Effects of exogenous folic acid on the yield and amino acid content of the seed ofPisum sativum L. andHordeum vulgare L.

Effects of exogenous folic acid (FA) on the productivity ofPisum sativum L. andHordeum vulgare L. have been studied. After flowering, the plants were treated with optimum concentration of FA (25 mg per 1 water). This treatment increased the weight of the seeds by 17–19% (samplings of 1000 pcs were compared), whereas the yield became 26–29% higher. Amino acid analysis revealed a notable increase in the content of folate-dependent amino acids (e.g., glutamate, glycin, and methionine). Analysis of total folate content demonstrated that tetrahydrofolic coenzymes were significantly increased in experimental seeds. Treatment of the plants with exogenous FA increased both the content of chlorophyll in the leaves and their continuance of function. The results obtained led to the conclusion that FA treatment increases the productivity of pea and barley, by affecting the yield, weight, and quality of the seed.     

黄腐酸拌种对春小麦产量和水分利用效率的影响

在大田研究了黄腐酸拌种对春小麦产量形成和水分利用效率的影响。实验设４个处理：对照（ＣＫ）,播种前种子不处理;ＦＡ处理：播种前用ＦＡ拌种;ＷＭ处理：浇３０ｍｍ底墒水,覆膜;处理ＷＭＦＡ：浇３０ｍｍ底墒水,覆膜,播种前用ＦＡ拌种。２个覆膜处理均在播种后６２ｄ揭膜。同ＣＫ相比,ＦＡ拌种后,根系生长良好,吸收利用了更多的土壤水分,增加了穗重、单穗籽粒重和收获指数,产量和水分利用效率均显著提高。ＷＭ和ＷＭＦ     

Yeast polysaccharide affects fusaric acid content in maize root rot

Protective action of sulfoethyl glucan (SEG), a derivative of the cell wall glucan prepared from the baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was investigated in the maize seedlings infected by a plant pathogen Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.). Several markers were assayed with the SEG addition and in the control experiments. Two evaluations were performed on the 7th and the 14th days. Addition of SEG led to the increased productivity parameters of the infected plants and maintained them at the level of non-infected plants during the 14 days of experiment. After seven days of cultivation, concentration of fusaric acid (=5-butylpyridine-2-carboxylic acid; FA) decreased in all infected plants cultivated in the presence of SEG when compared to that detected in the infected plants grown in the absence of SEG. After 14 days of cultivation, polysaccharide addition resulted in the reduction of FA concentration almost to 75% in comparison to the infected plants grown without polysaccharide addition. In the experiment, when exogenous FA was added to the growth medium, its concentration decreased up to 60% in the presence of SEG. Thus, it is feasible to assume that SEG binds and adsorbs FA, and, in this way, reduces its content and exerts protective action in plants against its toxic effect.     

Antisense expression of 3-oxoacyl-ACP reductase affects whole plant productivity and causes collateral changes in activity of fatty acid synthase components

Brassica napus cv Westar plants were transformed with 3-oxoacyl-ACP reductase (KR) in antisense orientation, driven by either the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter or a seed-specific acyl carrier protein promoter to determine the effects on plant productivity and on the activity of other fatty acid synthase (FAS) components. In plants with altered KR activity, total seed yield was reduced in all cases. In less severely affected plant lines, seeds had a normal appearance and composition but the yield of seeds was reduced by approximately 50%. In more severely affected lines, reductions in both seed fatty acid content and the number of seeds produced per plant were evident, resulting in a 90% reduction in fatty acid synthesized per plant. These phenotypes were independent of the promoter used. In severely affected lines, a large proportion of seeds showed precocious germination, and these had a reduced oleate content and increased levels of polyunsaturated 18-carbon fatty acids, compared with normal seeds of the same line. This reduction in 18:1 fatty acids was mimicked on imbibition of seeds with a normal appearance, indicating a preferential use of oleate moieties in precocious germination events. The reduction in activity of KR was mirrored for a second fatty acid synthase component, enoyl-ACP reductase, indicating a mechanism to maintain the ratio of fatty acid synthase components throughout embryogenesis.     

Comparison of fumaric acid production by Rhizopus oryzae using different neutralizing agents

Fumaric acid fermentation in a 10-L bubble column fermenter using different neutralizing agents [CaCO(3), Ca(OH)(2), NaHCO(3)] by Rhizopus oryzae ATCC 20344 was examined. It was found that in the fermentation using CaCO(3 )as the neutralizing agent the highest fumaric acid weight yield and volumetric productivity were obtained, 53.4% and 1.03 g/L x h(-1) respectively. In the NaHCO(3) case, the fumaric acid weight yield and volumetric productivity were 33.7% and 0.69 g/L x h(-1), respectively, much lower than the CaCO(3) case. However, the NaHCO(3) alternative has advantages of cell reuse and simple downstream processing because of the high solubility of sodium fumarate. These advantages may offset the disadvantages of using NaHCO(3) as the neutralizing agent, and the overall fumaric acid weight yield and volumetric productivity will increase.     

Fatty acid composition in microspore-derived secondary embryos of Brassica napus L.

Fatty acid (FA) composition was determined in secondary embryos (SeEs) of Brassica napus L. of the cv. ‘Topas’ and ‘Janetzki’, and compared with the FA composition in microspore-derived embryos (MDEs) and seeds. SeEs of ‘Topas’, a rapessed cultivar with low erucic acid, revealed the same FA composition as observed in the MDEs. The FA pattern was, in most of the cases, independent of the procedures used for induction of SeEs e.g. low density cultures, transversal wounding, auxin treatment, and light conditions. However, non-embryogenic calli, as well as leaves from greenhouse- and in vitro-grown material had a FA composition distinctly different from the MDEs or SeEs. SeEs with an abnormal phenotype revealed differences in FA composition compared to MDEs or SeEs, but was distinct from the composition of non-embryogenic tissues. Virtually no erucic acid (22:1) or eicosaenoic acid (20:1) could be detected in SeEs of ‘Topas’. However, its presence in SeEs of ‘Janetzki’, a high erucic acid rapeseed cultivar, demonstrates that SeEs contain embryo-specific FAs. Under standard culture conditions, the levels of 22:1 and 20:1 were the same as observed in MDEs, which was approximately half the content observed in the seeds. The similarity in FA composition between SeEs and MDEs, of both low and high erucic acid rapeseed cultivars, is a unique characteristic which differs from most other somatic embryogenic systems.     

黄腐酸对干旱胁迫下黄瓜光合特性及产量和品质的影响

黄腐酸(FA)可参与植物耐旱性的调控,但关于其对干旱胁迫下黄瓜光合作用的调控机制尚不清楚。本研究以‘津优35'黄瓜为试材,采用聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟干旱,通过喷施不同浓度(0、100、300、500、700、900 mg·L^-1)FA,研究其缓解黄瓜干旱胁迫的浓度效应及其对光合关键酶活性、叶绿体超微结构、叶绿素荧光参数、水分利用效率及产量和品质的影响。结果表明: 室内试验中,与对照(0 mg·L^-1)相比,不同浓度FA处理均显著提高了干旱胁迫下黄瓜幼苗的叶片相对含水量和叶面积,降低旱害指数、丙二醛含量和电解质渗漏率,随着FA浓度的增加其缓解效应呈现先升高后下降的趋势,且以700 mg·L^-1 FA的作用效果最好。FA显著增加干旱胁迫下黄瓜幼苗的叶绿素含量、Rubisco和Rubisco活化酶(RCA)活性及基因表达、净光合速率(P_n)、最大光化学效率和实际光化学效率、单位面积吸收光能、捕获光能、电子传递的量子产额和PSⅠ活性,降低K点的上升,维持叶绿体超微结构。温室控水试验表明,FA可显著增加干旱胁迫下温室黄瓜的水分利用效率,促进干物质量的积累,增加果实中Vc、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白和游离氨基酸含量,降低单宁含量。综上,施用FA可在干旱条件下提高温室黄瓜产量,改善果实品质。     

Growth and yield traits of sorghum grown on acid soil at varied aluminum saturations

Genetic manipulation of crops to tolerate mineral stresses is a practical approach to improve productivity of tropical acid soils. Both acid soil tolerant (AS-T) and susceptible (AS-S) sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genotypes were grown in the field on an acid ultisol at Quilichao, Colombia, South America at 60% (60-Al) and 40% (40-Al) Al saturation to evaluate plants for growth and yield traits. Except for days to flowering and root mass scores, AS-T genotypes showed no differences in growth (plant height, head length and width, second internode length and diameter, and acid soil toxicity rating) and yield (total and stover dry matter yields, grain yield, head yield, seeds per head, and 100-seed weight) traits when plants were grown at 60-Al or 40-Al. Plants grown at 60-Al were delayed in flowering and had lower root mass scores. The AS-S genotypes showed improvement for the growth and yield traits when grown at 40-Al compared to 60-Al. The growth and yield traits of the AS-S genotypes were usually less favorable for plants grown at 40-Al than the same traits were for the AS-T genotypes grown at 60-Al. Harvest indices (ratio of grain to total plant yield) were no different for the genotypes grown at 40-Al, and only slightly higher for the AS-T genotypes grown at 60-Al. Sorghum genotypes more tolerant to acid soil conditions showed favorable growth and yield traits when grown under relatively severe acid soil (60-Al, pH 4.1) conditions. Certain sorghum genotypes were able to adapt and effectively produce grain when grown on acid soils with few inputs to reduce acid soil toxicity problems. Published as Paper No. 6690, Journal Series, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. Funding received in part from the International Sorghum/Millet Collaborative Research Support Program (INTSORMIL CRSP) through US Agency for International Development (USAID) grant AID/DAN-1254-G-SS-5065-00 and project Nos. MS-111 (MSU) and NE-114 (UNL).     

盐胁迫条件下γ-氨基丁酸对玉米幼苗SOD、POD及CAT活性的影响

逆境下植物体内积累氨基丁酸(GABA)。盐胁迫严重影响玉米种子的萌发,而加入外源GABA可明显提高玉米种子的萌发率。外源GABA能迅速提高SOD、POD、和CAT这三种酶的活性。鉴于超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶和过氧化物酶是植物抗氧化保护系统中重要的组成部分,推测,盐胁迫条件下,GABA可通过提高保护酶系统活性而缓解盐胁迫对植物的伤害。     

DEMOGRAPHIC ASPECTS OF FLOWER AND FRUIT PRODUCTION IN BEAN PLANTS,PHASEOLUS VULGARIS L.

In this paper we assess the relative contributions to total pod yield of cohorts of flowers of known age. Bean plant (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) growth was monitored and 'births' of individual flowers were recorded and their fates followed. For every cohort of flowers an array of yield measures was calculated, including the mean and total cohort dry weight of fruits, and the numbers of viable and aborted seeds and completely undeveloped ovules. When mature, pods were removed from half of the plants. Plants whose mature pods were removed produced significantly greater numbers of flowers, ovules and viable seeds and a greater total weight of pods than did untreated plants. However, the proportion of ovules giving rise to viable seeds and to aborted seeds and undeveloped ovules was the same in plants of both groups. Approximately 50% of ovules of marketable pods, in all plants, yielded viable seeds. The 12 cohorts of flowers contributed markedly different amounts to plant yield. Early and later cohorts contributed much less than did middle cohorts in terms of marketable pod dry weight and numbers of fully developed seeds, aborted seeds, and undeveloped ovules. Peak productivity was therefore obtained from the middle phase of flowering in these annual bean plants. The lower pod yield of later cohorts is interpreted as a result of competition for limited resources between maturing pods and new flowers. We consider possible causes for the various fates of flowers and ovules and discuss flowers as plant modules suitable for demographic examination.     

Enhancement of germination, growth, and photosynthesis in soybean by pre-treatment of seeds with magnetic field

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of static magnetic fields on the seeds of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. var: JS-335) by exposing the seeds to different magnetic field strengths from 0 to 300 mT in steps of 50 mT for 30, 60, and 90 min. Treatment with magnetic fields improved germination-related parameters like water uptake, speed of germination, seedling length, fresh weight, dry weight and vigor indices of soybean seeds under laboratory conditions. Improvement over untreated control was 5-42% for speed of germination, 4-73% for seedling length, 9-53% for fresh weight, 5-16% for dry weight, and 3-88% and 4-27% for vigor indices I and II, respectively. Treatment of 200 mT (60 min) and 150 mT (60 min), which were more effective than others in increasing most of the seedling parameters, were further explored for their effect on plant growth, leaf photosynthetic efficiency, and leaf protein content under field conditions. Among different growth parameters, leaf area, and leaf fresh weight showed maximum enhancement (more than twofold) in 1-month-old plants. Polyphasic chlorophyll a fluorescence (OJIP) transients from magnetically treated plants gave a higher fluorescence yield at the J-I-P phase. The total soluble protein map (SDS-polyacrylamide gel) of leaves showed increased intensities of the bands corresponding to a larger subunit (53 KDa) and smaller subunit (14 KDa) of Rubisco in the treated plants. We report here the beneficial effect of pre-sowing magnetic treatment for improving germination parameters and biomass accumulation in soybean.     

The effect of level of CaCO3, inoculation and lime pelleting on the nodulation and growth of beans in five acid soils

Summary The effect of level of CaCO₃, inoculation and lime pelleting on the nodulation, dry matter yield and % N content of common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris) grown in five acid soils was investigated in a greenhouse study. The soils represented a range in pH from 3.9 to 5.1, in exchangeable Al from 0.0 to 4 meq/100 gm, in exchangeable Mn from 0.35 to 2.32 me/100 gm, and in %C from 0.69 to 5.60.Nodule weight decreased with increasing %C and for the soil with highest %C (5.60) no nodules were observed. In soils with low organic matter and low exchangeable Al and Mn, inoculation increased nodule weight, dry matter yield and %N especially at the lowest pH level. Where the seeds were not inoculated, nodule weight and dry matter yield increased with soil pH. No such increases were observed where the seeds were inoculated. There was no apparent advantage in lime pelleting in such soils.In soils with low organic matter content and with substantial amounts of Al and/or Mn, liming increased nodule weight and dry matter yield, and decreased exchangeable Al and/or Mn. Lime pelleting was superior to mere inoculation in increasing nodule weight particularly at low lime rates.In soils with relatively high organic matter content, nodulation was very low or none at all. Low lime rates had little effect on exchangeable Al and Ca and dry matter yield. Higher lime rates, however, decreased exchangeable Al and dry matter yield but increased exchangeable Ca.     

Application of bio-fertilizers for enhancing growth and yield of common bean plants grown under water stress conditions

This study was planned to enhance the growth and productivity of common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown under different water stress level by using different microorganisms as bio-fertilizer agents. Water stress is a international problem that effects on morphological, functional and chemical processes of plants occasioning in altering growth, yield and water relations of economic plants like common bean plants. The interaction effect between water stress (WW as recommended irrigation after 6 days, WS1 after 12 days and WS2 after 18 days) and inoculation with different microorganisms [AMF (Glomus mosseae) and endophytic bacteria, (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens)] used alone or in mixed was examined on the development and productivity of common bean plants. Mutual application of AMF and endophytic bacteria significantly increased the average values of most of growth, water relations (photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance) and yield parameters of common bean plants grown at WS1 and WS2 comparing with non-colonized plants. In this connection, colonization with AMF and endophytic bacteria with WS1 are the greater pods number, pod length, pods weight, 100 seeds weight, Yield by ton /Fed and water-use efficiency (WUE) by ton/ m³ than other treatments. Common bean yielded seeds had significantly increased nutrients content (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium), vitamin B₁, Folic acid, crude protein and crude fibers at AMF + endophytic bacteria under second water stress (WS1) when compared to other treatments.     

Modulation of root growth and organogenesis in thidiazuron-treated ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.)

The morphoregulatory effect of thidiazuron (TDZ) applications to ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) seedlings and 3-year-old plants was determined. Applications of TDZ (0.22 and 2.20 ppm), either as foliar sprays or soil drench to greenhouse-grown seedlings over 18 weeks (2 weeks after sowing to 20 weeks when plants were harvested) induced similar responses, in particular, increased stem length and diameter, and shoot and root weight (economic yield). Single foliar applications of TDZ at 62.5 and 125 ppm to 3-year-old field-grown ginseng plants 3 months prior to harvest increased root biomass (economic yield) by 19 to 23%. Roots of TDZ-treated seedlings and 3-year-old field-grown plants developed thickened secondary roots on the upper part of the taproot. The root-like structure of these secondary roots was confirmed by histology. In addition, TDZ treatments induced adventitious buds on the shoulder of 3-year-old roots. These buds developed into shoots to give multi-stem plants following a period of dormancy, which was overcome with GA₃ (gibberellic acid) treatment prior to planting.Abbreviations TDZ = thidiazuron - GA₃ = gibberellic acid - BA = benzyladenine     

Abscisic acid and osmotic relations in Phaseolus vulgaris L. Shoots under salt stress

The exogenous application of abscisic acid (ABA) to well-watered plants may be of interest in imitating the effects of salinity on shoot growth. In this paper we have determined the time course of ABA accumulation in control and salt-stressed Phaseolus vulgaris plants and its possible relation to the accumulation of solutes and other physiologic conditions. The effect on shoot parameters of the application of exogenous ABA to the root system has also been checked. The addition of exogenous ABA to control plants caused a retardation of growth. The amount of ABA applied to the growth medium caused tissue ABA concentrations to become close to those of salinized plants. The addition of exogenous ABA to plants under control conditions resulted in a profile of proline and total sugar accumulation very similar to that observed in salinized plants. It was also found that NaCl treatment decreased the stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of leaves as well as the osmotic and turgor potentials. The addition of exogenous ABA also mimicked these responses, resulting in qualitatively and quantitatively similar results. These results, particularly those showing that the early transient rise in ABA upon exposure to NaCl coincides with the period of proline and total sugar accumulation, and that treatment of plants with exogenous ABA mimics these effects, are discussed around the idea that ABA stimulates the cellular processes of osmotic adjustment in P. vulgaris.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - DW dry weight - FW fresh weight.     

Changes in Oil Accumulation and Fatty Acid Composition of Soybean Seeds under Salt Stress in Response to Salicylic Acid and Jasmonic Acid

greenhouse experiment with factorial arrangement based on randomized complete block design with four replications was conducted in 2015 to evaluate the effects of salicylic acid (SA) (1 mM) and jasmonic acid (JA) (0.5 mM) on oil accumulation and fatty acid composition of soybean oil (Glycine max L.) under salt stress (Non-saline, 4, 7, and 10 dS/m NaCl). Oil percentage of soybean seeds declined, while oil content per seed enhanced with increasing seed filling duration. Foliar application of SA improved oil content per soybean seed at different stages of development under all salinity levels. Although JA treatment enhanced seed oil percentage, oil yield of these plants decreased as a result of reduction in seed yield per plant. In contrast, the highest oil yield was recorded for SA treated plants, due to higher seed yield. Salinity had no significant effects on percentage of palmitic acid and stearic acid, but treatment with JA significantly reduced stearic acid percentage. Oleic acid content of seeds increased, but percentages of linoleic acid, linolenic acid and unsaturation index (UI) of soybean oil decreased with increasing salinity. Foliar application of SA and JA improved oil quality of soybean seeds by reducing oleic acid and enhancing linoleic acid, linolenic acid contents and UI. Exogenous application of SA had the most beneficial effects on soybean seeds due to enhancing oil yield and quality under saline and non-saline conditions.     

Changed ratios of some pigments of photosynthesis in Nicotiana tabacum L. induced by exogenic DNA

The technology of obtaining the tobacco plants possessing the hereditary changes in the photosynthesis pigments accumulation during development using exogenous DNA has been elaborated. The plants possessing changes in proportion of chlorophylls content in the leave tissues, inherited elevated carotenoid content and altered proportion of carotene and xanthophylls, luteine and violaxanthine have been obtained by action of the salt-tolerant nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) DNA and the DNAs of pCAMVNEO, pTi8628 plasmids on the tobacco cultivar Krupnolystny 20 (Large-leaf) germinating seeds. These plants have simultaneously the useful features--accelerated development, early blooming phenotype and higher productivity. Possible mechanisms emphasized such inherited biochemical changes have been discussed.     

Compositional changes in developing rape seed (Brassica napus L.)

Summary The growth and composition of siliquas and seeds of oilseed rape was followed over 12 weeks from shortly after anthesis to maturity. Each plant produced 220 siliquas, this number being constant throughout development. Seed numbers per siliqua fell from 19 to 9 by week 5 and declined to 7 at maturity. Hull¹ and seed growth followed a sigmoid pattern, but were not in phase. Seed development could be divided into 3 phases: In Phase 1, seed weight was low and starch and ethanol soluble compounds accounted for 80% DM. Phase 2, seed growth increased and storage oil and proteins were deposited accounting for 40% and 20% DM respectively at the end of this stage. Starch, glucose and fructose were utilized in this process. Phase 3 was largely concerned with the deposition of oil and protein in fixed proportions. Seed weight more than doubled while DM composition remained constant. Sugars were transferred from the hull to the seed to support this growth.The proportion of hull lipids remained constant throughout development until shortly before maturity when MGDG and DGDG fell due to chloroplast breakdown as indicated by chlorophyll disappearance. The FA composition of the hull lipids resembled that of photosynthetic tissue. In the seeds, the neutral lipids increased from 20% of the total lipids in Phase 1 to 93% at maturity. The proportion of structural lipids declined as the storage lipids increased. In Phase 1 the FA composition of the lipid resembled that of photosynthetic tissue (high in C_16:0; C_18:2; C_18:3). In Phase 2, FA typical of storage triglycerides (C_20:1; C_22:1, appeared, C_18:1 transitorily increased, but C_18:2 and C_18:3 fell dramatically. In Phase 3, the content of C_22:1 continued to rise, but the proportions of the other FA remained constant.Abbreviations DM Dry matter - MGDG Monogalactosyldiglyceride - DGDG Digalactosyldiglyceride - NL Neutral lipid - PC Phosphatidyl choline - PE Phosphatidyl ethanolamine - C_16:0 Palmitic acid - C_18:1 Oleic acid - C_18:2 Linoleic acid - C_18:3 Linolenic acid - C_20:1 Eicosenoic acid - C_22:1 Erucic acid - FA Fatty acid