Interaction of mineral and cytokinin supply in control of leaf senescence and seed growth in soybean explants

Abstract

The leaves of intact soybean plants (Glycine max. L. Merrill) characteristically turn yellow and abscise during pod maturation, and this may limit seed growth. We have used soybean expiants (excised 10 cm stem sections with a leaf and midfill pod attached) to study interactive effects of nutrient and hormone supply on leaf senescence symptoms and seed yield. Whereas mineral nutrients or cytokinin (zeatin) alone delayed development of visible leaf senescence symptoms in explants, a combination of mineral nutrients with zeatin acted synergistically to maintain green coloration throughout pod maturation and reduced declines in levels of leafsoluble protein and chlorophyll. The combination of complete mineral nutrients with zeatin gave seed yields equivalent to those in intact plants. Withdrawal of zeatin or individual mineral nutrients (particularly N and S) from the nutrient solution enhanced leaf senescence symptoms and reduced seed yields.     

Senescence of Top Three Leaves in Field‐Grown Rice Plants

Abstract

The top three leaves play important roles in biomass production and grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) crop since the three leaves not only assimilate majority of carbon for grain filling during ripening phase, but also provide large proportion of remobilized‐nitrogen (N) for grain development during their senescence. The objectives of this study were to (a) compare senescence of the top three leaves and (b) compare the changes in N, chlorophyll, and ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) contents of the top three leaves after their full expansion in field‐grown rice plants. When the basis of comparison among the top three leaves was plant age in terms of days after transplanting (DAT), senescence generally started earliest in ?3rd leaf, intermediate in ?2nd leaf, and latest in flag leaf. If the basis of comparison among the top three leaves was leaf age in terms of days after full leaf expansion (DAFE), it was not clear which leaf senesced earlier. Senescence rate was generally greatest in flag leaf, intermediate in ?2nd leaf, and smallest in ?3rd leaf. Ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase content declined earlier, and at a faster rate than N and chlorophyll contents during the senescence of all top three leaves. Correlation analysis indicated a close relationship between N and chlorophyll contents. Ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase content correlated with N content better than with chlorophyll content. The suitability of N, chlorophyll, and Rubisco contents for quantifying the leaf senescence of field‐grown rice plants is discussed.     

Growth responses and foliar sensitivities of native herbaceous species to ozone exposures

This paper reports on open-top chamber studies investigating the effects of different O₃ exposures on native herbaceous plant species. Plants were grown up from seeds, potted into natural soils and exposed to near-ambient O₃ levels during one growing season. A wide range of visible symptoms was apparent during the exposures. Species such as Rumex obtusifolius, Senecio vulgaris or Sonchus asper showed leaf colorations (e.g. reddish pigmentation) that probably indicate a non-specific stress response. In other species especially of the genera Malva and Cirsium the symptoms produced by O₃ appeared to be similar to those characteristic for O₃-specific foliar injury (stippling, flecking). In almost all species tested, O₃ caused premature leaf senescence, which was sometimes associated with premature leaf abscission. However, earlier senescence did not necessarily result in changes in plant growth. Of all species tested, Malva sylvestris was found to be the most sensitive in terms of growth reduction and lower seed production.     

CRISPR/Cas9靶向敲除番茄SNAC4/9突变体的构建、鉴定及分析

NAC转录因子参与植物生长发育、果实色素积累、细胞壁形态形成和植株衰老等过程。为系统研究SNAC4(SlNAC48,基因ID:101247735)和SNAC9(SlNAC19,基因ID:101248665)在番茄成熟衰老进程中的精准功能,本试验设计SNAC4/9敲除靶点,通过重叠聚合酶链式反应（overlapping PCR）法构建单引导RNA(sgRNA)表达盒,采用金门分子克隆（golden gate）方法将单个或多个sgRNA表达盒组装至pYLCRISPR/Cas9载体。PCR和测序结果表明,SNAC4/9敲除载体构建成功,通过农杆菌转化法将编码Cas9蛋白和sgRNA的基因导入Micro-Tom番茄细胞,对阳性苗进行靶点和脱靶位点检测,结果表明番茄成功突变且未脱靶,通过鉴定T1代突变体进一步证明,CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑番茄的靶点在代际之间可以稳定遗传。与野生型相比,SNAC4/9敲除果实色素积累减少,成熟延迟,表明SNAC4/9在番茄果实成熟中发挥重要作用。本研究为进一步探究SNAC4/9调控番茄果实色素代谢和胞壁代谢机制提供了遗传材料和试验基础。     

桂花种子沙藏后熟技术

介绍了规划种子沙藏后熟技术,包括采种、种子贮藏、水分控制、后熟催芽等方面的内容,以期为桂花播种育苗提供技术参考。     

土壤深松对小麦根系活性的垂直分布及旗叶衰老的影响

土壤深松打破犁底层可改变土壤的理化性状 ,从而改善小麦根系的生长条件。与对照 (未深松 )相比 ,小麦的群体根系活性明显提高 ,垂直分布下移 ,使深层土壤的群体根系活性相对提高 ,进而对延缓地上部衰老和提高产量产生积极效应。     

控释肥料对不同品种花生(Arachis hypogaea L.)叶片生理的影响

大田栽培条件下,以"花育22"和"花育20"品种为材料,以不施肥为对照,设控释肥675 kg hm-2、控释肥506 kg hm-2和普通肥料3个处理,研究了控释肥料对不同品种花生叶片衰老的影响。结果表明:相比普通肥料,控释肥可以提高花生生育后期叶面积系数、叶绿素含量以及有关保护酶的活性,降低叶片膜脂过氧化程度,有效延缓花生的衰老速率,提高生育后期光合产物积累,为花生产量的提高奠定基础。因此,控释肥是花生较为理想的肥料。     

控释氮肥对杂交水稻生育后期根系形态生理特征和衰老的影响

采用微区和小区试验的方法,研究了控释氮肥对杂交水稻生育后期根系形态生理特征及对根系衰老过程中膜脂过氧化产物和活性氧清除酶活性的影响。研究表明,施用控释氮肥,明显地增加杂交水稻生育后期的根干重、根长和根长密度,而根半径减小;提高根系活力和吸收面积,使杂交水稻生育后期根系中MDA含量降低和SOD、POD和CAT的活性提高。控释氮肥中,氮的逐渐释放,可减少具有强烈伤害的活性氧产物速率及其累积数量,提高活性氧清除酶的活性,在很大程度上延缓了杂交水稻生育后期根系的衰老和吸氮能力的衰退。     

The effect of humidity in plantain ripening

An examination of the coordination of ripening changes in plantain fruits (Musa AAB, cultivar ‘Apem’) showed that water stress had no effect on the respiratory rate at the climacteric maximum nor on the time between initiation and maximum. Similarly, water stress had little or no effect on the coordination of changes in CO₂ and C₂H₄ evolution, although it slightly increased the magnitude of C₂H₄ production and of the ACC content of the pulp. Stressed and unstressed fruits showed similar synchronised ripening changes after 2 and 3 days from the commencement of the climacteric. However, after 1 day, peel colouration, pulp softening and total soluble solids were less in stressed than in unstressed fruits. The results are discussed in the light of reported work on dessert bananas (Musa AAA cultivars).     

Silver thiosulphate: An experimental tool in plant science

The anti-ethylene properties of silver thiosulphate (STS) are reviewed. Because of the specificity of the silver ion in STS, ethylene sensitive and non-sensitive components can be distinguished in studies on the effects of ethylene on plant growth and development. The ability of STS to prevent wilting in cut flowers and petal drop in potted flowering plants, and to induce sex transformations in female plants, together with its relative ease of application and low cost per plant, are arguments in favour of using STS in commercial horticulture.