Compared Phosphorus Efficiency in Soybean,Sunflower and Maize

ABSTRACT

A more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of phosphorus (P) efficiency is agronomically significant to advance in the design of crop management schemes that increase P efficiency and reduce the need of fertilizers. Phosphorus efficiency is defined as the ability of a plant to acquire P from the soil and/or to utilize it in the production of biomass or the harvestable organ. Because most parameters related to P efficiency vary according to the growth conditions and isolation of the individual effect of P efficiency is not straightforward; plants must be grown in uniform experimental conditions to obtain a fair comparison of their nutrient acquisition and utilization. In this work, we compare the ability of soybean, sunflower, and maize to utilize and acquire soil P. Field and greenhouse experiments including different P levels were conducted. The general observation was that the three species ranked differently according to the specific parameter of P efficiency considered. Maize clearly showed higher P utilization efficiency than soybean and sunflower, either expressed as biomass or as grain produced per unit of absorbed P. In turn, soybean and sunflower exhibited higher acquisition efficiency than maize. Soybean showed the shallowest root system: 69% of the total root length was concentrated in the top 20 cm of the soil. Phosphorus uptake per unit root length was rather similar among the three species, but soybean and sunflower had higher P uptake per unit of root weight. This can be explained by the higher specific root length (SRL) and specific root area (SRA) of both dicots. For example, SRL averaged 59, 94, and 34 m g^?1 in field grown soybean, sunflower, and maize, respectively. The more favorable root morphology determined that soybean and sunflower can explore more soil with the same belowground biomass and absorb more P per unit of carbon invested belowground. Since the three species exhibited similar values of P uptake per unit root length, we hypothesize that the capacity of each segment of root to deplete soil P fractions is similar.     

Radiographic and computed tomographic appearance of tracheal collapse with axial rotation in four dogs

Tracheal collapse with axial rotation was diagnosed in four dogs. Radiographs showed increased tracheal dorsoventral height at the caudal cervical and thoracic inlet with and apparent intraluminal soft tissue opacity, mimicking an intraluminal tracheal foreign body. Computed tomography confirmed dorsoventral tracheal collapse with axial rotation in all dogs. Short‐term outcome with medical treatment of all dogs was excellent.     

Variability in movement dynamics of topminnow (Fundulus notatus and F. olivaceus) populations

Abstract – Movement and dispersal patterns are key biological processes across a range of organisational levels. The Fundulus notatus species complex includes several species with similar ecological niches that exhibit broadly overlapping ranges. We conducted a mark–recapture study on two of the most widely distributed members of this species complex to improve our understanding of their movement and habitat use. A population of F. notatus was studied between June and August of 2008 and 2009 in Cahokia Creek, a small tributary of the Mississippi River in Illinois, along with a parallel study of Fundulus olivaceus between May and July of 2009 in Big Creek, a tributary of the Pascagoula River in Mississippi. Fish were recaptured approximately weekly, and habitat variables were measured. Estimated daily movement rates varied significantly both between locations and between years. Fundulus olivaceus in Big Creek moved <1 m per day, while F. notatus in Cahokia Creek in 2009 moved nearly 23 m per day. The distribution of movements was strongly leptokurtic in all three data sets. Differences in movement rates were attributed to significant differences in population size and habitat characteristics. Our data did not support the hypothesis that populations consist of distinct mobile and resident components. Instead, individual fish went through periods of little or no movement followed by extensive movement (consistent with the home range shift model of fish movement). We discuss the implications these results have for contact zone dynamics between these two species.     

Influence of an indigenous European alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn) rhizobacterium (Bacillus pumilus) on the growth of alder and its rhizosphere microbial community structure in two soils

Europeanalder seedlings were inoculated with a suspension of the putative plant growthpromoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) Bacillus pumilus (CECT5105), or left non-inoculated (controls) in two different soils, and grownundercontrolled conditions. Soil A showed a thick texture, slightly acidic with ahigh mineral nitrogen content, while soil B showed a thin texture, basic andwith a lower nitrogen content. At each sampling time, over an 8-week period,shoot and root systems of the plants were measured, nodules counted, and shootand root length and surface were determined. In addition, changes in themicrobial rhizosphere structure were evaluated by the phospholipid fatty acid(PLFA) profile extracted directly from the rhizosphere soil. The increasesdetected in shoot surface were significant only in soil A, while the rootsystemwas affected in both soils. In soil A, inoculation with B.pumilus caused a perturbation that subsequently disappeared, whilethe rhizosphere community structure was seriously altered in soil B. Allbiometric parameters were enhanced to a greater extent in soil A, in which theinoculum did not alter the existing rhizosphere communities and nutrientavailability was better.     

Farm Management Effects on Rhizosphere Colonization by Native Populations of 2,4-Diacetylphloroglucinol-Producing Pseudomonas spp. and Their Contributions to Crop Health

ABSTRACT Analyses of multiple field experiments indicated that the incidence and relative abundance of root-colonizing phlD+ Pseudomonas spp. were influenced by crop rotation, tillage, organic amendments, and chemical seed treatments in subtle but reproducible ways. In no-till corn plots, 2-year rotations with soybean resulted in plants with approximately twofold fewer phlD+ pseudomonads per gram of root, but 3-year rotations with oat and hay led to population increases of the same magnitude. Interestingly, tillage inverted these observed effects of cropping sequence in two consecutive growing seasons, indicating a complex but reproducible interaction between rotation and tillage on the rhizosphere abundance of 2,4-diacetlyphloroglucinol (DAPG) producers. Amending conventionally managed sweet corn plots with dairy manure compost improved plant health and also increased the incidence of root colonization when compared with nonamended plots. Soil pH was negatively correlated to rhizosphere abundance of phlD+ pseudomonads in no-till and nonamended soils, with the exception of the continuous corn treatments. Chemical seed treatments intended to control fungal pathogens and insect pests on corn also led to more abundant populations of phlD in different tilled soils. However, increased root disease severity generally was associated with elevated levels of root colonization by phlD+ pseudomonads in no-till plots. Interestingly, within a cropping sequence treatment, correlations between the relative abundance of phlD and crop stand or yield were generally positive on corn, and the strength of those correlations was greater in plots experiencing more root disease pressure. In contrast, such correlations were generally negative in soybean, a difference that may be partially explained by difference in application of N fertilizers and soil pH. Our findings indicate that farming practices can alter the relative abundance and incidence of phlD+ pseudomonads in the rhizosphere and that practices that reduce root disease severity (i.e., rotation, tillage, and chemical seed treatment) are not universally linked to increased root colonization by DAPG-producers.     

SSR markers for marker assisted selection of root-knot nematode (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne incognita</Emphasis>) resistant plants in cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis> L)

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L) cultivars highly resistant to the southern root-knot nematode (RKN) [Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood] are not available. Resistant germplasm lines are available; however, the difficulty of selecting true breeding lines has hindered applied breeding and no highly resistant cultivars are available to growers. Recently, molecular markers on chromosomes 11 and 14 have been associated with RKN resistance, thus opening the way for marker assisted selection (MAS) in applied breeding. Our study aimed to determine the utility of these markers for MAS. Cross one was RKN resistant germplasm M240 RNR × the susceptible cultivar, FM966 and is representative of the initial cross a breeder would make to develop a RKN resistant cultivar. Cross two consists of Clevewilt 6 × Mexico Wild (PI563649), which are the two lines originally used to develop the first highly RKN resistant germplasm. Mexico Wild is photoperiodic. We phenotyped the F₂ of cross one for gall index and number of RKN eggs per plant and genotyped each plant for CIR 316 (chromosome 11) and BNL 3661 (chromosome 14). From this, we verified that MAS was effective, and the QTL on chromosome 14 was primarily associated with a dominant RKN resistance gene affecting reproduction. In the first F₂ population of cross two, we used MAS to identify 11 plants homozygous for the markers on chromosomes 11 and 14, and which also flowered in long days. Progeny of these 11 plants were phenotyped for RKN gall index and egg number and confirmed as RKN highly resistant plants. Generally about 7–10 generations of RKN phenotyping and progeny testing were required to develop the original RKN highly resistant germplasms. Our results show that commercial breeders should be able to use the markers in MAS to rapidly develop RKN resistant cultivars.     

Increased incidence of DNA amplification in follicular than in uterine and blood samples indicates possible tropism of Neospora caninum to the ovarian follicle

This study evaluated the presence of Neospora caninum in ovarian follicle aspirates and uterine flushes obtained from N. caninum seropositive dairy cows. Ninety-two cows that aborted within the previous 90 days were sampled to determine the presence of antibodies against N. caninum. Thirteen seropositive cows were chosen for collection of blood leukocytes, uterine flushes (UF; n=12) and follicular aspirates (OPU; n=13). Samples were centrifuged and the cellular sediment from the follicular fluid, uterine flushes and blood leukocytes were used for DNA extraction and PCR. Follicular aspirates had the highest frequency of DNA amplification for N. caninum (p<0.05, 92.3%; 12/13). Whereas uterine (4/12) and blood leukocyte (5/13) samples had similar (p>0.05) rate of positive results. Nonetheless, there was no agreement between blood leukocytes and follicular samples taken from the same animal (Cohen Kappa=-0.16). Similarly, blood leukocytes and uterine results had moderate agreement between them (Cohen Kappa=0.47). This study indicates that N. caninum is present in the ovarian follicle and uterus of seropositive cows, suggesting a possible risk of neosporosis transmission between females during oocyte and embryo collection and transfer. Hence, precautions should be taken to minimize the risk of N. caninum transmission. Furthermore, the high incidence of positive results in follicle samples, that exceeded that of their paired blood leukocytes, suggests a possible tropism of N. caninum for the ovarian follicle.     

Serological evidence of Ehrlichia spp. exposure in cats from northeastern Spain

There is little information about Ehrlichia canis as an infectious agent in cats. In order to estimate the prevalence of antibodies to E. canis in the feline population, 235 cat sera were analysed by indirect fluorescent-antibody test. With the objective to determine some risk factors associated with seropositivity, serum samples were divided into two groups: urban stray cats and pet cats. The seroprevalence detected was 17.9%. Most positive sera (83.3%) showed low antibody titres (<1:80). Seropositivity was very similar when comparing the two groups of animals: 17.4% in urban stray cats and 18.4% in pet cats. Results revealed that cats are exposed to Ehrlichia spp. infection, as the low antibody titres detected and the serological cross-reactivity between Ehrlichia species do not allow us to confirm E. canis exposure.