The Fate of the Dry Matter, Carbohydrates and 14C Lost from the Leaves and Stems of Wheat during Grain Filling

In a field study with six winter wheat genotypes losses of drymatter from the stems between 30 June and maturity averaged172 g m^–2 (range 82–236), there being significantdifferences in loss between genotypes. Respiration from thestems during the same period was estimated to amount to 106g m^–2 (range 104–225). The amount of dry mattermobilized from the stems, calculated by difference, was estimatedas 66 g m^–2. The loss of ethanol- and water-soluble carbohydratefrom the stems (170 g m^–2; range 124–215) was verysimilar to the dry weight loss. Carbon-14 labelling was used to trace the time course and theamount of the movement of assimilates from the vegetative organsto the grain. Only 14•3 per cent (range 10•3–21•0)of the products of photosynthesis over the period 21 May-20June were relocated to the grains. This relocation amountedto an average of 7 per cent (range 5•7–11•4)of the final grain weight. It was estimated that during the18 days following anthesis on 20 June photosynthesis contributed48 per cent (range 39–55) of the final grain dry weight.Of this, about half was translocated to the grain within 10days of initial assimilation. The remainder appeared to be storedtemporarily in the stems and leaves and translocated to thegrains during the period 17–29 July. In general, relocationof dry matter from the vegetative organs to the grains, assessedby carbon-14 labelling, was greatest in those genotypes (Hobbitand Sportsman) which lost most dry weight from the stems andleaves.     

Uptake,distribution, and turnover rates of selenium in barley

The present communication elucidates initially the topographic distribution of selenium in barley grains. Then by the fluorimetric method the uptake of selenium (selenite) in 8–16 d old germinating barley was estimated. Finally by means of⁷⁵Se the anabolic and catabolic rates (turnover) of⁷⁵Se (selenite) was compared. The distribution of selenium in barley was evaluated after microdissection of barley grains. In dried grains the highest concentration was found in husk and pericarp with about 0.6 ppm Se. Then followed Scutellum with 0.4 and 0.3 ppm in embryon. The aleurone layer, embryonic leaves, and initial root did only have 0.2 ppm Se. In order to know more about the uptake and distribution of selenium in 8-d-old barley, the plants were cultivated for a further 8 d in the culture medium with variation in selenite concentration. In roots and leaves, the uptake did not arrive at saturation during the period studied since the dose-response curve increased up to 0.34 mM selenite in the medium, whereas the selenium levels were about 200 ppm in roots and 30 ppm in leaves. However, the uptake was linear, with concentration during 8 d of cultivation up to 0.84 μM selenite for grain and stem. At higher concentrations the dose-response curve diminished its slope. At 0.34 mM selenite the concentration in grain increased to 6.87 ppm and in the stem to 8.13 ppm. The uptake, distribution, and catabolic rate of selenium components in germinating barley were further evaluated by exposing the plants to 0.0492 μCi⁷⁵Se (12.6 μM selenite) for up to 4 d. Then the plants were moved to a selenium deficient medium for further 4 d. Then finally the medium was supplemented with high doses of cold selenite (0.126 mM selenite) for further 4 d. The first third period made it possible to estimate the rate of uptake. It was highest in roots (313 fmol/h/mg dw), i.e., about 10 times those of grains, stems, and leaves. The intermediate period where the barley was transferred to a selenium deficient medium made it possible to estimate the kinetics and eventual sparing mechanisms. The selenium losses were highest for leaves (39%), then followed by roots and stems (22 and 25%, respectively). The losses were lowest in grain with 9% Se losses. The losses were three times more pronounced during the first day than in the following 3 d. These data may argue that the selenium is distributed into different pools and that sparing mechanisms may be in function. The last period, i.e., the chase experiment, revealed the rate of elimination of selenium under conditions with surplus selenium. The catabolic rate was about 10 times faster in roots (169 fmol/h/mg dw) than in grains and about 8 times faster than in leaves.     

Selenium biofortification of high-yielding winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by liquid or granular Se fertilisation

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and livestock. In the UK, human Se intake and status has declined since the 1980s. This is primarily due to the increased use of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in UK soils which are naturally low in Se. The aim of this study was to determine the potential for increasing grain Se concentration in a high-yielding UK wheat crop using fertilisers. The crop response of winter-wheat to Se fertilisation was determined under standard field conditions in two consecutive years at up to 10 sites. Selenium fertilisers were applied as high-volume drenches of sodium selenate solution, or as granular Se-containing products. Yield and harvest index were unaffected by Se fertilisation. Under all treatments, grain Se concentration increased by 16–26 ng Se g^?1 fresh weight (FW) per gram Se ha^?1 applied. An application of 10 g Se ha^?1 would thereby increase the Se concentration of most UK wheat grain 10-fold from current ambient levels and agronomic biofortification of UK-grown wheat is feasible. Total recovery (grain and straw) of applied Se was 20–35%. The fate of Se in the food-chain and in the soil must be determined in order to optimize the efficiency of this process.     

Selenium concentration in wheat grain: Is there sufficient genotypic variation to use in breeding?

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for humans and animals, with antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-viral effects, and wheat is an important dietary source of this element. In this study, surveys of Se concentration in grain of ancestral and wild relatives of wheat, wheat landrace accessions, populations, and commercial cultivars grown in Mexico and Australia were conducted. Cultivars were also grown under the same conditions to assess genotypic variation in Se density. Eleven data sets were reviewed with the aim of assessing the comparative worth of breeding compared with fertilising as a strategy to improve Se intake in human populations. Surveys and field trials that included diverse wheat germplasm as well as other cereals found grain Se concentrations in the range 5–720μgkg⁻¹, but much of this variation was associated with spatial variation in soil selenium. This study detected no significant genotypic variation in grain Se density among modern commercial bread or durum wheat, triticale or barley varieties. However, the diploid wheat, Aegilops tauschii and rye were 42% and 35% higher, respectively, in grain Se concentration than other cereals in separate field trials, and, in a hydroponic trial, rye was 40% higher in foliar Se content than two wheat landraces. While genotypic differences may exist in modern wheat varieties, they are likely to be small in comparison with background soil variation, at least in Australia and Mexico. Field sites that are spatially very uniform in available soil Se would be needed to allow comparison of grain Se concentration and content in order to assess genotypic variation.     

Phosphorus benefits from grain-legume crops to subsequent maize grown on acid soils of southern Cameroon

We conducted field experiments over 2 years on two acid soils of southern Cameroon to test whether efficient uptake and use of phosphorus (P) from less available sources by grain legume genotypes could benefit subsequent rotational maize. We grew two crops each year. For the first crop we grew 4 genotypes of soybean and of cowpea, plus maize. For the second crop we grew maize. The first crops were fertilized with 0, 90 kg P ha⁻¹ as phosphate rock (PR) or 30 kg P ha⁻¹ as triple super phosphate (TSP). P application highly significantly increased shoot dry matter, P uptake, N₂ fixation and grain yields of the grain legumes with TSP generally more effective than PR. Two of the soybean and two of the cowpea genotypes were more efficient at using P. Only the P-efficient soybean and cowpea genotypes increased subsequent maize yields. Yields of the subsequent maize grown in rotation were significantly correlated with shoot P uptake for which the quantity of P applied with the crop residues of the pre-crop appeared to be a major factor. We also grew the grain legumes in nutrient solutions and measured organic acid-anion exudation from roots, root-surface phosphatase-activity, and root morphological characteristics. Enhanced exudation of organic acid anions from roots of P-deprived plants might have contributed to the P acquisition efficiency under field conditions of the P-efficient cowpea genotypes and one of the P-efficient soybean genotypes. A higher activity of root-surface acid phosphatase might have been important for the other P-efficient soybean genotype. The results show, that the potential positive rotational effect of cowpea and soybean on the acid, highly P-sorbing soils of southern Cameroon depends on breeding and using P-efficient genotypes when sparingly soluble and suboptimal rates of soluble P fertilizers are used. Section Editor: N. J. Barrow     

镉对超积累和非超积累生态型东南景天内生细菌多样性的影响

重金属胁迫对植物内生细菌群落结构的影响在很大程度上是未知的,目前也很少有研究超积累植物内生细菌的群落结构与多样性对根际土壤中重金属的响应。【目的】探索在不同镉污染水平下,超积累(HE)和非超积累生态型(NHE)东南景天的根系、茎和叶片中内生细菌的群落结构与多样性的变化及其差异性,试图从植物-内生菌之间的相互关系的角度补充解释2种生态型东南景天对有效态镉忍耐和积累能力的差异。【方法】采用Illumina新一代测序方法分析了在不同Cd~(2+)浓度土壤上生长的2种生态型东南景天根、茎和叶中的内生细菌群落结构。【结果】高浓度Cd~(2+)抑制NHE东南景天的生长,内生细菌的丰富度和多样性也降低;然而,高浓度Cd~(2+)促进HE东南景天的生长,茎和根系内生细菌的丰富度增加。在3种土壤上,2种生态型东南景天叶片、茎和根系内生细菌均以变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和放线菌门(Actinobacteria)占优势。随着土壤中Cd~(2+)浓度的增加,HE东南景天叶片中Gammaproteobacteria纲、Negativicutes纲和Clostridia纲的相对丰度显著增加,茎中Alphaproteobacteria纲的相对丰度显著增加,Clostridia纲的相对丰度显著减少;NHE东南景天叶片中Alphaproteobacteria纲、Gammaproteobacteria纲和Clostridia纲的相对丰度没有显著变化,茎中Negativicutes纲的相对丰度显著减少,根系中Betaproteobacteria纲和Clostridia纲的相对丰度显著减少,Negativicutes纲却显著增加。在高Cd~(2+)污染土壤(50mg/kg)上,HE东南景天叶片中Sphingomonas属和茎中Veillonella属的相对丰度均大于NHE,且HE东南景天根系内生细菌的第一、第二、第三优势菌Veillonella、Sphingomonas、Prevotella属细菌均没有出现在NHE东南景天根系。【结论】土壤Cd~(2+)污染水平对2种生态型东南景天叶、茎、根中的内生菌群落结构有显著影响。     

Natural Variation in Grain Selenium Concentration of Wild Barley, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hordeum spontaneum</Emphasis>, Populations from Israel

Wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum), the progenitor of cultivated barley, is an important genetic resource for cereal improvement. Selenium (Se) is an essential trace mineral for humans and animals with antioxidant, anticancer, antiarthropathy, and antiviral effects. In the current study, the grain Se concentration (GSeC) of 92 H. spontaneum genotypes collected from nine populations representing different habitats in Israel was investigated in the central area of Guizhou Province, China. Remarkable variations in GSeC were found between and within populations, ranging from 0 to 0.387 mg kg⁻¹ among the 92 genotypes with an average of 0.047 mg kg⁻¹. Genotype 20_C from the Sede Boqer population had the highest GSeC, while genotype 25_1 from the Atlit population had the lowest. The mean value of GSeC in each population varied from 0.010 to 0.105 mg kg⁻¹. The coefficient of variation for each population ranged from 12% to 163%. Significant correlations were found between GSeC and 12 ecogeographical factors out of 14 studied. Habitat soil type also significantly affected GSeC. The wild barley exhibited wider GSeC ranges and greater diversity than its cultivated counterparts. The higher Se grain concentrations found in H. spontaneum populations suggest that wild barley germplasm confer higher abilities for Se uptake and accumulation, which can be used for genetic studies of barley nutritional value and for further improvement of domesticated cereals.     

NRT1.1B improves selenium concentrations in rice grains by facilitating selenomethinone translocation

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and other animals, yet approximately one billion people worldwide suffer from Se deficiency. Rice is a staple food for over half of the world's population that is a major dietary source of Se. In paddy soils, rice roots mainly take up selenite. Se speciation analysis indicated that most of the selenite absorbed by rice is predominantly transformed into selenomethinone (SeMet) and retained in roots. However, the mechanism by which SeMet is transported in plants remains largely unknown. In this study, SeMet uptake was found to be an energy‐dependent symport process involving H⁺ transport, with neutral amino acids strongly inhibiting SeMet uptake. We further revealed that NRT1.1B, a member of rice peptide transporter (PTR) family which plays an important role in nitrate uptake and transport in rice, displays SeMet transport activity in yeast and Xenopus oocyte. The uptake rate of SeMet in the roots and its accumulation rate in the shoots of nrt1.1b mutant were significantly repressed. Conversely, the overexpression of NRT1.1B in rice significantly promoted SeMet translocation from roots to shoots, resulting in increased Se concentrations in shoots and rice grains. With vascular‐specific expression of NRT1.1B, the grain Se concentration was 1.83‐fold higher than that of wild type. These results strongly demonstrate that NRT1.1B holds great potential for the improvement of Se concentrations in grains by facilitating SeMet translocation, and the findings provide novel insight into breeding of Se‐enriched rice varieties.     

The Interactive Effect of Selenium and Farmyard Manure on Soil Microbial Activities,Yield and Selenium Accumulation by Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Grains

This study assessed the interactive effect of selenium (Se) and farmyard manure (FYM) on soil microbial activities, growth, yield, and Se accumulation by wheat grains. Preliminarily, the effect of Se (0–250 µg kg^?1 soil) and FYM (0–12.5 g kg^?1 soil) was assessed on soil microflora. Selenium exhibited an adverse impact on soil microflora; respiration was decreased at?≥?10 µg kg^?1 soil while dehydrogenase and urease activities were decreased at?≥?125 µg kg^?1 soil. At 250 µg Se kg^?1 soil, respiration, dehydrogenase and urease activities were decreased by 81, 40 and 35%, respectively, on unamended soil, and by 9, 47 and 22%, respectively, on FYM-amended soil. The subsequent plant experiments were conducted with same Se and FYM rates; one was harvested 42 days after sowing and other at crop maturity. The application of 125 µg Se kg^?1 and 12.5 g FYM kg^?1 soil improved seedling biomass by 12.6 and 22%, respectively, while their combined use lacked synergistic effect. Similarly, at maturity Se and FYM increased grain yield while their combined effect was not synergistic. The Se-induced suppression in microbial activities was not related to yield which was improved (11% at the highest rate in unamended soil) by Se application. Selenium application increased grain Se content in a rate-dependent manner, it increased from 0 to 1025 µg kg^?1 by applying 250 µg Se kg^?1 soil. Moreover, FYM application decreased Se accumulation in grains. It is concluded that FYM application increased soil microbial activities and yield but reduced grain Se accumulation in wheat on Se-applied soil.

     

Evaluation of the Potential of Peas (Pisum sativum L.) to Be Used in Selenium Biofortification Programs Under Mediterranean Conditions

Selenium (Se), which has antioxidant, anticancer, and antiviral properties, is an essential micronutrient for humans and animals. This micronutrient is found in high quantity in legumes. Peas have an ever-increasing importance in Spain, and to increase their nutritional value, two foliar Se fertilizers: sodium selenate and sodium selenite, at five different rates: 0, 10, 20, 40, 80 g?ha^?1, were studied during the 2010/2011 crop season on semiarid Mediterranean conditions. Sodium selenate was much more effectively taken up by plants compared to sodium selenite. There was a strong linear relationship between the total Se content and Se rate in both sodium selenate and selenite. For each gram of Se fertilization as either sodium selenate or sodium selenite, the increase of total Se concentration in the grain was 148 and 19 μg Se?kg^?1 dry weight, respectively. Ingestion of 100 g of peas previously fertilized with 10 g of sodium selenate per hectare would result in an intake of 179 μg of Se. This is almost 90 % of the daily recommended dose needed to reduce the chance of some cancers and about 179 % of the minimum concentration required to prevent Se deficiency diseases in animals. The pea has shown to have a strong ability to uptake and accumulate Se under Mediterranean conditions; therefore, this would make it a very strong candidate for inclusion in biofortification programs aiming to increase Se in the food chain.     

NaCl处理对西伯利亚白刺幼苗生长及离子平衡的影响

以1年生西伯利亚白刺水培幼苗为材料,研究了不同浓度NaCl(0、200、400mmol·L~(-1))处理对幼苗生长及不同器官(根、茎、叶)中Na~+、K~+、Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)的吸收、运输与分配的影响,探讨西伯利亚白刺的盐适应机制。结果表明:(1)200mmol·L~(-1) NaCl处理促进了西伯利亚白刺幼苗的生长及叶片肉质化程度,400mmol·L-1 NaCl处理显著抑制其生长。(2)随着NaCl处理浓度的升高,西伯利亚白刺幼苗根、茎、叶中Na~+含量显著增加,且叶中Na~+含量显著高于茎和根中;根系中K~+含量显著增加;根、茎、叶中Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)含量在200mmol·L~(-1) NaCl处理下保持平稳或上升,而在400mmol·L-1 NaCl处理下显著下降。(3)各器官中K~+/Na~+、Ca~(2+)/Na~+和Mg~(2+)/Na~+比值总体随NaCl处理浓度的升高呈下降趋势,且根部离子比值始终高于叶片和茎。(4)随着NaCl处理浓度的升高,西伯利亚白刺幼苗根-茎SK,Na显著下降,而根-茎SCa,Na、SMg,Na及茎-叶SK,Na、SCa,Na、SMg,Na逐渐提高。研究发现,西伯利亚白刺的盐适应机制主要是通过植株的补偿生长效应及叶片对Na~+的聚积作用实现的,同时也与根系对K~+的扣留及茎叶对K~+、Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)选择性运输能力增强有关。     

Seasonal fluctuations of selenium and sulfur accumulation in selenium hyperaccumulators and related nonaccumulators

Some plants hyperaccumulate selenium (Se) up to 1% of dry weight. This study was performed to obtain insight into whole-plant Se fluxes in hyperaccumulators. Selenium hyperaccumulators Astragalus bisulcatus and Stanleya pinnata were monitored over two growing seasons for seasonal fluctuations in concentrations of Se and the chemically similar element sulfur (S). The related nonhyperaccumulators Astragalus sericoleucus, Oxytropis sericea and Thlaspi montanum were included for comparison. In both hyperaccumulators leaf Se decreased from April to October, coinciding with Se hyperaccumulation in flowers and seeds. Root Se levels were lowest in summer. Selenium concentration decreased with leaf age in both hyperaccumulators. Leaf S levels peaked in summer in all plant species, as did Se levels in nonhyperaccumulators. Selenium and S levels tended to be negatively correlated in hyperaccumulators, and positively correlated in nonhyperaccumulators. These results suggest a specific flow of Se in hyperaccumulator plants over the growing season, from root to young leaves in spring, followed by remobilization from aging leaves to reproductive tissues in summer, and back to roots in the autumn.     

Development of nutritious rice with high zinc/selenium and low cadmium in grains through QTL pyramiding

Enriching zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) levels, while reducing cadmium (Cd) concentration in rice grains is of great benefit for human diet and health. Large natural variations in grain Zn, Se, and Cd concentrations in different rice accessions enable Zn/Se‐biofortification and Cd‐minimization through molecular breeding. Here, we report the development of new elite varieties by pyramiding major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that significantly contribute to high Zn/Se and low Cd accumulation in grains. A chromosome segment substitution line CSSL^GCC7 with the PA64s‐derived GCC7 allele in the 93‐11 background, exhibited steadily higher Mn and lower Cd concentrations in grains than those of 93‐11. This elite chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) was used as the core breeding material to cross with CSSLs harboring other major QTLs for essential mineral elements, especially CSSL^GZC6 for grain Zn concentration and CSSL^GSC5 for grain Se concentration. The CSSL^GCC7+GZC6 and CSSL^GCC7+GSC5 exhibited lower Cd concentration with higher Zn and Se concentrations in grains, respectively. Our study thus provides elite materials for rice breeding targeting high Zn/Se and low Cd concentrations in grains.     

Influence of lanthanum on the uptake of trace elements in cucumber plant

The effects of La³⁺ on the uptake of trace elements (Se, Co, V, and Tc) in cucumber plants were studied by a radioactive multitracer technique. It was observed that the uptake and distribution of these trace elements in roots, stems, and leaves are different under different La³⁺ treatments. Furthermore, in the control, the plant accumulates ⁷⁵Se, ⁵⁶Co, and ⁴⁸V all in the order roots>leaves>stems, whereas ^95mTc was in the order leaves>stems>roots. The accumulations of ⁷⁵Se and ^95mTc in plants treated with different La³⁺ concentration were in the same order as those in the control, but the uptakes percentages of other kinds of element changed differently. The results indicate that lanthanum treatments to a growing cucumber lead to the change of uptake of trace elements, which suggest that a rare earth element is directly or indirectly involved in the ion transport of the plant and affects plant growth by regulating the uptake and distribution of elements that influence the plant cell physiology and biochemistry.     

The Effect of Copper and Lead Ions on Growth and Lipid Composition of the Fern Matteuccia sthruthiopteris

In the present study, the effect of copper (Cu²⁺) and lead (Pb²⁺) ions on the growth and lipid composition of various parts of the fern, Matteuccia sthruthiopteris, was examined. Plants were incubated in the presence or absence of 1, 10, 100 μM of Cu(NO₃)₂ or Pb(NO₃)₂. Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions at concentrations of 1 and 10 μM caused an increased growth of the roots and leaves. A higher concentration of Pb²⁺ did not show any effect on growth, whereas that of Cu²⁺ slowed down the growth of the whole plants. The roots accumulated more than 700 μg of Cu²⁺ and 400 μg of Pb²⁺ per 1 g dry weight when the plants were incubated with the higher concentrations of metals, whereas in the leaves the concentration of Cu²⁺ was much lower and did not exceed 12 μg/g dry weight. No accumulation of Pb²⁺ ions by leaves was detected. The lipid composition of photosynthetic leave tissues was shown to be affected by the presence of metal ions in the root medium at either concentration studied. Various changes in lipid classes were noted as responsive reactions of M. sthruthiopteris to the heavy metal ions in nutrient medium. Cu²⁺ ions decreased the content of total lipids, total phospholipids, and individual phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines, whereas Pb²⁺ ions caused a decrease in the content of total lipids and glycolipids. Changes in the lipid composition were more pronounced in the mature leaves than in the scrolls of the studied fern.     

Mepiquat chloride seed treatment and germination temperature effects on cotton growth,nutrient partitioning,and water use efficiency

Cotton seed (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. “Stoneville 825”), treated with 0, 0.2, 1.0, and 2.0 g active ingredient (a.i.) mepiquat chloride (MC) kg^?1, was evaluated for the effect of MC on early plant growth. Emergence rate and total emergence of MC-treated seed and control were similar regardless of germination temperature. However, the number of leaves and squares and the dry weight of leaves, stems, and roots for hydroponically grown cotton plants were significantly lower at lower germination temperatures (15°C for 3 day/30°C for 1 day and 15°C for 4 days) than at higher germination temperatures (30°C for 4 days and 30°C for 3 days/15°C for 1 day). All MC treatments significantly decreased the number of nodes, leaves, and squares, as well as dry weight of leaves, stems, and roots, as compared to control plants at 28 days after emergence. MC seed treatments also significantly reduced plant height and total leaf area compared to controls. Water-use efficiency (WUE) was significantly lower for the 1.0 g a.i. MC treatment than for control plants. In general, the highest rate of MC seed treatment resulted in greater concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, and nitrogen in plant leaves and stems and also in greater concentrations of magnesium, phosphorus, and nitrogen in roots than in controls.     

NaCl胁迫对滨梅扦插苗生物量和水分积累的影响

以1年生滨梅(Prunus maritima Marshall)扦插苗为实验材料,在盆栽条件下用质量浓度为0.15%、0.29%、0.58%、0.88%、1.17%、1.46%的NaCl溶液进行盐胁迫处理,测定胁迫后根、茎、叶Na+、K+含量以及全叶、一年生茎、二年生茎和根系生物量、含水率、根系活力变化,探讨滨梅的抗盐胁迫机制。结果显示:(1)盐胁迫80d后,随着盐胁迫强度提高,滨梅植株根、茎、叶Na+含量显著提高,而其根、茎K+含量显著降低,根、茎、叶K+/Na+值显著降低;根Na+含量在低于0.58%NaCl胁迫下显著高于茎、叶,而在高于0.58%NaCl胁迫下却表现为叶Na+含量显著高于根、茎。(2)滨梅根、茎、叶生物量均随盐胁迫强度的提高呈先增加后减少的趋势;随着盐胁迫时间的延长,茎、叶生物量在低于0.58%NaCl胁迫下均呈积累趋势,且茎生物量在0.58%NaCl胁迫下显著提高,而根、一年生茎、叶生物量在高于0.58%NaCl胁迫下均显著下降。(3)滨梅茎、叶含水率均随盐胁迫强度的增加呈先增加后减少的趋势,而随着胁迫时间的延长呈逐渐减少趋势;根系活力及根含水率均随盐胁迫强度的提高而增加,但根含水率随着胁迫时间的延长变化不明显。由此可见,滨梅能通过根系稀释并蓄积Na+,保护地上部分正常生长,当进入根系的Na+量超过吸收阈值时,Na+迅速在叶中积累储存,且叶中较高含量的K+对Na+形成了有效的缓冲。     

Partitioning of biologically fixed nitrogen in cowpea during pod development

Two days after exposure of roots to¹⁵N labeled N₂, partitioning of biologically fixed N into leaves, stems, peduncles, pods, roots and nodules was measured in the early pod development stage of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.). The experimental objective was to determine the quantity of biologically fixed N that is incorporated into vegetative tissue before being mobilized to pods. For the three varieties of cowpea included in the experiment a maximum of 50% of the N, biologically fixed two days earlier, was contained in the pods. The remaining N was distributed throughout the vegetative portion of the plant with at least 30% in stems and leaves which indicates that much of the newly fixed N must cycle through a N pool in these tissues before reaching the pods.     

PRELIMINARY RESULTS ON THE UPTAKE AND RELEASE OF 32P BY POTAMOGETON PECTINATUS

SUMMARY

The absorption and release of ³²PO₄, by Potamogeton pectinatus L during winter was investigated using a partitioned container in which the roots were separated from the stems and leaves. ³²PO₄ is absorbed by the roots as well as the stems and leaves under both light and dark conditions and transported to all parts of the plant. Transport rates (μg P plant^?1 24 hr^?1) show that more phosphorus is released by the roots than by the stems and leaves, indicating a nett movement of phosphorus from the surrounding water to the substrate. Foliar absorption of ³²P exceeds root absorption under both light and dark conditions.     

Microbial-enhanced Selenium and Iron Biofortification of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) - Applications in Phytoremediation and Biofortification

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and other mammals. Most dietary Se is derived from crops. To develop a Se biofortification strategy for wheat, the effect of selenate fertilization and bacterial inoculation on Se uptake and plant growth was investigated. YAM2, a bacterium with 99% similarity to Bacillus pichinotyi, showed many plant growth promoting characteristics. Inoculation with YAM2 enhanced wheat growth, both in the presence and absence of selenate: YAM2-inoculated plants showed significantly higher dry weight, shoot length and spike length compared to un-inoculated plants. Selenate also stimulated wheat growth; Un-inoculated Se-treated plants showed a significantly higher dry weight and shoot length compared to control plants without Se. Bacterial inoculation significantly enhanced Se concentration in wheat kernels (167%) and stems (252%), as well as iron (Fe) levels in kernels (70%) and stems (147%), compared to un-inoculated plants. Inoculated Se-treated plants showed a significant increase in acid phosphatase activity, which may have contributed to the enhanced growth. In conclusion; Inoculation with Bacillus sp. YAM2 is a promising Se biofortification strategy for wheat and potentially other crops.