aestivum and T. durum), triticale and barley was studied under field conditions. Low temperature in the early stages of growth promoted production of tillers whereas increase in temperature during extension growth phase increased tiller mortality. More than 1000 tillers m^–2 were produced with five irrigations but 40% or more died. With limited water availability tiller production was reduced but so was their mortality. Grain yield in wheat and triticale was positively correlated with productive tillers and negatively correlated with the maximum number of tillers produced in wheat and barley grown under limited irrigation conditions. Varieties with a capacity to produce fewer tillers were identified. Some of them proved more stable in yield. No correlation was found between tiller number and grain yield in the frequently irrigated treatment.     

Potential of Fodder Soybean Genotypes for Phosphorus Removal in Poultry Manure-Enriched Soils

Plant-based phosphorus (P) remediation strategies have been suggested to reduce high P accumulation in soil. Eleven fodder soybean genotypes were evaluated to explore their potential for the removal of P from poultry manure-enriched soils. Field experiments were conducted at a site that had a history of heavy poultry manure applications. Green house experiments were conducted using the soils selected for field trials to confirm the results. Harvesting of whole plants, excluding roots of the genotypes, was done at the pod formation stages and plant samples were oven dried at 70°C for three days. The dry samples were ground and analyzed for total P content. Genotype 091734, provided the maximum P removal from amended and unamended soils. Fodder soybean genotypes could play an important role in the extraction of P from poultry manure-enriched soils, which are important from the ecological point of view.     

Composts Vary in Their Effect on Soil P Pools and P Uptake by Wheat

With diminishing world reserves of phosphorus (P) deposits and rising fertilizer prices, it is important to find alternate sources of P for crops. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of four different composts C1 (animal manure and straw), C2 (garden waste), C3 (wood chips and bark), and C4 (kitchen waste) on soil P pools and P uptake by wheat on 14, 28, and 72 days after compost application. The composts were applied as a 2.5 cm thick layer on the soil surface. During sampling, only the soil underlying compost was sampled. Soil pH and total organic carbon were not affected by the amendments. Soil respiration was significantly higher in compost-amended soils compared with the unamended soil except with C4 on day 72. Addition of composts increased plant growth, and P uptake being highest on day 72 with C1 and C4. With little effect on available P concentration on day 14, there was a conversion of organic P into inorganic P in the compost treatments suggesting net mineralization of organic P on day 28. On day 72, the concentrations of the less labile P forms were higher in the compost treatments compared with the unamended suggesting precipitation and fixation as well as synthesis of organic P. This study showed that mulching with composts having high available and total P concentrations can provide plants with P and also increase soil P concentrations which could reduce the fertilizer requirement for the following crop.     

Nano-calcium carbonate reinforced polypropylene and propylene-ethylene copolymer nanocomposites: Tensile vs. impact behavior

Improvement of both the tensile and impact strength of the same polymeric material has always been a great challenge for the plastic industry. The study focuses on the effect of incorporation of calcium carbonate nanoparticles (0.3 wt% to 15 wt%) into three polypropylene (PP) based matrices viz. PP homopolymer, propylene-ethylene (PP-PE) copolymer and the blend of PP:PP-PE (30:70) to improve their impact behavior without hampering the tensile strength much. A loss in both the tensile and impact properties was observed in PP based nanocomposite. However, PP-PE based nanocomposites showed a significant improvement in impact strength (47 %) at 10 wt% loading with a loss of tensile strength by 22 %. To minimize this loss a blend of PP:PP-PE (30:70) was explored as a matrix. At 10 wt% loading, this matrix showed an improvement of 30 % in impact strength whereas the tensile loss was minimized to 10 %. Further, silane coupling agent which promoted good interfacial adhesion was used for best compositions. The variation of crystalline morphology of the nanocomposites with various formulations was analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction.     

Detection of rinderpest antibodies

Rinderpest antibodies were detected by employing the fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and the immunoperoxidase test (IPT) and the results were compared with the counterimmuno electrophoresis test (CIE). FAT was found to be the most sensitive in detecting post-vaccinal antibodies followed by IPT and CIE tests.