The mechanical roles of the clasping leaf sheath in cereals: Two case studies from oat and wheat plants

Stem lodging is a common problem in cereal crop production and a main constraint for grain yield improvement. The leaf sheath that surrounds and protects the hollow internodes of stem could provide the plants with a great physical support. However, this biomechanical function has been ignored for several decades in cereal crops. This study aimed to examine the biomechanical properties of basal stem internodes and lodging susceptibility of the whole plants with or without the clasping leaf sheath in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) among different genotypes and agronomic practices (including planting densities and nitrogen application rates). The main objective was to quantify the mechanical role of the leaf sheath in oat and wheat crops by a “safety factor” method. On average, the leaf sheath contributed 40%, 68% and 38% of the overall stem bending strength, flexural rigidity and safety factor, in oat, while it accounted for 11%, 24% and 10%, respectively, in wheat plants. The significant contribution of the leaf sheath is due to its vital role in enlarging the peripheral position (i.e., second moment of area) and stiffness (i.e., Young's modulus). The contribution ratios (%) were found to be higher in oat than in wheat plants, due to the greater mass density of leaf sheath and more proficient/prevailing stay-green capability in oat genotypes. This study emphasizes the important mechanical role of clasping leaf sheath on stem internodes of cereals and indicates that the stay-green trait of the leaf sheath can be exploited to design appropriate varieties with improved lodging resistance and great yield potential.     

Identification of a phytoplasma associated with pomegranate little leaf disease in Iran

During 2012–2014 surveys for the presence of phytoplasma diseases in Fars province (Iran), pomegranate little leaf symptoms were observed in several orchards in Khafr and Neyriz areas. Samples collected from symptomatic plants positively reacted in nested PCR assays using P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2 primer pairs producing the expected 1,250 bp DNA fragments. Real and virtual RFLP analysis showed that the sequences of phytoplasma strains from Khafr and Neyriz (KPLL and NPLL strains, respectively) were identical to each other and belong to 16SrII phytoplasma group, subgroup D. Phylogenetic analysis of the R16F2n⁄R16R2 DNA region confirmed that KPLL and NPLL phytoplasmas were enclosed in the same clade as other 16SrII-D subgroup phytoplasmas. This is the first reported occurrence of a 16SrII phytoplasma infecting pomegranate trees.     

东北“三大硬阔”叶片和叶轴质量分配比较

以3个树种健康复叶为试材,研究了叶内光合构件和支撑构件的生物量投资的种内种间变化规律。结果表明:水曲柳、胡桃楸和黄檗叶轴质量占复叶质量的比例分别为0.18、0.26和0.17,胡桃楸显著大于其它2个树种。跨物种尺度上,复叶大的树种需要更多的叶内支撑结构投资。但物种水平上,水曲柳叶片投资随叶增大而增大,胡桃楸则降低,黄檗基本稳定,表现出与跨物种水平上的叶片投资随叶增大而降低的普遍规律不同。今后需要加深物种水平上叶内生物量分配的异速生长的了解。     

Dense planting with less basal nitrogen fertilization might benefit rice cropping for high yield with less environmental impacts

Dense planting and less basal nitrogen (N) fertilization have been recommended to further increase rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain yield and N use efficiency (NUE), respectively. The objective of this study was to evaluate the integrative impacts of dense planting with reduced basal N application (DR) on rice yield, NUE and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Field experiments with one conventional sparse planting (CK) and four treatments of dense planting (increased seedlings per hill) with less basal N application were conducted in northeast China from 2012 to 2013. In addition, a two-factor experiment was conducted to isolate the effect of planting density and basal N rate on CH₄ emission in 2013. Our results show that an increase in planting density by about 50% with a correspondingly reduction in basal N rate by about 30% (DR1 and DR2) enhanced NUE by 14.3–50.6% and rice grain yield by 0.5–7.4% over CK. Meanwhile, DR1 and DR2 reduced GWP by 6.4–12.6% and yield-scaled GWP by 7.0–17.0% over CK. According to the two-factor experiment, soil CH₄ production and oxidation and CH₄ emission were not affected by planting density. However, reduced basal N rate decreased CH₄ emission due to it significantly reduced soil CH₄ production with a smaller reduction in soil CH₄ oxidation. The above results indicate that moderate dense planting with less basal N application might be an environment friendly mode for rice cropping for high yield and NUE with less GHG emissions.     

Density responses and spatial distribution of cotton yield and yield components in jujube (Zizyphus jujube)/cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) agroforestry

Trees are the dominant species in agroforestry systems, profoundly affecting the performance of understory crops. Proximity to trees is a key factor in crop performance, but rather little information is available on the spatial distribution of yield and yield components of crop species under the influence of trees in agroforestry systems. Also, little information is available on how crop density may be exploited to optimize the yield in such systems. Here we studied the performance of cotton in jujube/cotton agroforestry. Field experiments were conducted in 2012 and 2013 in Hetian, Xinjiang, China. Cotton was grown at a row distance of 60 cm in three densities, 13.5, 18.0 and 22.5 plants m⁻² in six m wide paths between tree lines in a jujube plantation. Plant density affected both cotton aboveground dry matter and yield significantly. The highest yield was attained at the intermediate density of 18.0 plants m⁻² (20.0 plants m⁻² corresponding in sole cotton), lower than the optimal density in sole cotton (25.0 plants m⁻²). Yield at the lower density was constrained by the low number of bolls per m² as a direct consequence of the low density, whereas at the high plant density yield was constrained by a lower allocation of assimilates to cotton seed and lint, as a consequence of intraspecific and interspecific competitions. There were strong gradients in yield and yield components in relation to the distance from the tree rows. Leaf area and total dry matter of cotton in rows close to the tree lines were reduced, especially in the rows next to the trees. Moreover, biomass allocation to cotton fruits was reduced in these rows. Competitive influences from the trees on cotton performance extended two rows deep in a six-year old jujube stand, and even three rows deep in a seven-year old stand. Shading effects on cotton yield were compensated by increasing plant density as a result of greater boll numbers per unit ground area. Data from this study help guide the design of optimal plant density of cotton in jujube plantations and give insight in the spatial distribution and dynamics of competitive effects in agroforestry systems in general.     

光谱判断田间鲜烟叶成熟度的影响因子研究

利用便携式地物波谱仪Field Spec 3测量烤烟成熟期烟叶的反射光谱,针对采收成熟度M2、M3,分析比较同一时间不同测量位点、及同一位点不同测量时间的反射光谱差异。结果表明:反射光谱的差异在不同测量位点主要体现在350~780 nm可见光波段和780~1300 nm近红外波段,在不同测量时间主要体现在780~1300 nm近红外波段。因此,利用光谱仪判断鲜烟叶成熟度,受测量位点的影响较大,而受测量时间的影响较小,但若测量烟叶生理生化组分、厚度和水分等内在指标,时间及天气状况是必须考虑的重要因素。     

淮安区水稻测土配方施肥配方校正与示范对比试验报告

为验证肥料配方的准确性,发挥配方肥料施用的最大效益。通过田间校验,示范对比测土配方施肥的增产效果,进一步验证并完善淮安区的肥料配方,优化测土配方施肥技术参数。     

减少底肥施用量增加叶面施肥次数对玉米产量的影响

该试验目的是研究降低底肥施用量但是增加叶面肥施用次数方面对玉米产量的变化规律，旨在找出最经济的施肥方式以达到在保护环境的基础上提高经济效益的目的。试验表明，玉米产量随着底肥施用量的增加而提高，并且叶面肥喷施次数越多产量越高，每喷一次，可增加产量258~592.5 kg/hm2，增产幅度2.3%~5.6%。     

水稻OsZ314基因克隆及转录激活验证

穗是水稻(Oryza sativa L.)重要的生殖器官,其生长发育直接影响水稻的产量和品质。前期研究中,我们对水稻生殖生长时期穗发育各阶段的转录组、蛋白组数据进行联合分析,筛选到一个MYB基因家族的转录因子OsZ314基因。生物学信息分析表明,该基因位于1号染色体上,拥有典型的R2R3-MYB型转录因子结构域,且在水稻幼穗时期表达量最高;亚细胞定位结果显示,OsZ314基因定位于细胞核中;转录激活试验表明,OsZ314基因具有转录激活功能。本研究为深入探索OsZ314基因在水稻穗发育时期的分子生物学功能奠定了良好的基础。     

桑叶养猪实用技术

桑叶养猪实用技术分为桑树种植技术和桑叶干粉发酵养猪技术两个部分。利用荒地种植桑树,降低生猪养殖饲养成本,桑叶养猪种养结合,成为生态农业典范。桑叶干粉发酵技术,提高了桑叶干粉的可消化率和饲料功能。桑叶干粉发酵料占配方6%~10%,做成桑叶猪饲料,替代3%~5%鱼粉、豆粕等蛋白质饲料,节约了饲料成本。桑叶喂养猪(简称桑叶猪,下同)的猪肉中含有肌苷酸等风味物质,显著提高猪肉胴体品质和猪肉风味。设计猪尿处理,采用红泥膜沼气池降解工程工艺应用后,降解水兑2倍清水对桑树喷灌工艺,减少人工处理劳力和成本费用。设计10%抗非洲猪瘟中药饲料添加剂+桑叶饲料,预期防治非洲猪瘟总效果85%以上。桑叶养猪实用技术可行,供同行参考。