Response of Maize and Cowpea Grown Sequentially to Application of Phosphate Rock in the Humid Tropics

Field trials were conducted at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training Ibadan in 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons to evaluate the efficiency of some phosphorus (P) sources, rates, and frequency of application on grain yields of maize and cowpea grown sequentially. The experiment was laid out in a split–split plot arrangement using randomized complete block design, with three replications. The main plot was frequency of fertilizer application (seasonal and annual). Source of P [single superphosphate (SSP: 18% P₂O₅)]; Ogun rock phosphate (OPR: 20.21% P₂O₅), and crystallizer super (CS: 31.4% P₂O₅) constituted the subplots. The P rates (0, 20, 40, and 60 kg P ha^?1) were the sub-subplots. An early maize cropping followed by a late-season cowpea was the sequential cropping, while an early maize followed by a late-season maize was the continuous cropping. The croppings were repeated the second year. Frequency of P application and source of P were significantly different while rates of application were not. Maize and cowpea grain yields from the control treatment were significantly less than yields from P-treated plots. Maize grain yields were slightly greater in plots alternated with cowpea, compared to continuous maize. Relative agronomic efficiency (RAE) values of OPR and CS were 67% and 75%, respectively, in annual application and 140% and 134% in seasonal applications, respectively, in 2000. In 2001, the trend was almost similar to 2000 except that there was a decline in RAE values of cowpea. Each Naira invested in the annual application returned about ?3.12 while about ?2.13 was returned with the seasonal application (?125.00 is the equivalent of USD$1.00). The OPR and CS can serve as alternatives to water-soluble sources such as SSP.     

Comparison of nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen utilization efficiency between elite inbred lines and the landraces of maize

Abstract

Inadequate supply of nitrogen (N) fertilizers results in lower N use efficiency (NUE) and higher N losses which cause environmental deterioration, such as nitrate pollution of groundwater and emission of nitrous greenhouse gases. One way to increase NUE is to use N-efficient cultivars, which grow better under reduced N supplies. Both elite inbred lines and landraces are the basis for hybrid breeding in maize. While inbred lines are mostly selected from high N input conditions, landraces are historically distributed in poor soils with low N availability. Therefore, some potential NUE-related traits conserved in the landraces may have been lost during modern breeding processes. In the present study, the N accumulation and utilization efficiency of 15 elite inbred lines and four landraces of maize were compared at low (LN) and high N (HN) input conditions. In general, the grain yields of the inbred lines and the landraces were similar at both N rates. However, nitrogen accumulation ability in landraces was much higher than that of the inbred lines. The high N accumulation of landraces was closely related to their higher biomass, indicating that growth potential is the main driving force for N accumulation. Nevertheless, N utilization efficiency (grain produced per unit N absorbed) of the landraces was significantly lower than that in inbred lines. Correspondingly, assimilation allocation for grain formation, as indicated by the harvest index, was much lower in landraces than in inbred lines. The higher growth potential, and hence, the ability of N accumulation in landraces may be a valuable trait in breeding programs aiming to further improve N use efficiency.     

玉米衰老相关基因在2个杂交种及其亲本中的表达分析

以玉米杂交种先玉335和郑单958及其亲本为材料,分析了叶片和子粒在授粉后不同时期衰老相关基因表达的变化规律。结果表明,2个叶绿体绿色保持基因SGR1和SGR2在杂交种先玉335和郑单958及其亲本穗三叶中的表达随着授粉后时间的延长整体上呈现上升趋势,但是先玉335的基因表达量要高于郑单958。叶片衰老诱导基因SAP1在叶片发育过程中上调表达,SAP2则表现出先增后减的趋势。以不同生长发育时期的子粒为材料,分析了子粒发育中衰老相关基因SAG1,SAG2和SAG3的表达规律。结果表明,SAG1基因的表达水平随着子粒的发育而降低,而SAG2和SAG3基因则在子粒的成熟过程中表达量呈现上升的趋势。     

Mechanical transmission of maize rayado fino marafivirus (MRFV) to maize and barley by means of the vascular puncture technique

Maize rayado fino marafivirus (MRFV) was mechanically transmitted to kernels of three Costa Rican maize cultivars by the vascular puncture technique. A transmission rate of up to 43.2% was obtained for cultivar HC-57. The rate of MRFV transmission to maize was possibly affected by the morphology of the kernel, which may influence physical access to the vascular tissue after water imbibition. Transmission to maize was confirmed by western blot and immunosorbent electron microscopy. By slight modifications of the procedure, MRFV was also transmitted to barley. This is the first report of MRFV infecting a species outside the supertribe Andropogonodae. Virus infection and replication in barley were confirmed by RT-PCR detection of MRFV RNA and by detection of the virus by ELISA.     

盐碱地上耐盐小麦复播玉米综合效益的研究

在盐渍化地上直接种植耐盐小麦后复播玉米，既是作为快速改良盐碱地的技术措施之一，又是充分利用土地、光热、水分等自然资源的重要手段。在北疆条件下，本研究的结果为：土壤盐分（0－50cm)含量为1．07％的盐碱地上种植耐盐冬小麦并复播玉米，比一般的种植方式增产67％－152％，土壤当年的脱盐率达84％以上，光热资源和水资源的利用较高。这种种植方式有较高的生物产量，增加了农田的载畜量。同时既提高了经济效益，又有利于培肥土壤、改善土壤结构。     

沈阳地区玉米光热水生产潜力研究

在玉米光热生产潜力的基础上，进一步讨论沈阳地区水分对玉米生产潜力发挥的限制作用，结果表明：水分的限制率为１８．５％，使玉米经济产量降低３９５．０１ｋｇ／ｍｕ。