Agronomic Potential of Three Vetches (Vicia spp.) Under Rainfed Conditions

The major limiting factor to livestock production in West Asia and North Africa is the inadequate feed supply. The introduction of leguminous forage species into fallow lands represents a means of increasing feed supplies for the rapidly growing livestock population.
Twenty five lines each of common vetch ( Vicia sativa L.) wooly-pod vetch ( Vicia villosa ssp. dasycarpa Ten.), and bitter vetch ( Vicia ervilia L.) were tested over three seasons with contrasting rainfalls and winter temperatures. For each species, seedling vigour, winter growth, cold effect, spring growth, leafiness, herbage yield at 100 % flowering, grain yield, harvest index and aspects of herbage quality were recorded. There were considerable variation among entries with the same species, entries of V. ervilia were the earlier in flowering and maturity, and V. villosa ssp. dasycarpa almost the latest by 45 days. V. sativa , was the most affected by frost whilst both V. villosa ssp. dasycarpa and V. ervilia proved to be cold tolerant.
Although V. villosa ssp. dasycarpa produced high herbage yield in springs its grain yield is low resulting in a low harvest index. Both V. ervilia and V. sativa produced high grain yield with high harvest index. Seed yield was negatively correlated (P < 0.01) with days to flowering and maturity indicating the need of earlier types.
Quality of the herbage in term of digestibility was far lower (46 % IVDMD) in V. villosa ssp. dasycarpa than the other two species (69 % and 72 %).
The possible niches and utilization of each species as animal feed in the prevailing farming systems are discussed.     

Genome wide association study of grain yield and yield related traits in spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under drought and heat conditions in three different locations

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Abiotic stress, especially drought and heat, affects cereal yields and wheat production worldwide, more particularly in West and South Asia, North...     

Redox halopriming: A Promising Strategy for Inducing Salt Tolerance in Bread Wheat

New strategies to enhance growth and productivity of food crops in saline soils represent important research priorities. This study has investigated the role of certain priming techniques to induce salt tolerance of bread wheat. Wheat grains were soaked in 0.2 mm sodium nitroprusside as nitric oxide donor (redox priming), diluted sea water (halopriming) and the combination of both (redox halopriming). Grains were also soaked in distilled water (hydropriming); in addition, untreated grains were taken as control. Our results indicated that priming treatments significantly improved all growth traits and increased leaf pigments concentration as compared to the control. Priming treatments markedly enhanced membrane stability index, proline, total soluble sugars and K⁺ concentration with simultaneous decrease in the concentration of Na⁺ and malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, yield and yield‐related traits such as plant height, spike length, total number of tillers, 1000‐grain weight, straw and grain yield considerably affected by priming treatments. Moreover, the grain yield of both genotypes was positively affected by redox halopriming treatment. However, the extent of enhancement was more prominent in Gemmiza‐9 (salt sensitive) than that in Sakha‐93 (salt‐tolerant). Overall, this study clearly indicated that redox halopriming treatment is a promising and handy technique to induce salinity tolerance of wheat genotypes.     

Growth and phosphorus uptake of maize cultivated alone,in mixed culture with other crops or after incorporation of their residues

Intercropping or rotating of P‐efficient crop species which mobilize sparingly soluble P by their root exudates can have beneficial effects on growth and P uptake of P‐inefficient species. We aimed at studying the effect of intercropping or incorporating of crop residues of P‐efficient crops on the components of maize P‐uptake, i.e. the root‐system size and P influx (P‐uptake rate per unit root length). This was studied in 3 pot experiments in a low‐P sandy soil. In the first experiment, maize was intercropped with white lupine, sugar beet or oilseed rape, and with groundnut in the second experiment. In the third experiment, maize was grown after incorporating the crop residues of white lupine, sugar beet or oilseed rape. Maize growth and yield was strongly inhibited when intercropped with white lupine, sugar beet or oilseed rape, probably because of competition for nutrients. But with groundnut as the accompanying species, maize yield was increased by a factor of 3, mainly because of an enhanced P influx. Crop residues of oilseed rape and sugar beet increased the yield of maize by factors 2 and 1.6, respectively, because of a 3 and 2 times higher P uptake as compared to maize grown after maize without incorporation of crop residue. The reason for the higher maize P‐uptake after oilseed rape was an 11 times higher P influx as compared to maize without crop residues, and after sugar beet residues because of an enhanced root growth and a 4 times higher P influx. Lupine residues did not improve maize growth, mainly because of a low P influx, which was even less than that of maize grown without crop residues. The soil solution P concentration and calcium acetate lactate‐extractable P (CAL P) measured in this study did not reflect the P availability as indicated by the plants (P uptake, P influx). This indicates that other mechanisms such as P mobilization in the rhizosphere by root exudates or cell‐wall components were responsible for the increased P availability. These mechanisms need further investigation.     

Phenolic compositions of grapes and wines from cultivar cabernet sauvignon produced in chile and their relationship to commercial value

The phenolic composition of wine depends on, among other factors, the grapes used to make it. In this sense, knowledge of the chemical composition of grapes and its association with the resulting wines is an important tool to determine if there is a relationship between the phenolic composition of grapes and the price that these wines obtain in the market. For this purpose, grape skins and seeds from the cultivar Cabernet Sauvignon from the central region of Chile, in 2009 and 2010 vintages from two ripening points, were subjected to chemical and phenolic analyses, as were the wines made from these grapes. Grapes and the corresponding wines from three retail price wine categories, U.S. $6-8, U.S. $28-30, and U.S. $150-160, were evaluated. No differences were found across the price categories in the chemical analysis of grapes. Berry skins and wines from the higher price categories presented a higher concentration only of total tannins, and the differences in their concentrations were only among the different fractions of proanthocyanidins in the skins, seeds, and wines; there were no differences in their proportions. A seasonal effect influenced the concentrations of certain compounds in grapes and led to a decrease in the concentration of total phenols, total tannins, and total anthocyanins between sampling dates as harvesting moved toward the common commercial grape harvest in Chilean viticulture.     

Municipal Waste and Poultry Manure Compost Affect Biomass Production,Nitrate Reductase Activity and Heavy Metals in Tomato Plants

Organic wastes can be usefully recovered to produce organic amendments, for example, compost, to be used for crop production, thus reducing impacts through efficient waste management. The aim of this work was to study the effects of compost obtained from municipal waste in combination with poultry manure on plant growth, nitrate reductase (NR) activity and absorption and distribution of heavy metals (HM) in plant tissues of tomatoes, grown in pots in greenhouses. Two compost types obtained from municipal waste mixed with poultry manure (C1?=?3:2 and C2?=?2:3) were used at two different ages (105 d and 173 d) and at two mix rates with soil (32.5?g pot^?1 and 65?g pot^?1); soil with no compost amendment was used as control. The experiment was conducted using tomato plants in pots and plant growth and nutrient plant uptake was determined after 65?days from plant transplanting. Results obtained indicated that compost type and compost rate affected biomass production. However, compost age did not influence the development of plants. Nutrient status of tomato plants was also investigated with reference to the N cycle. Nitrite accumulation in the leaves increased with the increase in compost doses. The accumulation of NO₂^? was associated with a significant increase in NR activity. HM content in leaves decreased with compost use. HM accumulated preferentially in roots and leaves and the soil to root metals transfer was in this order: Fe (1.08–2.14)> Co (0.53–4.10)>Cu (0.28–2.28) >Mn (0.3–1.34) >Zn (0.87–1.21)>Cr (0.12–1.64). The highest and lowest dynamic bioaccumulation factors (BAF_dyn) were observed in roots and stems, respectively. The root system acted as a barrier for Cd and Pb. It was concluded that compost use is beneficial for tomato plants, with particular reference to the compost obtained by using a higher amount of poultry manure (C2) in the mix.     

Mode of inheritance of zinc accumulation in maize

The present study was undertaken to investigate the genetic nature of zinc (Zn) accumulation in the ear‐leaves of maize (Zea mays L.) plants. Fourteen inbred lines were evaluated. Out of which, five inbreds were chosen, two high Zn accumulators (Rg‐5 and Rd‐2), two low Zn accumulators (Rg‐8 and G‐307) and a moderate one (K‐64). These five parental inbreds were utilized to obtain all possible ten F1 hybrids (in one direction), 10 F2, 10 Bl, and 10 B2. All genotypes were planted and Zn was estimated at 50% tasseling stage. Zinc accumulation in the present genotypes was found to be genetically controlled and affected by additive genes. Significant values were obtained for the General Combining Abilities (GCA) but not for the Specific Combining Abilities (SCA) and the high Zn accumulating parents were the best general combiners. Four genes were found to be the minimum segregating factors in the (high x low) crosses for Zn accumulation.