Gene cloning of ZmMYB59 transcription factor in maize and its expression during seed germination in response to deep‐sowing and exogenous hormones

Discovering the key genes responsible for deep‐sowing germination is very meaningful to cultivate maize varieties with strong germination ability in soil. In this study, ZmMYB59 gene whose functions remain unknown was successfully cloned. Subcellular localization showed that ZmMYB59 was localized in the nucleus. By analysing cis‐acting elements of its promoter sequence, many elements of MYB binding domain responsive to hormones (particularly gibberellin, GA) were found. On this basis, ZmMYB59 expression in different sowing depths, germination stages, tissues and treatments was analysed by real‐time PCR. ZmMYB59 expression levels in embryos or seedlings were significantly decreased with the increase in sowing depth at 2 days or 4 days after sowing (DAS). Further analysis showed that its expression in mesocotyls was also significantly downregulated with the increase in sowing depth at both 6 DAS and 8 DAS. Similarly, seed soaking with 10^‐5 M GA₃ inhibited ZmMYB59 expression in mesocotyls at 3 DAS. These results suggest that ZmMYB59 may play a negative regulatory role in seed germination in deep soil and the regulation is involved in GA signalling pathway.     

干旱胁迫下外源油菜素内酯对玉米幼苗光合作用和D1蛋白的调控效应

为了揭示干旱胁迫下外源油菜素内酯对玉米幼苗光合作用的保护机制,采用溶液培养的方法,以驻玉309为试验材料,研究外源油菜素内酯(BR)预处理及20% PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫后玉米幼苗的生长参数、叶绿素含量、光合参数、叶绿素荧光参数及D1蛋白含量的变化。结果表明,与干旱胁迫处理(PEG)相比,BR+PEG处理的玉米苗株高增加45.87%,根长增加20.56%,总干物质积累增加8.01%,叶片相对含水量提高4.50%,叶绿素a含量增加26.32%,光合参数(Pn、Gs、Ci、Tr)分别提高9.57%,38.23%,30.19%,28.12%,光合系统Ⅱ(ΦPSⅡ)活性提高了20.48%,最大光化学效率提高了0.66%,光合系统Ⅱ绝对电子传递速率(ETR(Ⅱ)和相对电子传递速率r ETR(Ⅱ))分别提高20.40%和31.02%;D1蛋白含量增加37.34%(P0.05)。说明在干旱胁迫条件下叶片喷施BR可以改善玉米幼苗的生长发育,减缓光合系统的损伤,促进D1蛋白质的稳定,从而提高玉米幼苗对干旱胁迫的适应性。     

玉米抗低温灾害调控技术研究进展

东北地区是中国春玉米的主产区,低温冷害成为高纬度地区玉米减产的重要气象因子.低温冷害不仅影响玉米生理代谢过程,在玉米有机物质积累方面也有抑制作用.因此,减少低温灾害对玉米产量影响成为实现玉米高产稳产的重要方向之一.笔者从玉米抗低温调控技术进展角度出发,综述了低温冷害影响玉米生长发育机制、玉米低温胁迫下发芽相关因素、如何...     

苗带深松条件下秸秆覆盖对春玉米土壤水温及产量的影响

免耕秸秆覆盖是中国北方干旱半干旱区一种重要的保护性耕作模式。为明确宽行覆盖窄行深松交错种植条件下覆盖带适宜的秸秆覆盖量和覆盖方式, 2012–2013年在河北省廊坊市进行了春玉米的田间试验。选用郑单958为试验材料, 采用80 cm+40 cm宽窄行种植, 宽行间覆盖秸秆, 窄行间进行苗带深松, 设置8.42 t hm^-2覆盖量下粉碎覆盖(100SC)、整秆覆盖(100SP)、4.21 t hm^-2覆盖量下粉碎覆盖(50SC)、整秆覆盖(50SP)和不覆盖(CK)处理, 测定土壤水分和温度、出苗状况、物质积累、产量及产量构成。结果表明, 秸秆覆盖与深松结合条件下, 4种覆盖处理与对照相比均提高了土壤含水量, 其中50SC处理在花前0~15 cm土壤降温幅度最小, 其他覆盖处理显著降低花前土壤温度。各覆盖处理明显提高了苗期整齐度, 秸秆覆盖对苗期的生育期天数略有推迟。与CK相比, 50SC提高了春玉米地上部生物量, 促进花后干物质积累, 千粒重和穗粒重分别提高10.9% (P<0.05)和6.5% (P<0.05), 产量提高4.78%, 达12 243 kg hm^-2。50SC条件下产量与全生育期干物质积累(DMA)、花后/花前DMA呈极显著正相关。说明宽行覆盖窄行深松交错种植有利于缓和秸秆覆盖对出苗的物理阻碍, 其中秸秆以4.21 t hm^-2的覆盖量粉碎覆盖效果最好, 该处理可为玉米提供稳定有利的土壤水分和温度条件, 提高了生育后期的物质积累以及籽粒产量。     

长江中游不同玉稻种植模式产量及资源利用效率的比较研究

发展长江中游玉米生产是解决本区域玉米产需矛盾的根本途径。近年来随着长江中游玉米的快速发展,该地区出现了春玉米–晚稻、双季玉米和早稻–秋玉米等新型的一年两熟制种植模式,为探明其适应性和实用性,2013—2014年在湖北省武穴市设置了传统种植的双季稻(对照)、春玉米–晚稻、双季玉米和早稻–秋玉米共4种两熟制种植模式,分析比较其周年产量及光、温、水资源利用效率和经济效益。结果表明,春玉米–晚稻和双季玉米周年产量显著高于早稻–秋玉米和双季稻。与双季稻相比,春玉米–晚稻周年产量、光能生产效率、光能利用率、积温生产效率、水分利用率及经济效益分别提高18.3%、14.1%、23.4%、16.4%、37.2%和44.3%,双季玉米分别提高了13.5%、8.1%、26.1%、11.4%、88.8%和37.8%。春玉米其产量、积温生产效率、水分利用率及经济效益两年平均比早稻分别高出30.6%、29.5%、57.2%和96.1%,而秋玉米和晚稻之间产量无显著差异。不同玉稻模式周年产量差异主要源于第一季春玉米和早稻产量的差异。可见,春玉米–晚稻和双季玉米是适宜在长江中游推广的两熟制种植模式。     

Yield and soil system changes from conservation tillage in dryland farming: A case study from North Eastern Tanzania

Yield levels in smallholder farming systems in semi-arid sub-Saharan Africa are generally low. Water shortage in the root zone during critical crop development stages is a fundamental constraining factor. While there is ample evidence to show that conservation tillage can promote soil health, it has recently been suggested that the main benefit in semi-arid farming systems may in fact be an in situ water harvesting effect. In this paper we present the result from an on-farm conservation tillage experiment (combining ripping with mulch and manure application) that was carried out in North Eastern Tanzania from 2005 to 2008. Special attention was given to the effects of the tested treatment on the capacity of the soil to retain moisture. The tested conservation treatment only had a clear yield increasing effect during one of the six experimental seasons (maize grain yields increased by 41%, and biomass by 65%), and this was a season that received exceptional amounts of rainfall (549 mm). While the other seasons provided mixed results, there seemed to be an increasing yield gap between the conservation tillage treatment and the control towards the end of the experiment, and cumulatively the yield increased with 17%. Regarding soil system changes, small but significant effects on chemical and microbiological properties, but not on physical properties, were observed. This raises questions about the suggested water harvesting effect and its potential to contribute to stabilized yield levels under semi-arid conditions. We conclude that, at least in a shorter time perspective, the tested type of conservation tillage seems to boost productivity during already good seasons, rather than stabilize harvests during poor rainfall seasons. Highlighting the challenges involved in upgrading these farming systems, we discuss the potential contribution of conservation tillage towards improved water availability in the crop root zone in a longer term perspective.     

Intensification of New Zealand beef farming systems

This study used whole-farm management, nutrient budgeting/greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and feed formulation computer tools to determine the production, environmental and financial implications of intensifying the beef production of typical New Zealand (NZ) sheep and beef farming systems. Two methods of intensification, feeding maize silage (MS) or applying nitrogen (N) fertiliser, were implemented on two farm types differing in the proportions of cultivatable land to hill land (25% vs. 75% hill). In addition, the consequences of intensification by incorporating a beef feedlot (FL) into each of the farm types were also examined.Feeding MS or applying N fertiliser substantially increased the amount of beef produced per ha. Intensifying production was also associated with increased total N leaching and GHG emissions although there were differences between the methods of intensification. Feeding MS resulted in lower environmental impacts than applying N even after taking into account the land to grow the maize for silage. Based on 2007/08 prices, typical NZ sheep and beef farms were making a financial loss and neither method of intensification increased profitability with the exception of small annual applications of N, especially to the 75% hill farm. These small annual additions of N fertiliser (<50 kg N/ha/yr applied in autumn and late winter) resulted in only small increases in annual N leaching (from 11 to 14 kg N/ha) and GHG emissions (from 3280 to 4000 kg CO₂ equivalents/ha). Limited N applications were particularly beneficial to 75% hill farms because small increases in winter carrying capacity resulted in relatively large increases in the utilisation of pasture growth during spring and summer than the 25% hill farms. Intensification by incorporating a beef feedlot reduced environmental emissions per kg of beef produced but considerably decreased profitability due to higher capital, depreciation and labour costs. The lower land-use capability farm type (75% hill) was able to intensify beef production to a proportionally greater extent than the higher land-use capability farm (25% hill) because of greater potential to increase pasture utilisation associated with a lower initial farming intensity and inherent constraints in the pattern of pasture supply.     

Evaluating eddy covariance method by large-scale weighing lysimeter in a maize field of northwest China

Accurate determination of evapotranspiration (ET) is useful to develop precise irrigation scheduling. Although eddy covariance (EC) is a direct method which is widely used to measure ET, its performance in arid region of northwest China is not clear. In this study, ET measured by EC (ET_EC) was compared with that by large-scale weighing lysimeter (ET_L) during the whole growing season of maize in 2009. Energy balance ratio was 0.84 for daytime fluxes, indicating that lack of energy balance closure occurred, so daytime ET_EC was adjusted by Bowen-ratio forced closure method. Compared to the corresponding ET_L, half-hourly daytime ET_EC was underestimated by 21.8% without the adjustment and 4.8% with the adjustment. Furthermore, nighttime ET_EC was adjusted using filtering/interpolation method. Mean error between half-hourly nighttime ET_EC and ET_L decreased from 30.2% without the adjustment to 10.3% with the adjustment. After such adjustment of day and night measurements, daily ET_EC was underestimated by 6.2% compared to ET_L. These results indicated that the adjusted ET_EC well matched with the ET_L. Moreover, the discrepancy of adjusted total ET_EC and ET_L was decreased to 3.2% after subtracting the overestimated ET by lysimeter resulting from irrigation and heavy rainfall events. Thus, after appropriate adjustments of observations, eddy covariance method is accurate in estimating maize ET in the arid region of northwest China.     

基于深度相机的玉米株型参数提取方法研究

提出了一种基于骨架提取的改进算法,可实现在大田环境下,使用PMD深度相机快速、无损测量玉米株型参数。首先利用深度图像RGB伪彩色和深度距离信息,提取深度图像的骨架,排除复杂背景干扰,得到单株玉米的二值骨架图像;然后利用基于角点检测的改进归类算法提取骨架图像特征点;最后建立骨架图像中特征点与深度图像的对应关系,利用空间几何数学方法,结合特征点计算出玉米的3种株型参数,即株高、茎粗、叶倾角。农田实验对比分析表明,所提方法的株高测量结果与人工测量结果的相关系数 r 为0.986,最大相对误差小于2 cm,农田作物育种抗逆性分析还表明玉米株型参数与抗倒伏性具有显著相关性。