Apomictic frequency in sorghum R473

Summary Apomixis has been reported in a few lines of sorghum, among them R473 which was originally reported to be an obligate apomict. Although this line has multiple embryo sacs, the frequency of apomictic seed formation has not been determined because a progeny test has not been possible. R473 does not cross as a female with other lines except when its own pollen is present. In the present study mutations were induced in R473 by hydrazine and irradiation. Crosses were made between male-sterile mutants as females and normal R473 as males. Plants of R473 produced F₁ hybrids sexually, thus indicating that they were not obligate apomicts. These F₁'s also reproduced sexually, as indicated by segregation for male sterility and male fertility in F₂ progenies.     

基于主成分和隶属函数分析的高粱品种耐深播性综合评价

采用盆栽试验,分别设置1、3、5、7 cm播深,对34个高粱品种在不同播深下的出苗率、幼苗形态和幼苗干物质量进行分析,筛选耐深播性鉴定指标,综合评价高粱品种的耐深播性。研究结果表明,随着播种深度的加大,出苗率、苗长、根长、根数和苗重均呈下降趋势,3、5、7 cm与1 cm播深上述指标测定值的比值分别为0.84～0.60、0.96～0.75、0.83～0.53、0.88～0.64和0.95～0.85;中胚轴长、根重和根冠比呈上升趋势,3、5、7 cm与1 cm播深上述指标测定值的比值为1.52～3.30、1.10～1.25和1.17～1.50;胚芽鞘长在播深间差异不显著。主成分分析结果表明,前4个主成分的累积方差贡献率为77.647%,相对根冠比、相对根长、相对中胚轴长和相对出苗率载荷量最大,将其作为高粱耐深播性筛选的主要指标并计算隶属函数值。根据隶属函数值对高粱品种进行聚类分析,结果显示,34个高粱品种可聚为3类,晋粱白2号等11个品种为耐深播品种,红青壳等14个品种为中等耐深播品种,吉品609等9个品种为深播敏感品种。品种间耐深播性差异明显,杂交种较常规种耐深播性强。     

Osmotically Primed Seed and Seedling Reactions to Variations in Day/Night Temperature

The effects of alternating day/night temperatures, varying in maxima and minima but all averaging 30 °C, on germination and seedling characteristics of Sorghum bicolor L. (Moench) were investigated. Seeds of sorghum CSV 15 were soaked in 2, 4 or 6 g NaCl l⁻¹ solutions for 2 days at 25 °C, soaked in water for 1 day at 25 °C, or untreated. After treatment, drying and storage, seeds were germinated at 30/30 (day/night), 35/25, 40/20 or 41/19 °C temperature regimes under a polyethylene glycol-induced drought level of −3 bar. Results revealed no advancement of germination percentage but a partial increase in germination speed by osmotic seed treatments. All three osmotic treatments also reduced the plumule/radicle ratio owing to a speculated increase in root over shoot growth. Temperature regimes significantly influenced both germination and seedling characteristics with the optimum temperature appearing to be 35/25 °C. Increasing the temperature amplitude from 30/30 to 35/25 °C increased germination speed, which was reduced by incremental increases in temperature amplitude to 40/20 or 41/19 °C.     

A greenhouse screening technique to assess rust resistance in sorghum∗

Abstract

Studies were conducted to determine the influence of plant growth stage, inoculum density, temperature, and relative humidity (RH) on development of rust (Puccinia pupurea) in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). Rust development was maximum (>80% severity), when plants of a susceptible sorghum genotype (IS 18420) were inoculated at the four‐ to five‐leaf stage with an inoculum concentration of 4 × 10⁶ urediniospores per ml and incubated at 20–25°C under high RH (>90%) for 24 h. Disease severity (percentage leaf area covered with rust pustules) scores were taken 2 weeks after inoculation. Using this technique, 29 sorghum genotypes were screened for rust resistance in a greenhouse. This technique proved effective In discerning resistant and susceptible genotypes, and IS 3979, ICSH 110, ICSH 86647 and ICSH 871035 were identified resistant (<20% rust severity) compared with a susceptible control IS 18420 (90% rust severity). This technique is simple and rapid, and can be used effectively and economically to screen, on a large scale, germplasm lines and breeding populations in the greenhouse.     

An evaluation of the Acacia albida-based agroforestry practices in the Hararghe highlands of Eastern Ethiopia

Growing Acacia albida as a permanent tree crop, on farmlands with cereals, vegetables and coffee underneath or in between, is an indigenous agroforestry system in the Hararghe highlands of Eastern Ethiopia. However, there is practically no systematic record or data on the merits and benefits of this practice.The paper presents the results of an investigation into the effects of the presence of A. albida on farmlands on the yield of maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench). Twenty seven plot pairs each consisting of one plot underneath the A. albida foliage cover and the other in the open, away from the tree-on farmers' fields, in a 40 km radius around the Alemaya College of Agriculture, were sampled and the yield components analyzed. A statistically significant increase in crops yields by 56% on average was found for the crops under the tree canopies compared to those away from the trees. This increase was caused by the improvement in 1000 grain weight and number of grains of plants under the tree, indicating that the trees enhanced the fertility status of the soil and improved its physical conditions in terms of crop growth.Additional benefits from the A. albida trees include supply of fuelwood and fodder. Quantitative estimates of these outputs as well as their monetary values are presented in the paper. However, in order to realize these benefits to a discernible extent, higher stand densities of the tree than at present are required.Based on an enquiry about the farmers attitude towards A. albida, the prospects for an extension of this promising agroforestry technique are discussed against the background of the state and trends of development of agriculture in the area. It is surmised that despite some shortcomings like the relatively slow and highly variable growth of A. albida and a conflict with the spreading cultivation of Ch'at (Catha edulis Forsk.), the prospects of extension of this technique are good. It is recommended that its propagation should be incorporated into the programmes of the extension agencies of the various governmental agencies concerned with land use.     

A study of the potential of hedgerow intercropping in semi-arid India using a two-way systematic design

The potential of hedgerow intecrropping with Leucaena leucocephala was explored on vertic Inceptisols over 4 years at ICRISAT Center, Patancheru, India. The study was conducted using a systematic layout involving different alley widths ranging from 1.35 to 4.95 m and with varying distances between hedge and crops. The alleys were cropped with alternate rows of sorghum and pigeonpea. Hedges composed double Leucaena hedgerows 60 cm apart were periodically harvested for fodder. Sole crops of all components and a sorghum/pigeonpea intercrop were included in all four replications of the study.Starting in the second year, Leucaena was progressively more competitive to annual crops, causing substantial yield reduction. Competition (primarily for moisture) was most severe in narrow alleys and was greatest on pigeonpea.The growth of Leucaena was not sufficient to compensate for reduced crop yields. Land equivalent ratios (LERs) calculated on the basis of grain yield of crops and Leucaena fodder yields showed that hedgerow intercropping (HI) was advantageous over sole crops only during the first two years using wide alleys, but disadvantegeous in the last two years. LERs calculated on the basis of total dry matter indicated only a small advantage for HI (13–17 percent) over sole crops in wider (>4 m) alleys. Average returns per year from HI exceeded those of the most productive annual crop system (sorghum/pigeonpea intercropping) by 8 percent in 4.05 m alleys, and by 16 percent in 4.95 m alleys. Fodder production during the dry season was 40 percent of the annual total in these alley widths. Thus hedgerow intercropping at 4–5 m alley width is not very attractive for farmers in semi-arid India, which has 600–700 mm of annual rainfall. There is a need to examine the potential of HI in wider alleys. The merits and limitations of the systematic design are discussed.     

Parental influences on gas exchange rates in grain sorghum

Summary Significant genetic variation in CO₂ assimilation rate (A), stomatal conductance (g), and A: g ratio, which are indicators of intrinsic differences in productivity and water use efficiency (WUE), has been demonstrated in grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] hybrids. The primary objective was to determine the possible parental influence on the components of the A: g relationship in sorghum hybrids across a range of water supplies. Thirty F₁ hybrids resulting from a 6 × 6 diallel crossing pattern constituted the genetic material. Field experiments were conducted using four water supply treatments established through differential irrigation. Carbon assimilation rate (A), g, and leaf water potential (_w) of individual leaves were monitored every 15 to 20 days. Genetic analyses revealed that general- and specific-combining ability effects were evident for A. However, reciprocal and maternal effects were more important in governing the A-g and A-_w relationships. Since the maternal effects were the major determinants in causing reciprocal differences, A can be improved by selecting specific female parents to exploit cytoplasmic factors or physiological characteristics of this parent. Substantial genetic variation in the A-g relationship resulting from significant genetic control of A offers the opportunity to impose selection for high A and stability of A, which might directly contribute to whole plant WUE and productivity in grain sorghum.Abbreviations A carbon assimilation rate - g stomatal conductance to water vapor - GCA General Combining Ability - SCA Specific Combining Ability - WUE Water Use Efficiency     

施肥对饲草高粱生长及营养品质的影响

研究施用氮、磷,钾肥对饲草高粱生长及营养品质动态的影响结果表明,氮肥、磷肥和钾肥配合施用可大幅提高饲草高粱生物产量,增加饲草高粱植株粗蛋白质、粗纤维和粗脂肪的单位面积产出量;氮素是影响高粱生物产量的首要养分因素,其次为磷素,第三是钾素;饲草高粱植株高度以及粗蛋白质、粗纤维和粗脂肪含量的变化规律,主要取决于品种特性;施肥主要通过影响饲草高粱生物产量,对饲草高粱植株粗蛋白质、粗纤维和粗脂肪的单位面积产出量产生作用.从饲草高粱的生物产量和品质综合考虑,确定饲草高粱的适宜收割期,以开花末期至成熟中期之间为宜,过早收割饲草高粱生物产量较低,过晚收割则饲草高粱生物产量较低且品质变劣.     

NaCl胁迫对甜高粱幼苗抗性酶活性的影响

【研究目的】研究了不同浓度盐胁迫下甜高粱幼苗的抗性酶的活性及MDA和可溶性蛋白的含量。【方法】甜高粱幼苗采用水培的方法,设了3个盐梯度,1个对照。【结果】随着NaCl胁迫的加剧（当NaCl浓度大于50 mmol&#8226;L-1时）甜高粱幼苗膜脂过氧化程度不断加大,膜系统受到破坏;膜保护酶（POD,SOD,CAT,APX）活性降低,200 mmol&#8226;L-1 NaCl处理的酶活下降最大,100 mmol&#8226;L-1 NaCl处理次之,使体内酶促和非酶促防御系统均遭到破坏,活性氧含量增加对幼苗产生毒害。其中,100 mmol&#8226;L-1 NaCl处理后膜脂过氧化程度较轻,膜系统受害程度也轻于200 mmol&#8226;L-1 NaCl处理。【结论】轻度盐胁迫（当NaCl浓度是50 mmol&#8226;L-1）时,由于抗性酶的作用,活性氧对膜系统没有产生破坏作用。随着盐浓度的增加,抗性酶的活性降低,活性氧的含量不断增加,膜系统受破坏程度也不断加大。