Recovery efficiencies of nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium of the garlic crop

Garlic plants demand high quantities of nutrients, and fertilizers recommendations are necessarily evaluated for the availability of attributes such as recovery efficiency. The objective of this study was to evaluate the recovery efficiencies of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) by micropopagated and conventionally propagated garlic plants. Two experiments were conducted in a greenhouse containing a sample of a Red Yellow Latosol, arranged in randomized blocks with five replications. Treatments consisted of four combinations of nutrients (kg per hectare): complete NPK (240-1200-550), without N (0-1200-550), without P (240-0-550) and without K (240-1200-0). Micropopagated plants maintained adequate contents of N, P, and K, as well as good growth and development even without nutrients application; however, the depletion of N and K impaired the productivity of these plants. In both cultivations, recovery efficiencies of N, P and K were low and closely related to the garlic propagation.     

Phytochemical composition of onion during long-term storage

Onion cultivar “Sunpower” has growing popularity in Korea due to high storability. The present study considers changes in flavonols, sugars, and two amino acids in onion bulbs during a long-term storage in the ambient dark storage room and in glasshouse equipped with a climate control system. Flavonol and sugar contents were found to fluctuate noticeably during the storage period. Amino acid content remained relatively unchanged till the onset of inner sprouting, increasing afterward. Visible sprouts appeared at week 22 in the dark storage room and for four weeks later in the glasshouse. The bulbs lost 20–30% of their weight depending on storage conditions at the end of the storage trials. At the same time, the content of nutraceutics in study expressed on the dry weight basis remained of the same order of magnitude. The nature of observed variations in chemical composition of onions as well as relation of this phenomenon to physiological development of stored onion bulbs is discussed. A conclusion is made that the “Sunpower” onion cannot sustain overwinter storage.     

Biofortification of onion bulb with selenium at different levels of sulfate

In this research experiment, two commercial onion cultivars (Allium cepa L., cvs. Dorrcheh and Cebolla Valenciana) were grown in sand culture and exposed to two levels of selenium (Se) (0 and 25?µM) and two levels of sulfate (1 and 3?mM). According to the results obtained, addition of 25?µM Se in combination with 3?mM sulfate was not only effective in significant increase of onion bulb yield, but it significantly increased Se concentration of bulb. By considering the average consumption of onion in central Iran, the daily intake of Se via consumption of Se-biofortified onion is estimated to be 68.4–77.2?µg in spring and summer and 72.6–117.1?µg in fall and winter. These amounts of daily intakes of Se is higher than the sufficient levels of Se recommended by world health organization (WHO) but less than the maximum tolerable level of Se (400?µg Se per day) for human.     

勺夹式藠头排种器设计与试验

针对藠头（Allium chinense）种植劳动强度大、人工成本高等问题,该研究设计了一种由排种盘、取种勺、取投种凸轮、种箱、安装板等组成的勺夹式藠头排种器。对该排种器工作原理和取种、携种、投种过程进行理论分析,建立离散元仿真模型,对取种过程进行仿真分析,确定了最优种勺结构。以大叶藠为对象,以取种合格率和漏取率为试验指标,进行种勺直径、种勺深度、取种起始角、种面高度与种箱高度之比和取种速度5因素显著性筛选试验,并以种勺直径、取种起始角、种面高度与种箱高度之比为试验因素进行回归正交试验;采用Plackett-Burman试验法和Box-Behnken中心试验法建立取种合格率和漏取率的回归模型,并进行参数优化,获得最优参数组合为种勺直径27 mm、取种起始角30°和种面高度与种箱高度之比92.5%。在最优参数组合下进行台架试验,得到取种合格率91.17%,漏取率6.17%。田间试验结果表明在前进速度0.1～0.2 m/s的条件下,该排种器平均播种合格率、平均重播率和漏播率分别为63.10%、12.76%和24.14%。研究结果可为藠头播种机械的研究与设计提供参考。     

An example of chartreuse skin colour in Onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivar Greenella

Genetic lines and example cultivars are used as markers to define variation when describing or evaluating wild or cultivated germplasm. Occasionally genotypes previously described in the literature are no longer available. This was thought to be the case for chartreuse skin colour in Onion. However, registration authorities undertaking Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability tests recently observed this skin colour in the cultivar Greenella and have provided seed to a genebank for long-term conservation. This characteristic is suitable both for use as a genetic marker and as an example cultivar for describing Onion skin colours.     

Olfactory response of Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) to volatiles from leek and chive: Potential for intercropping with sweet pepper

Abstract

Odour-mediated effects of leek Allium porum and chives Allium schoenoprasum (Alliaceae) on the host searching behaviour of the aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Homoptera: Aphididae) were studied. In an olfactometer, odour of the host plant sweet pepper Capsicum annuum L. (Solanaceae) was significantly attractive, whereas odour of chives was significantly repellent. Combined odour of sweet pepper and chives was neither attractive nor repellent. When sweet pepper plants were exposed to volatiles from chives for five days, their odour subsequently became repellent to M. persicae. An extract of leek plants was significantly repellent to aphids in the olfactometer, as were sweet pepper plants sprayed with this extract. Because both leek and chives can disrupt host finding by the aphid, both plants have potential for intercropping with sweet pepper. If successful in the field, such a system could bring economic benefits for farmers in the wet zone of Sri Lanka and other parts of the world.     

Phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere and its relation to the depletion of soil organic phosphorus

Summary The distribution of phosphatase activity and of phosphate fractions of the soil in the proximity of roots was studied in order to evaluate the significance of phosphatases in P nutrition of various plants (Brassica oleracea, Allium cepa, Triticum aestivum, Trifolium alexandrinum). A considerable increase in both acid and alkaline phosphatase activity in all the four soil-root interfaces was observed. Maximum distances from the root surface at which activity increases were observed ranged from 2.0 mm to 3.1 mm for acid phosphatase and from 1.2 mm to 1.6 mm for alkaline phosphatase. The increase in phosphatase activity depended upon plant age, plant species and soil type. A significant correlation was noticed between the depletion of organic P and phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere soil of wheat (r = 0.99^**) and clover (r = 0.97^**). The maximum organic P depletion was 65% in clover and 86% in wheat, which was observed within a distance from the root of 0.8 mm in clover and 1.5 mm in wheat. Both the phosphatases in combination appear to be responsible for the depletion of organic P.     

大葱花芽分化过程中茎尖生长锥的生理物质变化

为探讨可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质及核酸含量与大葱花芽分化的关系,研究了不同品种大葱花芽分化过程中茎尖生长锥中可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质和核酸3种物质含量的变化动态。结果表明:在整个花芽分化过程中大葱茎尖生长锥可溶性糖及可溶性蛋白质含量均先后表现为升高→略有下降→升高的趋势,且出现高峰或低谷的时间与不同品种花芽分化完成时间一致。大葱花芽分化过程中核酸含量变化趋势基本一致,茎尖生长锥DNA、RNA含量在花芽分化之前呈上升趋势,到达小高峰后逐渐下降,花芽分化结束时又有所回升。RNA/DNA比值在花芽分化之前逐渐下降,直至分化时降至低谷,随后有所升高但趋势不显著。说明,较高水平的DNA、RNA有利于大葱的花芽分化。     

Seed productivity test of CMS lines of Japanese bunching onion (Allium fistulosum L.) possessing the cytoplasm of a wild species, A. galanthum Kar. et Kir.

In a previous study, we developed male sterile lines of Japanese bunching onion (Allium fistulosum L.) possessing the cytoplasm of a wild species, A. galanthum Kar. et Kir., by backcrossing. To evaluate seed productivity of the male sterile lines in practise, they were crossed with the male fertile line, cultivar 'Kujyo', using honeybees as pollinators under field conditions. The number of florets and seeds per inflorescence, seed set and seed germination of the material were investigated. Although variation was observed among the male sterile lines, there were several lines having seed productivity equal to cultivar 'Kujyo'. Our data demonstrate that the male sterile lines of A. fistulosum possessing the cytoplasm of A. galanthum are useful as seed parents for the commercial F seed production of A. fistulosum.     

光照对沙葱种子萌发及抗氧化代谢的影响

研究了光照对沙葱种子萌发及抗氧化代谢的影响,结果表明,12h光照和24 h光照下的沙葱种子发芽率仅为对照的20.8％和8.8％,表明沙葱存在光休眠现象,为需暗种子;在12 h和24 h光照处理下,催芽前期SOD、POD活性及Vc含量水平较高,MDA和CAT含量低于0h;而在种子萌发后期,SOD、POD活性降低,MDA和CAT含量升高,说明在光胁迫下,沙葱种子萌发后期的膜脂过氧化作用增强.