Characterization of photosynthesis of flag leaves in a wheat hybrid and its parents grown under field conditions

Two wheat cultivars, one with high yield and the other with a high tolerance against oxidative stress, were compared with a hybrid of these two cultivars by investigating their photosynthetic characteristics of flag leaves. From the beginning of flowering to the 17th day, CO(2) assimilation rate (P(max)) was maintained and there were no appreciable differences between the hybrid and its parents. P(max) showed no decrease at noon compared to that in the morning. From the 20th to the 30th day of flowering, P(max) decreased significantly, and this decrease was significantly less in the hybrid than in its parents. The actual photosystem II (PSII) efficiency (Phi(PSII)) and the maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry (F(v)/F(m)) showed a significant decrease only on the 30th day after anthesis; this decline was much less marked in the hybrid relative to its parents, both in the morning and at noon. A decrease occurred in Phi(PSII) and F(v)/F(m) at noon when compared to that in the morning, but this decrease was less marked in the hybrid than in its parents. Rubisco activity decreased significantly from the 13th day of flowering and was higher in the morning than at noon both in the hybrid and its parents. However, the hybrid always showed a higher value of Rubisco activity. The activities of posphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and pyruvate phosphate dikinase showed similar changes to those in Rubisco activity, particularly from the 20th to 30th day. The results of this study suggest that the higher photosynthetic capacity of the flag leaf in the hybrid can help to accumulate more dry material, and may be the physiological basis for higher yield over its parents.     

Drought adaptation of field grown wheat in relation to soil physical conditions

In order to investigate the effects of soil texture on possible non-hydraulic signals under field conditions, spring wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Cadensa) grown in sand and loam soils and with a well developed root system were exposed to slow soil drying in the late vegetative stage of growth. Soil water potential and content were measured daily at different depths and plant responses were measured in flag leaves. When the average soil water potential in the top soil layers (0–25 cm depth in sand and 0–45 cm depth in loam) dropped to –60 or –70 kPa and the lower soil layers were still at field capacity, morning xylem [ABA] (0.03–0.04 vs. 0.06–0.08 mmol m-3) and midday leaf ABA concentration increased (250–300 vs. 400–450 ng/g DW) and leaf conductance decreased relatively to well-watered (control) plants (0.75–0.88 vs. 0.64–0.70 mol m-2 s-1). These responses took place before any decrease in leaf water potential occurred as compared with control plants, indicating that they were triggered by root-borne signals due to reduced root water status in the top soil layers. At this stage the soil water content was as low as 6% by volume, the fraction of roots in ‘wet’ soil was 0.12 and relative available soil water was 45% in sand and still high 20%, 0.48 and 70%, respectively, in loam of the whole soil profile indicating that roots were responding to soil water availability and not soil water content at a certain evaporative demand. In addition, similar responses occurred at high and low evaporative demands (3.4–5.2 vs. 0.6–4.0 mm/day of potential evapotranspiration). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Photoinhibition of photosynthesis in willow leaves under field conditions

Chlorophyll fluorescence of leaves of a willow (Salix sp.) stand grown in the field in northern Sweden was measured on several occasions during the growing season of 1987. For leaves that received mostly full daylight, the F _V/F _P ratio declined roughtly 15% in the afternoon on cloudless days in July (F _P is the fluorescence at the peak of the induction curve obtained at the prevailing air temperature after 45 min of dark adaptation, and F _V is variable fluoresence, F _V=F _P-F _O, where F _O is minimal fluorescence). There was no decrease in the F _V/F _P ratio on cloudy days, while the effect was intermediate on changeable days. In view of this light dependence, together with the fact that the decline in the F _V/F _P ratio was paralleled with an equal decline in the corresponding fluorescence ratio F _V/F _M at 77K, and a similar decline in the maximum quantum yield of O₂ evolution, it is suggested that the decline in the F _V/F _P ratio represents a damage in photosyntem II attributable to photoinhibition. Recovery of the F _V/F _P ratio in dim light following a decline on a cloudless day took 7–16 h to go to completion; the F _V/F _P ratio was fully restored the following morning. When all active leaves of a peripheral shoot were compared, the F _V/F _P ratio in the afternoon of a day of bright light varied greatly from leaf to leaf, though the majority of leaves showed a decline. This variation was matched by a pronounced variation in intercepted photon flux density. When leaves developed in the shade were exposed to full sunlight by trimming of the stand an increased sensitivity to photoinhibition was observed as compared to peripheral leaves. The present study indicates that peripheral willow shoots experienced in the order of 10–20% photoinhibition during an appreciable part of their life. This occurred even though the environmental conditions were within the optimal range of photosynthesis and growth.Abbreviations and symbols F _O minimum fluorescence - F _P fluorescence at the peak of the induction curve obtained at normal ambient temperatures - F _V variable fluorescence - F _M maximum fluorescence obtained at 77K - PPFD photosynthetic photon flux density     

Enantioselective degradation of indoxacarb in cabbage and soil under field conditions

The enantioselective degradation of indoxacarb in cabbage and soil has been investigated in Beijing and Anhui under open conditions. Indoxacarb enantiomers in samples were extracted with acetonitrile, cleaned up by florisil SPE column, separated on high performance liquid chromatography with a cellulose-tris-(3, 5-dimethylphenylcarbamate)-based chiral stationary phase (CDMPC-CSP), and determined by a photodiode array detector. The validation of the developed method by fortification rac-indoxcarb in cabbage and soil showed good accuracy and precision. The results of field trials indicated that the dissipation of indoxacarb enantiomers followed pseudo-first-order kinetics or first-order kinetics in cabbage and soil at two locations. The half-lives of two enantiomers in cabbage ranged from 2.8 to 4.6 d which were shorter than those in soil ranging from 23 to 35 d. The changes of enantiomeric fraction values proved that enantioselective degradation of indoxacarb happened in cabbage and soil. The (-)-indoxacarb showed faster degradation in the Beijing cabbage, whereas in the Anhui cabbage, (+)-indoxacarb preferentially degraded. In soil, preferential degradation of (+)-indoxacarb was observed at two locations.     

The contribution of crop residues to changes in soil pH under field conditions

Background and Aims

Crop residues are important for the redistribution of alkalinity within soils. A net increase in pH following residue addition to soil is typically reported. However, effects are inconsistent in the field due to confounding soil processes and agronomic practises.

Methods

A column experiment investigated the effects of canola, chickpea and wheat residues, differing in alkalinity content and C:N ratio, on soil pH changes in a Podosol (Podzol; initial pH 4.5) and Tenosol (Cambisol; initial pH 6.2) under field conditions.

Results

Residues (10 g dry matter kg^-1 soil; 0–10 cm) increased soil pH, and temporal changes in alkalinity depended on the residue and soil type. Alkalinity was generated via abiotic association reactions between H⁺ and added organic matter and via ammonification and decarboxylation processes during decomposition. Alkalinity from canola and chickpea residues moved down the soil profile (10–30 cm) and was attributed to nitrate immobilisation and organic anion decomposition by soil microbes.

Conclusions

The application of residues to acid and moderately acid soils increased the pH of both topsoil and subsoils, which persisted over 26 months. Maximal increase of pH observed at 3 months was correlated with the concentration of excess cations in the residues.     

Lipoxygenase from the leaves of wheat grown under different water supply conditions

Lipoxygenase (LOG) in protein fractions isolated from the leaves of substituted wheat lines was investigated. Three molecular forms of the enzyme were detected. A water deficiency caused the induction of a membrane-bound form (mLOG) and resulted in a decrease in the activity of “soluble” enzymes (s1LOG) and (s2LOG) in most genotypes. A correlation analysis demonstrated the dependence between the level of enzymatic activity and indices of resistance to drought. A genetic control of the s1LOG and s2LOG activity at an optimal water supply level was associated with chromosomes 1A, 1D, 3A, 5A, 5B, and 5D, while under the conditions of the modeled soil drought, it was associated with chromosomes 1B and 1D.     

Phytoremediation of pyrene in a Cecil soil under field conditions

We evaluated the effects of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and phosphorus (P) availability on the dissipation of pyrene added at a concentration of approximately 600 mg kg-1 dry soil in the top 7.5 cm of a Cecil loamy sand (fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults) in a 10-month experiment under field conditions in Clemson, South Carolina. Plastic canopies were installed to prevent flooding of plots and raindrop dispersion of pyrene. Treatment factors were pyrene, vegetation, and available P levels. Each of the eight treatments had four replicates. The soil was adjusted to low and high P concentrations (an average of 41 and 66 kg extractable P ha-1, respectively). After a 175-d lag period for all treatments, the rate of pyrene removal followed first-order kinetics. The first-order rate constant was significantly higher in nonvegetated (0.098 d-1) than vegetated treatments (0.034 d-1). These data suggest that the presence of easily biodegradable organic matter from plant roots slowed the removal rate of pyrene. The levels of available P did not affect the rate of pyrene dissipation. Pyrene decreased below the detection limit of 6.25 mg kg-1 dry soil in all treatments after 301 d.     

Lipoxygenase from the leaves of wheat grown under different water supply conditions

Lipoxygenase (LOG) in protein fractions isolated from the leaves of substituted wheat lines was investigated. Three molecular forms of the enzyme were detected. A water deficiency caused the induction of a membrane-bound form (mLOG) and resulted in a decrease in the activity of "soluble" enzymes (s1LOG) and (s2LOG) in most genotypes. A correlation analysis demonstrated the dependence between the level of enzymatic activity and indices of resistance to drought. A genetic control of the s 1 LOG and s2LOG activity at an optimal water supply level was associated with chromosomes 1A, 1D, 3A, 5A, 5B, and 5D, while under the conditions of the modeled soil drought, it was associated with chromosomes 1B and 1D.     

Silicification of the adaxial epidermis of leaves of a panicoid grass in relation to leaf position and section and environmental conditions

Many studies relate silica content in plants with internal or external factors; however, few works analyse the effect of these factors on the silicification of different cell types. In this study, we examined the effect of leaf section and leaf position, and environmental conditions on the percentages of silicified epidermal cells of a native Pampean panicoid grass, Bothriochloa laguroides D. C. Pilger. Two different environmental situations were selected for the collection of plants: a natural wetland and a quartzite quarry, located in the southeast Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Clarification and staining methodologies were applied so as to study the distribution of silicified cells in different sections of leaves of the plants collected. Two and three-factor anovas were applied to the data. Between 13% and 19% of total cells of the adaxial epidermis of leaf blades were silicified. Typical silica short cells were the largest contributor to total silicified cells (53-98%), while the second largest contributor was bulliform cells (0-30%). Percentages of total silicified cells were higher in superior than in inferior leaves, while values from leaf sections varied. When collection sites were compared, plants growing in Los Padres pond, where the silica content in soils is higher, had the higher percentage of silicified cells. Among all types of cell, bulliform cells showed differences in the proportion of silicified cells between leaf position and section and collection site. These results show that silica availability in soils is an important factor that conditions silica accumulation and overlaps with the transpiration effect.     

Effects of short-term flooding on growth,yield and mineral composition of wheat on sodic soil under field conditions

In sodic soils of the Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains of Northern India, flooding for short periods often occurs during the growing season of wheat, leading to low yields. A field study was therefore conducted to evaluate the effects of short-term flooding on growth, yield and mineral composition of wheat (Triticum aestivum Linn. emend. Fiori and Paol) in a sodic soil (pH 8.9, exchangeable sodium percentage 25). Flooding wheat for 2,4 and 6 days at the time of first irrigation (25-day old plants), significantly reduced tillering, plant height, delayed head emergence and resulted in 17.6, 29.0 and 46.7% reduction in grain yield, respectively, Flooding decreased oxygen diffusion rate (ODR) values, restricted root grwoth and reduced ion uptake, especially of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Zn and led to higher absorption of Na, Fe and Mn. Under the conditions of this experiment, the reduced growth and yield of wheat resulting from short-term flooding was not due to Mn, Fe and Na toxicity but may be due to reduced uptake of nutrients resulting from O₂ deficiency in the soil.     

长期施肥对麦田大型土壤动物群落结构的影响

于2007、2008年春季在中国科学院封丘农业生态实验站,研究长期定位施肥对麦田大型土壤动物群落结构的影响。调查共获得大型土壤动物3068头,隶属8纲,19目,28科。不同施肥处理条件下土壤动物类群数差异显著(F=2.51, P＜0.05, df=55),个体数差异极显著(F=8.99, P＜0.01, df=55)。结果显示,大型土壤动物的类群数和个体数在有机肥和营养均衡条件下较高,缺磷条件下较低。土壤动物多样性指数(H')以有机肥和营养均衡条件下显著高于营养不均衡和不施肥处理(P＜0.05)。主成分分析结果显示,第一主成分贡献值47.14%,第二主成分贡献值30.10%。经线性检验第一主成分与土壤动物个体数(y=0.335x-2.163,R²=0.51)和类群数(y=0.042x-1.25,R²=0.67)均呈线性关系。总之,长期施用有机肥和营养均衡大型土壤动物群落构成相似。土壤有机质和磷含量是影响土壤动物群落构主要生态因子。     

Radiocarbon--a low-impact tool to study nutrient transport by soil fungi under field conditions

Here, we present a new in-situ method to study the uptake of amino acids by soil fungi. We injected 14C-labeled glycine into a marshland soil and measured the rate and the 14C signature of CO2 respired from sporocarps of Pholiota terrestris over 53.5 h and 2 m. We also determined the incorporation of glycine-C into sporocarp tissue. The 14C signature of the CO2 and tissue was quantified by accelerator mass spectrometry. After the label application, the rate of CO2 flux and its 14C signature from chambers with sporocarps were significantly higher than from chambers without sporocarps, and then declined with time. Postlabel, the 14C signature of the sporocarp tissue increased by 35 per thousand. We show that this approach can be used to study below-ground food webs on an hourly time-scale while minimizing the perturbation of competitive relationships among soil microorganisms and between plants and soil microorganisms. Additionally we show that care must be taken to avoid confounding effects of sporocarp senescence on rates and radiocarbon signatures of respired CO2.     

Seasonal mycorrhizal colonization of winter wheat and its effect on wheat growth under dryland field conditions

 A field experiment was conducted to determine the seasonal patterns of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) in a dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system and to determine wheat growth and P uptake responses to inoculation with mycorrhizal fungus. Broadcast-incorporated treatments included (1) no inoculation with mycorrhizal fungus, with and without P fertilizer, and (2) mycorrhizal fungal inoculation at a rate of 5000 spores of Glomus intraradices (Schenck and Smith), per 30 cm in each row, with and without fertilizer P. Winter wheat was seeded within a day after treatments were imposed, and roots were sampled at five growth stages to quantify AM. Shoot samples were also taken for determination of dry matter, grain yield and yield components, and N and P uptake. No AM infection was evident during the fall months following seeding, which was characterized by low soil temperature, while during the spring, the AM increased gradually. Increases in wheat grain yields by enhanced AM were of similar magnitude to the response obtained from P fertilization. However, responses differed at intermediate growth stages. At the tillering stage, P uptake was mainly increased by P fertilization but not by fungal inoculation. At harvest, enhanced AM increased P uptake regardless of whether or not fertilizer P was added. The AM symbiosis increased with rising soil temperatures in the spring, in time to enhance late-season P accumulation and grain production. Accepted: 15 July 1998     

Reexamination of silicon effects on rice growth and production under field conditions using a low silicon mutant

Silicon (Si) is a beneficial element for healthy growth and high and sustainable production of rice, but the mode of action of the beneficial effects has not been well understood. We carried out field trials for four years at two different locations to re-examine the effects of Si on the growth and production of rice using a low silicon rice (lsi1) mutant. The mutant accumulated much lower Si at each growth stage compared with the wild-type rice (Oryza sativa L. cv Oochikara), but there was no difference in the accumulation of other nutrients including N, P, and K. Measurements at different growth stages showed that low Si in the mutant hardly affected the tiller number, chlorophyll content (SPAD value), and root growth. The plant height and shoot dry weight of the wild-type rice were slightly higher than those of the mutant at a later growth stage, but the difference was not significant between the two lines. However, grain yield was reduced by 79–98%, depending on year, due to a low Si accumulation in the mutant, which showed the largest effect of Si on rice production among all studies reported so far. Among the yield components, the percentage of filled spikelets was mostly affected, being only 13.9% of the wild-type rice in the mutant. The grain color of the mutant became brown because of excessive transpiration and infection of pathogens. These results indicate that Si increases rice yield mainly by enhancing the fertility of spikelets.     

Predicting spatial patterns of soil bacteria under current and future environmental conditions

Soil bacteria are largely missing from future biodiversity assessments hindering comprehensive forecasts of ecosystem changes. Soil bacterial communities are expected to be more strongly driven by pH and less by other edaphic and climatic factors. Thus, alkalinisation or acidification along with climate change may influence soil bacteria, with subsequent influences for example on nutrient cycling and vegetation. Future forecasts of soil bacteria are therefore needed. We applied species distribution modelling (SDM) to quantify the roles of environmental factors in governing spatial abundance distribution of soil bacterial OTUs and to predict how future changes in these factors may change bacterial communities in a temperate mountain area. Models indicated that factors related to soil (especially pH), climate and/or topography explain and predict part of the abundance distribution of most OTUs. This supports the expectations that microorganisms have specific environmental requirements (i.e., niches/envelopes) and that they should accordingly respond to environmental changes. Our predictions indicate a stronger role of pH over other predictors (e.g. climate) in governing distributions of bacteria, yet the predicted future changes in bacteria communities are smaller than their current variation across space. The extent of bacterial community change predictions varies as a function of elevation, but in general, deviations from neutral soil pH are expected to decrease abundances and diversity of bacteria. Our findings highlight the need to account for edaphic changes, along with climate changes, in future forecasts of soil bacteria.Subject terms: Microbial ecology, Metagenomics, Climate-change ecology     

不同土壤水分条件下北方稻田耗水规律研究

采用田测法研究不同土壤水分条件下稻田需水规律．试验采用淹灌、湿润灌和间歇灌3种灌水处理．结果表明,在整个生育期内由田测法测得的淹灌、湿润灌和间歇灌3种处理的蒸散量分别为889．1、635．9和775．9mm．蒸散速率分别为6．9、4．9和6．0mm·d^-1．与淹灌处理相比．湿润灌和间歇灌处理分别节水28．5％和12．7％．在充分供水的情况下,由Penman法计算的潜在蒸散值分别比田测法小29．30％．淹灌、湿润灌和间歇灌3种处理的生物产量分别为16438．22、15887．94和15757．88kg·hm^-2．经济产量分别为8014．01、7828．91和7853．93kg·hm^-2．统计分析结果表明．3种处理间的产量差别不显著．淹灌、湿润灌和间歇灌3种处理的水分利用效率(WUE)分别为9．01、12．31和10．12kg·hm^-2·mm^-1．淹灌的WUE分别比湿润灌和间歇灌减少26．8％和11．0％．对比分析结果表明．湿润灌的节水效果最好．     

Intraspecific differences in physiological response of 20 wheat cultivars to enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation under field conditions

Field studies were conducted to determine the potential for alterations in physiology and the intraspecific variation in sensitivity of 20 wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars to enhanced ultraviolet-B (UV-B, 280-315 nm) radiation. The supplemental UV-B radiation was 5 kJ m(-2), simulating a depletion of 20% stratospheric ozone. Out of 20 wheat cultivars (from South China, North China and Mexico) tested, 13 showed significant changes in total chlorophyll content. In most of these sensitive species, chlorophyll a content was strongly reduced, and chlorophyll b content decreased in a lesser extent, leading to a decrease in chlorophyll a/b ratio. However, some species had an increased chlorophyll a/b ratio under enhanced UV-B. The effect of UV-B on flavonoid content also showed intraspecific differences, a significant increase for one cultivar, decreases in 12 cultivars and no effect on the other seven cultivars. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of five cultivars was significantly increased, and that of six cultivars significantly decreased. Membrane permeability of 12 cultivars significantly increased, while only that of Dali 905 was significantly decreased. Malonaldehyde (MDA) contents of eight cultivars were increased significantly, while that of three cultivars was significantly decreased. Although large intraspecific differences were found for the different parameters measured, there was no clear correlation between them under UV-B radiation.