Physiological Basis of Irrigation Scheduling for Seed Production in Egyptian Clover Syn. Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) Crop

A field experiment was conducted to find out the critical physiological stages of irrigation schedules inducing better growth, physiological efficiency and seed yield potential of berseem ( Trifolium alexandrinum L., Var. S-99-1). For this purpose eight irrigation treatments were made comprised of four treatments of three irrigation (W₁, W₂, W₃ and W₄), three treatments of four irrigation (W₅, W₇ and W₈) and one treatment of five irrigation (W₆) at various physiological stages i. e. regeneration, flower initiation, full bloom, seed initiation and advance seed development stage.
Thus based on the experimental results the physiological role of watering in berseem seed production could be discussed as:
With-holding of irrigation either at regeneration or at full bloom stage developed potential water stress in plants as indicated by high proline content of irrigation treatments — W₄, W₁ and W₇; and further brought out disturbance on the formation of carotene, synthesis of water soluble sugar and translocation of sugar towards reproductive organs during grain development stage. These stresses adversely affected the plant growth and flowering behaviour. The irrigation at seed initiation stage increased the seed yield. Continuous irrigation did not appear to be useful. Thus it can be concluded that irrigation at three critical physiological stages i. e. regeneration, full bloom and seed initiation was found to be essential for obtaining potential seed yield of berseem.     

振动深松鼠道犁的试验分析

石河子及周围垦区的土壤粘重且呈盐碱性,由于犁底层的存在,土质很难得到改善。而深松作业则是打破犁底层的主要农业技术措施之一。为此,论述了IZSS-600-3型振动深松鼠道犁的构造和工作原理,分析了试验因素对试验指标的影响,为机具今后在农业生产中的应用和推广提供了依据和参考。     

Correlated Responses in Two Traits when Selection is Practised on their Ratio

In many fields of application in plant breeding and crop science, ratios of two component traits X and Y are of interest (harvest index in cereals, leaf-to-stem ratio in forage legumes, height-to-diameter ratio in forest trees etc.). When selection is practised on the ratio X/Y of two traits X and Y, the experimenter may be interested in the resulting changes of both trait means. Based on improved approximations for the covariances between X and X/Y and between Y and X/Y and for the variance of X/Y the changes in the means of X and Y can be predicted by applying the regression approach from conventional selection theory. Explicit expressions for these correlated responses in X and Y when selection is practised on their ratio X/Y are derived and discussed. The different outcomes (decrease, zero change or increase) for the selection pressures on X and Y are characterized by phenotypic coefficients of variation of X and Y, phenotypic and genotypic correlations between X and Y and heritabilities of X and Y.     

Response of Mustard to Ethrel Spray and Basal and Foliar Application of Nitrogen

In a field trial conducted during 1992–93 and 1993–94, the effect of basal (B) nitrogen (N) (45 and 60 kg N ha⁻¹) and foliar application (F) of water (W) or 10 kg N ha⁻¹ and 400 or 600 ppm ethrel (E) (2-Chloro ethyl phosphonic acid) at 70 days after sowing was studied on leaf area index and dry mass at 90 days and pod number per plant, seeds per pod, 1000 seed weight, seed yield, oil content and oil vield at harvest of mustard ( Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.) cv. T-59. Recommended basal (B) application of 90 kg N ha (BN₉₀) was used as control. On the basis of 2 year data it was found that basal application of 60 kg N and foliar spray of 10 kg N ha ⁻¹ and 600 ppm ethrel gave higher values for growth and yield characteristics and enhanced seed yield and oil yield by 12.5 and 14.8%, respectively over control BN_90.     

Footsteps from Insect Larvae Damage Leaf Surfaces and Initiate Rapid Responses

Plant resistance to insect herbivory involves gene expression in response to wounding and the detection of insect elicitors in oral secretions (Kessler and Baldwin, 2002, Ann. Rev. Plant/ Biol. 53: 299–328). However, crawling insect larvae stimulate the synthesis of 4-aminobutyrate within minutes and imprints of larval footsteps can be visualized within seconds through superoxide production or transient increases in chlorophyll fluorescence (Bown et al., 2002, Plant Physiol. 129: 1430–1434). Here cryo-scanning electron microscopy was used to demonstrate that larval feet, which are equipped with a perimeter row of hook-like crochets, damage leaf tissue and result in larval footprints. Staining for cell death shows that areas of wounding correspond to footsteps detected through increased chlorophyll fluorescence. Superoxide production in response to footsteps was inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium, an inhibitor of the plasma membrane NADPH oxidase enzyme. Inhibition of superoxide production, however, did not eliminate the detection of cell death. The results demonstrate that larval footsteps damage leaf tissue, and initiate rapid local responses which are not dependent on herbivory or oral secretions. It is proposed that superoxide production at the wound site prevents opportunistic pathogen infection.     

Growth- and leaf-temperature effects on photosynthesis of sweet orange seedlings infected with Xylella fastidiosa

The effects of growth and leaf temperature on photosynthesis were evaluated in sweet orange seedlings ( Citrus sinensis cv. Pera) infected with Xylella fastidiosa (the bacterium that causes citrus variegated chlorosis, CVC). Measurements of leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll  a fluorescence were taken at leaf temperatures of 25, 30, 35 and 40°C in healthy and infected (without visible symptoms) seedlings submitted to two temperature regimes (25/20 or 35/20°C, day/night), not simultaneously. The CO₂ assimilation rates ( A ) and stomatal conductance ( g _s) were higher in healthy plants in both temperature regimes. Values for A and g _s of infected and healthy plants were higher in the 35/20°C regime, decreasing with leaf temperature increase. In addition, differences between healthy and infected plants were higher at 35/20°C, while no differences in chlorophyll  a fluorescence parameters were observed except for potential quantum efficiency of photosystem II, which was higher in infected plants. Low A values in infected plants were caused by low g _s and probably by biochemical damage to photosynthesis. The high alternative electron sink of infected plants was another effect of reduced A . Both high growth and high leaf temperatures increased differences in A between healthy and infected plants. Therefore this feature may be partially responsible for lower growth and/or productivity of CVC-affected plants in regions with high air temperature.     

水稻无盘旱育免耕抛秧不同密度试验

为了探索水稻无盘旱育免耕抛秧适宜栽培密度和技术,设计了6种不同抛秧密度的试验。结果表明,性状指标变化情况为:株高、穴穗数、穗长、穗总粒数、穗实粒数随抛秧密度的增加而减少,667m2穗数随抛秧密度的增加而增加,够苗期随密度的增加而提前,其他性状指标变化不大。667m2抛秧14 000、17 000和20 000粒谷秧的处理4、5、6产量较高,分别为760.3 kg/667m2、718.2 kg/667m2和712.8 kg/667m2,与其余3个处理间达显著或极显著水平。无盘旱育免耕抛秧适宜的密度范围为1 4 000~20 000粒谷秧/667m2。     

食品添加剂磷酸氢二铵中砷含量的测定

运用原子荧光光谱法对进出口食品添加剂磷酸氢二铵中砷含量进行了测定,通过线性范围、检出限、精密度、回收率和实验室间比对测试,证明了原子荧光光谱法能快速、准确地检测出进出口食品添加剂中砷的含量。该方法线性关系良好,检出限低,准确度高,重复性和再现性好,可广泛用于进出口食品添加剂中砷含量的检测。     

杉木间伐材ACQ防腐与综合强化复合改性研究

在将ACQ与UF树脂调制成相容的复合改性剂对杉木间伐材进行复合改性研究的基础上,深入探索复合改性的机理与综合效果.对浸渍材与表面密实化处理相结合的优化工艺,当弦向压缩率为20%时各项力学性能指标均比素材增加51%以上;进行浸渍处理与ACQ或UF单独处理材经煮沸和抗水、酸、碱抽提的抗流失性对比试验及防腐试验,表明前者比后者有所提高;并采用铜离子跟踪法进行X-射线荧光光谱仪定量分析,测定了浸渍材复合改性剂的含量和分布情况,确认了一次性浸渍优化工艺参数的较佳效果.