In vitro selection in resistance breeding of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa duch.)

Genetic resistance to pathogenetic soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae Kleb. was examined in two strawberry somaclones. Strawberry somaclones were obtained in sterile culture from runner tips of cultivars 'Merton Dawn' and 'Selva'. In vitro selection was performed with the use of homogenate of liquid cultures of Verticillium dahliae. Microplants of both somaclones were inoculated at stage of 4. Leaves. Disease symptoms were observed at 15., 30., 45., 60. and 75. days post inoculation. Extent of leaf chlorosis was rated on a scale of 0-4. Under the controlled in vitro culture conditions a different response to infection by this pathogenic fungus was observed. After 75. days post inoculation the contribution of necrotic plants in somaclone of 'Merton Dawn' reached the value of 76%, whereas in somaclone of 'Selva' this value reached 86%. In control somaclones of 'Merton Dawn' and 'Selva' the contribution of necrotic plants after 75. days post mock-inoculation with sterile distilled water reached the considerably lower value of 13%. These results revealed that somaclone of 'Merton Dawn' was more genetically resistant to infection by V. dahliae than somaclone of 'Selva'. The observed response to in vitro infection caused by Verticillium dahliae in examined somaclones was similar in comparison with original cultivars. Furthermore, somaclonal variation induced in tissue cultured strawberry was sufficient to select variants that showed enhanced genetic resistance to Verticillium wilt caused by V. dahliae. In vitro selection can be efficiently used as an alternative program to conventional resistance breeding in strawberry.     

Pattern of defoliation and its effect on photosynthesis and growth of Goldenrod

1. Leaf area was removed from Solidago altissima in either a dispersed pattern (half of every leaf removed) or a concentrated pattern (every other leaf removed) and effects on leaf gas exchange, vegetative growth and flowering were examined relative to undefoliated controls. Gas exchange was measured for leaves remaining after defoliation and for regrowth leaves that developed post-damage (at 7, 16 and 26 days post-defoliation).
2. Area-based photosynthetic rates of leaves remaining after defoliation were not affected by either dispersed or concentrated damage, but damage of both types enhanced area-based photosynthesis of regrowth leaves at 16 days post-defoliation and to a lesser extent at 26 days post-defoliation.
3. Dispersed damage, but not concentrated damage, stimulated mass-based photosynthesis of undamaged leaves remaining after defoliation. Undamaged leaves remaining after defoliation and regrowth leaves on damaged plants had higher specific leaf area (leaf area/leaf mass) than comparable leaves on control plants. Mass-based photosynthesis was more strongly elevated by defoliation than area-based photosynthesis because of this increase in specific leaf area.
4. Plants with dispersed damage recovered more quickly from defoliation; they had higher relative growth rates in the first week post-defoliation than plants with concentrated damage. Both types of defoliation caused similar reductions in flower production.
5. These results add to accumulating evidence that dispersed damage is generally less detrimental to plants than concentrated damage and suggest that physiological changes in leaves may be part of the reason.     

Arbuscular mycorrhiza‐mediated resistance in tomato against Cladosporium fulvum‐induced mould disease

Root colonization with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhances plant resistance particularly against soil‐borne pathogenic fungi. In this study, mycorrhizal inoculation with Glomus mosseae (Gm) significantly alleviated tomato mould disease caused by the air‐borne fungal pathogen, Cladosporium fulvum (Cf). The disease index (DI) in local leaves (receiving pathogen inoculation) and systemic leaves (just above the local leaf without pathogen inoculation) was 36.4% and 11.7% in mycorrhizal plants, respectively, whereas DI was 59.6% and 36.4% in the corresponding leaves of AMF non‐inoculated plants, after 50 days of Gm inoculation, corresponding to 15 days after Cf inoculation by leaf infiltration. Foliar spray inoculation with Cf also revealed that AMF pre‐inoculated plants had a higher resistance against subsequent pathogen infection, where the DI was 41.3% in mycorrhizal plants vs. 64.4% in AMF non‐inoculated plants. AMF‐inoculated plants showed significantly higher fresh and dry weight than non‐inoculated plants under both control (without pathogen) and pathogen treatments. AMF‐inoculated plants exhibited significant increases in activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase, along with decreases in levels of H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde, compared with non‐inoculated plants after pathogen inoculation. AMF inoculation led to increases in total chlorophyll contents and net photosynthesis rate as compared with non‐inoculated plants under control and pathogen infection. Pathogen infection on AMF non‐inoculated plants led to decreases in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. However, pathogen infection did not affect these parameters in mycorrhizal plants. Taken together, these results indicate that AMF colonization may play an important role in plant resistance against air‐borne pathogen infection by maintaining redox poise and photosynthetic activity.     

The effect on yield in courgette and marrow of the mild strain of zucchini yellow mosaic virus used for cross-protection

The effects on yield in courgette and marrow (Cucurbita pepo) crops resulting from inoculation with the mild strain of zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV:WK), have been determined in polythene-house trials and in three years of outdoor, commercial field trials. In polythene-house trials ZYMV:WK inoculated plants were up to 10 days later in flowering than uninoculated plants and their cumulative yields were between 5% and 26% less than uninoculated plants depending on the cultivar. In most field trials cumulative yields from inoculated plants were between 4% and 38% less than uninoculated plants depending on the site and cultivar, but in one trial the yield was 7% higher from inoculated plants. In all experiments, courgette and marrow fruits harvested from ZYMV:WK inoculated plants were symptomless and indistinguishable from fruit harvested from uninoculated plants. The mild leaf symptoms induced by ZYMV:WK infection did not intensify to severe leaf symptoms and where there were natural outbreaks of severe ZYMV infection, fruits from inoculated plants remained symptomless whilst those from uninoculated plants were severely affected and unmarketable.     

Resistance of Pepper Lines to the Movement of Cucumber Mosaic Virus

The multiplication and the migration of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) were studied in greenhouse conditions in one susceptible ‘Yolo wonder’ and two resistant ‘Milord’ and ‘Vania’ pepper varieties. DAS-ELISA tests have revealed that the virus is replicated in inoculated leaves of the resistant varieties as high as in the susceptible variety. In the susceptible variety ‘Yolo wonder’, CMV migrated from the leaf lamina to the petiole two days after inoculation and it became systemic three days later regardless the season. In ‘Milord’ the virus migrated from the leaf lamina to the petiole five days after inoculation and it became systemic during the winter 16 days after inoculation. Whereas plants of the same genotype were not infected systemically during the summer. In ‘Vania’, during the two seasons, CMV spread from the blade to the petiole five days after inoculation, but the virus was not detected beyond the inoculated leaf. These results show that ‘Milord’ and ‘Vania’ are resistant to CMV migration. Therefore, the resistance to CMV migration is affected by plant genotype and temperature. The study of effect of pepper plant phenology on infection has revealed that resistance to CMV migration is also affected by the development stage of the plants.     

Regrowth of spring canola (Brassica napus) after defoliation

Aims

Regrowth of dual-purpose canola after grazing is important for commercial success and the aim of this research was to investigate the effects of defoliation on the development, growth, photosynthesis and allocation of carbohydrates.

Methods

We conducted two pot experiments in which defoliation was conducted at multiple intensities with scissors. Experiment 1 determined changes in flowering date due to defoliation while Experiment 2 investigated the effects of defoliation on growth, photosynthesis and allocation of carbohydrates in canola.

Results

Time to the appearance of the first flower was delayed by up to 9 days after the removal of all leaves at the start of stem elongation (GS30), and up to 19 days if the elongating bud was also removed. Stem growth rate decreased by 56–86 % due to defoliation and tap roots did not increase in mass when plants were completely defoliated. Leaf area continued to expand at the same rate as in un-defoliated plants. The new leaf area established per gram of regrowth biomass over 20 days was 158 cm².g^-1 for the complete defoliation treatments compared with 27 cm².g^?1 for the half-defoliated treatment and 13 cm².g^?1 for the un-defoliated treatment. Despite a reduction in total biomass of up to 60 %, the proportion of dry matter partitioned to the leaves was 18 % for all treatments within 20 days after defoliation. Total non-structural carbohydrate levels were reduced rapidly in the stem by day two (predominately sucrose) and the tap root by day four (predominately starch) after defoliation and did not recover to match un-defoliated plant levels within 20 days. Residual leaves on defoliated plants maintained photosynthetic rate compared with the same leaf cohorts on un-defoliated plants in which photosynthetic rate decreased to 39 % by day 12.

Conclusions

The rapid recovery of leaf area in defoliated canola was facilitated by the sustained high photosynthetic rate in remaining leaves, rapid mobilisation of stored sugars (stem) and starch (root), and a cessation of root and stem growth.     

Active Oxygen-producing and -scavenging Enzymes in Pepper Leaves Infected with Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria

Lipoxygenase (LOX), peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were determined in pepper (Capsicum annuum) leaves infected with Xanthomonas campestris pv. uesicatoria, from 3 to 15 days after inoculation, before symptom appearance and during the development of the disease. Strong Stimulation of LOX and POX activities was observed in infected leaves at an advanced stage of the disease (12–15 days after inoculation), when bacterial water-soaked spots and a slight chlorosis of the inoculated leaf areas were evident and a decrease in chlorophyll content of infected tissue was detected. The infection also induced a significant increase in CAT activity at the day 9 and a decrease in SOD and CAT activities at the day 12. On the basis of the changes observed, uncontrolled production of active oxygen species at advanced stages of infection is hypothesized.     

Resource allocation in an annual herb: Effects of light,mycorrhizal fungi,and defoliation

Concurrent interactions and the availability of resources (e.g., light) affect the cost/benefit balance during mutualistic and antagonistic interactions, as well as plant resource allocation patterns. Mycorrhizal interactions and herbivory concur in most plants, where mycorrhizae can enhance the uptake of soil nutrients by plants as well as consuming a large fraction of the plant's carbon, and defoliation usually reduces light interception and photosynthesis, thereby causing direct losses to the hosts of mycorrhizal fungi. Both types of interactions affect the carbon budget of their host plants and thus we predict that the relative costs of herbivory and mycorrhizal colonization will increase when photosynthesis is reduced, for instance in light limited environments. We conducted a greenhouse experiment using Datura stramonium to investigate the effects of defoliation and mycorrhizal inoculation on the resource allocation patterns in two different light environments. Defoliated plants overcompensated in terms of leaf mass in both light environments, but total seed mass per fruit was negatively affected by defoliation in both light environments. Mycorrhizal inoculation had a positive effect on vegetative growth and the leaf nitrogen content, but defoliation negates the benefit of mycorrhizal interactions in terms of the leaf nitrogen content. In general, D. stramonium compensated for the relative costs of concurrent mycorrhizal interactions and defoliation; plants that lacked both interactions exhibited the same performance as plants with both types of interactions.     

辣椒种质资源抗青枯病的鉴定与评价

采用青枯菌FJC100301菌株对田间辣椒（Capsicum annuum）抗病品种76a和感病品种TW-1分别作了不同温度、不同接种量和不同接种方法的接种试验。结果表明,辣椒青枯病抗性的室内鉴定以接种温度28℃、浸根20 min和3×10^8cfu/mL接种浓度为宜;辣椒种质田间抗青枯病接种鉴定宜选择5月上旬进行,浸根20 min,接种浓度为3×10^8cfu/mL。采用田间抗性接种鉴定的方法,用青枯菌FJC100301菌株对106份辣椒材料进行了抗性鉴定。田间接种后每隔10 d统计病情指数,划分辣椒抗青枯病鉴定分级标准,获得了高抗材料14份、抗病材料8份、中抗材料23份、中感材料23份、感病材料20份、高感材料18份;采用离体叶片接种法对田间筛选得到的高抗和高感纯度较高品种进行抗性分析,结果与田间鉴定一致。     

Photosynthetic responses of wheat, Triticum aestivum L., to defoliation patterns on individual leaves

The impact of defoliation by fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), on the photosynthetic rates of injured, individual wheat, Triticum aestivum L., leaves and the impact of different spatial patterns of artificial insect defoliation on photosynthesis of remaining leaf tissue of injured, individual wheat leaves were evaluated in this study. Photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, and chlorophyll a fluorescence were recorded in the flag-leaves of wheat plants 1 and 24 h after defoliation in 2003 and at 1 h, 24 h, 7 d, and 14 d after defoliation in 2004. Photosynthesis of injured leaves was not significantly affected by any defoliation treatment (i.e., control, natural, and artificial). Similarly, we did not observe interactions between defoliation treatments and time after defoliation. Stomatal conductance was significantly affected by time after defoliation and by the interaction between defoliation treatment and time after defoliation. However, in general, our results showed that wheat responded similarly to insect defoliation and artificial defoliation, which, therefore, may be used to simulate leaf mass consumption. Spatial defoliation patterns had a significant effect on photosynthetic parameters of injured leaves, but responses were dependent on plant developmental stages. The chlorophyll a fluorescence data revealed no significant effects from any defoliation pattern on the photochemical efficiency of the injured leaf. No significant interactions between defoliation patterns and time after defoliation were observed. Our findings reveal that the spatial pattern of defoliation in wheat affects photosynthetic and other gas exchange responses, which suggests that when simulating insect defoliation in wheat, researchers need to be cognizant of the defoliation pattern to adequately simulate insect defoliation.     

Effect of partial defoliation during the vegetative phase on subsequent growth and grain yield of maize

Maize was grown in two densities, 2–47 or 4–94 plants m^-2, and the following treatments imposed: untreated, plants partly defoliated 51 days after sowing, and alternate plants in a row partly defoliated 44 days after sowing. Plants flowered about 82 days after sowing. Leaf area was decreased by 60–64% by defoliation on day 51. Defoliation resulted in decreases in grain yield and grain number of 6–17%, though when alternate plants were defoliated in the higher density there was a substantial decrease in yield and number of grains in defoliated plants, which was largely offset by an increase in adjacent intact plants. When plants were defoliated on day 51 subsequent growth in leaf area was similar to, and that in leaf weight nearly as large as that in untreated plants, while increase in stem weight was substantially less than in untreated plants. By the time of flowering untreated and defoliated plots differed by c. 30% in leaf area. Increments of dry matter after flowering differed by c. 15% between untreated and defoliated plots. The fraction of these increments which entered the grain was c. 90% in both untreated and defoliated plots. When alternate plants in the row were partly defoliated on day 44 their subsequent increase in leaf area was probably 5–16% less than that of the adjacent intact plants. Increments of dry matter after flowering of plots with alternate plants defoliated were 93–95 % of those of untreated plots; leaf efficiency after flowering was slightly greater than in untreated plots. The fraction of the dry matter increment after flowering which entered the grain was c. 88 % in both intact and defoliated plants of the small density, but was 94% in intact plants and 86% in defoliated plants of the large density.     

UV-B increases the harvest index of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The effects of small changes in natural UV-B on the photosynthesis, pigmentation, flowering and yield of bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Label) were studied. To obtain a relatively natural growth environment, the plants were grown in small, half-open greenhouses of UV-transmitting Plexiglas of different thickness (3 and 5 mm), resulting in an 8% difference in the weighted UV-B reaching the plants. Although the UV-B doses used did not significantly influence photosynthesis on a leaf area basis during vegetative growth, important changes in biomass allocation were noted. A UV-B-O induced reduction in leaf area during the period of vegetative growth resulted in decreased dry weight after 57 d. During the flowering and pod-filling stages (57–79.d after planting), however, plants grown at high UV-B retained their photosynthetic capacity longer: maximal photosynthesis, chlorophyll and N content of the leaves were higher under the higher UV-B dose at a plant age of 79 d. Combined with an increased allocation under the higher UV-B dose of both N and biomass to the pods, this resulted in a small increase in yield and an important increase in harvest index with increased UV-B.     

WHOLE-PLANT RESPONSES OF BRASSICA CAMPESTRIS (CRUCIFERAE) TO ALTERED SINK-SOURCE RELATIONS

Plants may respond to developmentally or environmentally induced changes in the relationship between source (assimilate exporting) and sink (assimilate importing) organs through a number of regulatory mechanisms. The purpose of this work was to describe responses in leaf physiology, organ biomass partitioning, and reproduction of Brassica campestris L. to altered sink-source relations. Partial defoliation early in ontogeny increased sink-source ratio after 1 day and was accompanied by a significant increase in area-based photosynthetic capacity. Assimilate was preferentially partitioned to new leaf tissue at the expense of stem and reproductive tissue so that sink-source ratio and photosynthesis returned to control levels within a week. Bud excision at flower initiation decreased sink-source ratio; plants in this treatment responded through altered biomass partitioning, but there were no detected changes in leaf physiology. Plants that were hand-pollinated had decreased specific leaf weight, and within a week, sink-source ratio increased. Plants that were pollinated and then completely defoliated produced 40% as many seeds as plants that were not defoliated, presumably through stem and/ or fruit photosynthesis, and at the expense of flower production. Together these results illustrate that regulation of sink-source relations can occur through complex responses at several levels of organization over a wide range of time scales.     

丛枝菌根真菌对郁金香生长及其切花生理的影响

为认识丛枝菌根真菌（arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF）对郁金香Tulipa gesneriana生长、光合特性以及切后瓶插期生理的影响,通过温室盆栽接种试验,以摩西斗管囊霉Funneliformis mosseae和幼套近明球囊霉Claroideoglomus etunicatum分别单独接种和共同接种,进行温室盆栽实验。结果表明,共同接种F. mosseae和C. etunicatum的郁金香叶片叶绿素a含量、叶绿素b含量和总叶绿素含量均显著高于不接种对照,分别增加了32%、18%和28%。与不接种对照相比,接种AMF处理的郁金香叶片的净光合速率、气孔导度、胞间CO₂浓度和蒸腾速率均显著提高,共同接种F. mosseae和C. etunicatum的郁金香在正午12点达到光合参数最大值。接种AMF处理的郁金香花葶长、地上干物质质量、地上鲜物质质量和叶面积均高于不接种对照,开花期早于不接种对照。切花瓶插期间,接种AMF处理的郁金香切花花瓣可溶性糖含量、可溶性蛋白质含量、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化物酶（POD）等抗氧化酶活性比不接种对照显著提高;且降低了膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛（MDA）含量和相对电导率。接种处理有效地改善切花花枝的水分平衡,并延长郁金香切花的瓶插寿命、最佳观赏期和花期。     

Effect of controlled inoculation with specific mycorrhizal fungi from the urban environment on growth and physiology of containerized shade tree species growing under different water regimes

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of selected mycorrhiza obtained in the urban environment on growth, leaf gas exchange, and drought tolerance of containerized plants growing in the nursery. Two-year-old uniform Acer campestre L., Tilia cordata Mill., and Quercus robur L. were inoculated with a mixture of infected roots and mycelium of selected arbuscular (maple, linden) and/or ectomycorrhiza (linden, oak) fungi and grown in well-watered or water shortage conditions. Plant biomass and leaf area were measured 1 and 2 years after inoculation. Leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, and water relations were measured during the first and second growing seasons after inoculation. Our data suggest that the mycelium-based inoculum used in this experiment was able to colonize the roots of the tree species growing in the nursery. Plant biomass was affected by water shortage, but not by inoculation. Leaf area was affected by water regime and, in oak and linden, by inoculation. Leaf gas exchange was affected by inoculation and water stress. V _cmax and J _max were increased by inoculation and decreased by water shortage in all species. F _v/F _m was also generally higher in inoculated plants than in control. Changes in PSII photochemistry and photosynthesis may be related to the capacity of inoculated plants to maintain less negative leaf water potential under drought conditions. The overall data suggest that inoculated plants were better able to maintain physiological activity during water stress in comparison to non-inoculated plants.     

Studies on the Relationship Between Photosynthesis and Nitrogen Fixation in the Symbiotic System of Soybean and Nodule Bacteria( Rhizobium)

The relationship between photosynthesis of soybean and nitrogen fixation of the nodules by symbiotic Rhizobium was studied. The contents of total nitrogen and chlorophyll, the net photosynthetic rate and seed yield of soybean were much higher in either hydroponically cultivated or field-grown plants inoculated with Rhizobium B16–11C (or Clark nodulating strain) than in control without inoculation (or Clark non-nodulating strain). These results show that the symbiotic nitrogen fixation has a beneficial effect on photosynthesis. However, the effect was indirect and slow so that there was no change in the net photosynthetic rate of the soybean leaves until three clays after removing nodules from the soybean roots. On the other hand, decreasing the photosynthate supply to nodule by shade, defoliation or shoot removal of the soybean, the nodule activity declined significantly. It seems that the supply of photosynthate to root nodule is a limiting factor for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. However, the diurnal variation of the nodule activity could not be explained by change neither in the contents of sucrose and starch of the root nodules nor in the ambient temperature. The factor controlling the diurnal variation deserves further study.     

大豆-根瘤菌共生体系光合与固氮关系研究

水培大豆和田间生长的大豆,接种根瘤菌 Rhizobium B16-11C 后植株全氮含量、叶片叶绿素含量和净光合速率及种子产量都明显增加。比较 Clark 大豆的结瘤品系和不结瘤品系获类似结果。摘除根瘤后3天内叶片净光合速率无明显变化。大豆植株遮阴、去叶或切掉地上部导致根瘤活性明显下降。但去豆荚不能提高根瘤固氮的比活性。根瘤活性的日变化不能用根瘤蔗糖、淀粉含量或周围温度的变化来解释,其控制因子尚待深入研究。     

Effects of Botrytis fabae infection and mechanical defoliation on seed yield of field beans (Vicia faba)

Effects on seed yield of mechanical defoliation and inoculation with Botrytis fabae were compared using pot-grown plants of Vicia faba (cv. Maris Beagle). Treatments, which were made at the end of flowering, were applied singly and in all combinations to leaves (a) below, (b) at, and (c) above the flowering nodes (i.e. 2³ factorial). Yield was unaffected by treatments applied to leaves below the flowering nodes. Removal of leaves at flowering nodes did not reduce the number of pods but yield was reduced because there were fewer and smaller seeds. Inoculation of this zone also reduced yield; pods were lost at some nodes but it could also be shown that, irrespective of pod loss, yield at individual nodes was reduced in proportion to the severity of infection on leaves at the same nodes. Removal of leaves above flowering nodes reduced yield almost to the same extent as removal of leaves at flowering nodes but inoculation resulted in only a small amount of infection and yield was not reduced significantly. These results, taken in conjunction with recent studies on the physiology of the host plant, show that beans are exceptionally vulnerable to attack by B. fabae at the stage of flowering and early pod development. At later stages of development infection is unlikely to have a substantial effect on yield.