Salt tolerance of grain crops in relation to ionic balance ability to absorb microelements

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of exchangeable Na on the growth and absorption of metal elements in barley, rye, and maize. The plants were cultivated in soils whose exchangeable sodium percentages (ESP) were 6.6 (saline soil: Saline), 17.4 (saline-sodic soil: Sodic 1), and 39.6 (sodic soil: Sodic 2), which were prepared from Tottori sand dune soil (Control). The dry weight (DW) and concentrations of metal elements Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn, and Cu) in shoots were analyzed. The shoot DW was smaller with higher ESP, but in barley the difference between all the treatments was no longer observed with time. In Sodic soils, the growth of barley was vigorous, whereas rye growth was poor, and maize plants died by 5 weeks after planting. The Na concentration in shoots of all the species was higher with higher ESP. The K concentration in shoots was low at the early growth stage, but in barley it was higher in the Saline and both Sodic soils than in the Control at the subsequent stages. The concentrations of Ca and Mg in shoots of barley and maize in the Saline and both Sodic soils were higher than those in the Control, but in rye the concentrations were lowest in Sodic 2. The concentrations of Mn, Zn, and Cu in barley shoots in the Saline and bothSodic soils tended to be higher than those in the Control, whereas in rye they were lower than in the Control in both Sodic soils. Barley showed a higher ability to absorb low available microelements than rye and maize. These results indicate that barley is tolerant to sodicity as well as salinity, maize is tolerant to salinity, but is very sensitive to sodicity, and rye is moderately sensitive to both stresses. We suggest that the tolerance of grain crops to ESP involves a tolerance to a high Na concentration in shoots, the ability to keep suitable concentrations of essential cations in the presence of a high concentration of Na in shoots and the ability to absorb low available microelements.     

The plasma membrane intactness of root-tip cells is a primary factor for Al-tolerance in cultivars of five species

We investigated the role of the cell wall and plasma membrane (PM) of root-tip cells in Al tolerance in Al-tolerant and Al-sensitive cultivars of five plant species (rice, maize, pea, wheat, and sorghum). No correlation was found between the differences in Al tolerance and the cation exchange capacity of cell walls isolated from root-tips (0–1 em). Preliminary exposure to Al for 1 h was sufficient to inhibit subsequent root re-elongation in an Al-free solution, and the inhibitory effect was more pronounced in the Al-sensitive cultivars than in the Al-tolerant ones. Together with the inhibition of root re-elongation, the PM of the root-tip cells of all the Al-sensitive cultivars was more permeabilized than that of the Al-tolerant cultivars, based on the FDA-PI fluorescence staining technique. Exposure for 30 min to Al treatment at 100 µM significantly increased the PM permeability of protoplasts isolated from the root-tips for the Al-sensitive pea cultivar placed in a moderately hypotonic medium. Protoplasts from root-tip portions of all the Al-sensitive cultivars took up more Al than those of the Al-tolerant ones when treated with 100 pM Al under isotonic conditions for 30 min. The co-existence of DNP or hypotonic conditions led to a larger increase of Al uptake by the protoplasts from Al-sensitive maize cultivars. These results suggest that Al ions rapidly alter the PM of the root-tip portion in the Al-sensitive cultivars, irrespective of plant species, resulting in an increase of the PM permeability.     

Cadmium‐induced changes in glutathione and phenolics of Thlaspi and Noccaea species differing in Cd accumulation

Glutathione (GSH) and phenolics play an important role in plant defense against metal‐ion toxicity. The antioxidant activity and metal‐binding capacity of these compounds can account for the protective effects. In contrast to animal‐cell models, however, the possible interplay among these substances in stress defense of plants is poorly investigated. This study compares the influence of cadmium (Cd) on the profiles of both soluble phenolics and GSH in shoots of different Thlaspi and Noccaea species: two ecotypes of the nonhyperaccumulator T. arvense differing in Cd resistance (ecotype Aigues Vives, Cd‐sensitive, and ecotype Jena, Cd‐resistant) and two Cd‐tolerant Cd‐Zn hyperaccumulators N. praecox and N. caerulescens (formerly Thlaspi praecox and T. caerulescens). To reveal the possible influence of Cd‐induced sulfur (S) shortage on the stress response, plants receiving normal S concentrations (500 μM MgSO₄) and plants treated with surplus S (500 μM MgSO₄ + 500 μM K₂SO₄) were analyzed. Our working hypothesis was that species differences in tolerance to high tissue Cd concentrations should be reflected by differences in endogenous levels of GSH and phenolic compounds. The results reveal clear species‐dependent differences in both the constitutive patterns and the Cd‐ and S‐induced changes in shoot concentrations of GSH and phenolics. However, no simple relationship between these shoot concentrations and Cd accumulation and tolerance can be established.     

Consistent responses of yield and resistance of wheat cultivars to the root-lesion nematode,Pratylenchus thornei,in the Australian northern subtropical region,but not in the temperate southern region

To understand the yield response of cereal cultivars to Pratylenchus thornei, eight experiments were conducted within the subtropical northern, and temperate southern grain-producing regions of Australia. Wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum) ranging from susceptible to moderately resistant to P. thornei were grown in Year 1 to establish a range of population densities. In Year 2 before sowing, P. thornei was quantified in each plot and six cereal cultivars were each grown on a similar range of population densities (average minimum to maximum of 3.4–60.6 P. thornei/g soil); P. thornei was quantified again at harvest. In the four experiments in the northern region there was a significant, negative logarithmic response of yield of the three most intolerant/susceptible cultivars as P. thornei population densities increased (yield decreased 172–479 kg/ha per unit increase in log_e-transformed P. thornei/g soil). The responsiveness of yield to increasing P. thornei population densities diminished as the tolerance and resistance of the cultivars improved. In the southern region, there was no relationship between yield and P. thornei in three experiments and minor, positive increases in one experiment (1.6 kg/ha per unit increase in P. thornei/g soil). Across both regions, the change in P. thornei population densities from sowing to harvest was logarithmic and positive, and generally greatest in the northern region. The contrast of responses of cereal cultivars between the regions, despite similar population densities of P. thornei, is indicative of the influence of the environment particularly on tolerance, therefore management with a regional focus is essential.     

大豆耐盐性种质的分子标记辅助鉴定及其利用研究

大豆耐盐种质的鉴定对于促进大豆耐盐育种具有重要作用。本文利用已获得的大豆耐盐性基因的共显性PCR标记，对选自于国家作物种质库的59份耐盐和盐敏感种质加以鉴定，同时进行了田间耐盐性重复鉴定，并对种质库耐盐性记载结果、田间耐盐性重复鉴定结果与分子标记鉴定结果进行比较，从中选出田间耐盐性重复鉴定结果与分子标记鉴定结果一致的耐盐种质42份，分析了这些种质间的遗传多样性，为大豆处质资源的改良及耐盐遗传育种中的亲本选配提供了理论依据，同时对分子标记应用于种质鉴定和育种实践进行了有益的尝试。     

OsSUV3 transgenic rice maintains higher endogenous levels of plant hormones that mitigates adverse effects of salinity and sustains crop productivity

Background

The SUV3 (suppressor of Var 3) gene encodes a DNA and RNA helicase, which is localized in the mitochondria. Plant SUV3 has not yet been characterized in detail. However, the Arabidopsis ortholog of SUV3 (AT4G14790) has been shown to be involved in embryo sac development. Previously, we have reported that rice SUV3 functions as DNA and RNA helicase and provides salinity stress tolerance by maintaining photosynthesis and antioxidant machinery. Here, we report further analysis of the transgenic OsSUV3 rice plants under salt stress.

Findings

The transgenic OsSUV3 overexpressing rice T₁ lines showed significantly higher endogenous content of plant hormones viz., gibberellic acid (GA₃), zeatin (Z) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in leaf, stem and root as compared to wild-type (WT), vector control (VC) and antisense (AS) plants under salt (200 mM NaCl) stress condition. A similar trend of endogenous plant hormones profile was also reflected in the T₂ generation of OsSUV3 transgenic rice under defined parameters and stress condition.

Conclusions

In response to stress, OsSUV3 rice plants maintained plant hormone levels that regulate the expression of several stress-induced genes and reduce adverse effects of salt on plant growth and development and therefore sustains crop productivity.     

Seed characteristics and nutrient composition of selected beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with different ozone tolerance

Ozone sensitivity, nutritional quality, seed characteristics, and growth habit of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were evaluated in two seperate experiments. In the first experiment the data showed a significant variation among 34 bean accessions for ozone sensitivity following acute exposure of 18-day-old plants to 0.6 µl/l O₃ for 2 hours under environmentally controlled greenhouse conditions. PI-163579, PI-169735, PI-171790, PI-176684, PI-201374, PI-310711, PI-345576, PI-370569, PI-379435, and PI-414831 were identified as tolerant to acute ozone exposures. Protein, oil, starch, sugar, and ash contents in the seed of selected germplasm were determined and no correlation was found between these components and ozone sensitivity. Seed size and growth habit varied considerably among the 34 accessions but were not correlated to ozone sensitivity. In a second experiment, ten accessions, selected from the tolerant ones identified in the first experiment, were subjected to chronic ozone exposure in open-top chambers at 0.04 and 0.08 µl/l concentrations for 7 hours/day 44 days after transplanting. Based on foliar injury and yield reductions, only PI-370569 and PI-414831 were tolerant to prolonged ozone exposure (0.08 µl/l). A significant positive correlation (r=0.83) existed between foliar injury rating from chronic treatments involving 0.04 and 0.08 µl O₃/l and acute exposure (0.6 µl O₃/1/2 hours). The data indicated that acute ozone exposure can be used to initially screen a large number of bean accessions, however, this is an imperfect indicator of ozone sensitivity with chronic exposure.Agricultural Research Station Journal Article Series, No. 191. The use of any trade name varieties and/or vendors does not imply the exclusion of other products or vendors that may also suitable.     

4种沉水植物对再生水中氮磷的去除速率和耐受范围

【目的】研究4种沉水植物对再生水中氮、磷的去除速率和耐受范围,为以再生水作为补水的景观水体沉水植物的选择提供依据。【方法】以野外选取的伊乐藻(Elodea canadensis)、罗氏轮叶黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata)、菹草(Potamogeton crispus)和金鱼藻(Ceratophyllum demersum)4种沉水植物作为供试材料,设置含不同质量浓度TN和TP的再生水,测定有这4种沉水植物的再生水体中TN和TP质量浓度的变化,构建TN和TP质量浓度与培养时间的回归方程,并在回归方程的基础上,研究4种沉水植物对再生水中的氮、磷的去除规律。【结果】在有4种沉水植物的再生水体中,TN和TP质量浓度均随着培养时间的延长呈负指数衰减变化,沉水植物的净化能力不仅与其种类有关,而且与TN和TP初始质量浓度相关。罗氏轮叶黑藻对TN的去除能力最强,金鱼藻最低;伊乐藻对TP的去除能力最强,金鱼藻最小。菹草对氮素的耐受范围较宽,金鱼藻最窄;伊乐藻对磷素的耐受范围最宽,金鱼藻较窄。【结论】当再生水体中TN初始质量浓度为5~15mg/L、TP初始质量浓度为0.5~1.5mg/L时,罗氏轮叶黑藻和伊乐藻对氮磷营养盐的去除速率较高,可作为维持和改善再生水景观水体水质的先锋植物。     

不同基因型玉米萌芽期的抗旱性研究

对4个玉米杂交种辽单24、丹413、沈丹16、沈农87进行了萌芽期的抗旱性研究。结果表明水分胁迫降低了杂交种的发芽势和发芽率,阻碍了胚根和胚芽的生长,也降低了叶片的蒸腾速率和光合速率。但不同杂交种在抗旱性上存在明显差异,在水分胁迫下,抗旱性强的杂交种仍然保持较高的发芽势和发芽率。水分胁迫下,玉米种子的吸水速率减小,但吸水速率与抗旱性间相关性不明显。各品种在20%PEG水分胁迫处理下的萌动吸水伤害率间差异明显,可以作为一个抗旱鉴定指标。研究表明,利用室内高渗溶液萌发法通过对玉米萌芽期抗旱性高度相关的性状的测定得出的萌芽期抗旱性鉴定结果与田间直接鉴定的结果基本相符,说明室内高渗溶液萌发法是鉴定玉米萌芽期抗旱性的一种快速、简便、准确的方法。     

早籼品种苗期耐冷性的遗传研究

 应用人工气候箱低温处理．研究了早籼品种的苗期耐冷性。根据3叶期在6℃下处理48小时，3O℃／25℃ 24小时恢复生长后的叶片黄化程度及48小时恢复生长后的死苗情况，发现3个早籼品种的耐冷性均由一对显性基因控制。品种耐冷性愈差，电导率愈高，以此评价的耐冷性遗传也可能由一对主基因控制。