UV-B radiation increases paraquat tolerance of two broad-leaved and two grass weeds in relation to changes in herbicide absorption and photosynthesis

Depletion of the protective ozone layer in the atmosphere leads to increasing UV‐B radiation on the earth's surface with potential effects on the response of plants to different stresses. Abutilon theophrasti, Amaranthus retroflexus, Digitaria sanguinalis and Chloris virgata are common weeds encountered in most arable fields in China. The effectiveness of herbicides used in controlling these weeds needs to be evaluated with increased UV‐B radiation. Seedlings of these four weeds were therefore grown under ambient and elevated UV‐B radiation to compare the efficacy of paraquat, a commonly used contact herbicide. Irrespective of species sensitivity to radiation, the elevated UV‐B radiation decreased the effectiveness of paraquat. Net photosynthesis rate was adversely affected except for D. sanguinalis, while the chlorophyll content was significantly reduced in A. retroflexus and C. virgata. UV‐B treatment increased the leaf surface wax and decreased the absorption of ¹⁴C‐paraquat in A. theophrasti, D. sanguinalis and C. virgata. These results suggest that the response of weeds to paraquat or the use of the herbicide may be affected by increased UV‐B radiation, to the extent that larger doses may be required to achieve desired effects. This may have damaging consequences for the environment.     

不同季节虎尾草对绵羊采食量和养分消化率的影响

研究不同季节草地牧草的饲喂价值动态变化规律,对于改善和调控家畜的营养状况具有重要的意义。虎尾草（Chloris virgata）作为松嫩草地一种耐旱、耐盐碱的优势饲草,是放牧家畜重要的饲草来源。但目前有关虎尾草的饲喂价值数据有限。因此,本试验选择乌珠穆沁公羊12只,平均体重为27.37±2.20 kg,随机分为4个处理,每个处理3个重复。分别饲喂春、夏、秋、冬四季的虎尾草干草,试验绵羊采取单笼饲养,采用全收粪法进行消化代谢试验。结果表明,春、夏、秋、冬四季绵羊每公斤代谢体重虎尾草干物质采食量分别为73.48,30.01,29.80和34.33 g·kg^-1LW^0.75,春季显著高于其他季节（P<0.05）;不同季节的虎尾草对绵羊干物质消化率、中性洗涤纤维消化率、以及碳、氮采食和排泄均有显著影响（P<0.05）,表现为春季最高,并且春季氮代谢处于正平衡,氮的摄入量可以满足部分增重的需要。     

Characterization of phenotypic diversity,yield and response to drought stress in a collection of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth) accessions

Information on available diversity and drought resistance among Chloris gayana accessions would offer considerable potential to select genotypes to alleviate the feed inadequacy that constrains livestock production in dry tropical areas. A collection of 62 C. gayana accessions from the genebank of the International Livestock Research Institute in Ethiopia was characterized using a set of 30 morphological, 4 phenological and 8 agronomic traits to assess diversity within the collection and to select promising accessions for use as livestock feed. In parallel, an experiment was conducted to assess the ability of these C. gayana accessions to maintain productivity under drought stress.     

Oxidative stress indicators as selection tools for salt tolerance

Oxidative stress indicators, malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and chlorophyll retention, were tested as tools for salt‐tolerance screening in Chloris gayana (Kunth), a forage grass exhibiting inter‐ and intra‐cultivar variability in the response to salt stress. Three types of experimental system were compared, salt shock, gradual salt treatment and leaf segments floated on control and saline solutions. Results followed the same trend in the three systems, but leaf segments or gradually salinized plants are the most convenient. Lower mean MDA and higher mean chlorophyll content were found under salinity in cv. ‘Katambora’, which is considered, from previous field trials, to be more salt tolerant than cv. ‘Boma’. Nevertheless, chlorophyll content did not give consistent results in other tests and it is not recommended for selection purposes. Within cv. ‘Boma’, clones rating higher in a salt tolerance evaluation under greenhouse conditions had lower MDA content under salinity and lower mean MDA ratios between salt‐treated and control samples. The survival of 80‘Boma’ plants under increasing NaCl concentration was assessed and MDA was measured in the leaves of very plant before the final NaCl level was reached, to assess whether it was predictive of survival capability. MDA values were significantly lower in the group surviving longer, thus, a selection based on low MDA values would have enriched the original population with more tolerant individuals.     

松嫩平原羊草和虎尾草耐盐碱生理生态特性的比较研究

实验采用野外不同盐碱化程度草地(pH值分别为7.56、8.18、8.3、9.2、9.81和总盐量分别为0.05%、0.12%、0.15%、0.24%、0.32%)的主要禾本科优势植物羊草和虎尾草为野外实验材料,与室内模拟生境(不同梯度混合盐碱,pH值分别为7、7.7、8.4、9.1、9.8)相结合的方法,对羊草和虎尾草...     

Forage Yield and Sucrose Response of Rhodes and Ruzi Grass to Cutting Height and Cutting Frequency Under Irrigation

The development of irrigated pastures in the Sudan is still at its infancy. The present study determined the influence of 2 cutting heights (2.5 and 5.0 cm) and 4 cutting frequencies (4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-week) on forage yield as dry matter and forage sucrose of Rhodes grass ( Chloris gayana Kunth. cv. Massaba ) and Ruzi grass ( Brachiaria ruziziensis Germain et Everard cv. Congo Signal ) under irrigated conditions. Forage yield interactions involving species X cutting height X cutting frequency were significant. These yield interactions were attributed to differences in growth period and growth rhythm of the two species. On average, Rhodes exhibited a short growth period (13 months) compared to Ruzi grass (20 months). Forage yield and forage sucrose were, on average, superior in Ruzi compared to Rhodes grass. Forage yield and forage sucrose averaged 5.2 t ha⁻¹ and 7.2 % fw sucrose in Ruzi compared to 2.8 t ha⁻¹ and 6.9 % fw sucrose in Rhodes grass. Forage yield and forage sucrose of both species were negatively correlated with cutting frequency. The highest forage yield may be obtained at an 8-week cutting frequency in Rhodes (45.6 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) compared to a 10-week cutting frequency in Ruzi grass (88 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Results suggest that very high forage yields as dry matter and forage sucrose of Rhodes and Ruzi grass may be possible under irrigated conditions in the Sudan at a cutting frequency of between 8 to 10 weeks.     

Non-arrowing and broad-leaved mutants in Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth.)

Summary Non-arrowing and broad-leaved mutants of Rhodes grass have been isolated following gamma irradiation. The green forage yield in non-arrowing and broad-leaved types were respectively 67 and 171 percent more than the control. Crude protein, nitrogen and calcium fractions nearly doubled in the non-arrowing type and remained approxymately the same in the broad-leaved type over controls.     

Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis in diploid cultivars of rhodesgrass

The amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique was applied to detect genetic variation in a sample of 47 plants representing 12 diploid cultivars of rhodesgrass. In this analysis, 50±91 easily scorable fragments could be detected in a single reaction. Each of the individual plants was uniquely identified by a combination of three primer pairs and an 80.2% level of polymorphism was obtained. Large amounts of genetic variation were present within all the cultivars. The results showed that AFLPs could be a robust technique for genome analysis in rhodesgrass with a promising potential as a breeding tool.     

松嫩平原羊草,虎尾草群落钠元素分布特征的比较研究

本文分析了松嫩平原羊草（Aneurolepidiumchinense）群落、虎尾草（Chlorisvirgata）群落钠元素在植物体及土壤中的分布特征及季节动态。结果表明，虎尾草体内钠含量明显高于羊草，两种植物地上部钠含量均高个地下部。两群落土壤水溶性、交换性钠含量均为春、秋季较高，夏季较低。表层土壤水溶性钠最高含量分别为5．09和7.61cmol·kg-1，交换性钠含量分别为7.33和13．21cmol·kg-1，垂直分布均为上高下低，虎尾草群落土壤各层的含量均高于羊草群落。羊草、虎尾草体内钠贮量变化均呈单峰型，与生物量呈极显著直线相关。     

Effect of calcium silicate on growth and dry matter yield of Chloris gayana and Sorghum sudanense under two soil water regimes

The effects of five rates [0 (control), 1, 2, 4 and 6 Mg ha^?1] of calcium silicate on the growth and water consumption by rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth) and sudan grass (Sorghum sudanense Piper) under wet and dry soil water regimes (60 g and 30 g H₂O kg^?1 soil respectively) were evaluated in a pot experiment. The effect of the application of silicate on plant biomass was similar to that of the control. However, the shoot and root dry mass varied significantly (P < 0.001) according to the soil water regime and plant species. During the first cut, the shoot dry mass was 5.7 g per pot under the wet soil moisture regime, significantly exceeding that under the dry soil water regime proportionately by 0.68. For sudan grass, the shoot dry mass varied from 3.6 g per pot in the control to 4.3 g per pot in the treatment that received 6 Mg ha^?1 of calcium silicate. Plant water demand decreased as the rate of calcium silicate application increased, suggesting that an application of calcium silicate could reduce drought stress and enhance water economy. For the soil under study, the reduction in plant water demand represents a water saving ranging from 0.076 to nearly 0.20.