Phenological and physiological evaluation of first and second cropping periods of sorghum and maize crops

Environmental conditions influence phenology and physiological processes of plants. It is common for maize and sorghum to be sown at two different periods: the first cropping (spring/summer) and the second cropping (autumn/winter). The phenological cycle of these crops varies greatly according to the planting season, and it is necessary to characterize the growth and development to facilitate the selection of the species best adapted to the environment. The aim of this study was to characterize phenological phases and physiological parameters in sorghum and maize plants as a function of environmental conditions from the first cropping and second cropping periods. Two parallel experiments were conducted with both crops. The phenological characterization was based on growth analyses (plant height, leaf area and photoassimilate partitioning) and gas exchange evaluations (net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration and water-use efficiency). It was found that the vegetative stage (VS) for sorghum and maize plants was 7 and 21 days, respectively, longer when cultivated during the second cropping. In the first cropping, the plants were taller than in the second cropping, regardless of the crop. The stomatal conductance of sorghum plants fluctuated in the second cropping during the development period, while maize plants showed decreasing linear behaviour. Water-use efficiency in sorghum plants was higher during the second cropping compared with the first cropping. In maize plants, in the second cropping, the water-use efficiency showed a slight variation in relation to the first cropping. It was concluded that the environmental conditions as degree-days, temperature, photoperiod and pluvial precipitation influence the phenology and physiology of both crops during the first and the second cropping periods, specifically cycle duration, plant height, leaf area, net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency, indicating that both crops respond differentially to environmental changes during the growing season.     

A Potential Screening System for Identifying Sorghum Ecotypes with Increased Lysine in the Seeds

Classical “high-lysine” sorghum lines are characterized by smaller seeds than average, due to a decrease in prolamin synthesis and a subsequent decrease in yield. To exploit the natural variation in lysine content and to identify ecotypes with a seed lysine content higher than average, characterized by plump seeds, a method was developed based on root-growth inhibition of seeds growing on a medium containing aminoethylcysteine (AEC), a lysine analogue. By using a collection of sorghum mutants and ecotypes a correlation coefficient of 0.926 between root length and lysine content was established. This method, which uses the root length of plants growing on aec to indicate which lines have a potential elevated lysine content, can be applied for the screening of sorghum germplasm. Since this is a non-destructive method it can also be used at the individual seed level, for example for screening progenies of regenerated plants from in vitro culture to exploit the somaclonal variation.     

高梁不育系Tx3197A减数分裂中染色体行为

以Ｔｘ３１９７Ｂ和晋粱５号为对照，对Ｔｘ３１９７Ａ进行了观察。结果发现，减数分裂前期Ⅰ和中期Ⅰ无明显异常。自后期Ⅰ开始，染色体行为出现了多类型的异常现象，导致减数分裂不能正常进行，无法形成花粉粒，从而产生雄性不育。     

Can wild relatives of sorghum provide new sources of resistance or tolerance against Striga species?

Summary The genus Striga contains some of the most noxious parasitic plants, which have a devastating impact on cereal production in Africa; of most importance are Striga hermonthica and Striga asiatica . Complete resistance to infection by Striga species does not exist in cultivated cereals. Of great interest is the possibility that wild relatives of cereals may provide a genetic basis for resistance or tolerance to infection and may be of enormous value for the development of resistant crops. A wild relative of cultivated sorghum, Sorghum arundinaceum , demonstrated tolerance to infection by S. asiatica , with little impact of S. asiatica on host growth or grain production compared with the detrimental impact of the parasite on cultivated sorghum. Infection by S.hermonthica , however, had a significant influence on host performance for both wild and cultivated sorghum. Differences in host:parasite responses may be explained by the timing of parasite attachment and differences in host specificity for these two Striga species.     

种植方式与种植密度对大力士高粱的影响

本试验用裂区设计,研究了大力士高粱在16种不同种植密度、3种种植方式下,产草量、生产速度、茎叶比、茎粗的变化情况。结果表明,在撒播密度为18 kg/hm2、条播为22.5 kg/hm2、穴播为28.5 kg/hm2时达到最高产量;生长速度在第53-55 d时最高,达5.7 cm/d;茎叶比随着产量的增加逐渐减少;茎粗随着种植密度的增大而有减小的趋势。     

Trichoderma Biocontrol of Colletotrichum acutatum and Botrytis cinerea and Survival in Strawberry

Trichoderma isolates are known for their ability to control plant pathogens. It has been shown that various isolates of Trichoderma, including T. harzianum isolate T-39 from the commercial biological control product TRICHODEX, were effective in controlling anthracnose (Colletotrichum acutatum) and grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) in strawberry, under controlled and greenhouse conditions. Three selected Trichoderma strains, namely T-39, T-161 and T-166, were evaluated in large-scale experiments using different timing application and dosage rates for reduction of strawberry anthracnose and grey mould. All possible combinations of single, double or triple mixtures of Trichoderma strains, applied at 0.4% and 0.8% concentrations, and at 7 or 10 day intervals, resulted in reduction of anthracnose severity; the higher concentration (0.8%) was superior in control whether used with single isolates or as a result of combined application of two isolates, each at 0.4%. Only a few treatments resulted in significant control of grey mould. Isolates T-39 applied at 0.4% at 2 day intervals, T-166 at 0.4%, or T-161 combined with T-39 at 0.4% were as effective as the chemical fungicide fenhexamide. The survival dynamics of populations of the Trichoderma isolates (T-39, T-105, T-161 and T-166) applied separately was determined by dilution plating and isolates in the mixtures calculated according to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using repeat motif primers. The biocontrol isolates were identified to the respective species T. harzianum (T-39), T. hamatum (T-105), T. atroviride (T-161) and T. longibrachiatum (T-166), according to internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis.     

不同保水处理下苏丹草光合特性研究

为了研究矿区生态修复过程中植物对不同保水措施的生理响应,以常用修复植物苏丹草为研究对象,利用CIRAS-2型(PP-Systems)光合仪测定苏丹草的光合指标,探讨高温下苏丹草对不同保水措施的生理响应,以期为矿区生态修复中的保水措施提供理论依据。结果表明：不同保水处理下苏丹草的光合速率Pn和瞬间水分利用效率WUE日变化均呈“W”型曲线,蒸腾速率Tr日变化呈“M”型曲线。苏丹草的Pn有“午休”现象存在,主要受非气孔因素的影响。影响苏丹草Pn、Tr的主要环境因子为大气CO₂浓度Ca、大气温度Tc、大气相对湿度RH。在土壤上覆盖火烧石和添加粉煤灰均显著增大了苏丹草的Pn和WUE,增强了苏丹草适应高温环境的能力。从Pn的指标来看,土壤表面覆盖火烧石处理比土壤中添加粉煤灰处理的效果好,但两者同时作用效果略低于单独用火烧石处理,原因有待进一步研究。     

6种药剂对枸杞炭疽病的防治效果及其残留量的比较

为了筛选针对枸杞炭疽病的高效低残留农药,选用戊唑醇等6种药剂,就其药效及农药残留情况进行了田间比较试验。结果表明:施药后第7天,43%戊唑醇(SC)2 000倍液、40%氟硅唑(EC)6 000倍液、50%异菌脲(WP)1 000倍液、25%嘧菌酯(SC)1 000倍液、25%苯醚甲环唑(EC)1 000倍液和50%多菌灵(WP)500倍液对枸杞炭疽病的防治效果分别为97.00%、76.67%、69.33%、59.00%、56.00%和28.67%,施药后第10天的防治效果分别为92.50%、65.55%、47.41%、45.59%、45.44%和6.44%;戊唑醇的防治效果最好,氟硅唑次之。枸杞干果中戊唑醇的残留含量为2.60 mg·kg-1,低于最大残留限量;氟硅唑的残留含量为0.16 mg·kg~(-1),高于最大残留限量。6种试验药剂中只有戊唑醇符合高效低残留农药的筛选标准,可用于采果期枸杞炭疽病的防治。     

高粱光敏色素A基因的克隆、蛋白结构与长短日照诱导表达模式

光敏色素是一类红光/远红光受体,对植物光形态建成、外部形态和生理功能等方面起着重要的调节作用。为明晰光敏色素A在调控高粱光形态建成发育过程中的作用,本研究比较分析光温敏感程度不同的高粱品种Btx623、Rio、Tx430和LH645的PhyA基因序列和PHYA蛋白的保守结构域,利用qRT-PCR明确长短日照条件处理下PhyA基因的表达模式。结果表明,Btx623、Rio和Tx430之间PhyA基因序列存在非同义突变,LH645在PhyA基因的第7个外显子上插入了5 bp碱基序列;高粱PhyA蛋白中含有1个PAS-2结构域、1个GAF结构域、1个Phytochrome结构域、2个PAS结构域、1个组氨酸激酶A结构域和1个类似组氨酸激酶的ATP激酶结构;遗传进化树分析表明,单子叶和双子叶植物PhyA蛋白明显聚为2大类,高粱PhyA、谷子PhyA和玉米PhyA1、PhyA2聚为一个亚类,相互间亲缘关系较近,与水稻PhyA同源性相对较远;在短日照(SD)条件下各时期PhyA基因转录水平变化显著,Rio PhyA基因转录水平较Btx623和Tx430变化明显,LH645 PhyA基因转录变化不显著,在长日照(LD)条件下Rio PhyA基因转录水平低于Btx623和Tx430,LH645 PhyA基因转录水平变化不显著。以上结果表明,PhyA受光周期诱导,推测其在高粱光形态建成中起重要调控作用。本研究为进一步解析PhyA基因功能及其在调控高粱光形态建成发育过程中的作用提供理论基础。