Influence of salinity on mineral nutrition of peanut (Arachis hypogea L.)

Summary Effect of sodium chloride and sodium sulphate salinities on growth and mineral nutrition of peanut (A. hypogea L.) variety TMV-10 has been studied. Both salts suppressed growth of the plants. The inorganic analysis revealed that NaCl and Na₂SO₄ caused accumulation of Na, P, Fe and Mn in root, stem, leaf and gynophore. NaCl treatment caused accumulation of Cl in these parts. The uptake of K was hampered by both salts whereas Ca uptake was retarded mainly by Na₂SO₄. The results are discussed in relation to the salt tolerance capacity of the plant.     

Diallel analysis in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Summary An 8 × 8 full diallel experiment based on 4 bunch plus 4 spreading types of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) was conducted over three environments. For both number of pods and pod yield, additive, nonadditive and reciprocal cross effects were detected and these were also influenced by changes in environments. For number of pods additive genetic variance was predominant whereas it was approximately equal to non-additive genetic variance for pod yield. Graphical analysis revealed the presence of strong non-allelic interaction for number of pods whereas for pod yield absence of dominance and/or presence of non-allelic interaction was evident.Part of Ph.D. Thesis of the first author     

Variation and inheritance of the arachin polypeptides of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Summary Variation in the arachin polypeptides of groundnut genotypes was observed by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Three regions could be observed on the electropherogram. Region 1, corresponding to conarachin, did not show any variation; region 2, consisting of arachin acidic subunits, showed variation; region 3, containing the arachin basic subunits, did not show any variation. There are four varietal classes of arachin polypeptide patterns: class A comprised three acidic subunits of arachin of molecular weights 47.5, 45.1 and 42.6 kd and a basic subunit of 21.4 kd; class B, with three acidic subunits of molecular weights 47.5, 45.1 and 41.2 kd and a basic subunit of 21.4 kd; class C of an additive pattern of class A and class B; class D, of two acidic polypeptides of 47.5, 45.1 kd and the basic 21.4 kd subunit. Of the 90 genotypes studied, 73% belong to class A, 15% to class B and 6% each to class C and D. Analysis of F₂ seeds from a cross between class A and class B genotypes showed that the two polypeptides (42.6 kd and 41.2 kd) are coded by nonallelic genes and also revealed that class C and class D patterns arose as a result of hybridisation between class A and class B. A. monticola, the progenitor of A. hypogaea, showed a pattern similar to the additive pattern of class A and class B while some diploid Arachis species had the 41.2 kd polypeptide. Based on arachin polypeptide patterns the probable origin of A. hypogaea has been suggested.     

Protein Turnover in Response to Transient Exposure to Exogenous Auxin is Necessary for Restoring Auxin Autotrophy in a Stressed Arachis hypogea Cell Culture

An auxin autotrophic Arachis hypogea cell culture was sensitive to stress treatments leading to water loss whereas the growth of its auxin-supplemented counterpart was unaffected under similar conditions. Here we show that an hour of transient auxin treatment in the post stress period was sufficient for restoring the auxin autotrophic growth potential of the stress driven quiescent Arachis cells. Qualitative proteome analysis revealed protein turnover to have a role in mediating auxin-originated signals in these cells. In consonance, MG132 a cell permeable inhibitor of the ubiquitin mediated protein turnover completely inhibited the auxin dependent growth restoration of the stressed Arachis cells. Thus protein turnover is a necessary downstream event in exogenous auxin mediated stress tolerance in Arachis cells.     

Effect of soil sodicity on the growth,yield and chemical composition of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea Linn.)

Summary A replicated field experiment was conducted to study the effect of exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) on the yield, chemical composition, protein and oil content and uptake of nutrients by groundnut (Arachis hypogaea Linn.) variety M-13. ESP over 15 delayed germination and emergence of flowers. There was continuous decrease in dry matter yield at 30 and 60 days of growth, grain and straw yield after harvest and protein, oil and kernel percent with increase in soil ESP. A 50 per cent reduction in groundnut yield was observed at an ESP of 20. Increasing soil ESP, increased Na and decreased K, Ca and N contents, but had no effect on the Mg, P, S, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu contents of the plant. Sodium content of the plant increased, while potassium and nitrogen decreased with age of the plant. The uptake of all the nutrients decreased with increase in soil ESP. The results showed that groundnut is a relatively sensitive crop to soil sodicity.     

Evaluation of early generations for iron chlorosis in relation to productivity in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Five popular but iron-inefficient cultivars were crossed with three efficient genotypes and both parents and F₁s were evaluated for iron-efficiency in potted calcareous and noncalcareous soil. The iron-efficient genotypes were dark green or green in both noncalcareous and calcareous soils whereas inefficient types were light green to yellow in calcareous soil. The chlorophyll and active iron (Fe²⁺) concentration of leaves was less in iron-efficient genotypes compared to efficient types in calcareous soil and reduction of both the parameters from noncalcareous to calcareous soil was considerably high in iron-inefficient lines. There was significant correlation between visual scores, chlorophyll and active iron content. There were no differences among F₁s for iron chlorosis and they were all iron-inefficient. The frequency of iron-inefficient plants was higher than the efficient plants in all F₂ populations. But most of the productive plants came from iron-efficient segregants indicating strong association between iron-efficiency and productivity. Based on the results selection for iron-efficiency in early generations and extensive evaluation for productivity in advanced generations is suggested for developing varieties for cultivation in calcareous soils.     

In vitro flowering and pod formation from cotyledons of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Summary The response of groundnut cotyledons to the presence of various growth regulators in concentrations from 0.1 to 5 mg/l has been studied in detail using several genotypes of groundnut on two different media. Cotyledons with embryo axis, cultured on Blaydes' medium with cytokinins, produced shoots, in the axils of which 2–7 flower buds could be seen. The frequency of flower bud induction in general increased with increasing concentrations of cytokinins, the optimal levels being 3 mg/l of KN or 4 mg/l of BAP. Cotyledons without embryo axis, cultured on Blaydes' medium with BAP (0.5 mg/l), produced a cluster of flower buds directly, ranging in number from 8–28, without any vegetative growth. Excised embryo axes cultured on the same medium gave plantlets without flower buds. The growth regulators IAA, NAA, GA₃ and ABA failed to induce flower buds in independent treatments. However, lower concentrations of IAA and NAA in combination with cytokinins exerted a positive influence on flowering. The blooming of the flower buds was facilitated on media supplemented with low concentrations of cytokinins. Six percent of the induced flowers resulted in gynophore development and ultimately formed pods when cultured under complete dark conditions in modified MS medium supplemented with kinetin.     

Enhanced cross pollination to widen the scope of breeding in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Summary Six groundnut genotypes belonging to the Virginia and Valencia sub-groups were irradiated with gamma rays at doses of 5, 10, 15 and 20 kR, much below LD₅₀, and grown surrounded by a pollen parent in a split-plot design. The succeeding two generations were checked for the occurrence of hybrids by examining the segregation for pod and seed characteristics and the two quantitative characters, pod and seed yield. Cross-pollination up to 20.8% was observed in M13, a Virginia cultivar. There was a genotype-dose interaction for the extent of cross-pollination. Cross-pollination was higher in Virginia than Valencia genotypes and more frequent under 15 and 20 kR than under other doses, in general. The observed substantial enhancement of cross-pollination encourages the use of seed irradiation at proper doses as a method for increasing recombination in plant breeding programmes.     

Inadequate iron supply and high bicarbonate impair the symbiosis of peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) with different Bradyrhizobium strains

In the present study, we examined the effects of iron deficiency in an acid solution and in an alkaline solution containing bicarbonate on the growth and nodulation of peanuts inoculated with different bradyrhizobial strains or supplied with fertilizer nitrogen.Inadequate iron supply in acid solution decreased the number of nodule initials, nodule number and nodule mass. Alleviating the iron deficiency increased acetylene reduction but not bacteroid numbers in nodules. Nitrogen concentrations in shoots of inoculated plants increased as iron concentrations in solution increased when determined at day 30 but not at day 50. Higher iron concentrations in solution were required for maximum growth of plants reliant on symbiotic nitrogen fixation than for those receiving fertilizer nitrogen.Adding bicarbonate to the solution with 7.5 M Fe markedly depressed nodule formation. This effect was much more severe than that of inadequate iron supply alone. Bicarbonate also decreased nitrogenase activity but did not decrease bacteroid concentrations in nodules.Both NC92 and TAL1000 nodulated peanuts poorly when bicarbonate was present. However, an interaction between iron concentrations in acid solutions and Bradyrhizobium strains on nodulation of peanuts was observed. Alleviating iron deficiency increased the number of nodule initials and nodules to a much greater extent for plants inoculated with TAL1000 than for plants inoculated with NC92.     

Phenolic acid metabolism of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plants inoculated with VAM fungus and Rhizobium

Mycorrhizal and Rhizobiuminoculation resulted in a significant increase in the quantities of phenoliccompounds in roots and shoots of groundnut plants, as compared to uninoculatedplants. Production of some new compounds, and increase in the activity of theenzymes peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase, following inoculation was observed.Accumulation of phenolics and the activation of oxidative enzymes were morepronounced in the dual inoculated plants.     

不同抗旱性花生品种的根系形态发育及其对干旱胁迫的响应

为明确不同抗旱性花生品种的根系形态发育特征,探讨其根系形态发育特征对不同土壤水分状况的响应机制,在防雨棚旱池内进行土柱栽培试验,研究抗旱型品种“花育22号”、“唐科8号”和干旱敏感型品种“花育23号”3个不同抗旱性花生品种根系形态发育特征及其对干旱胁迫的响应.结果表明:抗旱型品种根系较发达,具有较大的根系生物量、总根长、总根系表面积.干旱胁迫使抗旱型品种根系总表面积和体积增加,而干旱敏感型品种则相反.干旱胁迫显著增加抗旱型品种“花育22号”20 cm以下土层内根长密度分布比例及根系表面积和体积,但“唐科8号”相应根系性状仅在20-40 cm土层内增加;干旱胁迫使干旱敏感型品种“花育23号”40 cm以下土层内各根系性状升高,但未达显著水平且其深层土壤内各根系性状增加幅度小于“花育22号”.花生根系总长、总表面积及0-20 cm土层内根系性状与产量间呈显著或极显著正相关.土壤水分亏缺条件下,花生主要通过增加深层土壤内根长、根系表面积和体积等形态特性,优化空间分布构型,以调节植株对水分的利用.     

Ammonium nutrition increases photosynthesis rate under water stress at early development stage of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

An hydroponic experiment with a simulated water stress induced by PEG (6000) was conducted in a greenhouse to study the effects of nitrate (NO₃ ⁻), ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) and the mixture of NO₃ ⁻ and NH₄ ⁺, on water stress tolerance of rice seedlings. Rice (Shanyou 63) was grown under non- or simulated water stress condition (10% (w/v) PEG, MW6000) with the 3 different N forms during 4 weeks. Under non-stressed condition no difference was observed among the N treatments. Under simulated water stress, seedlings grown on N-NO₃ ⁻ were stunted. Addition of PEG did not affect rice seedling growth in the treatment of only NH₄ ⁺ supply but slightly inhibited the rice seedling growth in the treatment of mixed supply of NO₃ ⁻ and NH₄ ⁺. Simulated water stress, when only N-NH₄ ⁺ was present, did not affect leaf area and photosynthesis rate, however, both parameters decreased significantly in the NO₃ ⁻ containing solutions. Under water stress, Rubisco content in newly expanded leaves significantly increased in the sole NH₄ ⁺ supplied plants as compared to that in plants of the other two N treatments. Under water stress, the ratio of carboxylation efficiency to Rubisco content was, respectively, decreased by 13 and 23% in NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ⁻ treatments, respectively. It is concluded that, water stress influenced the Rubisco activity than stomatal limitation, and this effects could be regulated by N forms. Responsible Editor: Herbert Johannes Kronzucker. Shiwei Guo and Gui Chen contributed equally to this paper.     

谷子对干旱胁迫的生理生态响应

干旱少雨严重限制了我国西北地区谷子的产量,为明确谷子响应干旱的生理特征,以干旱敏感谷子品种安04和不敏感品种豫谷1号以及xiaomi为材料,通过盆栽试验,研究了谷子不同生育期叶片光合参数、叶绿素含量、非结构性碳、β-淀粉酶基因表达对水分亏缺的响应。结果表明,正常水分条件下安04产量高于豫谷1号,干旱胁迫严重限制了两个谷子品种的产量形成,安04和豫谷1号分别减产71.2%和56.0%,豫谷1号产量显著高于安04。正常水分条件下,安04具有比豫谷1号更高的净光合速率（P<0.05）,干旱胁迫下,豫谷1号叶片净光合速率显著高于安04;叶片蒸腾速率结果同光合结果一致。干旱条件下,豫谷1号具有更高的叶片相对含水量。干旱胁迫显著降低了两个谷子品种花期的叶绿素a、叶绿素b及总叶绿素含量,且安04降低幅度均大于豫谷1号。干旱胁迫均显著增加了豫谷1号拔节期和开花期的叶片可溶性糖含量,而安04叶片可溶性糖含量并没有发生显著性变化,同时干旱胁迫显著增加了豫谷1号β-淀粉酶基因SiBAM1的表达水平。施用β-淀粉酶活性抑制剂α-环糊精,xiaomi叶片可溶性糖及脯氨酸含量显著降低,进一步加重了干旱对xiaomi的生长抑制。综上所述,干旱胁迫诱导谷子β-淀粉酶基因表达和β-淀粉酶活性升高从而水解淀粉形成可溶性糖,高可溶性糖含量对谷子提高抗旱性起重要作用。     

甘蔗抗旱性生理生化鉴定指标

利用因子分析和灰色关联度分析方法研究了甘蔗叶片相对含水量、膜脂过氧化代谢、活性氧代谢、光合参数及蔗茎产量性状等指标与抗旱性的关系.结果表明,干旱胁迫下甘蔗叶片的MDA含量和PMP明显提高,而RWC、SOD活性、Chl含量、F_v/F_m、F_v/F_o、△F_v/F_t、△F_v/F_o和蔗茎单茎重(SSW)8个抗旱性指标均显著降低.SSW与其它9个生理生化指标的相关性大小依次为PMP＞SOD活性＞MDA含量＞RWC＞F_v/F_o＞F_v/F_m＞Chl含量＞F_v/F_o＞F_v/F_t,其中,SSW与F_v/F_o和ΔF_v/F_t相关性不显著.通过因子分析将10个甘蔗抗旱性指标用4个公共因子表示,累加方差贡献率达到92.08%.因子l主要是反映光合作用特性指标对甘蔗品种抗旱性起支配作用,因子2主要是反映叶片相对含水量及活性氧代谢指标对甘蔗品种抗旱性起支配作用,因子3和因子4分别只有SSW和Chl含量有较大载荷.灰色关联度分析表明,各抗旱性生理生化指标与SSW关联密切程度依次为F_v/F_m＞PMP＞F_v/F_o＞RWC＞MDA含量＞SOD活性＞ΔF_v/F_t＞Chl含量＞F_v/F_o.     

Carbon,nitrogen, phosphorus,and sulphur concentration and partitioning in beech ecotypes (Fagus sylvatica L.): phosphorus most affected by drought

Beech seedlings of different drought sensitivity originating from 11 German provenances were grown in pots and cultivated in a greenhouse. The present paper aims to give insights on uptake, transport and use of macronutrients, since the knowledge of drought effects on the nutrition of trees is low compared to water relations. Therefore, the elemental composition, the ratio of inorganic to total content, and the partitioning between roots and shoots of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur were investigated as affected by provenance and drought treatment. Phosphorus and phosphate concentrations decreased in all tissues after a 3 week drought treatment simulating a summer drought period. In roots carbon increased and nitrate decreased, in stems nitrogen decreased but nitrate increased following drought. The observed effects on phosphorus and phosphate are discussed in terms of lower phosphate mobility in the substrate due to lower water availability. The decrease in the ratio of phosphate to phosphorus in the tissues suggests the use of vacuolar phosphate pools for maintaining organic phosphorus homeostasis. The partitioning of all macronutrients was not affected by drought, although phosphorus and phosphate were significantly lowered in tissues. In most of the parameters studied significant differences between provenances were found. The recently observed drought sensitivity of provenances was not reflected in the strength of concentration changes or partitioning of macronutrients by drought over provenances.     

Potential for plant growth promotion in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cv. ALR-2 by co-inoculation of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and Rhizobium

The use of Rhizobium inoculant for groundnut is a common practice in India. Also, co-inoculation of Rhizobium with other plant growth-promoting bacteria received considerable attention in legume growth promotion. Hence, in the present study we investigated effects of co-inoculating the sulfur (S)-oxidizing bacterial strains with Rhizobium, a strain that had no S-oxidizing potential in groundnut. Chemolithotrophic S-oxidizing bacterial isolates from different sources by enrichment isolation technique included three autotrophic (LCH, SWA5 and SWA4) and one heterotrophic (SGA6) strains. All the four isolates decreased the pH of the growth medium through oxidation of elemental S to sulfuric acid. Characterization revealed that these isolates tentatively placed into the genus Thiobacillus. Clay-based pellet formulation (2.5 x 10(7) cf ug(-1) pellet) of the Thiobacillus strains were developed and their efficiency to promote plant growth was tested in groundnut under pot culture and field conditions with S-deficit soil. Experiments in pot culture yielded promising results on groundnut increasing the plant biomass, nodule number and dry weight, and pod yield. Co-inoculation of Thiobacillus sp. strain LCH (applied at 60 kg ha(-1)) with Rhizobium under field condition recorded significantly higher nodule number, nodule dry weight and plant biomass 136.9 plant(-1), 740.0mg plant(-1) and 15.0 g plant(-1), respectively, on 80 days after sowing and enhanced the pod yield by 18%. Also inoculation of S-oxidizing bacteria increased the soil available S from 7.4 to 8.43 kg ha(-1). These results suggest that inoculation of S-oxidizing bacteria along with rhizobia results in synergistic interactions promoting the yield and oil content of groundnut, in S-deficit soils.     

Influence of long-term drought stress on osmolyte accumulation in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) plants

Accumulation of various osmolytes was examined in plants of sugar beet cv. Janus grown under two soil water treatments: control (60% of the field water capacity; FWC) and drought (30–35% FWC). The water shortage started on the 61st day after emergence (DAE), at the stage of the beginning of tap-roots development and was imposed for 35 days. Osmotic potential of sugar beet plant organs, particularly tap-roots, was decreased significantly as a consequence of a long-term drought. Water shortage reduced univalent (K⁺, Na⁺) cations concentrations in the petioles and divalent (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) ions level in the mature and old leaves. Cation concentrations in the tap-roots were not affected by water shortage. The ratio of univalent to divalent cations was significantly increased in young leaves and petioles as a consequence of drought. Long-term water deficit caused a significant reduction of inorganic phosphorus (P_i) concentration in young and old leaves. Under the water stress condition, the concentration of proline was increased in all individual plant organs, except proline concentration in the youngest leaves. Drought treatment caused a significant increase of glycine betaine content in shoot without any change in tap-roots. Glucose concentrations were significantly increased only in tap-roots as the effect of drought. In response to water shortage the accumulation of sucrose was observed in all the examined leaves and tap-roots. Overall, a long-term drought activated an effective mechanism for osmotic adjustment both in the shoot and in the root tissues which may be critical to survival rather than to maintain plant growth but sugar beet organs accumulate different solutes as a response to water cessation.     

不同花生品种对旱涝胁迫的响应及生理机制

为评价花生对旱、涝胁迫的响应,本试验以4个旱、涝耐性差异明显的花生品种为材料,运用温室防雨盆栽方法,在苗期、花针期分别进行正常灌溉(对照)、干旱(7d,叶片萎蔫)、根部淹涝(土面水深2 cm,时间1d、3d、7d)和整株淹涝(水深至苗顶,时间1d、3d、7d)的处理,测定地上部及根系生物量、根冠比、根系活力、叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量。结果表明,苗期、花针期干旱均抑制地上部生长,提高根冠比;苗期干旱降低根系生物量,而花针期增加。2个时期淹涝均促进地上部生长、抑制根系生长、降低根冠比,并随淹水加深、延时而加重。旱、涝条件下根系活力均降低,SOD、MDA呈上升趋势。遭受相同时间(7d)的水分胁迫后,危害程度以干旱重于淹涝,花针期重于苗期。基于生物量、生理指标变化的综合分析进一步表明,4个花生品种的旱、涝耐性差异很大,湘花55号耐旱性强、耐涝性弱,豫花15号耐旱性弱、耐涝性强,中花4号耐旱、涝性均最弱,中花8号耐旱、涝性均最强。     

花生ARAhPR10基因启动子序列的克隆及分析

PR10(pathogenesis-related class10protein)类蛋白与植物的抵御外来病害及系统获得性抗性(SAR)有着紧密联系,本文采用基于PCR的基因组DNA步移法,从抗黄曲霉花生品种粤油20中克隆ARAhPR10(Aspergillus flavus-resistant AhPR10)基因起始密码子ATG上游256bp类似启动子序列,并对其进行植物顺式作用元件数据库PLACE预测分析。结果表明,该类似启动子序列含有4处TATA box和2处CAAT box保守的启动子结构元件,还有6处W-box、1处BIHD1和3处GT-1motif抗逆应答元件,其中W-box常见于PR蛋白的启动子区内参与病程应答。我们初步认为本研究克隆的序列可能是ARAhPR10基因的启动子。