Salinity Effects on the Growth and Ion Contents of Some Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and Lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) Varieties

The effect of salinity on seed germination, plant yield parameters, and plant Na, Cl and K concentrations of chickpea and lentil varieties was studied. Results showed that in both crops percentage emergence was significantly reduced by increasing NaCl levels (0–8dSm^?1). From the plant growth studies it was found that differences existed among chickpea and lentil varieties in their response to NaCl application. In chickpea, the variety Mariye showed the comparatively lowest germination percentage and the lowest seedling shoot dry weight in response to salinity and was also among the two varieties which had the lowest relative plant height, shoot and root dry weight and grain yield at maturity. Similarly, variety DZ-10-16-2, which was the second best in germination percentage and the highest in terms of seedling shoot dry weight, also had the highest relative plant height, shoot and root dry weights, and grain yield at maturity. In lentil, however, such relationships were less pronounced. Chloride concentration (mg g^?1) in the plant parts at salt levels other than the control was about 2–5 times that of Na. K concentration in the plants was significantly reduced by increasing NaCl levels. Chickpea was generally more sensitive to NaCl salinity than lentil. While no seeds were produced at salinity levels beyond 2dSm^?1 in chickpea (no seeds were produced at this salt level in the most sensitive variety, Mariye), most lentil varieties could produce some seeds up to the highest level of NaCl application. Overall, varieties R-186 (lentil) and Mariye (chickpea) were the most sensitive of all varieties. On the other hand, lentil variety NEL-2704 and chickpea variety DZ-10-16-2 gave comparatively higher mean relative shoot and root dry weights, and grain yield, thus showing some degree of superiority over the others. The observed variations among the varieties may be useful indications for screening varieties of both crops for salt tolerance.     

Influence of Low Light Irradiance on Grain Filling in Rice (Oryza saliva L.) cultivars

Time course of grain filling pattern in two rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars, grown under normal and low light intensities, was studied. The number of spikelets, partially filled grains and high density grains were monitored at a 5 day interval during grain filling period from uniform panicles tagged at anthesis. The low light tolerant cultivar Swarnaprabha had more high density grains and less partially filled grains throughout the grain filling period and at harvest compared to cultivar Ratna under both normal and low light intensities. Further, the opening of spikelets in two flushes in Swarnaprabha seemed to result in a more efficient resource allocation and hence better yield as compared to Ratna, in which the opening of spikelets was in a single flush on day 10.     

Radiation Balance Components of Maize Hybrids Grown at Various Plant Densities

Components of the energy and heat balances were examined in two maize hybrids grown at three different plant densities (40, 70 and 100 thousand plants per hectare). One of the hybrids was drought tolerant, while the other was bred for cultivation under irrigated conditions. An increase in plant density influenced not only the size of the leaf area, but also the distribution of the leaves at various plant heights. The extinction coefficient, which provides a quantification of radiation penetration, was higher in the irrigated treatments. By contrast to the other two treatments, the plant canopy in the thinly sown stands remained open throughout the vegetation period, and thus behaved quite differently to the closed stands, making it impossible to compare them. Smaller albedo values were recorded for the hybrid bred for irrigation and in thinly sown stands. The low plant density allowed more energy to reach the soil, from which it was reflected, making a considerable contribution to the final temperature in the stand. The latent heat, in keeping with the quantity of water transpired, was the greatest in the densely sown stands. There was little difference between the latent heat values of the normal and dense stands in either hybrid, indicating that they both had a similar sensitivity to increased stand density. If sufficient water is available it would appear that the stand density could be increased even for the drought-tolerant hybrid.     

Photosynthate Unloading from Seed Coats of Phaseolus vulgaris L. an Attempt to Define Conditions Required for Stimulation by Abscisic Acid and Benzylamino Purine

The instablity of the stimulation of photosynthate unloading from seed coats of Phaseolus vulgaris by abscisic acid (ABA ) and benzylamino purine ( BAP ) was studied in terms of experimental conditions. ABA stimulated photosynthate unloading at pH 6 and pH 8 without close dependence upon pH. ABA at a concentration range of 10-5-10-4 mol/L displayed stimulatory effect. However, BAP revealed no effect at a concentration range of 10-6-10-4 mol/L. Experiments designed with different transport time of 14C-photosynthate indicated that ABA might act at the plasma membrane of the unloading cells. Reducing endogenous ABA level by diminishing leaf area did not facilitate the manifestation of exogenous ABA function. Potassium ion stimulated photosynthate unloading from seed coats with highest promotion at 100 mmol/L K . However, no dependence of ABA stimulation of photosynthate unloading on K was found.     

The Effect of Lead and Zinc on Plant Growth and Chlorophyll Content of Holcus lanatus L.

Root length of Holcus lanatus L. declined rapidly with increasing lead and zinc concentrations in nutrient solution. In all used Pb and Zn concentrations root growth of genotypes coming from a Pb-Zn mine area, was greater than that of the control, suggesting that these genotypes evolved tolerance to Pb and Zn.
Negative correlation was also observed between chlorophyll content and increased heavy metal concentrations. The greater chlorophyll content found in tolerant genotypes, in different Pb and Zn concentrations, in comparison with the control, could be served to distinguish tolerant and non-tolerant genotypes.     

火炬松短周期工业材不同高度上干缩性能的研究

对湖南同一立地指数（１８）下，５株１７．５年生的火炬松（ＰｉｎａｓｔａｅｄａＬ．）短周期工业材１．３，３．６，５．６，７．６，９．６ｍ５个高度的木材干缩系数、基本密度、生长轮宽度、晚材率和微纤丝角度，按生长轮取样，进行了测量和统计分析．结果表明，弦向、径向、体积干缩系数和干缩比，在树于５个高度之间的差异，均达到了显著水平；各高度干缩系数与生长轮的年龄（离髓心的距离）以及与上述各主要构造因子之间呈显著的线性相关，且相关度度随树干高度的增加而减弱．     

Vererbung des β-Glucangehaltes der Haferkaryopse

Inheritance process for β-glucan content in oat caryopsis
Due to the fact that there are only few studies concerning β-glucans in oat caryopsis with regard to plant-breeding aspects, three oat crosses were performed (cross 19 = low × high, cross 86 = low × low, cross 98 = high × high). In all of the three oat crosses, lower β-glucan content (% DM) was recorded in F, than in F, indicating that the β-glucan content (% DM) at a higher heterozygoty grade is lower than at a reduced heterozygoty grade. This points to a dominant inheritance of lower β-glucan content (% DM). A tendency towards the female β-glucan content (% DM) could not be proven. Thus, it can be started from a nuclear genetic inheritance of the β-glucan content (% DM). In most cases, the experiments showed a normal distribution of β-glucan content (% DM), indicating for several genes a quantitative inheritance of β-glucan content (% DM). By means of the regression of the F₃-lines to the F₂-plants, the narrow-sense heritability could be calculated for the cross 86 (h²= 0.51***) and the cross 98 (h²= 0.48***). The heritability for the cross 19 was not significant.     

华北落叶松种子贮藏试验浅析

在三种库房里对五种不同含水率、两种包装的华北落叶松种子进行了60个月的贮藏试验。结果认为，含水率5．19／5～8．0％的落叶松种子可以在三种库房密封贮藏39个月。种子贮藏的最佳含水率为6．6％～8．0%，最佳的库房是冷库(0C～5C)。磨口瓶与布袋在冷库贮藏效果差异不明显；地下库不能用布袋贮藏；在普通常温库中磨口瓶比布袋能多贮藏12个～18个月。     

干旱区20个紫花苜蓿品种抗旱性研究

该试验测定了20个苜蓿品种的水势、总含水量、自由水量、束缚水量、束/自比以及渗透调节物质.从植物水分生理与生化方面,测试各品种的抗旱性,并结合产草量、品质进行综合评价.从中选出5～6个抗旱性较强、产草量高、品质较好的苜蓿品种,为干旱区选择适宜的苜蓿品种提供具有实用价值的基础资料.