The effect of tiller removal and tiller defoliation on competition between the main shoot and tillers of spring barley

In glasshouse and field experiments the source-sink relations of the main shoot of plants of spring barley were modified by tiller removal and tiller defoliation. Decreasing competition by tiller removal promoted the growth of the residual main shoot and its component parts, and the earlier tillers were removed the greater was the effect. Stem dry weight was increased four-fold in the glasshouse by early tiller removal and was doubled in the field experiment. The grain yield of the main shoot ear was increased by 26 – 30% by tiller removal compared with tillering control plants and this was due to larger grains in all spikelet positions. On the other hand increasing competition by regular tiller defoliation had relatively little effect on the growth and development of the main shoot in the glasshouse study, but in the field the main shoot grain yield was reduced by 10% compared with the control. The main effect of tiller defoliation was on the development of tillers. In the glasshouse tillers survived repeated defoliation, continued to be produced, and the majority produced grain but with fewer and smaller grains per ear than in control plants. Tiller growth was supported by the import of assimilate from the main shoot and this was accompanied by an increase in the photosynthetic rate of the main shoot leaves. In the field all defoliated tillers died within 4 wk. These responses are discussed in terms of the physiological interrelations between the main shoot and tillers.     

Influence of cocksfoot streak virus on the growth of cocksfoot swards

Small experimental swards of three types-healthy, 50% and 100% streak-virus-infected-were established from single tillers of randomly selected cocksfoot genotypes. In these swards 44% of infected plants died within 2 years compared with 21% of healthy plants. Mortality of infected plants was not increased by the presence of healthy plants in the same sward. In swards containing both healthy and infected plants, increased growth of healthy plants compensated for the low yield of infected ones only when the swards were frequently defoliated. Infrequent cutting apparently allowed infected plants to check the growth of healthy ones, and 50% infected swards yielded little more than 100% infected swards. This difference in response was attributed to differences in the growth habits of healthy and infected plants. Few initially healthy plants became infected during 2 years of the experiment.     

The elimination of cocksfoot streak virus, cocksfoot mild mosaic virus and cocksfoot mottle virus from Dactylis glomerata by shoot tip and tiller bud culture

Shoot tips from 0.2 to 4.8 mm long and tiller buds 0.2 to 5.1 mm long were cultured from cocksfoot ( Dactylis glomerata ) plants known to be infected with combinations of cocksfoot streak, cocksfoot mild mosaic and cocksfoot mottle viruses. Regenerated plants were tested for the presence of viruses by electron microscopy, serology and the expression of symptoms. All viruses were eliminated by culturing shoot tips and tiller buds less than 1.2 mm long but the maximum explant size capable of regenerating healthy plants depended upon the infecting virus. Viruses were not detected in shoot tip and tiller bud samples of similar size to the explants that gave healthy plants. The method is of value in eliminating viruses from desirable stocks of D. glomerata that must be vegetatively propagated.     

Tillering in grain sorghum over a wide range of population densities: identification of a common hierarchy for tiller emergence,leaf area development and fertility

Most studies of tiller development have not related the physiological and morphological features of each culm to its subsequent fertility. This introduces problems when trying to account for the effects of tillering on yield in crop models. The objective of this study was to detect the most likely early determinants of tiller fertility in sorghum by identifying hierarchies for emergence, fertility and grain number of tillers over a wide range of assimilate availabilities. Emergence, phenology, leaf area development and dry weight partitioning were quantified weekly for individual tillers and main culms of tillering and uniculm plants grown at one of four densities, from two to 16 plants m(-2). For a given plant in any given density, the same tiller hierarchy applied for emergence of tillers, fertility of the emerged tillers and their subsequent grain number. These results were observed over a range of tiller fertility rates (from 7 to 91%), fertile tiller number per plant at maturity (from 0.2 to 4.7), and tiller contribution to grain yield (from 5 to 78 %). Tiller emergence was most probably related to assimilate supply and light quality. Development, fertility and contribution to yield of a specific tiller were highly dependent on growing conditions at the time of tiller emergence, particularly via early leaf area development of the tiller, which affected its subsequent leaf area accumulation. Assimilate availability in the main culm at the time of tiller emergence was the most likely early determinant of subsequent tiller fertility in this study.     

水稻主茎节位分蘖及生产力补偿能力

本研究选用两个籼稻杂交品种西农优1号和冈优725,采用人工去蘖形成分蘖初期的早发、中发、迟发三个处理,在群体条件下研究分蘖和生产力的补偿能力。本研究发现,迟发处理高节位群的分蘖补偿能力最明显,但绝对补偿量小。迟发处理高节位群的生长势、有效分蘖倍数增加,抽穗期单茎叶面积有增加的趋势,但抽穗期有效穗数、叶面积系数降低;迟发处理冠层光分布增加,叶绿素、蛋白质含量提高,叶片细胞内保护酶类(Superoxide dismutase, SOD、catalase,CAT)活性下降慢,叶片衰老慢,但是漏光率增加,截光率下降;迟发处理净光合生产率（Net assimulation rate, NAR）增加,同化物分配合理,经济系数有增加的趋势,但物质积累速度（Crop growth rate ,CGR）和干物质生产量减少。在本实验条件下,早发与中发处理的经济产量差异不显著,但早发与迟发处理的经济产量差异达极显著。本研究结果表明大苗秧对生物、非生物因素胁迫,如本田前期一定程度的人工去蘖,具有一定的分蘖补偿能力。     

Tillering responses to red:far-red light ratio during different phenological stages in Eragrostis curvula

Tillering responses to light quality in different phenological stages of a perennial warm-season grass Eragrostis curvula were investigated in controlled environments. In vegetative plants, the tillering rate was greater (P<0.01) in the high (1.1–1.3) than in the low (0.59–0.70) red:far-red ratio (R/FR) light regime. Tillering rates were higher in the low R/FR treatment when the plants in the high R/FR regime reached the reproductive stage, while the plants in the low R/FR regime remained vegetative. After the reproductive tillers were removed by defoliation, more tillers were produced in the defoliated plants grown in the high R/FR regime. When the plants in both light treatments entered the reproductive stage, the tillering rate under the two light regimes became similar, suggesting a significant interaction between tillering and inflorescence development. The more advanced inflorescence development in the high R/FR regime may have reduced assimilate availability to tiller growth and overshadowed the effect of high R/FR on tillering. Both tillering and inflorescence development appeared to be controlled by R/FR ratio. The higher rate of aerial tiller production on the reproductive culms during the post-anthesis period in the high R/FR regime suggested that high R/FR ratio stimulated not only basal tillering, but also aerial tillering.     

The effects of feeding by the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, on the growth and yield components of rice, Oryza sativa

Abstract 1 The effects of feeding by larvae of the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, on the growth and yield components of rice, Oryza sativa, were evaluated using four varieties of rice, ‘Cocodrie’, ‘Cypress’, ‘Bengal’ and ‘XP1003’, over 2 years. 2 Both adults and larvae of L. oryzophilus feed on rice plants, but it is feeding by the larval stage that causes economic losses. Feeding by L. oryzophilus larvae resulted in extensive damage to root systems. Pruning of root systems resulted in a decrease in tiller number and shoot biomass of rice plants in the vegetative stage of growth. 3 Yield losses were due to a combination of decreases in panicle densities, numbers of grains per panicle, and grain weights. Decreases in panicle densities were a direct result of the reductions in tiller numbers. Reductions in numbers of grains per panicle and grain weights probably resulted from decreases in shoot biomass. 4 Injury by rice water weevil larvae is chronic. The tillering stage of rice suffered the majority of weevil damage, but the growth effects were not manifested until later.     

THE PATTERN OF FIELD INFECTION OF POTATO BY THE BEET RINGSPOT STRAIN OF TOMATO BLACK-RING, A SOIL-BORNE VIRUS

The potential importance of the beet ringspot strain of tomato black-ring, a soil-borne virus, was assessed by growing stocks of Kerr's Pink potato for 1 year on infested land and subsequently on uninfested land. The incidence of infection in two stocks was 39 and 8% in the first year on uninfested land, and 29 and 5% after 2 years.
The virus was usually restricted to the roots of plants in the first year of infection, but a few plants showed black rings and spots in their leaves. In the second year, 20–55% of the plants grown from tubers set by symptomless, but infected, mother plants were infected: many of these showed leaf necrosis, others had stunted shoots, and cupped and distorted leaves; some were symptomless although systemically infected. In the third and fourth years, most of the progeny from plants which had symptoms or which were symptomless but systemically infected, contained the virus: nearly all such infected plants were stunted and distorted or were symptomless. Infection decreased the weight of tubers produced by plants with severe necrotic spotting but not the yield of plants with less necrosis. The number and weight of tubers per plant were decreased by 15 and 20% respectively, in symptomless systemically infected plants, and by 20 and 30% in stunted plants.     

Host genotype overrides fungal endophyte infection in influencing tiller and spike production of Lolium perenne (Poaceae) in a common garden experiment

Leaves of many cool-season grasses are infected by endophytic fungi that can impact their populations. A common garden experiment with Lolium perenne was established in a lawn in New Jersey, USA, to investigate the impact of endophyte infection and host genotype on tiller and spike production over three years. Infected (E+) and uninfected (E-) plants of each genotype were monitored every 2-3 mo. Infection intensity within plants varied significantly among genotypes and years, but there was no evidence of directional change over time. Tiller production varied significantly among genotypes and was affected by endophytes: E+ plants of several genotypes produced more tillers than E- plants during the third year. E+ plants had greater aboveground biomass, but host genotype explained a far greater proportion of variation in tiller production, number, and biomass than infection. Plant survival, percentage flowering, flowering date, number of spikes, and mean tiller mass were unaffected by endophytes. However, the last three variables showed significant variation among host genotypes. Although studies have demonstrated a positive growth effect of endophytes on several grass hosts, in this experiment host genotype accounted for far more of the variation in tiller and spike production and in biomass of Lolium perenne than endophyte infection.     

Accelerated Early Growth of Rice at Elevated CO2 (Is It Related to Developmental Changes in the Shoot Apex?)

The influence of elevated CO2 on the development of the shoot apex and on subsequent vegetative growth and grain yield was investigated using rice (Oryza sativa L. cv Jarrah) grown in flooded soil at either 350 or 700 [mu]L CO2 L-1. At 8 d after planting (DAP), elevated CO2 increased the height and diameter of the apical dome and lengths of leaf primordia and tiller buds but had no effect on their numbers. By 16 DAP, there were five tiller buds in the apex at 700 [mu]L CO2 L-1 compared with only three tiller buds at 350 [mu]L CO2 L-1. These changes in development of the shoot apex at high CO2 were forerunners to faster development of the vegetative shoot at elevated CO2 between 11 and 26 DAP as evidenced by increases in the relative growth rates of the shoot and tillers. Accelerated development at high CO2 was responsible for the 42% increase in tiller number at the maximum tillering stage and the 57% enhancement of grain yield at the final harvest. The link between high CO2 effects on development during the first 15 DAP and final tiller number and grain yield was demonstrated by delaying exposure of plants to high CO2 for 15 d. The delay totally inhibited the tillering response to high CO2, and the increase in grain yield of 20% arose from a greater number of grains per panicle. Consequently, it can be concluded that accelerated development in the shoot apex early in development is crucial for obtaining maximum increases in grain yield at elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations.     

Insights on the role of tillering in salt tolerance of spring wheat from detillering

Tillering is reduced by salinity, with the primary and secondary tillers being more affected than is the mainstem. To understand the importance of tillering in the salt tolerance of wheat plants, two contrasting genotypes of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were grown in a greenhouse under saline or non-saline conditions and were subjected to five progressive levels of detillering. Regardless of the genotype and salinity, shoot dry weight, seed yield and seed number per plant were all significantly decreased in the treatments where only one or two tillers per plant remained compared with the untouched treatment (more than three tillers), whereas these same variables per tiller tended to be increased on a per tiller (mainstem or substem tiller) basis. The increased seed yield per tiller observed with tiller reduction may be attributed to the enhanced seed number within the spikelet. Under saline conditions, the reductions in shoot dry weight, seed yield and seed number per plant for the salt-tolerant genotype Kharchia were of a greater magnitude in the treatments where only one or two tillers per plant were present compared with the untouched treatment, whereas the magnitude of this reduction in the salt-sensitive genotype Sakha 61 was decreased.     

Studies on sharp eyespot disease of cereals: Effects of the disease on the wheat host and the incidence of disease in the field

Greenhouse and field experiments showed that sharp eyespot disease can reduce establishment in wheat seedlings. Increasing disease severity caused a decrease in height and dry weight of surviving seedlings. Infection by the pathogen caused a reduction in tillering. Experiments also showed that a high incidence of disease can cause a reduction in the yield of grain of mature plants, but the disease level necessary for such effects is far higher than that usually encountered in the field. Survey work in the East of Scotland in 1963-65 showed a high percentage of crops infected with the disease. But even in 1964, a year of comparatively high disease incidence, there were few crops with a level of infection as high as that shown to affect yield.     

The effect of seed deterioration on the growth of barley

Deterioration of barley seeds, caused by storing them at high moisture contents, was associated with slower germination and seedling emergence, reduced root and shoot growth and a smaller first true leaf compared with non-deteriorated controls. Growth differences were related to meristematic activity. Plants from deteriorated seeds started to tiller later than controls, but tillering rates were similar. In the field in 1974 more tillers died after ear appearance on plants from deteriorated seeds than those on controls, but the following year similar numbers died. Grain yields from plants from deteriorated and control seeds were similar in both seasons. These results are discussed in relation to season and soil conditions.     

Salinity effects over growth and yield of IR8 rice and its mutant

Abstract

IRm6, an improved useful, EMS induced mutant of IR8 rice exhibits higher salt tolerance than the parent variety at all the growth stages. High salinity levels reduced germination per cent, early seedling growth and mature plant height in both the genotypes. Roots were more sensitive to salinity than shoots. Within seven days from germination, IRm6 accumulated three times more proline than IR8. Toxicity of individual salt concentrations was in order of NaCl>Na₂SO₄>CaCl₂. At germination and early seedling stages, dry weight of the seedling increased while fresh weight decreased with the rise in salinity unlike later growth stages when both fresh and dry weights of mature plants decreased under salt stress. All the yield components were adversely affected by varying degrees of saline treatments. The order of their contributions in final grain yield reduction was, productive tiller number>fertile grain number>grain specific density>1,000 grain weight. Tillering stage was most sensitive to salinity. Grain yield losses between 27-43% in IR8 and 14-30% in IRm6 occurred after salt treatments at flowering and tillering stages, respectively.     

Effects of fluquinconazole and silthiofam, applied as seed treatments to single or consecutive crops of wheat, on take-all epidemic development and grain yields

Seed treatments containing fluquinconazole, silthiofam or a standard fungicide mixture with no activity against take‐all were compared in all combinations of sequences in successive second and third winter wheat crops in five field experiments and second to fourth crops in a sixth experiment. Compared with the standard treatment, silthiofam decreased take‐all more effectively than fluquinconazole when crops were sampled at tillering. In samples taken in summer, during grain filling, silthiofam often decreased the incidence of take‐all (percentage of plants with root symptoms) more than fluquinconazole, but fluquinconazole more effectively decreased the incidence of severe take‐all (percentage of plants with more than 75% of their root systems blackened). It is suggested that these differences are a consequence of more effective control of primary infection of roots by silthiofam and of secondary, root‐to‐root, infection by fluquinconazole. Silthiofam usually increased yield more than did fluquinconazole, perhaps as a consequence of better early protection during tiller and/or spikelet formation. Treatment with either of the fungicides affected epidemic development in the treated crop and in crops grown subsequently. In particular, decreased take‐all had the effect of delaying the year‐to‐year epidemic, so that nontreatment of a subsequent crop resulted in an upsurge in disease. Treatment with either take‐all fungicide of a crop grown after a treated crop was relatively effective if the epidemic in the comparable nontreated crop sequence was continuing to increase. It was, however, detrimental if the disease was approaching its peak in the first treated crop, particularly if a treated (fourth wheat) crop was being compared with a similar crop in a nontreated sequence in which take‐all decline had developed. These results provide a basis for recommendations for the use of seed treatment fungicides in sequences of wheat crops.     

The effect of infection with potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) on yield and some of its components in a variety of potato (Solanum tuberosum)

In a trial of over 2000 potato plants 11 -8% of them were found to be infected with potato leaf roll virus. Infection caused reduction in the number of stems and reduced the number, weight and mean weight of both chats and ware tubers produced per hill. It also reduced the number and weight of ware tubers produced per stem. The health status of neighbouring plants was found to influence the weight and mean weight of ware tubers of healthy, but not of infected plants. This yield compensation is described in an appendix.     

Overexpression of a NAC-domain protein promotes shoot branching in rice

For a better understanding of shoot branching in rice (Oryza sativa), a rice activation-tagging library was screened for mutations in tiller development. Here, an activation-tagging mutant Ostil1 (Oryza sativa tillering1) was characterized, which showed increased tillers, enlarged tiller angle and semidwarf phenotype. Flanking sequence was obtained by plasmid rescue. RNA-interfering and overexpression transgenic rice plants were produced using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The mutant phenotype was cosegregated with the reallocation of Ds element, and the flanking region of the reallocated Ds element was identified as part of the OsNAC2 gene. Northern analysis showed that expression of OsNAC2 was greatly induced in the mutant plants. Transgenic rice overexpressing the OsNAC2 resulted in recapture of the mutant phenotype, while downregulation of OsNAC2 in the Ostil1 mutant through RNA interfering (RNAi) complemented the mutant phenotype, confirming that the Ostil1 was caused by overexpression of OsNAC2. Overexpression of OsNAC2 regulates shoot branching in rice. Overexpression of OsNAC2 contributes tiller bud outgrowth, but does not affect tiller bud initiation. This suggests that OsNAC2 has potential utility for improving plant structure for higher light-use efficiency and higher yield potential in rice.     

Effects of plant growth regulators on tiller bud outgrowth in uniculm cereals

Plant growth regulators were applied either to seeds or to leaves of uniculm selections of barley and wheat. None of the treatments stimulated the growth and development of tiller buds in the barley selection. In contrast, in wheat the development of tiller buds was readily stimulated and tillers were produced following treatment with Terpal, Cerone, TIBA or nitrate. In Terpal and Cerone treated plants, the stimulation of tiller bud outgrowth and tillering was accompanied by a marked retardation of growth in the main shoot. The growth of the tillers was however not sustained in any of the treatments, and so at maturity all plants were virtually uniculm. The results are discussed in relation to the different overall response of the two species, the death of tillers, and the hormonal regulation of tiller bud development.     

水稻旱育稀植高产栽培的生理生态研究 Ⅱ. 早稻高产形成与生理生化特性

本研究结果表明,旱育秧苗移栽大田后仍能保持较强的生理生化优势,从分蘖期到乳熟期,旱育秧植株的抗坏血酸氧化酶、超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶、ATP酶和硝酸还原酶活性分别比对照高4.09～12.22%、8.22～19.68%、10.19～24.73%、2.77～22.36%、36.11～137.5%和26.11～135.2%, 丙二醛含量降低5.04～7.14%, 膜透性相应减少29～16.06%, 因而抗逆性强,秧苗移栽后返青快、分蘖早、成穗率高,叶片不早衰,干物质积累多,高产。     

Hormonal regulation of tiller dynamics in differentially-tillering rice cultivars

Tiller number can contribute significantly to yield potential of rice, but little knowledge is available on hormonal regulation of tillering and tiller dynamics. In the present study, Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), kinetin (6-furfuryl amino purine) and Gibberellic acid (GA₃) treatments have been applied at the early tillering stage to two rice cultivars that contrast for tiller number. The responses of the hormones were studied on growth, development, grain yield, senescence patterns, assimilate concentration of the panicle and ethylene production in different classes of tillers. The leaf area, panicle grain number, fertility percentage and grain yield of tillers were higher in the low-tillering cultivar than that of high-tillering cultivar; the treatment of kinetin was more effective in the latter than in the former. High ethylene production was responsible for reduction of growth duration and grain yield of the tillers. Kinetin application reduced ethylene production of the late-tillers significantly for the benefit of grain yield.