Inheritance of emergence time and seedling growth at low temperatures in four lines of maize

Summary The improvement of rate of seedling emergence and early seedling growth of maize (Zea mays L.) under cool conditions has been an objective of breeding programs in cool regions for many years. To study inheritance of emergence time, and to determine if differences in emergence time were due to differences in seedling growth, F₁, F₂ and backcross generations of a diallel cross of two rapidly emerging lines from CIMMYT Pool 5, 5-113 and 5-154, and two elite Corn Belt Dent lines, A619 and A632, were grown in controlled environment rooms at low temperatures.The lines from Pool 5 emerged significantly faster than A619 and A632 over a range of low temperature conditions. This difference occurred both when the lines themselves were tested and when the lines were tested as male and female parents in crosses. The Pool 5 lines converted a higher proportion of their original seed to new root and shoot tissue than did A619 and A632, indicating that they had a faster seedling growth rate. Primarily this was due to a faster loss of seed reserve, rather than a more efficient conversion process.A significant difference occurred between A619 and A632 for emergence time, but this was not due to a difference in seedling growth rate.Reciprocal differences occurred only in the F₁ generation in crosses involving A619, and then marked effects could be attributed to the male parent. Reciprocal differences tended to disappear in the F₂. This suggested that the genotype of the embryo and endosperm was of much greater importance than the genotype of the maternal parent in determining differences of time to emergence and seedling growth.Mid-parent heterosis occurred for time to emergence and seed loss, a measure of mean rate of utilization of seed reserve, in all crosses. High parent heterosis occurred in several crosses for these traits. High parent heterosis occurred in all crosses for efficiency of utilization of seed reserve.A generation means analysis indicated that both additive and dominance effects were present for rate of seedling growth in crosses between A632 and the Pool 5 lines.     

Inheritance of emergence time at low temperatures in segregating generations of maize

Summary North Carolina Design III and generation means analyses were used to study the inheritance of seedling emergence time and a related seedling growth parameter in crosses between 5–154, a line from CIMMYT Pool 5 with rapid seedling emergence under cool conditions, and two Corn Belt Dent lines of maize (Zea mays L.). The crosses were evaluated at low temperatures in controlled environment rooms. Additive genetic variances were larger than dominance variances in both crosses and estimates of the average levels of dominance were in the partial dominance range. Dominance was in the direction of rapid seedling emergence and rapid utilization of seed reserve. Estimates of minimum numbers of effective factors provided evidence for polygenic inheritance.     

沙埋与水分对科尔沁沙地主要固沙植物出苗的影响

蒿属半灌木乌丹蒿(Artemisia wudanica)、白沙蒿(A. sphaerocephala)、差不嘎蒿(A. halodendron)是科尔沁沙地的主要固沙植物。其中乌丹蒿和差不嘎蒿是科尔沁沙地的本土植物,白沙蒿为来自于库布齐沙漠、毛乌素沙地的飞播植物。设置了 5个沙埋深度(0.5、1.0、1.5、2.0和3.0 cm)和 4个水分梯度(86、171、257和 342 mL,分别模拟每月25、50、75和100 mm的降雨量),以探讨3种植物幼苗出土对沙埋和水分的响应。结果表明,沙埋与水分均显著影响着3种蒿属植物的幼苗出土(P < 0.001)。3种植物最适沙埋深度在0.5-1.5 cm范围内,萌发出土时适宜水量要高于当地种子萌发期的平均降水量(50 mm/月)。两种固沙先锋植物乌丹蒿和白沙蒿的种子出苗率均显著高于差不嘎蒿,乌丹蒿较白沙蒿也明显为高,尤其在水分缺乏时,表现出两种先锋植物种子出苗对干旱有更好的适应性。协方差分析表明,乌丹蒿幼苗死亡率显著高于白沙蒿和差不嘎蒿(P < 0.05),在达到75 mm/月降水量时,3种植物的出苗较好,但不能满足乌丹蒿幼苗生长对水分的需求,而实际种子萌发期的降水量平均只有50 mm/月。因而降水的缺乏导致乌丹蒿种群更新出现问题,加之飞播植物的竞争,使得近几年科尔沁沙地较多乌丹蒿种群出现衰退。     

Photosynthesis at ambient and elevated humidity over a growing season in soybean

Daytime rates of net photosynthesis of upper canopy leaflets of soybeans were compared on 17 days for leaflets exposed to air at the ambient humidity and at a higher humidity. Leaflets at the higher humidity had higher rates of net photosynthesis on 16 of the 17 days. The daily total of net photosynthesis of leaflets at the higher humidity was on average 1.32 times that for leaflets at ambient humidity. A strong limitation of net photosynthesis by ambient humidity was found throughout the growing season.     

Tolerance to Heterodera glycines in Soybean

Fifty-four susceptible soybean, Glycine max, cultivars or plant introductions were evaluated for tolerance to H. glycines, the soybean cyst nematode (SCN). Seed yields of genotypes were compared in nematicide-treated (1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane, 58 kg a.i./ha) and nontreated plots at two SCN-infested locations over 3 years. Distinct and consistent levels of tolerance to SCN were observed among soybean genotypes. PI 97100, an introduction from Korea, exhibited the highest level of tolerance with an average tolerance index ([yield in nontreated plot ÷ yield in nematicide-treated plot] × 100) of 96 over 2 years. Coker 156 and Wright had moderate levels of tolerance (range in index values 68 to 95) compared to the intolerant cuhivars Bragg and Coker 237 (range in index values 33 to 68). Most of the soybean genotypes evaluated were intolerant to SCN. The rankings of five genotypes for tolerance to SCN and Hoplolaimus columbus were similar. Tolerance for seed yield was more consistently correlated with tolerance for plant height (r = 0.55 to 0.64) than for seed weight (r = 0.23 to 0.65) among genotypes.     

Effects of defoliation on seed protein concentration in normal and high protein lines of soybean

Two high (NC106, NC111) and two normal (NC103, NC107) seed protein concentration lines, derived from two different recurrent selection populations of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) were subjected to partial defoliation at beginning seed fill (R5) under outdoor pot culture and field conditions. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that capacity to store N in vegetative organs and/or to mobilize that N to reproductive organs is associated with the high seed protein concentration trait. Symbiotic N₂ fixation was the sole source of N in the pot experiment and the major source of N (met > 50% of the N requirement) in the low N soil used in the field experiment. Seed protein concentration and seed yield at maturity in both experiments and N accumulation and mobilization between R5 and maturity in the pot experiment were measured. The four genotypes did not differ significantly with respect to the amount of N accumulated before beginning seed fill (R5). Removal of up to two leaflets per trifoliolate leaf at R5 significantly decreased the seed protein concentration of NC107/111 but had no effect on this trait in NC103/106. Defoliation treatments significantly decreased seed yield, whole plant N accumulation (N₂-fixation) during reproductive growth and vegetative N mobilization of all genotypes. Differences in harvest indices between the high and low protein lines accounted for approximately 35% of the differences in protein concentration. The two normal protein lines mobilized more vegetative N to the seed (average. 5.26 g plant^–1) than the two high protein lines (average. 4.28 g plant^–1). The two high seed protein lines (NC106, NC111) exhibited significantly different relative dependencies of reproductive N accumulation on vegetative N mobilization, 45% vs. 29%, in the control treatment. Whereas, NC103 with normal and NC106 with high seed protein concentration exhibited similar relative dependencies of reproductive N accumulation on vegetative N mobilization, (47% vs. 45%). Collectively, these results indicate that N stored in shoot organs before R5 and greater absolute and relative contribution of vegetative N mobilization to the reproductive N requirement are not responsible for the high seed protein concentration trait.Abbreviations DAT days after transplanting - R5 fifth reproductive stage according to Fehr and Caviness, 1977 Mention of trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the United States Department of Agriculture and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.     

Seed germination at different temperatures and water stress levels,and seedling emergence from different depths of Ziziphus lotus

Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam. is a deciduous shrub with intricately branched stems in the Rhamnaceae family. It's a dominant and economically important species widely distributed in active sand dunes in the southern desert of Tunisia. To provide basic information for its conservation and reintroduction, we studied the influence of environmental factors on seed germination patterns. The germination responses of seeds were determined over a wide range of constant temperatures (10–50 °C), polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000 solutions of different osmotic potentials (0 to − 1 MPa) and burial depths (1–10 cm). Temperatures between 15 and 45 °C seem to be favorable for the germination of this species. Germination was inhibited by either an increase or decrease in temperature from the most suitable temperature found (35 °C). The highest germination percentages (100%) were obtained under control conditions without PEG, and increasing moisture stress progressively inhibited seed germination, which was less than 5% at − 1 MPa. When tested for germination in distilled water, after PEG treatments, seeds germinated to the same extent as when fresh. When seeds buried deeply, there was a significant decrease in seedling emergence percentage and rate. Seedlings of Z. lotus emerged well at depths of 1–2 cm and could not emerge when sand burial depth was > 4 cm.     

Nod Bj-V (C18:1, MeFuc) production by Bradyrhizobium japonicum (USDA110, 532C) at suboptimal growth temperatures

Nod factors (Lipo-chitooligosaccharides, or LCOs) act as bacteria-to-plant signal molecules that modulate early events of the Bradyrhizobium-soybean symbiosis. It is known that low root zone temperature inhibits the early stages of this symbiosis; however, the effect of low soil temperature on bacteria-to-plant signaling is largely uninvestigated. We evaluated the effect of low growth temperatures on the production kinetics of Nod factor (LCO) by B. japonicum. Two strains of B. japonicum, 532C and USDA110, were tested for ability to synthesize Nod Bj-V (C(18:1), MeFuc) at three growth temperatures (15, 17 and 28 degrees C). The greatest amounts of the major Nod factor, Nod Bj-V (C(18:1), MeFuc), were produced at 28 degrees C for both strains. At 17 and 15 degrees C, the Nod factor production efficiency, per cell, of B. japonicum 532C and USDA110 was markedly decreased with the lowest Nod factor concentration per cell occurring at 15 degrees C. Strain 532C was more efficient at Nod factor production per cell than strain USDA 110 at all growth temperatures. The biological activity of the extracted Nod factor was unaffected by culture temperature. This study constitutes the first demonstration of reduced Nod factor production efficiency (per cell production) under reduced temperatures, suggesting another way that lower temperatures inhibit establishment of the soybean N(2) fixing symbiosis.     

胜红蓟种子萌发/出苗对环境因子的响应

胜红蓟为我国南部低海拔区域农田和果园恶性杂草。为揭示胜红蓟环境适应规律、明确其危害性,评价和分析了胜红蓟种子萌发对光照、温度、pH、盐度、渗透势等环境因子的响应特征。结果表明:胜红蓟种子在10—30℃内均能萌发,最适萌发温度为20℃,交替温度处理可提高种子的萌发率。胜红蓟种子萌发对光照敏感,无光照处理种子不萌发。土壤相对湿度在50%—100%范围内,种子出苗率均高于55%,最适相对湿度为70%。胜红蓟种子仅能在土壤表面萌发,1 cm的播种深度完全抑制种子萌发。pH值在5—10之间,种子萌发率高于85%,最适pH值为7。NaCl浓度在0—80 mmol/L以内种子萌发率超过88%,浓度为160 mmol/L时萌发率接近30%。渗透势在-0.40—0 MPa以内种子萌发率高于70%,渗透势为-0.6 MPa时种子不能萌发。由此可见,胜红蓟种子萌发具有广阔的环境适生范围,对农作物具有较强的早期危害性。     

Dynamics of Seed Protein Biosynthesis in Two Soybean Genotypes Differing in Drought Susceptibility

The dynamics of seed storage protein biosynthesis was studied under field conditions during two vegetative seasons. Two soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) genotypes were examined: BOSA (drought tolerant) and L 121 (drought susceptible). Seed samples were taken from plants at three stages of seed maturation (50 and 70 d after flowering, and at full maturity). The earlier synthesis of the -subunit of the 7S protein occurred in the drought susceptible cultivar. We have not found such differences in the synthesis of the - and -subunits of the 7S protein. Our results did not confirm significant genotypic differences in protein composition of the mature seeds between the cultivars studied, but have pointed out to the differences in the dynamics of protein biosynthesis during seed maturation and desiccation.     

Stability of Soybean Recombinant Plastome Over Six Generations

The stability of a plastid transgene has been evaluated in soybean transformants over six generations. These transformants had integrated the aadA selection cassette in the intergenic region between the rps12/7 and trnV genes. Three independent homoplasmic T0 transformation events were selected and ten plants from each event propagated to generation T5 in the absence of selection pressure. No transgene rearrangement nor wild-type plastome were detected in generation T5 by Southern blot analysis. All tested progenies were uniformly resistant to spectinomycin. Therefore, soybean transformants of generations T0 and T5 appear to be genetically and phenotypically identical.     

Soybean genotypic differences in sensitivity of symbiotic nitrogen fixation to soil dehydration

Nitrogen fixation activity by soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) nodules has been shown to be especially sensitive to soil dehydration. Specifically, nitrogen fixation rates have been found to decrease in response to soil dehydration preceding alterations in plant gas exchange rates. The objective of this research was to investigate possible genetic variation in the sensitivity of soybean cultivars for nitrogen fixation rates in response to soil drying. Field tests showed substantial variation among cultivars with Jackson and CNS showing the least sensitivity in nitrogen accumulation to soil drying. Glasshouse experiments confirmed a large divergence among cultivars in the nitrogen fixation response to drought. Nitrogen fixation in Jackson was again found to be tolerant of soil drying, but the other five cultivars tested, including CNS, were found to be intolerant. Experiments with CNS which induced localized soil drying around the nodules did not result in decreases in nitrogen fixation rates, but rather nitrogen fixation responded to drying of the entire rooting volume. The osmotic potential of nodules was found to decrease markedly upon soil drying. However, the decrease in nodule osmotic potential occurred after significant decreases in nitrogen fixation rates had already been observed. Overall, the results of this study indicate that important genetic variations for sensitivity of nitrogen fixation to soil drying exist in soybean, and that the variation may be useful in physiology and breeding studies.     

埋深和播种密度对豚草种子出苗及幼苗生长的影响

豚草是一种全球性的恶性入侵杂草,给我国生物多样性及经济发展造成了巨大威胁。为研究豚草种子出苗和幼苗生长的影响因素,采用盆栽实验分析了种子大小（L、M、S）与埋深（2、4 cm和6 cm）或播种密度（2、4粒/盆和8粒/盆）对豚草（Ambrosia artemisiifolia）种子的出苗和幼苗生长的影响。研究结果表明,埋深对豚草种子出苗的影响高于播种密度及种子大小的影响,较浅的埋深有利于豚草种子出苗;出苗率在不同播种密度下均具有较高水平,达到67.9%-100%,这种高出苗率是豚草在不同生境成功定植的原因之一。豚草的幼苗生长受埋深或播种密度的影响大于种子大小的影响,且小种子更易受埋深或播种密度的影响。种子大小显著影响豚草幼苗的株高和基径（P<0.05）,总体上较大种子的株高和基径高于小种子,此外更小的种子会将生物量更多的分配给根以促进幼苗的生长。幼苗的株高和基径在较浅的埋深下更高,而豚草幼苗的单株生物量、单株地上和地下生物量随埋深的增加而增加。播种密度的增加会加剧豚草幼苗之间对水分、营养、光照等资源的竞争,导致其单株地上、地下及总生物量显著降低（P<0.05）。研究发现豚草在浅埋深、低密度生境中更容易入侵成功,因此可以通过对土壤进行深翻,采取替代控制,种植竞争能力强的本地植物等手段有效管理和防治豚草。     

Coating Soybean Seed with Oxamyl for Control of Heterodera glycines

Oxamyl coated on soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Elgin) seeds in solutions of 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg/ml had no serious deleterious effects on seedling emergence and growth when planted in sterile soil. Seedling emergence on day 3 was less than that of the uncoated control, but by day 7 emergence was equal to, or greater than, the control. Shoot and root growth from seed coated with oxamyl in 40 and 80 mg/ml solutions was greater than that of the control. In soil infested with soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines, shoot weight of soybean plants from seeds coated with oxamyl in 80 mg/ml solution was 11 and 9% greater at weeks 3 and 7, respectively, than from uncoated seeds. Numbers of juveniles (J3 and J4) and adults of H. glycines observed on the roots of plants from oxamyl-coated seeds were 83, 42, and 49% less at weeks 3, 5, and 7, respectively, than numbers on the roots of the untreated control. Numbers of J2 extracted from the roots of plants from oxamyl-coated seeds were 75% less at weeks 5 and 7 than those extracted from roots of uncoated seeds. The numbers of J2 extracted from the soil planted to oxamyl-coated seeds were 51 and 33% less at weeks 5 and 7, respectively, than from soil planted to uncoated seed.     

Differential Expression of Peroxidase Isoenzymes in Soybean Roots Treated with the Benzothiadiazole

The protection compound benzo-(1,2,3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester (BTH) was applied to soybean roots or leaves in a dose of 20 cm³ of a solution containing 25 μg g⁻¹ of the active ingredient. Electrophoretic profiles of chitinase and superoxide dismutase were not altered by the product. Increased activity of two root anionic peroxidases and three differential isoforms of these enzymes were observed in plants with roots treated by BTH, which can be used as biochemical markers of the BTH effect. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Soybean leaf responses to threecornered alfalfa hopper petiole girdling

Specific leaf weight, percent moisture, and free sugar, starch, and amino nitrogen content of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) leaves were measured at 1, 3, 7, and 10 day(s) after petiole girdling by threecornered alfalfa hopper,Spissistilus festinus (Say) (Homoptera: Membracidae) nymphs. Leaf starch was increased at 1, 3, and 7 day(s) after girdling and largely accounted for corresponding increases in specific leaf weight and decreases in percent moisture, free sugars, and amino nitrogen. Specific leaf weight was increased at 10 days after girdling despite no increase in starch. Amino nitrogen content was decreased 10 days after girdling. When leaf dry weights were corrected for starch, free sugar content was not affected by girdling, and amino nitrogen content was reduced only at 3 and 10 days. The amino nitrogen: free sugar ratio was reduced only at 10 days after girdling. Changes in leaf starch indicated a rapid but reversible effect of girdling on leaf carbohydrate metabolism.     

Effect of Chilling on DNA Endoreplication in Root Cortex Cells and Root Hairs of Soybean Seedlings

Relative nuclear DNA contents in cortex parenchyma cells in root segments of 3- and 7-d-old soybean seedlings grown at 25 °C and in plants grown for 3 d at 25 °C, and then for 4 d at 10 °C, were determined with cytophotometry. Measurements revealed that in each variant the cortex cell nuclei with DNA content between 2C and 8C were in all the examined segments and nuclei with 8C – 16C DNA appeared in higher parts of roots. However, in chilled plant cells the number of 8C – 16C DNA nuclei was very low. Therefore, chilling inhibited endoreplication in comparison with plants grown at 25 °C for 7 d, and even reduced endopolyploidy level as compared to the initial seedlings, i.e. 3-d-old plants. DNA contents in root hairs grown at 25 °C (control) and in root hairs emerged at 10 °C were also determined. In controls 4C – 8C DNA nuclei predominated while in chilled plants an additional population of 2C – 4C DNA appeared. Thus a reduction of DNA synthesis was brought about by low temperature. The occurrence of an intermediate DNA contents besides those with full endoreplication cycles suggests the possibility of differential DNA replication. This suggestion seems to be supported by the lack of ³H-thymidine incorporation into root hair nuclei at the examined developmental stage both in control and chilled root hairs. The same number, but larger, chromocentric lumps in polyploid cortex cell nuclei of higher root zones, in comparison to meristematic nuclei, suggests that endoreduplication process occurred. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Germination responses to temperature responsible for the seedling emergence seasonality ofPrimula sieboldii E. Morren in its natural habitat

Temperature requirements for the breaking of seed dormancy and germination inPrimula sieboldii E. Morren and the annual surface-soil temperature regime in one of its natural habitats were investigated in order to clarify the germination responses determining the seedling emergence seasonality of the species. In a grassland nature reserve in an abandoned flood plain of the Arakawa River, natural seedling emergence of the species was shown to be restricted to mid- to late-spring before the closure of seasonal vegetational gaps, when the daily mean soil surface temperature reached about 15°C, accompanied by large daily fluctuations of about 10°C. Mature seeds collected in late June were never able to germinate at any constant temperature in the range of 8–40°C unless they had been previously subjected to moist-chilling treatment. The proportion of seeds which were released from dormancy increased with increasing duration of the moist-chilling treatment at 2°C, 70–85% of seeds becoming germinable at 16–28°C after 12 weeks of pretreatment at 2°C. The thermal time required for the germination of the thus-pretreated seed population was 905–1690 Kh with a base temperature of around 5°C. Fluctuating temperatures between 24°C and 16 or 12°C had a remarkable dormancy-breaking effect, inducing considerably quick germination in most of the seeds previously subjected to 2°C moist-chilling for 8 weeks.     

The Decrease of Extracted Apoplast Protein in Soybean Root Tip by Aluminium Treatment

Aluminium effect on the mobility of apoplast protein in root tips was studied. Two-day seedlings of soybean (Glycine max. (L.) Merr. cv. Tsurunoko) were treated with 50 μM AlCl₃ for 2 h. Using infiltration method, the apoplast protein in root tips was extracted with 20 or 100 mM MgCl₂. When 20 mM MgCl₂ was used to collect weakly bound protein to apoplast, the amount of protein extracted was reduced to be about 20 % compared with that of control and the band of 97 kDa disappeared in SDS-PAGE gel. However, the 97 kDa protein could be extracted by 100 mM MgCl₂, which were used for extraction of more tightly bound protein to apoplast, and the amount was estimated to be the same as that of control. When the protein was further developed in two-dimensional electrophoresis, three spots were found between pI 6.4 and 6.5. This is the first report of an Al effect on the mobility of apoplast protein. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.