Genetic gains in grain yield, net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance achieved in Henan Province of China between 1981 and 2008

Knowledge of the changes in agronomic and photosynthetic traits associated with genetic gains in grain yield potential is essential for an improved understanding of yield-limiting factors and for determining future breeding strategies. The objectives of this study were to identify agronomic and photosynthetic traits associated with genetic gains in grain yield of facultative wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) between 1981 and 2008 in Henan Province, the most important wheat producing area in China. During the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 crop seasons, a yield potential trial comprising 18 leading and new cultivars released between 1981 and 2008 was conducted at two locations, using a completely randomised block design of three replicates. Results showed that average annual genetic gain in grain yield was 0.60% or 51.30 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, and the significant genetic improvement in grain yield was directly attributed to increased thousand grain weight which also contributed to the significant increase in harvest index. The genetic gains in rates of net photosynthesis at 10, 20 and 30 days after anthesis were 1.10% (R² = 0.46, P < 0.01), 0.68% (R² = 0.31, P < 0.05) and 6.77% (R² = 0.34, P < 0.05), respectively. The rates of net photosynthesis at 10 (r = 0.58, P < 0.05), 20 (r = 0.59, P < 0.05) and 30 (r = 0.65, P < 0.01) days after anthesis were closely and positively correlated with grain yield. A slight decrease in leaf temperature and an increase in stomatal conductance after anthesis were also observed. Grain yield was closely and positively associated with stomatal conductance (r = 0.69, P < 0.01) and transpiration rate (r = 0.63, P < 0.01) at 30 days after anthesis. Therefore, improvement of those traits was the likely basis of increasing grain yield in Henan Province between 1981 and 2008. The genetic improvement in yield was primarily attributed to the utilization of two elite parents Yumai 2 and Zhou 8425B. The future challenge of wheat breeding in this region is to maintain the genetic gain in grain yield and to improve grain quality, without increasing inputs for the wheat-maize double cropping system.     

栽培措施对水稻氮素吸收利用及稻田尾水氮磷含量的影响

为探讨在不同耕作模式下秸秆还田和肥料品种对水稻产量形成、氮素吸收利用、土壤养分含量及稻田尾水氮磷含量的影响,以南粳9108和金武软玉为供试材料,设计秸秆还田与肥料品种、秸秆还田与耕作方式、耕作方式与肥料品种3个互作试验。结果表明：与秸秆不还田处理相比,秸秆还田处理的水稻产量平均高5.57%,成穗率平均高6.11%,吸氮量、氮素籽粒生产效率、氮素收获指数、氮肥偏生产力和氮肥利用率分别高3.30%、2.16%、0.70%、5.46%和4.96%,土壤中全氮和速效氮含量分蘖期较低,分蘖期后较高,全生育期尾水中总氮、总磷含量分别平均提高4.83%、39.28%。与浅旋处理相比,深耕处理的水稻产量平均高9.75%,成穗率平均低0.62%,吸氮量、氮素籽粒生产效率、氮肥偏生产力和氮肥利用率分别高3.27%、6.33%、9.76%和1.52%,氮素收获指数低1.42%,土壤全氮和速效氮含量分别低0.27%和2.83%,全生育期尾水中总氮、总磷含量分别平均降低4.23%、12.71%。与速效肥处理相比,缓释肥处理的水稻产量平均低12.01%,成穗率平均低2.95%,氮素籽粒生产效率、氮素收获指数、氮肥...     

STUDIES ON THE EXTENSION OF THE GRAZING SEASON

Foggage grazing trials with beef-store cattle and in-calf dairy heifers during four successive winters in Aberdeenshire are described. Many of the animals received only very small quantities of supplementary fodders, but their performance was satisfactory in all cases. During the last two winters, silage and oat straw contributed 40–50% of total food dry-matter intake. It is suggested that this level of supplementary feeding would be satisfactory in practice.
In a comparison of store-feeding systems, four in-wintered (housed) steers were 110 1b. per head heavier than their out-wintered monozygous twins at the end of the winter-feeding period. Live-weight differences averaged 27 1b. per head one month later and were negligible at the end of summer. From the results of a metabolism trial it was concluded that the spring weight-loss suffered by the housed cattle was due mainly to a reduction in the weight of gut contents.     

Soil chemical properties and microbial biomass after 16 years of no-tillage farming on the Loess Plateau, China

Data from a 16-year field experiment conducted in Shanxi, on the Chinese Loess Plateau, were used to compare the long-term effects of no-tillage with straw cover (NTSC) and traditional tillage with straw removal (TTSR) in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) monoculture. Long-term no-tillage with straw cover increased SOM by 21.7% and TN by 51.0% at 0–10 cm depth and available P by 97.3% at 0–5 cm depth compared to traditional tillage. Soil microbial biomass C and N increased by 135.3% and 104.4% with NTSC compared to TTSR for 0–10 cm depth, respectively. Under NTSC, the metabolic quotient (CO₂ evolved per unit of MBC) decreased by 45.1% on average in the top 10 cm soil layer, which suggests that TTSR produced a microbial pool that was more metabolically active than under NTSC. Consequently, winter wheat yield was about 15.5% higher under NTSC than under TTSR. The data collected from our 16-year experiment show that NTSC is a more sustainable farming system which can improve soil chemical properties, microbial biomass and activity, and thus increase crop yield in the rainfed dryland farming areas of northern China. The soil processes responsible for the improved yields and soil quality, in particular soil organic matter, require further research.     

Nitrogen metabolism and seed composition as influenced by glyphosate application in glyphosate-resistant soybean

Previous research has demonstrated that glyphosate can affect nitrogen fixation or nitrogen assimilation in soybean. This 2-year field study investigated the effects of glyphosate application of 1.12 and 3.36 kg of ae ha(-1) on nitrogen metabolism and seed composition in glyphosate-resistant (GR) soybean. There was no effect of glyphosate application on nitrogen fixation as measured by acetylene reduction assay, soybean yield, or seed nitrogen content. However, there were significant effects of glyphosate application on nitrogen assimilation, as measured by in vivo nitrate reductase activity (NRA) in leaves, roots, and nodules, especially at high rate. Transiently lower leaf nitrogen or (15)N natural abundance in high glyphosate application soybean supports the inhibition of NRA. With the higher glyphosate application level protein was significantly higher (10.3%) in treated soybean compared to untreated soybean. Inversely, total oil and linolenic acid were lowest at the high glyphosate application rate, but oleic acid was greatest (22%) in treated soybean. These results suggest that nitrate assimilation in GR soybean was more affected than nitrogen fixation by glyphosate application and that glyphosate application may alter nitrogen and carbon metabolism.     

Special features of humus acids extraction from soils by sodium pyrophosphate solutions of different alkalinity

The regularities of extracting humus acids from soils of different types with solutions of sodium pyrophosphate at the equilibrium pH values of 5–13 were studied. The increase in the humus acids yield from the soils with the increasing alkalinity of the solution applied is directly related to the capability of acid functional groups (carboxyl and phenol hydroxyl) for dissociation at definite pH values. The regularities of the changes in the chemical nature and degree of humification of humus acids extracted from the soils related to the pH of the solution were revealed. A sodium pyrophosphate solution (pH 10) was suggested for extracting the humus acids most active in the given soil.     

加工方式对非发酵面团小麦醇溶蛋白致敏性的影响

该研究探究了热加工(水煮、烘烤、微波、高温高压)、冷处理(液氮、速冻机速冻)和非热加工(超高静压、辐照、脉冲强光、臭氧和超声波)处理对非发酵面团小麦醇溶蛋白致敏性的影响。利用SDS-PAGE和双抗体夹心ELISA法研究各种加工处理后非发酵面团小麦醇溶蛋白的分子量和致敏性变化。结果表明:200和300 MPa的超高静压处理后,非发酵面团小麦醇溶蛋白的致敏性显著增加(P<0.05),均增至125%左右;水煮、微波、高温高压、烘烤、液氮、速冻机处理、超高静压250MPa、辐照(7、13kGy)、臭氧熏蒸、脉冲强光和超声波处理均能显著降低非发酵面团小麦醇溶蛋白的致敏性(P<0.05),其中以水煮、高温高压、液氮、臭氧和脉冲强光(PL-1)处理的脱敏效果最显著(P<0.01),均降至60%左右。由此可知,加工方式能够显著影响非发酵面团小麦醇溶蛋白的致敏性,可作为食品中过敏原安全控制的有效手段,为脱敏食品的生产提供有效参考。进一步研究需要结合其他体内试验的评估,特别是小麦易敏人群的临床试验。     

Development of an appropriate procedure for estimation of RUSLE EI30 index and preparation of erosivity maps for Pulau Penang in Peninsular Malaysia

Pluviographic data at 15 min interval from 6 stations in Pulau Penang of Peninsular Malaysia were used to compute rainfall erosivity factor (R) for the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE). Three different modelling procedures were applied for the estimation of monthly rainfall erosivity (EI₃₀) values. While storm rainfall (P) and duration (D) data were used in the first approach, the second approach used monthly rainfall for days with rainfall ≥ 10 mm (rain₁₀) and monthly number of days with rainfall ≥ 10 (days₁₀). The third approach however used the Fournier index as the independent variable. Based on the root mean squared error (RMSE) and the percentage error (PE) criteria, models developed using the Fournier index approach was adjudged the best with an average PE value of 0.92 and an average RMSE value of 164.6. Further, this approach was extended to the development of a regional model. Using data from additional sixteen stations and the Fournier index based regional model, EI₃₀ values were computed for each month. ArcView GIS was used to generate monthly maps of EI₃₀ values and also annual rainfall erosivity (R). The rainfall erosivity factor (R) in the region was estimated to vary from 9000 to 14,000 MJ mm ha^− 1 h^− 1 year^− 1.     

Evaluation of genetic diversity of bread wheat landraces from Pakistan by AFLP and implications for a future collection strategy

We used amplified-fragment-length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to evaluate genetic variation in a set of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) landraces and improved materials. Landraces collected from different geographic and agro-ecological zones in Pakistan in 1987, 1989 and 1991 were separated into two groups based on their geographic origins: northern (Himalaya) and south-western (Balochistan) Pakistan. Six AFLP primer combinations detected 453 AFLP markers in the 43 landrace accessions and four high-yield varieties (HYVs). Of these, 225 (49.67%) were rare (shared with < 5% of all accessions). Among these rare alleles, 23 (10.22%) were common in the Himalaya (shared with > 10% of accessions collected there) but were not found in Balochistan. We conclude that there is a higher probability of collecting rare alleles at overall, but which are in contrast locally common ones in the Himalayan region. Gene diversity was 0.17 in the Himalayan group and 0.15 in the Balochistan group. Considerable genetic variability was found in both groups. Accessions from different agro-ecological zones were indistinguishable by cluster analysis, indicating intensive seed trading within the country. Cluster analysis indicated that the landraces and the HYVs are genetically distinct; suggesting that genetic erosion of wheat landraces has been unlikely taken in place. This study provides an example of how analysis of existing materials and data, can serve as a basis for future collection planning and conservation policies.