Evaluating foliar nitrogen compounds as indicators of nitrogen status in Prunus persica trees

Mobile nitrogen (N) forms may be better N indicators of the N status of trees than total nitrogen (TN) due to their higher sensitivity to increasing N supply. A field experiment was carried out over a 3-year period to compare foliar concentrations of total N (TN), soluble N (SN), chlorophyll (Minolta SPAD readings), NH₄–N and NO₃–N as indicators of soil N availability in nectarine, Prunus persica L. Batsch, cv. ‘Fantasia’ (grafted on ‘Nemaguard’ peach, P. persica × P. davidiana) trees. Young trees were exposed to a range of fertilizer-N application rates. Based on correlation analysis, the best association between leaf N compounds with soil N supply and trunk diameter and/or fruit yield was obtained with TN and chlorophyll SPAD readings. Leaf concentrations of mobile N compounds (NH₄–N and NO₃–N) increased more than any other N compound under high N supply; however, their inconsistency among years and low leaf concentration difficult their use as N indicators. The optimum foliar TN for growth decreased with tree age, 4.4%, 3.6% and 3.3% in non-bearing 1-year-old trees, non-bearing 2-year-old trees and 3.3 fruit-bearing 3-year-old trees. The optimum SPAD readings were 40 in 2-year-old trees and 42 in 3-year-old trees. Stable N compounds (TN and chlorophyll SPAD) could be used to N diagnosis in the zone of N deficiency, and soluble N compounds (NH₄–N and NO₃–N) to diagnoses N excess.     

不同类型甜菜品种根中Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性和产质量的关系

测定不同类型甜菜品种各生育时期根中Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性、可溶性总糖、可溶性蛋白含量和产量、含糖率。结果表明,在幼苗期和叶丛繁茂期,Mg^2＋-ATP活性呈先上升后下降趋势,从块根增长期直至糖分积累期,Mg^2＋-ATP酶的活性逐渐增强,并保持在全生育期最高水平。不同类型品种间存在差异,在各生育时期高糖型品种Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性较强。根中Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性与根中可溶性总糖呈正相关,与甜菜根的成熟进程正相关;Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性与可溶性蛋白质舍量呈负相关,对可溶性糖的积累方面,二者的作用刚好相反。高糖型品种的可溶性总糖含量较高．相应的根中蛋白质含量很低。Mg^2＋-ATP酶活性较高．     

Effects of hysteresis on redistribution of soil moisture and deep percolation at continuous and pulse drip irrigation

The infiltration and redistribution of soil moisture under surface drip irrigation considering hysteresis were investigated in two soils (loamy sand and silt loam) of different texture. The effect of continuous versus intermittent application of 1, 2 and 4 l/h to the soils was evaluated in terms of wetting front advance patterns and deep percolation under the root zone. For this purpose, a cylindrical flow model incorporating hysteresis in the soil water retention characteristic curve, evaporation from the soil surface, and water extraction by roots was used. The results show that, compared with continuous irrigation, pulse irrigation slightly reduces the water losses under the root zone in both cases (with and without hysteresis). Also, at the total simulation time, in both types of irrigation, hysteresis reduces significantly the water losses under the root zone. Finally, the effect of hysteresis was found to be greater at higher discharge rate (4 l/h) and consequently at higher water content at the soil surface.     

大豆质核互作雄性不育系NJCMS1A与其保持系NJCMS1B的生理生化特性比较分析

以大豆质核互作雄性不育系NJCMS1A及其保持系NJCMS1B的花芽为试验材料,利用试剂盒法和紫外分光光度计测定分析了糖分含量(可溶性糖和淀粉)和总ATPase、蔗糖磷酸合成酶(SPS)、磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧激酶(PEPCK)、抗坏血酸氧化酶(AO)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)以及过氧化物酶(POD)等酶活性的变化情况。结果表明:相较于保持系NJCMS1B,总ATPase、PEPCK、AO和CAT活性在不育系NJCMS1A中显著下降;糖分含量、SPS和SOD活性在不育系NJCMS1A中下降水平不显著;POD活性在不育系NJCMS1A中显著上升。根据结果分析推测,与能量代谢或胁迫响应等相关的物质或酶活性在不育系NJCMS1A中的亏损现象可能是NJCMS1A花粉败育的主要原因。     

Characterizing the pigmented traditional rice cultivars grown in temperate regions of Kashmir (India) for free and bound phenolics compounds and in vitro antioxidant properties

The purpose of the research was to identify the phenolic and flavonoid compounds of seven different traditional pigmented whole rice cultivars grown in the temperate regions of Kashmir so as to study their relationship with in vitro antioxidant capacities. The completely pigmented rice cultivars were found to have higher phenolic, flavonoid, anthocyanin contents and exhibited higher antioxidant capacities than the light colored and sparely colored rice cultivars. A total of 40 compounds had been identified in the analyzed rice cultivars that were found to be distributed in 6 major categories with 6-phenolics, 6-flavonoids, 11-hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, 7-hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, 3-anthocyanins and 7-flavonoid glucosides of different flavonoid compounds. Among the free and bound fractions for each cultivars the light and sparsely colored depicted higher content of phenolics and in vitro antioxidant properties in bound faction, while the completely pigmented cultivars showed higher antioxidant properties in free fractions. The anthocyanins quercetin-3-O-galactoside, cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside and pelargonidin-3-O-diglucoside had been identified by LC-MS existing in the free fractions of the analyzed rice cultivars whereas, the free fraction of acetone + H₂O possessed higher percentage of phenolic compounds as compared to methanolic extracts and bound fractions. The black colored cultivars possessed higher DPPH scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition.     

Dough rheological properties and noodle-making performance of non-waxy and waxy whole-wheat flour blends

Dough rheological properties and noodle-making performance of non-waxy whole-wheat flour (WWF) with partial- or full-waxy (PW- or FW-) WWF substitution were studied. The substitution levels were 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 g/kg, respectively. FW-WWF reduced the peak viscosity and pasting temperature of WWF blends as its substitution level was increased due to its higher proportions of B-type starch granules and short amylopectin chains, while PW-WWF increased peak viscosity with the increasing substitution level because of its higher amylopectin content. As demonstrated by farinograph and rheometer measurements, FW-WWF interfered with gluten development because of the increased competition for water by arabinoxylans and amylopectin; however, PW-WWF enhanced dough strength due primarily to its increased protein content. Consequently, FW-WWF showed a detrimental effect on cooked noodle texture as the cooked noodle hardness was reduced by 50% at the 1000 g/kg substitution level. In contrast, PW-WWF enhanced noodle integrity and elasticity by increasing cooked noodle cohesiveness and resilience by 10.1% and 14.8%, respectively, at the 1000 g/kg substitution level. The results suggest that with waxy WWF substitution, the changes in starch composition, arabinoxylans, and protein content could modify the interactions among flour components and influence the quality characteristics of noodle products.     

普通丝瓜褐变度概率分级与总酚的回归分析

为运用概率分级和回归分析方法揭示普通丝瓜褐变度与总酚含量之间的相互关系,从而建立普通丝瓜基于褐变度正态分布的分级标准,研究测定38份普通丝瓜的褐变度和总酚含量。采用X-1.2818S、X-0.5246S、X+0.5246S和X+1.2818S 4个点将丝瓜褐变度概率分为5级,即极低(1级)、低(2级)、中(3级)、高(4级)、极高(5级),并将其与总酚含量进行线性回归分析。普通丝瓜果肉褐变度变化范围为2.17~9.60,平均值为6.211,变异系数为29.77%,经K-S正态性检验符合正态分布,建立褐变度和总酚含量的线性回归方程y=3.559x-2.837,两者之间存在显著的线性关系。普通丝瓜果肉褐变度与总酚含量呈显著正相关。     

土壤沉积物样品中有机碳含量的快速测定

采用微波密闭消解样品的方法来测定土壤／沉积物中有机碳的含量。与重铬酸钾氧化法的结果相比，微波消化法具有操作简单、污染小、快速准确的优点。经F检验法及t检验法检验，两种方法的分析结果无明显差异。     

Tillage and crop sequence effects on organic carbon and total nitrogen content in an irrigated Alberta soil

A better understanding of tillage effects on soil organic matter is vital for development of effective soil conservation practices. The objective of this research is to determine the effect of tillage and crop sequence on soil organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN) content in an irrigated southern Alberta soil. A field experiment was conducted using a split–split plot design from 1994 to 1998 in Alberta, Canada. There were two crop sequences (Sequence 1: spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)–spring wheat–annual legume; and Sequence 2: spring wheat–spring wheat–annual legume–sugar beet) and two tillage practices (CT: conventional tillage and MT: minimum tillage). Surface soil under MT had significantly higher OC (30.1 Mg ha⁻¹) content than under CT (28.3 Mg ha⁻¹) after 4 years of treatment. The MT treatment retains crop residue at the soil surface, reduces soil erosion and slows organic matter decomposition, which are key factors in enhancing the soil fertility status of southern Alberta irrigated soils.     

Chemical and biochemical properties in a silty loam soil under conventional and organic management

To improve soil fertility, efforts need to be made to increase soil organic matter content. Conventional farming practice generally leads to a reduction of soil organic matter. This study compared inorganic and organic fertilisers in a crop rotation system over two cultivation cycles: first crop broad bean (Vicia faba L.) and second crop mixed cropped melon-water melon (Cucumis melo-Citrullus vulgaris) under semi-arid conditions. Total organic carbon (TOC), Kjeldahl-N, available-P, microbial biomass C (Cmic), and N (Nmic), soil respiration and enzymatic activities (protease, urease, and alkaline phosphatase) were determined in soils between the fourth and sixth year of management comparison. The metabolic quotient (qCO₂), the Cmic/Nmic ratio, and the Cmic/TOC ratio were also calculated. Organic management resulted in significant increases in TOC and Kjeldahl-N, available-P, soil respiration, microbial biomass, and enzymatic activities compared with those found under conventional management. Crop yield was greater from organic than conventional fertilizer. The qCO₂ showed a progressive increase for both treatments during the study, although qCO₂ was greater with conventional than organic fertilizer. In both treatments, an increase in the Cmic/Nmic ratio from first to second crop cycle was observed, indicating a change in the microbial populations. Biochemical properties were positively correlated (p < 0.01) with TOC and nutrient content. These results indicated that organic management positively affected soil organic matter content, thus improving soil quality and productivity.