Analysis of Dry Matter Partitioning in Dactylis glomerata during Vegetative Growth Using a Carbon Budget Model

The dry matter partitioning in vegetative plants of Dactylisglomerata was studied from experiments performed in controlledenvironments. Plants were grown hydroponically in growth chambers,at two constant temperatures (17 and 25 °C). In both experimentsthe root fraction decreased regularly with time, an effect thatwas more accentuated in the higher temperature regime. In orderto explain the change in dry matter partitioning, the experimentalshoot and root growth were analysed using a carbon budget modelwhich includes shoot and root maintenance requirements. Themodel predicts a relationship between the root specific growthrate and the product of shoot specific growth rate and shootto root dry weight ratio. In the range of experimental accuracy,this relationship was found to be linear at both temperatures,which should indicate that the partitioning coefficients andthe root maintenance coefficient remained constant during vegetativegrowth. The effect of temperature on the value of these coefficientscan be specified from a linear regression analysis. Between17 and 25 °C, the root maintenance coefficient increasedby about a factor of two, whereas the partitioning coefficientsdid not vary significantly. On the basis of these results, itwas shown that the decrease in root fraction during vegetativegrowth should be mainly attributed to the decrease in net specificactivity of shoots.Copyright 1994, 1999 Academic Press Dactylis glomerata L., vegetative growth, model, partitioning, root:shoot ratio, shoot specific activity, maintenance requirements     

Time Changes of Relative Growth-rate in two Natural Populations of Dactylis glomerata L.

Changes in the relative growth-rate (RGR) between successiveharvests were studied in two natural populations of Dactylisglomerata, one from Norway and the other from Portugal, grownat four temperatures in a 16-h photoperiod. Young seedlingswere harvested at six equal intervals of 7 days at 5 and 10°C and 3.5 days at 20 and 30 °C. Quadratic curves werefitted to log_e dry weight by a method employing inverse matrices.There was a decline in RGR with time and the magnitude of thisdecline differed for the two populations with an intersectionof the curves at each temperature. At 5 and 10 °C the RGRof the Portuguese population was greater than that of the Norwegianat the initial harvests, but it declined more rapidly than theRGR of the Norwegian population. This relationship was reversedat 20 and 30 °C, with the RGR of the Norwegian populationbeing greater when the plants were small, and declining morerapidly with time. The implications of these changes in RGRare discussed in relation to earlier growth-analysis experimentswhere only two harvests were taken.     

Stage Development and Flowering in Dactylis glomerata L.

The results of pilot experiments lead to the conclusion thatD. glomerata exhibits a number of developmental stages: firstly,a juvenile stage during which the plant is insensitive to environmentalconditions which later stimulate flowering; secondly, an inductivestage, when the plant responds to periodic exposure to darknessat the conclusion of which it is fully induced or ripe to flower,and finally, a post-inductive stage during which inflorescencesare initiated and undergo further development; these are long-dayprocesses. In four populations studied the juvenile stage lasts about fiveweeks. In north European material daily exposure to seven hoursof darkness is near the minimum for induction although thereis considerable within-population variation. Further, it appearsthat the daily dark requirement becomes less as the plant ages. Comparisons are made of the flowering behaviour of D. glomerataand Lolium perenne. The differences between these species resultfrom the presence of a juvenile stage in Dactylis and the possibilityof satisfying its inductive requirement by long days. Inductionin Lolium requires short days or low temperature. The significance of these results is discussed in the lightof previous work on the environmental control of flowering inherbage grasses. The existence of three developmental stagescan explain the wide differences in interpretation of the floweringrequirements of Dactylis previously held. The possible evolutionof flowering requirements is also discussed.     

Effects of Soil Temperature on the Growth and Hormone Content of Dactylis glomerata L. (Cocksfoot) in Controlled Environments

A comparison was made of effects of ‘low’ and ‘high’soil temperature (LST and HST, about 9 and 21·5 °Crespectively) on shoot growth of Norwegian and Portuguese populationsof Dactylis glomerata. In experiments lasting 8 short days (SD,8 h photoperiods) LST decreased leaf extension more markedlyin the Portuguese population. No differential effect of LSTon leaf growth was recorded in experiments lasting 20 or 21SD or in experiments of 8 d duration in long days (LD, 16 hphotoperiods). Since the meristem and region of cell extensionis close to the soil surface LST could directly influence bothroot and shoot growth. The application of gibberellic acid enhanced leaf extension,particularly in plants grown at HST. 6-Benzylaminopurine tendedto decrease leaf length. Extractable gibberellin levels wererelatively low after 8 SD in shoots of both races grown at LST.Cytokinin levels increased at LST, more so in shoots of Portugueseplants which sustained the greater reduction in leaf extension. The data suggest that LST may reduce the production of endogenousgibberellins important for leaf growth in Dactylis glomerata.Cytokinins are probably necessary for growth processes but theirlevel may reflect, rather than direct, the rate of leaf growth.     

Effect of Photoperiod on Vegetative Growth in Two Natural Populations of Dactylis glomerata L.

The growth of two natural populations of cocksfoot from contrastingclimatic regions (Norway and Portugal) was studied at four temperaturesand two photoperiods. Serial harvests were taken and quadraticcurves were fitted to log dry weight and leaf area for eachreplicate in order to calculate growth attributes at a constantplant weight for all treatments. Interactions of population,temperature, and photoperiod on relative growth-rate (RGR) werefound, with the greatest population differences at 5 and 30°C in an 8-h photoperiod. Leaf-area ratio (LAR) played alarger part than net assimilation rate (NAR) in determiningthe differential population responses in RGR to daylength, andthese differences in LAR were primarily the result of differentpatterns of dry-matter distribution within the plant.     

Effect of Light Intensity on Growth of Natural Populations of Dactylis glomerata L.

The growth of two natural populations of cocksfoot from contrastingclimatic regions, Norway and Portugal, was studied in two photoperiodsat three temperatures with three levels of light energy (48,144, and 240 W m^–2 in the wavelength interval 400–700nm). There was a consistent increase in relative growth-rate(RGR) in response to increased light energy up to 144 W m^–2,but above this energy level there was either no change, or,in some treatments, a decline. Net assimilation rate (NAR) increased,whilst leaf area ratio decreased from the lowest to the highestenergy level in most treatments. The decrease of LAR with increasedlight energy could be attributed to a decrease of both leafweight ratio (LWR) and specific leaf area (SLA), a greater proportionof dry matter being distributed to plant parts other than leaf.This effect occurred although there was a positive relationshipbetween light energy and relative leaf growth-rate (RLGR). Populationdifferences in these growth attributes were most marked in thetreatments with low-temperature and short-day conditions. Theefficiency of energy conversion of visible radiation declinedfrom 3–4 per cent at the lowest energy level to 1–2per cent at the highest energy level.     

Plantlet formation from cultured inflorescences of Dactylis glomerata L.

The objective of this study was to demonstrate plantlet formation from cultured mature inflorescences of field-grown orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) plants. Whole tillers were collected and maintained in the dark at 4°C for either 19 or 25 days before panicle sections were plated on a Linsmaier and Skoog (LS) or Schenk and Hildebrandt (SH) agar medium containing 2,4-D. Generally, better results for both cell proliferation and plantlet formation were obtained with 1) large explants (many florets) on 9.1 μM 2,4-D compared to small explants (few florets) on 1.0 μM 2,4-D, 2) SH rather than LS medium and 3) when tillers were pretreated at 4°C for 25 days rather than 19 days. Chromosome counts of basal leaf cells in 94 regenerated plants showed that no plants possessed the gametic chromosome number of n=14.     

The Effect of Temperature on the Growth of Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.)

The growth of cocksfoot at 14°, 22°, and 26° C wasmeasured at weekly intervals over a period of six weeks. Initially,the relative growth rates increased with increase in temperature,but during the final three weeks they were little differentat all three temperatures. The reduction in relative growthrates with time at 22° and 26° were associated withincreases in size which were partly reflected by reductionsin the leaf-area ratios. It is also likely that at 26° changesin the photosynthetic capacity of leaves, perhaps associatedwith decreasing concentrations of mineral nutrients, contributedto the decreased relative growth rates. Leaf expansion and increase in cell numbers were estimated overtwo-day periods at temperatures ranging from 5° to 30°C. Leaf expansion increased with increase in temperature throughoutthis range; extrapolation suggested that it would cease at temperaturesbelow 3° C. The optimum temperature for cell division appearedto be between 20° and 25°C. Different physiological processes appeared to be involved inthe temperature responses of plants of different sizes and histories.With young plants these responses resulted in a large overalleffect of temperature on the growth rate; with older plantsof the same size there appeared to be several compensatory responsesso that variation in temperature over an apprecaible range hadlittle overall effect.     

Growth reductions in cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) as a result of SO2 pollution

The effects of exposing Dactylis glomerata L. to 11 pphm SO₂ for four weeks were investigated using a wind tunnel fumigation system. The pollutant was found to cause significant reductions in the numbers of tillers and green leaves, leaf area, root/shoot ratio and all dry weight fractions measured. The percentage yield reductions found for D. glomerata were compared with those previously found for Lolium perenne L. under the same conditions of exposure. It was concluded that D. glomerata may be slightly more sensitive to SO₂ than L. perenne. The magnitudes of the yield reductions found in these experiments are greater than those previously reported and this is discussed in relation to the rate of air movement through the fumigation system. It is concluded that the effects of SO₂ on plants in the field, and subsequent losses in the yields of crops, may have been under-rated in the past.     

野生鸭茅种质遗传多样性的AFLP分析

本文应用扩增片段长度多态性（AFLP）技术,从64个引物对中筛选出9个,分别对37份鸭茅种质进行扩增,共得到400条清晰条带。其中多态性带336条,平均多态位点水平为84.0%,表现出较高的多态性。利用NTSYS-pc软件计算种质间的遗传距离,变化范围为0.0692～0.4214。用UPGMA方法进行聚类分析,在遗传相似系数为0.81水平上37份鸭茅种质可分为8个类群。用EIGEN方法进行主坐标分析,建立种质间相互关系的二维图。各种质在二维图中的分布与UPGMA聚类基本吻合。从分子水平分析,鸭茅遗传变异与染色体倍性和地理分布密切相关。     

鸭茅种质资源多样性研究进展

鸭茅是世界范围内广泛栽培的一种重要禾本科牧草,具有高产、优质、耐荫性强等特性。我国的野生鸭茅资源十分丰富,分布广泛,基因资源优良,但有关鸭茅的研究报导相对较少。为了更好地开发利用这一优良的牧草资源,本从形态学、细胞学和分子水平对国内外鸭茅种质资源多样性的研究进行了综述,并对今后我国的鸭茅研究工作提出了建议。     

Secretion of a chitinase-like protein in embryogenic suspension cultures of Dactylis glomerata L.

A chitinase-like 32 kDa acidic protein with a potential chitinase activity has been identified in the medium of embryogenic suspension cultures of Dactylis glomerata L. using an antiserum raised against endochitinase EP3 from Daucus carota L. The presence of this protein discriminates between Dactylis glomerata L. embryogenic and nonembryogenic suspension cultures and thus could be possibly used as a marker for embryogenic potential.     

Phenotypic variation and performance of diploid subspecies of Dactylis glomerata L.

Dactylis glomerata L. is one of the best known examples of a polyploid complex that includes diploid (2n = 14), tetraploid (2n = 28) and hexaploid (2n = 42) types. The diploids, descending from the ancestors of the genus, are numerous, distinct forms adapted to specific environments and include all the morphological variation and ecological adaptation found in Dactylis. The objective of the present study was to shed more light on the differentiation of diploids and to obtain information for better exploiting the genetic resources of this species. To this end we carried out a discriminant analysis in the most widespread diploid subspecies based on a large number of morpho-physiological traits. We found that some characteristics, such as time to heading, time to flowering, vegetative regrowth, plant height and seed shattering are the most discriminant and enabled us to realize a more exact differentiation of the diploids with respect to the morphological criterion generally adopted. The results demonstrated that diploid taxa offer an interesting combination of relevant agronomical and ecological characteristics which could be useful in breeding programs to promote the use of this species in sustainable agriculture systems. We also performed cytological investigations and defined a general karyotype representative of the diploid Dactylis considered in this study.     

Plant regeneration from protoplasts of embryogenic suspension cultures of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.)

An embryogenic suspension culture of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) consisting of small, embryogenic cell clusters was obtained from callus formed on basal sections of young leaves through a process of selective enrichment. These suspensions were used as a source of protoplasts. The isolated protoplasts divided at a frequency of 0.5–10% when plated in an agarose solidified culture medium. Conditioned medium, in which embryogenic Dactylis suspension cultures had been grown, was found to increase the rate of cell colony formation. Protoplast-derived colonies grew rapidly in a bead-type culture system of floating agarose slabs in liquid medium. New suspension cultures formed as the colonies grew out of the agarose. These cultures were embryogenic and formed green plantlets when plated on a solid medium lacking auxin. The plantlets were established in soil and grown to mature plants.Abbreviations B5 medium according to Gamborg et al. (1968) - SH-x medium according to Schenk and Hildebrandt (1972) supplemented with x M dicamba - dicamba 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid - KM-8p medium 8p of Kao and Michayluk (1975)     

Embryoid and plantlet formation from leaf segments of Dactylis glomerata L.

Summary The purpose of this investigation was to demonstrate callus induction and plantlet formation from cultured leaf segments of 12–15 week-old Dactylis glomerata L. (orchardgrass) plants. Flat half-leaf sections, approximately 2–3 mm square, from the three innermost (youngest) leaves were isolated and individually plated serially beginning at the leaf base on a solid SH medium containing 30 M of 3,6-dichloro-oanisic acid (dicamba). Callus formed on leaf sections from all 50 plants used in the study. After transfer to SH medium with 1 M dicamba, plantlets formed from leaf sections of 9 of the 50 plants. In most cases plantlets formed from embryogenic callus but in a few cases embryoids formed directly on the leaf surface without an intervening callus state. These developed into plantlets when transferred to low auxin medium. The response for both callus and plantlet formation decreased with increasing distance both spatially and temporally from the shoot apex. Histological examination of embryogenic callus revealed the presence of non-zygotic embryos in various stages of development. The results provide further support for compentency (if not totipotency) of Gramineae leaf cells.