Some Agronomic Strategies for Organic Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

Quinoa is a potential new seed crop for protein feed and human consumption in Europe, with tolerance to a range of abiotic stresses. For this purpose the study was planned to analyse the effect of important agronomic strategies like nitrogen level, N application strategy, row spacing and harvest time on yield and quality of quinoa. The experiments took place in the field of the experimental station of the Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. Three levels of organic nitrogen from slurry was used (60, 120 and 180 kg N ha^?1), supplied either all at once at sowing, or split between sowing and beginning of the reproductive phase. The effect of row spacing and harvest time was studied by harvesting seeds at seed maturity, which occurred 2–3 weeks prior to the mechanical harvest by threshing, and a couple of months after. Yield increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) with an application up to 180 kg N ha^?1, reaching 2200 kg ha^?1. Increasing N also caused a significantly increased seed weight (up to 3.3 mg) and protein content (up to 17 %). N level did not affect number and amount of weeds. Split application with part of the N applied at bud formation did not have a significant effect on yield. Delayed harvest had a negative influence on seed weight, whereas protein content was stable after harvesting even a month after seed maturity. A late harvest significantly reduced seed germination, being reduced by 50 % after a 2‐month delay. A conclusion from this study is that both yield and protein content of seed can be manipulated by N level and application strategy. Harvest time is important for securing a high seed quality measured as seed germination, seed weight and protein content. A fast germination of quinoa is an important characteristic demonstrating that the crop has good possibilities for being well‐established in the field when free from weeds at the time of sowing. The choice of row spacing is important and depends on weed control method. Weed control strategy should be developed based on modern precision tools.     

Seed Shattering of Cañahua (Chenopodium pallidicaule Aellen)

Cañahua (Chenopodium pallidicaule Aellen) is a semi‐domesticated relative of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) with high nutritious quality. It is tolerant to frost, drought, saline soils and pests. One seed yield limitation is seed loss during the maturity stages. Two greenhouse experiments in Denmark and field experiments in Bolivia were carried out to determine seed shattering in landraces and cultivars with different growth habits. 15–21 % of the seed shattering in the fields took place whilst the plants still were flowering and 25–35 % during physiological maturity. Seed shattering varied between locations on the Bolivian Altiplano. Cañahua types with the semi‐prostrate growth (‘lasta’) had the highest seed shattering rate in the greenhouse experiments. The Umacutama landrace had lower seed shattering (1 %) than the cultivar Kullaca (7.2 %) both of the ‘lasta’ type. Under field conditions, the cultivar Illimani with the erect growth (‘saihua’) had the highest seed shattering rate (6.4–33.7 %) at both locations and at four different sowing dates. The Umacutama had the lowest rate (0.5–1.5 %). There were no significant differences between plants of the ‘lasta’ and the ‘saihua’ types. The landrace had significantly less seed loss than the cultivars. However, in the greenhouse, the landrace yield was approximately 25 % lower than the yields of the cultivars. In general, cañahua cultivars had higher yield compared to landraces, but also a higher seed shattering rate. Landraces may be used in breeding programmes to develop high‐yielding cultivars with reduced seed shattering.     

大别山区域茶园套种羽扇豆引种栽培应用研究

通过引进不同品种羽扇豆,进行茶园套种,观察并测定羽扇豆的成活率、株高、冠幅、开花率、结果率。结果表明,羽扇豆的成活率为83％,羽扇豆平均株高为45.8厘米,最高达78.5厘米,最低仅38厘米。羽扇豆平均冠幅为32厘米×22厘米,冠幅最高达38厘米×36厘米,最低仅22厘米×18厘米。开花率96％,结果率82％。说明,羽扇豆在安庆市桐城市西部黄甲镇能够成活并生长,羽扇豆可在大别山低海拔区域进行露地栽培。     

Evaluation of the feed value of a transgenic strain of the narrow‐leaf lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) in the diet of the marine fish,Pagrus auratus

This study assessed the nutritional and biological value of a noncommercial, transgenic line of the Australian sweet lupin, Lupinus angustifolius, (cv. Warrah), produced to increase the methionine content of the seed. An initial experiment demonstrated that differences in the methionine content of the transgenic and nontransgenic control lupins had no apparent influence on the growth of juvenile red seabream fed practical diets. Re‐evaluation of the nutritional characteristics of the lupin meals with subsequent digestibility studies allowed the determination of the digestible value of the protein and energy content of each of the varieties. The digestible protein content of either variety was similar, however significant differences in the digestible energy value of each variety existed (56.3% cf. 64.0%). This re‐evaluation of the nutritional value of the genetically manipulated (GM) and non‐GM lupin varieties enabled the reformulation of diets on a digestible protein and energy basis. A second growth trial was undertaken using sub‐satietal pair‐feeding regimes, with the experiment also involving protein‐restrictive diets to allow expression of the differences in the methionine content of the transgenic and nontransgenic lupin meals. A significant benefit of the enhanced methionine level in the transgenic lupin was observed. It is argued that in the high‐protein fish diets used, the importance of amino acid composition is relatively limited. Economic modelling of the potential value of the increased methionine in the transgenic lupin suggests that this will have limited benefit for aquaculture industries, and that greater value would be attributable to higher protein and energy levels in ingredients.     

Die Ertragsbildung und Ertragsstruktur eines konventionellen und eines epigonalen Genotyps der Weißen Lupine (Lupinus albus)

Yield formation and yield components of a conventional and an epigonal genotype of white lupin ( Lupinus albus )
Differences in yield formation and yield structure of two contrasting Lupinus albus growth types, the conventional, freely branching cultivar Kalina and the epigonal. little branching cultivar Ep I were analyzed. Both cultivars were grown in field experiments at Hohenheim in 1987 and 1988 with a combined variation of population density (30–120 plants/m²) and plant distribution. In addition, assimilate distribution within the plant was studied using a ¹⁴C-labelling experiment. – The contributions of branches to light interception of the crops during the generative phase were > 90 % in Kalina as compared to about 30 % in Ep 1 . Relative ¹⁴C uptake of branches was in a similar range, but great proportions of the ¹⁴C taken up by branches was translocated to main stems. No genotype x plant density interactions with respect to grain yield were recorded, indicating that yield formation at main stems and branches was affected by cropping conditions similarly in both genotypes. This applies to the conditions of the experiments, where stress effects were absent. Under these conditions, the conventional genotype showed agronomic, but no physiological disadvantages.     

Biplot analysis of trait relations of white lupin in Spain

A 2-year study of autumn-sown white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) was conducted under rainfed Mediterranean conditions in southern Spain. 108 landraces were evaluated for yield and major phonological and plant structural characteristics. Path coefficient and Genotype-Trait (GT) biplot analysis were used. Applying both types of analyses to the multiple trait data revealed that GT biplot graphically displayed the interrelationships among traits and facilitated visual comparison of accessions and selection. Wide variation was observed for trait phenology (dates of flowering and maturity), plant structure (plant and first order inflorescence height) and yield characters (first order branches, first order inflorescence and total yield). It was found that the accessions with the highest yields were the tallest and the latest to flower, both on the mainstem and on the lowest first order branch, and also were the latest to mature. GT biplots also had suggested as the accessions have been displayed according to their origins. The results showed that foreign germplasm may be an important material for improving some yield components such as number of pods and seeds per plant of locally adapted lupins in Spain. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An Effect of Various Nitrogen Forms Used as Fertilizer on Lupinus albus L. Yield and Protein, Alkaloid and α-Galactosides Content

The influence of various forms of nitrogen supplied to the ground as N₂, NH, NO, [NH + NO], –NH₂, and Nd (N‐deficiency) on Lupinus albus L. cvs. Butan (sweet) and Bac (bitter) yield and protein, alkaloid and α‐galactoside biosynthesis in their seeds were studied. The experiments were performed in a greenhouse on perlite using, in all cases, the same dose of P, K, Mg and micronutrients (B, Zn, Mn, Cu, Mo, Fe). The Nd treatment contained only macro‐ and micronutrients without any nitrogen support. We found that different nitrogen forms used as a fertilizer had a significant influence on the development and yield structure of both lupin cultivars. It was found that the plants developed most favourably when nitrogen was supplied as N₂ and [NH + NO]. For the other forms, the anomalies like necrosis, chlorosis, leaves with small surface of assimilation were noticed. However, these observations were not always reflected by all parameters of yield structure. The forms of nitrogen had a pivotal influence on yield of generative and vegetative parts of lupin. Moreover, significant differences in protein, alkaloid and α‐galactoside content in seeds were observed.     

Analysis of variation and interrelationships in potato germplasm

Summary As the exploitation of economic characters in potato is reaching a plateau, use of exotic germplasm offers an ideal opportunity for further improvement. Fifty-five accessions from eleven countries were studied under long and short day conditions. Wide variation was noticed for a number of phenological, morphological and tuber characters. Analysis of variation and correlations has demonstrated possibilities for using this diverse germplasm in various potato improvement programs.Abbreviations APC - Andean Primitive Cultivars - AUDPC - Area Under Disease Progress Curve - CCBL - Commerical Cultivars and Breeding Lines - LD - Long Days - SD - Short Days     

Diversity in White Lupin (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lupinus albus</Emphasis> L.) Landraces from Northwest Iberianplateau

All the accessions (35) of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) landraces collected from northwest Iberian plateau and maintained at the Spanish germplasm collection (CRF of INIA), were studied with the general objective of assessing the biodiversity of these landraces and to ascertain their value as genetic resources for the development of germplasm adapted to the areas where they were collected with long and chilly winters. The characterization study comprised 51 qualitative and 50 quantitative characters. Quantitative parameters were analyzed by Principal Components Analysis (PCA). The 2-dimensional plot (49.3% of cumulative variability) formed a main group of accessions and 4 outliers (#1, #9, #27 and #28) separated in the first PC. The characters with a higher contribution to the first PC were inflorescence length, leaf petiole length and leaf central foliole area. The presence of alkaloids, the percentage of plants killed by soil borne fungal diseases, the phenology, the yield per plant and yield components were also assessed. Twenty six accessions (the main group in the PCA plot) showed high homogeneity, with the following highlights: bitterness, indeterminate growth habit, early ripeness and spring sowing with the exception of #18, in which seeding date is unknown and it had a later phenology. By contrast accessions #9 and #27 were bitter of autumn sowing with determinate growing habit and they had the longest values of primary inflorescence length and a later phenology when they were sown in spring. Average values for yield and yield components showed a broad range of variation between accessions. The main yield component was the number of pods per plant. Accession #22 had the highest mean seed mass, although this had not significant influence in yield. Accession #17 showed the highest yield and #1 the lowest. This last also had the lowest values of inflorescence length, leaf petiole length and leaf central foliole area. No significant differences of resistance to soil-borne fungi were found between accessions. The year had a significant effect in the phenology, yield and yield components except for number of seeds per pod. The studied material might be of interest for the development of spring sowing germplasm adapted to north Iberian peninsula.     

Genetic diversity of potato landraces from northwestern Argentina assessed with simple sequence repeats (SSRs)

Andean potato varieties are cultivated in the northwest of Argentina and constitute the most important staple food for the local farmers. The genetic diversity of 155 accessions conserved at the Genebank of Balcarce (INTA) was tested using four microsatellites. Three commercial potato varieties of Tuberosum group and one accession of Curtilobum group were used as outgroups. The presence of bands was scored for each microsatellite and for each accession and the data were analysed by principal coordinate analysis. The polymorphism information content was obtained for each molecular marker from banding patterns. Analysis of molecular variance was carried out with a variable number of accessions for each landrace, from different departments and sites within departments. More than one genotype was detected in the majority of the potato landraces. Some accessions within each landrace did not differentiate. AMOVA revealed that most of the genetic variation occurred among sites within departments and among local varieties. These findings are discussed considering the agricultural practices carried out in the Andean farming system.