Leaf K/Na ratio predicts salinity induced yield loss in irrigated rice

Salinity is a major constraint to irrigated rice production, particularly in semi-arid and arid climates. Irrigated rice is a well suited crop to controlling and even decreasing soil salinity, but rice is a salt-susceptible crop and yield losses due to salinity can be substantial. The objective of this study was to develop a highly predictive screening tool for the vegetative growth stage of rice to estimate salinity-induced yield losses. Twenty-one rice genotypes were grown over seven seasons in a field trials in Ndiaye, Senegal, between 1991 and 1995 and were subjected to irrigation with moderately saline water (3.5 mS cm^-1, electrical conductivity) or irrigation with fresh water. Potassium/sodium ratios of the youngest three leaves (K/Na_Leaves) were determined by flame photometry at the late vegetative stage. Grain yield was determined at maturity. All cultivars showed strong log-linear correlations between K/Na_Leaves and grain yield, but intercept and slope of those correlations differed between seasons for a given genotype and between genotypes. The K/Na_Leaves under salinity was related to grain yield under salinity relative to freshwater controls. There was a highly significant correlation (p < 0.001) between K/Na_Leaves and salinity-induced grain yield reduction: the most susceptible cultivars had lowest K/Na_Leaves and the strongest yield reductions. Although there were major differences in the effects of salinity on crops in both the hot dry season (HDS) and the wet season, the correlation was equally significant across cropping seasons. The earliest possible time to establish the relationship between K/Na_Leaves under salinity and grain yield reduction due to salinity was investigated in an additional trial in the HDS 1998. About 60 days after sowing, salinity-induced yield loss could be predicted through K/Na_Leaves with a high degree of confidence (p < 0.01). A screening system for salinity resistance of rice, particularly in arid and semi-arid climates, is proposed based on the correlation between K/Na_Leaves under salinity and salinity-induced yield losses. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

用MS Office“查找与替换”功能实现农药数据批处理

针对农药信息平台基础数据存在的三种问题进行了剖析,并基于MS Office的＂查找与替换＂功能,提出了简单易用的操作方案,快速准确地批处理了大量问题数据。     

甘蓝大田中降解菌对氯氰菊酯的降解动态研究

在大田甘蓝地中,以从菜园土壤和菠菜叶片分离得到的氯氰菊酯降解菌株T-1和菌株Y-3为研究对象,采用气相色谱法检测,对降解菌降解氯氰菊酯的残留动态进行研究。结果表明:与对照相比,降解菌对氯氰菊酯的降解有促进作用;菌株Y-3和菌株T-1在土壤中对氯氰菊酯的降解动态基本类似,半衰期均为10d;具有内生性的菌株Y-3在甘蓝植株体内对氯氰菊酯降解效果较好,半衰期为7d。     

Evaluation of a collection of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) genotypes originating from the Maghreb for resistance to chocolate spot (Botrytis fabae) by assessment in the field and laboratory

Screening of 136 faba bean lines forresistance to chocolate spot caused by thefungus Botrytis fabae was conductedin field conditions with artificialinoculation. Detached leaves of thesegenotypes were also assessed for diseaseseverity after inoculation under controlledconditions with a B. fabaesuspension. The BPL710 and Aguadulcegenotypes were inserted as resistant andsusceptible checks, respectively. Diseasesymptoms were scored visually in bothexperiments. Diameter of lesions andproduction of spores were measured in thedetached leaf assay. The disease scoreindex and diameter of lesions were used tocalculate the area under the diseaseprogress curve (AUDPC) to measure thedisease progress. Significant differenceswere detected among genotypes for reactionto the disease in the field. However, nocomplete resistance was observed. Forhighly susceptible and highly resistantgenotypes, the laboratory assay generallyled to the same result as the field test,nevertheless, for more intermediate levelsthe agreement was weak. On detached leaves,diameter of lesions was significantlycorrelated to the AUDPC of disease scores(r = 0.89) and moderately correlated tosporulation (r = 0.52). The correlationbetween field AUDPC and detached leaf AUDPCof disease scores was low (r = 0.26). A lowcorrelation was also observed between fieldAUDPC and lesion size (r = 0.30) andbetween field AUDPC and sporulation (r =0.32). Among the 136 genotypes evaluated inthis study, nine were convincingly andhighly resistant in both tests. FRYM167 andFRYA58 genotypes were the most resistantwith low AUDPC of disease scores, low AUDPCof lesion diameter and low sporeproduction. These genotypes obviously havepartial resistance.     

Determination of the genetic variation in the effect of temperature and daylength on bolting of Brassica campestris L.

Summary Effects of temperature and daylength on the bolting of a number of B. campestris accessions were investigated both in the open and in the IVT phytotron. From the results it was concluded that low temperature and genotype are the predominant factors with respect to bolting. Daylength has rather limited influence. One cultivar bolted more than 12 weeks earlier at 10 and 14°C than at 18°C. On the other hand some cultivars did not require vernalization at all.At 14°C and short daylength, depending on genotype, the period of time between sowing and 50% bolting ranged from 8 to 30 weeks. At this temperature the stimulating effect of long day (24 h), depending again on the genotype, ranged from 0 to 4 weeks. The genotypes most resistant to bolting appeared to be the stubble turnips (B. campestris ssp. rapa).In terms of seed(ling) vernalization at 5°C the cold requirement ranged from 0 to more than 3 weeks, depending on the genotype. The required vernalization periods at 5°C can be used as a criterion in screening for resistance to bolting.     

Screening for resistance to broomrape (Orobanche cernua) in cultivated sunflower

Racial evolution of sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cernua) has been very rapid in Spain during recent years, in which resistance has been overcome several times and there has been an important increase in areas infested with this parasitic angiosperm. In order to find resistance to a highly virulent population of sunflower broomrape that could be used directly in breeding programmes, three different sets of cultivated plant material composed of 429 entries were tested by artificial inoculation. All evaluated inbred lines from Moden, Canada, were fully susceptible. Out of the 240 P.I. accessions tested, only 10 segregated for resistance to broomrape, the rest being susceptible. From the 160 USDA breeding lines evaluated, 5% were resistant and 19% segregated for resistance to O. cernua. These lines traced back mainly to crosses of RHA 274 and RHA 801 with Russian, Turkish and Romanian hybrids. The origin of P.I. accessions that segregated for resistance were primarily derived from the former USSR and from Romania.     

Screening for resistance to Nectria galligena Bres. in cut shoots of apple

Summary To find a fast and reliable test to assess resistance to Nectria galligena in apple, different methods of inoculation were compared using macroconidia of N. galligena and one-year-old cut shoots from mature trees of Cox's Orange Pippin, IVT 69078-19, James Grieve and Jonathan.With the best inoculation method 11 genotypes were screened for resistance. Elstar, Golden Delicious, Jonathan and Lombart's Calville were highly resistant and the level of resistance of Ingrid marie, Gloster, Melrose, IVT 69078-19, Cox's Orange Pippin, James Grieve and Idared decreased in this order.The best inoculation method proved to be simple, giving results within four to nine weeks after inoculation.