ADVANCES IN DIAGNOSIS OF IRON DEFICIENCY IN AVOCADO

Several methods for determination of extractable iron (Fe; or so-called “active Fe”) have been proposed. In this study, three methods of Fe extraction were tested: 1.5% phenanthroline (pH 3) and 1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) from fresh leaves, and 1 M HCl from oven-dry leaves. A six-year-old avocado orchard (cultivar ‘Hass’), grown on a calcareous soil in the proximity of Cabildo (Valparaíso region, Chile), was selected for the study. Samples of mature (5–7 moths-old) leaves of different degree of chlorosis were collected. Total Fe concentrations in chlorotic leaves were similar or even greater than in green leaves. Regressions between the extractable Fe concentrations and the leaf SPAD-color were statistically significant for phenanthroline method, while non-significant for HCl methods. Thus, phenanthroline method was superior over others for diagnosis of Fe deficiency in avocado. Phenanthroline-extractable Fe concentration of 6 mg kg^?1 was considered as a critical value for mature avocado leaves.     

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF HUMIC SUBSTANCES FROM DIFFERENT ORIGIN ON LUPIN AS RELATED TO IRON SOURCES

Humic substances improve the efficiency of different iron (Fe) sources overcoming Fe deficiency chlorosis of plants. However, applied at high rates, they can promote negative effects on plants. The main objective of this work was to study the potential adverse effect of three humic acids from different origin when they were applied with two effective Fe sources for plants: Fe- ethylenediaminedihydroxyphenylacetic acid (EDDHA) and Vivianite. To this end, an experiment with lupin (Lupinus albus L.) was performed involving two factors: (i) Fe source, and (ii) humic substances from three different origin (composted cork, leonardite, and compost obtained from a mixture of olive husk with cotton gin trash) applied at 0, 0.1, and 0.5 g organic carbon (C) kg^?1 of growing media. At the rates used, humic substances promoted adverse effects on plant development, chlorophyll meter readings, and Fe content in lupin grown in calcareous media. Overall, the effect on dry matter and Fe content in plants was more relevant when Fe was supplied with Vivianite, the effect on chlorophyll meter readings being more significant when Fe was applied as Fe-EDDHA. Differences were also observed depending on the source of humic substances, those from leonardite promoting the greatest decrease in dry matter in roots and shoots. These humic substances possessed the highest values of spectroscopy index for aromaticity (A₂₅₄ ). On the other hand, the application of humic substances from olive husk compost, which exhibited the lower aromaticity index, resulted in the smallest decrease in dry matter production and chlorophyll meter readings. Dry matter in roots decreased logarithmically with increased values of the estimates of the amounts of aromatic compounds accumulated in the growing media (R² = 0.92; P < 0.01) with Vivianite as Fe source. Thus, the effects decreasing dry matter production, particularly in roots, and chlorophyll meter readings can be ascribed at least partially to the presence of phytotoxic aromatic compounds in humic substances.     

INHERITANCE OF RESISTANCE TO IRON DEFICIENCY CHLOROSIS IN CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.)

Iron (Fe)-deficiency chlorosis causes considerable yield losses in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) when susceptible genotypes are grown in calcareous soils with high pH. The most feasible method for alleviating Fe deficiency is the selection of suitable cultivars resistant to Fe deficiency chlorosis. ICC 6119 (desi type), which is Fe-deficient chlorosis, was crossed with CA 2969 and Sierra (kabuli types), resistant to Fe deficiency chlorosis. Inheritance of resistance to Fe deficiency in chickpea revealed that the resistance was controlled by a single dominant gene in these genotypes crossed. A negative selection for resistance to Fe deficiency chlorosis will be effective after segregating generations.     

Origin and properties of humus in the subsoil of irrigated rice paddies

Stability of humus in the plow layer soil is considered to affect the quantity and quality of dissolved organic matter leached from the plow layer soil. Therefore, a model experiment was conducted to analyze the effect of soil reduction under submerged conditions on the stability of humus in the plow layer soil. The changes in the stability of humus in the plow layer soil during submerged incubations with and without rice straw application were evaluated based on the changes in the binding type of humus. Binding type of humus in the plow layer soil was analyzed by successive extractions of organic matter with water, 0.25 M Na₂SO₄, 0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 7.0), 0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 10.5), and 0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 10.5) with NaBH₄. Amounts of Fe, Mn, and Mg in each fraction were also determined to estimate the relationships between humus and metals.

The successive extraction of humus indicated that the amount of organic carbon which was extractable with the (NaBH₄ +0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇) solution decreased while that of the 0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 7.0}-extractable organic carbon increased during submerged incubation with rice straw application. The origin of the increase in the amount of organic carbon in the Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 7.0)-extractable fraction during submerged incubation was investigated further by another incubation experiment using ¹³C-glucose as a reducing agent. Atom- 13C% analysis showed that the contribution of organic carbon derived from compounds other than glucose to the increase in the contents of humic acids and fulvic acids in the Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 7.0)-extractable fractions was ca. 80%. Therefore, it was concluded that the binding type of humus changed from (NaBH₄ + Na₄P₂O₇)-extractable to Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 7.0)-extractable humus under reducing conditions. Since the amounts of organic carbon and Fe increased in the Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 7.0)-extractable fraction and decreased in the (NaBH₄ +0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇)-extractable fraction simultaneously, iron reduction was presumably associated with the change in the binding type of humus in submerged paddy soil.     

Incorporation of 14C into methionine as an intermediate for phytosiderophore biosynthesis in barley

In order to verify the precursory role of methionine (Met) in the biosynthesis of the mugineic acid family of phytosiderophores (MAs), feeding experiments of ¹⁴C-Iabeled compounds to barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Minorimugi) roots grown hydroponically were conducted. When both ^l4C-Glucose (Glc) and unlabeled Met were fed to segmented roots, ¹⁴C was incorporated into Met and MAs in the roots. Molar-radioactivity of Met was higher than that of the amino-butanoic-acid unit in MAs in the roots. When ^l4C-Glc and unlabeled homoserine (Hse) were fed to decapitated roots, l4C was incorporated into Met but not into Hse. Therefore, it was considered that Hse might not be a major precursor of MAs. In addition, ¹⁴C was incorporated into Met and MAs in the roots when both ¹⁴C-glycerol (Gol) and unlabeled Met were fed to segmented roots. It is suggested that MAs may be synthesized from Glc via Met, bypassing Hse, and that the MAs biosynthesis may involve an unknown pathway associated with Gol and leading to Met.     

汉江上游铁矿尾矿库区土壤重金属污染分析

应用地累积指数法和生态危害指数法对汉江上游某铁矿尾矿库区周边土壤重金属污染特征和潜在生态环境污染风险进行了研究。结果表明尾矿库区土壤中重金属除Ti外均超出当地土壤背景值,以Cd超标最严重(超标12倍);形态分析表明Fe、Ti、As、Hg的主要存在形态是残渣态,Mn的可交换态和碳酸盐结合态所占比例最高(均值24.07%),Zn的易还原态所占比例最高(均值22.07%),Ni和Co的易氧化态所占比例最高(均值分别为28.99%、25.46%);地累积指数法评价表明尾矿库区土壤Hg和Cd达到中-强污染等级,As和Co属中度污染等级,Fe、Zn、Mn、Ni以无污染-中污染为主,其余金属无污染;生态危害指数法结果显示Cd和Hg的生态风险等级为极强,As生态风险等级为中等,其余元素生态风险等级为轻微,尾矿库采样区域整体处于很强的生态风险等级,尤其需要加强对Cd、Hg、As的污染防治。     

Investigations on the effect of traditional food processing,preservation and storage methods on vegetable nutrients: A case study in Tanzania

The effect of traditional food proceesing, preservation and storage methods on vegetable nutrients was studied using cassava, pumpkin and mwage leaves. Traditional cooking method for 90 min for cassava, 50 min for pumpkin and mwage leaves resulted in significant losses in protein, fats and vitamins. Sundrying using traditional mats caused losses of vitamin A of 36.3%, 38.0% and 50.3% for cassava pumpkin and mwage leaves respectively. Storage using earthenware pots for six weeks resulted in significant losses of vitamin C. In general, traditional methods for processing, preservation and storage of vegetables cause significant losses of nutrients, an effect that could account for poor, nutritional status in Morogoro region (Tanzania).     

甜菜铁素吸收特点及其对光合性能的影响

[目的]揭示甜菜吸收铁素的规律和铁素对甜菜的生理作用,为甜菜合理利用铁素提供科学依据.[方法]在田间试验条件下,研究了甜菜不同生育时期植株吸收铁素的规律和特点,以及叶面喷施铁素对其光合生理指标和相关酶活性的影响.[结果]甜菜植株中铁素含量随生育进程先升后降,最高时期在块根及糖分增长期;随生育进程铁素积累量逐渐增加;甜菜对铁素吸收性能最强的时期在叶丛快速生长期至块根及糖分增长期,在该时期叶面喷施1～5 g·L-1硫酸亚铁溶液,甜菜产量增加5.05％～ 8.87％,含糖率提高0.42％～0.67％,产糖量增加7.74％ ～ 13.29％,且铁素含量、叶绿素含量、光合生产率、CO2同化率及气孔导度均有所增加,核酮糖二磷酸羧化酶和蔗糖磷酸合成酶活性增强.[结论]铁素改善了甜菜光合性能,为块根生长和糖分积累奠定了物质基础.     

A Preliminary Study on Physiological and Molecular Effects of Iron Deficiency in Fuji/Chistock 1

In order to get experimental data on apple rootstock with iron-efficient genotypes capable of improving scion resistance to iron deficiency, this experiment was conducted on the physiological and molecular characteristics of Fuji/ Chistock 1 (F/C) under different iron conditions and compared it to Fuji/ M. Baccata (F/B). F/C was less sensitive to iron deficiency than F/B. F/B showed chlorosis after 25 days under iron-deficient conditions, but F/C showed no phenotypic changes, even after 40 days. The shoot and leaf area growth of F/C were respectively 5cm and 1000 mm² higher than those of F/B, regardless of the iron-deficient or iron-efficient conditions. The young leaf chlorophyll and active iron of F/C were 5 SPAD and 5 mg kg^?1 higher than those of F/B, either in iron-deficient or iron-efficient conditions. The expression of YSL5 and CS1 showed the same pattern. The enhancement expression of iron transport genes may be one explanation for these findings.     

运用简单线性水库模型计算Pothwar黄土平原（巴基斯坦）磷灰石损失情况

Apatite is the dominant phosphorus （P） mineral in early stages of soil development, and its redistribution as labile forms under pedogenesis controls terrestrial bioavailability. Quantitative distribution of labile forms of P and apatite-P was examined in Pothwar Loess Plain, Pakistan where the degree of pedogenesis varied with relief. Four soil types, Typic Ustorthents （Rajar）, Typic Calciustepts （Missa）, Udic Calciustepts （Basal）, and Udic Haplustalfs （Guliana）, were sampled from three replicated locations at genetic horizon level. With the exception of total P value at surface, the mean total and apatite-P decreased towards the surface in Udic Haplustalfs and Udic Calciustepts where dicalcium and octacalcium phosphate increased toward surface. Iron （oxides and oxyhydroxides） adsorbed and occluded P forms were also in greater quantities in Udic Haplustalfs and increased toward the surface, whereas they were lowest and uniform in the Typic Ustorthents. Aluminum- and organic P correlated with soil organic matter. Apatite-P decreased exponentially with an increase in the sum of iron adsorbed and occluded P fractions, and fitted the equation M（x） =M0[1 - exp（-wx）] with r^2=0.996, where M（x） is the mean apatite-P concentration in solum, M0 is the apatite-P content in the loess sediments, x is the cumulative iron adsorbed and occluded P, and w is an empirical factor indicating the change rate of apatite-P in the loess. From the calculated apatite-P of 740 mg kg^-1 at the time of deposition, mean apatite-P loss was 60% in Udic Haplustalfs, 33% in Udic Calciustepts, 23% in Typic Calciustepts, and 8% in Typic Ustorthents. The transformation of soil P to labile forms was faster and deeper in level or slight depressions followed by gently sloping areas in wide plains, and was the least in the gullied land.