温度和光照强度对不同品质类型小麦旗叶光合特性和衰老的影响

以两个蛋白质含量不同的小麦品种豫麦34（高蛋白）和扬麦9号（低蛋白）为材料,研究不同温光条件对小麦灌浆期旗叶光合特性和衰老的影响.结果表明：高温、弱光处理显著降低了小麦旗叶净光合速率（P_n）及叶绿素荧光参数F_v/F_m和Φ_PSⅡ,但高温和弱光对小麦旗叶造成伤害的生理机制不同,高温主要降低了叶绿素含量(SPAD值)和P_n,灌浆后期P_n下降幅度达50％;而弱光主要降低了叶绿素荧光参数,抑制了光合系统PSⅡ的活性.高温使小麦旗叶丙二醛（MDA）含量升高,超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性和可溶性蛋白质含量下降,加速了植株衰老;而弱光下SOD活性较高,小麦衰老进程较高温缓慢,植株对弱光的耐受性较强.豫麦34对高温、弱光逆境的反应比扬麦9号敏感.     

浓度升高对两个种植密度下红桦生长和养分含量的影响

采用控制环境生长室,研究了CO₂浓度升高对2个种植密度下红桦幼苗生长和氮(N)、磷(P)含量的影响。试验设置CO₂浓度为350和700 μmol·mol^-12个水平,每个CO₂浓度水平下又设密度28和84株·m^-22个水平。结果表明：CO₂浓度升高,红桦株高和叶面积指数(LAI)均增加,净同化率(NAR)值增加,叶质比(LMR)和比叶面积(SLA)均下降,但相对生长率(RGR)提高。CO₂浓度增加,红桦幼苗茎枝、叶、根和总生物量提高,氮(N)、磷(P)含量降低,但单株N、P总吸收量均增加。CO₂浓度升高,氮磷利用效率(NUE和PUE)提高,氮磷累积速率(NAcR和PAcR)显著增加。CO₂浓度升高,红桦幼苗体内N、P浓度下降是由于生物量迅速增加引起的稀释效应造成的,而NUE和PUE的提高可以有效缓解CO₂浓度升高后,亚高山和高山地区森林土壤中养分元素不足对森林生产力的限制。CO₂浓度升高导致的植物生长的增加量会随植株密度的增加而降低,不同器官养分吸收量的增加量在低密度条件下比高密度条件下大得多,主要是因为高种植密度显著降低了植株各部位的干质量。     

强光胁迫对濒危植物金花茶幼苗生长和叶绿素荧光参数的影响

以当年生盆栽金花茶实生苗为材料,研究不同程度的强光胁迫（25％、50％和100％自然光强,以8%自然光强为对照）对其生长、生物量、叶片光合色素含量、叶绿素荧光参数的影响。结果表明：在不同程度的强光胁迫下,金花茶幼苗的生长均受到抑制,随着胁迫程度的增强,金花茶叶片颜色由深绿变为浅绿、黄绿色,叶片灼伤愈来愈严重;植株抽稍时间推迟,抽稍后长出的新叶长势较差;幼苗死亡率越来越高。幼苗根生物量、茎生物量、叶生物量和总生物量均随胁迫程度的升高而显著降低,强光胁迫对叶生物量的影响最大,根生物量次之,对茎生物量的影响最小。随着胁迫程度的增强,叶片叶绿素总量（Chl）、叶绿素a（Chla）、叶绿素b（Chlb）含量均显著降低,Chla/Chlb和Car/Chl显著升高。叶绿素荧光参数F_o、F_m、F_v、F_v/F_m、F_v/F_o均随胁迫程度的升高降低,强光胁迫使PSⅡ受到了伤害,光合作用原初反应过程受抑制,光合电子传递受到影响,从而抑制植株的正常生长。     

外源一氧化氮对铅胁迫下小麦种子萌发及幼苗生理特性的影响

利用室内水培实验,研究了外源一氧化氮（NO）供体硝普钠（SNP）对Pb²⁺处理下小麦（Triticum aestivum L.）种子萌发、幼苗生长及相关生理指标变化的影响。结果表明,Pb²⁺处理使小麦种子发芽势、发芽率、幼苗根长和茎长均显著降低,诱导叶绿素a、叶绿素b含量减少及叶绿素荧光参数F_v/F_m和F_v/F_o的比值减小,25 μmol·L^-1 SNP明显缓解Pb²⁺胁迫对种子萌发及幼苗生长的抑制作用,提高Pb²⁺胁迫下叶绿素a、叶绿素b含量及F_v/F_m和F_v/F_o的比值,而100 μmol·L^-1SNP无明显缓解作用。此外,25和100 μmol·L^-1SNP诱导Pb²⁺胁迫下小麦幼苗叶片过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性增强和可溶性蛋白含量增多,但100 μmol·L^-1SNP处理降低了过氧化物酶（POD）活性。结果说明,外源NO促进Pb²⁺胁迫下小麦种子萌发及幼苗生长,提高叶绿素和可溶性蛋白含量,诱导CAT活性升高,从而增强小麦对Pb²⁺胁迫的适应性。     

构树(Broussonetia papyrifera)幼苗氮、磷吸收对接种AM真菌的响应

对石灰岩适生植物构树(Broussonetia papyrifera)进行菌根真菌摩西球囊霉(Glomus mosseea)、地表球囊霉(G.versiforme)、透光球囊霉(G.diaphanum)的单独接种、混合接种和不接种处理,幼苗生长3个月后测定其根茎叶N、P含量和土壤酶活性,结果表明：接种AM真菌后构树幼苗生物量显著增加,植株根茎叶N含量较对照组显著提高,其含量为根<茎<叶。各处理中除了透光球囊霉处理的茎含量与对照差异不显著外,其余各处理含量均呈显著或极显著差异。AM真菌对构树苗P的促进效应主要体现在根、茎的利用上,而叶片P含量除混合接种外则有所降低,但M+(接种处理)与M-(非接种处理)间无显著差异。构树苗根茎叶等量干物质P含量依次为叶>根>茎。进一步研究表明,接种AM真菌显著提高了土壤酶活性,这种显著性主要体现在蛋白酶和碱性磷酸酶上, 植株N含量与土壤蛋白酶和碱性磷酸酶活性有显著相关性,而P含量只是根部吸收与多酚氧化酶活性显著相关。结果表明,接种AM真菌促进了宿主植物构树生物量的积累,提高了根际土壤酶活性,增加了植株对N、P的吸收。     

东北山地灌木沼泽植物铜、锌分布特征及季节动态

研究了东北山地灌木沼泽主要植物--细叶沼柳、五蕊柳、丛苔草和修氏苔草中Cu、Zn分布、积累及其季节动态.结果表明:Cu含量变动范围为6～12 mg·kg-1,细叶沼柳和五蕊柳各器官Cu含量为根》枝》叶;丛苔草和修氏苔草为茎》叶》根,Cu主要积累在灌木的根系和苔草的茎叶中,灌木和苔草中Cu含量相差较小.Zn含量变动在30～250 mg·kg-1之间,细叶沼柳和五蕊柳各器官Zn含量为叶》枝》根,尤其是叶和枝中都在150 mg·kg-1以上;丛苔草和修氏苔草各器官Zn含量为根》茎》叶.Zn多积累在灌木的叶和苔草的根中,且灌木各器官Zn含量明显高于苔草.细叶沼柳和五蕊柳各器官对Zn的富集系数均大于1.45,显示出较强的Zn富集能力.4种供试植物在生长初期地上部分Cu、Zn含量较高,且随着季节变化呈波动式降低趋势,而根中则表现出生长初期和末期Cu、Zn含量较高的特点.     

Pb2+胁迫对两种小麦幼苗生理特性影响的研究

以两种小麦西旱2号和宁春4号幼苗为供试材料,研究了不同浓度Pb(NO₃)₂处理对其叶绿素含量、抗氧化酶活性及渗透性调节物等生理特性的影响。结果发现,两种小麦在低浓度铅处理下幼苗叶片叶绿素含量及超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性均无显著变化,而高浓度铅胁迫使其叶绿素a（Chla）、叶绿素b（Chlb）及叶绿素总量明显减少,但SOD活性显著升高,且相同浓度铅胁迫对小麦宁春4号幼苗叶片叶绿素的破坏作用明显强于对西旱2号的作用;不同浓度硝酸铅处理诱导两种小麦幼苗过氧化氢酶（CAT）、过氧化物酶（POD）和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）活性升高,但不影响丙二醛（MDA）含量;此外,Pb²⁺处理使小麦幼苗叶片脯氨酸含量升高,此效应具有浓度依赖性,但铅处理不影响可溶性糖相对含量。结果表明,铅胁迫对两种小麦幼苗叶片叶绿素造成了破坏,却不同程度诱导抗氧化酶活性及脯氨酸含量升高,即表现出较强的抗氧化能力和渗透调节能力,增强了小麦对铅的耐受性,因而胁迫诱导两种小麦叶片MDA含量变化与对照比无显著性差异。     

二氧化硫对小麦的氧化胁迫及其某些信号分子的调节

通过在密闭的培养箱中一次性通入不同体积浓度的SO₂气体,研究了小麦幼苗超氧自由基O2-含量和3种抗氧化酶活性的变化,探讨了信号分子水杨酸、乙烯和过氧化氢对SO₂氧化胁迫的调节作用.结果表明,当通入10和40 μl·L^-1 SO₂时,小麦叶片中O2-含量递增,过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性增强,但超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性降低.当SO₂浓度达到50 μl·L^-1时,POD和CAT活性也开始降低,此时叶片尖端出现坏死,叶片绿色部位滋生大量真菌.用1 mmol·L^-1水杨酸(SA)(pH6.5)浸泡小麦干种子6 h,或用10 mmol·L^-1 H₂O₂浸泡幼苗,O2-含量低于对照植株,而3种酶的活性高于对照植株,均可有效地减轻SO₂的氧化胁迫.在SO₂熏蒸下,乙烯显著抑制3种酶的活力,提高O2-的形成速率.SA与乙烯同时使用时,SA几乎完全消除了乙烯的负面作用.     

氮磷肥对茶树锌硒等中微量元素吸收与分配的影响

锌（Zn）和硒（Se）及其他中微量元素（铝Al，钙Ca，铁Fe，铜Cu，锰Mn）是茶叶品质的重要指标，但茶树吸收Zn、Se能力及氮（N）磷（P）肥影响中微量元素吸收与分配的过程尚不清楚。以红壤丘陵区福鼎大白茶树为研究对象，开展Zn+Se、Zn+Se+N、Zn+Se+P、Zn+Se+N+P和对照共5种处理3次重复随机化区组试验，处理第3年春季分茶叶、成熟叶、吸收根、运输根和储藏根采集植物样品，测定其元素含量。结果表明，茶树地上和地下器官Zn和Se及其他中微量元素对N、P、Zn、Se添加的响应具分异性。与对照相比，茶树地上和地下器官Zn和Se含量均显著增加，与Zn+Se相比，施N和/或P肥仅显著提高茶叶和成熟叶Se含量（P<0.05）；与对照相比，施肥处理均显著提高吸收根和运输根Al、Fe含量以及储藏根Cu含量；运输根Mn含量表现为Zn+Se+N、Zn+Se+P、Zn+Se+N+P显著高于对照，储藏根Mn含量为Zn+Se+N+P显著高于其他处理；茶树各器官Ca含量对施肥处理无显著响应。此外，茶叶和成熟叶的Zn含量与吸收根显著正相关，而Se含量则与储藏根显著正相关。茶树具有吸收和积累Zn和Se的能力，而施N、P肥有助于提高茶叶Se含量，研究结果为红壤丘陵区培育高品质锌硒茶及营建生态高值茶园提供了依据。     

接种AM真菌对喜树幼苗生长及光合特性的影响

 喜树(Camptotheca acuminata)是我国特有的多年生亚热带落叶阔叶树种, 因其次生代谢产物喜树碱具有良好的抗肿瘤活性而备受关注。通过温室盆栽接种试验, 观察了3属6种丛枝菌根(AM)真菌木薯球囊霉(Glomus manihot)、地表球囊霉(G. versiforme)、透光球囊霉(G. diaphanum)、蜜色无梗囊霉(Acaulospora mellea)、光壁无梗囊霉(A. laevis)和弯丝硬囊霉(Sclerocystis sinuosa)对喜树幼苗生长及光合特性的影响。结果表明, 除地表球囊霉外, 其余菌根幼苗生物量显著高于无菌根幼苗, 蜜色无梗囊霉、弯丝硬囊霉和透光球囊霉的菌根幼苗生物量分别达到无菌根幼苗的1.6倍、1.4倍和1.3倍。与无菌根幼苗相比, 蜜色无梗囊霉菌根幼苗叶片的净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)和蒸腾速率(T_r)均有显著提高, 而胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)与气孔限制值(L_s)则变化不明显。接种透光球囊霉、蜜色无梗囊霉、光壁无梗囊霉和弯丝硬囊霉的喜树幼苗叶片叶绿素a含量、总叶绿素含量、叶绿素a/b和类胡萝卜素含量均显著高于无菌根幼苗, 而叶绿素b含量只有木薯球囊霉和弯丝硬囊霉菌根幼苗显著高于无菌根幼苗。接种AM真菌对喜树幼苗叶片叶绿素荧光参数影响较小, 只有透光球囊霉菌根幼苗叶片的最大光能转换效率(F_v/F_m)显著高于无菌根幼苗, 接种木薯球囊霉和弯丝硬囊霉的喜树幼苗的PSⅡ有效光化学量子产量(EQY)显著高于无菌根幼苗, 弯丝硬囊霉菌根幼苗的光化学淬灭(qP)显著高于无菌根幼苗, 非光化学淬灭(NPQ)则显著低于无菌根幼苗。     

品种、种子大小和施肥对冬小麦生物学特性的影响

试验设不同年代冬小麦品种、粒重、播种方式和施肥等4个因子,品种选用白芒麦（20世纪60年代）、咸农39（20世纪70-80年代）、小偃6号（20世纪90年代后期）、远丰998（近期）等不同年代的4个冬小麦品种,粒重分为2种截然不同重量的大粒和小粒,播种方式设小粒单播、大粒单播以及大小粒等比例混播等3种播种方式,施肥设不施肥（CK）、施氮（N）、施磷（P）和同时施氮磷（NP）等4种方式,共48个处理。以土垫旱耕人为土为供试土样,进行盆栽试验,研究不同品种、种子大小和施肥对冬小麦生物学特性的影响。结果表明,不同品种间、大小粒播种间、不同施肥间植株株高均存在极显著差异（p〈0.01）,且这些因子间存在显著的交互作用（p〈0.05）。品种间,苗期和越冬前以近期品种远丰998植株最高,灌浆期以早期品种白芒麦植株最高。株高稳定后以早期品种高,反映了育种的演变趋势。大小粒播种间,苗期和越冬前大粒株高均显著高于小粒株高,但灌浆期大小粒播种间株高差异基本消失,说明大粒种子植株在苗期生长具有一定优势。不同施肥处理间株高差异在苗期与越冬前表现一致,单施P和NP配施植株较高;灌浆期以NP配施植株株高明显高于其它施肥处理。不同品种、大小粒播种方式和施肥显著影响冬小麦分蘖和单株叶面积。白芒麦、咸农39和小偃6号的分蘖数基本一致,变化在4.37个/株-4.74个/株之间,远丰998最少,仅为2.95个/株;NP配施和施P能够显著增加分蘖数,其分蘖数几乎是不施肥（CK）和单施N的2倍;各品种大粒种子植株分蘖数均多于小粒种子植株。远丰998绿叶面积最大（45.72cm^2/单茎）,白芒麦最低（仅为26.97cm^2/单茎）;NP配施单株绿叶面积明显大于其它施肥处理。除远丰998大粒种子植株绿叶面积（50.42cm^2/单茎）显著大于小粒种子（41.01cm^2/单茎）外,其余品种大、小粒种子植株绿叶面积相当。就施肥处理而言,施肥对近期品种小粒种子株高、分蘖数和叶面积的促进作用相对较大,而对远期品种小粒种子植株的影响相对较小。     

Chickpea genotypes differ in their sensitivity to Zn deficiency

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is common in most of the chickpea growing areas of the world and growing Zn-efficient genotypes on Zn-deficient soil is a benign approach of universal interest. Response of 13 chickpea genotypes (10 desi and 3 kabuli) to Zn nutrition was studied in a pot experiment under glasshouse conditions. Plants were grown in a Zn-deficient siliceous sand for 6 weeks and fertilized with 0 (Zn–) and 2.5 mg Zn per kg soil (Zn+). When grown with no added Zn, Zn deficiency symptoms (chlorosis of younger leaves and stipules followed by necrosis of leaf margins) appeared 3–4 weeks after planting and were more apparent in cultivars Tyson, Amethyst and Dooen than Kaniva and T-1587. Zn deficiency reduced shoot growth, but it was less affected in breeding lines T-1587 and CTS 11308 than cultivars Tyson, Dooen, Amethyst and Barwon. Among all genotypes, Tyson produced the lowest root dry weight in Zn– treatment. Zinc efficiency based on shoot dry weight showed marked differences among genotypes; breeding lines CTS-60543, CTS-11308 and T-1587 were 2-fold more Zn-efficient than cultivars Tyson and Dooen. A higher Zn accumulation per plant and higher Zn uptake per g. of root dry weight were recorded in T-1587 and CTS-11308 when compared with Tyson. Root:shoot ratio was increased and proportionally more Zn was transported to the shoot when the soil was deficient. Cultivars that were very sensitive to Zn deficiency tended to have their root:shoot ratio increased by Zn deficiency more than less sensitive cultivars. The insensitive lines T-1587 and CTS-11308 transported more than 70% of the total absorbed Zn to the shoot. It is concluded that chickpea genotypes vary in their sensitivity to Zn deficiency. Advanced breeding lines T-1587 and CTS-11308 are relatively more Zn-efficient compared with Australian chickpea cultivar Tyson. Zn efficiency in chickpea genotypes is probably related to an efficient Zn absorption coupled with a better root to shoot transport.     

Effect of zinc nutrition on salinity-induced oxidative damages in wheat genotypes differing in zinc deficiency tolerance

Zinc deficiency and salinity are well-documented soil problems and often occur simultaneously in cultivated soils. Usually, plants respond to environmental stress factors by activating their antioxidative defense mechanisms. The antioxidative response of wheat genotypes to salinity in relation to Zn nutrition is not well understood. So, we investigated the effect of Zn nutrition on the growth, membrane permeability and sulfhydryl group (–SH groups) content of root cells and antioxidative defense mechanisms of wheat plants exposed to salt stress. In a hydroponic experiment, three bread wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L. cvs. Rushan, Kavir, and Cross) with different Zn-deficiency tolerance were exposed to adequate (1 μM Zn) and deficient (no Zn) Zn supply and three salinity levels (0, 60, and 120 mM NaCl). The results obtained showed that adequate Zn nutrition counteracted the detrimental effect of 60 mM NaCl level on the growth of all three wheat genotypes while it had no effect on the root and shoot growth of ‘Rushan’ and ‘Kavir’ at the 120 mM NaCl treatment. At the 0 and 60 mM NaCl treatments, Zn application decreased root membrane permeability while increased –SH group content and root activity of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in ‘Rushan’ and ‘Kavir’. In contrast, Zn had no effect on the root membrane permeability and –SH group content of ‘Rushan’ and ‘Kavir’ exposed to the 120 mM NaCl treatment. At all salinity levels, ‘Cross’ plants supplied with Zn had lower root membrane permeability and higher –SH group content compared to those grown under Zn-deficient conditions. At the 0 and 60 salinity levels, Zn-deficient roots of Kavir and Rushan genotype leaked significantly higher amounts of Fe and K than the Zn-sufficient roots. In contrast, at the 120 mM treatment, Zn application had no effect or slightly increased Fe and K concentration in the root ion leakage of these wheat genotypes. For ‘Cross’, at all salinity levels, Zn-deficient roots leaked significantly higher amounts of Fe and K compared with the Zn-sufficient roots. The differential tolerance to salt stress among wheat genotypes examined in this study was related to their tolerance to Zn-deficiency, –SH group content, and root activity of CAT and SOD. Greater tolerance to salinity of Zn-deficiency tolerant genotype ‘Cross’ is probably associated with its greater antioxidative defense capacity.     

Alfalfa genotypes differ in their ability to tolerate zinc deficiency

Response of 13 alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) genotypes to varied Zn supply (+Zn: 2 mg kg⁻¹ soil, −Zn: no added Zn) was studied in a pot experiment under controlled environmental conditions. Plants were grown for four weeks in a Zn-deficient siliceous sandy soil. Plants grown at no added Zn showed typical Zn deficiency symptoms i.e. interveinal chlorosis of leaves, yellowish-white necrotic lesions on leaf blades, necrosis of leaf margins, smaller leaves and a marked reduction in growth. There was solute leakage from the leaves of Zn-deficient plants, while no solute leakage from Zn-sufficient plants. The ratios of P:Zn, Fe:Zn, Cu:Zn and Mn:Zn in Zn-deficient plants were extremely high compared with Zn-sufficient plants indicating disturbance of P:Zn, Fe:Zn, Cu:Zn and Mn:Zn balance within plant system by Zn deficiency. Genotypes differed markedly in Zn efficiency based on shoot dry matter production. Alfalfa genotypes also differed markedly in P:Zn ratio, Cu:Zn ratio and Fe:Zn ratio under —Zn treatment. The shoot dry weight, shoot:root ratio, chlorophyll content of fresh leaf tissue, solute leakage from the leaves, Zn uptake and distribution of Zn in shoots and roots were the most sensitive parameters of Zn efficiency. Zn-efficient genotypes had less solute leakage but higher shoot:root ratio and higher Zn uptake compared with Zn-inefficient genotypes. Under —Zn treatment, Zn-inefficient genotypes had less Zn partitioning to shoots (33–37%) and more Zn retained in roots (63–67%), while Zn-efficient genotypes had about equal proportions of Zn in roots (50%) and shoots (50%). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

长柔毛委陵菜对锌的吸收动力学特性

采用水培方法研究了不同Zn处理水平和处理时间下长柔毛委陵菜对锌的吸收动力学特性. 结果表明,在10 mg·L^-1 Zn处理下,植株地上部和根系的Zn含量均在第8天达到最高值,分别为2.49×10³ mg·kg^-1和2.21×10³ mg·kg^-1;在100 mg·L^-1 Zn处理下,植株地上部的Zn含量在第16天达最高值1.23×10³ mg·kg^-1,而根系Zn含量不存在饱和现象. 在0～160 mg·L^-1 Zn处理下,植株叶片和叶柄Zn含量随Zn处理水平的提高显著增加,Zn浓度大于160 mg·L^-1后, 植株叶片和叶柄Zn含量不再随介质中Zn浓度的提高而增加（甚至减少）, 根系含Zn含量与介质中的Zn浓度和培养时间呈正相关,且根系Zn吸收动力学曲线具有二型性,即开始为快速的线性吸收,随后是较缓慢的饱和吸收,两者分界点约在1～2 h,这可能分别与根细胞壁吸附Zn和Zn跨根细胞膜运输有关.     

Growth enhancement by silicon in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants depends on imbalance in phosphorus and zinc supply

Based on results from water culture experiments with tomato and cucumber plants where severe leaf chlorosis and depression in flower and fruit formation occurred without silicon (Si) supply, Miyake and Takahashi (1978; 1983) concluded that Si is an essential mineral element for these two plant species. Using the same nutrient solution which is high in phosphorus (P) but low in zinc (Zn) we could confirm these results. Severe chlorosis occurred in cucumber when Si was omitted, and the addition of Si prevented these visual symptoms. Simultaneously the concentrations of P drastically decreased in the leaves and the proportions of water extractable Zn increased. Normal growth and absence of chlorosis were, however, also obtained without the addition of Si when either the external concentration of P was lowered or of Zn was increased. Short-term experiments revealed that Si has no direct effect on uptake or translocation of P to the shoot. According to these results, the experimental evidences so far are insufficient for the classification of Si as an essential mineral element for cucumber. Instead, Si may act as beneficial element under conditions of nutrient imbalances, for example, in P and Zn supply and corresponding P-induced Zn deficiency. The mechanism by which Si increases the physiological availability of Zn in leaf tissue is not yet clear.     

Iron availability in plant tissues-iron chlorosis on calcareous soils

The article describes factors and processes which lead to Fe chlorosis (lime chlorosis) in plants grown on calcareous soils. Such soils may contain high HCO₃ ^- concentrations in their soil solution, they are characterized by a high pH, and they rather tend to accumulate nitrate than ammonium because due to the high pH level ammonium nitrogen is rapidly nitrified and/or even may escape in form of volatile NH₃. Hence in these soils plant roots may be exposed to high nitrate and high bicarbonate concentrations. Both anion species are involved in the induction of Fe chlorosis.Physiological processes involved in Fe chlorosis occur in the roots and in the leaves. Even on calcareous soils and even in plants with chlorosis the Fe concentration in the roots is several times higher than the Fe concentration in the leaves. This shows that the Fe availability in the soil is not the critical process leading to chlorosis but rather the Fe uptake from the root apoplast into the cytosol of root cells. This situation applies to dicots as well as to monocots. Iron transport across the plasmamembrane is initiated by Fe^III reduction brought about by a plasmalemma located Fe^III reductase. Its activity is pH dependent and at alkaline pH supposed to be much depressed. Bicarbonate present in the root apoplast will neutralize the protons pumped out of the cytosol and together with nitrate which is taken up by a H⁺/nitrate cotransport high pH levels are provided which hamper or even block the Fe^III reduction.Frequently chlorotic leaves have higher Fe concentrations than green ones which phenomenon shows that chlorosis on calcareous soils is not only related to Fe uptake by roots and Fe translocation from the roots to the upper plant parts but also dependent on the efficiency of Fe in the leaves. It is hypothesized that also in the leaves Fe^III reduction and Fe uptake from the apoplast into the cytosol is affected by nitrate and bicarbonate in an analogous way as this is the case in the roots. This assumption was confirmed by the highly significant negative correlation between the leaf apoplast pH and the degree of iron chlorosis measured as leaf chlorophyll concentration. Depressing leaf apoplast pH by simply spraying chlorotic leaves with an acid led to a regreening of the leaves.     

The development of potential screens based on shoot calcium and iron concentrations for the evaluation of tolerance in Egyptian genotypes of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) to limed soils

European cultivars of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) grow poorly in limed or calcareous soils. However, Egyptian genotypes are grown successfully in highly calcareous soil and show no stress symptoms. To examine their physiological responses to alkaline soil and develop potential screens for tolerance, three experiments were conducted in limed and non-limed (neutral pH) soil. Measurements included net CO2 uptake, and the partitioning of Fe2+ and Fe3+ and soluble and insoluble Ca in stem and leaf tissue. Intolerant plants showed clear symptoms of stress, whereas stress in the Egyptian genotypes and in L pilosus Murr. (a tolerant species) was less marked. Only the intolerant plants became chlorotic and this contributed to their reduced net CO2 uptake in the limed soil. In contrast, Egyptian genotypes and L pilosus showed no change in net CO2 uptake between the soils. The partitioning of Ca and Fe either resulted from the stress responses, or was itself a stress response. L pilosus and some Egyptian genotypes differed in soluble Ca concentrations compared with the intolerant cultivars, although no significant difference was apparent in the Ca partitioning of the Egyptian genotype Giza 1. In a limed soil, Giza 1 maintained its stem Fe3+ concentration at a level comparable with that of plants grown in non-limed soil, whereas stem [Fe3+] of an intolerant genotype increased. Gizal increased the percentage of plant Fe that was Fe2+ in its leaf tissue under these conditions; that of the intolerant genotype was reduced. The potential tolerance of the Egyptian genotypes through these mechanisms and the possibility of nutritional-based screens are discussed.     

The role of shoot-localized processes in the mechanism of Zn efficiency in common bean

Zn efficiency (ZE) is the ability of plants to maintain high yield under Zn-deficiency stress in the soil. Two bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes that differed in ZE, Voyager (Zn-efficient) and Avanti (Zn-inefficient), were used for this investigation. Plants were grown under controlled-environment conditions in chelate-buffered nutrient solution where Zn²⁺ activities were controlled at low (0.1 pM) or sufficient (150 pM) levels. To investigate the relative contribution of the root versus the shoot to ZE, observations of Zn-deficiency symptoms in reciprocal grafts of the two genotypes were made. After growth under low-Zn conditions, plants of nongrafted Avanti, self-grafted Avanti and reciprocal grafts that had the Avanti shoot scion exhibited Zn-deficiency symptoms. However nongrafted and self-grafted Voyager, as well as reciprocal grafts with the Voyager shoot scion, were healthy with no visible Zn-deficiency symptoms under the same growth conditions. More detailed investigations into putative shoot-localized ZE mechanisms involved determinations of leaf biomass production and Zn accumulation, measurements of subcellular Zn compartmentation, activities of two Zn-requiring enzymes, carbonic anhydrase and Cu/Zn-dependent superoxide dismutase (Co/ZnSOD), as well as the non-Zn-requiring enzyme nitrate reductase. There were no differences in shoot tissue Zn concentrations between the Zn-inefficient and Zn-efficient genotypes grown under the low-Zn conditions where differences in ZE were exhibited. Shoot Zn compartmentation was investigated using radiotracer (⁶⁵Zn) efflux analysis and suggested that the Zn-efficient genotype maintains higher cytoplasmic Zn concentrations and less Zn in the leaf-cell vacuole, compared to leaves from the Zn-inefficient genotype under Zn deficiency. Analysis of Zn-requiring enzymes in bean leaves revealed that the Zn-efficient genotype maintains significantly higher levels of carbonic anhydrase and Cu/ZnSOD activity under Zn deficiency. While these data are not sufficient to allow us to determine the specific mechanisms underlying ZE, they certainly point to the shoot as a key site where ZE mechanisms are functioning, and could involve processes associated with Zn compartmentation and biochemical Zn utilization.Abbreviations CA Carbonic anhydrase - NR Nitrate reductase - SOD Superoxide dismutase - ZE Zinc efficiency This research was supported by a graduate fellowship awarded to G.H. by The Republic of Turkey     

Expression of high zinc efficiency of Aegilops tauschii and Triticum monococcum in synthetic hexaploid wheats

The effect of varied zinc (Zn) supply on shoot and root dry matter production, severity of Zn deficiency symptoms and Zn tissue concentrations was studied in two Triticum turgidum (BBAA) genotypes and three synthetic hexaploid wheat genotypes by growing plants in a Zn-deficient calcareous soil under greenhouse conditions with (+Zn=5 mg kg^-1 soil) and without (−Zn) Zn supply. Two synthetic wheats (BBAADD) were derived from two different Aegilops tauschii (DD) accessions using same Triticum turgidum (BBAA), while one synthetic wheat (BBAAAA) was derived from Triticum turgidum (BBAA) and Triticum monococcum (AA). Visible symptoms of Zn deficiency, such as occurrence of necrotic patches on leaves and reduction in shoot elongation developed more rapidly and severely in tetraploid wheats than in synthetic hexaploid wheats. Correspondingly, decreases in shoot and root dry matter production due to Zn deficiency were higher in tetraploid wheats than in synthetic hexaploid wheats. Transfer of the DD genome from Aegilops tauschii or the AA genome from Triticum monococcum to tetraploid wheat greatly improved root and particularly shoot growth under Zn-deficient, but not under Zn-sufficient conditions. Better growth and lesser Zn deficiency symptoms in synthetic hexaploid wheats than in tetraploid wheats were not accompanied by increases in Zn concentration per unit dry weight, but related more to the total amount of Zn per shoot, especially in the case of synthetic wheats derived from Aegilops tauschii. This result indicates higher Zn uptake capacity of synthetic wheats. The results demonstrated that the genes for high Zn efficiency from Aegilops tauschii (DD) and Triticum monococcum (AA) are expressed in the synthetic hexaploid wheats. These wheat relatives can be used as valuable sources of genes for improvement of Zn efficiency in wheat. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.