Effect of tillage system on the root growth of spring wheat

Little research has examined the influence of tillage system on root growth in wheat grown on rainfed Vertisols. A 3-year field study (2003, 2004 and 2005) was carried out on a typical Vertisol (southern Spain), to determine the effects of tillage system on root growth in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L) grown in continuous rotation with faba bean (Vicia faba L), within the framework of the long-term “Malagón” experiment started in 1986. Tillage treatments were no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT), and the experiment was designed as a randomized complete block with three replications. The following parameters were measured: above-ground biomass, grain yield, root length density (RLD), root biomass (RB) and root N content. In the topmost 10 cm of soil, higher values were found under CT than under NT for RLD in the rainiest year (20.2 km m^?3 vs. 9.6 km m^?3 respectively) and for RB (512 kg ha^?1 vs. 261 kg ha^?1 respectively) in all study years. In deeper layers, no difference was recorded between the two tillage systems. Greater wheat root development in the upper soil layer under CT may reflect the greater soil penetration resistance found in the topmost 10 cm under NT. Root separation using a sieve with a 0.5 mm mesh screen led to a marked underestimation of RLD and RB, with values up to three times higher when using a 0.2 mm mesh screen. Mean wheat root N content in the topmost 30 cm of soil accounted for over 80% of total root N content. The highest grain yield was observed under NT, since this system provided greater water storage in the soil profile in the mostly dry study years.     

耕作和养分管理方式对冬小麦-夏玉米轮作农田春季杂草群落的影响

保护性耕作和杂草多样性是现代生态农业关注的热点问题.尽管保护性耕作下农田杂草多样性有所提高,但耕作方式与养分管理方式对农田杂草群落多样性的交互影响尚未探明.本研究以山东省济南市一块连续3年施行不同耕作方式(免耕、深松、旋耕、深耕)和不同养分管理措施(农户常规:年施氮肥480 kg·hm^-2,高产高效:年施氮肥360 kg·hm^-2,优化管理:年施氮肥300 kg·hm^-2)的冬小麦-夏玉米轮作农田为研究样地,调查并比较了不同管理模式下农田春季杂草群落特征.结果表明: 该冬小麦-夏玉米农田春季杂草群落共发现杂草15种,其中优势物种为马唐和稗;与深耕和旋耕相比,免耕和深松下杂草密度较高.在群落多样性方面,深耕处理下的物种丰富度和均匀度最低,而群落优势度高于其余3种耕作方式;在养分管理中,随着施肥量的增加,物种丰富度和均匀度均升高;深耕和旋耕处理下,随着施肥量的增加,群落优势度升高;而在免耕深松处理下,群落优势度会随着施肥量的增加而减少.在杂草群落生物量方面,免耕和深松的生物量显著高于深耕和旋耕,农户常规处理均高于其余两种养分管理方式,杂草生物量最高的组合是免耕+农户常规.免耕和施肥将提高农田春季杂草群落丰富度、均匀度和生产力.     

Ultrastructural changes in the midguts of Hessian fly larvae feeding on resistant wheat

The focus of the present study was to compare ultrastructure in the midguts of larvae of the Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say), under different feeding regimens. Larvae were either fed on Hessian fly-resistant or -susceptible wheat, and each group was compared to starved larvae. Within 3 h of larval Hessian fly feeding on resistant wheat, midgut microvilli were disrupted, and after 6 h, microvilli were absent. The disruption in microvilli in larvae feeding on resistant wheat were similar to those reported for midgut microvilli of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilasis (Hubner), larvae fed a diet containing wheat germ agglutinin. Results from the present ultrastructural study, coupled with previous studies documenting expression of genes encoding lectin and lectin-like proteins is rapidly up-regulated in resistant wheat to larval Hessian fly, are indications that the midgut is a target of plant resistance compounds. In addition, the midgut of the larval Hessian fly is apparently unique among other dipterans in that no peritrophic membrane was observed. Ultrastructural changes in the midgut are discussed from the prospective of their potential affects on the gut physiology of Hessian fly larvae and the mechanism of antibiosis in the resistance of wheat to Hessian fly attack.     

Resistance of spring wheat cultivars and lines to leaf rust

Spring wheat nursery accessions, including 18 spring wheat lines derived in CIMMYT, Mexico, and 12 spring wheat cultivars bred in Poland, along with cultivars Frontana and Sumai 3 as resistant controls, were examined for resistance to leaf rust under field conditions. Multipathotype tests with 16 different pathogen isolates were performed for postulation of Lr genes in Polish cultivars. Besides, STS markers for resistance genes Lr1, Lr9, Lr10, Lr24, Lr28, Lr37 were analysed in the studied cultivars and lines with Thatcher near-isogenic lines as positive controls. All Polish cultivars appeared to be susceptible to leaf rust. Ten of the CIMMYT nursery lines (IPG-SW: #7, 11, 14, 21, 22, 23, 27, 29, 30, 32) and cv. Frontana were resistant in the same environment and can be sources of resistance genes. Marker for the Lr10 gene was identified in 6 accessions (IPG-SW #14, 22, 23, 29, 30, 32) exhibiting resistance to leaf rust, whereas markers for Lr1 and Lr28 genes were observed in all the examined accessions. STS markers for Lr9, Lr24 and Lr37 genes were not identified in the investigated accessions.     

Weed development in spring wheat after contrasting soil tillage and nitrogen management

Soil tillage and nitrogen (N) management effects on weed species composition were evaluated in 2013 and 2014 on a clayey soil after 5‐years of organic management at the Royal Agricultural University's Harnhill Manor Farm, UK. Three tillage systems – Conventional Tillage (CT), and High and Low Intensity Non‐inversion Tillage (HINiT & LINiT) – were compared at four N fertiliser rates of 0, 70, 140 and 210 kg N ha^?1. Broad‐spectrum herbicide was applied before soil operations across the site in both years. Previous organic management legacy of high weed biomass promoted greater weed prevalence in 2013 while 2‐years of herbicide inclusion reduced weed biomass. Contrasting weather conditions across the seasons affected weed incidence. In the 2014 wet season, early weed dry weight (DM) was higher under HINiT than CT and LINiT, while no differences were observed in the 2013 dry year. At midseason, weed DM was higher under HINiT than CT and LINiT in both years, which was related to higher DM of the dominant weeds Stellaria media (L.) Vill. and Sinapis arvensis L. Grass weed DM was higher under non‐inversion tillage than CT. N fertilisation increased midseason total weed DM and weed prevalence at harvest. Spring wheat yield was the highest under CT while LINiT produced 17% higher yields than HINiT. Despite higher but still tolerable weed prevalence under both non‐inversion tillage systems and with the application of N, weeds alone was not the only yield‐limiting factor. However, results show that CT is the most reliable option for weed control in changing weather, while N fertilisation rates needs to be considered.     

长期耕作方式对小麦光合特性和产量的影响

以济麦22为供试材料,在大田条件下,9年定位设置旋耕(R)、翻耕(P)、间隔2年深松+条旋耕(SRS)、间隔2年深松+旋耕(RS)4种耕作方式,在2014—2015年和2015—2016年小麦生长季研究不同耕作方式对小麦旗叶光合特性、干物质积累与分配和产量的影响.结果表明: SRS处理小麦旗叶净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)和气孔导度(g_s)在开花后21～35 d均显著高于其他处理.灌浆期SRS处理平均冠层光合有效辐射(PAR)截获率显著高于RS和P处理,R处理最低.成熟期SRS处理干物质积累量、开花后干物质向籽粒的分配量和对籽粒的贡献率最高,均显著高于其他处理.SRS处理小麦籽粒产量和水分利用效率均显著高于其他处理;总耗水量与RS处理无显著差异,显著高于P和R处理.在本试验条件下,间隔2年深松+条旋耕的耕作方式是节水高产高效的最佳耕作处理.     

Solid-stemmed spring wheat cultivars give better androgenic response than hollow-stemmed cultivars in anther culture

Solid-stemmed spring wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) are resistant to the stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus Nort.) and lodging. Anthers of 24 spring wheat cultivars with varying content of pith in the stem were used in the experiment. All were classified into three groups: solid, medium–solid and hollow stems. There was considerable influence of the cultivar on callus formation and green plant regeneration. The highest efficiency of green plant regeneration (24%) was observed for the solid-stemmed AC Abbey cultivar. There was no regeneration from the explants of four cultivars: CLTR 7027, Alentejano, Marquis and Bombona. Principal component analysis showed no differences between the cases under observation (callus induction and green plant regeneration) in their response to pre-treatment temperatures (4 and 8°C). The examination of the effects of various auxin types in the induction medium on callus formation and green plant regeneration revealed that the strongest stimulation of these processes was observed in the C17 medium with 2,4-D and dicamba. The efficiency of callus formation and green plant regeneration was greater in solid-stemmed cultivars than in hollow-stemmed cultivars.     

春小麦竞争能力与产量的关系

采用deWit替代系列实验确定了4个春小麦品种混播时的竞争能力与单播产量之间的关系。4个春小麦品种竞争能力由强到弱的排序依次为定西-24、和尚头、陇春-8139和高原-602。各品种单播时产量由高到低的排序依次为现代品种定西-24、陇春-8139、高原-602与地方品种和尚头。该结果表明,以优化个体适合度为目标的自然选择,导致个体竞争能力提高、繁殖分配下降,因而产生‘生长冗余’及群体表现下降。现代小麦育种通过降低竞争能力,剔除生长冗余,可以提高小麦单位面积产量(如地方品种和尚头与现代品种高原-602和陇春-8139的比较)。然而,如果现代小麦育种可以同时提高收获指数和地上生物量(如现代品种定西-24与陇春-8139和高原-602的比较),那么具有相对较高竞争能力的品种仍然可望获得较高产量,其前提是具有较高竞争能力的育成品种有着较高的收获指数。因此,春小麦品种的个体竞争能力并不必然地与产量相关,当选育的品种可以使竞争能力与收获指数同步提高,或者伴随着竞争能力的提高,收获指数具有更大幅度的提高,仍然可以获得高产。半干旱地区作物育种应集中于收获指数和地上生物量的同时提高。     

不同耕作方式对陇中旱农区春小麦和豌豆根系空间分布及产量的影响

依托陇中旱农区长期的保护性耕作定位试验,对不同耕作方式下春小麦和豌豆根系空间分布特征及作物产量进行研究,以探索耕作措施影响作物产量的机制.结果表明: 随着生育期的推进,春小麦和豌豆的总根长、根表面积呈先增后减的趋势,开花期达到最大;春小麦根系苗期以0～10 cm最多,花期、成熟期10～30 cm最多;而豌豆根系苗期和成熟期均以0～10 cm最多,花期10～30 cm最多.免耕秸秆覆盖和免耕覆膜增加了根长和根表面积,春小麦和豌豆各生育时期的根长较传统耕作增加了35.9%～92.6%,根表面积增加了43.2%～162.4%.免耕秸秆覆盖和免耕覆膜优化了春小麦和豌豆根系分布,与传统耕作相比,增加了春小麦和豌豆苗期0～10 cm土层根长和根表面积分布比例,花期和成熟期深层次根系分布也显著增加,免耕秸秆覆盖在开花期30～80 cm土层根长和根表面积的分布比例分别比传统耕作提高了3.3%和9.7%.春小麦各生育期的总根长、根表面积与产量呈显著正相关,豌豆各生育期的总根长与豌豆产量呈极显著正相关.免耕秸秆覆盖和免耕覆膜较传统耕作春小麦和豌豆产量增加23.4%～38.7%,水分利用效率提高了13.7%～28.5%.在陇中旱农区,免耕秸秆覆盖和免耕覆膜可以增加作物根长和根表面积,优化了根系在土壤中的空间分布,增强作物根层吸收能力,从而提高作物产量和水分高效利用.     

Inheritance of the light intensity response in spring cultivars of common wheat

The effects of low/high light intensities and day length on ear emergence time in climatic chambers were studied in 12 common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars of different ecogeographical origin. Low light intensity (LI) affected the time to ear emergence in all the wheat cultivars of both the photoperiod sensitive and insensitive genotypes, increasing the number of days to ear emergence (DEE). Based on the increase in DEE, we chose samples with different light intensity responses among the cultivars and analyzed their F2 hybrids to see if they were segregating. Taken together, the data for the F2 plants and test cross showed that the strong response to light intensity is a recessive trait and that the parental cultivars differ by the two genes controlling the LI response in common wheat. Besides heading time, low LI increased the number of days to tillering in all the cultivars except Pitic 62, but short day affected the period to tillering less than low LI. The symbol Rli (the response to light intensity) is suggested to designate the genetic control of the response to LI in wheat. Thus, the response to LI may influence the adaptability to changing environmental conditions and yield of wheat cultivars.     

Genealogy-based comparative analysis of loose smut resistance of spring common wheat cultivars

Comparative genealogical analysis was conducted for loose smut-resistant and susceptible common wheat cultivars of three regions: Russia, Canada, and India. Pedigree analysis of differentiator varieties revealed several sources of the Ut1, Ut3, and Ut4 genes. Tracking resistance transmission in extended pedigrees allowed identification of resistance donors, sources, and, in some cases, putative genes in Russian, Canadian, and Indian cultivars. A contingency table was constructed with the data on resistance or susceptibility of 839 common and durum wheat cultivars and demonstrated a significant association for resistance to two, loose and stinking, types of smut.     

Allele characterization of storage protein loci in the Greek spring wheat cultivars

Genotypes at the storage protein loci Glu-A1, Glu-B1, Glu-D1, Gli-A1, Gli-B1, Gli-D1, Gli-A3 were identified in a group of Greek spring common wheat varieties. These varieties served as the parental forms for producing dihaploid lines. Heterogeneous varieties were revealed.     

Adapting wheat cultivars to resource conserving farming practices and human nutritional needs

As farmers increasingly adopt resource conserving farming practices, there is a need for wheat cultivars that better adapt to the changing environment and the nutritional needs of people, particularly those living in developing countries. Improved adaptation to zero and minimum tillage, better water use efficiency, improved root health, durable resistance to foliar diseases and enhanced nutritional value of the grain are key selection criteria for plant breeders. Significant responses to selection for these constraints have been achieved at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), by selecting segregating populations and advanced lines in carefully managed tillage, moisture deficit and heat stressed environments, that correlate with key spring wheat growing environments globally. Root health has been improved through a combination of marker assisted selection and disease bioassays, and the nutritional value of wheat grain has been enhanced using genetic variation for high Fe and Zn grain content found among tetraploid wheat ancestral species.     

RAPD polymorphisms in spring wheat cultivars and lines with different level of Fusarium resistance

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers have been used to characterize the genetic diversity among 35 spring wheat cultivars and lines with different levels of Fusarium resistance. The objectives of this study were to determine RAPD-based genetic similarity between accessions and to derive associations between Fusarium head blight (FHB) and RAPD markers. Two bulked DNA from either highly resistant lines or susceptible lines were used to screen polymorphic primers. Out of 160 screened primers, 17 primers generated reproducible and polymorphic fragments. Genetic similarity calculated from the RAPD data ranged from 0.64 to 0.98. A dendrogram was prepared on the basis of a similarity matrix using the UPGMA algorithm, which corresponded well with the results of principal component analysis and separated the 35 genotypes into two groups. Association analysis between RAPD markers and the FHB index detected three RAPD markers, H19(1000), F2(500) and B1(2400), significantly associated with FHB-resistant genotypes. These results suggest that a collection of unrelated genotypes can be used to identify markers linked to an agronomically important quantitative trait like FHB. These markers will be useful for marker-assistant breeding and can be used as candidate markers for further gene mapping and cloning.     

Resistance of cultivars and breeding lines of spring wheat to Fusarium culmorum and powdery mildew

Twelve Polish spring wheat cultivars and 18 spring wheat accessions from CIMMYT, Mexico, were examined for resistance to a highly pathogenic Fusarium culmorum strain KF846 and powdery mildew in 5-year field experiments. Resistant wheat cultivars (Sumai 3 and Frontana) served as controls. The mean percentage of Fusarium-damaged kernels (% FDK) for 5 years was lower in CIMMYT accessions (16.7%) than in Polish spring cultivars (28.3%). In all Polish spring cultivars, % FDK was higher than in the control cultivars Sumai 3 and Frontana (12-20%). The mean disease score (on a scale of 1-9) for powdery mildew (natural infection) for all examined cultivars and lines ranged from 0 to 7 and in the Polish spring cultivars was significantly lower (0-5). Cultivars Eta, Henika, Ismena, Jasna and Olimpia were found to be the least susceptible to powdery mildew in field experiments. The laboratory host-pathogen tests with Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici isolates showed that only two cultivars were characterized by identical resistance patterns as the standard differential lines with documented resistance genes. Cultivar Alkora had the gene Pm3d, and Henika had Pm5. The gene Pm3d was identified in cultivars Jasna and Eta in combination with another unknown gene/genes. Cultivars Santa and Torka had the gene Pm5 in combination with another unknown gene/genes. Four cultivars: Banti, Ismena, Olimpia and Sigma, showed resistance to all mildew isolates employed in a laboratory test. The accession IPG-SW-14 was the least susceptible to both pathogens (F. culmorum and powdery mildew) in all 5 years of experiments. This line is the best candidate for deriving new cultivars with improved resistance to fungal diseases.     

Impact of tillage practices on soil bacterial diversity and composition under the tobacco-rice rotation in China

Tobacco-rice rotation is a common farming system in south China, and many tillage practices such as straw mulching, dolomite dust, and quicklime application have been adopted to improve crop production. These agricultural management practices alter soil physical and chemical properties and affect microbial life environment and community composition. In this research, six tillage practices including no tobacco and rice straw mulching (CK), tobacco and rice straw mulching (TrSr), rice straw returning fire (TrSc), tobacco and rice straw mulching with dolomite dust (TSD), rice straw returning fire and quicklime (TSQ), and rice straw returning fire, quicklime and reduced fertilizer (TSQf) were conducted to detect changes in soil bacterial diversity and composition using Illumina sequencing. The results showed that the total number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) from the six treatments was 2030, and the number of mutual OTUs among all samples was 550. The TrSc treatment had the highest diversity and richness, while TSQf had the lowest. Soil physio-chemical properties and microbial diversity can influence each other. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria had the greatest proportion in all treatments. The abundance of Nitrospirae was the highest in the TrSc treatment. The TSQf treatment had the highest abundance of Firmicutes. The abundance of Nitrospira in the TrSc treatment was 2.29-fold over CK. Streptomyces affiliated with Firmicutes improved by 37.33% in TSQf compared to TSQ. TSQf treatment was considered to be the most important factor in determining the relative abundance at the genus level.     

耕作方式对冬小麦灌浆期光合性能日变化和籽粒产量的影响

研究耕作方式对冬小麦灌浆期光合性能日变化的影响,对灌浆期干物质积累、转运以及产量形成具有重要的理论意义.本研究以中国农业大学吴桥实验站2008年设置的长期耕作定位试验为基础,分析了免耕秸秆不还田(NT)、免耕秸秆还田(NTS)、旋耕秸秆不还田(RT)、旋耕秸秆还田(RTS)、深松秸秆不还田(DT)、深松秸秆还田(DTS)、翻耕秸秆不还田(CT)和翻耕秸秆还田(CTS)耕作处理对冬小麦灌浆期旗叶光合特性日变化、光响应曲线和产量的影响.结果表明: 不同耕作方式对冬小麦灌浆期旗叶净光合速率日变化和气孔导度日变化的影响均呈双峰曲线变化趋势,秸秆还田下不同耕作方式的冬小麦旗叶净光合速率高于相应的秸秆不还田处理;各耕作方式对冬小麦旗叶胞间CO₂浓度日变化的影响均呈“广口V型”双峰曲线变化趋势;除DTS、RTS和RT处理冬小麦旗叶的蒸腾速率日变化规律呈单峰曲线变化外,其他各处理冬小麦旗叶的蒸腾速率日变化均呈“双峰曲线”变化趋势.模拟的最大净光合速率以DTS处理最大,分别比NT、DT、RT、CT、NTS、RTS和CTS处理增加了20.0%、21.7%、19.7%、21.5%、0.8%、12.1%和4.2%;秸秆还田条件下各处理的光响应曲线拟合程度均优于秸秆不还田处理.DTS籽粒产量最高,RTS次之,CTS再次,CT处理最小,DTS处理的籽粒产量分别比NTS、RTS、CTS、NT、DT、RT和CT处理高10.8%、1.3%、2.1%、5.4%、11.9%、12.4%和12.6%.通过光合速率和气孔导度日变化趋势可得,不同耕作方式下秸秆还田技术,特别是DTS和NTS处理可减缓光合午休现象,使冬小麦维持较高的光合速率,有利于干物质积累和产量的提高.     

Fungal spore diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with spring wheat: effects of tillage

We investigated the influence of tilling, N fertilization and crop stage on arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) fungal species diversity in a wheat monoculture in the Pampa region of Argentina. Glomalean spores were isolated by wet sieving and decanting from conventionally tilled and nontilled soils cropped with wheat with or without N fertilization, at three phenological stages of the crop (tilling, flowering and grain filling) and fallow. Morphological characterization yielded at least 24 AM fungi taxa in the field samples, belonging to six genera of AMF: Acaulospora Archaeospora, Entrophospora, Gigaspora, Glomus and Scutellospora. Tilling and fertilization treatments did not result in decreased spore biodiversity. Wheat phenology influenced AM communities, with highest spore biodiversity during grain filling.